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  Outside Ascension

  Book One

  of

  The Levels of Ascension

  Amy Proebstel

  Copyright © 2016 by Cavaliers Publishing

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All inquiries should be submitted to [email protected].

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2016958575

  Cavaliers Publishing, Ontario, OR

  ASIN: B01LPQOEPO Kindle Direct Publishing

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Printing, 2016

  Website: www.LevelsofAscension.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/levelsofascension

  Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/amyproebstel

  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/aproebstel

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/amyproebstel

  Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyproebstel

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to all of the wonderful people in my life who encouraged me to keep writing. To my brilliant husband, Richard, thank you for knowing when I needed quiet time to get my writing done, for being my biggest cheerleader, and for all of the encouragement to keep going. To my sister, Ginger, for reading the almost endless re-writes, edits, and revisions over the years. To Ann, my favorite mother-in-law, for always being so eager to read and edit the latest versions. I also extend a huge thank you to Rene for your friendship, coaching, and directing abilities.

  To the readers of this series, I greatly appreciate all of your kind words, suggestions, and support along the way. None of this would be possible without your enthusiasm for the world of Tuala.

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  People

  Places

  Time

  Definitions

  Sneak Peek - Book 2

  About the Author

  Preface

  POWER IS a heady thing. When used properly it can be a value indeed. The reverse is true of the abuse of control. When I created Earth and Tuala, I could see the struggle for supremacy was a real obstacle for Earth. For such reason, I chose to live with the people in Tuala.

  My name is Jehoban which means ‘of all the people.’ My home is in a region called Acaim. From this locality, I can interact without compunction with the Tualan citizens. As with any society, there must be a form of governance and to help me achieve peace amongst the populace, I have personally trained and set into position the Elders of the community. Their primary role is to help and guide the public while their secondary role is to protect the Ascension Gates.

  The people of Tuala are generally good and use power effortlessly. I have allowed their understanding of elemental energy to be a part of their everyday lives. In any other realm these abilities to use the energy would seem supernatural or even miraculous, but in Tuala it is just the way of life. When raised with something, no matter how unbelievable, it is part of the fabric of life and nothing to be examined. This life is what I intended for the citizens of Tuala.

  The Elders of the community are selected and trained with me here in Acaim. Their talents and inherent abilities are among the strongest of the citizens of Tuala which was why they were chosen. I have taken great pleasure in watching the Elders interact with my citizens. While all of my children are a pleasure in my heart, the Elders are an extension of my rule. They express my wishes to the people and guide them in their understanding of their role in the fabric of life.

  The Ascension Gates are located throughout the world. Each Gate is a link between the levels of reality. Most of the Gates are set between Earth and Tuala even though I have created and populated innumerable worlds. Where the ley lines intersect, the elemental energy is the strongest, creating a vortex of power where informed people can control their movements between Tuala and Earth.

  I have protected the citizens of Tuala from interference from visitors through the Gates by allowing the entrants to lose their memory of Earth once they are inside ascension on Tuala. Likewise, the visitors leaving Tuala will lose their memory of Tuala once they are outside ascension on Earth. As further protection, I have assigned an Elder to be the guardian of each major Gate.

  As with any people, the Elders are not immune to the effects of power. Sometimes mistakes are made, and the people are not treated as I would have it be. I have given all of the people free will and because of this, I can only hope the teaching and training which I have given these Elders will prevail. It is my wish that the people will lead productive and fulfilling lives where their potential can be realized.

  Excerpt from the Supplemental Teaching Guide

  Chapter One

  THEY WALKED side by side without talking, passing through the now empty marketplace. Amanda desperately wanted to know how they would be traveling because she wanted to ride in a telepod. If she were to fit in and not be found out, she could not act excited to ride in the aircraft for the first time.

  Now past the marketplace, Amanda discreetly looked around her as they walked. As Barla had admonished, she took note of the streets they passed so she would know where she had been if something happened to Bryon. Even though the streets were empty and she was in disguise, she did not feel safe; the knowledge of Petre being somewhere nearby created a palpable tension.

  They had been walking briskly for about ten minutes when Bryon started to make small talk. “I hear you’re looking for your fiancé.”

  “Yes,” she replied, “his name is Nealand Taivas.”

  Bryon frowned and then said carefully, “Nealan?” He deliberately said it without the “d” on the end.

  Amanda nodded as she remembered Barla telling her the custom of men’s names all ending with an “n” unless they had lost honor. She did not want Bryon to think Neal was dishonorable, so she went along with his assumption.

  “Do you mind talking about what happened?”

  “No, not at all; there’s not much to say after all,” she replied. “We were out sailing when a storm hit. I was rescued by Petre MacVeen, and I haven’t seen Nealan or our water craft since it happened two mesans ago.” She shrugged to indicate there was nothing more to add to the story.

  Bryon listened intently and nodded. “So, Captain Ahn is checking for any records of swimmers and the craft, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me what Nealan looks like. I have some contacts of my own I can check with if you don’t mind,” he offered.

  Amanda described Neal as having a stocky, muscular build on a shorter frame with brown hair and brown eyes. She looked up at Bryon with a smile and added, “His build, coloring, and hair is actually a lot like yours. The only difference is you are about eight inches taller.” She told him the yacht was named The Golden Jesisca and was painted with white and yellow. Amanda noticed Bryon’s startled expression since the yacht was painted such bright colors, but he did not say anything about it.

  Bryon recited everything back to her to make sure he had everything correct. Amanda nodded confirmation, and they resumed their silence as they walked.

  After another ten minutes, Bryon indicated they should turn left down a narrow side street. Amanda looked dub
iously down the poorly lit lane and felt the hairs rise on her arms. She did not have a good feeling about this. Bryon led the way as Amanda walked closely behind him.

  About half-way down the lane, they passed a deep black doorway. Amanda looked into it as she stepped by and gasped as a hand shot out and grabbed her arm, wrenching her around and away from Bryon.

  With amazing speed, Bryon’s fist shot out and landed a punch directly on the face of the unknown assailant. The grip released instantly, and she hugged her freed arm close to her body. Bryon put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, “Stay quiet. Let’s keep going quickly.” He turned her back in the direction they were supposed to be heading; his pace quickened, but not enough to draw further attention to themselves.

  When they left the confines of the dark lane and were back on the wider streets, Bryon removed his arm from around her shoulders, and they continued to walk side by side again. “What just happened?” Amanda asked and was appalled to hear the quaver of fear in her voice.

  “My guess is he was drunk and hoping you were a lady of the night to keep him company. He didn’t put up much of a fight, and he went down easily enough; I don’t even think he saw me. He’ll have quite the headache tomorrow, though,” Bryon chuckled as he shook his hand out.

  “Is your hand okay?” Amanda took his hand in both of hers and tried to look for any damage in the poor lighting.

  He pulled it back gently from her grasp and said offhandedly, “These hands have seen far worse; I daresay it’ll be just fine. Thank you for the concern.” He smiled at her to take the sting out of his words. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It just startled me is all.”

  “It was dumb of me to take a shortcut when we know Petre’s looking for you. I’m sorry I put you in such a position. Will you forgive me?” He had stopped walking and had turned to face her.

  The expression in his eyes was so sorrowful; Amanda could not possibly refuse. “There’s no need to apologize,” she assured him quickly. She gestured for them to continue, so he turned and started walking again by her side.

  “We don’t have much further to go until we get to the next stage of our journey,” he spoke conversationally.

  Because he did not give more detail, Amanda assumed he did not want to be overheard by anyone. She just nodded, and they kept walking. It was perhaps another twenty minutes at a brisk pace before they came to the edge of town.

  The businesses were now greatly interspersed with houses. They came to a house which had an enormous barn set apart from it. The entire property was enclosed by a split-rail fence. They entered the property at the open gate. Just as they crossed the line, the porch lights beamed brightly along the pathway. “It looks as though we’re expected,” Amanda said nervously.

  “Oh, we’re expected,” Bryon assured her, “but these lights are triggered by anyone passing through the gates.”

  “Oh,” Amanda replied stupidly. I’m going to have to be more careful than this, she thought to herself.

  Bryon took her hand and led her away from the lit path toward the barn. More than a little confused, Amanda followed along, occasionally tripping, and wondering how Bryon could walk so sure-footed.

  “Just a few steps more,” he whispered back to her as he reached forward, opened a door, and pulled her into the barn. With the door closed behind them, he spoke a little louder, “Wait right here. I’ll be right back.”

  Amanda nodded then realized he could not see the gesture in the dark, so she said, “Okay.” She heard his footsteps walking away from her. She listened intently and heard muffled footsteps, metal clinking, soft rustling of hay on the floor, the opening and closing of another door. Surprised when she felt warm breath on her cheek, she quickly stepped back.

  “It’s okay,” Bryon assured her as he was suddenly standing next to her. “Put your hand out and greet Maga; she’s a four anon old horse. She won’t bite you. She’s very gentle.”

  Since she knew what the hulking shadow was in front of her, she gladly held up her hand. A soft nose came down and touched her palm, and warm air wafted up to her wrist. “It doesn’t smell like horses in here,” she commented.

  “They don’t usually have horses. This barn is mostly just for storage anymore. I brought the horses here before I came to town to get you. They’ve only been here for a couple of hours. They’re all saddled and ready. Do you need help getting on her?”

  Amanda could feel him moving to assist her and quickly reassured him by saying, “Oh, no; I’ve ridden lots.” She hoped the dark would cover any clumsiness in her mounting. She had not lied about knowing how to ride, but she did not mention it had been at least a couple of years since she had attempted to do it.

  “Good, good,” he said as he moved away from her. “I’ll get the door. You can just ride out, the door’s high enough.” He led his horse forward.

  The barn door opened letting a narrow shaft of light into the enclosure, allowing Amanda to know where to lead Maga. The horse already knew to follow Bryon’s horse, so Amanda’s heel tap on the horse’s side was not necessarily required. Amanda waited for Bryon to close the barn door and mount his horse. Together they rode side by side, back through the property’s gate, and onto the road leading out of town.

  “Shouldn’t we have told the people at the house that we took the horses?”

  “No, nobody’s home anyway.” He looked toward her then clarified, “The house is owned by Captain Ahn and Barla. They told me to leave the horses there and come on foot to be more discreet.”

  “That makes sense. Can you tell me where we’re headed?”

  “Barla didn’t tell you?” Bryon asked in amazement.

  “No, she said the walls could hear,” she replied with a laugh.

  “You must be in more trouble than I imagined if she wouldn’t even talk in her own home,” he mused quietly. “We’re going to ride until sunrise; by then we should be in Matza. These horses belong to a friend of mine who lives there. We’ll sleep the day in his house; then at nightfall, we’ll take my telepod to my house in Kirma.”

  “How long will it take us to get to Kirma?” she asked excitedly anticipating her first telepod ride.

  Amanda noticed Bryon looking at her for a few seconds as though trying to understand what she was asking. She realized again she had asked the wrong thing and thought quickly of how to rephrase her question. “What I meant to ask was: are we going straight to where I’ll be staying or do you have other errands to run first?”

  Bryon stared at her for longer than was comfortable for Amanda, before he slowly nodded his head and replied, “You’ll be staying at my house. And yes, we’ll go straight there, so you can meet my wife and family, get unpacked, and then rest if you need to.”

  “Are you sure I won’t be an imposition to your family?”

  “Absolutely not! My wife is thrilled to have another woman in the house. I’m sure you’ll love her.”

  They rode silently for a few minutes before Bryon quietly, but quickly, asked, “Is there more to your story than you are telling me?”

  Amanda looked at him sharply and appraised his expression. Should I trust him? she asked herself. She remembered Barla’s admonition not to tell anyone about being from Earth unless she was absolutely certain she could trust them. Barla trusts Bryon with my safety, she thought, but would he not want me in his house if he knew I was an old soul? She had to give him an answer, so she said, “There is, but Barla has asked me not to talk about it just yet. I hope you’ll understand.”

  “Do you think there might be some point where you’ll be able to tell me everything?” he asked hopefully.

  “I honestly don’t know. Can we play it by ear?”

  “Fair enough.”

  Amanda’s curiosity was peaked, so she asked, “What made you think there was something more to tell?”

  He shrugged offhandedly and replied, “Oh, it’s just little things here and there which you do or say differently.”

 
“Am I terribly obvious?”

  “No,” he replied, “My wife tells me I always read too much into things, but more than once it’s come in handy!”

  “Will you do me a favor and let me know when I make a mistake?” she asked him quickly before she lost her nerve.

  “Sure. Do you want me to cough or stumble or something?”

  “Whatever fits the situation.”

  “That should be fun,” he replied and then lapsed into amused silence.

  After another few silent minutes had passed Amanda asked, “Tell me about your family.”

  “What would you like to know?”

  “How long have you been married?”

  “Six anons, last mesan in fact,” he replied promptly. “One thing I learned; never forget your anniversary, it might just be the last thing you do!” He chuckled at himself.

  “There must be a story behind that one!” Amanda replied and then laughed. “I’ll have to ask your wife what happened. What’s your wife’s name?”

  “Alena,” he spoke with pride.

  “You also said you had a family at home. Do you have kids then, too?”

  “Yes, we have our oldest son, Justan, who is three anons old; then there’s his betrothed, Andera, who’s almost three anons; and lastly, we have our youngest son, Kyelon, who just turned two anons.”

  “Betrothed,” Amanda sputtered and stared at Bryon with her mouth hanging open.

  “There you go again,” Bryon smiled and then coughed.

  “But you said your three anon old son is betrothed!”

  “Yes, it is the Tualan custom. Where did you say you were from?”

  His question brought her back to Tualan reality. She shook her head and closed her mouth. “Sorry,” she said, “I don’t know why, but it just took me by surprise.”

  Bryon nodded, but he did notice she had not answered his question. He turned his attention back to the road in front of them while he considered who this woman might be who would be living with his family. If he did not trust Barla as he did, he might have considered placing her in someone else’s home. He had, however, promised Barla he would look out for her, and he would honor his promise.