The Blue Seal of Trinity Cove
The Blue Seal of Trinity Cove
Linda Maree Malcolm
Published by JoJo Publishing
First published 2012
This edition 2013
âYarra's Edge'
2203/80 Lorimer Street
Docklands VIC 3008 Australia
Email:
[email protected]
or visit
© Linda Maree Malcolm
ISBN: 978-0-9875879-6-1 (ePub)
All rights reserved. No part of this printed or video publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owner.
JoJo Publishing
Designer / typesetter: Chameleon Print Design
Edited by Ormé Harris
Digital edition distributed by
Port Campbell Press
Conversion by
Winking Billy
I am deeply grateful to all of the wonderful people who continue to support and encourage me.
Very special thanks to my husband, Sandro, who is my rock.
To Stef and Tim, who inspired this story.
W
hen writing
Blue Seal
, the second book of this exciting series, Linda Maree Malcolm has once again drawn on some her own experiences, loosely basing the characters on people she has met via homeschooling as well as on her own children, but her main inspiration comes from Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, JK Rowling and LM Montgomery.
Linda worked at a wide variety of jobs before deciding in 2008 to make writing her main focus. Since then she has written the first book in this series
Oracle in the Mist
as well as
Blue Seal.
She is currently working on a third book in this series.
She was raised in the Dandenong Mountains and then moved to the beautiful Yarra Valley where, as a single mother of one, she married her husband whose heritage was Italian. The homeschooling mother of four has been completely absorbed in a world of imagination as she has read aloud hundreds of books to her children. Linda also has a deep understanding of the esoteric world.
Chapter 1:
 Bobby returns to paradise
Chapter 2:
 The Crone and the Workplace Oracle
Chapter 3:
 David agrees to help
Chapter 4:
 The orbs
Chapter 5:
 What really happened to Henry and Ina?
Chapter 6:
 The elusive Blue Seal
Chapter 7:
 Outback Australia
Chapter 8:
 The story of Wanda
Chapter 9:
 Wanda's terror
Chapter 10:
 Rescue
Chapter 11:
 Where is home?
Chapter 12:
 Madden and Wanda
Chapter 13:
 The fighting begins
Chapter 14:
 Despair
Chapter 15:
 The Shaman's magic
Chapter 16:
 The son
Chapter 17:
 David and the spectre
Chapter 18:
 What is the Blue Seal?
Chapter 19:
 Paradise to evil
Chapter 20:
 Plans to save paradise
Bobby Returns to Paradise
T
he summer after Bobby came back home from the island she made a vow to herself to return there with or without David. She knew the island was in peril and she didn't want to lose her new-found friends. Besides, she wanted another adventure and was not in the habit of waiting around for one to come to her. If she could glean a little more information about the life of her grandmother upon her return from the island, Bobby would feel as though her original mission was complete.
It wasn't long before the opportunity became available. Daphne, Bobby's mother, was going away overnight to a Psychics' Convention in the city. This would give Bobby the time she needed to get back to the island.
The first thing Bobby noticed when she spoke the words “Oracle in the Mist” and entered the tree was that the dazzling bright lights overhead were very much muted this time. She pondered on this. Maybe the lights became less bright the more the crystal ball was used. They certainly would not be noticeable to anyone else in other parts of the town.
These were the thoughts racing through her mind when she found herself again on the bed in the hut with the sand floor. This time though she was not scared as she had been that first time. But there was something else as well; she recognised that she very much missed the companionship of David. She would somehow have to persuade him to join her here; she knew
that
for sure.
She only had a moment to collect her thoughts when she heard voices that were very familiar to her. The professor was chatting away to Sebastian the monkey as he usually did and she could hear the screeching replies of Sebastian. There seemed to be a sense of urgency in their voices now and Bobby sat up to say hello as they entered the hut. They were so pleased to see her and they embraced the way that old friends do.
“So good to see you again, my dear,” the professor said with a kind smile and Sebastian held onto her hand and would not let go.
“I couldn't wait to get back,” Bobby said with her usual honesty.
“How's your ⦠I mean to say, how's everything back home?” asked the professor in his usual way, which as usual left Bobby feeling as though there was some secret he was harbouring â perhaps about her mother, but she couldn't be sure.
“Everything's good back home, thanks. Mum's away for the weekend and David decided not to come this time. How's everything here?” she asked.
“All in good time, my dear, all in good time. I'm afraid to say the circumstances surrounding your visit this time are not as wonderful as they were last time. But I think a cup of tea is in order â don't you? Let's get you back to the house.” That's right, Bobby giggled to herself; in typical professor fashion all recent news would be left unspoken until such time as when she was seated comfortably in his home with a lovely cup of tea placed into her welcoming hands.
As soon as Bobby stepped out of the hut she was greeted by the natives, who stood to hug her or stroke her arm or her hair. Even the animals seemed happy to see her. They each roused themselves from their slumber and sleepily came to her to lick her hand, rub against her leg or just sit and smile at her.
“So lovely to see you,” was the general gist of the commotion. Bobby felt as if she had come home after a long time away. It was as though they were her family now. She didn't suspect at all that part of the reason they were all so happy to see her was because they knew that the future of the island and indeed their very lives lay in her hands.
They went up the winding path that led to the professor's house, passing the stunning view of the ocean, which remained unchanged and still took Bobby's breath away. After Bobby had taken a seat in the professor's house with all of the familiar surroundings â including hundreds of books and precious knick-knacks which still fascinated her â and been given the customary cup of tea, the professor launched into the island's news.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, my dear, but I'm afraid it's not good. Our lovely Crone â who has been with us for centuries and has the magic and wisdom of all of the generations since the beginning of the dawn of this civilisation and indeed this island paradise â is fading fast and getting worse every day and it's all because of that evil Workhouse Oracle. Do you remember her? She made an appearance at the beach party and I spoke of her in the story I told you about Henry and Ina? They almost lost their lives at her workhouse and indeed would have been mutated by her into slaves of some sort â some say she changes children into orcs; others say they become sentinels of sorts who nevertheless are filled with her wretchedness and who thirst after evil and power just as she does. We're not exactly sure what she's up to but one thing's for sure â all of the children that go into that workhouse of hers never come out. She seems to have a growing number of grotesque creatures in her service, most of whom I have only seen in my nightmares during sleep time and would never wish to meet if I could help it. I have this growing sensation that she somehow plans on rising up against us and all that is good in this world; I dread to think what hideous plan she is hatching even now as we speak. This island has only ever known serenity and peace; there is no history of evil in the form of murder, theft or hatred here but all that could change overnight if we're not careful. One thing's for sure â we know she wants your crystal ball and she will stop at nothing to get it. Our Crone is strong but she is also old and frail and the weaker she becomes the stronger the Workhouse Oracle becomes. We don't know why she wants the ball, only that she asks for it day and night and is torturing our Crone from the inside, or so it would seem. As her power grows stronger she seems to be able to completely possess our Crone for moments at a time and my worst fear is that she will actually come to be a constant presence among us through our Crone, if we do not somehow find a way to stop her. Heaven help us if that was to happen. I shudder to think what she has in store for us.”
The professor broke off and stared at his feet for the longest time, looking more serious than Bobby had ever seen him before.
“Another cup of tea anyone?” he asked and suddenly jumped up. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts.
“No, thanks,” she answered. “I just don't understand how this can be possible when Henry and Ina and the other children manifested an island paradise that, since then, has only known peace. How can that change suddenly and why does she even want my crystal ball? What does she intend to do with it; maybe it's because she thinks she can get to Henry and Ina with it?”
“That's a very good question Bobby and one that bothers me too. I would like to hope that was all she had in mind, Bobby, but once you see our Crone I think you'll understand that she definitely intends on something much more sinister. This isn't just some small plot of revenge we have here. My instincts tell me we are facing a very dark chapter in the history of our island ⦔