Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy (The Lightbound Saga Book 1) (32 page)

Maia parted the silk. A pendant unlike anything she had seen gleamed in the flickering candlelight. It was a mesh of crystal, and through the dark, shimmering blackness of the rock ran veins of minerals in a myriad of hues. Sparkling greens mingled with intense reds, shades of blues fused with golds—all woven together in filigree and shaped to form a half circle. It seemed like half of a circular locket, broken right down the middle, the edges irregular yet surprisingly smooth.

“You know, Bellator was Sophie’s before she became yours,” Dada said as Maia sat studying the intricate patterns of the crystal. His words made Maia smile. She had always wondered about Bellator’s origins, but never had she imagined that her beloved sword had actually been her mother’s. It was strange how comforting it felt to know that a part of her mother had always stayed close and protected her, especially during the arduous journey to Xif and back.

After Dada left, Maia blew out the candles and stared into the darkness. She lay awake that night, thinking of the valiant young woman and her life before her untimely death. She yearned to know more of the mother she had pushed away for so long. It was nearly daybreak when Maia drifted into a fitful slumber, knowing that she still had so much to learn about her mother, about Xif, about her friends. And even though there were so many unanswered questions, she had learned a lot about herself.

Maia smiled as the first rays of the sun gently warmed her face, her fingers clutching her mother’s broken pendant that now hung next to her heart.

About the Author

Shatarupa G. Basu is a telecommunications engineer with a passion for writing. The first ideas for this story came to her on a blustery winter's evening, while watching the setting sun and realizing how vital it is to our existence. As she dwelled on the central premise, characters joined the fray, each with a voice that would not be denied. And so grew their tales, unfolding over several episodes. This is the beginning of their adventures.

Ms. Basu resides in Maryland with her husband and daughter.

Find out about Maia’s upcoming adventures at
www.sgbasu.com
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Click here to check out the next of Maia’s adventures. Book 2: Maia and the Secrets of Zagran.