{"id":147,"date":"2012-07-13T09:40:02","date_gmt":"2012-07-13T13:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=147"},"modified":"2012-07-13T09:40:02","modified_gmt":"2012-07-13T13:40:02","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=147","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 27"},"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 27<\/h2>\n

Taran did not even want to open his eyes, for that would take energy he did not have.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a struggle to breathe.\u00c2\u00a0 His heart groaned with the effort of pumping blood through his body.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran wondered if he was dead.<\/p>\n

But the voices around him were familiar.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah, Melahara, even Dylan Edoss.\u00c2\u00a0 If he was dead, then so were they.\u00c2\u00a0 Memories suddenly came back in a torrent\u00e2\u20ac\u201dMara, the journey to the Beldamark, finding the Tuatha, the harrower attack.<\/p>\n

His attempt to Wield.<\/p>\n

Taran focused his entire will to simply open his eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 They fluttered open, but the faces above him were blurred.\u00c2\u00a0 After a moment, he focused and saw Melahara talking quietly with Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwho still had wet hair\u00e2\u20ac\u201don the right side of his bed.\u00c2\u00a0 He moved his gaze around the room.\u00c2\u00a0 He was in a Tuathan hospital, for there were shelves full of bottles with strangely colored liquids, powders, and even preserved organs.\u00c2\u00a0 A Tuathan priest with gray-tinged, rusty hair stood at a table crushing something in a small clay bowl.\u00c2\u00a0 Behind her, Dylan Edoss and Ollis Gray were arguing about something, for Edoss glared up at the tall Gray who was pointing down at Edoss.\u00c2\u00a0 General Myndehr stood to the side, watching Gray with her hand resting on the pommel of her saber.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Taran,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.<\/p>\n

With Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s exclamation, Edoss and Gray stopped arguing and stared at him with worry and confusion.\u00c2\u00a0 Myndehr\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gaze wandered from Taran to Gray, her hand still near her saber.\u00c2\u00a0 Melahara could not have been more expressionless.<\/p>\n

Taran tried to speak, but his voice came out cracked and weak.\u00c2\u00a0 He managed to whisper, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What…happened?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah grinned.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You Wielded enough Fire to burn down the library.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 She grabbed her soaked woolen cloak.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And then enough Water to put it out.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran shifted his eyes to Melahara and Gray.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah shook her head and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I could hardly keep it secret after what happened.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara leaned forward, regarding him suspiciously.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How long have you known how to Wield the Aspects of Ahura, Taran Abraeu?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Never,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran croaked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never Wielded before.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I find that hard to believe.\u00c2\u00a0 Ahura touched you with a tendril that was almost as bright as Ahura itself.\u00c2\u00a0 Nobody in the Beldamark is that strong yet.\u00c2\u00a0 Nobody.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran tried to prop himself on one elbow.\u00c2\u00a0 He felt his strength coming back quickly now, and the effort to rise was less than the effort to open his eyes.<\/p>\n

He said with a stronger voice, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not lying.\u00c2\u00a0 I have never Wielded before tonight.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ollis Gray said under his breath, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Zervakan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran looked at the Worldly Seat, who stared at Taran with a mixture of fear and hope.\u00c2\u00a0 It made Taran pause, for in the brief time he had known Ollis, the man had never shown hope.<\/p>\n

Taran glanced at Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 The Zervakan was the being she had told him about just before the harrower attack on Fedalan began.\u00c2\u00a0 He did not say anything, though, not wanting to make things hard on her for telling him something she was not supposed to.<\/p>\n

Edoss said to Taran, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that what the madman in Doare was yelling at us?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Gray gave Melahara a frightened look, but Melahara continued to stare down at Taran with the same blank face.\u00c2\u00a0 She swallowed once, then said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is a prophecy.\u00c2\u00a0 When the Barrier went up, the Holy Seat at the time foretold a being who would come if the Barrier should fall.\u00c2\u00a0 That being would aid us in our fight against the resurgent Fomorians.\u00c2\u00a0 That being was to be called the Zervakan, which, translated loosely into Recindian, means the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbringer of balance.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That sounds<\/em> like a good thing,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss said, looking from Melahara to Gray.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is not,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said as she hobbled into the room with the support of her walking staff.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The prophecy says the Zervakan will indeed help us defeat the Fomorians.\u00c2\u00a0 But in so doing, he\u00e2\u20ac\u201dor she\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwill cause much suffering once the fight is done.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Gray said in a whispered voice, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcOn that day when night returns, the Zervakan will heal, and all will have hope.\u00c2\u00a0 On that day when light prevails, the Zervakan will raze.\u00c2\u00a0 And all will despair.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran swung his feet over the side of the small bed and stood on shaky legs.\u00c2\u00a0 He steadied himself against the cool stone wall at the head of the bed, then faced the people in the room.\u00c2\u00a0 All of the Tuatha stared at him as if he were a ghost.<\/p>\n

Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You should not have this much strength so soon, especially after how much you Wielded….\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The hospital priest rushed over to Taran with the mixture she had been making and said in Tuathan, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Drink this, young man.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran took the small porcelain cup and sniffed the milky liquid.\u00c2\u00a0 It smelled like cinnamon.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What is this?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked.<\/p>\n

She smiled.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is something I have been working on to alleviate the Wielding fatigue.\u00c2\u00a0 Although you do not seem to need it as much as others I have tended.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran sipped the mixture, decided it did not taste too bad, then drank the rest in two gulps.\u00c2\u00a0 He handed the cup back to the smiling priest, who watched him for the mixture\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s effect.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran did feel a bit more energetic than he had a moment ago.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do you feel?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said, which did not adequately describe the well-being he felt at the moment.\u00c2\u00a0 With all the people in the room staring at him, he should have felt like a cornered lab mouse.\u00c2\u00a0 But not even their strange prophecies and fearful expressions could dampen his suddenly high spirits.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who were your parents?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara asked Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Where did they come from?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My mother Jajeh is Levakan and my father Tobias is Gahallian,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My father\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s family can be traced back over twenty generations, same with my mother\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s.\u00c2\u00a0 Like I told Fatimah, neither of them are Tuathan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin chuckled.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Twenty generations is only four hundred years or so.\u00c2\u00a0 Not all Tuathan retreated to the Beldamark when the Barrier went up a thousand<\/em> years ago….\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153With the power he Wielded, he has to be the offspring of two pureblood Tuathans.\u00c2\u00a0 Both of his parents must<\/em> be Tuathan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can assure you they are not,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said.<\/p>\n

Edoss said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Abraeu family has been a part of Gahallian and Compact history for hundreds of years.\u00c2\u00a0 And Jajeh\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s family is descended from Levakan nobility.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara stared intently at Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If Tobias and Jajeh Abraeu are not Tuathan, then they are not your real parents.\u00c2\u00a0 There are ancient records of Tuathans who left the fold to marry Mundanes.\u00c2\u00a0 But their offspring were unable to Wield and were sterile.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran had enough.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is pointless.\u00c2\u00a0 My parents are Tobias and Jajeh Abraeu.\u00c2\u00a0 They are not Tuathan.\u00c2\u00a0 I have phototypes of them with me in all stages of my life.\u00c2\u00a0 Our family and friends have told me stories of what it was like for my mother when she was pregnant with me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 He said to Melahara, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I am not Tuathan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She smiled sadly and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The fact you can Wield Ahura says you are.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Or he is the Zervakan,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Gray said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The prophecies never say the Zervakan has<\/em> to be Tuathan or Fomorian.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara waved her hand dismissively.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The prophecies say a lot of things, many contradicting the other.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

As Gray and Melahara argued, Taran was so overwhelmed by all these theories about his parents and himself that he did not know what to say.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, he started laughing.\u00c2\u00a0 The others stared at him, but did not join in his laughter.<\/p>\n

This was all so ridiculous.\u00c2\u00a0 He had come to the Beldamark to find Mystics who could heal his daughter.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead he finds a people in desperate poverty, who cannot heal diseases, and who think he was this Zervakan \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chosen one,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d all while they could not even agree on what the Zervakan really was.\u00c2\u00a0 What was there not to laugh about in this situation?<\/p>\n

After the laughter had drained from Taran, Eblin said to Melahara, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whether or not Taran Abraeu is the Zervakan is irrelevant.\u00c2\u00a0 What matters is that he not only can Wield more of the Aspects than any Tuathan, but that he appears not to suffer from the fatigue after Wielding.\u00c2\u00a0 At least not in the same proportions as other Tuatha.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She turned her gaze on Taran, and he felt unease spread down his spine.\u00c2\u00a0 Eblin said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What matters is that Dr. Abraeu may be strong enough to help us break this siege.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/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-147","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\/147","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=147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}