{"id":136,"date":"2012-06-15T16:03:21","date_gmt":"2012-06-15T20:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=136"},"modified":"2012-07-20T08:25:10","modified_gmt":"2012-07-20T12:25:10","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=136","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 19"},"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 19<\/h2>\n

Despite the stunning news that Dylan Edoss had been deposed as Speaker of the Compact, Taran could not make himself concentrate on the argument Edoss was having with the Tuathan leaders over who was the Compact\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s legitimate leader.<\/p>\n

The books and artifacts that filled the Tuathan library were too distracting.<\/p>\n

He stood on the platform above the library, staring at shelves that held thousands of leather-bound books, scroll tubes, and loose pieces of parchment.\u00c2\u00a0 Along the entire length of the wall with the windows on the right were five-shelf cases that held intricately designed bowls, and small statues of men, women, and strange creatures.\u00c2\u00a0 There were white and black scepters made of stone, and clubs that seemed hastily carved from driftwood.\u00c2\u00a0 Crowns of gold glinted in the meager light from the windows, while crowns of ivy looked as fresh as if they had been picked this morning.<\/p>\n

Here was the collected knowledge and art of a culture that had disappeared from Recindia a thousand years ago, and had existed for a thousand years before that.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran wanted to run down and read every book and inspect every artifact.\u00c2\u00a0 This was one of humankind\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s greatest treasures.<\/p>\n

He did not hear Fatimah approach until she spoke.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I believe I would have the same look on my face if I stood in one of your libraries,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nothing magical about Recindian libraries,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t find any bowls that make you understand foreign languages or windows that show you what is happening hundreds of miles away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153All vessels containing wisdom are magical,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153even if they are not blessed with the Aspects.\u00c2\u00a0 The knowledge contained in your libraries is just as valuable and just as interesting as the knowledge down there.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran smiled.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I suppose you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He glanced beyond her shoulder.\u00c2\u00a0 A book sat on a stone pedestal similar to the one which held the Crucible.\u00c2\u00a0 It was two hands long and a hand and a half wide, bound in brown leather with a symbol on the cover that Taran recognized.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know that book,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, hurrying past Fatimah toward the pedestal.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the same book he had in his basement office.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the book with blank pages and symbols on the cover that he could never decipher.<\/p>\n

He looked back at Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have a copy of this in Calaman.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mouth opened in shock.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have a copy of the Book of Ahura?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBook of Ahura,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said, staring at it.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure of it.\u00c2\u00a0 But the pages are all blank, and I could never decipher the runes on the cover.\u00c2\u00a0 What is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is the only book known to us that tells us how to Wield the Aspects of Ahura as the ancient Tuathans did.\u00c2\u00a0 For a thousand years our copy has also been blank.\u00c2\u00a0 But when the Barrier fell, the words suddenly flared onto the page.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah stepped forward, opened the book, and gently turned the old pages.\u00c2\u00a0 Every page displayed words, diagrams, tables, and hand drawn pictures in all colors.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran even recognized the script in which it was written\u00e2\u20ac\u201da stylized calligraphic version of ancient Tuathan.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153May I?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah nodded, smiling at his eagerness.<\/p>\n

Taran turned each page as if it was made of spider webs, but to his surprise the pages felt as sturdy as any page in a book published in the Compact.\u00c2\u00a0 The copy in Calaman was the same, which had been one of the things that sustained Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s faith in the Mystics.\u00c2\u00a0 For how could a book a thousand years old stay in such good condition without<\/em> magic?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How many copies were made?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked Fatimah as he studied an index in the front of the book.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We do not know,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but we believe it was not many.\u00c2\u00a0 When the Barrier went up and my ancestors retreated into the Beldamark, they lost almost every book and artifact they had created.\u00c2\u00a0 What you see in our library is all they could save, a mere fraction of what once existed.\u00c2\u00a0 Even copies of the Book of Ahura, the very book that would help us remember our abilities, could not be saved.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran shook his head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I could spend years studying this one book.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 He suddenly laughed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It looks like I will.\u00c2\u00a0 I have my own copy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah looked uncomfortable.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Tuatha will need that copy if we are to regain our strength and become what we used to be.\u00c2\u00a0 The Fomorians are already becoming more powerful than\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fomorians?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What you call the harrowers,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fomorians were like the Tuatha once, but thousands of years ago they chose to follow Angra.\u00c2\u00a0 Harrowers are their creations, slaves who were once people, warped and twisted and tortured by Angra until they become\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Ollis Gray strode over to them, his brow furrowed, his glare resting on Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 He reached to the Book of Ahura and slammed it shut.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is not for your eyes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said to Taran.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dr. Abraeu,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss called from the top of the stairs leading down to the library\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lower levels, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re leaving.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Leaving?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran asked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We just got here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We invited the Speaker of the Recindian Compact,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Ollis said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mr. Edoss is no longer the Speaker, therefore he is no longer welcome.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran looked at Fatimah, who in turn stared at Melahara with shock.\u00c2\u00a0 Melahara glared at Ollis\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 back, but she said nothing.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You mean we have to leave the Beldamark?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ollis turned and walked to the stairs where Edoss was standing.\u00c2\u00a0 He passed the Speaker\u00e2\u20ac\u201dformer Speaker\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwithout looking at him, then said over his shoulder, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah, please take the Recindians back to their encampment.\u00c2\u00a0 They need their rest for their return journey tomorrow morning.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah said to Melahara, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Holy Seat?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do as he says,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara said, then turned to Edoss.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I apologize, but the Worldly Seat has final authority in all governing matters.\u00c2\u00a0 You must take a message back to your new Speaker asking her to come here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Edoss shook his head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will be back, once I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve sorted out this mess in my country.\u00c2\u00a0 But if I<\/em> don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t come back, nobody else will.\u00c2\u00a0 Adellia is an initiated Pathist Teacher.\u00c2\u00a0 She will never come here.\u00c2\u00a0 It would be an admission that supernaturalism is a real force in the world.\u00c2\u00a0 If you understand anything about us, you must know that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something she cannot admit.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara smiled wearily.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Some among my people have the same sort of…bias about you.\u00c2\u00a0 As the Worldly Seat just demonstrated.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Then she said to Fatimah, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Escort our guests back to their camp.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah bowed her head, then asked Edoss and the other Recindians to follow her.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran could not hold back his anger and frustration at the turn of events.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is ridiculous,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, not moving.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come too far and endured too much to get here.\u00c2\u00a0 We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go back without at least learning who you are, what you can do.\u00c2\u00a0 And you can learn from us.\u00c2\u00a0 We have a lot to offer you.\u00c2\u00a0 We can give you food, technology to keep you warm in the winters\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dr. Abraeu,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss said in a commanding tone.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran shouted.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go back without them!\u00c2\u00a0 Mara will die.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran closed his mouth, and then sat down on a bench nearby, his head in his hands.\u00c2\u00a0 He would not go back to Calaman empty-handed, not when his daughter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s life depended on him.\u00c2\u00a0 He remembered Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s explanations that they could not heal diseases, but he would not think about that now.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe there was something in the Book of Ahura he possessed that would tell him something different.\u00c2\u00a0 After all, Fatimah admitted that the Tuatha had only begun to learn about the powers the ancient Mystics possessed.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps there was something in the Book that enabled them to cure diseases.<\/p>\n

There had<\/em> to be.<\/p>\n

There was a soft hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Fatimah regarding him with sympathy.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will come to your camp later on and we can talk about whatever you want.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran saw Edoss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s three Shadarlak standing behind her, looking at him as if they were trying to decide how they would carry him out.<\/p>\n

Taran sighed, then stood and followed Fatimah, Edoss, and the other Recindians down the stairs, with the Shadarlak behind him.<\/p>\n

Taran took in the entire library and tried to burn it into his memory.\u00c2\u00a0 It might be the last time he saw it, and he wanted to remember it.\u00c2\u00a0 For the first time in his life, he gave a silent prayer to Ahura.<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let Mara die because of my failure here.<\/em><\/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-136","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\/136","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=136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}