{"id":184,"date":"2012-09-24T10:29:37","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T14:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=184"},"modified":"2012-09-24T10:29:37","modified_gmt":"2012-09-24T14:29:37","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-47","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=184","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 47"},"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 47<\/h2>\n

Fatimah pushed her way through the cheering Tuathans standing on Tsall’s piers, most of them pointing at the two ships a half-mile away.\u00c2\u00a0 She could not share in their joy, for she not only had abandoned her Master to death at the hands of a Fomorian and a harrower, but she may have just given them Taran Abraeu by removing the barrier around him.<\/p>\n

Dylan Edoss called out to her.\u00c2\u00a0 As always, his Shadarlak surrounded him, all of their uniforms torn, dirty, and stained with blood.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Where is Taran?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked.<\/p>\n

Fatimah shook her head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think he was taken.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

His eyes narrowed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Taken?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Fomorians.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Looking around the beach, Edoss asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Fomorians were on the beach?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said, unable to form the right words through her haze of fear and guilt.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They took<\/em> him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She pointed in the direction in which she last saw Taran snatched like a fish on a hook.\u00c2\u00a0 She could still see his limbs flailing sickeningly like he was already dead.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It was like they reached down from the sky and grabbed him,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I saw him…flying that way.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

A male Tuathan voice from behind her said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah turned.\u00c2\u00a0 A Heshman walked toward her carrying Eblin in his arms.\u00c2\u00a0 Eblin looked more disheveled than Fatimah had ever seen her\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhair matted with sweat and mud, woolen cloak torn.\u00c2\u00a0 But when her eyes found Fatimah, she gave her Apprentice a weary smile.\u00c2\u00a0 She was alive.<\/p>\n

Fatimah ran to Eblin and took her hand.\u00c2\u00a0 Eblin said to the Heshman, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You may put me down now, thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Heshman lowered Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s feet to the sand, and Eblin stood shakily.\u00c2\u00a0 Fatimah put Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arm around her shoulder to steady her, and Eblin did not protest.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There are only two ships,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said, watching the ships grow closer.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There were four, but two were sunk in a harrower attack just behind that peninsula.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Lowering her voice and glancing about, Eblin said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is not enough room for everyone.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Damn,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss said.\u00c2\u00a0 In a low voice, he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153These people are already in a panic.\u00c2\u00a0 What are they going to do when they find out the ships can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take them all?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin frowned.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They will accept our new plan, I think.\u00c2\u00a0 The Master Circle has decided that most of the priests and the Heshman shall remain behind and travel through the Guardians up the coast to Markwatch.\u00c2\u00a0 I would suggest, Dylan Edoss, that you and your men accompany us.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dylan nodded grimly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes.\u00c2\u00a0 That shaves off 150 people.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Squinting at the arriving ships, Dylan said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be a tight fit, but they should accommodate the rest.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin said to Fatimah, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You and I will accompany our people on the ships, along with two more priests on the second ship.\u00c2\u00a0 We will take Taran Abraeu with us…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin stopped speaking when she saw Fatimah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face.\u00c2\u00a0 She looked around.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Where is<\/em> Taran Abraeu?\u00c2\u00a0 Speaker Edoss, we had an agreement\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Before Dylan could answer, Fatimah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is my fault, Master.\u00c2\u00a0 I released the barrier around him so that he could help the Heshmen and the Recindians fight the Tainted.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dylan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes widened.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That was Taran?\u00c2\u00a0 He<\/em> destroyed the Tainted?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But after he did so, he was…pulled…through the sky, in that direction.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She pointed to where the road from Fedalan entered Tsall.\u00c2\u00a0 She said to Eblin, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ladak must have him by now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin suddenly looked tired, as if her age and the events of the past month had caught her all at once.\u00c2\u00a0 She sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He is lost to us, then.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We cannot leave him.\u00c2\u00a0 He just saved our people from destruction!\u00c2\u00a0 They would have all been slaughtered if not for him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153and he Wielded Angra to do it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah shook her head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know but…he saved us…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It does not matter,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said patiently.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The more he Wields Angra, the more he will become like the Fomorians, regardless of any good intentions he may have.\u00c2\u00a0 And now that he is in the hands of one…\u00c2\u00a0 He will<\/em> become a harrower, if he has not already.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He will resist!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He will not have a choice,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Eblin said in a tone that was meant to end the debate.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Now, you will accompany me to the pier where we will lead our people\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will not,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fatimah said.<\/p>\n

Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face sagged.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You will, priest.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah shook her head, not quite understanding why she was disobeying her Master, something that meant excommunication from the priesthood, all for a man who had just Wielded Angra in front of her.\u00c2\u00a0 But she did know that her dreams would never again be peaceful if she left Taran behind.\u00c2\u00a0 He had saved the six priests at the Heiron during the initial Tainted attack, and he had just saved the Tuathans on the beach from horrible deaths when he could have just ran when Fatimah released his barrier.\u00c2\u00a0 But he did not.\u00c2\u00a0 He did not have the heart of a Fomorian.\u00c2\u00a0 He was the Zervakan.\u00c2\u00a0 Only Ahura knew why she was so certain of it, but she was.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I…I cannot leave him,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have to try.\u00c2\u00a0 I am sorry, Master.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Eblin whispered, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Fatimah, please…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Fatimah turned and ran toward the small road through Tsall, trying to forget Eblin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pleading eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 She was half way through the town\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s main road when she heard Dylan Edoss behind her, calling for her to stop a moment.\u00c2\u00a0 Knowing she would be unable to outrun his Shadarlak, she stopped, then turned and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You are not going to stop me from\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to stop you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Edoss said, breathing heavy.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want to help<\/em> you.\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-184","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\/184","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=184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}