by S. R. Cronin
“Soon the first of them will hit the extremely lush grass the Velka worked so hard to grow.
We moved a little further northward in silence. Fewer horses walked down there now. Men urged them on. Others argued. We waited.
“This is really the first part of the plan,” she said. “It was always the part we had the least control over. We need them to stop for the night.”
Most of the sounds of hoofs had ceased. We heard the clanging of metal. Pots? Camping gear?
Argument stopped. Tones turned more jovial. A decision had been made, and it wasn’t hard to guess.
Let the horses graze in this wonderful grass. Open a jug or two and relax. Perhaps tomorrow this horrible fog would be gone and it would be just as good a day to deal with these troublesome Ilarians.
And it would be.
Archers and oomrushers had taken their places already, hidden by the fog and soon to be hidden by the darkness. Then the mist would lift in the night.
“I need to go,” I said.
“Of course. I’ll ride with you until you’re out of the fog. Tell the others that we’ve made it through the first part. Perhaps the hardest part. At the first hint of light, the snakes of the Chimera will strike.”
I found the various camps not far from the abandoned market stalls. The singers made up most of our numbers, but the few fire-wielding reczavy had carved out their spot, as had the herders trained to work with the runaway horses. The luskies camped furthest off to the side.
I knew the first question I’d be asked. I’d prepared for it.
“Coral. There you are!” Ewalina dared to greet me. “What took you so long? And where’s Hana?”
“Dead.”
The luskies went silent.
“She fell off a cliff. I hope there’s someone else here to coordinate things.” Ewalina’s cheerfulness left me in no mood to soften anything.
“Is Ura with you?” another asked me.
Ura was a young luski from Pilk who’d hung out a lot with the singers. I had no idea why anyone would think I knew her whereabouts. “No. Have you asked the musicians?”
“Yes, and they said she’s acted strange for days. Spent all her time with Hana in the forest, so we thought maybe she ended up with you and Hana.”
A suspicious thought crossed my mind. Would Hana have pretended Ewalina helped her? Why? To upset me, probably. My feelings of betrayal could make me easier to manipulate.
I turned to Ewalina.
“When’s the last time you were in the forest?” I demanded. Whoever had nudged Aliz and Joli in their decision making had done so in the last few anks. Ewalina looked puzzled and hurt by my tone.
“Sometime before Sashi. I’ve been so busy getting my kids ready to go with my mother …”
I blew out a puff of air. “Hana tried to leave me a parting gift by telling me you’d betrayed me.”
Ewalina’s eyes grew wide. I spoke before she could respond.
“I’m sorry I believed her. I really am. She was varmin convincing, though, and I was pretty agitated after she threatened Votto’s life.”
The luskies went from silent to talking at once. Ewalina held up her hand to hush them.
“If Hana’s not coming, we’ve got to put this nonsense aside and think. There’s a hundred people here who need direction, and most of them are restless already because Hana hasn’t shown up.”
“Coral. Do you think you can take over?” the man from Tolo asked.
I shook my head. “It needs to be someone who’s not a luski. This plan needs every one of us.”
I gave Ewalina a questioning look. She was in many ways our leader and a logical choice to replace Hana. She nodded at me. “I agree. Not a luski.”
“I have an idea,” I said. “Celestine is not only uncommonly good at communicating, but she’s responsible for gathering most of these singers. I think she could handle the job.”
“Yes. She could do this,” several said it at once.
You want to talk to her?” Ewalina asked.
“Sure.”
As I walked over to the singers’ area, I thought of Ryalgar, somewhere in Eds. Thanks to me, and to what I’d done, she now had a chance to make things right there.
I thought of Olivine, already hidden in the fog, ready to shoot poisoned arrows off in the hour before dawn. Of Sulphur, taking her position with our soldiers, willing to die tomorrow for her realm. Of Gypsum, coordinating a circus of illusions designed to push our enemy over the brink. Of Iolite, somewhere unknown, but no doubt playing a part I might never know.
Now, I needed to convince my remaining sister that she was capable of coordinating this rowdy crowd as we tried to persuade two hundred horses to throw their riders into the waiting arms of our farmers.
Could she do it? Could we do it?
After what I’d done to get us this far, I had to believe we could.
What’s Next?
This seven-book series tells the story of each sister’s unique role in preparing to save Ilari. Will the sisters succeed? Read on and find out. Each book reveals more.
Book 1, She’s the One Who thinks Too Much, is already available.
Book 3, She’s the One Who Gets in Fights will be available on May 14, 2021 and can be preordered.
Book 4, She’s the One Who Doesn’t Say Much, will follow in August 2021.
Want to make sure you don’t miss a release? Go to my landing page to be notified when each book is ready for purchase. I promise you’ll only get notifications about the release of these books.
If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review somewhere. If you enjoyed it a lot, please leave a review in several places.
She’s the One Who Gets in Fights
Sulphur, the third of seven sisters, is glad the older two have been slow to wed. It’s given her the freedom to train as a fighter, in hopes of fulfilling her lifelong dream of joining Ilari’s army. Then, within a matter of days, both sisters announce plans and now Sulphur is expected to find a man to marry.
Is it Sulphur’s good fortune her homeland is gripped by fear of a pending Mongol invasion? And the army is going door to door encouraging recruits? Sulphur thinks it is. But once she’s forced to kill in a small skirmish, she’s ready to rethink her career decision.
Too bad it’s too late. The invasion is coming, and Ilari needs every good soldier it has.
Once Sulphur learns Ilari’s army has made the strategic decision to not defend certain parts of the realm, including the one where her family lives, she must re-evaluate her loyalty. Is it with the military she’s always admired? Or is it with her sisters, who are hatching a plan to defend their homeland with magic?
Everywhere she turns, someone is counting on her to fight for what’s right. But what is?
She’s the One Who Doesn’t Say Much
Olivine, the fourth of seven sisters, has been hiding a secret as she travels to K’ba to meet her artist friends. Others assume she has fallen in love with another artist, and it’s not a match Mother would consider suitable. But it’s much worse than that. For on the way to K’ba is the dirt poor nichna of Scrud, a place scorned by other Ilarians. And in Scrud is the one man who understands her.
However, Bohdan is also a man who recognizes the dangers posed by an impending Mongol invasion. When he learns of Olivine’s unusual visual powers, he convinces her to pick up her bow and start practicing.
She does, though she’s more concerned with producing enough art to raise the funds to run away from home and live in K’ba, where she can paint all day and see Bohdan as often as she wants. If only her sister Ryalgar hadn’t learned of what she can do and decided Olivine and her fellow long-eyes held one of the keys to defending the realm.
Then, as if life wasn’t complicated enough, Olivine learns the artist community she yearns to be part of has developed a different take on the invasion. They feel certain the only way to survive is to capitulate completely to the Mongols’ demands. Artists who feel otherwise are no lo
nger welcome.
Where does her future lie? The supposed invasion is coming soon and Olivine doesn’t have much time to decide.
What About the Other Sisters?
Look for more information on the adventures of the remaining three sisters in the next book.
About the Author
Sherrie Cronin is the author of a collection of six speculative fiction novels known as 46 Ascending and is now publishing a historical fantasy series called The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters. A quick look at the synopses of her books makes it obvious she is fascinated by people achieving the astonishing by developing abilities they barely knew they had.
She’s made a lot of stops along the way to writing these novels. She’s lived in seven cities, visited forty-six countries, and worked as a waitress, technical writer, and geophysicist. Now she answers a hotline. Along the way, she’s lost several cats but acquired a husband who still loves her and three kids who’ve grown up fine, both despite how eccentric she is.
All her life she has wanted to either tell these kinds of stories or be Chief Science Officer on the Starship Enterprise. She now lives and writes in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she admits to occasionally checking her phone for a message from Captain Picard, just in case.
Connect with S. R. Cronin in any of the following ways.
On Goodreads
On Facebook
On Twitter
On her blog
The Ilarian Calendar
A year in Ilari is divided into eight parts based on the seasons. Each eighth lasts for 45 days and is named for the holiday at its start.
Each eighth is subdivided into five anks. Each ank is nine days long. Businesses and schools are open during the first six days of an ank while the last three, called the ank-break, are intended for family life and relaxation.
Every year astronomers consult the stars to decide which of the holidays will be inside their eighth and which will be treated as extra days. Most years, five or six holidays are ruled to be extra days.
Holidays Marking the Beginning of Each Eighth
Kolada: The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the start of a new year.
Svi: The coldest time of the year, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Noruz: The spring equinox, the start of spring.
Keva: A celebration of those yet to be, held halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. More babies are conceived at Keva than at any other time of the year.
Tirga: The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the halfway point of a year.
Heli: The hottest time of the year, halfway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Ilarians are not fond of the heat and often use “Heli” as a cussword.
Plono: The autumn equinox, the start of autumn.
Sashi: A celebration of those who have passed, held halfway between the fall equinox and the winter solstice.
The Twelve Nichnas
Bisu: These low grasslands at the eastern entrance to Ilari supply coveted beef and cows’ milk to Ilarians.
Eds: These dry hills leading up to the mountains are sparsely populated with independent-minded goat herders.
Gruen: The fertile soil along the river makes for easy farming of fruits and vegetables and makes Gruen home to one of the two more densely populated areas outside of Pilk.
Faroo: This flood-prone nichna in the rivers bend struggles during heavy rains, but is known for fishing and the boating prowess of its residents.
K’ba: This drought-stricken nichna has survived by becoming home to artists, entertainers, and those seeking more freedom of choice. It is also a playground for the richest Ilarians and boasts a densely populated area known for its spectacular food and lodging.
Kir: Ilari’s oldest farming region nestles between Pilk and Lev and grows specialty items for the connoisseurs in both of its neighboring nichnas.
Lev: This nichna is home to the realm’s famed vineyards and supplies Ilarians with wine, their most important beverage. It also leads the fashion scene and sparks trends within the realm.
Pilk: As the informal capital of Ilari, Pilk is home to the Svadlu headquarters, most of the institutes of higher learning, and much of the commerce in the realm. The ruling prince of Pilk coordinates cooperation among the twelve ruling princes. The Pilk Palace outshines any other building in Ilari.
Scrud: Rain-deprived Scrud is the poorest and least populated of the nichnas and the most lacking in natural resources. Most Scrudites survive by taking menial jobs in adjoining Bisu or K’ba.
Tolo: Home to the highest mountains in Ilari, independent Tolovians mine for ore, produce lumber, and serve as a gateway to the even higher mountains to the north.
Vinx: With incredibly flat land sitting above cliffs, the high plains of Vinx provide the wheat, oats, rye, and barley that are the staples of an Ilarian’s diet.
Zur: As the only nichna inside of Ilari’s large central forest, Zur shares the woods with occupants of the Open Forest including the Velka, the reczavy, and scrounger Scrudites.
The Map of Ilari
Words Used by Ilarians
Ank: A nine-day period. Business is conducted during the first six days while the last three are intended for family life and relaxation.
Heli: The hottest time of the year, but sometimes used as a cussword.
Luski: A feared, possibly imaginary creature who can control others with her voice.
Mozdol: A member of the Svadlu who has been made into an honorary prince due to brave actions defending the realm.
Nichna: One of the twelve principalities of Ilari. Each has its own royal family and is ruled by a prince. All twelve coordinate as regards the Svadlu and other matters pertaining to the common good. There is no king, therefore Ilari is not a kingdom.
Oomrush: telekinesis.
Pruck: An extremely rude word sometimes referring to copulation and other times merely expressing disgust or dismay.
Pruska: An extremely rude word referring to a female possessing any number of undesirable qualities.
Rantallion: A man who is being disagreeable, dishonest, or disgusting.
Reczavy: a group of free-spirited people living in the open forest who choose to continue and extend the sexual freedom permitted to tidzys.
Scump: a rude word referring to excrement.
Svadlu: The Ilarian army and police force. A member of the Svadlu is called a Svadlu.
Tidzy: A young adult who is searching for a mate and is allowed a great deal of sexual freedom around holidays.
Velka: A group of women who live in the open forest, possibly performing magic. A member of the Velka is called a Velka.
Meet the Ilarians in this Book
Aliz: Coral’s grandmother
Celestine: Coral’s sister
Chessa: One of Coral’s young students, Janx’s daughter
Coral: the second of seven sisters
Davor: Coral’s husband
Davot: Legal name for Coral and Davor’s son, commonly called Votto
Ewalina: an older luski who mentors Coral
Gypsum: Coral’s sister
Hana: an ambitious Velka from Pilk
Iolite: Coral’s sister
Janx: Chessa’s dad, farmer originally from Faroo
Joli: a Velka oomrusher, Ryalgar’s best friend
Ketevan: Davor’s girlfriend from Pilk, Hana’s friend
Markita: Coral’s mother
Nevik: a Prince of Pilk, Ryalgar’s secret lover
Nutmeg: Coral’s mare
Ryalgar: Coral’s sister
Sakina: Coral’s co-worker & friend
Sulphur: Coral’s sister
Votto: Coral’s nickname for her son
Yasen: Coral’s father
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