Defeated I ask, “Why are you telling me this, Malik?”
“To let you know that you not alone. All of us here at Craforian have our burdens to bear.”
My eyes mist unwillingly. His voice is so tender and kind, it’s heart wrenching.
“Some might be heavier than others. But when you’re ready to get it off your chest, we’ll listen to you. I’ll listen to you.”
“I don’t want to talk.” My voice is thick with unshed tears.
“I know. But you will.”
Sadness overwhelms me. The emotions are overpowering. “I don’t want to talk anymore.” I manage to choke out.
“I know that, too. And you don’t need to. Not yet.” The weight on the bed shifts. “But you need to get up. We’re going out.”
“Why?” My voice is so broken.
“Because you need a distraction.”
I huff out a quiet breath. “The walls are plenty distracting. You see that crack in the wood? I can’t seem to stop staring at it.”
“Funny girl. We’re going to the festival.”
At the mention of the festival, it brings back the memories of that day. I shove it away just as quickly as it arrived. “I don’t want to go.”
“And why not?” His voice is light, teasing almost.
“Isn’t the best medicine rest?” I mumble sarcastically.
“Sometimes. But not always. Sometimes all you need is something to distract you from the pain of the past.”
I snap. “Speaking from personal experience, Malik?”
“Yes.”
Now I feel like an ass. “I’m numb, my body isn’t moving well. There’s no way I can go anyway.” I try to decline more politely this time.
Malik’s not having it. Of course.
“I’ll be with you. I’ll support you. I won’t let anything happen.”
His words hit me in the heart.
Running out of excuses, I say, “I don’t want to go with a half a wing. It was bad enough with two.”
Malik sighs deeply. “You can wear a cloak.”
I rack my brain for another excuse. “I’ll get tired quickly. It won’t be any fun.” I rush and say, “Besides, Freya needs to check on me every so often. If I leave, it won’t work. We would have to fly back before dark. It’s too much for one day. So much running around.” I ramble. “And I thought you had business to attend to anyway.” I shut my mouth with a click.
“We’re leaving.” Malik sounds exasperated. “Freya wishes to attend the festival as well. Are you really going to be so cruel as to deny her the opportunity?”
I wince. His words strike home. Malik knows just want to say to get to me. With a deep sigh, I sit up. I look into Malik’s golden eyes. He watches me with patience, letting me come to a decision in my own time.
“Fine, I’ll go.”
A beautiful smile lights up his face. “Good. Get up.”
Glossary
Alpoh – Seedless, purple, rounded fruit
Arb – Pale yellow, star shaped vegetable
Arcons – Term for birds
Berka – Large aggressive creature, single horn above eyes, bear like body structure
Beezles – It’s a medium sized flying insect, has clear wings with veins running through them, similar to dragonfly wings
Bhria – Bird like creature, can fly, small and fragile, very colorful blue feathers, docile and shy creature
Bylir – Name of planet
Capalts –Used for riding, size of horse, scales all along body, leathery wings, large saber teeth, have twisted horns curved over top of head, allows rider to grip, docile and obedient creatures
Cerla – Two tailed cat, size of lion, saber teeth, variations in fur color and patterns
Craforian – Talnarin and human village, coexist but separated from each other by barrier
Cras – plate of tulio and berka meat, cheap dish
Catrel – Capitol of talnarin cities, where royal family resides
Dol Trees – Like oaks but twisted trunks, very tall, many branches
Dragonian – Humanoid, water manipulator, gills, webbing, tails and scales
Elestal Affinity – Electrical energy manipulation
Firvo Affinity – Fire energy manipulation
Flokil Affinity – Flora energy manipulation
Freal – God of mercy and love
Gran – Light brown, long and rounded vegetable
Hedra – Goddess of trickery and mischief
Hellvian – Hell, where forsaken souls reside, birth place of rayns and other wraith-like creatures
Inkberries – Smooth round black berries with dull coating, non-poisonous
Joult – Human village
Mazir – Giant insect, lives underground, has hard exoskeleton, eight legs, pinchers, destructive creatures
Mindula Affinity – Mental energy manipulation
Mintas – Term for rodents
Nahann – Human village
Naviha – Limbo
Nerio – God of creation and life, reigns over other Gods
Nifarion – Humanoid, shadow manipulators, tails with sensory hair, not much else is known
Nightberries – Smooth round black berries with shiny coating, poisonous
Porg – Vegetable, tan and square, edges are rounded
Povios – Term for insects
Ramic – God of death and pain
Rayn – Demons/evil creatures, shadow like wraiths, souls forsaken by the God Nerio
Sonya – Goddess of wisdom and arts
Sugavan – Humanoid, air manipulators, long ears and furry, wings
Talnarin – Humanoid, energy manipulators, green/orange/red/yellow/purple eyes, pointed ears
Tolsi – Human village
Treli – Grilled dish with various starches, vegetables, and berka meat
Tulio – Orange, rounded and grainy starch
Valina – Heaven, afterlife where Gods reside
Velto – Red and round vegetable with faint grooves circling it
Venhir – Giant canine, size of horse, variations in fur color and patterns, large saber tooth fangs, males have horns curved over top of head
Warhla – Large bird like creature, size of Labrador dog, can fly, used as postal service, spotted brown feathers, large beak
Wilvidar – Winter Festival
Acknowledgments
To you my lovely readers, I can’t thank you enough. This series started as a dream that soon became more. I was hesitant and unsure, the idea of no one reading and liking it, a myth. You changed that for me. Knowing there are strangers out there who read my book and enjoyed it gives me so much joy. So, thank you for sticking with me and I hope you continue to do so in the future!
I want to thank Indie Author Support group for all the advice, help, and confident boosts you sent my way. This group is by far the most supportive, encouraging, and polite gathering of indie authors I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I look forward to our future discussions and conversations, thank you!
Next, I want to thank my amazing editor Hannah. I lucked out finding you as my editor for my debut novel. You have limitless patience and kindness. One of the best things is, you don’t alter my style of writing, you enhance and refine it. As soon as I get edits back, I scroll through and read your comments. I love knowing you enjoy my books and look forward to reading your fan girl moments. Thank you!
Of course, I need to thank my wonderful beta readers who have been with me from the start. The feedback you give is instrumental to my story, and I wouldn’t have the confidence I have without you. Yet, long before you were my beta readers, you were my good friends. Thank you Veronikka, Darla, and Alyssa!
Last but not least, my family. Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given me. Not once have you judged me for my decision to write. You’ve backed me from the start, doing all you can to see my dream come true. You have even gone as far as to read my work, even if fantasy isn’t your genre. I love you
all so very much and I’m the luckiest woman alive. I am surrounded by the most wonderful friends and family, truly a blessing. Thank you!
About the Author
D.E. Chapman has always enjoyed getting lost in fantasy novels. So, after graduating college with a bachelor’s in Environmental Science, she decided to pursue her other passion: writing. She began writing in April of 2017 and hasn’t stopped since (though she does occasionally get distracted by her new kitten).
To get author updates, cover reveals, promotional alerts, and much more, subscribe to the D.E. Chapman Author Newsletter found on her website. https://dechapmanauthor.wordpress.com/
Don’t forget to come by and chat!
https://www.facebook.com/D.E.Chapman.Author/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorDEChapman/
https://twitter.com/DEChapmanAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/51747670-d-e-chapman
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 1
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Spilt Secrets (A Talnarin Novel Book 2) Page 22
