{"id":176,"date":"2012-09-10T10:19:46","date_gmt":"2012-09-10T14:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=176"},"modified":"2012-09-10T10:19:46","modified_gmt":"2012-09-10T14:19:46","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-43","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=176","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 43"},"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 43<\/h2>\n

Rida Myndehr stood on the bow of the Turician schooner, willing it to go faster.\u00c2\u00a0 Damned backward, stubborn Turicians,<\/em> she thought.\u00c2\u00a0 Why don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t they use the damned steam engines we gave them?\u00c2\u00a0 We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d have been there yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

She knew the answer, that the Turicians viewed Compact technology with the same suspicion that she viewed the Tuathan Wielders.\u00c2\u00a0 She supposed she could understand the feeling, though it did nothing to ease her impatience and frustration with the slow pace of the schooners.<\/p>\n

Though the Beldamark coast was only a half-mile off the starboard side, and Brya had told her that they were only an hour from the Tuathan encampment on the beach, she still felt as if she were late.\u00c2\u00a0 Brya had described Melahara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reports of harrower attacks, and that the Tuathan priests barely hung on to the massive shield Taran Abraeu had created.\u00c2\u00a0 She only hoped they could hang on for an hour more.<\/p>\n

Rida pulled her woolen, dark-green Shadarlak coat tighter around her neck to fight the biting wind.\u00c2\u00a0 Two weeks ago she never would have believed such supernaturalist nonsense like live Mystics, magical arches that transport people hundreds of miles in an instant, or demonic creatures from a madman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nightmares.\u00c2\u00a0 Now she did not give such things a second thought.\u00c2\u00a0 They were simply one more enemy to fight and defeat.<\/p>\n

The captain of the Turician ship she was on, the Waverider<\/em>, approached her.\u00c2\u00a0 Like most Turicians, Captain Gemdi Hass had a full black beard and a full head of curly hair.\u00c2\u00a0 And like most Turicians at Markwatch, he was gaunt from the plague that had swept through the city over a month ago.<\/p>\n

He pointed to a large jut of land five miles away and said in a thick Turician accent, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Mystic priest say that Tuathans are on other side of point.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Rida nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 Even though she knew, she asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How long?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Another hour, maybe less if wind holds.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 The captain looked up at his full sails.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ahura blesses us with good wind.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Rida nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 She glanced at the three schooners behind them.\u00c2\u00a0 The Kingfisher<\/em>, the Vendir<\/em>, and the Teelamark<\/em> sailed in a single-file line so as to fit through the narrow, fifty-pace corridor between the coral reef beds on either side of them.\u00c2\u00a0 Between the four, they should have more than enough room to hold the five hundred or so Tuathans\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153General!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Brya screamed from behind, running up the deck past startled crewmen.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153General, I see Angra trails!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Where?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153On the peninsula,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, pointing at the jut of land Captain Hass had just pointed out.\u00c2\u00a0 She saw nothing there, but knew that the Tuathans saw with different eyes.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How many?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Brya squinted.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Two\u00e2\u20ac\u201dno, wait, a third just appeared.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can you shield the ships?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Brya shook her head helplessly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They are too big for me.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe around a few people, but that is all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Damn,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rida said, under her breath.\u00c2\u00a0 She turned to Captain Hass.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Signal your ships and tell them to\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She stopped when she saw the mass of frothing water racing head-on toward the Windrider<\/em>.\u00c2\u00a0 The mass was over a hundred paces long, encompassing the entire corridor through the reef.\u00c2\u00a0 It would be on the schooners in moments.<\/p>\n

Captain Hass shouted something to the pilot at the stern of the ship.\u00c2\u00a0 The schooner turned sharply to the starboard side.\u00c2\u00a0 The Teelamark<\/em> also turned to starboard, attempting to weave around the Windrider<\/em>.\u00c2\u00a0 But Teelamark\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/em> captain realized he was heading right for an outcropping of rocks, and then turned back to port…right into the Windrider\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/em> path.<\/p>\n

There was only time for Rida to hear the captains scream different orders to their pilots before both ships collided.\u00c2\u00a0 The stern of the Teelamark<\/em> rammed into the port bow of the Windrider<\/em> with a terrible grinding and cracking wood.\u00c2\u00a0 Rida was thrown to the deck, and she saw Captain Hass tumble over the railing and into the water.\u00c2\u00a0 Brya landed hard on her side nearby, and Rida heard a sickening crack followed by Brya screaming and holding the bone jutting out of her left forearm.\u00c2\u00a0 Water gushed through the hole in the Windrider\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/em> side, and the ship listed forward.<\/p>\n

Over the snapping wood, yelling crewmen, and flooding below deck, Rida heard the frothing water approach them with tremendous speed.\u00c2\u00a0 She raised her head above the ship\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s railing in time to see a large wave hit the interlocked Windrider<\/em> and Teelamark<\/em>.\u00c2\u00a0 Both ships surged upwards as the wave passed beneath them, then came down with a jarring thump into the water.\u00c2\u00a0 The Windrider<\/em> listed further forward, but the wave had vanished.\u00c2\u00a0 The Windrider<\/em> and the Teelamark<\/em> bobbed up and down in its wake.<\/p>\n

All was quiet a moment, and then the sea exploded with dozens of tentacles that reminded Rida all too vividly of the Tainted attack on the train in Doare.\u00c2\u00a0 But these tentacles looked like barbed kelp, and smelled of seaweed, fish, and rot.\u00c2\u00a0 The tentacles thrashed about the decks, grabbing screaming men, pulling them over the side or tearing off limbs.<\/p>\n

When one of the tentacles wrapped itself around Brya\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s right leg, Rida blinked away her shock and drew her saber.\u00c2\u00a0 Brya screamed when the tentacle yanked her toward the railing.\u00c2\u00a0 Rida ran over and severed the tentacle with one swing of her saber.\u00c2\u00a0 The remaining part still wrapped around Brya\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s leg continued to writhe and thrash, its barbs sinking deeper into Brya\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s flesh.<\/p>\n

More tentacles shot from out of the water.\u00c2\u00a0 The crewmen had produced swords and were hacking at each tentacle that tried grabbing them.\u00c2\u00a0 But it was not enough.\u00c2\u00a0 The Windrider<\/em> continued to lose men.\u00c2\u00a0 The deck was littered with torn limbs, and slick with blood and pieces of trampled kelp.<\/p>\n

As Rida hacked away at the Tainted kelp, she heard a groaning of wood from the front of the ship.\u00c2\u00a0 She turned in time to see dozens of tentacles wrap around the ship\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s masthead\u00e2\u20ac\u201da dour looking mermaid\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand pull the front of the ship into the water.\u00c2\u00a0 As the stern jerked downward, Rida lost her footing and slid down the slippery deck into a mass of writhing kelp.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Harrowers!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah looked up to see one of the younger priests pointing at the two harrowers still standing on the beach.\u00c2\u00a0 They had not moved since Melahara had last spoken to them.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Have you been asleep?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d another priest asked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been there an hour.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Not them,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the first priest said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Over there.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She pointed to the small wooded peninsula a few miles away, where large rocks jutted out from the tip, like the skeletal spine of a submerged sea monster.<\/p>\n

Three black tendrils snaked down from Angra to a position on the peninsula\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s point.<\/p>\n

Fatimah jumped up and raced to where Melahara talked with Eblin and Ocrim Tylea.\u00c2\u00a0 All three looked up when Fatimah skidded to a stop in front of them.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Angra trails,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153on the peninsula to the north.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

All three ran with her to the beach, while Eblin limped along as fast as she could.\u00c2\u00a0 They stopped just short of the beach, a dozen paces from the end of the shield, and stared at the three undulating, black tendrils.<\/p>\n

Melahara looked at Ladak.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What is happening over there?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ladak glanced at the tendrils.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, that.\u00c2\u00a0 That means the ships from Markwatch you were waiting for won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be arriving within the hour.\u00c2\u00a0 What am I saying?\u00c2\u00a0 They won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be arriving at all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He opened his gold pocket watch. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And your hour is up.\u00c2\u00a0 What say you about my generous offer?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara raised her hand to Ahura and closed her eyes a few moments, then lowered her hand slowly and stared at Ladak, horrified.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What is happening?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Ocrim Tylea asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Brya says they are under attack,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Melahara said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but she was cut off.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 She looked at Ladak.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What have you done?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Made sure that you have no choice but to accept my offer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ocrim Tylea spat, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You mean your surrender terms?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ladak shrugged.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whatever you want to call it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He put the watch back in his black coat and adjusted his tri-corner hat.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Am I to assume that you refuse to hand over the Zervakan?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin finally arrived and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know we cannot give him to you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ladak sighed, as if he were truly disappointed.\u00c2\u00a0 But Fatimah thought he was trying to control a smile.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That disappoints me.\u00c2\u00a0 The Tuathans and the Fomorians should be allies in this world, not adversaries.\u00c2\u00a0 The Mundanes will destroy us all if they get the chance.\u00c2\u00a0 Look at the technology the Compact developed in a mere two hundred years\u00e2\u20ac\u201dmuskets, cannon, trains, wiretypes.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe not today or tomorrow, but certainly within the next fifty years they will be powerful enough to challenge us.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Melahara said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You make it sound as if we should rule the Mundanes by divine right.\u00c2\u00a0 That is the Fomorian way, not the Tuathan.\u00c2\u00a0 We choose to live in peace with the Mundanes.\u00c2\u00a0 And to stop you from enslaving them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ladak raised an eyebrow.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You cannot save them if you are all dead.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ocrim said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We will resist you if you attack us again.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Ladak chuckled.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ah, you mean you will hide behind your magnificent shield.\u00c2\u00a0 Well, about that….\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

An arrow hissed from out of the woods and struck the heart of the priest holding the shield.\u00c2\u00a0 The young, red-haired priest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes rolled into her head and she fell on her back.<\/p>\n

The blue shield winked out of existence before another priest could take over.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Arrows are crude, but effective,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Ladak said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now what were you saying about resisting?\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-176","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\/176","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=176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}