She grabbed him by the wrist and interrupted, demanding, “Tell me who Grietum is if I am this Queen Beverine you speak of!”
The skinnier blue man shuffled forward and spoke in a nervous voice. “W-we are told from our history that Grietum was your mate and you took him for your chief-mate. H-he was your love and it is for him that you volunteered to stay here on Sartensa to maintain the cage. We believe you used his stasis chamber instead of the one designed for you. That is likely the cause of your memory loss.”
Maintain the cage. Those words had echoed in her head ever since she woke from her long sleep two centuries ago. She could not remember this Grietum’s face. Memories flashed of lying on that cold metal bed with his name above it, crying while she plugged in tubes and wires to her body, then laying back and letting sleep take her.
“Queen Beverine.” The blue man with the device shook her shoulders and her thoughts returned to the room. He continued, “I know your mind will not be clear, but we have returned as we received warning that the cage failed for a short time. Do you know what happened?”
She knew nothing of a cage except the words that rolled through her head for hundreds of years: maintain the cage. “I am sorry, I do not know anything of this cage you speak of. My hive was attacked from the inside not so long ago. The lights went out and I was overrun. My own servants turned on me and—”
The one she spoke to turned to the others, ignoring her. “That must have been the power failure we detected. The system should last for another three-hundred rotations at least. It must have been shut down manually from this control station. The other sites would not have been capable of a full shutdown. With no technical fault to the system, there will be little to worry about. I will run a full diagnostic. Haram,” he said, addressing the skinny one, “I want you to work with Queen Beverine and fully establish her memories. If she is able and willing, she can continue her duties and we can re-establish stasis.”
Although she understood the sounds of their words, she could not understand the meaning of many of them. She slid her back up the wall and stood. She towered over the three short men. She clenched her fists as part of Grietum filled her heart again. “Tell me who you are and why you are here!”
They looked at each other as if she should know the answer. The skinny nervous one attempted to make eye contact with her. “Queen Beverine, we are the Nahareen. As are you. We have returned to this world, Sartensa, because the force-field surrounding this land, failed. We call it the cage. In fact, our ancient history tells us that you were the one who named it. It was your duty to maintain it. Without its protection, the rest of Sartensa is in jeopardy as it keeps within it the poison that our people brought to this land.”
Appendix
THE HIGH-TEN
The names of the ten high-gods and description of their images, as engraved on the standing stones that run along the former line of the Veil, on the border to the Soju Expanse:
Hal—God of life, healing & death—Depicted as an older male, robed, pointing towards Hal’s Forest thousands of leagues away.
Beverine—Goddess of protection, shield & salvation—Depicted as a larger female, covered with a simple shawl, with arms outstretched, pointing to the sky.
Yod’Herem—God of wisdom, ideas, trade, paths, guidance & muses—Depicted as an old male with a long beard, robed, looking to the stars.
So’Chor—God of seed & lust—Depicted as a male at prime age, robed, holding a swaddled infant.
Tromonor—God of battle & war—Depicted as a strong youth, wearing a waist wrap, holding a staff outstretched.
Yarth—God of peace & justice—Depicted as a strong young male, wearing a waist wrap, with hands open.
Gon’Gon—God of loyalty, honor & service—Depicted as a male at prime age, wearing a simple tunic, with fists together (knuckles interlocked). Guards of the Ten Kingdoms take his name as title after swearing their oath.
Sen’Sal—Goddess of love, hate, pleasure, beauty, music & writing—Depicted as a young, beautiful female, wearing a long shawl with one breast bare—writing-quill in hand.
Don’Calon—God of field, famine, rain, wind, quakes & thunder—Depicted as an older male, with a thick beard, robed, with his arms outstretched, seemingly spreading seeds into the land.
Mornor—God of home, hearth, happiness & comfort—His depiction gives no indication of age as the standing stone is badly damaged; the nose, chipped away. It is thought that Mornor had no hair. He is depicted holding a block of stone high above his head.
THE ELEVENTH
Soju—The Fallen One, Overlord of the Expanse, Master of the dead, blade, blood & regret—Depicted on the standing stone next to the last gate (which used to be the only entrance to the Expanse when the Veil still remained). He went against the teachings of the other ten. He roams the Expanse and keeps the souls of fallen mortals.
LOWER-GODS OF NOTE
(referred to in the Maran as sprites or spritesses)
Urenies—Sprite of the feeling. The embodiment of the sensation when a male releases seed and a female receives it.
Olo—Spritess of hunger. The echo in one’s stomach when it calls for food.
Kiena—Spritess of thirst. The urge for water.
Lomber—Sprite of laughter. The overwhelming stirring of one’s insides when humor takes hold.
Kenteri—Spritess of compulsion. Mother of the first mortal-god child; the first mortal of blue-sight, Tallan.
Tri—Sprite of shadows. Master of the darkness. An agent of Soju and the final cause of the destruction of Nahar.
Reepa—Spritess of warmth. The feeling of tiredness on a hot day.
Jallan—Sprite of sleep. The touch that brings rest.
LAST KINGDOM
This is the most eastern of the kingdoms on the mainland. Its lands are nearly all desert with the Last Mountain range to its eastern border.
As its name suggests it was the last kingdom to be established. King Jarjad faced resistance from what remained of the Draytians, the rock-worshippers, after the Great Poison. He wiped them out and established his new kingdom’s capital, Deca’Herem. This completed the Ten Kingdoms first envisioned by the Before King, Toren.
Last Kingdom is one of only three of the kingdoms that can still trace a direct line of pure blue-sight back to the gods through its kings.
Romarus—King of Last Kingdom—a boy of sixteen years, blue of sight.
His father, Locutus, lost, feared dead.
His mother, Brendina, lost, feared dead.
His elder brother, Costalus, one eye blue of sight, the other brown, lost as an infant.
His queen, Londenia, a maid of twenty-six, blue of sight, daughter of King Kalon of Long Kingdom.
His wife, Bostonia, younger sister of Queen Londenia, blue of sight.
His chief healer, Celóndas, former student at Hal Tal, blue of sight.
His aide, Brick, a simpleton of twenty years with brown eyes, known as ‘Bwick’.
His chief guard, Grey’Gon, a man of brown eyes.
Trae’Gon, one of Romarus’s guards.
KINGDOM OF
THE WETLANDS
This is the northernmost kingdom, made up of two islands. Due to the mountains on the western coasts of these two land masses, it rains on most days of every year. It is located next to the barbaric Vostos—its people being an island race, known for violence and cannibalism. The Wetland kings have always had a close relationship with the Watch Kingdom as they relied heavily upon their support if an attack from the Vostos ever occurred.
Its capital was located on the north island for some three hundred years until King Jamgan decided to move it onto the larger south island for greater tactical advantage and built the keep of Deca’Grace.
Stewart—King of the Wetlands—a cripple of thirty-eight years, blue of sight.
His queen, Tanya, brown eyes.
His wife, Pauline, twenty-seven years and with brown eyes.
His son, Baskerville, fiftee
n years, first prince to the Wetlands and now missing. A hybrid, blue of sight.
His chief healer, Sandunion, an old woman, blue of sight.
One of his chief guards, L’Gon, fat with brown eyes.
One of his chief guards, H’Gon, fat with brown eyes.
LONG KINGDOM
The most isolated of all the kingdoms. It is sometimes referred to as the Trade Kingdom due to it being the main import and export point between the Ten Kingdoms and the island city of Narscape and to the south, Arland.
Kalon—King of Long Kingdom—a wise gentlemen of fifty-five years, blue of sight.
His queen, Carlisa, forty-five years, blue of sight.
His wife, Sanrillia, forty-seven years, blue of sight.
His son, Lestaron, first prince of Long Kingdom. Currently ruling in his father’s absence, blue of sight.
His daughter, Londenia, now queen of Last Kingdom to Romarus.
His daughter, Bostonia, now wife to Romarus of Last Kingdom.
Minister Eeliro—A wise man of sixty years, with brown eyes.
Minister Haagar—A wise man of fifty-five years, with brown eyes.
BAY KINGDOM
The Bay Kingdom is renowned for its shipbuilding, knowledge of navigation and travel on the sea. Its land consists of a large island in the Bay of Blue.
Hardol—King of the Bay—an older gentleman of good standing and blue of sight.
His queen, Se’Rel, a mature women of blue-sight.
Sam, her son to a noble blue-eyed man, fourteen years.
Lisa, her daughter to a noble blue-eyed man, eleven years.
Brensa, her daughter to a noble blue-eyed man, twelve years.
His wife, Ger’Sel, thirty-nine years with brown eyes.
His hybrid son, Bartston.
His hybrid daughters, Helon, Christia, Selme and Yanya.
KINGDOM OF
THE DEAD CITIES
Its capital, Deca’Tallan (named in honor of the first mortal and god offspring), sits in the land between the Dead Cities.
The King of the Dead Cities is charged with guarding Raydem, Haven, Camptal, Ve’eir and Claminton and the gods’ secretes that lie within the cursed boundaries. The gods once called these vast cities their home until they left after the Great Poison.
The line of the Kings of the Dead Cities can be traced with pure blue-sight all the way back to the gods. This is true only of two other kingdoms.
Anthony—King of the Dead Cities—a tall gentlemen nearing forty years and blue of sight. Suspected of entering the Dead Cities.
His queen, Hellenafalincia, ruling Deca’Tallan in King Anthony’s stead. Hellena is sister to High-King Ma’leven.
His father, Rigard, believed dead, blue of sight—former king of the Dead Cities.
His mother, Ilar, an old woman with blue sight.
Anthony is yet to take a wife.
KINGDOM OF
THE BROKEN ARM
This is the southernmost kingdom, bordered to the north by Last Kingdom. It has no capital and all of its inhabitants, including the royals, live a nomadic existence. The king’s own dwelling is relocated every one to three moon-turns.
Retziz—King of the Broken Arm—a flamboyant man, blue of sight, aged forty-five years.
His queen, Zanzeri, a hybrid, blue of sight.
His wife, Lorenza, with brown eyes.
His eldest son, Halan, first prince to the Broken Arm. A hybrid, blue of sight.
His other sons, Kalon, Servin, Rigard and Locutus (all named after other kings at their time of birth—all hybrids).
WATCH KINGDOM
The Watch Kingdom gained its name from its duty to the Kingdom of the Wetlands. Guards from its capital of Deca’Point watch across No Man’s Sea towards Beacon Shore on the south island of the Wetlands. It is here where the first warning would come of an attack from the Vostos.
Servin—The Watch King—an open-minded man of fifty-eight years, blue of sight. Known for admiring and even falling in love with exotic women, who are not of the Ten Kingdoms or of blue-sight.
His queen, Lobelle Terrjan, hailing from the island city of Narscape. Has brown eyes. Now a full citizen of the Ten Kingdoms.
His wife, Jamille Cateral, a merchant’s daughter from Arland. Has brown eyes. Now a full citizen of the Ten Kingdoms.
Xipil, one of his horde, hailing from the Meeren tribe of Hal’s Forest, bore his only son.
His eldest bastard son, Taigo, potentially the first prince to the Watch Kingdom. A hybrid, blue of sight.
Servin had seven daughters to his wife Jamille Cateral of Arland.
PEAK KINGDOM
Its capital of Deca’Lixus sits on the highest peak in the Mortal Realm, Mount Capehorn. King Serlec was first to rule the peaks. He took an army from First Kingdom and drove out the native Lixian tribes that dwelt in the heights. They still maintain many of the Lixus traditions, practiced by the original inhabitants of the region (in addition to their worship of the Ten).
Sáran—King of the Peaks—a man of seventy-two years.
His queen, Gretcinni, daughter of former High-King Ma’en, sister of High-King Ma’leven.
His first wife, Zenzabor (deceased), daughter of former King of the Broken Arm, Genzeez. Mother to Kontáran, Luxáran, Docháran and Gharaxán.
His second wife, Yunkina, daughter of High-King Ma’leven, blue of sight, twenty-one years.
His firstborn son, Kontáran, died from a fever at the age of thirty-three years.
His son and first prince, Luxáran, currently serving as High-King Ma’leven’s ward in First Kingdom.
His other true sons to his first wife, Docháran (missing) and Gharaxán.
His son to Yunkina: Maran, a new born, blue of sight.
His kept bastard son, Loco, thirty-three years. A hybrid, blue of sight.
His ward, Golan, First Prince of the Gate Kingdom—unusually still serving as King Sáran’s ward in the Peak Kingdom at the age of twenty-three years.
GATE KINGDOM
Its capital, Deca’Fall, used to be located at the only gap in the Veil that led to the Soju Expanse. Ever since the fall of the Veil and the following Soju Invasion, the capital was moved to its current location, many leagues further east.
Zi—King of the Gate—a fearful and suspicious man of sixty-two years, blue of sight.
His queen, Huriene, daughter of former High-King Ma’en, sister of High-King Ma’leven.
His first wife, Katarina, died of an unknown disease at forty-seven years. Blue of sight.
His second wife, Kyla, daughter of High-King Ma’leven, blue of sight, twenty-nine years.
His son and first prince, Golan, unusually still serving as King Sáran’s ward in the Peak Kingdom at the age of twenty-three years.
His other sons to his first wife, Jums, Maran and Toren.
Zi had eight daughters to this wife, Katarina and two to Kyla.
FIRST KINGDOM
As its name suggests, First Kingdom, was the first of the Ten Kingdoms to be established. Politically it also stands above the rest with its leader being deemed High-King of the Ten Kingdoms. The High-King also selects the avatars to the High Council on the Beast’s Eye.
The Before King, Toren, was the first to rule and it was he who sent out the other nine kings to take control of the lands that now make up the Ten Kingdoms.
Toren’s son, Maran, succeeded him and it was he who first spoke of the Ten High-Gods and through him they spoke. After writing the holy book (named after himself) Maran became known as the Prophet. He rose First Kingdom above the others and established his High Council of avatars on the Beast’s Eye. He was the first High-King of the Ten Kingdoms.
First Kingdom is one of only three of the kingdoms that can still trace a direct line of pure blue-sight back to the gods through its kings.
The Lineage of High-Kings
(First Kingdom Line)
(dated by years after the Great Poison—AGP)
5–50
Toren, th
e Before King (not a High-King)
(king during the short ‘Lost Age’ when all mortals forgot the gods. At this time, First Kingdom was equal to the other Ten Kingdoms)
50–105
Maran I, the Prophet
(messenger of the Ten High-Gods. Rose First Kingdom above the others and established the High Council on the Beast’s Eye. The Enlightened Age began with his reign)
105–180
Meltane I, Jarod’s Bain
(crushed his younger brother’s attempt at establishing an eleventh kingdom)
180–192
Maran II, the Short-Lived King
192–250
Ma’leven I, the Careless King
250–324
Maran III, the Burner
324–393
Murnur, Soju’s Chains
(after the fall of the Veil, Murnur’s armies drove the demon hordes back into the Soju Expanse)
393–459
Bolmoro I, the New King
459–538
Bolmoro II, the Slave King
538–601
Servin I, the King with the Whip
601–678
Marco I, the Chain Breaker
A Poisoned Land (Book 1: Faith, Lies and Blue Eyes) Page 44