{"id":173,"date":"2012-09-03T10:57:28","date_gmt":"2012-09-03T14:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=173"},"modified":"2012-09-03T10:57:28","modified_gmt":"2012-09-03T14:57:28","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-41","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=173","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 41"},"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 41<\/h2>\n

After marching five hours, Eblin called a halt that was greeted with quiet sighs of gratitude from the Tuathan masses.<\/p>\n

Fatimah ensured there were enough priests to maintain the shield, and then made her way to the back of the column to await Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s return.\u00c2\u00a0 Melahara had received word from Pomar, through Ahura, that they found Taran and were returning to the column.\u00c2\u00a0 Upon hearing this, Melahara gathered all the priests that the column could spare, along with a squad of Heshmen, and went to meet Pomar.\u00c2\u00a0 Melahara forbade Fatimah from accompanying her, ignoring Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inappropriate protests.\u00c2\u00a0 When Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sharp denials did not silence Fatimah, Eblin did so in a harsh tone that she never used even when Fatimah was an Acolyte.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is not your place to question the Holy Seat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wisdom, priest,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin had said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now do your duty and stop your childish whining.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah had gritted her teeth and returned to her place among the priests maintaining the shield.<\/p>\n

Fatimah reached the end of the column and sat in front of the shield\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s blue, translucent edge.\u00c2\u00a0 Several Tuathan families also sat nearby, and she gave them reassuring smiles.\u00c2\u00a0 One of the children, a dirty-faced boy of five years, gave her a piece of cheese, for which Fatimah thanked him and ate gratefully.\u00c2\u00a0 The boy gave her a shy smile and ran back to his mother.<\/p>\n

The dark clouds had weakened, and the first stars of dusk sparkled through the breaks.\u00c2\u00a0 Ahura and Angra shone like beacons in the sky, bathing the road in a strange mixture of color and darkness.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah watched the shadowy road behind the column, waiting for Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s return.<\/p>\n

As soon as Fatimah saw the blue-white glow of the shield approaching, she stood and walked outside the main shield toward the approaching figures.\u00c2\u00a0 Night had almost settled over the land, so it was not until she was within a dozen paces that she could see Taran walking among the priests and Heshmen, one of whom carried Pomar.\u00c2\u00a0 Behind them were Edoss and his men, all more grim-faced than usual.<\/p>\n

Fatimah broke into a run and stopped in front of Taran just before she was about to throw her arms around him.\u00c2\u00a0 His hands were bound behind him and though he smiled at her, his eyes were sad.<\/p>\n

And then she smelled the Taint.\u00c2\u00a0 Decay, stale blood, feces, and all the smells that would make a human sick, all combined into one.\u00c2\u00a0 It was weak, but unmistakable.\u00c2\u00a0 It came from Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 She backed away from him.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You see, child,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I told you he could no longer be trusted.\u00c2\u00a0 You, too, can smell his betrayal.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice failed her, the words frozen in her mind.\u00c2\u00a0 She looked at Taran, who stared back at her with those sad eyes.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is it true?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked him.<\/p>\n

He opened his mouth, but no words came.\u00c2\u00a0 He did not have to answer, for his expression told her all.<\/p>\n

She slapped him across the face, then slapped him again, and then a third time.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I trusted you!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara grabbed Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hand when she was about to strike a fourth time.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Control yourself, priest,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He will be judged after our people are safe.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara cast a glance back at Edoss, who now stood at Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s side.\u00c2\u00a0 The small man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glare made him seem taller.<\/p>\n

Fatimah turned around and ran back to the main shield, through the resting Tuathans, stopping only when she reached the front of the column.\u00c2\u00a0 The priests surrounding the current shield holder gave her questioning looks, but she ignored them.<\/p>\n

How could he have turned against them?\u00c2\u00a0 He was her friend, she trusted him…and all this time he was a harrower?\u00c2\u00a0 But it did not make sense.\u00c2\u00a0 How could he Wield Ahura and<\/em> Angra?\u00c2\u00a0 Was he really in league with the harrowers who attacked Fedalan, and who followed the Tuathans now?<\/p>\n

Fatimah heard the crowd behind her murmur, and she turned to see Melahara leading the bound Taran to the covered wagon.\u00c2\u00a0 She ordered him inside, and he climbed in without a word.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan Edoss entered the wagon with Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 Several Heshmen and priests stood outside, along with Lee Cursh and every one of Edoss\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s remaining Shadarlak.\u00c2\u00a0 Both groups eyed each other in ways that made Fatimah wonder if a cough from one would cause the other to attack.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is terrible,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d one of the Acolytes said to another several paces away.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why would the Zervakan betray us?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I heard he was never with us to begin with,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the second Acolyte said, her tone filled with conspiratorial certainty.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I heard he only pretended to be with us so he could infiltrate the priesthood.\u00c2\u00a0 He was a harrower all along.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah whirled around and stalked toward the gossiping Acolytes.\u00c2\u00a0 When they saw her approach, both bowed their heads.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t there some food you two could be handing out to the people?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

They both bowed again and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes, priest,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d then scurried off to the food wagon to help with the distribution.\u00c2\u00a0 Upon seeing Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anger, several more Acolytes standing nearby rushed off to assist their sisters.<\/p>\n

Fatimah went back to the group of priests who were maintaining the shield.\u00c2\u00a0 Bessi Gyhll was currently holding the shield, her freckled face rapturous.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will take over now,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said to Bessi.\u00c2\u00a0 The young priest ignored her at first, so Fatimah stood in front of her and said loudly, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bessi, I will take over now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The dreamy expression on Bessi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face turned to confusion and disappointment.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I just took over the shield a few minutes ago.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153And you will give it up now,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.<\/p>\n

Bessi had been ordained a year after Fatimah, so Fatimah had the privilege of seniority on her.\u00c2\u00a0 The girl reluctantly nodded her head.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah raised her right hand to Ahura, recited the shield incantation, and then reached over to Bessi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hand.\u00c2\u00a0 The younger priest handed control of the shield to Fatimah.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah was vaguely aware of Bessi collapsing into the arms of two priests who carried back to Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wagon.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah was too busy reveling in the peace and joy that flooded her senses.<\/p>\n

Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s betrayal was now a distant memory.<\/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-173","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\/173","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=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}