{"id":127,"date":"2012-06-04T09:44:22","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T13:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=127"},"modified":"2012-06-04T09:50:10","modified_gmt":"2012-06-04T13:50:10","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=127","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 16"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\"\"<\/a>
Cover by TJ Lomas.<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\nI’m posting a chapter from my latest fantasy novel for free every Monday and Friday (click Zervakan<\/a> above for a synopsis and to start from the beginning). It’s in a “pre-published state,” meaning you might find the occasional spelling\/grammar mistake. If you do, please leave a comment below or email me at robsteiner01 [at] gmail [dot] com.<\/p>\n

If you’re uncomfortable getting something for nothing, you can hit the PayPal Donate<\/a> button in the Tip Jar section to the right. If you donate more than $3, I’ll send you a non-DRM ebook once the book is published (summer 2012). If you donate more than $20, I’ll send you a printed copy.<\/p>\n

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it!<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ZERVAKAN<\/h1>\n

by Rob Steiner<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 16<\/h2>\n

Much to General Myndehr\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s displeasure, Edoss refused to ride in the carriage through the Beldamark, which pleased Taran since it was his suggestion that Edoss walk.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s research on the ancient Mystics\u00e2\u20ac\u201dor Tuatha, as they preferred to be called\u00e2\u20ac\u201dshowed their war leaders never accepted a luxury that was denied to their soldiers.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran hoped this small act would earn Edoss some respect from the Tuatha.<\/p>\n

Ulrike and Alton\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwho the Tuatha did not invite into the Beldamark\u00e2\u20ac\u201dvolunteered to guide the carriage driver back to Markwatch.\u00c2\u00a0 The Turcian guides were disappointed they could not accompany the Recindians into the legendary Beldamark.\u00c2\u00a0 But like all Turicians, they did not believe it wise to dispute the wishes of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Blessed Ones.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Especially after the recent plague.<\/p>\n

Crossing the Markers into the Beldamark was not the magical experience for which Taran had hoped, but it was satisfying nonetheless.\u00c2\u00a0 Stepping past the Markers was just like any other step…only he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t find himself suddenly walking back to Markwatch.\u00c2\u00a0 The Tuatha guides led them through a dense patch of forest for a few dozen paces until they came to a hard-packed road that wound its way south through the pine trees and hills.\u00c2\u00a0 The column made good time\u00e2\u20ac\u201dten miles in three hours\u00e2\u20ac\u201dbut was soon exhausted from the Beldamark march in addition to the earlier march to the Markers.<\/p>\n

Actually Taran and the government bureaucrats were exhausted.\u00c2\u00a0 The Tuatha looked as refreshed as if they had just awakened, and the Shadarlak seemed no more tired than a steam trolley at the end of the day.<\/p>\n

By the time the column camped for the night, Taran thought his suggestion to leave the carriage behind was not such a good idea after all.\u00c2\u00a0 Sitting by one of the camp fires, he removed his boots and socks to find several oozing blisters on each foot.\u00c2\u00a0 He poured water from a canteen over them and dabbed them with a relatively clean handkerchief.\u00c2\u00a0 The chill in the night air combined with the water to soothe much of the pain.\u00c2\u00a0 According to the young Tuatha woman, Fatimah, they had nine more miles of marching until they reached their destination, the Tuatha town of Fedalan.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think his feet would last nine more paces.<\/p>\n

As Taran poured more water over his feet, Fatimah came and sat on her knees next to him.\u00c2\u00a0 She lay down her walking staff and put her hands over the fire.<\/p>\n

Taran moved his boots and socks away from her.\u00c2\u00a0 Tthey could not have been the most pleasant smelling items in camp at the moment.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sorry,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he murmured.<\/p>\n

Fatimah smiled, and continued warming her hands over the fire.\u00c2\u00a0 She glanced at Taran, then started to say something, but stopped.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Speak your mind, Fatimah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be happy to answer any of your questions.\u00c2\u00a0 I have a few for you, quite honestly.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She thrust her hands into her fur cloak.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you, Taran Abraeu.\u00c2\u00a0 I am sorry if I stare.\u00c2\u00a0 And I apologize if my questions offend you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran laughed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Not much can offend me.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m more used to offending others, to tell you the truth.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m somewhat of a pariah among my people for simply wanting to study your<\/em> people.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is Pathism?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pathists deny the existence of supernaturalism in the world, declaring any who advocate supernaturalism as suffering from lack of critical thinking at best, and delusions at worst.\u00c2\u00a0 Correct?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s part<\/em> of what Pathists believe\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153And they claim to be the champions of reason and science, that they have open minds, yet they stamp out any theories that do not conform to their own preconceptions.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well sometimes\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are they not hypocrites then?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah asked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If they claim to have open minds, would they not have to accept all theories as valid until they can be disproved or supported?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran smiled.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not exactly how science works.\u00c2\u00a0 Scientific theories must be falsifiable.\u00c2\u00a0 That means it must be possible to prove that they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re wrong.\u00c2\u00a0 In other words, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no way to prove magic does not<\/em> exist, therefore there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no point in scientifically studying it.\u00c2\u00a0 So, to a Pathist, studying anything supernatural is a waste of time.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But Ahura and Angra are now direct evidence that magic does exist,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153yet there are still those among your people who deny the possibility that their magic is real.\u00c2\u00a0 Even now, your leaders come to us under a cloak of secrecy, to protect themselves from persecution by their own people.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran stared at her.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do you know that?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah shrugged.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Tuatha may have retreated from the world, but we do not ignore it.\u00c2\u00a0 We have ways to study your people, ways that we have used since the Barrier went up.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do you study us from behind…the Barrier?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.<\/p>\n

Fatimah was about to speak, but then closed her mouth.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Forgive me Taran Abraeu, I have said too much.\u00c2\u00a0 Those are things that your leaders should discuss with my leaders.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She then put her hands over the fire again, but she stared at Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s feet curiously.\u00c2\u00a0 In that same fluid accent, she asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153May I try to ease your pain?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran looked at her, then his feet, then sat up quickly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You can heal?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Using Ahura?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153A little,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Since the Barrier has fallen, we have to relearn so much.\u00c2\u00a0 I know how to bind small cuts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

I found them Mara,<\/em> he thought.\u00c2\u00a0 Hold on just a little longer…<\/em><\/p>\n

Taran nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please, go ahead.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He moved his feet so that they were closer to her, all worries of how they smelled gone.<\/p>\n

Fatimah removed her hands from above the fire, then raised her left hand to the sky and hovered her right hand over the blisters.\u00c2\u00a0 She closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and muttered something in ancient Tuathan that Taran could not understand.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran stared open-mouthed as a small colorful tendril from Ahura weaved its way down from the ring and seemed to caress Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hand.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah exhaled, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.<\/p>\n

At first Taran thought it was the cold in the air that made his feet tingle like they had fallen asleep.\u00c2\u00a0 But then he saw the blood stop welling from the blisters and then the blisters scab over.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah lowered her hands, breathing heavily as if she had just run the entire ten miles from the Markers.\u00c2\u00a0 Then she lay on her back, staring up at the sky, at Ahura\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s swirling colors.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are you all right?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This fatigue is a natural part of Wielding the Aspects of Ahura.\u00c2\u00a0 It only fades with years of Wielding and dedicated study of the Aspects.\u00c2\u00a0 All Tuatha who Wield feel it now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The two other Tuathans, Dornal and Ida, rushed over and knelt down next her, talking in ancient Mystic too fast for Taran to follow what they were saying.\u00c2\u00a0 The only thing he could tell was that they were angry, and he did not need to know the Mystic language for that.<\/p>\n

Fatima replied with something along the lines of, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We will never grow stronger unless we practice.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Edoss and Cursh came over and stood by the fire, watching the Tuathans argue.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What happened?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss asked Taran.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153She healed my feet,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look.\u00c2\u00a0 Those were bleeding blisters just moments ago.\u00c2\u00a0 She healed them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Taran laughed, happiness overcoming his wonder at last.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They can<\/em> heal.\u00c2\u00a0 I was right.\u00c2\u00a0 I was right…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Only injuries,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, rising onto her elbows.\u00c2\u00a0 Her eyes looked weary, and she struggled to focus on Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can only heal light injuries, or the Taint of Angra.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran felt twinges of cold disappointment creep into his heart.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What about diseases?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It depends on the affliction,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If it is an affliction caused by life, than we can no more Wield to destroy it than we could Wield to destroy a human being.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153A virus is not life,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said, bitterly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It only destroys what it encounters.\u00c2\u00a0 It is no better than harrowers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah looked shocked, and Dornal and Ida demanded to know what Taran had said.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah told them, and they looked on Taran with dismay and a little bit of pity.\u00c2\u00a0 This only angered Taran.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvirus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 you speak of,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153is part of Ahura\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s creation.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran shook his head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, there has to be a way.\u00c2\u00a0 I did not come all this way, or spend all these years destroying my reputation, my life, looking for you people just for you tell me…that<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dr. Abraeu,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss said quietly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Compose yourself.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran put his socks and boots back on, stood without saying a word, and went to the small tent he shared with Ladak.\u00c2\u00a0 Thankfully, Ladak was not in the tent, so Taran was able to lie on his blankets and stare at the tent ceiling without having to talk to the man.\u00c2\u00a0 Not even the cold, rocky ground beneath his blankets could cool his anger.<\/p>\n

There had<\/em> to be a way.\u00c2\u00a0 The Mystics could do anything with their powers.\u00c2\u00a0 They were practically gods…or so the legends said.\u00c2\u00a0 These Mystics outside\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthese Tuathans\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwere simply relearning their powers, so they must not have figured a way to heal diseases yet.\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, that had to be it.<\/p>\n

Exhaustion from the march soon overtook Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s frustrations and anger, and he awoke at dawn to the sounds of the Shadarlak breaking camp.\u00c2\u00a0 Ladak snored next to him, despite a Shadarlak sergeant poking his head inside and asking them to break down their tent.\u00c2\u00a0 It took Taran several shoves to get Ladak to wake up.<\/p>\n

After Taran and Ladak had packed their tent and stored it on the supply wagon, they enjoyed a bland breakfast of boiled oats and hot tea.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ah, breakfast on the march,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Ladak said, spooning the lumpy oats into his bowl from a pot sitting on a grill over a fire.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Almost forgot how tasty it is.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You were in the army?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked as he poked at his own tasteless oats.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was drafted at the end of the First Mazumdahri War,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, sitting down on a log next to Taran and sipping his tea from a tin cup.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I went through four weeks of training, spent four days on a ship bound for Levakan, and marched twenty miles to the front.\u00c2\u00a0 The day we arrived, the cease fire was declared.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Ladak laughed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153As you can imagine I was quite relieved, but bloody Mercy, couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the Mazums have given up a month earlier?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

As Ladak talked, Taran saw Fatimah speaking with Dornal and Ida, each one occasionally glancing in his direction.\u00c2\u00a0 They abruptly stopped when Fatimah turned away from them and marched toward Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 She did not look pleased.\u00c2\u00a0 When she stood in front of Taran and Ladak, she simply looked at Taran.<\/p>\n

After an uncomfortable silence, Ladak stood, asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Would you like some oats, Miss Fatimah?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She shook her head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My companions want me to apologize to you, Taran Abraeu, for speaking the truth to you last night regarding our…limits on healing.\u00c2\u00a0 My comments were not intended to offend you.\u00c2\u00a0 These are topics that you should discuss with my Masters in Fedalan, and I had no right to talk to you about them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Before Taran could reply, she turned and stalked back to the other Tuathans, who gave her cool glares.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What was that about?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Ladak asked.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran told him about what Fatimah had said about a Mystic\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ability to heal viral diseases.<\/p>\n

Ladak seemed confused for a moment, then realization came to him, and a look of sympathy flashed across his face.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry, Taran,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Perhaps they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know their own abilities yet.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve simply forgotten how and need to relearn it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran looked back at the Tuathans, who stood at the edge of the clearing near the road.\u00c2\u00a0 Dornal and Ida, the older Tuathans, spoke softly to each other, while Fatimah studied the Shadarlak and the Recindians near them.\u00c2\u00a0 She watched them as if she were committing to memory observations of a strange new animal species.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran supposed the Tuathans were just as curious about the Recindians as the Recindians were of them.\u00c2\u00a0 And it was apparent from the apology that Dornal and Ida had forced Fatimah to make that the Tuathans needed the Recindians just as much as the Recindians needed them.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran suddenly had a bad feeling that the Tuathans were not as powerful as the legends had made them out to be.\u00c2\u00a0 At least not these Tuathans.<\/p>\n

When the march continued, the air was once again misty with morning fog but cleared as the day wore on, though the sky remained gray and drizzly.\u00c2\u00a0 The pine trees along the road seemed to lean in towards the marchers, as if curious about Recindians that had not walked through the Beldamark for centuries.\u00c2\u00a0 With the drizzle, the hard packed road turned to mud, and there were a few occasions where the supply wagon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wheels bogged down in a rut of muck.\u00c2\u00a0 A nine mile march ended up taking the column most of the day.<\/p>\n

A few hours before dusk, the column arrived at a four-story, white marble obelisk with archways attached to the right and left sides.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran marveled at the construction of the obelisk, for it seemed to have been carved from a single piece of stone.\u00c2\u00a0 There were no seams that he could see, and the carvings along the base showed no signs of weathering.\u00c2\u00a0 It was as if the obelisk had been built yesterday.<\/p>\n

Taran had been so enamored with studying the obelisk that he had not noticed the Tuathans approach Edoss, who stood a few paces ahead of him.<\/p>\n

Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your next steps will seem…strange.\u00c2\u00a0 But you have nothing to fear from the Guardians.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Guardians?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss asked.<\/p>\n

Fatimah pointed at the obelisks.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We call them the Guardians.\u00c2\u00a0 They are what keep the uninvited out of the Beldamark.\u00c2\u00a0 The arches attached to them provide us with a quick means of travel throughout our lands.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran looked at the arches again.\u00c2\u00a0 They had seemed like normal arches to him upon first glance.\u00c2\u00a0 The road led right up to them and split into two paths that went through the arches and then merged again beyond the obelisk.<\/p>\n

But there was something different about the terrain on the other side of the arches.\u00c2\u00a0 A large pine towered above the obelisk behind it…but Taran could not see its base through the arches.\u00c2\u00a0 He walked around the arch on the left.\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, the terrain he saw through the arch did not match what was really on the other side.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153These are a doorway into another land,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said, looking at Fatimah for confirmation.<\/p>\n

She nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The arch on the right goes to another Guardian to the north.\u00c2\u00a0 We will take the arch on the left, which will take us to the next Guardian south of us.\u00c2\u00a0 It will take seventy miles off of our journey to Fedalan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

General Myndehr whispered something into Edoss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ear, but the Speaker shook his head and said in a normal voice, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Time is short, and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to spend another week on the road if we can help it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Myndehr frowned, and Edoss grinned.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I thought you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe in Mystic supernaturalism?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Without a word, Myndehr turned and went to her men to brief them about the arches.<\/p>\n

Edoss said to Fatimah, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please lead us through, Fatimah of Kulon Fields.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah bowed, then strode to the arch on the left along with Dornal and Ida.\u00c2\u00a0 They walked through as if they were walking into another room, and continued walking as if they had simply stepped over a rock.<\/p>\n

Edoss, Cursh, and their aids\u00e2\u20ac\u201dsome staring warily at the arches\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwalked through, followed by Taran and the Shadarlak.\u00c2\u00a0 As Taran passed beneath the tall stone arch, he was a bit disappointed to find that it truly was like walking into another room.\u00c2\u00a0 The surrounding hills were much steeper, and the trees were not as numerous, but the road looked exactly the same.\u00c2\u00a0 The rest of the column came through, most of the Shadarlak keeping their eyes forward and not even glancing at the arch as they marched under it.<\/p>\n

Taran jogged up to the three Tuathans and asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do they work?\u00c2\u00a0 I thought your powers left you after the Barrier went up.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dornal and Ida looked at him, then looked to Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 She translated Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s question, and they nodded.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153After the Barrier,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the Tuatha lost the ability to Wield, but the few items imbued with the Aspects still retained them.\u00c2\u00a0 The Guardians are among those objects.\u00c2\u00a0 They keep out the uninvited, and they help us to travel throughout our lands.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You keep mentioning \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcthe Aspects.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00c2\u00a0 What are they?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah frowned, glanced quickly at Dornal and Ida, then said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I am sorry, Taran Abraeu.\u00c2\u00a0 I cannot discuss that with you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are<\/em> you allowed to talk about?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.\u00c2\u00a0 He wanted to shake Dornal and Ida.\u00c2\u00a0 He was one of the first people to meet the Mystics in a thousand years, and yet they would not talk to him.<\/p>\n

Fatimah gave him a pleading look.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wish I could answer your questions, Taran Abraeu, but my only task is to guide you to Fedalan, where the Worldly Seat and the Holy Seat will answer your questions.\u00c2\u00a0 I have many questions for you, as well, but my oaths forbid me to speak of them until after my Masters have spoken to you.\u00c2\u00a0 Please understand.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran nodded, disappointed, but understanding of her situation.\u00c2\u00a0 He supposed Edoss would not want him divulging all the secrets of the Compact to the three Tuathans whom they had just met.<\/p>\n

Taran slowed down a bit and waited for Edoss to approach.\u00c2\u00a0 The Speaker said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I trust you are not annoying our new friends.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He used a casual tone, but Taran had come to know that the Speaker never spoke casually.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was asking about the obelisks, Excellency.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know how difficult this is for you, Doctor, but your first priority is to be a translator, not an academic.\u00c2\u00a0 You can conduct your research at the appropriate time, but not at the expense of this mission.\u00c2\u00a0 That means no more questions for our guides about healing diseases.\u00c2\u00a0 Do you understand?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran seethed at the Speaker for treating him like a misbehaving first-year student.\u00c2\u00a0 Edoss had asked\u00e2\u20ac\u201dno, ordered<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u201dTaran to come on this mission, and he suddenly wanted Taran to stop being curious about the Mystics?\u00c2\u00a0 What did he expect Taran to do, simply march along to his orders like one of his mindless Shadarlak?\u00c2\u00a0 Taran was a scientist\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthough most of his colleagues denied him that title\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand scientists ask questions.\u00c2\u00a0 Was he supposed to turn off his curiosity in the face of the biggest discovery of this age?<\/p>\n

Taran knew he was pouting, and was ashamed of it, but bloody Mercy, he had waited long enough to find the answers to his questions about the Mystics.\u00c2\u00a0 And so had Mara.<\/p>\n

Taran spent most of the march making mental notes of all the questions he would ask once he was allowed.\u00c2\u00a0 The type of country they marched through was familiar to Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u201dmore tall pines covering steep hills beneath a gray sky\u00e2\u20ac\u201dso there was not much else for him to do.<\/p>\n

He then began studying the rings, when he wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t avoiding mud puddles on the road.\u00c2\u00a0 Both rings gave him different, intense feelings whenever he stared at them.\u00c2\u00a0 Ahura made him feel loved and at peace, like he did when he was a child, lying in bed as his parents told him a story.\u00c2\u00a0 Angra made him uneasy and his blood quicken…the same way he felt when Edoss had berated him, or all the other times he had been insulted and laughed at because of his research choices.<\/p>\n

Or when Adhera talked about the Mercy for Mara.<\/p>\n

A large black tendril suddenly slithered down from Angra and touched the ground beyond the hills to the northwest.\u00c2\u00a0 Almost a dozen tendrils from Ahura came down in the same location, their colors swirling as they descended.\u00c2\u00a0 The tendrils from both rings whipped around and brightened, as if the wind were tossing them about.\u00c2\u00a0 One by one, the tendrils from Ahura retreated back to the ring, and after a few minutes, only the black tendril remained.<\/p>\n

Taran looked at the Mystics, who were also watching the tendrils.\u00c2\u00a0 Shock and sadness covered their faces as they spoke in low voices to each other.\u00c2\u00a0 After a few moments, they made conscious efforts to suppress their sadness, and their expressions turned stony and determined.\u00c2\u00a0 Their pace quickened, and the rest of the column was forced to march faster to keep them within sight.<\/p>\n

Taran was tempted to ask what had happened, but by the Tuathan demeanors, he knew he did not have to.\u00c2\u00a0 Only a few miles to the north, there had been a battle between the Tuatha and a powerful harrower.<\/p>\n

And the Tuatha had lost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cover by TJ Lomas. I’m posting a chapter from my latest fantasy novel for free every Monday and Friday (click Zervakan above for a synopsis and to start from the beginning). It’s in a “pre-published state,” meaning you might find the occasional spelling\/grammar mistake. If you do, please leave a comment below or email me […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,28,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-free-stuff","category-novels","category-zervakan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}