Shem’s Quest by Bill Eckel
The time of Tierra’s awakening, the sleeping Goddess of the Central Lands, approaches. The once-in-a-hundred cycles Ascendency of Mieze, Goddess of the Western Lands, also nears. If Mieze can prevent the raising of her sister’s conduit until her own Ascendency occurs, she can usurp her sister.
In the first volume in a series of four, “Shem’s Quest: Shem o’ the West,” Shem battles his inner demons as his is chosen to raise the Heartstone, or Hjerte, the conduit necessary for Tierra to awaken.
Mieze launches an invasion of the Central Lands to prevent the Heartstone from being used.
Shem is sent to find Wybee, who has information on how to accomplish the quest. As he searches diligently, Shem partners with a pixie-like creature, Nem Elt-til, an acolyte of Fiona, and a Free Goatherder.
Together these not quite friends travel a roundabout route to Grimval Fortress, unknowingly dogged by Shem’s brother Ham, an agent of the West. At the fortress, the final confrontation occurs. Above ground it is the Central Lander army against the Westerner army, below, Shem and his friends battle Ham.
