The Changing of the Sun

by Lesley Smith

  The Changing Of The Sun

  ∞

  Lesley Smith

  This book is for Immie, who is much too young to read this

  and for Jane, Mike, and Freda who never will.

  Copyright © 2013 — Lesley Smith

  First published in 2014 by Tenth Muse Publishing. The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that which is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  For more information on upcoming books and about the author, please visit www.lesley-smith.co.uk, follow @LesleySmith on Twitter, or subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.lesley-smith.co.uk/subscribe-to-my-official-newsletter

  Edited by Ellen Campbell

  tomincewords.wordpress.com

  Cover designed by Jason Gurley

  www.jasongurley.com

  Map of Reskha: Before the Changing of the Sun created by Rob Antonishen.

  www.cartocopia.com

  Formatting by Polgarus Studio.

  www.polgarusstudio.com

  Interior illustrations by Ben J. Adams

  www.benjadams.com

  Dramatis Personae

  Templefolk

  Saiara—A temple maiden and 48th High Oracle of Aia. Known by her Oracular epithet as Saiara the Brave.

  Casparias—Her lover and attendant, a foundling son of Aiaea.

  Mother Rie—High Matriarch of the Ishveian Order.

  Jashri the Found—47th High Oracle of Aia, once Kia of Pesh. More commonly known as Jashri the Misandrist.

  Raasha—Her forest cat.

  Darus—Her High Chamberlain.

  Sarivashi—Her Edoi handmaiden, usually known as Vashi or by her birthname, Adria.

  Mother Eirian—Formerly Eirian the Wise—46th High Oracle of Aia, Mother and protectress of the sisterhood of Oracles.

  Shaari—Youngest of the oracles, known for her ability to play the sheui, beloved of Rand.

  Geehta—An oracle, known for her love of the potter’s wheel. Keiue’s life mate.

  Keiue—A stubborn oracle, originally from Baaren. Geetha’s life mate.

  Iasei—A former High Oracle nearing her death-day, beloved of Balus.

  Beren Jharos—The codexmaster of the Great Library of Ishvei.

  The Companion—A male heir of Beren’s line who is entrusted with ancient secrets.

  Senara—A healer and former priestess of Kodia.

  Hsia—A servant.

  Cityfolk Living in Aiaea

  Mother Danae—Priestess of Kodia and a woman of Edoi birth.

  Lanna—A priestess of Kodia serving in Danae’s temple.

  Radoric—A priest of Kodia serving in Danae’s temple.

  Nahris—An indentured servant.

  Jibran—Her master.

  Ebani—Jibran’s lover, a former priestess of Kodia.

  Varen—An old tradesman who ‘leads’ a caravan during the Second Exodus from Aiaea.

  Edoi

  Taras—Clanfather of the Feium Asun and lifemate to Garrin.

  Ishran—His eldest son, deceased.

  Jio—His youngest son and adopted member of the Yulam Eroi.

  Garrin—Clanfather of the Yulam Eroi and lifemate to Taras.

  Kadian—His only son and an adopted member of the Feium Asun, lover of Sarivashi.

  Meresia—Clanmother of the Ifunareki, largest of the clans. Mother of Sarivashi.

  Adria—Her eldest daughter, now adopted into the temple and known as Sarivashi.

  Thressia—Meresia’s youngest daughter and her heir.

  Jeiana—A woman of Caerim who is believed to be indwelt and is traveling with the Edoi.

  Marthus—A fisherman of Caerim, deceased, former lifemate of Jeiana and brother to Chelle.

  Lukai—His son with Jeiana, deceased.

  Chelle—A woman of Gehol and a jeweller who is heavily pregnant and travelling with her sister-by-joining, Jeiana.

  Kei’a—Her eldest daughter whose name means ‘Dawn’.

  Sui’a—Her unborn daughter whose name mean ‘Dusk’.

  Vanem—Clanfather of the Mi’raathi.

  Karika—Clanmother of the Bashaaki.

  The Order of the Forgotten Ones

  Lyse—High Matriarch of the Baaren convent and the seer known as Lyse the Heretic.

  Cie—Her lover and attendant

  Balus—High Patriarch of the Danshu convent and former Attendant to Iasei.

  Rand—Attendant to Shaari.

  Others

  Asamu—A Son of Thaeos and ruler of Pesh.

  Vakai—His son, deceased.

  Ash—A strange man who appears in Jeiana’s dreams.

  The boy whose name begins with C—Jaisenthia’s unnamed son with Ash.

  Prologue

  The First Oracle

  Once upon the world humans call Coronis, before the Changing of the Sun and before the rising of its first moon, a girl named Kaiene was born in the ancient city of Aiaea. An orphan child, a blind foundling, she was adopted by the priestesses of the Lady of Words and grew to adulthood in the cloistered precincts of the Temple of the Orders.

  As a servant to priestesses, Kaiene made beds and cleaned sheets, she helped reset the temple between offices, and learned stories by listening to the reciting priestesses. As an adult bondservant, she was finally allowed to walk the city streets doing errands. At first she would stumble and fall, until the day the baker’s son, Jadias, gifted her with a wooden staff carved from callow wood, to help her walk in safety.

  Jadias had watched Kaiene from afar. He had offered her bread for the Sacred Table, and over time, slowly fell in love with her and she with him. But, as the temple was responsible for her upkeep, they would not release her from her debts.

  Until the day a Goddess came to work at the bakery.

  Ishvei had arrived in the city clothed in the form of a stranger from the northern provinces, though she did not quite seem Baareni, nor a child of the Edoi. She sought lodgings during the holy days of New Year and the only place available was a spare room at Jadias’ bakery. As she had no money, Ishvei offered her services as a baker in exchange and was soon their first employee. She worked hard and quickly became known for the quality of her bread, the depth of the stories she told, and for the inspiration others found in her presence.

  The first time Kaiene met Ishvei, the servant girl fell to her knees, exclaiming: “You shine so brightly, Lady! If I were not already blind, I would lose my eyes.”

  “Get up, child. Rise, please.” Ishvei helped the girl to her feet. “I am but a humble baker, you owe me no fealty nor respect. We are equals, you and I. We are sisters of the same world.”

  Ishvei lived at the bakery for a year, and the longer she stayed, the more the people of the city whispered. Kaiene, though a foundling, was known for her honesty and for her insights, and her exclamation soon reached the ears of the Last Queen of the Kashinai herself. Fiara was a wise and clever ruler who sent her underlings to investigate this woman, until finally, the Queen sent for Ishvei herself.

  The whole court was in session and clergy from every Order in attendance. Ishvei walked in alone but for Kaiene, who watched from the corner, unnoticed by all but the Goddess.

  Fiara asked questions, and Ishvei answered gently. “I am here to live, to experience. Who I am,
where I hail from, neither fact matters.”

  “Then what do you want?” The Queen asked. “Everyone who comes before me wants something. Some want my throne, others power, most money…”

  “I want nothing for myself, but I would ask for this girl’s freedom.” Ishvei said. “She has someone who loves her and yet is constrained by temple rules. I ask only for her release so she might be joined to her most beloved.”

  Fiara sensed wisdom; it was a rare thing in her court, there was too much bickering, too much strife. “Done, and for your compassion, Lady, know that you are always welcome in my land and my city.”

  The following day as Ishvei made bread, a man walked through the city gates who was known to her. Like her, he was not a mortal, and he too wore a borrowed form. He came straight to the baker’s as he knew she would be there.

  “Greetings, my most beloved.”

  Ishvei continued to knead bread. “Have I been gone that long, my dearest, that you would seek me out?”

  The man, Arvan, was her mate, her destined partner in all things and he was lonely without her.

  “Too long,” he said. “Will you come home, my dearest?”

  “Stay one night, let me show you the wonders of this city.” Ishvei answered. “And the sweetness of the flesh.”

  So they explored the city and dawn found them lying together. They remained in a temple to Kodia for an entire day. As Thaeos rose, Ishvei packed her things and made her farewells; leaving Kaiene her inkbrush and paper as a parting gift so the girl could, with Jadias’ help, commit all Ishvei’s tales and parables to memory.

  As the divine couple walked to the city gates, Kaiene, who followed them, stumbled and fell, and called out: “Wait, please!”

  Arvan turned and walked back, and helped the girl up. “Daughter, you’re all right. Stand up now.”

  “Don’t leave, please,” she begged softly.

  “We must.” Ishvei spoke sorrowfully. “I am already quickening with child and our daughter, Nyssa is destined to be born elsewhere. I’m sorry, my dearest friend, but I have to leave.”

  “You saw,” Arvan said, gently raising the girl back to her feet. “Of all the sons and daughters in this city, only you saw us as we are. That is a rare gift, Kaiene, and I wish it was in my power to restore what you have never had. Sadly, I am no healer.”

  Kaiene shook her head. “I would never ask nor want that, Lord.”

  “Then let me give you a different kind of gift,” he said. “I am a keeper of records, of knowledge and memory. I will give you a gift, child, in thanks for your loyalty to Ishvei: the ability to see beyond, to know things and guide those you love. You are a servant of the people and now you will have the gifts to guide them, if you are willing to listen.”

  Then Arvan, Lord of Records and Scribe of the Gods, laid his sigil upon her and Kaiene gained the ability to see more than one with mortal eyes should. She became the first Oracle, and legend says the power he offered returns to us in each generation, so Aia’s Voice might guide her people down the years.

  But Kaiene’s story was not the end, merely the beginning of one which spanned aeons and continues to this day.

  Taken from Tales from the Sacred Scrolls: Kashinai Stories for Human Children written by Shana Norwich and illustrated by Rae Harper, published in 2023 by the Kashinai Ministry of Cultural Awareness.

  Book I: Calling

  The Kashinai have always had a strong spiritual side. Even today the different Orders remain at the centre of our society, even though we understand more about the universe than we did then. All children go to the temple to partake in the rite of adulthood, the Keran Meiat, and many stay, entranced by temple life and the chance to learn in a way which has remained unchanged for millennia, even if now it is mere tradition.

  The Oracle remains a an important symbol in our society, and the Ascension of each new woman to hold the title remains a day of joy, regardless of whether you believe in the literal interpretation of Aia as the Disembodied Goddess or not. She leads the Orders and heads the Great Kishai, and yet she exists as a figurehead, a brave soul who stands up when she could have easily remained hidden.

  Scholars across the ages have always tried to find patterns, and we can only speculate on Aia’s amusement at defying all logic and all expectations when choosing the next soul to hold the mantle. But belief has never been a requisite in the Kashinai religion, and this can often be confusing to other cultures. We often liken it thus: the sun rises and sets, as do the moons. We do not need to believe it will happen, they are simply there and they endure. We cannot stop them, just as we cannot turn the tide or restore the dead to life.

  Oracles, or Aiakasku; ‘They Who Listen to Aia’- have been a part of Kashinai culture since the earliest of days. Many anthropologists believe the elevating of blind psychics was part of an ancient system of worship—the oracles were the bridge between mortals and the Kashinai pantheon of deities—of which only the essence now remains.

  Regardless, what they do agree on is that there were once many oracles, led by one who had a vision of a traumatic future event at the time when they lost their vision, either from an accident or, possibly, through some kind of ritual blinding, though this has been passionately denied by almost all Kashinai-Coronian historians.

  Only one case of forced blinding has ever been substantiated (for more information, please see The Expunged Oracle: A Biography of Cerasi the Innocent, due for publication in March 2022 C.E.) and that terrible case came centuries after Saiara and the other important figures in the story of the Changing of the Sun.

  These High Oracles were first among seers, but only for a relatively short time. When a successor appeared, blind and talking of an event which would later come to pass, the mantle shifted. Artefacts, including various ritual objects such as Kaiene’s staff, Ishvei’s inkbrush and Jadias’ hand-written version of the Sacred Scrolls were passed on. In modern times, this also includes Jeiana’s necklace which is worn by the Oracle at her ascension.

  Saiara’s calling was different as it caused centuries of tradition and belief to be put aside, and a religious civil war to erupt between the people who followed Jashri the Found—more commonly known as ‘Jashri the Misandrist’—and those who followed her successor, Saiara the Brave. Change was an alien concept in such a rigid system of hierarchy, and after centuries of stagnancy it was, quite understandably, terrifying to both clergy and the populace.

  It is not the first time war has broken out over religion or a difference in theological opinion. Saiara would not be the first, but if she had not listened, if she had not had faith, then Saiara the Brave certainly would have been the last.

  Extracted from The Calling of Aia’s Bravest Oracle: A Religious History of the Changing of the Sun by Mother Elyn London, first published in 2020 C.E.

  One day a farmer came to the bakery while Ishvei was kneading bread. He watched her scatter flour and then slice the dough for pillow bread before presenting his quandary about crops which had failed after a storm of sand had descended on his fields from the Southern Desert.

  “Lady, if you are truly the Lady of Life who created us, I ask you: what must we do to make the land fertile, to enrich the sand-sodden soil?”

  Ishvei spoke, not missing a beat as she pounded bread. “I beat this dough flat, and yet given time, heat and steam, it will rise. So must you turn the soil, let it lie fallow for a year and only then, after the rains, sow seed in spring.”

  The following day a cartographer came to the bakery while Ishvei was making sweetcakes destined for the temple. He had been commissioned to create a new map to mark the ascension of the new queen but had no idea where to start.

  “Lady, if you are truly the Lady of Words who inspires us all, I ask you: how do we seek and tame inspiration?”

  Ishvei spoke kindly. “Inspiration is a wild force, it rampages like a storm but is as silent as the dawn rains. It is not a baelish calf to be tamed, to be tied. But you can seek it. Come join me here and I
will show you how to find it. In truth, the more you hunt it down, the faster it will run from you. The trick is to think of other things, to not look it in the eyes even as you slip a bridle around its neck.”

  So the cartographer spent the morning in the Goddess’ company, making the cakes for the sacred table. As he spooned out the batter, concentrating on something other than his inkbrush on parchment, his mind began jumping from from one cloud of thought to another, and by the time he left, ideas had taken root in the mossy earth of his mind.

  On the final day, a steward of the Royal Household visited the bakery, having heard the stories of the strange lady who was supposed to be a deity. Curious, he hid his finery under a peasant’s clothes, combed dirt into his hair and brought with him a beggar’s bowl.

  “Lady, if you are truly the Lady of Goodness who crafted this world for us, I ask you, would you feed a poor beggar?”

  Ishvei looked at him and beckoned to the day’s work, the bread, the sweet cakes, the pillow loaves and the plaits stuffed with mushrooms, cheese and herbs. “Take what you wish, my friend; but for a man of your status to ask is the epitome of humility, and a good sign of the Queen you serve. My table is open to all my most beloved sons and daughters.”

  The steward thus impressed, returned to his queen, Fiara, and reported what he had seen and heard. Thus did the queen summon Ishvei to her court and the goddess went gladly; knowing wisdom and seeking nothing that she did not already have except the desire to see Kaiene freed from her bond.