TOUCH OF POWER

By: Maria V. Snyder

BOOK SUMMARY

The story unfolded with Avry, a disguised Healer Magician, when she saved the child

of her landlord from the brink of death. Using her healing powers, she transferred the

sufferings of the child to herself and risked being discovered as a healer. During those

times, healers are being hunted and executed because they refused to heal those who

were infected with the plague that caused the decimation of the population of the Fifteen

Kingdoms. Instead of being grateful to have their child nursed back to health, the landlord

reported her to the authorities with the latter capturing her for execution. A customized

coffin was even made to her being the last healer alive.

Avry was then rescued from her prison cell by a band of rogues with a leader named

Kerrick who claimed that he needs her to heal a friend. With the thought that anything is

better than her pending execution, she joined Kerrick’s team which consists of Belen,

Quain, Loren and Flea. The team settled wonderfully until she discovered that Kerrick’s

friend is Prince Ryne who was placed in a magical stasis to prevent his body from

succumbing to the plague. Avry refused to heal Prince Ryne because of a personal

encounter with the Prince with her mentor. Prince Ryne, vying to be the King of Fifteen

Kingdoms, was also said to be the one responsible for spreading the rumour that costs

the lives of the healers and Avry’s loved ones. Kerrick and Avry’s conversation became
heated that he lifted a finger against Avry and began treating her like a prisoner. Avry

then searched for an opportunity to escape from Kerrick’s team.

Avry’s opportunity came but her freedom was short-lived as she was caught by the

mercenaries searching for her. Kerrick and his team rescued her, causing a fatal wound

to Belen. Avry healed Belen and almost died doing so but was saved by Kerrick’s powers.

Apparently, Kerrick is a forest magician and his magic seemed to connect with Avrys’.

Kerrick and Avry then settled for a truce with Kerrick convincing Avry to heal his

friend. This was strengthened when Avry heard about Tohon, who is also after the crown

of the Fifteen Kingdoms and is actually the one who ordered the killing of healers so that

Prince Ryne won’t be healed.

Avry, Kerrick and his team then pursued their way to the Nine Mountains where

Prince Ryne is located. On their way, they were pursued by mercenaries who were trying

to box them in leaving them with no choice but to put their trust to Avry in leading them to

the path filled with Lilies. There are two kinds of lilies: Peace Lily and Death Lily. A Peace

Lily is safe while Death Lilies swallow people and kills them in the process. Avry saved

Flea’s life when he was about to be snatched by the Death Lily by pushing him away and

getting caught by the Death Lily in exchange. Miraculously, the Death Lily spat out Avry

alive to the relief of her companions. However, while inside the Death Lily, Avry recalled

that it was not her first time inside the lily and that she had the ability to commune with

them. It told her that Flea has the potential for something. She asked about it but the Lily

did not clarify anymore.

 The group proceeded to their destination passing a market where Avry found out

that her sister, Noelle, is still alive and is training under Priestess Estrid, who is also

amassing an army to conquer the Fifteen Kingdoms. She tried to take Noelle with her but

unfortunately, Noelle harbors anger against her and even plotted to trap her and her

group. They managed to walk away from Estrid with a promise that Avry will be back once

she healed Prince Ryne. However, they were ambushed by Jael on their way. Jael was

Kerrick’s ex-betrothed and a powerful air magician. They managed to break away from

her but Flea didn’t make it. Despite the group’s protest, Avry fed Flea’s dead body to a

Death Lily.

The group continued their journey to the Nine Mountains. On their way, they

discovered an abandoned underground hideout owned by the Healer’s Guild. It was there

that Avry discovered that the healers were conducting experiments using the Death Lily’s

toxic sac and accidentally caused the plague.

Soon after, Avry was kidnapped by a group of reanimated corpses created by a

man named Tohon, who also wants to be the King of the Fifteen Kingdoms. He tried to

seduce her in his cause and to gain her support. Tohon have the power of touch and can

make Avry desire him by the mere contact of his hand to her skin. However, he claimed

that he does not want to force Avry and boasted that she would come to him eventually

in her own volition. Kerrick and the team tried to rescue her and Tohon let her go. The

group hurried to the caves where Prince Ryne and the others were hidden. Unfortunately,

they were already too late. Prince Ryne was gone and only Sepp, the Death Magician

who placed Prince Ryne in a magical stasis, was alive.

 Finally convinced that Prince Ryne is their only hope for the salvation of the Fifteen

Kingdoms, Avry decided to surrender to Tohon with the hopes of locating Prince Ryne.

She took Sepp with him as part of her plan. The plan was simply to locate Prince Ryne,

take Sepp to him and undo the magical stasis in order for Avry to heal Prince Ryan.

Tohon accepted Avry as if he had been expecting her already and assigned her to

the infirmary. Avry performed her part as the healer and discovered that Tohon had been

experimenting the Lilies with some kids and is building an army of corpse. It did not take

long before Avry discovered the body of Prince Ryne and took Sepp to him. Unfortunately,

Sepp was a traitor and in cahoots with Tohon. Sepp removed the magical stasis and woke

Prince Ryne. Kerrick’s team arrived on time and managed to smuggle Prince Ryne out of

Tohon’s clutches. Avry managed to transfer the plague from Prince Ryne to herself and

stayed behind because she cannot leave the captive children being experimented by

Tohon.

Avry stayed as a prisoner but still continues to work in the infirmary surrounded by

guards. She bid her time and staged an escape with the two captive children. They were

about to be caught when they were rescued by Kerrick’s team and Prince Ryne.

It was then revealed to Kerrick that Avry cannot heal herself from the plague, the

very reason why the Healer’s Guild prohibited the healers from healing those infected.

They finally confessed their feelings for each other and spent Avry’s remaining life

together. Upon reaching the third stage, Avry requested to be fed to a Death Lily. Kerrick

complied with her request and took her to the field full of Lilies. Strangely, it was a Peace
Lily that snatched her. Once again, she had a conversation with the Lily and was

miraculously cured.

The story ended with Kerrick and Avry finally realizing that they might have found

the cure for the plague.

 SETTING FOR THE STORY

The major setting of the story revolves around the imaginary realms of the Fifteen

Kingdoms.
 MAIN AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS

Avry of Kazan The female protagonist of the novel and is a Healer Magician. She is

known to be the last healer alive.

Kerrick of Alga The male protagonists of the novel and is a Forest Magician. A friend

and staunch believer of Prince Ryne as the rightful King of the Fifteen Kingdoms.

Prince Ryne An excellent strategist and friend of Kerrick that was placed in a magical

stasis to prevent his body from succumbing to the plague. He is believed the only person

who can beat Tohon.

Belen Kerrick’s childhood friend and part of his team. He became close and protective to

Avry when she assumed his wounds that almost killed her.

Quain and Loren Part of Kerrick’s team that became friends with Avry.

Flea An orphan who became part of Kerrick’s team.

Tohon Former schoolmate of Prince Ryne and Kerrick and wants to be the King of the

Fifteen Kingdoms. He is a Life Magician.

Sepp A Death Magician that placed Prince Ryne in a magical stasis.

Priestess Estrid A smart and religious lady who started recruiting an army to conquer

the Fifteen Kingdoms.

Jael Kerrick’s ex-betrothed and is an Air Magician.

Noelle Sister to Avry and her last living family.