by Tora Moon
“Travel safe, Histrun. May the Goddess’s blessing be on you.” Then the Supreme blessed him and he could feel the tingle of magic sinking into him.
He glanced over at Blenora as they left the audience chamber. Her face was pale, and she had a frightened look in her eyes. Outside the temple, he took her hand in his.
“It will be all right,” he assured her—and himself. “The Goddess won’t ask more of them than they can handle. Our children will be fine.”
“I’ve always wondered why she allowed Blazel to stay after he turned five, and why she’s taken an interest in him.” Blenora looked back at the temple. “Did you know she personally works with his Talent? He can do things no other male I know of can do. I fear for my son. What destiny awaits him that he has to be alone?”
“He won’t be alone.” Histrun pulled her into a hug. “He has you, and me. I’ll come whenever I can. And you can rest easy that when the time comes, I will be here to take him to Strunland Keep.”
She wiped her eyes. “Thank you. You’ve been very good with him. He adores you.”
“And I him.”
Later that day, Histrun laid out his things to pack, surprised at how much he’d accumulated in the four and a half lunadars he’d been in the Sanctuary. He set aside the phengriff carving he’d made. It had taken him chedans to carve it and to rub oil into it to make it gleam.
Blazel knocked on the door and poked his head inside. “Are you coming, Histrun?”
“Come in, boy, come in.”
Blazel frowned at the mess. “What are you doing? Are we going on another hunting trip?”
“Packing.” Histrun sat on his favorite rocking chair and pointed to the other one. “Sit down.”
Blazel lacked his usual grace as he made his way through the cottage. He sat stiffly on the chair.
“My time here is done, and it’s time for me to go back home. I’m leaving in the morning.”
“But you can’t go!” Blazel surged to his feet. “Who will I train with? I know there’s so much more I need to know to be a Posair male. If you leave, there won’t be anyone to teach me.” He snapped his fingers. “I know, I’ll come with you. I’m sure Mother will let me. She speaks highly of you.”
“Blazel, son. You can’t go.”
Blazel’s shoulders drooped. “Don’t you want me?”
“Oh, I want you. The Supreme won’t let you go. You have to stay here and continue your training with her. But I’ll be back often to work with you.”
“I’ll go talk to her! She has to let me go.” He spun around for the door.
Histrun quickly stood up and stopped him. “No. Her word is final. I tried. I really did. You’re turning into a fine young man, and it makes me proud to see how you’ve grown.” Histrun reached for the carving. He held it out awkwardly. “Here, I made this for you.”
Blazel took it and examined it closely. “This is a beautiful phengriff. It looks like it could take off in flight any moment. Thank you.” Blazel threw his arms around Histrun.
Histrun held the boy, blinking back the moisture in his eyes. He’d come to love him over the lunadars and would miss him. “I’ll be back.”
When Histrun rode out through the Sanctuary gates the next morning, he felt he was leaving a part of himself behind. He turned in his saddle to see Blazel standing forlornly at the gate, waving at him. He waved, then set his heels to Telen’s side and cantered away, ignoring his blurry eyes.
He had arrived at the Sanctuary a broken, grief-stricken man. He was leaving it a much better person. He touched his bond-mate torque at his throat. A part of Zehala would always be with him and in his heart. She’d approve of the man he’d become during his time mentoring Blazel.
A warm breeze caressed his cheek. He smiled. Yes, she was always with him.
Epilogue
The Supreme stood at the window, watching the red-headed boy and the girl with charcoal-gray hair run from the library to the cloister gate. Soon it would be time to move Blazel from his mother’s cottage in the cloister and into the staff village. He was getting too old to live with the girls. And she didn’t want the friendship between Blazel and Chariel to deepen into something more. Now, as children, they were just best friends. Finding themselves as outcasts within the Sanctuary community, they’d naturally gravitated toward each other. The Supreme had encouraged the friendship. They needed each other. But she couldn’t have them fall in love. Another was destined for Blazel.
She’d almost said yes to Histrun when he’d asked to take Blazel back with him. It had taken an iron will to deny the boy the chance of becoming a normal child. But that didn’t serve his destiny. He needed the strength and self-reliance he was learning by living in the Sanctuary as the only boy.
Turning away from the window, she returned to her desk and sat down, leaning her head against the soft cushion of her chair. Her eyes drifted closed, and again she saw the fire streaking through the sky and the blood soaking the ground from the thousands of dead. Central to the fighting stood a tall warrior with a gray-streak in his hair. Next to him fought a young woman with dark auburn hair and dark brown eyes. She had strength and courage, as well as compassion. Together Blazel and Rizelya would lead their people to victory. Behind them a Phengriff flared. She didn’t know how the Posairs’ ancient allies rejoined forces, but she did know Blazel and Rizelya played a large part in making it happen.
Her vision usually stopped at this point, but this time it kept going. On the battlefield walked two priestesses. From the hair color of one, she recognized Chariel. The other had White Talent, but her face was blurred, as always. The Goddess promised her a successor, but never showed her her face. The Supreme hoped she’d recognize the child when she arrived so she could begin her special training.
The vision faded, and the Supreme rubbed her face then poured herself a cup of taevo. Sipping it, she examined this new aspect of her vision, particularly the White Priestess. The woman appeared to be about Rizelya’s age. If so, the child may have already arrived at the Sanctuary. She’d have to examine the young ones more closely.
In times past, the child destined to become the new Supreme was born while the old one was still young enough to train her successor. When the Supreme had turned fifty, then seventy-five, then ninety without a white-eyed, white-haired girl-child being born, she’d begun to get worried. Now decades over her century mark, she was terrified of dying and not having her replacement trained. A gentle presence touched her mind and heart, and the fear eased. She’d have time. Her successor wasn’t coming in the normal way. Who is she?
Danger was coming to her world. But they had time to prepare. In her vision, Rizelya was a grown woman; she was now a child of five or so. The Supreme vowed she’d do everything in her power to make her people strong enough to survive the coming war.
The first thing to do was ensure no more people were poisoned by the swamp’s malignant magic, like Mendehan. She shuddered at the atrocities Histrun and Lorstriel had seen Mendehan commit. They reminded the Supreme of what their ancient enemies had done before and during the Great War. That foul magic could never be allowed to revive.
The Supreme finished her taevo and put the empty cup aside. She moved from her desk to a comfortable chaise. The work she had to do could be quite taxing, especially in her advanced years; she didn’t want to fall off her chair while working.
She closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, sending it far to the eastern ocean and the island located there. The magical barrier around it still held. As she scrutinized the barrier, she noticed several holes, more than she’d ever sensed before. A particularly large one caught her attention. It had allowed the influence of the evil behind the barrier to seep out and cause Mendehan’s malaise. Using the methods taught to her by her predecessor so many, many years ago, she patched the holes in the barrier.
It would hold back the evil. But for how much longer?
Appendix
THE CAST
In order of appea
rance
The ending of a males name indicates the clan-pack they were born into.
Histrun (His-strun) — former Strunlair Clan Alpha; Strunland Keep, Rizelya's father
Zehala (Zay-hal-ah) — Red with Brown; Naila and Rizelya’s mother; former Strunlair Clan Alpha; Strunland Keep
Naila (Neigh-la) – Red and Yellow; Strunland Keep; Rizelya’s sister
Rizelya (Rye-zeel-yha) — Red with Brown; Strunland Keep
Wisah (Wee-sah) –- White and Grey with some Blue; The Sanctuary; Naila’s daughter, Rizelya's niece
Koriana (Core-ee-ana) — Red with Yellow; Strunland Keep Alpha
Kolstrun (Kol-strun) — Strunland Keep Alpha
Maheli (Ma-he-lee) — Red with Green; Strunland Keep
Andriel (An-dree-el) — Red with Brown; Strunland Keep
Lorstriel (Lor-stree-el) — Red with Green; Strunland Keep
Kehali (Ke-hal-lee) — Red with Yellow; Strunland Keep
Lestrun (Le-strun) — Strunland Keep
Eidelstrun (Eye-del-strun) — Strunland Keep
Dorstrun (Door-strun) — Strunland Keep
Alixstrun (Alix-strun) — Strunland Keep
Chestrun (Che-strun) — Strunland Keep
Belhaas (Bell-haas) — Haasper Keep Alpha
Maehaas (May-haas) — Haasneh Keep Alpha
Armelya (Ar-mel-yah) — Red with Brown; Haasneh Keep Alpha
Raelhaas (Rail-haas) — Haasneh Keep; Centaur
Vyolah (Vi-oh-lah) — Red with Green; Haasneh Keep
Jaehaas (Jay-haas) — Haasneh Keep
Daelena (Day-lee-na) — Blue with Yellow; Haasnelyn Keep; Capitan of the Dawn Star barge
Gaehaas (Gay-haas) — sailor on the Dawn Star
Dorhaas (Door-haas) — sailor on the Dawn Star
Rodehan (Roh-deh-han) — Dehanrolos Keep Alpha
Freynara (Fray-nar-ah) — Red with Green; Dehanrolos Keep Alpha
Norvela (Nor-vel-lah) — Red/Yellow with Green; Dehanrolos Keep
Tedehan (Te-deh-han) — Dehanrolos Keep
Betsia (Bet-see-ah) — Brown; Dehanlair Keep
Mendehan (Men-deh-han) — Dehanlair Clan Alpha
Salloreen (Sal-lo-reen) — Red with Brown; Dehanlair Clan Alpha
Lodehan (Lo-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Wylara (Wy-lar-ah) — Head White Priestess of Dehanlair Keep
Deldehan (Del-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Gordehan (Gor-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Helvia (Hel-vee-ah) — Green with Brown; Dehanlair Keep
Meldehan (Mel-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Nevdehan (Nev-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Salordehan (Sal-or-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep; Salloreen’s son
Podehan (Po-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Verdara (Ver-dar-ah) — Red with Yellow; Dehanlair Keep
Flothera (Flo-ther-ah) — Brown; healer; Dehanlair Keep
Argodehan (Argo-deh-han) — Dehanlair Keep
Marlora (Mar-lor-ah) — Red with Brown; Dehanreen Keep Alpha
Aistrun (Aye-strun) — Strunland Keep
Maehalya (May-hal-yah) — Brown with Red; metalsmith, Strunland Keep
Andreyan (An-drey-an) — Brown with Green; healer; Strunland Keep
Polvera (Pol-ver-ah) — White; Sanctuary
Jaekara (Jay-kar-ah) — White; Sanctuary
Felstrun (Fell- strun) — Strunlair Clan Alpha
Tylira (Ty-leer-ah) — Red with Yellow; Strunlair Clan Alpha
Raemy (Ray-me) — Brown; Sanctuary
Naedera (Nay-deer-ah) - Brown with Yellow/Green; Sanctuary
The Supreme — the head White Priestess; Spiritual leader; Sanctuary
Blenora (Blen-nor-ah) — White with Gray; Sanctuary; Blazel’s mother
Blazel (Blay-zel) — Sanctuary
Chariel (Char-ee-el) — Gray; Sanctuary
THE HORSES
Telen (Tel-en) — Histrun’s black stallion
Kylara (Ky-lar-ah) — Zehala’s blue roan mare
Jaelen (Jay-len) — wild white stallion with black stripes
Bosetel (Bose-tel) — Blazel’s chestnut gelding
THE WORLD
The main continent is called Lairheim and it is broken up into eight Clan-packs, with each Province divided into eight Territories. These are:
Strunlair, Ledonlair, Andranlair, Posanlair, Haaslair, Dehanlair, Ronanlair, and Keistanlair.
Days and Time:
An octar equals roughly an hour
A milcron is equivalent to a minute
A lunadar is a month and is made up of eight chedans
A chedan is a week, and is made up of eight days
There are eight months:
Month one - Ahdar
Month two - Neydar
Month three - Sandar
Month four - Drudar
Month five - Godar
Month six - Rokdar
Month seven - Eyedar
Month eight – Hondar
There are three moons:
Kelar – the largest, it takes 64 days for a full cycle, making it the gauge of a month.
Zelar – the middle and takes 32 days for a full cycle.
Chelar – the smallest and takes 8 days for a full cycle, it is the gauge for a chedan.
Magical abilities of the women:
There are eight types of magic worked by the women. Men gave up the ability to do magic (except very basic skills) in exchange for the magic of shapeshifting. Hair and eye color give an indication of the type of magic the person can use. The hair color indicates the major power source and the eye color the secondary source. Someone with fire magic is called a Red.
These are:
Whites - have shades of white hair – the soul workers and spiritual leaders. They are the Priestesses. (Unseen in men)
Grays - have shades of gray hair - also soul workers, but they work more with the transitions of the soul. They are also Priestesses. (Unseen in men)
Reds - have shades of red hair – the fire workers and warriors.
Yellows - have shades of blond hair – the air workers.
Blues - have shades of blue hair – the water workers.
Greens - have shades of green hair – earth workers (more with plants), also healers.
Browns - shades of brown hair – also earth workers, but with animals and minerals. They are the healers.
Blacks - shades of black hair (extremely rare) – can work all types of magic.
GLOSSARY
angulete - (an-goo-le-te) a flying serpent found in the swamps, a twisted, venomous beast
baethor - (bae-thor) a predator found in the Deep Mountains
billocks - a wild, large herd beast
brecha - (bray-cha) one of the symbiotic pair of monsters collectively called the Malvers monsters; they have large heads made up mostly of a mouth full of teeth and large nostrils
chedan - (chay-dan) a measure of time; made up of eight days
Chelar - (chay-lar) the smallest moon, it takes eight days for a full cycle and is the measure for a chedan
ducorns - a type of antelope with two twisty horns
helbraught (hell-brac-kt) – the magical halberd type blades the women use to fight the monsters; the wooden staff is the height of the woman with a 16"-24" inch blade made from helstrim attached to the end.
helstrablades – (hell-stra-blades) knives made from helstrim but not keyed to any type of magic
helstramiester - masters of the helstrim alloy
helstrim - (hell-strim) a special alloy that accepts and holds magic used to make helstrablades and helbraught blades
jallopitar - (ja-lop-ih-tar) a reptilian swamp predator
janack - (jan-ack) one of the symbiotic pair of monsters collectively called the Malvers monsters; they have ten tentacles and a large maw
jedash bushes – (jay-dash) a plant resistant to monster toxins and cools the area around them
jelehan – (jay-lay-han) a throwing game using sticks of
varying lengths with colored bands
kehani flowers - (kay-han-ee) the flowers of the kehani tree are sacred to The Goddess and are used by the priestesses in the temples as perfume and incense
Kelar - (kay-lar) the largest moon, it takes sixty-four days for a full cycle and is the measure for a lunadar
keshe - (kay-she) a board game of strategy that can be played with as few as two players or up to ten players; the more players added, the more complicated the game becomes
Lairheim - the main continent of the planet. There are eight Provinces, which are divided into eight territories. The provinces are: Strunlair, Ledonlair, Andranlair, Posanlair, Haaslair, Dehanlair, Ronanlair, and Keistanlair.
lengo - (len-go) a sweet-smelling herb found in the swamps; the leaves stop bleeding and the boiled roots fight infection, especially when caused by swamp creatures
lunadar - (loon-a-dar) a measure of time; a month is made up of eight chedans with a total of sixty-four days. There are eight lunadars in a year
marsh ragtile tree - a fruit tree found in the swamps where there is fresh water and no malignant pools of magic are around
mehelis – (may-hel-es) a swear word
milcron - a measure of time; roughly a minute
mookti - (mook-tee) an early ripening spring berry that is sweet, dark purple, and grows in small clusters
multa - a pack animal with cloven, platter-like feet able to carry heavy loads
narhili – (nar-hee-lee) also called narhili beasts, predators that live in the swamps during the day and hunt the surrounding area at night
octar - (ock-tar) measure of time; there are a total of sixteen octars in a day with eight octars between midnight and mid-day and back
oyt – a nonsensical term used to activate the fire arrows.
paether - (pae-ther) a canid-like predator found in the northern part of Lairheim
sabertiger - a large white and black striped feline that lives in the Deep Mountains
sheadash – (shea-dash) a type of stone that repels and negates any malignant magic. The Malvers monsters can’t cross it and so it is used for buildings and roads.
