Trinian
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Afias and Adrea, requesting and receiving the permission of King Trinian, moved to South Drian, thereby reinforcing the strong bonds between the two countries, and putting themselves to the task of building safe roads for frequent travel between the capitols. Over the years, Adrea grew calmer and more contented in nature, and Afias more animated and adventurous. When not overseeing matters of state, they liked to stay home, reading books aloud or strolling through their gardens, planning and building new libraries, universities, and shrines to the Golden King and Silver Lady; but every now and then the urge to travel would take one of them suddenly, and they would pack up and go on an adventure – usually to Drian’s capitol. They had nine children through the years, and raised them like crops, keeping them watered, fed, and in plenty of sunlight.
Trinian loved Adlena more every day, and she grew daily more comfortable with herself and her rule. She became the people’s queen, walking among them and listening to their needs, ministering and helping where she could, using her inner sight to give her wisdom and guidance. She also took a personal interest in Jacian and Lillian’s education, and learned so much from Gladier in the process of her son’s apprenticeship that she built the very first Drinian Hospital.
Trinian spent his reign in spreading devotion to the Golden King, and decided to leave the neighboring kingdoms to govern themselves. Helping them if they asked for it, and staying away if they did not, he went down in history as the most fair, loving, and open-hearted of all kings.
Princess Viol remained true to her resolution, though she had many suitors and proposals through the years. She knew that she needed to live alone, set apart from other people, so she lived alone in a little hut, simply dressed in a plain blue dress, with her hair down and her hands hard at work in the soil, planting and growing her own food, and through it all she fasted, praised, and prayed. In solitude, she hoped to learn how to love the Golden King perfectly. And beyond belief, she was happy.
Not just happy but joyful; glowing with radiance. Her family marveled at the beauty that increased in her every year, and the peace, calm, and joy that breathed from her every look and word. She was content and fulfilled and never thought to want company.
Until one day, a request came to her door that she could not refuse. For on opening it, there stood upon the step her petite, pretty sister, with sad green eyes and a black veil over her blond hair. “Take me in,” said Cila, her weak voice softly begging, “I have tried to live alone, but there is no purpose. But you have found it. Teach me your secret – give me a reason to live.”
First, she took her in out of charity, but Cila soon blossomed under the strict rule that Viol lived, and presently, despite her initial regret, many more women joined her, dedicating their lives to living for others, communally and singly, in quiet meditation, song, and prayer, and active ministering. And these gathered women and their rule of life spread like wildfire through all the world, and it was these pockets of praying, celibate women (and eventually, men as well), hidden away in the recesses of the wilderness, living apart from society, that were the driving force behind all the peace and enrichment of the years that followed.
Over it all, the Golden King looked down in love, and blessed Minecerva.
THE END
CODA
“No anguish I have had to bear on your account has been too heavy a price to pay for the new life into which I have entered in loving you.”
George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss
Character Index and Pronunciation Guide
Mortals
Adalam (A-duh-lam) – First King of Drian
Adlena (Ad-len-uh) – Dryad, Queen of Drian, wife of Trinian
Adrea (Ad-ree-uh) – Heir Stewardess of Drian, daughter of Lord Steward Astren
Afias (Ae-fee-us) – Prince of Drian, brother of Trinian
Armand (Ar-mond) – A sailor of Kelta
Asbult (As-bult) – Prince of Drian, husband of Cila
Astren (Ast-ren) – Lord Steward of Drian
Cartnol (Kart-nol) – Soldier of Drian
Cila (See-la) – Princess of Drian, sister of Trinian
Dascerice (Das-kuh-ris) – A soldier of Drian
Denin (Den-in) – King of Kelta
Desmond (Des-mond) – A soldier of Drian
Ferand (Faer-and) – Lord in Drian and one of the six councilors to the steward
Faring (Faer-ing) – Waiting woman to Lady Adrea
Ferran (Faer-an) – A gorgan, son of Kellan
Farsooth (Far-sooth) – A soldier of Kelta
Garrity (Gaer-i-tee) – Soldier of Drian
Gladier (Gluh-deer) – Wizard and Healer
Gorj (Jorj) – Soldier of Drian
Habas (Hab-is) – Wizard and Healer
Hagar (Hag-ar) – Squire of Leghorn
Hedger (Hed-jer) – Bandit in the Wilds of Drian
Horans (Hor-ans) – A messenger of Drian
Jacian (Juh-kee-an) – Son of Trinian
Jeroe (Je-ro) – Servant to the Nian Family
Kalaban (Kal-i-ban) – Ship’s captain in South Drian
Kart (Kart) – A bandit with Tarfan
Karth (Karth) – A soldier of Drian
Kellan (Kel-an) – A gorgan
Kett (Ket) – Soldier of Drian
Krong (Krong) – Soldier of Kara
Lavendier (La-ven-deer) – Princess of Drian, eldest sister of Trinian
Lela (Lay-la) – Servant to the Nian Family
Lenora (Le-nore-uh) – Squire Hagar’s wife
Lillian (Li-lee-an) – Daughter of Trinian
Lucer (Loo-ser) – A dragon
Melcis (Mel-kis) – Lord in Drian and one of the six councilors to the steward
Mendican (Men-di-kin) – An ancient healer
Merciec (Mer-see-ak)– Soldier of Drian
Nian (Ny-an) – Trinian’s father
Phestite (Fes-tyt) – Head general of Drinian army
Ronarge (Ro-narj) – Last King of Drian before Trinian
Secretary, the – assistant to Power
Tarfan (Tar-fin) – Bandit in the Wilds of Drian
Trigent (Try-jent) – Farmer in Drian
Trinian (Tri-nee-un) – King of Drian, son of Nian
Viol (Vie-ohl) – Princess of Drian, youngest sister of Trinian
Wrelle (Wrel) – King of Kelta
Xedril (Zed-ril) – False king of Kara
Gods
Fate – Responsible for leaving humanity free to practice their free will
Peace – The oldest of the goddesses, responsible for guiding humanity in the way of peace
Power - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of power; bent on conquering Minecerva
Terror - Responsible for guiding humanity in through the process of fear and flight
Passion - Responsible for guiding humanity in the use of passions
Resolve - Responsible for guiding humanity in resolution
Death - Responsible for guiding humanity in the process of dying
Famine - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of loss
Plenty - Responsible for guiding humanity in the reality of having enough
Destruction - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of building up and tearing down
Joy - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of joy
Charity - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of charitable love
Solitude - Responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of solitude
Hope – Youngest of the high gods, responsible for guiding humanity in the practice of hope
Rordan (Roar-dan) – Natural god of river Rordan
Strana (Stra-nuh) – Natural goddess in Kelta
Mercy – Natural goddess of Tyre
Justice – Natural goddess of Kara
The Silver Lady – The mother of the Golden King
The Golden King – The highest god of the far heavens
Places
Austro,
country (Ah-stroh) – Easternmost country to the north of Cronice and east of the Kara mountain range
Drian, country (Drie-an) – Central land of Minecerva, incorporating the capital of Drian, the wilds of Drian, and the small towns scattered throughout
Drian, city (Drie-an) – Capital of the country Drian
Drian, wilds of (Drie-an) – A collection of barren lands, crumbling ruins, and small towns inhabiting the eastern arm of the country of Drian
Kelta, country (Kel-tuh) – Northernmost central country of Drian
Varlo, city (Var-loh) – Capital of South Drian
Varlo, palace (Var-loh) – Palace in capital of South Drian
Kara, country (Ka-ruh) – Eastern country of Minecerva located along the Kara Mountain range
Kara Mountains, mountain range (Kar-uh) –Mountain range stretching from the northern to the southern tips of Minecerva, between Drian in the north, South Drian in the south, Austro in the northeast, and Cronice in the southeast
Karaka, country (Kuh-rok-uh) – Easternmost country of Minecerva, stretching from the northern to the southern tips, between Mestraff to the east, ocean to the west, Rordan to the southeast, and the desert and Paradise mountain ranges to the northwest
Korem – Palace in capital of Drian
Leghorn, town (Leg-horn) – Central northern town in the wilds of Drian
Lapita (Laa-pee-tuh) – Southernmost island off the coast of South Drian
Mestraff, country (Mes-trif) – Western country of Minecerva stretching from the northern to the southern tips of Minecerva, between Drian to the east and Karaka to the west
Paradise, country – Northwest country located in the corner of Minecerva behind the northwest mountain range
Desert, country – Northern country of Minecerva between paradise mountain ranges to the west and Mestraff to the east
Yellow Mountains, mountain range – Northern mountain range stretching from Karaka in the west to Austro in the east
Cronice, country (Croh-nis) – Easternmost country to the south of Austro and east of the Kara mountain range
Ringwold, fort (Ring-wold) – Fort just west of the Rordan river in Mestraff
Rordan, river (Roar-dan) – Western central river of Minecerva stretching from the northern to the southern tips of Minecerva, between Drian to the east and Mestraff to the west
Rarks, town (Rarks) – Central western town in the midst of the Mestraff woods
South Drian, country (South Drie-an) – Southernmost central country of Drian
Tyre, town (Tire) – Central eastern town at the foot of the Kara mountains
About the Author
Inundated in Narnia, Middle Earth, and Florin as a child, I am now the author of two fantasy novels, Halfbreeds and Trinian. When not slaying monsters with the pen, I co-host the Podcast Literary Leviathans with my brother Tim, and write on my blog TheFairyTaleBlog.com, where I celebrate my love of the literary classics and help my readers to approach, understand and love them!
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Also by Elizabeth Russell
Halfbreeds
https://www.amazon.com/Halfbreeds-Elizabeth-Russell-ebook/dp/B072KFSF11/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NP6DXV4JPKVH&keywords=halfbreeds+elizabeth+russell&qid=1561421836&s=gateway&sprefix=Halfbreeds+Eliz,stripbooks,166&sr=8-1
In a village wrapped about with strange monsters and superstition, a new kind of child is born. Half-man half-monster, the villagers fear their own children and, turning against them, burn them at the stake. But a small band of resilient Halfbreeds escape their executioners and take up their home in the wild. In a desperate attempt to find their place in the world, these children question what it really means to be human.