100 ways to say 'GREAT'

The King's Challenge #38

TKC 38

Mirlin had already paid the mapmaker and the wizened little man presents us with ten copies when we visit his dark den nestled in a backstreet. This is good news, for now we do not need to wait to continue with our mission.

The best news, however, lies in what he tells us.

“The underground knows. We are set to start walking to the fort marked, on the night of the two moons.” He beams up. “My son is a strong lad and will lead us well. We have our own map.”

“How many will walk out of Normur?” Damin asks, his entire body relaxing as if someone has waved a magic wand over him.

“The majority, Damin Mur. We estimate around twelve thousand. Only the rich and the too old will stay behind.”

I look up at the little man. He is a brother of the undertaker at the deadhouse in the lower city, must be. “The rich are not all bad, sir.”

He nods. “I am aware, but we have not been able to speak with anyone who will listen. Perhaps that is your task before you call to others beyond this city, my lady.”

Inhaling, I say, “I am not a lady …”

The man shakes his head. “We heard what happened, how folk walked through the flood unharmed. You are our lady.”

Tears prick at my lids.

He continues. “Have a care who you speak to, my lady. We will leave here fighting for every step if we need to, but would prefer to walk out in peace.”

We thank him then and take our leave. On the cobbles outside, Damin turns to me. “I know who we should tell in higher society. Her name is Alyssa.”

The manner in which he says her name makes me suspicious. “Alyssa, is it?”

Old Soul

The King's Challenge #37

TKC 37

In the morning Attis leads us to the small space he and Mirlin share in Normur. It will mean a few days to have copies of the map made, and we do not have coin enough to remain at the inn.

It is a hovel and I barely mask my shudder when Attis beams at us. For a boy alone out in the big world, it is no doubt a sanctuary. I would rather take to the road again and sleep under a tree than accept this, but then, I am a country girl.

“Thank you, Attis,” I murmur.

The boy dips his head. “I’ll be back at sunset with a platter. Madam allows me a meal, and I’ll just heap a bit extra.” Winking, he vanishes back into the awakening streets.

Damin is staring at me. “You are a snob, Lyra.”

“Why? Because I have standards?”

“Fortunately I am one too,” he says, grinning at my snappishness. I give him the finger and he collapses in laughter. His gusts of mirth from the edge of Attis’ cot go on … until I realise he has started weeping.

“Damin?” I whisper, kneeling before him.

“So many dead,” he gargles. “Many of them friends. Those poor kids, one day running the boards, the next floating in filthy …”

“Hush,” I murmur, taking him into my arms. This is the Damin I grew up with, the one ever compassionate, feeling others’ pain as if it was his own.

With his head on my shoulder, Damin mumbles through his tears. “Do you know what a mind is at the moment of death, Lyra? A knot of fear. Red suns become entangled with black strings and hurtle about a purple vessel … the kids … they become calm … small blue flowers …”

I hold him.

The wise man

The King's Challenge #36

TKC 36

Attis again opens the inn’s back door to us. He proceeds to lead us through a busy kitchen. The hour is yet early and meals are still being served. Attis, bless him, has the presence of mind to snag two loaded platters.

Swiftly we are in the same room as before. Clothes we discarded there sit stacked neatly on the bed.

“Told madam you’d be back,” Attis says on a grin, handing us our dinner.

I kiss him on his cheeks, take my plate and eat like someone starving. Damin is more formal. “You are a worthy friend, Attis,” he says with hand over heart. Attis grins and shoves his plate at him. Laughing, Damin starts eating.

The boy hunkers before us. “Rumour is that the lower city is empty. Some laugh and say it’s because everyone drowned, and others whisper that folk walked to somewhere safe. I can’t go look; the edge is unsafe and there’s a barrier up.”

“Both,” Damin murmurs. “Half drowned, half left.” Abruptly he stiffens, spoon in the air. “Wait. Mirlin is your uncle you said.”

Attis shrugs. “Not by blood. We met on the road outside Normur and made a deal. Looked better to be uncle and nephew, and we’d watch out for each other.”

“You sister?” I ask.

“She’s much older than me, lives up north.”

“You are quite the liar.” I glare at the tousle-haired boy. “Why were you so frightened of me the night I arrived in the city?”

“He told me, Mirlin did, of the woman with two eyes, how she would save people. I didn’t believe him, and then you came. Scared me, it did, for then his story about the thing in the sky could be real too and …” Attis lapses into silence, and then, “I’m going with you.”

Beautiful words

The King's Challenge #35

TKC 35

Around midday Damin and I leave the miserable gathering on the rise. Damin has informed them of the fort and supplies and that Mirlin will lead them there. Much else is said and many demand I stay with them, but finally we make our way up a winding path onto the plateau.

We hope to reach Normur by nightfall. Although exhausted, walking in daylight is safer for us.

“You were very surprised to see me,” I say after about a mile. The terrain is rocky, but is infinitely easier to traverse than a soggy marsh. It continues to rain.

“Are you still thinking about that?” Damin sounds amused. “I needed to act surprised, Lyra.”

I guess that is the truth. He could not exactly blurt out he ‘summoned’ me from the hinterland. I move to a different subject. “Do you trust Mirlin?”

“He has something hidden, I am aware, but our goals are the same at this point.”

“Hmm, good. How does he know so much?”

Damin looks at me. “They are more open about history in the west and south. He was able to study. They are freer, although he admits few listen to his warnings about the eye in the sky. People are complacent, prefer their comfortable surroundings, much like us, not so?”

I come to a stop. “Damin, what if we are wrong? What if the asteroid passes us by and we have caused upheaval everywhere for no reason.”

“It may pass us by,” Damin responds. “What we know isn’t an exact science, and yet I would rather be walking to a haven and be wrong than simply die because I refused to listen. And there is this. We will reconnect with others again. We may even have the strength to change the future for everyone. That is upheaval many will hark to.”

Mr Cumberbatch on Reading

The King's Challenge #34

TKC 34

We regard our world as the uplands. Perhaps those in the west think of their lands as the world, and yet it is a truth a planet is round and this cannot be the only landmass. What is the name of this world? Do we even agree on it?

Damin and I grew up with Massin, which is where our Grenmassin derives from, but Mirlin and his ilk in the west? I ask him.

“Same,’ he murmurs. Again he taps the deserted area on the map. “This is called Arc.”

“Ark?” I repeat, lifting an eyebrow.

Grinning, Mirlin spells it, and adds, “And yet an ark is what this place appears to be. This world’s ancient name is Arc.””

Damin intervenes. “That is where we are headed, Lyra, whatever legends surround it.”

I nod. “Agreed.” I continue, for there are other matters to address. “Damin, the folk here are not the only ones needing a haven. There are innocents in upper Normur, such as Attis, and we need to get the hinterland moving.” I glance at Mirlin. “The west too.”

Mirlin answers first. “Many there work at it and all have copies of the map. It is my hope they will soon start the walk.”

Damin is next. “You and I will return to Normur while Mirlin leads these survivors.”

“How far will they get without food and shelter?” I ask, frowning.

“We have a gathering place in mind, a fort to the south where there are supplies. We will lead others there and then walk onto Arc as one.”

I am thoughtful. In Normur we too can make copies of the map. Something bothers me, though. “You have used me as if you expected I would be with you for last night.”

Damin shrugs. “I called you. A Delver is able to do so over distance.”

New Release: Lore of Arcana Omnibus

It's finally available, all four Arcana books in one place!

Blurb

From a Land of Skies isolated in space to civilisations flourishing underground, from a chaos curtain to sacred sites, the Arcana series delves from the deep and forgotten past into a speculative future. But Time cannot be measured; time moves between realms and reality in a fashion contradictory to participants of this present, and exposes creatures of myth and legend, and fabled figures thought lost to antiquity.

Lore of Arcana uncovers profound secrets and mysteries, but the true connection that serves to bind is the great Maghdim Medaillon, the Secret Wisdom able to breech realms and time.

One man strides through all, Maghdim Medaillon in one hand, sword in the other. He is the Pathfinder, Keeper of the Dragon, the ultimate architect and elixir of life. He is the secret and the kingdom and the sacred space. He is Lifegiver and Destroyer. This is Rayne’s journey, he who is also Torrullin, descendent of a mighty bloodline.

The Lore of Arcana Omnibus includes The Infinity Mantle, The Kinfire Tree, The Drowned Throne and The Dragon Circle, as well as the Secret Remedies.

Amazon

The King's Challenge #33

TKC 33

Mirlin waves absently to the west. “They remembered. That is how I know.”

“We forgot,” Damin sighs. “We were forced to.”

I barely hear Damin, for now I understand why Mirlin is different. The lines on his face give the appearance of age, but they are the lines of sun damage. Mirlin is younger than he seems.

“You are from the west,” I say to him.

He puts a finger to his lips and nods once.

“Why?” I demand.

He shrugs. “Some of us believe loss of life will again be catastrophic. If the asteroid hits, all will know it. The ancient empires are gone, Lyra, and to rebuild this world will require all hands.” Mirlin jabs at the map. A region unmarked. There are no cities or towns there, not even river names. “Through every war and every natural event, this place has survived. This is our best hope. Yours and ours.”

It is far, far away. I draw in a breath. “Why does no one live there?”

Mirlin gives a strange smile. “Because it is known as a land cursed.”

Damin bites out an oath. “Don’t scare her.”

“She has power. It will not frighten her,” Mirlin snaps back.

“Cursed, how?” I ask, glaring at them.

“It is an ancient legend,” Mirlin says. “Why it is, I cannot say, but I know no one has lived there for over three thousand years. It was cursed even before the wars between Ilfin and Glonu. Some say you age in a moment when you step in there, while others claim you become as an infant.”

“It is about time,” I murmur, feeling a slight glow erupt inside me, one of validation. “Has the region a name?”

Mirlin stares at me. “It bears the original name of this world. Some say it is the world.”