Delver Magic Book XII: Essence of the Chase

Book excerpt: Ryson Acumen wakes one morning to find his hometown surrounded by elves. A thrust of magic places the town of Burbon under the cover of a powerful spell, and only when the human village is completely sealed off does the elf leader, Standish Loftber, reveal his demands. Loftber knows that the human wizard, Jure, has taken possession of elf essence, and the elves will not leave until they retrieve what is rightfully theirs. Jure refuses to simply abandon what he views as a precious gift. He vows to retain the essence and swears to strive against any attempt to remove the magical energy. In hopes of escaping the town, the wizard enlists the help of his friends and companions. Ryson and Linda Acumen, Holli Brances, and Enin work with the wizard to break through the elf spell of distortion. The delver leads the group, utilizing his skills to deceive the elves and conceal any hint of a trail. They flee to the dark lands and struggle to find the one path which will steer them clear of a grave and costly confrontation with the elves.