The Wolf of Tebron
First book in the Sacred Sites Series
In classic fairy tale style, we embark on an enchanted journey with a young blacksmith—Joran—whose only desire is to live a peaceful, uncomplicated life in his forest village, a desire shattered by the sudden and bizarre disappearance of his wife, Charris. The goose woman confronts Joran, telling him that he himself is responsible for this tragedy—that he has “taken his wife and trapped her by his anger.” Unwilling to heed the old woman’s warnings, Joran is plagued by nightmares of an unimaginable sea, where Charris remains trapped in a sand castle at the whim of the Moon. The goose woman insists he will find no rest from his nightmares until he solves the riddle of three keys. She tells him to travel the treacherous journey to the house of the Moon to find the answers he seeks.
Unable to ignore the urgings of his nightmares, Joran sets out north seeking the Moon. Leaving a town and family where he never felt truly at home, Joran’s journey becomes more than just a search for his wife. His path also leads inward, for he must face emotions that have tormented him his entire life—feelings of alienation and anger, of despair and hurt. Along the way he rescues a wolf—a huge, imposing creature that becomes a companion, and eventually a trusted friend.
Joran has the uncanny ability to speak with animals, and learns from the wolf, Ruyah, that he can manipulate his dreams to affect the real world. With Ruyah’s humor and guidance, Joran finds the courage and fortitude to press on, despite setbacks and disappointments. With the wolf by his side he endures the darkness at the end of the world and the ravings of the lunatic Moon, who sends him off—more confused than before—to the Palace of the Sun with a seemingly useless gift.
Time loses coherency as Joran endlessly wanders through a prairie where he is attacked by brigands and then rescued by the many animals he has befriended throughout the years. After trekking through a vast, unmerciful desert, Joran arrives at the Palace of the Sun, where he meets the Sun’s mother, Sola. She helps Joran understand part of his riddle and then sends him, with the gift of a sunstone, to the cave of the South Wind, whom, she says, will finally reveal the truth to him about his wife—if he dares hear it. He and Ruyah travel south through jungle, and finally arrive at the cave. There Joran is swept along a vision where he sees his past, and in horror, learns truths that send him into deep despair. The South Wind dismisses him with one last gift—but like the other two gifts, he has no idea what they are for or how they will help him rescue his wife. She tells him to find the sea of his dreams—far west, beyond his imagining.
Joran, grieved, falls captive to evil forces from another realm. After Ruyah rescues him, he finally reaches the sea, where he must battle the Moon to save his wife. In this climax, Joran finally understands the meaning of the riddle and how to use the gifts he has been given. But as he attempts to free Charris, the world comes apart at the seams, and in order to escape, Joran must kill the wolf at Ruyah’s urging or they will all be lost. Joran musters courage to do what must be done and although he and Charris are safe, Joran’s heart is broken by the loss of his wolf friend.
As the Moon flees, defeated, Joran and Charris watch in wonder as a boat appears and whisks them to a faraway shore. Laying the body of the wolf on the beach, Joran succumbs to grief. Then, a transformation takes place, where Ruyah comes to life, but not as a wolf; instead, he is once more a powerful wizard, and has been granted incorruption and authority in his resurrection to conquer the evil forces ravaging the world. Joran learns this wizard is his real father, who has purposefully led him on this journey to teach him the meaning of loyalty, honor, and sacrificial love. Joran returns home, overflowing with joy, and with peace in his heart at last.
