The Crystal Crux Series tale unfolds in ten days over five books.
Betrayal
Blue Grotto
Cold Knight
Shimmer
Beautiful

Today, August 18, 2026
is exactly 828 years after the Sixth day in my book series.
The year was 1198.

I decided early on to begin each day of the series with a scripture I felt sort of captured the essence of something major happening in the story on that day.

On DAY SIX, Pero wants to enter into his rest, his eternal rest, but the interfering voice keeps saying “My servants never rest. My servants never die.” And now Pero finds himself walking on a peaceful path through stately trees headed for the sun. He believes it’s paradise.
But then his mind wonders who will populate his paradise now that he’s forsaken everyone who meant something to him.
The forest grows dark and starts to cover him like it did on Eagles Pass. He hears voices crying out to him for help. He’s not in charge of his feet. They keep walking at the same pace, unwilling to turn left or right or back around – like time. Just forward at its own speed.
A storm rears up behind him. He fears it will overtake him. He fears it is death.
The voice tells him it is dishonor. Dishonor is catching up with him.
More nightmares and visions occur he slams face-first into a solid wall of gold where through its reflection he sees the atrocities that happened in Capua play out.
A tempest lands him back inside his broken body on the Apennine Mountains, where he is surprised to be healed.
Then comes Fo-Gee and Aerion, and two realities truly clash.
Francis Whitehall is preparing to march back to Capua. His former squire, Merle, led some of his men on a raid to grab the horses they need to make the journey, stealing them from a troublesome rancher in the area that the people will be glad was raided.
Anthea Manikos is being poisoned by the giant magician Sinibaldus who is growing weary of her obstinate spirit. Every time he enters her mind, she controls the environment and can expel him anytime she wants. He’s the one invading her mind, but she doesn’t surrender control. She isn’t as concerned about her body anymore. She, like Pero, just wants to be left alone.

I am counting down all ten days in a row this week and offering up one of my favorite passages from each day.

The excerpt below is about Sinibaldus, who after using the magic powers in his skin, spirit and blood to kill some hissing lizards, has started suffering seizures. Aging quickly, he is not a man accustomed to losing control and he knows it is dangerous if he loses control. No one else knows he is having seizures – not yet.

‘How long will I last in this city if they learn of it? My weakness. How long before the jackals pounce? How long before they bind me and take the Crystal for themselves? They would surely turn me over to the Church. I have too many enemies to be weak.’
Even before the seizures, Sinibaldus had noticed a perceptible decline in his mental acuity. His focus waned. His ironclad, godlike control over the multitude of minds inhabiting Sin Circus diminished. He’d lost contact and control over dozens of creatures patrolling Eagles Pass. They were on their own, wild and feral again. It was only a matter of time before they realized they could go through the barriers.
“This fear of me is all I have. Without it, I am powerless.’
Excerpt from Shimmer

I’ll be back to post something about DAY SEVEN tomorrow.
Until then, stay inspired and keep reading!