Today I have the honor in featuring a new up-and-coming Indie Author, T.D. Dewmer! He has been kind enough to offer a glimpse into the world of his YA Fantasy novel, “Light of the Bonded Fates”; book one in the Mystic Hearts Series. To quote T.D., “The book has a compelling amount of suspense, adventure, and romance with a message reminding us to have confidence in ourselves, even when hope seems lost, and that love can be a light in the darkest of times.” So without taking too much of your time, here it is!

MEET AUTHOR, T.D. DEWMER

T.D. Dewmer is a writer of young adult fantasy and romance. He was creating characters at age five, building worlds at age six, and crafting stories at age seven, all within his mind and his stories have only evolved since. Dewmer attended school for the arts, where studied creative writing and music. He also writes song lyrics and poetry in his spare time.

Follow his blog at – http://td-dewmer.blogspot.com

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ABOUT T.D.’S BOOK, “MYSTIC HEARTS: LIGHT OF THE BONDED FATES’

Mystic Hearts: Light of the Bonded Fates is a young adult fantasy and the first in a five book series. The story revolves around Balthazar of Kalator, a boy of sixteen, who carries a burden when he discovers he is a destined hero know as the Chosen and his beloved Kristella is bonded to his fate. They share thoughts, feelings, dreams, and even death. If one dies, so does the other. The mystic kingdom of Kalator was once peaceful, but evil hangs in the air of an ancient demon who now hunts vulnerable Kristella to end the threat of his ancient enemies known as the Chosen. In the darkest of towers hides another enemy who follows the ancient fiend and means to summon a foreboding beast from the hellish Underworld. As a long forgotten war resurfaces, the people will, as they always have, turn to The Chosen Hero, but Balthazar refuses to believe himself a Hero of Light and it seems his love for Kristella is the only light in the world plagued by Shadows. He must overcome his insecurities to find the courage to protect Kristella, defeat the predator that hunts him, known as the Shadow, and save his people from the certain ruin they will face from the spawn of hell.

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EXCERPT FROM MYSTIC HEARTS: LIGHT OF THE BONDED FATES

The Shocking Awakening

          Balthazar looked upon a field that resembled the gardens within the front gates of the academy. Large crystals poked out of the ground. They were not like the crystals used for the cities and the academy. These crystals were there merely for the practice of magic for students.

The students were scattered along the field, all practicing what Alandis had taught them. Roots were shooting from the ground. Crystals gleamed in the distance from being focused. Trees and shrubs grew larger and stronger. Flowers bloomed along the field.

Balthazar sat between a crystal and a tree. He struggled to focus his sleeping abilities. He could not seem to reach them. He tried harder and harder, closing his eyes. Sweat began to break on his forehead. He could feel the power, but could not break the barrier. The barrier itself felt extremely powerful and seemed like a part of him.

His concentration was disrupted when he heard such a sweet voice coming from behind him. “Are you Prince Balthazar?” the voice asked.

He quickly got up and spun around to see the source of the magical voice. His heart began to race as he stared into the eyes of that beautiful girl who had been staring at him during the magic lesson. “Ye…ye…yes,” he stuttered. He caught his breath. “Who are you?”

 She smiled at him with such a shining expression. “I am Kristella. I have always lived near the palace and have seen you a few times. I have always wanted to meet you.”

Balthazar blushed, which made him feel embarrassed. “Well I am pleased to finally meet you.” He felt strange feelings toward this girl he could not understand.

She giggled. “I noticed you are having trouble focusing your energies. My father told me of a place near the academy where students once went to awaken their power. It’s a place where the crystals grow natural and free.”

Balthazar let curiosity get the better of him at this point. He thought of such a place that could actually break through the powerful barrier within him. He was finding it very hard to resist such a tempting thought. “Where is this place and is it forbidden?” he asked. Though curiosity had tight grip on his thoughts, he did not want to anger Alandis.

Kristella had an adorable rebellious smile. “I don’t know if it’s forbidden. I do know that is right up the mountain path beyond this field. I would be honored if you would join me on this adventure.” Her face changed to a playful begging expression.

Balthazar found it impossible to say no to that face. Curiosity had already taken hold of him. A longing to please Kristella added to it. He smiled back to her and said, “Very well. I will accompany you on this adventure of yours. Lead the way.”

Her face lit up with excitement. She grabbed his hand, which caused his heart to melt in his chest with strong feelings, and led him along the field. They made sure nobody was watching them and sprinted to the foot of the mountains. They were too far to be seen once they reached the mountains themselves and together they tried to locate the trail.

They found a wide mountain path. She held tight onto his hand as she led him down the large trail. They were surrounded by steep silver mountain walls. Some had peaks as they went further up, but the sky could only be seen by looking straight up and backward. The trail began to curve as they made good progress.

The silver stone of the mountain walls sparkled in the sunlight that now glared overhead. Balthazar and Kristella looked around with amazed expressions as they walked. They could see something strange in the rock walls ahead as the trail curved once more.

As they drew closer to it, they noticed it was a large wooden doorway that led to an old crystal mine. This mine seemed to have been abandoned for some reason. Kristella and Balthazar looked at one another with accomplished and curious looks on their faces. Kristella reached for the handle. She twisted and pulled the old iron latch, unlocking the door. She then pushed it open. CREAK! The old hinges slowly turned and they stepped inside.

The passage they entered was dark with a cold chill to the air. The only light provided was faintly shining from the open cavern door. Kristella and Balthazar held tightly to each other’s hands as they entered the vast darkness. The path led down beneath the mountain.

The farther down they went, the colder and heavier the air became. Curiosity motivated the pair to keep going. The tunnel began to widen and join with a more extensive cavern. The darkness faded a tiny bit as a glow appeared further within the cavern.

As the children approached the glow, they began to make out many glowing structures around the cavern. A humming sound filled their ears, but also a foul stench of musk invaded their noses, causing them to pinch their nostrils in disgust. The children soon forgot the smell as they caught sight of what they had been searching for.

Small white crystals lined the rock walls. Large white crystals grew from the ground. The cavern was full of the mystical crystals. The small ones were used to either grow the larger ones, which were used for homes or focusing sites, or as personal focusing crystals.

Kristella and Balthazar stared around the cavern with looks of admiration. Kristella’s eyes twinkled from the reflection of the glow of the crystals. Balthazar was growing lost in her eyes. He was glad he had agreed to accompany her. He enjoyed her company.

She looked closely at a large crystal structure and then smiled at Balthazar. “It is like a dream,” she said. “I am glad we decided to find this place.”

Balthazar looked around at the marvel around him. He looked into Kristella’s smile once more and felt an intoxicating feeling within himself. “You are beyond beauty itself.” His eyes grew wide as he realized he had actually said it.

Kristella blushed and giggled. “You are very kind and very handsome yourself.” she flashed her dreamy smile his way.

They held each other’s hand and huddled close together, closing their eyes and channeling the energies around within themselves. Balthazar could feel the barrier weakening, but it still remained. He could not feel frustrated while feeling the warm touch of Kristella’s soft skin.

The moment was suddenly broken by heavy footfalls that echoed from the cavern walls in the distance. They looked and could see large silhouettes of strange creatures a fair distance from where they stood. The grunts of the beasts echoed through the cavern. Fear gripped both of the children. The shapes of the creatures were much larger than they and worse, the beasts were headed toward the children.

 Alandis had finished meditating and smiled at the students along the field, hard at work to perfect their abilities. He had been meditating when Balthazar and Kristella had slipped away to find the crystal caverns. Otherwise his keen senses would have spotted them straight away. One could scarcely escape the notice of an Elf.

Alandis began to sense that something was wrong. He looked around the field with his analyzing eyes. He quickly noticed that Balthazar and Kristella were not among the other students. He knew they could not have returned to the academy without him noticing.

Alandis frantically surveyed the field using his senses to trace where they had gone. He found two trails side by side that had moved rather quickly and followed it. He reached the foot of the mountains and stared at the wide mountain path in front of him. He knew all too well where this particular path led. He worried that danger had found the two children.

Within the cavern the children were frozen in fear. The figures had gotten close. “What should we do?” Kristella whispered.

Balthazar looked around, but could see no place to hide. They could not run. The creatures would hear them instantly. He grew frustrated and was angered by the mere thought that these creatures might pose a threat to Kristella. As his anger grew, bright lights burned within the surrounding crystals.

The cavern was now lit and the children locked eyes with the beasts. Their skin was bald, but grey. They were very large and muscular. They wore ragged cloths that were ripped and stained. Their eyes were glazed and faded from living in darkness and their teeth were long and as sharp as thorns. Their teeth seemed rotten and black. They had small, pushed in noses like a pig’s and hands and feet much larger than a humans. They were the Goblins and there were ten of them staring at the children with hungry expressions. All of them carried long thick clubs.

“Get behind me!” Balthazar commanded. Kristella reluctantly obeyed. She was scared for both of them. Balthazar had no weapon and knew nothing of magic. He was prepared to protect Kristella at all costs, however. He stared at the beasts with threatening eyes.

One of the goblins charged at the children with its mouth open. It roared as it thundered toward them at full speed. Balthazar’s heart raced, but he charged forward struggling to focus his energy.

Once the Goblin reached Balthazar, it swung its club as hard as it could at his head. Balthazar dodged its strike. It repeated numerous times only to be dodged every time. Kristella stumbled to the ground, causing Balthazar’s attention to shift to her. As he looked at her, he felt the club connect with his head sending shocks of shrill pain across his skull. He flew through the cavern, hitting the rock wall hard.

The Goblin let out a thunderous laugh. It turned its attention to Kristella who was struggling to her feet. It began to approach her and as she saw the beast closing in, she released a high pitch scream.

“Get away from her, foul beast!” Balthazar snapped, feeling very dizzy. The beast reached out to grab her. “GET AWAY FROM HER!” Balthazar felt the barrier within him shatter. The crystals around the cavern shined with a blinding light. White lightning shot from the crystals, striking the threatening Goblin. It screeched in pain and fell to the ground motionless. Smoke rose from its fried body.

Balthazar dropped his head to the ground gasping for air. Kristella ran to his side and reached out to touch him. They both gasped as a bright light flashed between them and whirled around the children. For a moment their thoughts, feelings, and pains were shared. The light faded and Balthazar fell unconscious leaving Kristella in amazement and feeling quite different.

The other Goblins quickly retreated to deeper parts of the caverns in fear of the mysterious children. Alandis had arrived in just enough time to witness the power Balthazar had conjured and the mysterious light that had circled around Balthazar and Kristella. Balthazar was weak and unresponsive to any of her attempts to wake him. Alandis ran by his side and kneeled down to examine Balthazar’s bleeding and bruised forehead.

“Is he alright?” Kristella asked with great concern in her voice. She felt guilty for dragging Balthazar into such a dangerous place.

“His head is injured,” said Alandis. “We must get him back to the academy immediately so I can tend to the wound. Follow me closely and do not stray behind.” Alandis picked up Balthazar in his arms and carried him out of the caverns.

Balthazar regained consciousness, but felt weaker with each passing moment. He looked up to the skies as he was carried along the mountain trail and back across the field. He swore he could see a glowing silhouette hovering in the sky, but guessed his senses were boggled. He was relieved when he saw the academy closing in. His vision grew blurry as he was carried through the corridors.

He was set down in the middle of the four crystal pillars within the room they had studied magic. Alandis tended to the wounds on his head and back using mystic herbs and ancient Elven remedies. He felt strength returning to him slowly. He heard Kristella and Alandis speaking to each other.

“Going to the mines was very foolish,” Alandis said. “Goblins are vicious predators. You both are lucky to be alive.”

“I apologize, Master Alandis,” Kristella responded politely. “I’ve been wondering though. Will we learn to control lightning the way Balthazar did in the caverns?”

Alandis glanced off in the direction of the motionless prince “I cannot teach that ability. I am amazed that Balthazar was even able to create lightning from the crystals. I have not seen any who could manipulate lightning since the ancient times. That takes a vast amount of strength.”

Balthazar forced a smile. He could not help but feel overjoyed. He felt confidence within himself now. He had impressed even his instructor. His power had finally awakened and he could truly be counted as a mystic Adept.

Kristella then thought to the lights that circled around her and Balthazar. “What were those lights that seemed to almost connect the prince and me?” she asked quietly.

Alandis looked lost at the question. He had been wondering the same thing, but he did have a theory. He did not quite understand why this would occur if his theory was correct and he did not wish to fill Kristella’s mind with fear. “I believe your energies and fates have connected.”

Kristella’s eyes and mouth were open wide in shock at what she heard. “How is that possible?” she asked sharply, as disbelief shrouded her reason. “What could that even mean?”

Alandis sighed deeply and turned to her with a pained expression. “It means you two are meant to be close. That would be the bright side, but it also likely means that any danger posed to one affects the other. The same likely goes for death. His will to protect you has intrigued the Heavens, causing the Divine One to include you in his far reaching purpose by forging a powerful bond between your fates. Love holds a mighty key to the mystic hearts”

Balthazar was both troubled and happy by what he heard. He had growing feelings for Kristella and was overjoyed to know they would be close by fate, but he did not feel comfortable with the thought that any danger he faced would affect her as well. He knew he had to protect her and that made his mind fill with thoughts of the beautiful mystical girl he shared a bond with. He laid there and smiled until finally, all else faded and he entered a world of dreams.

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YOU CAN FIND T.D. DEWMER HERE

Blog: http://td-dewmer.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/td-dewmer

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TDDewmer

Books available on:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Hearts-Light-Bonded-ebook/dp/B007SJBJR4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337806171&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystic-hearts-td-dewmer/1110119430?ean=2940014149938

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13634354-light-of-the-bonded-fates

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/150041