The King's Challenge #133

TKC 133

“Stay here,” I say to Attis, and gesture with my head towards Horin.

Nodding, he gets up and follows me into the dark. Siri remains unaware, and Kay goes on snorting. Hanna opens one eye and then sighs and snuggles into Joseph’s arms.

“The Warrior talent is not as extensive as yours is,” I murmur when we are alone and beyond hearing.

“I know,” Horin responds.

“Talk to me, lad. I have known you since you were born.”

Horin shakes his head. “Damin, you left Grenmassin when I was three. You cannot claim familiarity, not anymore.”

Closing my, eyes, I realise how right he is. I have made mistakes and cannot now alter the result of them.

Horin continues, “But now I understand why you left. I remember how hurt Lyra was and wanted to stab you with my little fork for doing that to my beloved sister, and yet it had to happen.”

“Are we talking fate again? I have had my fill of fate,” I growl.

“This isn’t about fate. You made a choice, as Lyra chose to let you go, but those choices led to where we are now.”

“What is your point exactly?”

“This is where we shape new futures. How do we change ourselves unless know choice is able to shape who we are.”

I stare at the boy. “I hear you. I even agree with you. But, Horin, that is an older man’s words of wisdom. While you may be growing a body to keep pace with the talent inside you, it should not alter the boy I rediscovered in Porlese, not to this degree. I left, yes, but I was there the day you were born, a mere eight years, my friend. Please talk to me.”

Horin gives me the strangest smile. “I wanted to stab you with my little fork, for my body was small. I remember, though, staring in the direction you took when you left, and wondered how to grow fast enough to challenge you to a duel. My mind was not three years old, Damin. My mind, my soul, is far older.”

94 000+!

Thank you for visiting!

xxx

The King's Challenge #131 and #132

TKC 131/132

As Joseph and Hanna curl together for sleep, a spark of green light twirls over our fire. The colour gets my attention first, for all green seems to have abandoned our world. What happens next holds my attention.

The spark bobs as if dancing above the purple flames.

I sneak a glance at Horin, but the boy is already asleep. Siri lies between him and Attis, her eyes closed. Attis sits up to stare at the moving green spark.

At least now I know I am not crazy.

Attis rises carefully to sidle to my side. Sitting on the log beside me, he whispers, “I think it’s Horin’s dreaming.”

I nod and together we watch. Kay snorts in his sleep somewhere.

The spark expands into the orb we have all seen Horin hold, but this is a dream orb, not the one he is able to summon. It dips into the flames as if testing the heat and then rises again swiftly. For a moment it seems to hover as if in thought, and then the orb flattens into a disc, such as those soldiers throw at targets to strengthen hand-eye coordination. Once they master the talent, they move onto daggers.

Abruptly the disc descends to completely cover the flames. They snuff out. Attis and I both hiss in breaths of surprise. What we are seeing is more tangible than we thought. Smoking slightly, the greenness lifts once more, higher and higher. When it reaches the height of a man, it spreads.

The net Horin has employed before hoves into view over our small camp.

“He is trying something while he sleeps,” Attis whispers.

Yes, and it scares me. We have more freedom in dreams than we do in reality. Whatever Horin is doing, it may well work in the ethereal realms, but it may hurt us in reality. I debate whether to wake the boy … and realise that is more dangerous.

I am, however, able to delve his thoughts. Releasing the barriers, I concentrate. I see Siri’s mind first; her thoughts are for Kay, the westerner, in the form of garlands of roses intertwining. I glare at the man in the shadows, wondering if he has moved in on my sister. His thoughts are masked; he is in deep sleep. Ha. I will have words with the man soon.

Attis’ wonder rattles like gems in an ornate box beside me, and I smile. Tough little innocent.

Focus.

I do. I focus on Horin.

His mind is open. It has to be, given the manipulation he attempts from one realm into another. The world of images I enter is more real than the reality of Arc around us. I see a path, a mountain, a field, a horse. What makes it more real is that it is there, grounded, not shifting as dreamscapes do. And it has colour and texture. The path is fawn gravel, the mountain grey and green rock and tree. The field is filled with colourful blooms, while the horse is a beautiful black, its coat glistening … in yellow sunlight. I walk with Horin along the path, watch as his hands strew seeds before him. Tiny green sparks hit the ground, bounce, and then rise to become autonomous. They dance and, as they do so, light, colour and the tangible is created.

Leave now, Damin.

I jerk from the boy’s mind to freeze upon the log. By the stars, Horin is strong.

Drawing in a decidedly shaking breath, I focus on the net over us. As Attis and I watch, it explodes in utter silence. Green sparks skitter into the surrounding, some heading up, others falling to the earth.

Darkness descends then, and I understand it is true night. Real night.

The red glows are gone.

Horin sits up then, and spears me with an intense gaze.

Old book magic

Creation is wholeness

The King's Challenge #129 and #130

TKC 129/130

I am aware the last years I have been following the directives of fate. Leaving my betrothed behind in Grenmassin, I chose to delve into ‘the greater good’. It has come to haunt me. Abandoning Lyra was my first mistake, trying to find a path of righteousness was a fool’s hope, for the criminal underworld took me in.

Yes, here we are in Arc, still alive after a massive rock hurtled towards us. The directives of fate led to this. And it may have cost me Lyra, it has certainly changed me, as it has Siri … never mind what will happen to Horin.

For Kay to stand behind me saying we are meant to be here, feels suddenly wrong. It isn’t the man’s words or the man himself; it is that same sense of fate. We are meant to be here. We must do this. We have no choice. This is how it is ordained. What will be will be.

No.

Did I really do right in bringing everyone here? I am no longer as certain as I was when we marched across the plains.

“Damin?” Siri whispers, reading my emotions in my face.

Standing, I glare around. “Sorry, but I have had enough of this fate nonsense. We think we are making choices, that we have free will, but we are being led all the time. Every thought is determined! No more.”

Horin gets to his feet and approaches me. Nose to nose, for he is now tall enough, he studies me, eyes unblinking. Then, smiling, he steps away.

I haul him back before he takes a full step. “Explain yourself.”

The boy lays a gentle hand on my wrist. “You are ready.”

“For what?”

“To listen with your soul.”

I want to shake him until his teeth fall out; instead I release him. “Meaning?”

Blinking, Horin moves his intense scrutiny from me to Kay. After a moment he inclines his head and shifts his study to Hanna and Joseph. He offers them a swift smile, and returns his attention to me. “Siri and Attis are true of heart and I do not question their motives. I have had doubts about you … and others.” He gestures vaguely. “The westerner is a natural revolutionary, but he is on our side …”

Kay splutters behind me, but we ignore him.

“… and Hanna cares for Lyra. She does not care about the grand scheme underway here, for she thinks with her heart, and that is fine. Joseph is a good man; I never doubted him.”

“This is about me,” I snap out.

“Both of us,” Horin responds quietly. He abruptly lowers to squat beside the fire. “So much has changed."

Now I want to soothe him, hold him. He is so young, despite the adult body now growing on him by the hour. Sighing, I hunker beside him. “You are talking about souls, though, not hearts.’

Horin nods, staring into the purple fire. “Their hearts and souls are not at odds. Ours are.’

“Maybe.”

He smiles again. “My heart tells me to run to Lyra, knock her senseless and get her to safety. My soul tells me to go slowly, to see her for what she now is and to stand at her side as she battles the furies here. Am I not at odds with myself?’

Suddenly nerveless, I sit untidily. “I see. I understand.”

“Yes, for until now your heart has ruled. You were going to fetch Lyra and everything else was the afterthought. Now your soul has stepped in, has it not? Now you seek answers. You will fight for freedom. You are a revolutionary as well.”

I too stare into the fire. “Then there is no hope for Lyra and me.”

Hanna snorts. “You underestimate that woman, Damin Mur.”

Be wary of opening ancient underground ways!

The Echolone Mine has just been released in both ebook and print! 

Blurb

The real truth about the Valleur through the ages is uncovered when exploiters delve the green hills of Echolone for gold. After an ancient door is discovered in the bowels of the earth, it serves to unmask the hidden power Elianas carries within, a power that places him on the same pedestal Torrullin, as Elixir, already inhabits.

The two men swerve through different realms unravelling what now lies between them and every step reverberates in reality. As loved ones pay the ultimate price, old enemies again step forward to challenge their right to rule, particularly Nemisin, First Father of the Valleur.

Nemisin desires above all else to be the One and will do everything in his power to wrest the title from Torrullin, even using his daughter against Elianas, thereby unsettling the powerful partnership that is Torrullin and Elianas. In this he is not alone, for Tymall, Warlock, seeks to sunder that connection as well.

In a time when all seers’ visions and dreams cease, revelations are given to those who have never before experienced them at the site of a mysterious door in a mine. Here is a mystery and it requires solving, but the answers will change the future, in reality and realms.

Greed is able to create massive chaos. It will unbalance everything. Delving deep is able to construct fissures in time. It will release hidden truth. It will also shatter sacred space.

Amazon

Smashwords

Three Rings

The King's Challenge #128

TKC 128

In the end Kay accompanies us, claiming someone from the west needs to reconnoitre Arc’s hinterland as well. In the interest of long-term diplomacy, I agree.

Word from those still coming over the ridge reveals that the red manipulation is encompassing. Whatever Lyra did has had planet wide result. No one reports debris. It seems the asteroid went on its merry way … although not without affecting everyone and thing everywhere.

Hanna insists on Pretty as her mount and thus we leave an hour later than planned to give the horse time to rest. She leads the way. No one says much. Horin is particularly taciturn.

Around the time we expect night to fall, a new surprise awaits us. There is no night. The light neither darkens nor changes hue; we exist in a world of unchanging scarlet.

Siri appears most affected. I hear her muttering about it being unnatural. Kay seems least concerned, although his summation about light beings walking in light possibly beyond our understanding gets me to thinking.

We halt as if night has fallen, because exhaustion begins to take a toll.

Soon after, over a purple fire, Hanna stirs something smelling like broth in a blackened pot, Joseph sees to the horses, Kay wanders around staring into the trees every few steps, Siri works on a brew of leaves, and Attis snores sitting upright. Horin is beside me and he looks my way, clearly waiting for me to prompt him.

“What is it?” I snap out eventually.

“You did well in bringing us here, Damin. Please do not doubt your mission.”

I glare at him, for he seems to have read my mind. I have mentally flayed myself already for bringing people to this place and this situation. Who is the real Delver, I ask myself.

Kay halts behind us. “We are meant to be here.”

Time the Tolkien way

A LOTR clock? Sign me up! :)

The King's Challenge #127

TKC 127

Mirlin takes charge then, and I can kiss him for doing so. My focus has moved to Lyra, and thus I am beyond grateful that the man steps in.

As the red in our surroundings and above intensifies, Mirlin calls Kay and Manuel to him and together they summon folk to listen, to gather. Rounding up group after group, the three men shepherd people closer to the mountain top. There are caves and trees up there as well, and I see the glint of a waterfall, which translates as water enough for everyone.

Many still pour over the rim, which means Massin in general still exists. We are now beyond the deadline and the men, women and children beyond these borders are still alive. I am relieved. I am also concerned; what did Lyra expend to cause this?

“Exhausted as I am,” Hanna says to me, “I am going back today. Lyra will need us.”

Horin has a pack at his feet and checks the contents. The boy is now as tall as I am. Siri is nearby, also rummaging in a travel-stained bag Attis gave her. That boy stands waiting, a thumb hooked into the strap on his shoulder. He sends me an impish grin.

I nod. “Let me find Forest …”

Hanna lifts a brow.

“… my horse,” I grin. “You need a fresh mount also, and these three,” I gesture at the younger ones, “cannot walk all the way.”

“I will see to it,” Joseph puts in. “And know I am going with you.”

Hanna’s smile causes me to swallow my denial. “Fine. We leave in an hour.” I stride to where Mirlin gesticulates like a wild man.

He ceases when he see me, eyes me. “Will this bloody red go away, do you think?’

“I have no idea. Can you cope with this situation?”

He shrugs and laughs. “My friend, we walked far and endured much interference. I think I can handle a bunch of people in one place.”

The King's Challenge #126

TKC 126

The scarlet glow overtakes everything that is natural and normal in the world. Children suddenly possess burning orbs for eyes, skin is a sickly pink, our animals appear otherworldly, trees are hazy sentinels and rock transforms into purple manipulation.

This is great magic.

Horin falls to his knees, staring up. “Lyra is more powerful than she understands.”

Hanna snaps her gaping mouth closed, draws breath and says to him, “You are as well. You are the shield that will stand between us and the ancients.”

He sighs. “I know.”

As panic spreads, folk leave the trees to stare up into the red sky. Hanna marks this and spears me with her wise gaze. “They are in the open again, Damin Mur. Return to the rim. Stay as close to the edge as you can.”

I glance from her to Horin, to Mirlin, and shake my head. “No doubt you will tell us why, but know I am going with you to Lyra.”

Horin dips his head and smiles.

“Start talking,” I snap out, but I am uncertain whether I address Horin or Hanna.

Hanna sits on the grass. “This then.”

We close in and sit with her. Myself, Horin, Siri, Kay, Manuel and Mirlin … as well as Attis. Seeing that tousled head, I realise he too will accompany us to Lyra. There is no way I will be able to stop him.

Hanna tells us of an ethereal woman named Sassen, of a crossroads, of a host of ghosts … and she reveals that Lyra believes we will be made slaves to the light beings from another world and time.

Silence surrounds us when she finishes with, “… and Lyra evaded me. I chose then to follow her command to return to you.”

Ours are not the only ears that heard the summation from the Messenger. Everyone in the vicinity listened, including Joseph. He falls to his knees before Hanna as she ends her tale and takes her face into his hands. “I am so happy to see you safe.”