George stepped cautiously forward through the door eyes clamped tightly shut; he felt a warm breeze and the smell of wild flowers filled his nose. He opened his eyes a bit at a time, the glare of the sun made him turn his head, and then as his eyes adjusted he was awestruck by what he saw. In front of him were rolling fields of lush blue grass smothered in flowers which looked like multi coloured polka dots, in the distance a huge golden castle surrounded by a massive stone wall, towering behind it the biggest range of mountains he had ever seen, all capped in snow . . . . . . . . . Follow George Royle, an ordinary 10 year old boy on the adventure of a lifetime in a land of magical wonder. A breath taking quest of good versus evil. Making new friends and confronting fearsome enemies, in a battle to save the land. Will he succeed? Will the darkness defeat the light and will George make the ultimate sacrifice?

George Royle and the Legend of the Crystal Rose

By R O Gallimore

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 R O Gallimore
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-9038-8

Chapter One

The Oracle of Armangar

At the end of Muccleshell lane in the tiny village of Waterlake, sits the small chapel of St Paul's. It had been empty for many years until two years ago, when Tom Royle and his young son George moved in, well not quite moved in, but moved into a caravan next to it.

Since then Tom had been busy converting it into a home for him and his son. Today was an exciting day not only because it was Christmas Eve, but because today was finally moving in day, George could hardly contain himself. Dad had even put up a red ribbon over the front door, George stepped up, and his dad passed him a shiny pair of scissors,

"Go on then George, cut the ribbon" he said, George was nervous but cut the ribbon with one swift slice. "ta da, I now declare St Pauls cottage officially open" his dad said proudly . George pushed open the large wooden door and ran into the huge room in front of him, "Wow Dad! It's really cool, can I see my bedroom?"

Tom followed George through the main room with a large open fireplace, stood next to it was a beautiful tall Christmas tree covered in baubles and twinkling lights, past the old pulpit which now had a huge plasma screen TV on it, up the stairs along the balcony landing to a large arched door, George opened the door and gasped "this is awesome Dad, you've even repaired stained glass window" the rainbow of colours filled his bedroom. "I knew you'd love it" his dad beamed "I'll leave you to explore while I go and get some breakfast ready."

George loved his new room, on one wall was a huge golden blanket with red embroidered patterns on it, lengthways against it he had a lovely big dark wooden bed which his dad had restored in the workshop, with a multi coloured hand made quilt on top of it. This was a really great bedroom.

"George, breakfast is ready" his dad called from downstairs, as George left the room a soft red glow came from behind the golden blanket on the wall and spilled from under his bed across the floor.

George went and had his breakfast and then spent the rest of the day exploring the house, as for the last month he hadn't been allowed in because of all the scaffolding and building stuff everywhere.

It got to just after 7.30 "come on then George its been a long day, I think its time for a bath and then bed" said Tom. For once George was quite glad, it was to be the first night in his new bedroom. George finished his bath, brushed his teeth and put his PJ's on, then his dad came up with a glass of warm milk tucked him in to his lovely warm comfy bed and just like every night said a prayer while looking at picture of Georges mum.

George didn't know his mum as he and his dad had lost her nearly nine years ago when he was only tiny, his dad had told him lots about her, but it wasn't quite the same.

His mum's name was Faith, she was slightly shorter than his dad in the picture and had long dark hair, and crystal green eyes, George always thought she looked like a princess, and that's exactly how he saw her in his dreams.

Tom said goodnight "sweet dreams little man" he said as he closed the door "see you in the morning".

George snuggled into his big comfy bed and thought about his first day in St Paul's cottage, he reached over and switched of his bedside light, but as he did the room didn't get any darker, but the white light changed to soft red. He looked around 'the curtains are closed and the door is shut, how strange?' he thought.

Then he noticed the light was coming from under his bed, 'that's odd dad must have put another lamp under my bed' he thought, then he climbed out put on his dressing gown and slippers then knelt down, he cautiously lifted the quilt and peered under. He saw a red glow coming from the bottom of the golden blanket and under his bed; he jumped back up onto the bed and slowly pulled the wall blanket back.

As he pulled it further gradually an old door appeared in front of him, it looked like something from his dads shed, all scratched and flaky with lots of different coloured paint on it but no door handle.

"That's weird, why would dad put a door here, my room is at the top of the house, there aren't any other rooms up here"

George pulled the blanket back and tucked it behind the carved wooden headboard; now the glow got brighter and shone like a lighthouse in the fog all around the edge of the door. George was getting uneasy but excited at the same time, he grabbed the picture of his mum for a little reassurance, tucked it under his left arm then carefully stepped toward the door not really knowing why, he ran his hand over the flaky surface "it feels like dragon scales" he thought, although he had never stroked a dragon and probably never would. As he ran his hand down the side he felt a doorknob "that wasn't there before...... shall I.... shall I?" He thought.

He closed his eyes and gently wrapped his fingers around the doorknob and as he did the glow enveloped his hand. A soft voice whispered "the quest awaits the brave", he opened his eyes with a start, looking around the room, it's only him, again he hears the voice "the quest awaits the brave"

He slowly started to turn the knob and gently pushed the door open stepping of his bed. He closed one eye and peered out of the other into a round room with white walls. Now he opened both eyes and looked around to see six doors, one red, one orange, one yellow, one lilac, one emerald and one gold, all with a small coat of arms above them. George stepped quietly further into the room as he did he stumbled and fell to the floor, cracking the glass in his Mum's picture "oh no, that's all I need" he sighed, then he took the picture from its frame and placed it carefully in the breast pocket of his PJ's. His attention turned to see what had tripped him , on the floor lay a book about the size of a tray and as thick as a pillow, bound in dirty white leather with a shiny rose on the front and some words 'THE ORACLE OF ARMANGAR' in gold letters.

"Wow this is really cool" George said out loud and then shushed himself so he didn't alert his dad. He ran his hand over the cover and as he did the rose glowed a now familiar red glow "awesome" he said "I wonder what oracle means and where or what is Armangar?"

"Well, only one way to find out" George ran his finger along the edge and slowly opened the cover, he looked at the top of the first page, all it said was "CHOOSE A GATE" below it was a map of what looked like a country called Armangar, it showed the rivers, mountains, seas and counties, six counties in fact "I wonder" he thought, then he looked at the six doors with the coats of arms, first the red door, on the arms it said 'Relangar', that was one of the counties on the map, then the gold door 'Gilangar', it was a match! He then checked the others and they all matched.

"I suppose choose a gate means choose a door" he muttered "but which one first?"

Then he noticed something strange, the first letters of the counties looked familiar "G R L O Y E". As he stared at the letters it slowly dawned on him, "if I rearrange them G R O Y L E, it's my name George ROYLE!" he said with amazement, "now that is weird". He now knew how to choose a door, G for George , "looks like the gold door first then", he got up from the and floor picked up the book, which was actually very heavy, as he moved toward the golden door the book began to...