The Dove Stone – Dernier Publishing

The Dove Stone

(5 customer reviews)

£8.99

By P. S. Daunton. Excellent for family and school use – a brilliant read!

For 8 to 11s  / 152pp

This exciting story set in post-Roman Britain is perfect for:

1. Individual or family reading.

2. Gifts for schools leavers.

3. Teachers to use in schools. Discussion questions are available FREE here.

Don’t let your children miss out. If you want your children to understand God’s love and help when things get tough, invest in this book.

Torsa is a mean bully, who picks on the weak.

Rhiannon is concerned for her friend, Doran, and his little brother, Nico. But what can any of them do in the face of such arrogant cruelty?

Prayers to their ancient river god aren’t working. Could a meeting with a mysterious man in the woods change everything? Who is the Father God he speaks of, and how can the dove stone help?

Join Doran and Rhiannon on this action-packed adventure about friendship, hatred, facing fears and finding faith, set in post-Roman Britain.

BUY NOW for your children (quantity discounts available). They are worth it!

Kindle version available here.

 

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Description

Chapter 1. Lost

Wolf from The Dove Stone

Wolf’s silver fur shone in the moonlight. Lifting his muzzle, he sniffed the damp air. A faint smell of the river mingled on the breeze. He pricked up his ears, listening to the changing sounds as night gave way to dawn. His sharp eyes made out the shiny snake of the river which lay before them in the bottom of the valley. He turned to Rhiannon as he caught the faint reassuring howl of Juniper in the settlement, and knew at once the direction of home.

Rhiannon shivered as she pulled her old woollen cloak closer, a finger sliding over the red enamel of the circular pin* at her neck. The howl was far beyond her hearing. She eased back her shoulders, which were stiff from the night she’d spent in the hollow of a tree. Wolf’s wet nose nuzzled her hand, bringing a smile to her weary face. Gently she stroked his head and ruffled his ears. She was totally lost. “Which way now?” she asked him, straining her eyes to see in the darkness.

Suddenly, a twig snapped behind them and Rhiannon whirled round. Wide-eyed she stood there, straining her ears to listen, her heart pounding in her chest and her hand on the hilt of her knife. A rat scurried through the undergrowth and she sighed with relief. “It’s just a rat,” she told Wolf.

Slowly, Wolf led the way down the steep wooded slope towards the river, the wet grass soaking his long fur. Rhiannon slithered and slid along behind him. “Belisama only helps in the light,” she worried. “Now she’ll be gathering souls in the darkness, sucking them down into the river’s black heart. We have to cross the river to get home! But how are we going to find the crossing in the dark?” She yanked at the edge of her cloak, pulling it from brambles as she passed, adding to the snags in the fabric. Wolf waited, his bushy tail twitching impatiently, until she caught up with him.

But we can’t wait for the light, we have to get back before the gates open,” Rhiannon worried, rubbing impatiently at the mud on her soft leather breeches. “It’s all well and good Torsa saying there are fat rabbits on this side of the river. We didn’t find any!” Wolf slipped quickly under the branch that hung across their path. Rhiannon shoved it out of her way letting it twang back as she passed, splattering the earth with drops of rain that had been held amongst the leaves. “At dawn the gates will open and I’ll have to explain why I didn’t get home. They’ll be worrying about me.”

The valley bottom was even darker than it had been up on the hill. Wolf padded ahead, sniffing the ground as he went; his ears up and his nose absorbed in the search for the stepping stones to cross the river. The day before they had crossed safely in the light, leaving their scent on the grass, if Wolf could only find it. Then there it was! He stood rock steady, his nose pointing to the first stepping stone.

“You’ve found the crossing!” Rhiannon cried out in relief, stumbling towards him. Once they were over the river Belisama couldn’t hurt them; they would be back in their homelands and safe. But first they had to persuade the river goddess to let them cross in the dark.

Rhiannon stared at the crossing, fear gripping her stomach. The river was in full spate after the previous night’s rain, and was rippling over the tops of the stones. Rhiannon and Wolf looked silently at each other but there was no choice – the crossing had to be made. “I should have brought my pike!” Rhiannon whispered.

Her foot slithered on the slippery surface as she stepped on to the first stone. She licked her dry lips; she could barely see the far side of the bank. She took a small piece of iron in the shape of a hazel nut from the pocket* on her belt, and closed her eyes. “Please Belisama,” she pleaded, “take this nut and leave us to make the crossing, just as you promised to our forefathers.” She bent down and placed the nut carefully against the furthest edge of the first stone. Then she waited.

Wolf’s tail twitched. The gurgling river sucked at the stones. Rhiannon turned as a screeching owl flew behind them. But when she looked back the nut was gone. “Good,” she thought, stepping confidently onto the second stone and placing a new hazel nut against its edge. Wolf mastered the stone behind her.

Then they waited, listening to the churning call of the river around the stones. A silver fish leaped up clear of the surface slapping back into the water startling them both. “That nut’s gone too,” she told Wolf as she moved on again.

By the time they reached the middle stone, both banks had almost disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing but the seething water around them. They stood silently waiting for the nut to be taken. The river whispered to them as it flowed past, calling them to slide within its watery grasp.

Rhiannon fiddled with the pin at her throat, forcing down the panic in her chest. “Oh Leon,” she thought, “I could use your help right now.” She wished she could see her older brother waving from the far bank, pleased to find her safe. But the nut was still there.

The river sang its song of death. Gurgling and gargling as it rushed by her feet, it mesmerised her with its twinkling. Wolf let out a long, low growl. Rhiannon trembled as she almost lost her balance for a moment, but the nut was gone.

She stepped on to the next stone as the clouds parted, bathing her in moonlight. She turned her face towards the sky, her stomach a pit of dread. “Please Belisama,” she prayed, “please help us home.”

But it seemed Belisama was not pleased. A screaming black crow flew across the river from the trees and crashed into the back of Rhiannon’s head, knocking her forwards. She flailed her arms as the crow pulled at her thick plait, its wings flapping round her face. Rhiannon’s feet slipped; she felt herself losing her balance. Wolf bayed from the rock behind her, jumping with the force of each bark, but there was nothing he could do. She slithered off the stone, and cried out as she fell into the water with a splash. Her breath froze in her throat as the cold water grabbed her and pulled her down. Wolf howled in panic; turning round and round on his stone. Rhiannon clawed for the stone’s edge as the force of the river dragged her away downstream. She kicked frantically, but her mouth filled up with foam as she slipped below the surface.

She stared up at Wolf as she rose in the water. Water rose up her nose; the pain in her chest was crushing. “No!” she screamed, as she saw Wolf jump towards her into the waiting river. Cold helplessness smothered her as she saw Wolf being dragged downstream, and she was sucked below the surface of the water once more.

Suddenly she felt a strong hand grab the back of her jerkin. She was lifted out of the tumult, dragged towards the shore and deposited on dry ground. Shivering, spluttering and coughing, she lay still until she could breathe more freely. She turned to her rescuer but the strange brown-robed figure was already running down the river bank, his outline etched in the moonlight.

Gradually Rhiannon got to her knees and then to her feet, shivering with a cold that froze her bones. “Who is that man?” she wondered. She stood for a moment swaying as she looked back across the stones – then she remembered.

Terror rose up in her throat. “Wolf,” she cried out in anguish, “where are you?” And then, overwhelmed and exhausted, she crumpled to the ground.

The Dove Stone

5 reviews for The Dove Stone

  1. Paul

    I really enjoyed reading this book – it uses a fascinating and fast paced story to tackle the so very common problem of bullying.
    Highly recommended

  2. Dan Elson

    A real page turner, with action, feeling and a powerful message. The action scenes felt fast paced and exciting, the characters richly drawn and compelling, and the setting came alive as the story unfolded. The message of a Father God who cares about us and who we can ask for help felt well pitched for children – easy enough to understand, but not so simply put as to seem patronising. It can be so hard to explain faith to children without it seeming glib and unrealistic. The Dove Stone really felt like a real exploration of faith through the eyes of older children. When my boys are old enough they will certainly be presented with a copy!

  3. Sarah Earnshaw

    This book is unlike anything I have ever read before! The fascinating historical approach offers a glimpse of the past whilst simultaneously presenting readers with an introduction to the Christian faith and the power of prayer. The storyline is gritty enough to capture children’s attention and quickly becomes addictive reading to the point where they won’t want to put it down. I do hope there will be another in the series as I can’t wait to find out what happens to Doran and Rhiannon next!- Sarah Earnshaw, Children’s Work Adviser, Blackburn Diocese.

  4. Gill Ireland

    I loved this book and I’m sure children will love it too! Set in post Roman Britain, the story is attractive for both boys and girls. It covers a lot of historical facts and there’s a great glossary for explaining new words and terms but all set in a really exciting story where I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. At the heart of the story though is how the children come to faith and learn the power of prayer from a travelling monk. This would make a great gift for 7 to 11 year olds. There’s even a wonderful dog called wolf!

  5. Claire Greenway

    I read The Dove Stone in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. The short chapters and pace mean this would be great for a whole class read. It would also be a lovely gift for a child exploring their own faith. The setting in the post Roman era adds interest and there is some wonderful description and language to add effect. This gentle approach to introducing children to Christianity is both respectful and clear in its message. Good triumphing over evil is a theme throughout the book., whilst tacking the important theme of bullying makes it relevant for all children today. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

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