Snapshots?

What are snapshots? Here, for me and for you, a snapshot is a piece written out of context from the main Tales. It may or may not be incorporated into the story somewhere, but meanwhile it serves as a prod into creativity...or is simply a fun exercise!

A few words on my creative journey

Gathering of Rain is the first Tale from the Path of Shades and is about RAIN being gathered to become something greater than he initially suspects. His journey starts as an unwilling sorcerer forced into action by the manipulations of an ancient enemy. By the end of the first Tale every reader will know there is great potential in Rain...and great danger. We could label this heroic fantasy, for there is heroism, but as Rain possesses dark spaces, it places him firmly on the Path of Shades.

How did Rain’s journey come to light? A few years ago I paged through a book on Alchemy, a dictionary of terms. I wish I could now recall to mind the author, to thank her for the proverbial light bulb moment that sparked this creative process. I do, however, recall the 14 steps to alchemical perfection she listed that started it all.

Those 14 steps, tweaked of course to fit an epic tale, caused me to grab pen and paper...and they also form the basis of the quest for Rain in Gathering of Rain:

1. Find the sacred rhythms of Pyllanthos.
2. Enter the Square Pyramid. .
3. Solve the riddle of the Obelisk. .
4. Play chess in the Queen’s chessboard courtyard.
5. Open the Three Gates.
6. Pray in the Round Temple.
7. Activate the Seven-sided Fountain.
8. Survive the Graveyard of the Ancients.
9. Surmount the rivers to the Lifesource
10. Travel the Tunnels
11. Solve the Maze.
12. Solve the mystery of the Circular Mystic Island.
13. Pick from the sacred rose-garden of Moshesh.
14. Climb the Tower of Stairs.

To further add impetus to creativity, I had a dream a while before said light bulb moment. Content isn't important, but what is, is the fact I was convinced, upon waking, I possessed 10 books I had penned while on a dream mission...I simply had to find them...or write them. The Ancient Oracles we learn of in Gathering of Rain parallel this- 10 sacred volumes of history and sorcery, and, yes, I have subsequently ‘penned’ 10 Tales:

1. Gathering of Rain
2. Ancient Fire
3. Glittering Darkness
4. Walker of realms
5. Animated Spirit
6. Sacred Space
7. Shadowland
8. Time’s Timekeeper
9. Alhazen’s Bridge
10. Siren Stone

Most of the above forms part of my query letter and I would appreciate feedback.

There is more to this journey: At first there was the encompassing term ‘Tales of the Valla’ and five volumes. Those five volumes seemed too large re the word count etiquette given out by agents and publishers, and thus 5 volumes became 10. Subsequent work I labelled as something else...but, in reality, all is part of one giant tale. Much soul-searching and time later, I decided to follow my instincts and returned to ‘larger’ volumes and chose the Path of Shades as the umbrella.

Only the last three volumes are still works-in-progress and I’ll create pages for each as soon as I am happy with how they begin. Meanwhile, browse the other book pages for the Prologue and Chapter One of completed Tales.

Have fun!

Elaina

An encompassing phenomenon

Dear Reader

Nobody is perfect. Neither perfectly good nor perfectly bad, to use a rather clichéd set of opposites. Each of us slots in somewhere along the line that stretches from idealism to wickedness...as do the characters you are will meet.

That line is life’s journey and I call it the Path of Shades.

Saturday's One Line (7)

An enemy could be seen in daylight; in the darkness of Lucan hearing counted for everything.

Universal Hour

Much can occur in an hour and did that final hour of that universal day, although the results would only be evident later. Big things, little things, all part of the whole.

In the Star Chamber there was no night or day, yet it felt like night with day awaiting. For Tristamil anyway; for all he knew it would always be dark now for Tymall. The twins continued to wrangle, although it was largely Tymall doing the talking, beseeching almost, attempting as he was to sway Tristamil to his path. Tris allowed him the voice, hoping hearing the futility of his imprecations his brother would hark to the disaster he was falling prey to. Despite all he’d seen and heard, Tris still wished his brother this final opportunity.

On Urac and Karakan it was deep night and, under cover of that darkness, armies mobilised. Vast numbers, Murs and Mysor would move out with the coming of daylight.

On Lucan tiny shadows flitted among the trees to stop and stare anxiously at the enormous traveller. At their head Thundor beckoned. He’d lead them aboard and hope for the return of the crew. Thundor was taking his people out of the Forbidden Zone.

The small Mysor force vacated Plural, recalled to Karakan.

Outside the Star Chamber, Kallanon paced, willing the hour gone so the next step could be taken. Watchers harked to the Murs and their movements.

The new day promised many things and foremost among those was change.

Tuesday's One Word (6)

impenetrable

- Permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

Saturday's One Line (6)

‘I have had a long road…’ Torrullin paused and then leaned in close and whispered only for Neolone’s ears, ‘far, far longer than yours.’

The One

‘Goddess.’ Levin started to shake. ‘We heard of the One; he is Nemisin’s foretelling! One such as I will come, ages hence…and we tried to kill him!’

Vannis was grim. ‘You cannot kill him. No one can kill him. He is Immortal, he is Enchanter, Destroyer, Keeper of the Dragon, Dome Dragon and, Levin, I have never told anyone this- he is a Walker of Realms. However, that is his tale. All you have to remember is that he will do what must be done to the Dragon Neolone and then you must remember you are Valleur and he is Vallorin, with a bloodline to continue the Valla heritage. Somewhere along the way Atreidi will need to acknowledge him as supreme ruler, for he will not cast you adrift. He does not expect automatic loyalty; he will wait for you to discover it yourselves. Despite what I revealed, do not fear him…not as his name implies.’

‘So we should fear him?’ Levin said softly.

Vannis frowned and scrubbed at his face in irritation. ‘I am not explaining well…’

‘Perhaps the Vallorin can do so. Where is he?’

Vannis sighed again. ‘Gone.’