The Elemental Union: Book One Devian

by Shanna Bosarge

  Surprised, her head came up and she turned in his direction as she scrambled backwards for a second as if expecting someone else to be there. She looked at him with vacant glassy eyes that glistened with unshed tears. Her face was white and devoid of color.

  “Sterling,” he said calmly, “what was that all about? What happened in the village?”

  She ignored his question and turned back to the mirror-like water, “It’s my fault.” She peered at him for a second, “It’s my fault they are all dead.”

  Saying nothing, he knelt beside her.

  “It’s my fault.” She repeated, “Hemi, Mother Anwell, Sister Treva,” she paused, “Brigit.” Her voice cracked on the name. Sterling buried her face in her hands, “Brigit,” she sobbed, “why did they have to kill Brigit? She was such a sweet little girl.”

  Sterling looked up at Brom. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her eyes had turned a dull gray as if her life had seeped out of them. She wiped the tear away that clung stubbornly to her lashes.

  “You cannot blame yourself for the brutality of others.” Brom tried to keep his voice calm, but inside he was seething at what the Severon had done to Sterling.

  “I saw him earlier that day… I saw Engram on the road. He tried to stop me, but I managed to sneak away into the forest. I found Brigit and two of the other girls collecting flowers in a field.” Sterling laughed, “Brigit was collecting flowers for my birthday. We had a party. All the girls sang to me and Sister Treva prepared all my favorite dishes. It was wonderful until Engram came.”

  Brom listened to her story, his heart beating faster as she continued.

  “Hemi had just told me of my father. After twenty-one summers he tells me that my father is from a land I know nothing of and that he is not my uncle. But before he could tell me more the Severon arrived. Hemi hid me in the cellar under the dining room. Engram, he…” Sterling breathed in a heavy sigh. It was obvious the retelling of the story was difficult, “he had Mother Anwell gather all the girls into the dining room. They were all right there above me while I hid. He questioned Brigit about me and when he knew she was lying he…” Sterling hiccupped, a sob shook her shoulder as she paused, “he killed her. Engram, that bastard stabbed Brigit when she wouldn’t tell him were I was hiding. She was seven, she was still a baby.”

  Brom could feel his anger rising at Sterling’s retelling of what happened. He regretted not killing Engram in the forest when he had the chance.

  “I can still hear her screams. I was right there hiding like a coward, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t help her and now she haunts my dreams, my nightmares. Is it not enough that I must suffer at night? Is it not enough punishment that the little girl I helped raise wants me to die? Is it not enough that I see the faces of those that died wishing death upon me? Now Brigit appears before me when I am awake. I can endure no more of this torture.”

  She thought Lirit was Brigit, Brom surmised. He understood now why Sterling reacted as she did upon seeing his niece. He understood now why she screamed during the night. “Sterling,” Brom eased closer to her, “Sterling, that was not your Brigit you saw just now. That little girl is Lirit, Moira and Orrven’s daughter.”

  “No, it was Brigit.” Sterling shook her head. Her hands covered her eyes as if trying to rip out the memory of the little girl, “She had the blood stain from where Engram stabbed her.”

  “Listen to me.” Brom grabbed her shoulders shaking her, “That was not Brigit.” Do you hear me? That was not Brigit.”

  She stared into his eyes for a moment until his words finally seemed to sink in. The tension in her body seemed to melt away. Along with the tension, so too did the wall she erected collapse. He saw the moment when her world seemed to fall to pieces around her.

  Tears gathered in her eyes as she confessed her true feelings. “It should have been me. It should have been me that died, not them.” Her words were thick with tears as she continued to claw at her eyes, “All because of these damn eyes!” She looked at herself in the pond before smashing her hand into the water to break up the image. “I hate these eyes! I hate them. I’d rather be blind that have my mother’s accursed eyes.”

  Her words angered him. “You dishonor your mother by denying your Devian heritage.” No matter how upset she was, Brom would not let her malign Sylvie, the woman who had been a mother to him.

  Sterling looked at Brom, anger replacing the sorrow and despair, “Dishonor my heritage? These eyes have brought me nothing but misery. Because of these eyes I have endured what no person should have to endure. Because of these eyes everyone I have ever loved is dead. It should have been me that died. It should have been me.” Her shoulders started shaking as the sobs took hold. “It should hav–”

  “Sterling…”

  “Why didn’t you leave me for dead?” She lashed out shrugging his hand off her shoulder.

  “What?” Brom was taken aback by her words.

  “Why did you have to save me?” The question was thrown at him from behind clenched teeth. Though tears streamed down her checks, there was unadulterated anger in the silver depths. She flew at Brom attacking him with fist and claw and teeth. Brom held her off easily enough, but she kept repeating the question over and over again, “Why? Why? Why did you save me? You should have let me die.”

  “Sterling,” Brom tried consoling her again, his hands on her shoulders.

  Sterling growled and pushed Brom away and pulled the dagger that was sheathed in his boot. “It should have been me,” she growled the words behind clenched teeth as she raised the dagger to her own throat. “It should have been me.’

  Brom’s heart ached at the sorrow in her words, but he had made a promise to Khort to protect Sterling. He would let no harm to come to her. He reacted in an instant and knocked the blade from her hand, “No!” she yelled as she dove for the knife that landed in the shallow water of the pond. When her plan failed she glared at Brom and launched herself at him again.

  She fought until she was too exhausted to move. Sterling collapsed in his arms with heaving sobs shaking her body. Brom knew then that this was the first time she’d been able to grieve for those she’d lost at the hands of the Severon. The Severon. Brom’s hatred of the Severon grew when he thought of what they had done to her. Sterling had been in their prison being tortured and had no one to comfort her. She had no one to hold her while she mourned for Brigit, Hemi, and the others that were taken from her. Brom did the only thing he could think of and just held her until her body gave out. Tears still clung to her lashes that lay against her high cheek bones. Brom wiped the tears away and gathered Sterling in his arms. Her head nestled his shoulder as he stood and made his way to the Keep.

  What had happened all those years ago? Brom wondered. He wondered what her life and the rest of Kai’Vari would have been like if Hemi had not left with Sterling. He still didn’t understand why Hemi would take Sterling so far away from her homeland and into the nest of their enemies. He of all people should know how dangerous that was.

  When Khort announced the pending birth of their first child Brom’s emotions wavered between elation and jealousy. Khort must have known of Brom’s torn emotions and had asked a favor of Brom. He’d asked that Brom protect his and Sylvie’s child if anything were to happen to them. He’d only been ten at the time, but he promised without hesitation that he would never let anything happen to their child. Brom looked down at Sterling and wondered if it was too late for him to make good on that promise. As it was, he was doing a poor job.

  Brom entered the great hall after leaving Sterling to rest in his room, only to be attacked by a tiny ball of glee.

  “Uncle Brom!” Lirit squealed as she charged toward his legs grabbing hold and sitting down on his foot. Brom pretended to ignore her and continued toward her mother. Lirit giggled and squealed with laughter as Brom lifted his leg and carried her.

  He looked down, “What is this? I’ve a bug on my foot.”

  “No, Uncle Brom it’s me!” Lirit g
iggled again.

  “Oh! So it is.” Brom adored his niece and despite her sickly nature she was a ball of joy that seemed to have no end. Brom lifted Lirit and placed her on the table, “My, you have gotten big.” It had been over six months since he’d last seen his niece.

  “Off the table!” Moira picked Lirit up and placed her on the floor, “Honestly Brom, you teach her such bad manners.” Moira was quiet for a moment before asking about Sterling.

  Brom could tell she was upset by what had happened in the village and the words Sterling had thrown at her. Brom motioned that Moira should have Lirit leave the room.

  “Lirit, run upstairs now, your uncle Brom and I have something to discuss.”

  “Aw, but he just got here.” Lirit protested.

  “I’ll still be here when we’re done, run along now.”

  “Yay!” Lirit bounced around for a moment before running for the stairs.

  “I wish she’d behave for me like that.” Moira sat across from Brom. “Tell me.”

  “She’s been having nightmares of a child she was close to that was about the same age as Lirit. The Severon killed the little girl and Sterling blames herself. She mistook Lirit for this child.”

  “Oh, how horrible.” Moira put her hands over her mouth, “It makes sense, her reaction to Lirit.”

  “Yes. She… she begged me to kill her.” Brom’s jaw clenched at the memory of Sterling’s pain.

  “Oh.” Tears gathered in Moira’s eyes.

  “I promised Khort I would protect his child. I intend to keep that promise.”

  “Brom…” Moira was interrupted as Orrven walked into the room.

  “Good, you are here. Where is that Sterling?” Brom could tell Orrven was upset by Sterling’s behavior. “I warned you that if she caused any more problems I’d not be happy.”

  “Orrven, really it wasn’t her fault.”

  “It never is, is it?”

  “Orrven, they threw food at her and called her horrible names. These are your people! Are you truly going to allow them to treat a guest of your house this way, and a Devian at that? To think that a descendent of the gods would be treated so horribly. I couldn’t believe what I heard when Robena told her to leave. The whole of the village was standing there waiting with such malevolence towards her. The hatred they felt was palpable.”

  Orrven heaved a sigh, “Can you not blame them? A Devian murdered one of their own and now Gilda is gone because of another. The name Devian has lost quite a bit of its weight over these many centuries. The bloodline has been weakened,” Orrven sighed, “It seems these days a Devian is just someone with pretty eyes.”

  “Do not,” Brom banged his fist against the table. “Do not speak so lightly about things you do not know, brother. To you the story of the Devians is just that – a fairy tale to tell your children at bed time. In Devi flowed the blood of the Elementals as well as Orla and Moraug. Do you even realize what that means? Devi, with a flick of his finger, could topple even Mount Izanami if he desired. Having even a drop of Devi’s blood would make even a babe more powerful than the Nine Perikuva. They would not stand a chance against that kind of power.”

  “Brom.” He knew Moira hated it when he and Orrven argued.

  Brom stood, unable to sit any longer, “Have you even noticed the purity of Sterling’s eyes?” He threw the question at Orrven.

  “What do you mean?”

  “A Devian’s eyes are more silver, the higher the concentration of Devi’s blood that flows through their veins. The Devian that killed Gilda’s son had eyes that were just a faded gray that could barely be called silver.”

  “That would mean that Sterling has…”

  “Pardon me.” Cinri interrupted and whispered in Orrven’s ear. The news must not have been good by the look Orrven threw towards the front doors.

  “Brom.” Brom followed his brother-in-law outside to find a gathering of villagers yelling at the Pan’Dale warriors guarding the entrance to the Keep. When the villagers noticed Orrven they turned their attention to him.

  “Milord! How could you give sanctuary to a Devian after what happened to Gilda’s son?” The crowd’s noise rose as others threw more questions at Orrven. The yelling continued with their desires that the cursed Devian leave Pan’Dale.

  “She’ll bring bad luck to us, just you wait and see. Just look what happened to the Rin’Ovanas.”

  Brom was stopped by Orrven when he made to say something. “No.” He whispered to Brom, “This is a Pan’Dale matter.”

  Brom stepped back and let his brother-in-law do his job as Arl. Orrven had been the Pan’Dale Arl for as long as Brom had known him. His people counted on him and knew if they were in a bind he would protect them and lend a hand when needed. He was a fair and just leader, but when pushed he was known for his temper. It was these times when he was at his most quiet that Brom knew his top was about to blow.

  “The Devian should hang! They bring nothing but bad luck!”

  “Silence!” The crowd instantly quieted at Orrven’s command. “Brom,” Orrven glanced over his shoulder, “has reminded me what an honor it is to have a Devian in our presence. He has reminded me what horrors these once great people have and still are enduring at the hands of the not only the Severon, but it seems Kai’Vari as well. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Treating a guest of your Arl like common rabble, but I too am ashamed for I also misjudged Sterling. She has done nothing to incur your hatred, or mine. She is a guest of the Pan’Dale family and she is welcome to stay for as long as she likes, and I expect everyone in Menarik to treat her as a Pan’Dale.”

  A wave of unease went through the crowd at Orrven’s words.

  “If,” Orrven continued, “any one of you does not like this you are free to leave. Go, find another village and hope they will take you in. If I hear of any mistreatment of my guest, the wrath of the gods will be the least of your worries. Now, go back to your homes and your lives and leave the worrying to me. I am your Arl, it is my job to look over these lands and protect you all. Do not think I would let someone so untrustworthy into my home.”

  The anger in the crowd deflated as they realized the wrong they had committed against Sterling. Robena, the baker, wiped a tear from her eye as she turned away.

  “I will convey all of your apologies to Sterling when she wakes.” Orrven yelled after the retreating mob. He turned to Brom, “Promise me I won’t regret my words.”

  Brom chuckled, “I will try my best.”

  “No, you will do your best.” Orrven commanded before returning to the hall.

  Sterling’s head felt as if she’d pounded it against a rock. The dull throbbing was unending and all she could do was lie on her bed with her eyes closed. Her eyes felt swollen and Sterling knew if she opened them it would feel as if they were filled with sand. She groaned at the memory of Brom carrying her back to the Keep after she’d wept on his shoulder. What a fool I am to show such useless emotions. But she had to admit, telling Brom everything seemed to lift a weight off her shoulders. She no longer had to keep the memories to herself. She wasn’t the only one who knew of the horrors that were jumbled up in her mind.

  From today on, she would try her best to live her life, not in the past, but in the here and now. Though she loved Brigit with all her heart, the little girl was gone and there was nothing Sterling could do about it now. She would keep her fond memories close to her heart and when she felt down, Sterling would recall the happy times with Brigit. She would recall her memories of Hemi and Mother Anwell and their strict but overwhelming love. Memories of times much happier than now.

  She would start her life anew. Find what was left of her father’s family and start over. She would speak with Moira about how to go about reinstating the Rin’Ovanas. It had been Bennet’s wish that the Tohm be reformed. With her new resolve, Sterling eased into a sitting position and opened her eyes. She gasped when she was met with a smiling little girl sitting on the end of her bed.

  “I’m Lir
it,” the little girl introduced herself, “you have pretty eyes.”

  Sterling’s heart ached just a little, “I’m Sterling.”

  About the Author

  Fantasy author Shanna Bosarge is the creator of a popular web series set in the world of Taaneri. Inspired by her love of gaming as well as the fantastic worlds of Marco, Hennig, Miura, Ohba and Obata, she began the decade long task of designing her own universe – one that holds magic, hope, and the ever-present battle of good versus evil. In that universe, Ms. Bosarge presents characters who, each in their own way, encounter the true essence of The Elemental Union – showing that conflict can and does lead to growth.

  Ms. Bosarge holds a Bachelor degree in Computer Science, and she has used her education as well as her experiences in programming to help craft detailed and compelling characters who could just as easily appear in a multiplayer game as they could the pages of a book.

  A successful business consultant and single mother, Ms. Bosarge carves time out of her schedule to visit Taaneri as much as she can, often without having to leave her home state of Georgia.

  Visit www.shamibopublishing.com> to learn more about the history and lore of the Elemental Union.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Nightmare

  The Hunter

  Lost in the Sarno

  Storm Front

  Happy Birthday

  Caged

  Clever Girl

  Sly Fox

  A New Ally

  Honey

  Duplicity

  By Any Means Necessary

  Pain

  Isolation and Loathing

  Kai’Vari Found

  Brom Da’Gaihen

  Devian

  Pan’Dale

  Healer

  Gathering Storm

  Clean

  Vesperrin

  Shorn

  Justified

  Guilt

  Phayo Venato

  Eye for an Eye

  Faren