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Light of Mine : Book 1 of the Towers of Light Series

By Allen Brokken

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1. The Tower of Light
Father nearly flattened Lauren as he blundered through the kitchen door with an awkward bundle of rolled parchment. Lauren dodged out of Father’s way and managed to not drop her brother’s dirty dishes. Ever since she turned twelve, Mother had given her more and more responsibility. She knew Mother would be proud of her fancy footwork, saving the dishes from certain destruction.
“Aiden, clear the table please,” Father said with his commanding but warm voice.
Aiden, the family’s middle child, compiled by grabbing the side of the cast iron spider pot from the center of the table and pulling it to him. Lauren watched him strain with it, then wrap it up in a bear hug to carry it, which was apparently a bit much for his nine-year-old frame. She stepped over and attempted to help him.
“I can do it, Sissy!” Aiden barked at her as he adjusted the weight. Mother wasn’t going to be happy if he got soot from the sides of the pot all over his plaid cotton shirt and khaki pants. But Lauren wasn’t going to start an argument over it in front of Father.
“OK, OK. You can handle it, but why don’t you actually handle it?” Lauren pointed to the pot’s heavy wire handle .
“Oh,” Aiden replied sheepishly, then set the pot on the floor and used both hands to grab the wire. . He could manage it that way much better, so she turned her attention to Father.
Father unrolled and flattened the parchment to reveal building plans and then sat down in his rough-hewn armchair at the head of the table. Father put his left hand over his mouth and leaned in to rest his elbow on the table. His weathered fingers nearly covered his nearly white goatee.
Lauren glanced at the plans herself, realizing that it outlined some kind of fortification. She returned to her task of washing the dishes Why would Father be working on defenses at home? Was the Darkness loose on the Heathlands?
Lauren dried the plate she just washed and turned to put it on the counter. As she worked, she saw Father sit back and rub his face. He must have been lost in thought because he jumped in his chair as five-year-old Ethan hopped onto his lap and asked, “What’s this, Daddy?”
His red hair was a tousled mess as Mother was loath to cut his curly locks, so Father had to adjust the boy on his lap to still see the plans.
Aiden climbed into the chair next to him and leaned over the table, mimicking the pose Father had displayed just a moment ago. “It looks like a tower to heaven!”
Father rubbed the top of Aiden’s head, pushing back his short-cropped blond hair , and smiled as Aiden turned to look at him. “You are close, my son. It’s a lighthouse.”
“A lighthouse?” Lauren couldn’t concentrate on her task any longer, so she wiped her hands on a white apron that covered her pale blue paisley work dress and took a ribbon out of its pocket. She tied back her sandy-brown hair as she bent over the table to look at the plans. They showed three different cross-sectional views of a wooden structure with various lines indicating size measurements.
Mother came through the door with a wooden milk bucket in one hand, startling everyone from their study of the plans. She was careful not to spill any milk on her pale blue dress as she put the bucket on the counter, then joined the rest of the family by the table.
Mother rested her hand on Father’s shoulder, and Lauren noticed Father wince slightly as he looked up into Mother’s brown eyes. Something about that look told Lauren bad news was coming. A wave of anxiety went through Lauren and settled as a tight knot in her stomach.
“Have you told them what it’s for?” Mother asked with a frown.
“There’s no ocean for hundreds of miles,” Lauren interjected. “What would a lighthouse be guiding to safety?”
“Children, I didn’t know how to tell you this.” Father spoke in a halting manner. “I’m going away for a while.”
“What?” Lauren gasped.
Ethan began to cry.
“Where are you going, Daddy?” Aiden asked with a hint of fear in his voice. “To Grandma’s house?”
“No, son.” Father put his arm around Ethan and kissed the crying boy on the top of his head. “I’m traveling to Blooming Glen and other places on the outskirts of the Heathlands.”
“Isn’t that where the Darkness is?” Lauren wrung her hands.
“No, Daddy, don’t leave!” Ethan buried his head in Father’s chest.
Aiden jumped out of his seat and wrapped one arm around Ethan, the other around Father, then hid his face in Father’s shoulder.
“Not yet. At least that’s the hope.” Father patted Aiden’s back. “You know I finished my studies last month. I’m now a Master Artificer, and I can craft all kinds of arms and defenses against the Darkness. I’m to help the Mighty Mercenaries defend the battlefront.”
“I know the Mighty Mercenaries are supposed to be the most valiant warriors in Zoura. But if the Darkness falls before you can set up the new defenses, won’t it get you, too?” Lauren asked. At this, Mother came over and put an arm around Lauren’s shoulder. Lauren looked up and saw tears streaming from the corners of her mother’s dark brown eyes.
“That’s why we’ll build this tower here on our farm. As long as the Light shines on me, I will always be safe from the Dark One, and no matter how the Darkness spreads, I will find my way home.” Father took his hand off Ethan’s back and leaned closer to the table to point at the symbol of a lantern in the top of the tower.
Ethan wiped his eyes and looked at the plans again. “Daddy, can I help build? I want to keep you safe from the Darkness.”
At that, tears began to pool at the corners of Father’s eyes. “Of course, son. In fact, you all can help.”
Aiden let go of Father, took a deep breath, and composed himself. “I’m a good builder. I can help too. What are we going to build it with?”
“Cedar,” Father said. “It’s practical and grows right here. .”
Despite the change in subject, Lauren still worried about Father being lost to the Darkness. The tales of what happened to people under the Darkness were terrifying: untreatable diseases killing whole towns, dark creatures intent on murder roaming the streets, people being forced to do the Dark One's bidding. She didn’t want one of those horrible ends for her daddy. However, she saw her brothers being brave, so she decided to put on a good face on for now. She tried to come up with something positive to say, then remembered the cedar chest in which her best dress was stored. “And cedar wood smells good.” The comment didn’t cheer Lauren as she’d hoped.

***

For the next few weeks, Lauren woke at dawn, determined to help Father any way she could to keep him safe from the Darkness. She wasn’t sure how the tower would really help if he were in a faraway land, but Father had said so, and he was very wise, so she focused on helping Father by carrying supplies, holding boards while Father cut or nailed them, or fetching water when he got hot. The business helped Lauren take her mind off of her anxiety and worries.
While Father did most of the work, with Lauren a close second, Aiden was good at following the plans to lay out supplies for the next piece of work, and Ethan could fetch things like nails when they ran out. Mother kept up with the normal chores, making sure they all had plenty to eat and drink.
As the second story of the Tower began to take shape, Lauren helped Father put in the stairs. She sat on a lower step and held the pleasant-smelling cedar planks in place as Father nailed the plank into the frame with square-topped, iron nails. It was precarious work as Father was perched on a ladder that leaned against the steps. When he finished, he reached into his tool belt for more nails while Lauren put the next plank in place.
“Ethan,” Father called with his deep, commanding voice. After a moment’s pause, he called again more forcefully, “Ethan!”
The boy popped his head into the open doorway at the bottom of the tower. “Yes, Daddy?”
“I’m almost out of nails. Can you bring a bag up to me?”
“Daddy they’re heavy. I’m too little.” Ethan whined.
“Ethan, I’ll never assign a task you can’t do. You bear the Light, son. Right now, I need you to shine that light by obeying and doing something hard. Can you do that for me?” Father replied, his voice level and compassionate .
“OK, Daddy, I’ll do it,” Ethan replied as he shuffled out of the Tower.
Father’s words to Ethan touched Lauren deeply. “Daddy, is that why you’re going away? Did God ask you to do something hard to shine your light?”
Father hung the hickory-handled claw hammer from his belt and put a leather-clad hand on Lauren’s shoulder. She looked up into her Father’s eyes and saw tears welling the corners. This cut deep in Lauren’s heart, Daddy never cried.
“Yes, Lauren, the Lord put a heavy burden on my heart to make sure the Light shines in faraway places. I want more than anything to stay here with the family. Mother would go with me to help…she’s much more than just a prayer warrior ,but it’s not safe for you children to come along. The Lord has asked me to do the hard thing, so I must.” Father wiped his eyes with the back of his glove.
At this Lauren began to cry as well. “But, Daddy, who will keep us safe?”
Father took off his glove and put it in his tool belt, then reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his handkerchief. He used it to wipe the tears from Lauren’s face.
“Daddy! Help! Help!” Ethan cried from outside the tower.
This startled Father, and he suddenly turned toward the door. The movement knocked the ladder out of balance, and Father flailed to try to keep it in place. Lauren grabbed for the ladder to pull it back but missed, and it fell away from the steps and into the opposite wall of the tower.
Father’s head banged against the wall. Lauren saw him hang from one arm for an instant. Then he lost his grip and fell to the floor.
“Daddy!” Lauren cried as she rushed down the completed stairs. She jumped off the last three steps and dashed to her Father’s side.
“Daddy! Help!” Ethan called again as he stepped into the tower.
“Ethan! You scared Daddy! Look what you did!” Lauren turned to glower at her brother and pointed accusingly at where Father was slumped on the floor, shaking his head and rubbing the back of it. “But there’s a frog on my noggin! Help!” Ethan pointed to the top of his head.
Lauren did a double take. On top of Ethan’s curly mess of red hair was a rainbow-striped bullfrog. The colorful frog sparkled in the light coming in from the open doorway. She had never seen anything like it.
“Come here, Ethan. Let me see this frog,” Father said shakily from behind Lauren. She turned and saw Father pull himself up to a sitting position and lean against the wall.
“Oh, Daddy!” Ethan said as he came to kneel next to Father. He reached up to touch the bump on the back of Father’s head. “I gave you a head egg! I’m sorry!”
Father appeared to be in a daze as he focused on the frog on Ethan’s head for what felt like an eternity.
“Daddy, are you OK?” Lauren asked, worried that he might have really been hurt in the fall.
Father shook his head as if to clear it. “Do you know what kind of frog that is?”
“Daddy you just took a bad fall. Is this really time for a nature lesson?” Lauren had concern in her voice.
“Yeah, Daddy, can you please get it off my head?” Ethan replied.
Father sat up straighter. “It’s a Zourian Flying Frog. I’ve never seen one outside of a drawing in a book. It is said they are touched by the Light.”
Father took the frog off of Ethan’s head and put it on the bump on his own head. Light sparkled all around the frog, and the swelling on Father’s head disappeared.
Ethan clapped his hands. “Daddy! He fixed your head egg!”
Father looked deeply into Lauren’s eyes. “You asked who will keep you safe. The Lord provides for those dedicated to the Light.”
Lauren nodded , amazed at the miracle she just witnessed.
“Can we keep him, Daddy?” Ethan asked pointing at the frog proudly perched on Father’s head.
“I’m pretty sure the frog has chosen to keep us, son,” Father replied as he gingerly removed the frog from its perch.
“Oh, goodie, goodie! I’ll call him Sparkle Frog.” Ethan reached for the frog, and Father gave it to him.
“Ethan, why don’t you take your new friend down to the creek for a swim?” Father said as he
“Are you sure you should get up, Daddy?” Lauren asked. “I can go get Mamma.”
Father stood up carefully and pushed the ladder above him back into place. “Never felt better. Sparkle Frog was miraculous. Let’s go get some water, and we’ll tell Mother and Aiden about our new friend.”

***

A few weeks later, in May of that year, the three-story tower was complete. It had a peaked roof and shuttered windows; its bottom two stories were enclosed with wooden logs. On the Sabbath, after the tower was finished, Father asked the parson to come for dinner. Lauren really liked the parson, who was kind to her, answering any question she might have, so she was glad to have him. Also, he occasionally gave themn sweet treats .The clergyman, in his forties, wore simple, white linen clothes with a cross pin on his right lapel. Lauren didn’t know how he kept them so clean; Mother only let her wear her white dress to church on the Sabbath, and then she had to change it as soon as she got home. How did the parson keep his clothes so clean?
Mother led the parson to the table, and he set the burlap sack he was carrying underneath the table before taking his seat.
After a delicious meal of Mother’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits, the parson wiped his mouth and said, “Children, your father tells me you are more diligent than the ants of the field. You have built a solid tower in record time.”
“Thank you, sir!” exclaimed the children.
The parson rose from the table. “There is just one thing missing.”
“What?” asked Ethan, echoing what Lauren was thinking. Father’s plans were so detailed. She couldn’t imagine what they’d missed.
The parson bent over and picked up his sack, then removed a metal lantern and set it on the table. “The Light, of course.”
The lantern was a dull bronze color that reminded Lauren of the brass knockers on the church door. It looked about five hands high and one hand wide. The glass faces had a golden stained-glass cross in the center of each face. She really loved that because it reminded her of the stained-glass window in her grandma’s great room. The lantern held no candle, but a small spike protruded from its center.
Aiden set his elbows on the table and leaned closer. “Mama, will you get a candle, so we can light it?”
The parson patted Aiden on the head. “Son, not for this lantern.”
Ethan looked at the parson with a puzzled look on his face. “What does it use?”
Father pointed at Ethan’s chest. “The light for this lantern is inside of each of us. ”
Ethan’s chin went down, then up, and he threw his hands into the air. “I don’t see the light, Daddy.”
“When you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and spirit, the Good Book says you reflect the Savior’s Light on the world, which pushes back the Darkness.” Father scooted his chair close to Ethan and patted his head. “Would you like to learn a song about how we can shine that light?”
Ethan clapped his hands. “Oh, that sounds fun, Daddy.”
Father got up from his chair and moved the lantern into the center of the table. “We all can sing. I think Lauren and Aiden know the song already.”
Father knelt next to Ethan and held up his index finger. “This little light of mine,” he began. “I’m gonna let it shine.”
For a moment, Lauren thought it was silly to sing this little kids’ song in front of the parson. After all, she was twelve years old., However, she was overtaken by her brother’s excitement and joined in.
Soon everyone, including the parson, joined in. As they sang the song, the tip of the spike in the lantern began to shine. The longer they sang, the more its radiance increased. By the second verse, about not hiding the light, it glowed as brightly as a Christmas candle.
As they finished with “Shine it all over the whole wide world. I’m gonna let it shine,” a bright blue-white flame engulfed the spike. The radiance filled the inside of the lamp so brilliantly, it lit the entire house. Lauren was filled with joy and a bright hope. Daddy would be protected by the Light despite his travels into distant lands.
Father picked up the lantern. “Children, as long as we stay faithful to the Lord, this Light will shine over the Heathlands. We must do our work the very best we can as if for the Lord. We must pray, read the Good Book, and honor the Sabbath. We must pay heed to even little things, like watering the animals or cleaning up after dinner. We must do our work obediently, with a happy heart, and the Light will always shine.”
Father carried the lantern to the top of the tower and set it in place. Its light shone out over the Heathlands as if it were intent on banishing the Darkness wherever it threatened to reach.
The next morning, Father left on his mission to help the Mighty Mercenaries defend the Heathlands against the Darkness.
Lauren was determined that no matter what, she would keep the Light shining so he would come home safely.

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