“The world is made for strong people, Sarah. You either impose your will on others, or you let them push you around for the rest of your life. You should know what I’m talking about. You have parents, don’t you?”

“I have a mom,” she said.

“And she probably tells you that she loves you very much,” said Baelan, his voice growing harder. “But whenever she gets a chance, she forces you to live by her laws. She rules over you. Wouldn’t you like a chance to do the same?”

“But my mom doesn’t use threats to tell me what to do. You did. You threatened an entire village with your army, just to get at Kay. When my mom lays down a rule, she’s trying to help me. You’re just trying to help yourself, and you don’t care who you need to push around to do it.”

The corners of Baelan’s mustache twitched. His face seemed to grow darker. “I’ve offered you power and glory, Sarah. Don’t be stupid enough to throw it away. I will master Castle Greystone, one way or another. It is my destiny to rule, and to conquer as many new worlds as I can find. If you tell me where Kay hid his spellbook, I will give you entire countries as your playthings. If you refuse me again, I will throw you in my dungeon and make sure you never see the light of day until you’re too old and gray to even remember your precious home and your beloved mother. Now tell me…where is the spellbook?”

Known as the Warlord of Greystone Valley, Baelan is a cunning middle-aged man who seeks a life filled with conflict and conquest. Unfortunately for him, the magical confines of Greystone Valley prevent him from achieving that goal.

Continue reading “Greystone Valley: Baelan” →

“Sarah!”

Sarah sighed as she snapped out of her imaginary world. She was still in Doctor Goldberg’s office, and only five minutes had passed. She sat up straight in an overstuffed chair and ran her hands across the legs of her blue jeans.

“What is it, Doctor Goldberg?” She batted her eyes innocently as she spoke.

“You weren’t listening to me at all, were you?”

“Of course I was.”

“Then what did I say?”

“Um…that I have problems telling the difference between fantasy and reality?”

Doctor Goldberg’s gray mustache twitched in irritation. “That was a lucky guess.”

The story of Greystone Valley is really the story of Sarah, a twelve year old girl who finds herself trapped in a fantasy realm. In some ways, it’s the ideal situation for Sarah, who has become obsessed with fairy tales and stories about magic. On the other hand, none of the heroes Sarah has read about have ever had to fight armies and hide from cave trolls while in her pajamas.

Continue reading “Greystone Valley: Sarah” →