{"id":167,"date":"2012-08-24T12:15:20","date_gmt":"2012-08-24T16:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=167"},"modified":"2012-08-24T12:15:20","modified_gmt":"2012-08-24T16:15:20","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-38","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=167","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 38"},"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 38<\/h2>\n

The storm was fading when Fatimah stumbled the second time, almost losing her grip on Ahura.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Enough, Fatimah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara said beside her.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rina, take over the Wield from Fatimah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah was about to object, but Melahara said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You will<\/em> give up the Wield, priest.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The tone of Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice reminded her of the unflinching obedience required of her when she was an Acolyte, and it was that more than anything that made her give up the Wield to Rina.\u00c2\u00a0 The small, dark-haired Rina took over the Wield with a fearful expression, as if she were suddenly carrying the weight of the world.<\/p>\n

But Fatimah saw nothing more.\u00c2\u00a0 She collapsed to the ground as soon as the wonderful peace and joy left her body.\u00c2\u00a0 She did not pass out, a fact that meant she was growing stronger, but she could hardly move her head much less stand.\u00c2\u00a0 Several Tuathan Heshmen carried her back to the small covered wagon on which Eblin was riding and laid her on blankets that had been prepared for the priests recovering from their Wields.<\/p>\n

Eblin poked her soaked head into the wagon from the driver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s seat and smiled proudly at Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You did well, priest.\u00c2\u00a0 Remarkable strength you have…for someone who was supposed to have only Wielded six times.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

When the Barrier fell, Melahara had decreed that priests could only Wield in the presence of their Masters.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah had only Wielded six times in front of Eblin, but, contrary to Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decree, had practiced many times on her own.<\/p>\n

Fatimah barely had the strength to form the words, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Have they found Taran?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s smile faded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dylan Edoss has gone to look for him.\u00c2\u00a0 Pomar Aliin went along to shield him and his men.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How…how long?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It has been an hour.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah was not only shocked that Taran had been missing an hour, but that she had been Wielding for that long.\u00c2\u00a0 She now understood why it would be so easy for the undisciplined to continue Wielding until they died from exhaustion.\u00c2\u00a0 While holding Ahura, time seemed to stop and speed up simultaneously.\u00c2\u00a0 The peace she felt while embracing Ahura was…addictive.\u00c2\u00a0 Even now she wanted to Wield, to find that joy again.\u00c2\u00a0 Even now, when she knew that to do so would mean certain death.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153do you remember exactly what he said before he ran off into the woods?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah thought back to what Taran had said a mere hour ago, which felt like last week.\u00c2\u00a0 He had been walking along, setting a quick pace, when he stopped and asked Fatimah about a girl in the road.\u00c2\u00a0 But Fatimah had not seen a girl.\u00c2\u00a0 She told Eblin this, and Eblin frowned.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The harrowers know so much more about their lost powers than we do,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have yet to create convincing illusions.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The girl was an illusion?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah asked.\u00c2\u00a0 And then before Eblin could confirm her suspicions, Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He thinks he saw his daughter.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Nothing else would have made him run off like that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah suddenly felt energy flowing through her again, and she sat up.\u00c2\u00a0 She marveled that she had the strength to walk, though she knew that Wielding would be out of the question for at least the next half hour.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How did the harrowers know about Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s daughter?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s normally affable face was dark when she looked at Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153From what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve read in the ancient texts describing Angra powers, they can only generate convincing illusions if they have seen their subjects.\u00c2\u00a0 The harrower who created that illusion has seen Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s daughter, and is likely someone Taran knows\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is a harrower in the Compact delegation?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.<\/p>\n

Eblin raised her eyebrow at Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interruption.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do we know who?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It could be any of them.\u00c2\u00a0 Certainly not one that is within the shield, for he could not have generated the illusion.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Then the harrower is out in the woods somewhere with Taran.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She gathered her waterlogged cloak around her and jumped down from the wagon and onto the muddy ground.\u00c2\u00a0 The rain had lessened since she entered the wagon, and there were no more lightning strikes, but the clouds were still black and ominous.\u00c2\u00a0 And the Tainted no longer attacked the shield.\u00c2\u00a0 The quiet, dark woods were almost more eerie than the Tainted shrieks.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Where are you going?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin asked from the front seat of the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153To find Taran,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.\u00c2\u00a0 She stepped in a puddle of mud that was deeper than she thought.\u00c2\u00a0 It soaked her leggings, but she continued on through the Tuathans behind the wagon.\u00c2\u00a0 With all they had been through, they could only give her passing glances\u00e2\u20ac\u201dmost gazed fearfully at the clouds or the dark forest on either side of the road.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara called out from behind, but Fatimah ignored the Worldly Seat.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, a large Tuathan, a farmer from the looks of him, stopped her and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think the Worldly Seat is calling for you, priest.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Unable to ignore Melahara any longer, she turned.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Taran Abraeu saved the lives of six Heshmen two nights ago.\u00c2\u00a0 Something he did not have to do.\u00c2\u00a0 We cannot leave him behind.\u00c2\u00a0 He would have gone after any one of us.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara glared at Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Really?\u00c2\u00a0 He chose to leave over five hundred innocent people unprotected to go chasing an illusion.\u00c2\u00a0 I know he thought whatever he saw was real, but nevertheless, we now know that we can never trust him again.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But if he saw his daughter\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes, his daughter.\u00c2\u00a0 And as long as she lives, she will always have a hold on him that his responsibilities as the Zervakan can never break.\u00c2\u00a0 The Fomorians now know this, and they will use it to turn him against us.\u00c2\u00a0 We cannot risk that.\u00c2\u00a0 He is too powerful, and our numbers are too few.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If he returns, Taran Abraeu must be killed.\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-167","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\/167","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=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}