by Tom Rogal
Thetalis gazed at the elf prince. “What are you feeling?”
Thamalos smirked slightly.
“It is odd. This human and mage have found a way to coexist while the masses cannot. Despite my previous opinions about him, we all could take a lesson from these two.”
“I want to talk to you two . . . privately. Come.”
Thetalis led them inside the medical room and closed the doors behind him. It was practically empty by now, with a blood-stained sheet over a stone table the only evidence that a surgery had even occurred. Thetalis’ assistants were removing the body of a fallen elf, his heart pierced by an arrow, through another doorway as they entered. After Divi's injury, telepathic calls by Thamalos had the army advance inside the palace. An Ettui squad ambushed them and killed ten, nine of them elves.
Both the mage and the elf’s eyes followed the half-elf curiously. Tasi was most appreciative that he saved her, but what was all this secrecy about?
He asked, “What is the problem? I sense a great concern on your part.”
Thamalos added, “Divi’s recovery from this wound is remarkable! It looks like she is already three days into the healing process.”
“Yes, it is. I have never seen a mage with such recovery skills as hers. With that wound it should’ve taken a week for it to close up. It will leave a nasty scar. No amount of mage healing magic will help that any.”
That did make Tasi curious. Thetalis had a point. Not even Neeza, who was the strongest mage at the time, had that type of healing potential. There was nothing different about Divi that he knew of . . . well, except that she wasn’t trained to cast magic. From what he learned, he was quite certain that would hinder her healing ability, not enhance it.
Thetalis asked, “Tasi, what level of mage is she? I’m afraid I don’t know her too well and can’t tell because her staff shows no jewel. At that healing rate, she must be a grand master in white magic.”
Tasi stared blankly at Thetalis, trying to decide how to answer. Levels were how the other races judged a mage's power. Neeza was considered to be at the supreme master level because he was that strong in his prime years. Divi, because of her age and as the daughter of Neeza, would naturally be assumed to be a grand master, the level just below her father. Thamalos already knew, but would the half-elf believe what he was about to say? As her friend and teacher, it was only right that Tasi explained it.
“She has no level.”
The facial expression he flashed was enough to convince Tasi that he shocked Thetalis. He knew it would.
“What do you mean?”
“She chose not to learn magic on the advice of her mother. She only knows the basic telekinetics.”
Thetalis put his hand on his chin. How could this be? She didn’t know magic, but she could heal faster than any mage ever to live. What made this girl so special compared to others of her race?
He said, “This news is quite odd. There is one other thing I must say.”
A silence fell in the room, heavy with dread. Tasi knew they had not gone aside just to ask about her healing capabilities. There was something else. Something bad. The chill in his body was from more than the cool breeze.
Thetalis continued, “Her liver was severely punctured by the dragon’s claw, as you saw. I didn’t have the heart to tell her. No mages fell in the battle and all the fallen humans left horrible organ replacements. Because a mage needs all its organs to survive, I . . . had to place an elven liver inside her.”
Thamalos and Tasi’s eyes grew wide.
“How could you? You know what will happen! Elf and mage body chemistries are too different to mix! They can't even have children together!” exclaimed Tasi.
“I know. I tried to avoid it, but I had no choice. The human who perished from the Ettui attack in the palace was shot in the liver before the killshot to his heart. I had to use an elf. I can't tell how much time she has left, for it is different for every recipient.”
That was always the problem with finding the start of the Unifier line. The elves and mages were just not compatible. They could never bear children together, being tried on many occasions. Unable to pass off their characteristics the normal way, organ donation became a possibility because the elf organ wanted to achieve perfect balance with its new host, thus blending them. That too always failed because anyone with even a hint of mage blood in their past would die. Some lived days after, some a couple weeks. The longest know case was three weeks, but that last week the person suffered horribly.
Thamalos was disheartened by the news, but a gleam of hope entered his eyes.
He suddenly asked, “But if she survives, that would make her part mage and part elf, would it not?”
Thetalis and Tasi glanced at each other confused by what Thamalos was trying to get at.
The half-elf finally agreed, “Well, in time, technically yes. Elf organs in another race's body are aggressive and want to be one with its new host. That is when the deaths occur. If she survives, or bears a child, it’s possible. Most mage females don't make it long enough for the child to even truly form.”
Tasi finally realized what Thamalos was hinting at, but it was preposterous. His Divi? It was ludicrous!
“You can’t possibly be thinking . . .”
Thamalos interrupted, “Yes. The Unification. The beginning of the line of The Unifier of the Land.”
Thetalis was not going to believe this for one second.
“You speak of legend and lore. Besides, for The Unification to occur, she would also have to breed with . . .”
Thamalos pointed out toward the window, where Divi and Levus were holding hands watching the northern skies. That was the only image one needed to know there was something there between those two.
“I do not trust that human. You and I both heard voices spoken in the forbidden tongue by him,” stated Thetalis.
Thamalos nodded. “Yes, I know. He is one that we must keep a watch on. That sword gives him a power that no human should ever possess.”
Tasi couldn't find the words, his silver tongue silenced. He didn’t know what to believe. He wanted to protect Divi, but this news was quite shocking. Was she the one who would start the fabled Unifier of the Land bloodline? Thetalis was right. If she lived long enough to bear a child from a human, the races would be united in one person through that. It would be just as the elven legends had prophesized. Was Levus the person that led Divi on this path? Yet, could Tasi ever allow her to go on with this because of who she was? As the future leader of Myyril, the consequences of her joining with a human would greatly complicate her claim to rule, possibly ending it. It would be something he would ponder on in the coming days.
On the outside, Levus and Divi watched the north, where a large dark cloud still gathered ominously ahead of them. It was the next step in their journey.
Levus said, “Barbata, the capital city of the Ettui.”
A short silence fell between the two. Two bolts of lightning crashed in the distance.
Levus continued, “That is our goal. I still feel like much more is going to happen in the days to come.”
Divi held his hand tighter, warming his heart.
She finally replied, “Yes, I feel it too. But one thing I know for sure is that whatever we come across, we will do it . . . together.”
Levus put his arm around Divi as the next dark step in their long journey stared back at them. What would happen next, he didn’t know, but he agreed with Divi: they were going to do it together, no matter the costs.
About the Author
TOM ROGAL
Born and raised in northern Illinois. Graduated with Honors from Northern Illinois University in Communications in the Media Studies and English. History has always been a large interest as one can always learn from the mistakes and successes of the past. Primary areas of interest are Alexander the Great, The Greek and Roman Empires, Medieval times, and WWII.
A big sports fan and is very active athletically. Loves running, doing
at least ten races a year. Also, an avid movie lover and can be found often in a theater.
The Saga Continues in . . .
Brinks in Time:
A Mage’s Odyssey
Book 2 of the Ulcinaric Conflict
Coming soon
For more information on the Brinks In Time series, check out the website.
www.brinksintime.com
Be sure to check out and Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BrinksInTime for updates.
APPENDIX A
PRONUNCIATIONS
Characters
- Alcatar: Al-cat-are
- Arden Ferrud: Are-den Fair-id
- Ardeeza: Are-dee-zah
- Arionn: Are-e-on
- Bironn: Beer-on
- Byrin Feradis: Bye-rin Fair-ah-diss
- Cerrapies: Ser-rap-pēs
- Cisis: Sigh-sis
- Cordela Aldaran: Core-dell-ah All-der-rin
- Corweig Vallance: Core-w-egg Val-ance
- Culkinii: Kull-kin-eye
- Cyprinus: Sigh-prin-us
- Dakarius: Dak-car-e-us
- Darca: Dark-ah
- Diera: D-air-ah
- Divi: Dē-vē
- Dyenarus: Die-en-are-us
- Elissa: Ell-liss-ah
- Eraddor: Ear-ad-door
- Frari: Ferar-ee
- Haldirin: Hall-dur-in
- Harrin Ferrud: Hare-in Fair-id
- Hirum Draconis: Here-um Drak-o-nis
- Inno: Eye-no
- Izaris: Is-are-riss
- Juiiladdor: J-oo-ee-lad-door
- Karath Farsith: Care-rith Far-sith
- Kile Craslin: K-eye-ul Craz-lin
- Mierena: Mare-ee-nah
- Milophi: Mill-a-fee
- Neronn: Near-on
- Orznaii: Or-z-nigh
- Sarya: Sar-yah
- Sidus: Cid-us
- Sydis: Sigh-diss
- Sylph: Sil-liff
- Tasi: Ta-see
- Thamalos: Th-am-a-loss
- Thetalis: Th-et-a-liss
- Ulcinar: Ul-sin-are
- Valsuvis Aldaran: Val-sue-vus All-der-rin
- Yugra Fallius: You-gra F-al-ee-us
- Zulfaris: Z-all-fair-us
Locations, Rivers, and Landmarks
- Agglaris Mountains: Ag-glare-iss Mountains
- Argiic River: Are-guy-ic River
- Arnis: Are-niss
- Arten: Are-ten
- Barbata: Bar-bot-ah
- Barnat: Bar-not
- Cordca: Cord-cah
- Desris: Dez-riss
- Dynis: Die-niss
- Dyyros: Die-ross
- Formia: Fore-me-ah
- Fort Kerran: Fort Care-ren
- Garlock: Gar-lock
- Grifain: Griff-ayne
- Gulizimaii's Grove: Gull-is-a-my Grove
- Gyum: Guy-um
- Harlrem: Har-al-rem
- Hiramtong: Here-ram-tong
- Kremmon: Kremm-on
- Kuzcam-hi Cliffs: Koz-cuum-hi Cliffs
- Lake Verbias: Lake Verb-ee-iss
- Lozela: Low-zell-ah
- Mardurg Marshes: Marr-durg Marshes
- Mount Hrithgorn: Mt. Rith-gorn
- Myyril: My-rill
- Nesseis: Ness-see-us
- Porsita: Poor-sit-ah
- Rudann: Rude-on
- Sardon: Sarr-don
- Tartus: Tart-us
- Thorii Palace: Thor-eye Palace
- Urdura Mountains: Ur-door-ah Mountains
- Zontuc Plains: Zon-tuck Plains
Races
- Cathuai: Cath-oo-eye
- Dractii: Drak-tie
- Eratuu: Ear-rat-oo
- Ettui: Et-too-eye
- Oruthai: Or-ruth-hi
- Rhuttana: Root-tonn-ah
- Severnai: Sev-urn-eye
- Thorii: Thor-eye
APPENDIX B
Maps
Porsita and surrounding area
Cordcan territories
Myyrilian territories (Mage lands)
Lozelan Lands (Elf lands)
Rudann and Garlock
