The night remained silent, and the minstrel stood in the stillness for a long time as though listening for something. Perhaps he was waiting for an answer to his whispered words, or perhaps he was simply lost in thought. After a long moment, he seemed to come to himself.
“Ah, but who is to say where the true story starts or ends? For every tale that ends leaves a hundred more that have only to begin! Even now events turn and children are born, children who each have their own story to live, children who will grow and change the course of the future forever.
“Yorien’s hand lies silent, and though a few have managed to touch it, none yet have mastered it. There is one… yes, one who may be able to bend that great power to his will. A change is coming, yes, a new High King is coming! He will be one like none ever seen before, the first in many centuries. His blood runs true, though he knows it not. The prophecy is not yet fulfilled. He has been born, yes, but the time is not yet right. The dark one must first awaken, before the Hand of Yorien will submit to the High King’s touch. There is a darkness, a darkness that will rise against him, an ancient threat that none now remember; none but I.”
Kiernan Kane nodded quietly to himself, his expression enigmatic. “It is nearly time now for a High King to reign, not just in name, but in truth. The throne on Emnolae has stood empty for too long. Too much has been lost and forgotten; too much has stood silent for too many years. Now comes the time to remember, now comes the time of strength! He must be led though, for he will not suspect the greatness of his role. And who will lead him? Will it be the spirit of the Wanderer, can he be persuaded to travel once more? Or will it be love that leads him? Loyalty? Friendship? Perhaps a dragon, the most ancient of the myth-folk? No, no, when all else fail him, perhaps it will be the wisdom of a fool that guides him in the end… guides him to the truth… perhaps.”
The minstrel turned to his old gray mule and leapt lightly up onto his brightly colored cart. Leaning back on the comfortable seat, Kiernan Kane glanced up at the stars. Then with a mysterious light in his eyes and a slight twitch of his reins, the minstrel rode out into the night. His direction was set and his course was planned, and as he went he hummed lightly to himself. The song’s words had long been forgotten, but anyone looking into the minstrel’s deep blue eyes might have sworn that he could almost remember them.
GLOSSARY
Aethelon (ay-ETH-eh-lahn): The people of Llycaelon
Aetoli (AY-eh-TOLL-ee): The most elite rank of Aethalon
Aom-igh (AY-ome-EYE): A small country to the west of Llycaelon
Artair (are-TARE): A Great King who first pulled the fabled sword from the stone and then defeated Haeronymous
Aura Wood (ORE-uh WOOD): Forest three days south of the palace of Aom-igh that borders the Harshlands
Ayollan (AY-ōl-ăn): Capital city of Aom-igh
Barr (BAR):King Arnaud’s adopted uncle
Lord Bors (BORS): One of Ky’s apprentice masters
Brant (BRANT): Youngest son of the royal family of Llycaelon
Calla (CAH-luh): Young Rambler girl
Calyssia (cuh-LEE-see-ah): A wizardess first daughter of Scelwhyn
Change-Term: Autumn
Chareel (shar-EEL): A constellation
Colas (KOH-lahs): A young man who lives on Emnolae
Cold-Term: Winter
Cruithaor Elchiyl (KREW-thay-ore ell-KEEL): The Creator
Delmar (DELL-mar): Captain of the “Silver Hydra”
Dragon’s Eye, The: The sun
Drayedon (DRAY-ě-don): A province of Aom-igh.
Dru (DREW): A thief and friend to Rhoyan
Dylanna (dĭ-LAHN-ah): A wizardess, daughter of Scelwhyn
Efoin-Ebedd (EH-foyn—EB-ehd): Country to the east of Llycaelon
Emmerich (EMM-er-rick): Llewana’s father
Emnolae (EMM-no-lay): A country to the south of Llycaelon
Endalia (en-DAH-lee-uh): A country to the west of Aom-igh
Etharae Ocean (ETH-air-ay): Ocean between Llycaelon and Emnolae
Euphie (YOU-fee): Barr’s wife and King Arnaud’s adopted aunt
Faeyna (fay-EE-nah): Seamas and Llewana’s daughter
Farrendell River (FAR-ehn-dell): River spanning eastern shore of Aom-igh
Galen (GALE-ehn): An assumed name for King Jairem when traveling in disguise
Garen (GAIR-ehn): Last student of Scelwhyn, knight of Aom-igh
Graldon (GRAIL-dən): King of the Dragons in Aom-igh
Haeronymous (high-RONE-uh-mus): An evil being
Hobard (HOE-bard): Tutor for the royal family of Llycaelon
Iannack (ee-AHN-ack): A gryphon
Ina (EEN-uh): Mari’s daughter
Kallayohm (kă-LAY-ōme): A country to the southeast of Llycaelon
Kamarie Lynelle (kuh-MARR-ee lih-NELL): Princess of Aom-igh
Kane, Kiernan (KANE, KEE-YAIR-nen): A wandering minstrel
Khentarrick (kehn-TARR-ick): A renegade dragon
King Jairem (JER-em): King of Aom-igh
Justan (JUS-tin): A young squire in King Arnaud’s army
King Stiorne (stee-ORN): The king of Llycaelon
Ky (KIE): Eldest son of the royal family of Llycaelon
Leila (lee-Ī-luh): A wizardess, third daughter of Scelwhyn
Llewana (lou-ON-ah): Seamas’ wife
Llycaelon (lie-KAY-ell-on): The true name of the “Dark Country”
Mari (MAR-ee): The gate-keeper of Emnolae
Baron Montechelo (MONT-eh-chell-oh): A friend of King Stiorne
The Mouth of Rarendson (RAR-end-son): A dangerous reef east of the Nameless Isles
Murry (MUR-ee): Ship’s Captain Rhoyan hires in Yochathain
Lord Nelstor (NELL-store): Imojean’s father
New-Term: Spring
Lord Nills (NILLS): One of Ky’s apprentice masters
Queen Fiora (fee-YOR-uh): The queen of Llycaelon
Rahnieal (RAH-nee-elle): The protagonist in a legend about a water nymph
Ramius (RAY-mee-us): Brother of Queen Fiora
Rhoyan (ROY-ehn): Second son of the royal family of Llycaelon
Scelwhyn (SELL-win): A wizard
Seamas (SHAW-mus): First son of the royal family of Llycaelon
Seheowks (SEE-owks): Dark creatures of magic
Sheyardin (shay-ARR-din): Rhoyan’s apprentice master
Tellurae Aquaous (TELL-yure-eye AH-kway-ose): The world
Tobias (toh-BY-us): Seamas’ most trusted friend and advisor
Toreth (TOR-eth): The moon
Warm-Term: Summer
Wryllewyrn (RILL-eh-wern): A fabled forest
Yatensea (YACHT-en-see): A harbor town in southern Aom-igh
Yevo (YAY-voe): The weapon’s master for the elite aethalons
Yochathain (YAW-kah-thane): Country west of the Nameless Isles
Yorien (YORE-ee-ehn): A constellation
Zara (ZAR-ah): Queen of Aom-igh
Zeanos (ZEE-naws): An assumed name for ScelwhynRead on for a sneak preview of the next book in The Minstrel’s Song
YORIEN’S HAND
Coming Soon
“The Dragon’s Eye shines brightly on Aom-igh, but thunder rolls across the rest of the world,” Kiernan Kane mused quietly to himself.
The gangly minstrel was perched precariously on his windowsill, staring out at the bright blue sky, his eyes mirroring the tranquility of the morning. His face was somber, as though he were expecting bad news to arrive at any moment. A bird chirped at the minstrel, as though laughing at his fears. Kiernan Kane jumped as though startled, and he almost tumbled backwards off his ledge.
“They cannot remain untouched forever,” the minstrel retorted, glaring at the saucy creature sitting on the tree branch outside his window. “Aom-igh has isolated itself from the rest of the world for too long and has forgotten there are other countries and people besides themselves. It is time they were reminded. Aom-igh cannot remain an enchanted kingdom forever; it cannot remain an island against the storm that i
s coming. It is indeed marvelous that Aom-igh is now at peace with Llycaelon, but there is much more to do. An ancient enemy awakens and has not forgotten. He is powerful, more powerful a mage than this world has seen in a very long time, and it will take more than one peace treaty to defeat him.”
A cloud covered the rising Dragon’s Eye and Kiernan Kane shivered, wrapping his long arms around himself. The bird hunched down on its branch and eyed the minstrel warily. A chill wind rustled the leaves of the tree and the minstrel smiled. His long, pointy face often reminded people of a child’s face, almost angelic in its innocence, but his eyes were always startling: sharp and searching, with something like wisdom or cunning, perhaps both, hidden in their bright blue depths.
The minstrel’s eyes glazed over as he stared out the window, and he began singing. The tune was low and haunting, and the words were dark, but the minstrel’s face was light, almost cheerful. The contrast was eerie, but the minstrel did not seem to notice.
“Black death rides on silver wings
Thirsty for the blood of kings
Only two can stand before him
Only one can hope to defeat him.
The answer to this riddle lies
In deepest, darkest, starless skies
The ancient foe quivers in fear
When the wielder of that power draws near.”
The minstrel shook himself. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “When that enemy rises again, shall the fool be the wild card then? Only the minstrel remembers; does the enemy remember too? He must, he must! Does he tremble in fear? Does he know of the strength that may well be his undoing? Shall the fool lead the king when all other bonds fail? Perhaps, perhaps.” His face took on that strangely cunning look that contrasted sharply with its innocent appearance, and the room darkened slightly.
Kiernan Kane sprang from the window and landed neatly on his hands. His agility was surprising, given his accustomed gawkiness. He chirped cheerily at the bird and flipped to his feet with cat-like grace. Humming, he descended the stairs from his tower to the rooms below. As he neared the end of the stairway, he did a little dance that nearly landed him in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. Pulling himself upright, he stopped humming and managed to get himself safely through the door that led to the main dining room.
“I do wonder what’s for breakfast this morning?” Kiernan mused aloud. He tapped a finger to his nose and smiled, adopting his tranquil and unassuming look once more.
The eerie, discordant song that the minstrel had been humming, however, lingered about the stairwell long after he left. One by one, the candles in the room flickered and died, and still the memory of the song remained portending evil. A chill wind swept across the land, but none noticed it, none; that is, except the minstrel, but he was too busy downing pancakes to be bothered by a breeze.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in the midwest, Jenelle Leanne Schmidt received her bachelor’s of science degree in English Education at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. In the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, she aspires to produce a series of epic adventures to delight readers of all ages. Herself a reader from a very early age, the author desires to craft stories that will be loved and enjoyed by generations to come. Jenelle currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and their two daughters.
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