{"id":188,"date":"2012-10-05T12:59:01","date_gmt":"2012-10-05T16:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=188"},"modified":"2012-10-05T13:00:06","modified_gmt":"2012-10-05T17:00:06","slug":"zervakan-chapters-49-and-50-final-chapters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=188","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Chapters 49 and 50 – FINAL CHAPTERS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nCover by TJ Lomas.<\/a><\/div>\n
So here we go with the final two chapters<\/strong> in my fantasy novel ZERVAKAN. I can’t begin to convey my appreciation for all the comments you sent me and typos you fixed. Thank you, thank you!<\/p>\n

My goal is to publish the book sometime in January 2013. The chapters will remain here until then, but once I publish the book, I will remove all of the chapters from this site<\/span>. So if you haven’t read them all yet, get cracking while they’re still free.<\/p>\n

And feel free to keep sending me comments and\/or typos while the chapters are still up. Those who spot a typo will get their names in the book’s acknowledgements. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

So once again, thank you all for your support and suggestions. This will be a much<\/strong> better book because of you.
\n<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ZERVAKAN<\/h1>\n

by Rob Steiner<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 49<\/h2>\n

Taran stood across the street from his townhouse on University Avenue, beneath the canopy of the caf\u00c3\u00a9 two blocks down.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a black night made even blacker by the drenching rain that had been pouring all day and most of yesterday.\u00c2\u00a0 Science Ministry experts assured today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s newspapers that this weather pattern was normal and not like the devastating tornado of four months ago.<\/p>\n

Taran knew they were right.<\/p>\n

The steam trolley chugged up the hill from Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s left, and then stopped a block down from the townhouse.\u00c2\u00a0 He saw that a pro-Edoss poster had been hastily glued to the door near the back of the trolley:\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Free Dylan Edoss!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it proclaimed in large black letters on a white background.<\/p>\n

Taran had read in Edellian newspapers that Edoss had been arrested on treason and heresy charges as soon as his ship from Turicia had docked in Levaken.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a heavy-handed move for Adella Kiricia that seemed to be backfiring.\u00c2\u00a0 While most Compact citizens\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwith the exception of the Orlenians\u00e2\u20ac\u201dsupported Edoss’s removal from office, ordering Edoss arrested and held without trial for simply traveling to the Beldamark had most people scratching their heads.\u00c2\u00a0 For if Edoss had been on a heretical fool\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s errand, according to Kiricia, then why was she so desperate to stop him from telling his story?\u00c2\u00a0 It made some curious enough to read Edoss’s smuggled\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand illegal\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwritings from his cell in Granthahm Prison in Calaman.<\/p>\n

Now a small but vocal group was gluing posters all over the city, and had even started publishing a newspaper on Kiricia’s anti-Constitutional arrests of Edoss’s supporters, along with Edoss’s descriptions of the Tuathans.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran had read several issues of the newspaper but saw nothing regarding the current location of the Tuathans.\u00c2\u00a0 All Edoss said was that they were safe and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153girding themselves for the coming war with Angra’s servants.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Gas lamps illuminated the interior of the trolley, showing it empty but for two men with sooty faces and a single woman.\u00c2\u00a0 When the trolley stopped, the woman exited with a brief smile for the trolley driver.\u00c2\u00a0 Once she stepped off, the trolley steamed up the hill, passing Taran with a warm, wet breeze and the harsh sent of coal.<\/p>\n

Taran watched Adhera walk wearily up the sidewalk to the house, her black umbrella held above her head.\u00c2\u00a0 She entered the house, and then a few minutes later, the nurse who had been watching Mara left, opening her own umbrella and walking back the way Adhera had just come.<\/p>\n

Taran jogged across the street, ignoring the soaking rain, and took the steps to his porch two at a time.\u00c2\u00a0 He was about to open the door, but paused.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been three months,<\/em> he thought.\u00c2\u00a0 Will she even let me in?<\/em><\/p>\n

He knocked.\u00c2\u00a0 A minute went by.\u00c2\u00a0 Then the circular greeting hole in the center of the door opened, and Taran could see Adhera\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes through the metal bars.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hello, Adhera,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n

She stared at him for several moments, the expression around her eyes unchanging.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can I come in please?\u00c2\u00a0 The weather is\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The greeting hole slammed shut.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran was about to knock again when he heard the bolts on the door pulled back.\u00c2\u00a0 Adhera opened the door, and then walked away into the living room without a word.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran entered, removed his jacket and hung it on the coat pegs next to the door.\u00c2\u00a0 He walked into the small living room where Adhera sat in the rocking chair she had used to nurse Mara after her birth.\u00c2\u00a0 Her arms were folded, and she stared at the smoldering embers in the iron wood burner in the corner.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran sat down on the couch across from her.\u00c2\u00a0 The living room was so small that their knees were less than a pace apart.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re working two jobs?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked.<\/p>\n

Without looking at him, she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Three, actually.\u00c2\u00a0 My Pathist Teacher credentials have been revoked.\u00c2\u00a0 The only work I can find is house cleaning or grocery clerkships.\u00c2\u00a0 Nurses aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t free, you know.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know this is a feeble thing to say after what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve put you through, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry, Adhera.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so sorry.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She finally looked at him, her eyes glistening.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sorry?\u00c2\u00a0 You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right.\u00c2\u00a0 It is feeble.\u00c2\u00a0 They told me you were dead.\u00c2\u00a0 Never told me how, or where, just that you died a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchero.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00c2\u00a0 Some comfort.\u00c2\u00a0 It crushed me, Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 I thought all my love for you had died when you refused Mara the Mercy, but I guess it hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She shook her head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And then you send me that wiretype two months ago saying you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re alive, saying that you would be home in another week.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know.\u00c2\u00a0 I was…delayed,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n

After he had sent Adhera the wiretype, he had gone to the Sydear train station to book passage to Calaman.\u00c2\u00a0 Before he reached the ticket counter, he saw one of the clerks putting up a poster with his face on it on a bulletin board behind the counter.\u00c2\u00a0 The poster said he was a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153known associate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153revolutionary\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Dylan Edoss, and the Compact was offering an unprecedented 100,000 han<\/em> for information leading to his capture.\u00c2\u00a0 He ducked out of the office.\u00c2\u00a0 He had tried getting onto wagon trains, but found his face staring back at him at their ticket offices.\u00c2\u00a0 He was forced to walk back to Calaman, hitching rides on private wagons that were traveling south.\u00c2\u00a0 To avoid Edellian authorities\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand Angra harrowers\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhe had stuck to roads that paralleled the Trans-Recindian Railroad, then turned east at the Perla Mountains, crossing the Komenda Steppes and entering the Compact through the Burrick Pass.\u00c2\u00a0 He had not seen any sign that Angra harrowers had visited the towns through which he passed.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I tried to get here as fast as I could,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And what I said in the wiretype is true.\u00c2\u00a0 I know how to cure Mara.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mara is receiving the Mercy next week,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, as if it were a simple treatment for a stomachache.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You are officially dead, so I have sole authority to request it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Adhera,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taran said, leaning forward.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can heal Mara.\u00c2\u00a0 Please let me see her.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Adhera shook her head, and then laughed mirthlessly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Even now you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t give up your fantasies.\u00c2\u00a0 I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t live on wishes, Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 Nor can Mara.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Then let me see her so I can prove it to you.\u00c2\u00a0 At least let me see my daughter one last time before you send her to the Pathists.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Adhera stared at him, and then sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s finally sleeping, so be quiet.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

They walked up the stairs together and stopped at Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s room.\u00c2\u00a0 The door was slightly ajar.\u00c2\u00a0 Upon entering the room, the familiar smells of vomit and stale urine assaulted him.\u00c2\u00a0 Mara lay on her back, dressed in her usual white sleeping gown.\u00c2\u00a0 She had pushed her blankets to the end of the bed, likely during one of her episodic convulsions.\u00c2\u00a0 Adhera went in and pulled the covers up so that they covered Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s thin frame, and then tucked them gently beneath her chin.\u00c2\u00a0 Mara stirred a bit, turning her sleeping face toward Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 A thin line of pink drool streamed from her mouth, and Adhera wiped it with a clean handkerchief.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran had to hold back a sob when he saw how gaunt and pale Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face had become in the four months he had been away.<\/p>\n

Once Adhera had placed the blankets, Taran sat down softly next to Mara.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, my sweet girl,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n

Without raising his hand, Taran reached for Angra.\u00c2\u00a0 The chaotic power filled him instantly, and he sighed with pleasure.\u00c2\u00a0 It had been months since he had Wielded Angra or Ahura.\u00c2\u00a0 Angra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s surging currents raged in him, almost making him forget what he wanted to do.\u00c2\u00a0 He put his hand on Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chest and searched her body for the organisms that were killing her.\u00c2\u00a0 They were buried deep in her blood, her muscles, her bones, and her brain, so he had to delve further than he had ever gone with the harrower back in the Beldamark.<\/p>\n

Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chest heaved.\u00c2\u00a0 Her eyes sprung open and her back arched.\u00c2\u00a0 He was aware of Adhera yelling at him, telling him to stop what he was doing, but he screamed something back to her, not knowing what it was, only caring that it made her leave him alone.\u00c2\u00a0 Mara thrashed about in the bed, grunting and moaning, her eyes rolling into her head, but Taran went deeper still.<\/p>\n

There.<\/p>\n

He found the Blood feasting on her spinal chord and its connections to her brain.\u00c2\u00a0 Now that he had them, he willed them all to die.\u00c2\u00a0 They screamed at him most pleasingly before withering away to nothing.\u00c2\u00a0 Their destruction seemed to fill him with more power and a sense of satisfied vengeance.<\/p>\n

Now kill the rest of them,<\/em> the dark voice said, speaking for the first time in months.\u00c2\u00a0 Start with the girl, and the power you feel now will be like a breeze to a tornado.<\/em><\/p>\n

Taran shut his eyes tight.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ah…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Do it!<\/em> the voice screamed.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Daddy?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran opened his eyes and let go of Angra.\u00c2\u00a0 Mara looked up at him.\u00c2\u00a0 Her eyes were clear and focused.\u00c2\u00a0 For the first time in six years, they were clear and focused.<\/p>\n

Oh, Mercy, please let it be true…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Daddy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said again, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why do you look so old?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran felt a smile spread across his face, then a laugh, and then hot tears streamed from his eyes as he hugged Mara so tight that he had to let her go when she gasped.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mara…?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Adhera said from behind Taran.<\/p>\n

Taran released Mara and turned to Adhera.\u00c2\u00a0 She gave him a questioning look.\u00c2\u00a0 He nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gone.\u00c2\u00a0 The Blood is gone.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

A choking sob escaped her throat.\u00c2\u00a0 She sat on the other side of the bed from Taran and hugged Mara tight.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wrong, momma?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Adhera laughed, and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Nothing.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so happy.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so happy…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

When Adhera pulled back, Mara wrinkled her nose, and then asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why does it smell so bad in here?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been sick a long time.\u00c2\u00a0 Do you remember any of it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Mara was thoughtful for a moment.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I had a really bad headache after we had iced cream…and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s it, until waking up right now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Adhera said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You can sleep in my room until we clean out your bed tomorrow.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Then Adhera looked at Taran.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What…what did you do?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a really long story.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She stared at him for a while longer, and then her eyes widened.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have to leave.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran nodded.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know.\u00c2\u00a0 I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stay in the Compact too long\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, I mean you have to leave right now!\u00c2\u00a0 I…I wiretyped the constables when I saw you at the door.\u00c2\u00a0 They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be here any minute.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran jumped up, went to Mara\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s window, and parted the drapes a sliver.\u00c2\u00a0 He scanned the dark street to the left and the right.\u00c2\u00a0 He saw no one\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/p>\n

Wait.\u00c2\u00a0 In the dark shadows of the grocer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shop across the street and three doors down, Taran saw the faint outline of a man.\u00c2\u00a0 Then he saw two constables round the corner and stride toward the house.\u00c2\u00a0 Both nodded to the man in the shadows.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so sorry, Taran,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Adhera said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They told me to contact them if you ever came home.\u00c2\u00a0 If I had known you could really do…do what you did, I never would have wiretyped them.\u00c2\u00a0 How could I have known?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran turned to her.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all right.\u00c2\u00a0 You didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He went over to Mara, who was trying to get up, but her muscles were so weak from almost six years of lying in bed that she shook with the effort.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran gently pushed her back down to the bed, and then hugged her again.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have to leave for a while,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But no matter where I go or how long I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m gone, know that I love you more than anything in this world.\u00c2\u00a0 Do you believe me?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Mara nodded her head as tears began to glisten in her eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why are you leaving?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Momma will explain it to you, but I have to go now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 He stood, backed away to the door so that he could look on his daughter for as long as possible.<\/p>\n

Mara raised her hand in a feeble wave.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Goodbye, daddy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Goodbye, Mara.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Adhera followed Taran as he raced down the stairs.\u00c2\u00a0 When he was halfway down, he stopped when he heard knocking at the front door.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The alley?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Adhera asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have that covered, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

He looked at Adhera, said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m going to do something that will seem…unbelievable.\u00c2\u00a0 Promise me you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t panic.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

She gave him an irritated look.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153After what you just did, you think there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anything you can do now that would surprise me?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran grinned.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I never stopped loving you, Adhera.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Her eyes brimmed with tears.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There are so many things…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The knocking came again, louder this time.<\/p>\n

Taran said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll contact you when I can.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Without raising his hand he reached for Ahura.\u00c2\u00a0 The joy and peace that flowed through him was a calm river on which he could relax and let his fear float away.\u00c2\u00a0 He searched for the right combination of Air and Spirit to create the illusion around him.\u00c2\u00a0 When he found the Aspects, he molded them together and draped them over his body.<\/p>\n

Adhera gasped.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Taran?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The illusion stifled his voice as well, so he could not answer her.\u00c2\u00a0 In response, though, he continued down the stairs, hoping the creaking steps would let her know where he was.<\/p>\n

It worked.\u00c2\u00a0 She followed him down the stairs, and then went to the door, where the constables knocked a third time.\u00c2\u00a0 Opening the door, she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you for coming, constables, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid he left already.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Taran stood in a corner of the room, watching the constables over Adhera\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder.\u00c2\u00a0 The gas lamps on the street illuminated their faces enough that he could see them give each other doubtful glances.\u00c2\u00a0 One of them said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whose wet rain coat is that on the peg behind you?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My husband\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Adhera said without hesitation.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I used it tonight.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much roomier than my old coat.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 She took a step back and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re welcome to search the house, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

They looked at each other again, and the first one said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you, ma\u00e2\u20ac\u2122am, we would.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

They both entered, wiping their feet as best they could on the floor mat, then split up, one heading for the stairs and the other heading toward the kitchen and Taran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s old office.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Be sure not to disturb my daughter,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Adhera whispered after the constable heading to the stairs.\u00c2\u00a0 She continued to hold the door open despite the damp, chilly air rolling in.\u00c2\u00a0 Taran took the hint and stepped quietly out the door and into the rain.<\/p>\n

As Adhera shut the door, she whispered, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I love you, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The door shut with a click, and Taran heard her muffled voice talking to the constables.<\/p>\n

Taran glanced up and down the street.\u00c2\u00a0 The man in the shadows of the grocer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s entry was still there, so he walked in the opposite direction.\u00c2\u00a0 He maintained his hold on Ahura until he had rounded several corners and was over a mile from his house.\u00c2\u00a0 He paused at an empty trolley stop shelter and waited there until a trolley chugged up the hill from the east.<\/p>\n

Just as he remembered, releasing Ahura was like falling through the ice and into a cold, hard world.\u00c2\u00a0 But this time, the worry and fear that had once greeted him was gone.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the same worry and fear that had plagued him for the past six years.<\/p>\n

Mara is going to live.<\/em><\/p>\n

The trolley stopped in front of the shelter, and Taran stepped on.\u00c2\u00a0 Neither the trolley driver nor the two other passengers gave him a second glance, though Taran was without a coat and soaked to the skin from the rain.\u00c2\u00a0 He sat down in the back of the trolley and smiled at his reflection in the glass.<\/p>\n

Mara is going to live.<\/em><\/p>\n

He knew he had to leave the Compact, that he would most likely flee to the Wild Kingdoms to get away from the Compact\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s long reach.\u00c2\u00a0 He had no idea what he would do then, nor how long he would run.<\/p>\n

But none of that mattered now.<\/p>\n

Mara is going to live.<\/em><\/p>\n

For the first time in six years, Taran Abraeu was happy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 50<\/h2>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Karak.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Karak Frost opened his eyes and focused on Savix\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s smiling face.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Welcome back, my Zervakan harrower.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cover by TJ Lomas. So here we go with the final two chapters in my fantasy novel ZERVAKAN. I can’t begin to convey my appreciation for all the comments you sent me and typos you fixed. Thank you, thank you! My goal is to publish the book sometime in January 2013. The chapters will remain […]<\/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-188","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\/188","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=188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}