by A. Evermore
CONTENTS
Also By A. Evermore
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Maioria Map 1
Maioria Map 2
Chapter One - A Raven Flies
Chapter Two - The Shift
Chapter Three - The Hidden Glade
Chapter Four - The End Of The World
Chapter Five - Dromoorai
Chapter Six - Last Of The Ancients
Chapter Seven - The Unchartered Lands
Chapter Eight - The Great Sword Of Binding
Chapter Nine - Queen Pheonis
Chapter Ten - Falling Into Darkness
Chapter Eleven - Visitors In The Night
Chapter Twelve - Goblin Scouts! The Fearsome Four
Chapter Thirteen - A Hopeful Search
Chapter Fourteen - The Colour Of Magic
Chapter Fifteen - Bound By Secrets
Chapter Sixteen - Zanufey The Goddess Of the Night
Chapter Seventeen - The Spreading Shadow
Chapter Eighteen - No Leaving These Shores
Chapter Nineteen - Witch Craft
Chapter Twenty - Into The Shadowlands
Chapter Twenty-One - The Growing Shadow
Chapter Twenty-Two - A Feathered Thief
Chapter Twenty-Three - Trial By Fire
Chapter Twenty-Four - The Wisdom Of An Old Shaman
Chapter Twenty-Five - The Boatman
Chapter Twenty-Six - The Raven And The Ring
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Across The Ocean Between Worlds
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Battle Between Leviathans
Chapter Twenty-Nine - A Secret Revealed
Chapter Thirty - Drifting In The Past
Chapter Thirty-One - A Queen's Last Moments
Chapter Thirty-Two - Beyond The Veils Of Time
Chapter Thirty-Three - Rebirth Upon The Sacred Isle
Chapter Thirty-Four - The Prophecies Of Zanufey
Chapter Thirty-Five - The Dark Rift
Chapter Thirty-Six - The Orb Of Death
Chapter Thirty-Seven - Black Fire
Chapter Thirty-Eight - The Awakening
Chapter Thirty-Nine - A Healer's Gift
Chapter Forty - Karalanths
Chapter Forty-One - Woetala's Moon
Chapter Forty-Two - Mid Summer Celebration
Chapter Forty-Three - High Priestess
Chapter Forty-Four - Karshur's Dagger
Chapter Forty-Five - The Flow
Chapter Forty-Six - Wykiry
Chapter Forty-Seven - The Seer
Chapter Forty-Eight - A Dragon In Chains
Chapter Forty-Nine - The Dragon Dream
Chapter Fifty - Seeking Solitude
Chapter Fifty-One - Dark Moon Rising
Chapter Fifty-Two - Ancient Mother
Chapter Fifty-Three - Raven Queen
Glossary
Next In The Series
Acknowledgements
About The Author
A. Evermore Online
Also by A. Evermore:
The Prophecies of Zanufey:
Dark Moon Rising
The Fall of Celene
Enter the Storm Holt
Little Demons, Swamp Fairies, and the Spear of Light
Last of The Ancients
War of the Raven
Copyright © 2014 A. Evermore
All rights reserved.
www.aevermore.com
This is a work of fiction.
All names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be reproduced, in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated or transmitted without the author’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Cover art by Jessica Allain
Published by Starfire Epic Fantasy
Kindle First Edition
ISBN-13: 978-99920-3-009-9
ILoveDPG
For Fantasy
CHAPTER ONE
A Raven Flies
It is said by Dragons, the most ancient of beings upon Maioria, that the raven emerged from the dark moon of Zanufey, whereas all other creatures, including Dragons, came forth from the golden sun of Feygriene.
When Maioria fell into shadow the dark moon rose and the raven came, bringing into the world the pure magic of old that existed before the dawn of time. Such power touched everything, leaving nothing unchanged, not the beasts or birds, not even the land. The Dragons knew then that if Maioria fell too far into darkness again, if evil grew greater than good, then would Zanufey’s dark moon rise and with it come the raven.
Baelthrom the Immortal Lord knew all of that which the Dragons spoke and ever since he broke free from his prison deep within the earth, he watched and waited for the dark moon of Zanufey and her raven.
Within the indigo light of the dark moon a black form took shape. A beak flashed in the darkness, wings stretched wide and then folded back neatly. His feathers shimmered with the magic of the blue moon. The raven took a step forwards and looked up at a pale-faced woman that spoke to him without words.
Zanufey pointed into the night sky and he followed her pale finger outwards to the blue and green planet looming above them. Beyond it in the distance a dark scar split the universe, a tear of blackest black in the twinkling starlit sky, into which all the stars were inexorably being drawn and their light extinguished. Zanufey stopped speaking and pulled her hood down over her face.
Disturbed by the Dark Rift, the raven ruffled his feathers and cocked his head, considering the task set before him by his guardian. He looked from the black scar to Maioria and then back to Zanufey. A soft smile formed on her lips, all that was visible under her hood. Reassured, the raven cawed once and launched into the air, embarking upon his long journey to the blue green planet where he would search for the one he had been asked to find.
Out of the darkness of the moon and into the sunlit world of Maioria the raven burst. Shimmering dark moon magic cloaked his form and sped him forwards. Then he hit an invisible magical force, as if he had passed through a film of oil. It stripped the speed from his wings and extinguished his magical shield. The raven had been detected.
Ruddy-grey clouds swiftly formed and boiled around him, then red flickers of unholy magic streaked through the ashen bulges and two blood-red triangles formed within them. The eyes of Baelthrom dimmed from red to the darkest green. He had sensed the raven’s arrival.
Wind gusted hard as physical blows striking and tearing at the raven’s feathers, tried to wrench them off his battered body. He fought forwards, diving up and then down against the punches that breathed hot and clammy upon his back. An oily tendril whipped out and licked quivering black wings, but the raven plunged downwards before he could be ensnared.
Another cloud mushroomed beneath him. The raven twisted his wings up almost painfully and splayed wide his tail feathers, sending his aching body shooting upwards. Sharper now his wings angled, seeking to find just a little more speed. He crested the bulge and hit slack air. Floundering in the sudden emptiness the raven turned his beak down, fighting for purchase as he plummeted away from the suffocating heat.
Cold fresh air and bright sunlight engulfed him. The raven blinked and fell motionlessly for a few moments, blinded by the light. Indigo sp
arked and then shimmered around him once more. The raven flared his tail feathers, spread his wings wide and caught the pure air that filled his lungs and flowed over his body. Thunder growled in the growing distance. Baelthrom’s unholy storm had lost its prey. The raven was free and now he must fly fast.
‘My darling Issa, my only child, there is something I wish to speak with you about whilst a little of my strength has returned,’ Fraya said, controlling the tremors that threatened to shake her voice. ‘You look so lovely today,’ she smiled as her daughter stood in the doorway of her bedroom. The sunlight spilled over her tall elegant frame and set her high cheekbones and slender nose in a perfect silhouette.
But she could not admire her for long for the light was too bright and she had lied. None of her strength had returned even though the clock showed she had slept a solid ten hours. Sleep never seemed to change anything anyway and was always filled with strange dreams of the past.
She’d rather do without it.
Even Fraya found the bedroom stuffy and thick with illness; dark and dingy save for a few shards of yellow sunlight sneaking through the closed shutters. But she couldn’t bear the light now; it hurt too much, so long had she been bound to the bed, though she missed the sun dearly especially now it was summer. If only she could walk in her garden, tend the tulips and pansies that would be in full bloom, harvest fruit from the orchard. Issa did a grand job but she wanted to do those things herself or together. She sighed; all that had once been normal now seemed to belong to someone else’s life.
‘Ma, I look no different today than any other day,’ Issa said, looking down at her fresh pressed sage coloured trousers and plain white cotton shirt, ‘I always wear this for work.’
‘Ah Issy, it’s not what you wear, nice though it is; it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Though how lovely you would look in a skirt,’ Fraya added as an after thought and gentle jest.
‘Yes Ma, so you keep saying,’ Issa sighed and stepped into the room pulling the door to behind her.
‘You look all grown up, a woman now for sure. Come closer, lovely, let us chat for a time,’ Fraya patted the bed. Issa set her heavy cloth covered basket down and sat beside the bed-bound woman, careful not to bounce the mattress.
‘Are you feeling worse today, Ma?’ Issa asked with a worried frown.
‘Oh I’m fine, Issy,’ Fraya lied again and struggled to a more upright position, ‘I wish you wouldn’t worry so. Yes indeed you are a young woman now and, sickness or no, I will not be here forever and you are old enough to understand…’ A wheezy cough suddenly clawed its way up her throat. It felt like sandpaper scraping inside her chest but blessedly it lasted only a moment or so. Issa hastily stuffed more cushions around her.
‘Issy,’ she wheezed, ‘you needn’t fuss so; I can never find a comfortable spot no matter how many cushions there are. My back aches always. Though I am grateful for your tireless care.’ Issa stopped fussing and sat back down.
‘Tell me what, Ma? You are peculiar of late. Talking of your dreams of the past and far away lands with creatures and powers I can barely imagine.
‘Anyway, look, Farmer Ged has left us another basket, only two days have passed from the last one he left,’ Issa said, her face aglow as she struggled to hold up the heavily laden basket. ‘Bread, honey, walnuts, four eggs and even some of his own jam,’ Issa beamed, ‘though I hope it is better than the last…’ she added. ‘He hasn’t quite got the jam right, for sure. Maybe the strawberries don’t like him.’
Fraya chuckled, causing a wheezy cough to whistle through her lungs. She wished she had at least some desire for the generous basket, but she had no appetite.
‘Aye, he’s a good man and a good neighbour. Always coming before dawn, respecting my wishes for no visitors while I’m bound to this cursed bed,’ Fraya sighed, thinking of their nearest neighbour whom she cared about greatly. ‘But it should be the other way around, I should be looking after him. His wife, a good woman for all that I knew of her, died far too young.’
‘Yes, Ma, you know he’d love to spend more time with you,’ Issa said, ‘and I remember how much you enjoyed his company, as did I. He always gave freely so much of his own feed for my sick horses… and for you,’ Issa grinned and Fraya managed a proper laugh.
‘I can’t bear anyone other than you to see me like this,’ Fraya said. Issa nodded, her smile fading.
‘You know Jessy has found herself a husband,’ Issa changed the subject, ‘I don’t know his name but he is from Bigger Kammy and the wedding is next weekend. You know Jessy is near six years younger than me? I know you don’t like to talk of it but in all the village I am the only one of my age to still have no husband…’
‘Ah Issa, I know how you feel but what about your studies? The plans we had made together about you going to Bigger Kammy to learn from any Seers or Priestesses that might be visiting there? And after that to go on to the Main Land where a real Temple to the Great Goddess resides? You have a Healer’s hand after all. You know I sent a message to the Seers months ago. They will reply in time, their Isles of Tirry are half a world away so we must be patient,’ Fraya smiled in sympathy and spoke gently.
‘Do you really want to live forever on Little Kammy, never venturing beyond its borders? Getting married, having children, growing old and never wanting more than that? Your healing ability is a great gift, as all Seers know. I never dreamed a normal life would be for you.’
Issa sighed and stared into a gloomy corner of the room. ‘I know what you say Ma. Indeed I would like to see the world, but it is rather large and who knows what’s out there? Everything I know and love is here, why throw it away? The people here need a Healer anyway, even if it is just for pets and farm animals.’
‘Even if you went, when you return everything will be right here for you and just as you left it no doubt,’ Fraya squeezed her daughters’ hand.
‘Yes, Ma, but who is there to look after you?’ Issa laid her other hand over her mother’s.
Fraya smiled. It was her turn to look away. Issa was right, she always was. Her poor health was holding her daughter back, it was holding everyone back. Why she did not get better she did not know. It made her angry and frustrated - when she had the energy for such emotions.
‘Only the Goddess knows why I do not recover. Nothing can heal this sickness, not even my gifted daughter; it seems to go right through the body and into the soul. Sometimes when I dream I hear the earth itself, our beloved Maioria, crying out from the same illness as if she too suffers and wilts.’
‘Hush Ma, you know talk like that only brings you down. I’m sure all things happen in the way they are supposed to happen; we must never give up hope. Remember you told me the goddess loves us all and wants us all to be well.’
Fraya’s dark thoughts were stilled momentarily, ‘Your words always still the anguished heart, like rays of hope shining in the gloom,’ Fraya sighed, ‘One would already think you were a Priestess from the way you sound.’ Issa shifted self-consciously as she spoke. ‘I am sure the sick animals you heal understand everything you say. If I had half the faith and strength of heart that you have I doubt if I would be sick at all,’ Fraya fell silent, remembering she had spoken similar words to a wise woman some twenty years ago.
‘It is nothing really, Ma. If anything it is the sick animals that teach me of the ways of Maioria and not the other way round at all,’ Issa said looking off into the dark room, ‘I think I can hear them speak sometimes, at least with their minds. They tell me where it hurts. Unlike sick people,’ she grinned.
‘I am not one of your sick horses,’ Fraya feigned indignation.
‘Anyway, Tar would like to go with me to the wedding…’ Issa said suddenly, as if trying to catch Fraya off guard.
‘Ahhh, so that is what this is about,’ Fraya said.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter right now, we can talk about it later,’ Issa said, her face reddening.
Fraya smiled, ‘Well perhaps then you can bring yo
urself to wear a dress, I’m sure Tarry would like it too.’
Issa snorted and then looked wide-eyed with excitement, ‘You’ll let me go? With him?’ Issa suddenly seemed like a child. Fraya nodded.
‘How exciting!’ Issa squealed.
‘I honestly don’t think I could have stopped you anyway, do you? You would have snuck off for sure. And besides, I have kept you closeted for too long; you are right, it is high time you made your own choices and responsibilities, not that you haven’t been doing that already. I know you want to be like the others on Kammy, or at least not stand out so. It is hard to be the last woman without a husband in such a small place, something I know well.
‘But still, often you have said you feel differently to the other girls… Young women now,’ Fraya corrected with a half smile, ‘you are different to them. No one else here has a Healer’s hand or a way with animals, nor speaks to them either. As much as you would follow the ways of the people here, in the end it will not be enough for you and you will not be satisfied.
‘For a time you can busy yourself with a husband and children and work, but there will come a time when you will stop and wonder if this is all there is and it will be too late to look outside the shores of Little Kammy for your children will need you, and your husband.’
‘Yes but look how happy Aunt and Uncle are? Sure some people are disgruntled but that is their nature anyway,’ Issa said.
‘No, Issa, that is not what I meant,’ Fraya said, her smile dropped into seriousness and she watched Issa intently, ‘You are not like them either…’ Fraya wanted to add that her life had a far grander calling than anybody else’s on the island, but she kept silent. What was the point of telling her that when the Seers’ had not come and looked likely never to come. Perhaps a quiet life on Little Kammy was a blessing after all.
She looked at the flawless oval face of her daughter, so unlike her own heart-shaped face all wrinkled with age and no doubt pale with sickness. For all her womanliness Issa suddenly seemed so young, nothing but innocence in those green eyes that watched her expectantly, but then she would always be her little baby that she must keep safe and secret from the world. But if the Seers’ never came then she did need a husband, someone to look after her when Fraya was gone.