by Avell Kro
how I juggle.” She gestured and a ball of fire appeared in each hand, one low and one high.
I stared at the fire in her hands for a moment. Then I reached out, screaming. I had some half-
formed plan to rip the shawl off her shoulders and smother those flames before she burned
herself.
The confidence in her eyes and that smug, condescending smile gave me pause. The fires weren't
spreading. She cradled the tiny flames it in the palms of her hands. She tilted one hand to show me.
“All that practice. Still only two balls,” she laughed quietly. “Here's the first.” May threw the fire into
the grass. It blazed across the field, leaving a dark, ugly scar. The stubble on either side of the black
swath was steaming.
The rest of my acorns clattered to the ground. Our little field. What had she done to our little field?
“And the second,” she grunted, heaving the second ball of fire into the trees. The canopy burst into
flames. “Do you remember all that trouble we used to have with the crows?” she asked, grinning.
I stared at the bit of fire still dangling between her fingers. She played with it like a toy. “By the five gods May, what are you?” The fallen acorns turned to black husks in the quiet inferno.
Not a minstrel! My tricks don't have a place in your stupid little show. Mother would never approve.
She dimpled and curtseyed with a small, pinched smile. She rolled one of my smoldering acorns
beneath her shoe. “I guess you're still the better juggler, sister dear.”
That was the summer my sister and I discovered that despite our parent's best efforts to package
us as a matching set, despite the evidence of our shared thoughts and faces, we were truly two
different people. I never forgot the acrid stench of the black acorns smoldering in the morning dew.
Whenever I see her smile, I can still smell it.
THE AUTHOR
Jeffrey Bardwell writes steampunk, dark fantasy, and romance fantasy all set in the Metal vs. Magic
Universe. His character-driven books are guaranteed to include elements of gritty realism, political
intrigue, romantic entanglements, dry wit, and dragons in differing proportions. He devours fantasy
and science fiction novels and is most comfortable basking near a warm wood stove. When not
writing, Jeffrey enjoys cooking, gardening, and chasing baby dragons away from the compost bin.
The author lives on a farm and in a prior life worked as a community ecologist. He is overfond of
puns and alliterations, but uses these sparingly in his novels. He is also an unabashed history and
mythology enthusiast and would love to hear from you.
Email: [email protected]
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B071RXS994
Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeffrey-bardwell
RHUNA,THE STAR CHILD
Barbara Underwood
Copyright 2018
The Story so far…
Rhuna’s unhappy childhood on the small and isolated island of Chinza came to a dramatic
end when she met a man from the fabled land of Atlán who recognized her Atlan heritage. She had
grown up without a father, mocked by her mother’s brown-skinned people for being pale-skinned
and strange. Now, this mysterious man from Atlán answered all the questions that had plagued
her, and told her about the special abilities unique to the Atlan people.
He showed Rhuna how Atlans can transform elements, such as sand to stone and metal to
gold by the power of their minds, and then demonstrated the summoning of visions by means of
the Gazing of the Waters. But the native people of Chinza harboured great fear and hatred of the
pale Atlans with uncanny powers, and before long, Rhuna was forced to flee for her life.
Tozar, the man from Atlán, took her away from the island one climactic night, bringing her to
safety on an island where Atlan ways were accepted, and where she attended an Atlan school.
Rhuna spent her adolescence on this tropical island of Medíz, taking in the wealth of Atlan
knowledge and developing her inherent Atlan powers. When she matured to adulthood, she
journeyed to the greatly anticipated land of Atlán where Tozar awaited her.
In the majestic capital city of Atlán, Rhuna found happiness as Tozar’s wife, and continued
her studies to become an Atlan Master. She regularly attended the meetings at the High Council
building where Tozar was a member of the governing body, and where citizens brought their
problems to be discussed and solved.
Rhuna’s idyllic life was marred only by the return of an infamous and dreaded former Atlan
Master who misused his Atlan powers, causing fear and suffering for many across the entire Atlan
Empire. Exchanging his traditionally white Atlan Master’s Robe for a black one to express his
defiance and opposition to Atlan principles, he became known as The Dark Master.
During her studies, it became apparent that Rhuna’s powers transcended those of even the
most skilled Atlan Masters, especially with regard to summoning visions. At first without
intention, Rhuna received mental visions of the Dark Master’s activities which other Atlan Masters
were unable to summon by means of the Gazing of the Waters. Her special skills were needed to
entrap the Dark Master and end his reign of terror among the citizens of Atlán.
Although the Dark Master died inside an inescapable pyramid, he threatened to return in
some way. Many years later, when Rhuna and Tozar have a teenage daughter named Lozira,
strange events in the faraway Atlan colony of Safu remind them of the Dark Master. The reports
heard by the High Council of Atlán, of which Rhuna had also become a member alongside Tozar,
prompted Rhuna to volunteer for a special assignment. Leaving Tozar behind, she journeyed to
Safu with Lozira, expecting a pleasant cultural and recreational experience while attending to
formalities on behalf of the High Council of Atlán.
Rhuna quickly discovered that the Dark Master had many fol owers who operated in secrecy,
even avoiding detection by the Gazing of the Waters in certain cases. A second group of Atlans
called ‘The Observers’ also worked in secret to spy on the Dark One’s followers in an attempt to
thwart their plans. One of The Observers called Aradin approaches Rhuna to reveal everything to
her, thereby drawing her into a complicated web of secrets.
Rhuna’s plight over keeping The Observers’ secrets by not reporting her findings accurately
to Tozar and the High Council of Atlán was complicated further when she fell in love with Aradin.
Enduring deep anguish over this personal matter, she nevertheless continued to find ways to stop
the Dark Master’s followers from harming the most vulnerable people of Safu. Using her Atlan
powers, she also helped these poor people in practical ways, while working secretly with The
Observers.
In a secret chamber of a pyramid, Rhuna becomes charged with extra cosmic energy, making
her Atlan powers grow tenfold, and completely beyond her control at first. This leads to the
unintentional killing of one of the Dark One’s followers who led a double life as an upstanding
citizen. Tozar and the High Council of Atlán, lacking information and revealing visions of events in
Safu, are forced to believe that Rhuna has lost her mind and must come home.
As dramatic events unravel, Rhuna sends her daughter home to Atlán while she remains in
Safu with Aradin. The Dark One’s followers were defeated, and Rhuna received a visit from her
father who she had believed was killed by the Dark Master after he met her mother on the island
of Chinza. Happy and fulfilled, she began a new life with Aradin in a beautiful home in Safu…
Part One (Damell)
Rhuna looked out onto the courtyard garden of her beautiful home, listening to the gentle
rain on the paving stones and letting the moist air soothe her parched spirit. She breathed in
deeply and closed her eyes, and for the first time since she had arrived in Safu, only peaceful
darkness caressed her mind. She focused on the soft patter of rainfall, letting the sound lull her
Consciousness into a free-floating state, just as her father had taught her.
“Rhu-u-u-na!” came the melodious sound of her small daughter’s voice, bringing her back
into a fully awake and present state with happy anticipation.
“Shandi!” Rhuna called and opened her arms to hug her excited young daughter. “What did
you do today, My Little Honey Cake?”
“Gardens…saw birds!” gushed the little girl, her big round eyes full of awe and wonder.
Rhuna kissed her rosy cheek, and then looked up to see Faleeshenter the housewithAradinright
behind her. Rhuna noticed their damp clothes and flushed faces from rushing home to shelter as
the long-awaited rain finally began to fall.
“We walked in the Sanctuary Gardens,” said Faleesh airily, and Rhuna noticed the serene
happiness in her face. Seeing the gentle woman so happy with Shandi confirmed to Rhuna that
she had made the right decision in asking her former maid servant to help take care of Shandi.
“Yellow cat!” piped Shandi, and Rhuna raised her eyebrows at the little girl in mock surprise.
“You mean the lions?” Rhunaasked, gently stroking her daughter’s silky soft cheek.
“No. Yellow cat!” Shandi insisted with a firm shake of her head, and Rhuna looked
questioningly at Faleesh.
“No cats in the Gardens today, Little One,” Faleesh said, looking fondly at the child. “Sometimes
she says strange things,” she said to Rhuna, shaking her head with a smile.
Rhuna glanced past Faleesh at her husband, who had come home at the same time as Faleesh
returned with Shandi from their outing. She immediately noticed the tension in his face which
had extinguishedhis usual cheerful glow.
“Rhuna, we have to talk!” he said in an urgent tone. Rhuna stood up quickly, nodding a silent
request to Faleesh, who was already taking Shandi’s hand to lead her into the adjoining room.
“Yellow cat!” Shandi called back to her mother as she left the room with Faleesh.
“We have to talk about your father,” Aradin said sternly, ignoring his daughter and giving
Rhuna a piercing glance.
“Again? I’ve already told you all I know,” Rhuna insisted.
“This is something new,” Aradin said ina tone that sent a chill up Rhuna’s spine. “Come, sit
down here,” he said, directing her to the comfortable seating cushions in front of the glass
doorway. Rhuna slowly eased herself onto the cushions facing the courtyard garden and waited
silently with bated breath.
“Divider of Fortunes summoned a vision by means of the Gazing of the Waters earlier today,”
Aradin began slowly. Rhuna nodded, indicating that she was aware that Divider of Fortunes was
proficient in summoning many delicate nuances of visions by means of the Gazing of the Waters,
outshining many of his Atlan peers in this traditional Atlan skill. “Images of The Reigning One at
his residence,” Aradin continued.
“Is something wrong with The Reigning One?” Rhuna asked with alarm. She had become
very fond of the enigmatic leader of the Benshi people in Safu.
“No, no,” said Aradin hastily as he shook his head. “It’s about…you. You and your father,” he
finally said.
“What about us?” asked Rhuna, feeling perplexed.
Aradin hesitated, looked intensely into Rhuna’s eyes, and then took a deep breath. “In the
images there’s only you. Not your father, just you.”
“What do you mean, just me?” Rhuna shook her head, baffled.
“I mean… the images show you sitting and talking, but there’s no one else there!” Aradin said,
getting agitated.
“I still don’t understand,” said Rhuna, searching Aradin’s face but finding no answer. “How
can there be no one else there?”
“In the visions there’s only you, and it looks like you’re talking to an invisible person!” Aradin
spat out, almost trembling with emotion. She stared at him as she tried to understand his words.
“But…but you know I’ve been going to The Reigning One’s residence to visit my father for
three solar cycles now!” she protested. “I always tell you all about my visits!”
“But why doesn’t he want to see anyone else? Why doesn’t he want to meet me, your
husband? And why doesn’t he want to see his grandchild?” Aradin spluttered, his face turning
deep red with distress.
“He has reasons…I told you!” said Rhuna defensively.
“But he hasn’t really explained those reasons to you, has he?” Aradin retorted.
“No, but…” Words began to fail Rhuna and she shook her head in disbelief. “What does this
mean, Aradin? I’m really scared all of a sudden,” she said as an icy chill wrapped around her.
Aradin took her into his arms and held her.
“I don’t know…I really don’t. But we’ll find out! And whatever it is, everything will be all
right,” he said in a soothing voice.Rhuna felt the usual warmth of emotions flood through her body
whenever Aradin held her, and she was relieved that nothing had changed in this respect. Then
she became aware of how truly disturbing Aradin’s words were, and that his descriptions of
summoned visions had deeply frightened her.
“It’s almost time for the meeting of The Observers,” Aradin said after a while. “Maybe they
can help us understand this.”Rhuna felt distressed anew at the thought of talking about her father
with their friends.
“Are they also going to tell me that I’m talking to an illusion?” asked Rhuna angrily, and
before Aradin could reply, she called Faleesh. “Faleesh still works for The Reigning One and knows
all the guests staying at his residence,” she said, confident of resolving this matter before their
friends arrived.
“Faleesh,” Rhuna said as the woman quickly responded to being called. “My father - the
travel er who is a guest of The Reigning One - tell my husband that you’ve seen him, spoken to
him!”
Faleesh stared at Rhuna for a moment, an odd blank look passing across her face. “Your
father? A guest of The Reigning One?” she asked puzzled. “I didn’t know your father was here!”
she said surprised and delighted.
“Yes, yes!” said Rhuna excitedly. “You must have seen him many times. He has been staying
at the Residence for more than three solar cycles already!”
“That long?” Faleesh said as her eyes widened in alarm and then confusion.
“You know him!” insisted Rhuna. “He is tall and slender, with a grey beard…and I come to
visit him all the time!”
“Oh?” Faleesh seemed to be thinking hard. “I have seen you visit The Reigning One, but I
didn’t know your father was a guest ther
e,” she said, looking perplexed.
“You must have seen my father – Avenger of Justice is his Atlan name…” Rhuna stopped
when Faleesh began shaking her head. “He’s a guest! You always tend to guests, don’t you?” asked
Rhuna, getting frustrated.
“Yes, of course,” replied Faleesh, still looking worried. “But The Reigning One often has
guests, sometimes many at a time…I cannot remember…”
“Faleesh! What’s wrong with you? You must have seen my father there many times!” Rhuna
shouted, and then regretted her tone when Faleesh looked as if she would cry.
“Leave it now,” interjected Aradin. “Faleesh, please take care of Shandi while we meet with
some friends,” he said in a kindly manner.The woman smiled grateful y as she was dismissed.
“I can’t believe that in all this time she’s never seen my father!” Rhuna said, shaking her head
with exasperation.
“We’ll sort this out soon,” Aradin said as he placed a comforting hand on Rhuna’s shoulder.
“Look, our friends are arriving.”
Rhuna quickly composed herself as the members of the group calling themselves The
Observers began to arrive, pretending to come on a purely social visit with friends. They placed
their damp cloaks and collapsible rain shelters in the paved entrance way before stepping inside
andonto the many exotic and colourful floor rugs Aradin had acquired from his merchant clients.
Four of thesevenAtlan men and women wore Masters Robes, identifying them as qualified
and proficient in the traditional Atlan skills of transforming elements and summoning visions by
means of the Gazing of the Waters. Rhuna greeted each one with a handshake in the customary
Atlan manner and welcomed them inside where she offered them fruit nectar delicately seasoned
with spices.
“Dark storm clouds gather on the far horizon,” said Divider of Fortunes in his usual deep and
rumbly voice, and Rhuna remarked that everyone in Safu will welcome a good downpour after
several hot and dry lunar cycles.
Roses of the Field, whose very long andpale hair fascinated Rhuna, smiled kindly at her and
asked politely how she and her small daughter were faring.
