With a gasp he came forward, all the way back to the present situation, holding his control of invisibility with ease. That was the first time he was aware of a rather uncomfortable awkwardness; he could not ignore nor mistake the half-clad woman currently attached to his chest. Quizzically, he took note of her presence. She clung to his shoulder, ribcage, and thigh. Her piercing eyes bore into his. It had been a long while since he was this close to anyone. It wasn't that he was attracted to her, but she was spectacularly adhered to him. Rather like cow's glue to a paper, he thought.
Unbidden, a flood of emotions and physical awareness saturated his thoughts. He returned her gaze, waiting for her to speak or attack. He was certain she had had some terrible need to reach him, considering the almost death she had already encountered at his burning hands. Yet the red -cloaked woman had literally thrown herself at him again, demanding his attention, refusing his rebuffs. He waited for her to speak her demands or entreaties, something worth more than the value of her life.
She continued to look at him with a determined gaze, pinning him to the spot, but she said nothing.
He asked the first most obvious question that came to him. “Are you the Fire Maid then? The one we came to find?”
Her gaze did not waiver but she shook her head in denial.
“Well, you obviously have my attention. Is there something you need of us?”
A steady nod of affirmation.
With a returning nod, Ilion said,“You have my assistance and my gratitude, woman.” Trying not to look away from her face to the rest of her body, he continued, “Now, could you please release me and we can figure this out?”
His request was weighed behind the heavy, dark eyes. She removed her stranglehold grip on his body and stepped away. Ilion thanked the gods he was still invisible as it took him a moment, well, technically many moments to regain his composure. Taking several deep breaths, he released the pattern of invisibility and stepped out of the doorway, rejoining Alizarin and the stranger.
This almost seemed a different woman than the creeping, wincing, fearful thing that had opened the sealed doorway with a line of power. How much of the transformation was his fire and how much was Alizarin's topaz was hard to be certain. But this woman was unashamed and whole. Standing there in his second cloak she was every bit the image of a long-ago queen. Her eyes were still wild, still commanding. Her need for their help was great for her to risk so much.
Alizarin walked to him. “Did you have any success? Any inspiration?” As she leaned closer, she couldn't help herself from inquiring, “What did she want from you, Ilion? I could not stop her. Did she harm you?”
“It is fine, Alizarin. I am fine. As to the mystery guest, let's ask her together, shall we?”
His friend smiled and took his hand. He pulled her close for a moment, smelling the oils of her hair. It was a respite of calm in a turbulent and relentless time. Holding her tight for a few breaths, Ilion kissed her face on the temple, nose, and lips. They both smiled. Then, turning to the stranger, Alizarin stated the simple facts.
“You want something. You need us for a task. Tell us what the price for our freedom is to be.”
Standing imperiously a small distance away, the red woman nodded as they spoke but did not answer their statements. Instead, she just turned, looked over her shoulder and walked out of the caverned room into the tunnel. Ilion and Alizarin watched her leave.
“Nobody just answers questions around here, have you noticed?” Alizarin said.
Ilion smiled. With a flourish of his lone bit of clothing, none too risqué in his manner, he offered his arm to Alizarin. Hauling a pack on each shoulder, they followed their silent and insistent liberator into the cool darkness.
Glossary
A
Alizarin d'Trellista d'Napthol- a baker by trade, daughter of Trellista, owners of Sunbaked Goods in the country of Tamborinton proper
Andal- A far country known for its spices and little else
Archeton- A long destroyed kingdom
Azure- Daughter of Tatanya, mountain villager, blue of eyes, skin, and hair
B
Baby- Gretsel and Londer’s son, of the Corded Family Farm
Belna- a child of exceptional singing voice in ancient times
Bilton- a mountain villager, owner of a trade shop
Bira- goddess of fire, offensive strategy, loyalty, and truth; sister of Kira and Mira
Bira-Kang- a temple dedicated to the eponymous goddess
Bira-keng- the sacred, written language of Bira
Bira Tre- the trio of goddesses who in ancient times had sovereignty over the lands of Vestra
Blood candle- an instrument for blood magic
Breina- a mountain villager, maid to the priest; sister to Margreetha
Brigget- sister of Lorayn, school mate of Azure, mountain villager
C
Cacao- hot drink of chocolate, cinnamon, and honey
Call to Offering- a religious ritual of the mountain village
Carriage of Lightning- a mythical vehicle
Castol- a farmhand at the Corded Family Farm
Cethel d’Ranada Tranan- school mate of Azure, mountain villager, son of Centen the Forester and Ranada
Cehan- a man who sought the perfect wife
Cinnamon- a doll
Circle Present- a religious concept in for life as it is lived in the present
Companion's Right- an oath that binds the companion of a dying man; all possessions of the dead transfer to the companion, including divine assignments or missions; the companion is responsible for last rites
Connac- Alizarin's neighbor in Dressarna, husband of Testa
Corded Family Farm- ancestral home of Rethendrel and Gretsel surrounded by vast apple orchards
Council of Elders- head men of the mountain village
Cycle- length of time for Vestra to travel around its sun once
D
Danya- daughter of Sansha and Pod, mountain villager
Darkened Path- the involuntary service of the Mighty One
Darnan- a priest of Kira
Dirtmen- Cethel's name for the hunters invading the mountain village
Dressarna, a port city, capital of Tamborinton
Dome of the Angels- an iconic landmark in Dressarna, the largest dome ever built, supported by 12 columns and rising more than 4 stories; It is the main building in the city’s ancient temple complex of Bira Tre
Drinking- a religious rite of the Gray Way.
Drogos- A place of infinite darkness and solitude, endless sorrow and woe; three different prisons are found within it: one of sorrow, one of pain, and one of revenge
Durnit- owner of Too Hot to Handle, a cacao shop across from Sunbaked
E
Evensky necklace- one of the three mythical necklaces stolen from Bira
F
Falcon God - the gray god of ambition, predation, and dominance, also called the Falcon Sun
Falcon Priest- a follower of the Gray Way
Falcon Sun- a name of the Falcon God
Fighters of the Forest- a name given to themselves by the young Lurkers
Fire Maid- the intended recipient of the Kiran priests' scroll, identity or location unknown
G
Gathering- a meditative discipline involving holding physical poses while praying; various poses are mentioned as Ilion uses them; it is both a meditation and a way of communication with universal gestures that are taught to all followers who learn the discipline
Gerantha- owner of Churning Time, a creamery across from Sunbaked, Alizarin's store
Glisten tree- a tree that has an edible sap used to sweeten food throughout Vestra
Glyphed Men- hunters employed by the Gray Priests
Godsday- the day of worship, falling every tenth day
Gods’ Tongue- mountain village name for patterns of speech and writing formerly used in Vestra, but retained for religious services in the village
Gogon
ats- a term used in Dressarna proper for the multitude of barbarian tribes that dwell on the far upper peninsulas and in the unknown tundra lands beyond
Gray Priests- the Falcon Priests
Gray Way- the religion of the Falcon God, also called the Way of Nothing
Great Grief of Bira Tre- a fable of the deception and theft caused by Thenta to the Bira Tre; a name used in the mountain village for the Raging Mountains
Green Lady- Ilion's name for the hired woman who represents the buyer of the Staves of Thenta
Growing season- the season falling between Planting and Harvest
Groupmind- a mental connection used by the Lurkers to communicate silently
Gurgling Dove- a tavern in Dressarna in which Ilion is part owner
H
Harvest- the season following Growing season and before the Hard Cold season.
Harvest Gathering- a celebration in the mountain village marking the end of the season
Harvest Jelly- a rare and expensive fruit preserve prized throughout Vestra
Harvest Nightfall- the beginning of the Harvest Gathering in the mountain village
Helt- barkeep and inn owner
Hesnar- an ancient household god, no longer formally worshipped in Vestra
Hope and Returning- a religious concept in the faith of the Bira Tre
Horseflies - familiars of the Thief Goddess Thenta
Hounds of the Gods- a name of the Lurkers
Huntress from the Western Mountains- a young woman competing in the Dressarna Auction against Ilion; glyph marks her face as she competes in the black market exchange in Dressarna against Ilion
I
Ilion- man of vast knowledge of ancient cultures, artifacts, and rare objects; he works in the city of Dressarna as a procurer of difficult-to-find things, legal and otherwise
J
Jakor- an old acquaintance of Ilion's with a murky past; competing in the Dressarna Auction against Ilion
Jalon- a mountain villager
Jaspin- son of Tatanya, brother of Vestin and Azure
Jerusha- a mythical woman with a celebrated pickle
Jutann- a small settlement in the Raging Mountains
K
Kalina- former teacher of Jakor and Ilion
Kand- apothecary of the mountain village
Karch- a resident of the foothills south of the Raging Mountains
Kings of the Hunt- a name of the Lurkers for themselves
Kira- goddess of defensive war, courage, and discipline; sister to Bira and Mira
Kira-Tang- a temple dedicated to the eponymous goddess
Knife of Darkness- a poisoned weapon used by the servants of the Mighty One
L
Lanscom- a farm hand at the Corded Family Farm
Laughing Journey- a rite of passage for the Huntresses of the Western Mountains
Laylada- an orphan, raised by Sansha and Pod; she loves to cook and take care of village children, the heart of Azure's friends
Londer- Gretsel Corded’s husband, farm hand at the Corded Family Farm
Long Cold season- the season of snow and ice following Harvest
Light of Paradise cakes- made by Alizarin from a recipe her mother gave her
Lookout Rock- the children’s name for the promontory of broken stones that towers over the mountain village at the edge of the forest
Lorayn- sister of Brigget, school mate of Azure, mountain villager
Lurkers- powerful predator reptiles bound by magic by the Gray Priests to seek out what they cannot find
M
Man of Order(s)- a priest
Mardint- mountain villager, husband of Tabitha
Margreetha- mountain villager, sister of Breina
Marna’s Dream- a myth
Meeliss- mountain villager
Mighty One- reference to an unknown deity
Mindlink- see Groupmind, connection used by Lurker pack
Mira- (Mari) goddess of birth, growing, harvest, and learning; sister of Bira and Kira; still popular as a household god, though mainly as a superstition
Mira-Sang- a temple dedicated to the eponymous goddess
Mira-seng- the written language of the worshippers of Mira
Mooncycles- there are two moons, but one is unreliable in its orbit; the more constant and bigger of the two is called Centara and is on a waxing and waning cycle of 38 days
N
Naming Ceremony- held for babies who reach the age of two cycles
Nashan- a mythical man who sought Roselyna and became a tree
O
Older Daughter/Oldest Daughter- a name given to Azure by the Lurkers
Onnadir- neighboring country to Tamborinton
P
Parsimint tea- a bitter tea known to have potent antitoxic properties
Planting season- the season following the thaw, in which seeds can be planted and not be destroyed by frost
Promontory- the mountain village's name for the collapsed rocks and broken columns that is the highest point in the valley; the children call it Lookout Rock
R
Raging Mountains- a mountain range on the sunrise side of Vestra that has the highest peaks in the world; impassable for the most part and still active with volcanoes
Rag Lady- name given to the temple guide of Bira by Ilion
Rantha, a mountain village child
Rat Thief- the name given by the village gossips to whatever force or person is taking the corpses of the rodents.
Rethendrel Corded- traveling farmer/merchant who befriends Alizarin; husband of Theress and brother of Gretsel; owns a traveling cart and travels with his donkey Samton
Rite of Flying- a ritual of the Gray Way
Roach- the villager's nickname for the woman who lurks in the shadows, begs for food and forages through the trash; older than the oldest villager, her origins are unknown and her actions misunderstood
Ronnit- a stranger searching for Ilion after the staves are stolen; he and his "wife" accost Alizarin in their search
Room of Flames- a test encountered by Ilion at Bira-Kang
Rose Ale- a favorite drink in Dressarna, known for its refreshing bubbles
S
Samton- Rethendrel's donkey
Sansha- herbalist in the mountain village, trained in healing arts and the way of the Bira Tre; sister to Tatanya, mother of Verta and Danya; adoptive mother of Laylada; wife of Pod
Sand - a division of time named for the movement of sand through a small glass
Sarned- a resident of Dressarna acquainted with Theress
Serpend Islands- a distant land
Serpent Comb- a gift to Alizarin from her mother
Slanttic- a creature of shadow and power
Song of Sleeping- a song sung by Belna in ancient times
Standaf- farmer in the mountain village; loses a number of farmcats
Staves of Thenta- four honey-white staves, carved strong and straight, topped with an intertwined spiral, interlacing pierced in an elaborate honeycomb;
Spindle- an unknown artifact that the Falcon Priests are searching the Raging Mountains to find
Stuck Pig- a meat shop in Dressarna
T
Tabitha-a mountain villager, wife of Mardint
Taleth- barkeep at the Gurgling Dove
Tamborinton- the country that encompasses the northern Delta, with Dressarna as its capital
Tamborinton Amber Fire- the cinnamon-colored, sharp amber ale that is brewed with peppers distilled in honey; the signature drink of Dressarna’s upper class
Tatanya- mother of Azure, and twin boys Vestin and Jaspin, of the mountain village; sister to Sansha
Testa- Alizarin’s neighbor in Dressarnam, wife of Connac
Thenta- goddess of Thieves, patroness of the Guild which rules Dressarna
Theress- wife of Rethendrel and mistress of Corded Family Farm
Thieves’ Auction- a select and underground market sponsored and ran by the Thieves Guild of Dressarna
Thieves Guild- rulers of the City of Dressarna
Thug 1- Ilion’s name for a Gogonat mercenary in the employ of the Green Lady
Thug 2- Ilion’s name for a Gogonat mercenary in the employ of the Green Lady
Torand- a mountain villager
Tomlin- a mountain villager, brother to Centen, uncle to Cethel
Townhall- the largest building in the mountain village, used for a variety of purposes
Travels of Thantos- a myth
Trellista D'Napthol- Alizarin's mother, also a baker
Trillen- nearest city to the mountain village
Trizzanen- a creature of shadow and power
Trydan- a farmhand at the Corded Family Farm
U
Urrdsa- midwife for the area around the Corded Farm
Ver- nickname of Ilion's youth
Ver’Ilion d’Coeur, Ilion’s full name
Verta- daughter of Pod and Sansha, a mountain villager
Vestin- son of Tatanya, brother of Jaspin and Azure
W
Waystation- temporary structure built for travelers each cycle consisting of a wooden lean to, a working well, a few tables and a pole for hitching animals
Wethor- farmhand at Corded Family Farm
Wilted Leaf- Kand’s apothecary shop in the mountain village
Y
Yelton- school mate of Azure, mountain villager
Acknowledgments
I could not have found the strength to do this on my own. Writing a book is not for wimps.
There are many, many hands in this pie. Elizabeth Steen-Larsen for inspiring a story out of me every Sunday, while inspiring me every day with her love, and Doc for reading like a champ, pithy comments aside. Chris Skelton, for teaching me the willingness to throw caution to the wind and follow my own path, and the courage to stop second-guessing my own imagination. Lynn Durkee, who took me in as an orphaned writer and read, and read, and read. Lynn, you are amazing! Kevin Rutter, for weapon and survival advice, and for cheer and brotherly love. Valinski, for a bit of inspiration.
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