Dark Moon Rising (The Prophecies of Zanufey)

by A. Evermore

  ‘Aye, I know he has, poor awful lad,’ Edarna sighed. ‘The Shadowlands will recede but never disappear, there must always be a place for those who wish to be Forsaken, for those that choose to forget themselves,’ she explained.

  Issa thought about it then nodded. ‘There must be allowance for every being’s desires,’ Edarna’s hidden wisdom always managed to spark understanding within her. ‘I came to tell you that if you wished to go to the Main Land the passage is safe now. Also, if you need me then send a messenger, send one of your gulls to a raven and it will find me.’

  Edarna laughed aloud, but good-naturedly. ‘My dear your path is not over, nay it has only just begun. It will be you who needs all the friends and help you can get. The dark moon rising and now the death of Keteth has swiftly set in motion the tide of prophecy. I have seen in a vision, and my visions are never wrong,’ she paused and looked at Issa as if wondering whether to speak about it, ‘... what of it anyway…’ she sighed to herself. ‘Even as we speak the raven searches for the ‘Cursed King’ and Murlonius waits to take him to his Banished Legion.’ Issa frowned but Edarna carried on, her voice low and echoing around them.

  ‘It is written that the Cursed King and his mighty knights will rise again to heed the call of the Raven Queen, but beware! Though this king is honest and true and will bring great victories that may turn the tide of war, he also brings treachery and disaster; truly a double edged sword.’

  Edarna looked at her and seemed to see her own worry reflected in Issa’s face then she suddenly broke into a warm smile. ‘Never mind about these future things. There is stuff to be done now and victories to be enjoyed. Hmph, I feel a wizard’s magic about you,’ she squirmed and wrinkled up her nose, ‘and that is a whole other story you no doubt don’t know about. I’ll simply say this, don’t get too involved in a man’s magic, you need a woman’s magic too!’

  Issa chuckled. ‘I also came to thank you for helping me, I heard your voice when I was lost in the Shadowlands and it was a blessing.’

  Edarna simply smiled and squeezed her arm, ‘That golden Dragon you know, he sure can help you, but I feel there is a terrible choice to be made in the future,’ she shook her head and flapped her hand dismissively. ‘Never mind again, he loves you truly,’ Edarna winked and Issa couldn’t help but colour.

  Even though Issa had not thought about another, Edarna’s kitchen began to fade. The feeling of falling backwards came again and she surrendered to whatever was calling her.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Raven Queen

  Issa stood upon the cool sands of a desert stretching out endlessly under a night sky. The only light came from the great trilithon that sparkled gold and silver. She walked towards it and as she neared, the air shimmered and a tall hooded woman with that familiar gentle demeanour formed before her. She was robed, as always, in the stars of the universe and all that was visible was her luminous chin and smooth pale lips set into a soft smile.

  Issa inclined her head in reverence and greeting. Slowly she looked up into the hooded face and couldn’t stop tears welling up in her eyes, overwhelmed by the presence of the Night Goddess.

  ‘Eternal Mother,’ Issa breathed.

  ‘Maion'artheria,’ Zanufey whispered in a voice that was the sound of a dozen angels singing. Pale hands smoothed her robes and Issa saw the Dark Rift again, an elliptical hole of the blackest black, on the centre of her chest.

  ‘The True Order of Creation is Eternal Life, death exists but is not part of the True Order,’ Zanufey’s words rolled through her being as if she were made of harp strings and every cell of her body poised for the next word.

  ‘It is because of the Law of Allowance that the Dark Rift was allowed to happen, and since then all things upon Maioria must die and be reborn. It seeks to stop life, to destroy life and unravel the very fabric of this universe. This unnatural state has been allowed for a long time and now it grows; now it threatens all life in all dimensions. The time has come to heal that which would destroy all.

  ‘You, if you wish it, and there is no other born yet that can even try, will gather together the peoples of Maioria and stand against those that would dominate and destroy life. You have my blessing, Maion'artheria, and my gifts. There will times when there is nothing but darkness. You will face yourself in those times and none will be more fearsome. Remember, then, that you and I and all are One.

  ‘Remember this. When you doubt, when you hate, when you think you are less than you are, then will we begin to fall, then will Baelthrom and the Dark Rift begin to win. He will use all his power and all his might. Do not doubt.’

  The Night Goddess pulled her close and bent to kiss her forehead where Asaph had kissed only moments ago. ‘Remember that in the beginning there is always darkness before the light comes.’ Cool tingling light flooded through Issa from where her lips had touched. Then she was falling forwards through the stars that swirled within the Night Goddess’s robes.

  Rocky ground formed beneath her feet, a warm breeze blew against her cheek and the smell of the ocean and the sound of surf filled her senses. Issa opened her eyes and found herself stood in a familiar place atop a low cliff, the path she and Freydel had walked along on their way back from the Temple of Celene. Far in the distance she could just make out the very tip of its shining spire. It was night and the only light came from the blue moon that hung low and massive above the ocean.

  Her eyes came to rest on the woman standing at the cliff’s edge. The black-clad, feather-crowned, Queen of Ravens. Her heart thudded in her chest as she walked towards the Queen of Ravens. When Issa neared, her double spoke.

  ‘The Dromoorai and their Dread Dragons are coming, as we knew they would,’ the Raven Queen’s voice was firm and yet her eyes were sad. ‘Do you believe in me?’

  Issa was caught off guard by the question and answered it with another question.

  ‘Why do I need to?’

  ‘If you have no faith then you will fail,’ the Raven Queen said softly.

  Issa closed her eyes, a knot of terror formed in her stomach. A caw above caught her attention and she stared up at the raven, blue moon light gleamed off his feathers.

  ‘I believe,’ Issa breathed. The rocky ground she stood on suddenly crumbled and fell away and she was tumbling towards the ocean, her screams ripped from her mouth in the rushing air. Everything then moved in slow motion and her screams seemed far away.

  I know what to do, she thought and her mind became still. She opened her eyes and saw a face within the blue moon, pale chin and lips hidden in the cowl of her hood. The power of the moon and love of Zanufey flooded into her and she felt her form changing.

  Dark rocks loomed towards her. Issa spread wide her arms and black feathers sprouted forth from them and formed into powerful wings. The wind rushed under her, suddenly lifting her into the air as the rocks came but inches from her belly. The slow motion ceased and she soared over the rocks unscathed and laughed a raucous caw of freedom.

  Issa arched her back and tilted her wings, marvelling at the rush of wind through her feathers and the wild feeling of freedom as she climbed the currents back up the cliff face. Her double, the Raven Queen, was no longer there.

  ‘You and she are one,’ a voice echoed, ‘be a light to guide the others through the darkness. Take heart, Maion’artheria. Remember who you are, remember why you came.’

  ‘I am the Raven Queen, beloved of Zanufey,’ Issa breathed. ‘I will help all who seek the light through the darkness and death that smothers our world. I shall not rest until we are free from the chains of the Immortals.’

  Glossary

  CHARACTERS OF THE LIGHT

  Issa – young woman from the Isles of Kammy. Chosen by Zanufey

  Asaph – last of the Dragon Lord’s and heir to the throne of Drax

  Coronos – Keeper of the Orb of Air. Adopted father to Asaph

  Fraya – Issa’s mother

  Queen Pheonis – Asaph’s mother and a Dragon Lord
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br />   King Ixus – Asaph’s father and a Dragon Rider

  Edarna – a witch and Way Shower for the Lost Ones

  Naksu Feyrin – Albino Seer. A Seer of Myrn

  Faelsun – a pure dragon; guardian of the Dragon Dream

  Yisufalni – an Ancient and Priestess of the Usteralax people

  Murlonius – The Boatman. An Ancient

  Qurenn the Courageous – warrior who slew Slevina

  Slevina the Dragon Queen – pure dragon who slew Qurenn

  Saurians – lizard people who inhabit the swamplands of Ostasia

  Wykiry – Sea Nymphs – the name means “land banished” in the Ancient’s tongue

  Kuapoh

  Gharupoha – oldest shaman of the Kuapoh

  Jommen – friend of Asaph and goblin hunter; the Fearsome Four

  Kahly – friend of Asaph and goblin hunter; the Fearsome Four

  Tillin - friend of Asaph and goblin hunter; the Fearsome Four

  Castle Elune

  Freydel – powerful wizard steeped in knowledge of Prophecy

  Lady Eleny – Lady of the Castle Elune

  Maeve – Lady Eleny’s maid

  Rance – dark haired jouster, dances with Issa

  Cirosa – High Priestess of Celene, next in line to the Oracle

  Arla – Albino, somewhat wild child in the Temple of Celene

  Duskar – ‘Black Fire’ in old Celenian. Issa’s horse

  Karalanths

  Triest‘anth – old wizard Karalanth

  Cusap’anth – Triest’anths’ son and tribe leader

  Op’ynth – Cusap’anths’ wife

  Misc

  Karshur – Powerful Elf wizard. Creator of the dagger Karshur

  Daluni – those who can converse with animals

  Lost One – a lost spirit that searches for but cannot find the light

  Forsaken – an angry rage-filled spirit that shuns the light

  Feylint Halanoi – Fighters of the Free World. The name of the combined resistance forces fighting

  against the Maphraxies. Named in the forgotten language of the Ancients meaning: “Freedom or Death”

  Wizards’ Circle – a male order chosen of the most learned and powerful wizards’ from each continent of the Known World

  CHARACTERS OF THE DARK

  Keteth – a powerful wizard, creator of the Shadowlands

  Histanatarns – vicious ‘fish-people’ from the island nation Histanatarn

  Harpy – ‘bird-women’ in league with Baelthrom

  Incubi – male shape-shifting demons of The Unchartered Lands

  Succubi – female shape-shifting demons of The Unchartered Lands

  Maphraxies

  Baelthrom – Dark Lord. An immortal demi-god spewed forth from the Dark Rift. Leader of the Mapharaxies

  Hameka – Maphraxie’s Commander in Chief

  Dromoorai – Maphraxian High Commanders and Dread Dragon Riders

  Dread Dragons – once Dragon Lords now split into two immortal, twice as powerful, beings: Dread Dragon and Dromoorai

  Foltoy – giant black cat-like creatures that can walk on two legs or four.

  Life Seekers – all Maphraxies are called Life Seekers. Their aim is to seek out life and destroy it

  Empty Ones – formless energy or ‘spirit’ that can inhabit and feed off any physical living being and turn them into any form of Life Seeker

  Death Hounds – massive dog-like Maphraxie beings

  Sirin Derenax – The Black Drink – means “Oblivion of Souls” in Elvish

  FOOD, DRINK & MEDICINE

  Lintel weed – used in pipes and smoked by some for relaxation and calming of the mind; Purple lintel – the most expensive lintel, White lintel – the mildest lintel

  Dagono tree – thin strips of bark woven to form hard armour for the Kuapoh. Also used to make long rope that never breaks

  Tallan tree – medium sized tree of The Unchartered Lands with large fleshy pink fruits

  Kocha tree – huge tree of The Unchartered Lands with large heavy bunches of edible brown kocha nuts

  Fire wine – very strong Kuapoh wine made from the fire grape

  Mavy’s kelp – nutritious seaweed mostly found in rocks pools

  Blue seaweed – rich in iron and found in brackish waters

  Hessel leaf – musty smelling herb found by the coast; curer of seasickness

  BIRDS & ANIMALS

  Chukatan – large, luminous yellow and indigo coloured fruit-eating bird of The Unchartered Lands – a good luck omen

  Island panther – feline mammal found on Frayon and her surrounding islands. Slightly larger than a domestic cat with leopard spotted or black fur

  WORDS

  Maio = Sacred – pronounced ‘May’ followed by a very short ‘O’ like the ‘O’ in ‘Orange’ and ‘Ostentatious’

  Ria = Earth or home as in home planet. Pronounced ‘Reeah’ as in the ‘rea’ in ‘area’

  Maioria = thusly means: “Sacred Earth”

  Artheria = daughter; Arto = son

  Words ending in ‘n’ (Maion) are possessive and mean: My / Mine

  Maion'artheria – “My sacred daughter”; Maion’arto – “My sacred son”

  THE KNOWN WORLD

  Aralanastias – the Ancients mythical Land of Peace and Plenty. Over time translated into the Elven Land of Mists

  Atalanph – desert kingdom to the south. Inhabited by dark-skinned blue-eyed humans

  Davono – kingdom in southeast Frayon. Mainly inhabited by dark-haired humans and many Dwarven and Elven refugees

  Drax – the ‘Dragon Kingdom’. Once inhabited by Pure Dragons and Draxians; tall, fair/red-haired humans with a mix of Dragon blood

  Frayon – human and Feylint Halanoi stronghold. Largest kingdom of the Known World

  Histanatarn – inhabited by evil warrior ‘fish-people’

  Intolana – Once the Elven homeland. Taken and destroyed by Baelthrom many moons ago

  Lans Himay – kingdom in north-eastern Frayon. Mainly inhabited by humans and Dwarves and refugees from all over the Known World

  Maphrax – once Tusarza, now the stronghold of Baelthrom

  Munland – Once a half Dwarven half human kingdom – now destroyed and dominated by Maphraxies

  Murk, The – the Demon Underworld just beneath the planes of Maioria

  Ostasia – homeland of the Saurians and Harpies. Destroyed and dominated by Baelthrom

  Tusarza – once a beautiful land owned by all races and none. Destroyed by the Maphraxies and now a wasteland. Baelthrom’s stronghold

  Venosia – southern Dwarven homeland now dominated by Baelthrom and Dark Dwarves

  Isles of Kammy – home of Issa (Little Kammy)

  Isles of Tirry – homeland of the Seers of Myrn

  The Unchartered Lands – lands far to the west of the Known World

  Kingdom of Fire – exists to the south beyond the Known World

  Kingdom of Ice – exists to the north beyond the Known World

  Ocean Kingdom – exists to the east beyond the Known World. Between the Known World and Ocean Kingdom there once existed several large islands where the Ancients lived. Destroyed by Baelthrom and sunk beneath the waves eons ago

  Abha Fey [Sea] – the “Shining Sea”, in the old Frayonesse tongue. Now the Lost Sea and domain of Keteth’s Shadowlands

  Fariant Fey - the Warm Flowing Torrent in old Frayonesse. Warm ocean current flowing from the south and through the Isles of Kammy

  Shadowlands - a Shadow Realm filled with ghosts and wraiths (Lost Ones and Forsaken trapped by Keteth). Keteth’s creation and domain

  Goddesses & Gods, Moons & Stars

  The Source of All – Loving source of all creation. Called the Great Mother and/or Great Father

  Zanufey – The Night Goddess; the ancient and huge indigo coloured moon

  Feygriene – The Sun Goddess; the sun

  Doon – The Forest God; a white medium sized moon

  Wo
etala – The Forest Goddess; small and pale orange moon

  Orbs

  Orb of Fire – belongs to the Dwarves

  Orb of Water – belongs to the Wykiry

  Orb of Earth – belongs to the Elves

  Orb of Air – belongs to the Dragon Lords

  Orb of Life – belongs to the Ancients

  Orb of Death – belongs to the humans

  Next In The Series

  Keteth is gone, but now Issa faces a far deadlier enemy as the Immortal Lords’ attention turns fully in her direction. The hunt is on for the Raven Queen and nothing will stand in Baelthrom’s way, he must destroy this new power that grows with the rising dark moon… or assimilate it.

  When Hameka, cunning, ruthless, brilliant battle commander and Baelthrom’s right-hand man, is ordered to find the Raven Queen, he turns his savage un-dead fleet of Maphraxies to the unprotected and unsuspecting tranquil shores of Celene.

  Cirosa’s plans have been thwarted. Her desire for revenge is insatiable and she will not stop until Issa is utterly destroyed. When the harpy comes to her she is torn between the gift of darkness or staying in the waning light.

  Issa’s enemies are many, and few seek to join her cause. Even Daranarta, leader of the Elves, refuses to be her ally. But a new hope is rising and it lies in the soul of a long forgotten King. Can the Cursed King of the Banished Legion awaken enough to remember his past? Does he have the strength left to search for and find his beloved Knights?

  Here is a tale of benevolent Goddesses and fallen Dark Lords, Dragons and Dragon Lords, Witches and Wizards, forgotten Kings and Raven Queen’s.