Chartile: Prophecy

by Cassandra Morgan

  Ygdalla of the House of Dryfinal of the Amethyst Quarter: Ygdalla is the first daughter of Dryfinal and her Harasan, Yngvarr. Ygdalla was an only child for many years, as her mother did not wish to take anymore husbands. Ygdalla was raped by a soldier when she was 17 years old. From that point onward, Ygdalla decided to embrace her femininity, and used the position of power she knew she held only because of her being female to hurt anyone who tried to defy her.

  It was Isla who calmed Ygdalla’s rage and anger, and showed her that not all men acted in such a way. Ygdalla eventually supported her friend’s underground movement of getting a male voice on the Council, but there was still a part of her that wanted this only so she could prove how much better a woman was than a man.

  Ygdalla eventually married, but only took one hasana, like her mother. She trusted her husband, and wasn’t sure she could ever trust anyone else so wholly without the risk of being hurt again.

  Princess Thora: Princess to Mount Kelsii. She passed in tragic cave-in that killed her and her entire guard. Rumor and speculation say it was due to her involvement with the Black Diamonds. Some believe several Council Elders planned the accident, and subsequently blamed the Black Diamonds. However, there is no proof of this.

  Goddess Verika: The Goddess of Truth and Law

  Imohan: Daughter of Alofrah and her third hasana, Imojarah. Elder of the Opal Quarter of the Tutarian Mountains.

  Jarvae: Daughter of Jarlil and her second hasana, Torvae, Jarvae is the elder of Garnet Quarter of the Tutarian Mountains. She took a husband very early in life, and eventually took three more. She was blessed with two daughters and seven sons, which gave her a tremendous amount of power and influence within the Council and the Royals.

  Tagrin: A soldier of Mount Kelsii. His brother was killed in a sabotage by The Black Diamonds, and forever held the deepest hatred toward the organization.

  Maltori: Second Hasana to the House of Arnfastah. Maltori worked as a blacksmith for Mount Kelsii, often repairing the soldier’s armor. He turned spy for The Black Diamonds after overhearing a conversation from two colleagues. He later became an informant for Princess Taraniz when he heard she wanted to bring the dwarves under Elven law. Maltori always placed his bets with the biggest fish.

  Jentar: A long-time supporter of The Black Diamonds. Jentar learned his trade as a blacksmith and armorer, then faked his death in a skirmish between the Mount Kelsii soldiers and a group of Black Diamonds. Since that time, he has sold weapons and weapon accessories to most of the rogue organization using the connections he still had to those working in secret in Mount Kelsii. He had begun to expand his reach into the Tutarian Mountains in order to obtain other supplies with some of the travelling merchants, and the Queen and Princess themselves. Jentar never married, but eventually began a relationship with one of the human slaves much later in life.

  Aerndis: The first daughter of a wealthy family in the Ruby Quarter, Aerndis had taken 2 husbands by the time she was 31, and the other two followed suit shortly thereafter. She had 2 daughters and 13 sons. She had great influence within the Ruby Quarter, often bribing and manipulating whomever held the Elder seat of her quarter at that time.

  Aeris: The second daughter of a wealthy family in the Ruby Quarter, Aeris was nearly the opposite of her older sister, Aerndis. She married late in life, having only 2 husbands, 4 sons and no daughters. Aeris’s first husband was recruited to the ranks of the Black Diamonds as an inside source within the Palace Guards early in his career, and confided this to Aeris shortly after their marriage. They quietly supported the efforts of the Black Diamonds, and Aeris worked hard to undermine all her sister attempted to do to further the cause of executing all of the Black Diamonds.

  Lynden of Lynhldr: The sole survivor of a tragic altercation between the soldiers of Mount Kelsii and The Black Diamonds in the Ruby Quarter. The incident mostly surrounded the third hasana of the House of Lynhldr discovering his wife and her other husbands had been working with The Black Diamonds. He coordinated an attack on the household, but told the family at the last moment, hoping they could all flee into the Belirian Forest and start a new life elsewhere. The soldiers attacked before they could leave. Lynden hid inside a cabinet during the altercation. She watched her entire family slaughtered through the crack between the doors.

  Halil Commander of the Guard: Harasan of The House of Isanorah of the Amber Quarter. Halil was father to 1 daughter and 2 sons. He held his position as Commander of the Guard (giving instruction to all of the soldiers and palace guards in Mount Kelsii) into his 60’s, until he finally retired once he developed something similar to kidney stones.

  -Elves-

  Princess Taraniz: Born the 14th day of Ansalvar. First born daughter of King Aramor and Queen Runa, Taraniz Anirya was quite a normal young girl. She liked pretty things, especially shoes and bracelets, and had a pet cat at one time. Taraniz began having strange dreams when she was twelve years old. She would wake up screaming, and still see images before her that no one else could see. By the time she was thirteen, she had fallen into a great depression, and had become cold and bitter.

  Taraniz attempted to confide in her father the voice in her mind and the darkness she fought every day. Aramor was afraid, and shunned her. Taraniz became angry. She felt betrayed and abandoned, as Valar had since left several months before with no explanation as to why. Her fear became anger, and Duke Noraedin’s soul within her was able to grow and feed from her anger. At times, Taraniz felt powerful, and longed for greater control over the amazing things the voice in her mind could do with magic.

  Soon, however, Taraniz began losing moments of time. She could not remember what day it was, or how she had gotten to a particular place. She could no longer remember what she had been doing even moments before, though it had actually been hours. When the hours turned to days, Taraniz began fighting the voice in her mind with what little strength she had left.

  Taraniz came to enough to read several documents the voice in her mind was trying to block her from reading. They said she had a twin sister. Having recently heard of an incident in Outland Post involving a girl her age, Taraniz was determined to discover if this person perhaps could tell her who her sister was by using some form of magic. Duke Noraedin took over her quest after she had called the orders to ride to Outland Post, and she did not come to again for several days until they were nearly back to the Elven Palace.

  Taraniz did want to bring the dwarves and elves under one rule. Her hope was that by integrating some of the more “magical” and “mystical” practices of the dwarves into the elven culture, her people would one day become more open to allowing the practice of magic under intense restriction and supervision. It was how she had hoped to rid herself of the darkness in her mind. Had Taraniz lived, she and Piper would have clashed over this point, and there would have been a struggle for the throne.

  King Aramor: The only child of the late King Armon and Queen Eleanor, Aramor always knew he would be king. He had no cousins, and few uncles and aunts.

  Aramor gave little thought to becoming king until his father died of River Lung (similar to our pneumonia). Having little experience with leading his people, Aramor looked heavily to his mother for guidance.

  The Conclave was losing faith in Aramor. Talks of finding Queen Eleanor a second husband to be king were rampant. Queen Eleanor arranged the marriage between Aramor and Runa, daughter of the Lord and Lady or Harpy’s Point, in the hopes it would settle her son and lead him to be more responsible. The kindhearted spirit of Lady Runa was well known across all of the Elven territories. It was for the love of Runa that kept the Conclave from mutiny.

  Queen Runa: Lady Runa Elisa Vouclaine was the daughter of the Lord and Lady of Harpy’s Point. Due to the climate of Harpy’s point being so close to a very large lake, it is ideal for growing many of the herbs needed for medicines.

  After accompanying her father on a several week long trek for his tournament season, Runa saw the need to get these much needed he
rbs into the hands of the other surrounding towns and villages.

  Runa accompanied her father on his next tournament season, and distributed herbs to ever surrounding village and town she could travel to while her father fought in the competitions. She taught some of the healers how to use some of the herbs they had never seen before, and how to grow them outside of the ideal Harpy’s Point environment.

  Runa was only seventeen when this all occurred. She asked her mother to commission the Conclave of Nobles for a better road to be built from Harpy’s Point to the main road so they could get stored herbs to other towns more quickly during times of illness.

  Queen Eleanor was not blind to the great deeds being done by Lady Runa. She arranged the marriage between Runa and Aramor when Runa was 19 years old.

  Duke Noraedin: Brother of King Pasalphathe, and one of the most powerful wielders of magic within Chartile at the time. Noraedin was also a great alchemist. Some believe he poisoned his own parents to try at attain the throne. Noraedin was able to bring many elves (and humans) under his banner as the rightful king.

  King Florine: One of the last known Dwarvik male royals. Florine helped to establish a basic system of writing that could be used between the races, and a mutual form of justice when dealing with interracial crimes.

  King Jenemar: King Jenemar (of Elven decent) negotiated with Duke Noraedin for the meeting to call peace between their warring parties. If a settlement could not be made, it was then discussed to use the orenite circlet to kill Noraedin. King Jenemar, however, did vote against this, but the rest of the Kings of Chartile were in favor.

  King Kasmalin: The last known merfolk royal. Little is known about Kasmalin. Many believed he was far more intelligent than his other fellow kings, and had far greater magical abilities. However, he chose not to use his magic often, or in great capacities, and took a stance of neutrality most of the time. Kasmalin slowly faded away into history. There is no known record of his death, or where he went after the death or Noraedin.

  King Pasalphathe: The last king of the human race. When Noraedin fell, and order was brought to Chartile once more, Pasalphathe was eventually put into orenite cuffs and faded away into history.

  Tathias: An Elven soldier, manipulated by Noraedin to work in secret with the dwarves in order to infiltrate Mount Kelsii. Taraniz (under Noraedin’s control) had killed Tathias’s family. Tathias was manipulated to do Noraedin’s bidding in order to join his family in the afterlife.

  Brodrick Garrison: The son of a local vinter in Cannondole. Brodrick did not sit idly by and live off his parent’s coin. Brock was always extremely ambitious, even at a very young age. He did odd jobs for the merchants and business owners in Cannondole, including delivering medicines from the local apothecary, and caring for the horses and stable at The Glass Lantern.

  Atana: Second daughter of the owners of The Glass Lantern. Atana is much smarter than she appears to be. At first.

  Krista: Beck-and to the Lord of Cannondole.

  Sister Theodora: One of the Sisters of the Chantry of Canna. She particularly likes to garden.

  Sister Marta: One of the Sisters of the Chantry of Canna. She likes to read and write.

  Mattimore Roux: A first rate rogue. Mattimore earns his coin at various jobs, and just as quickly spends it away. He has traveled all over Chartile, and has been caught by the local soldiers of several towns for stealing or fighting. His most recent antics of attempting to walk onto the palace grounds rather drunk, with the intention of marrying Princess Taraniz, landed him in the palace dungeons.

  Duke Ewan of Rushing Reeds Province: A distant uncle to King Aramor.

  Lady Evanora, Runa’s Grandmother: Part of Piper/ Eva Ruani’s namesake. Evanora had an illegitimate relationship with one of her beck-and’s, and pawned the child off as her husband’s. Evanora’s husband died only a few years later, and the truth came to light with close family only.

  Leland, Captain of the Guard: Leland took command of the soldiers of the palace, and the movements of the elven armies when Taraniz (under the influence of Noraedin) killed the previous Captain. Leland was rather young for the position, but did well for himself, especially after Piper took the throne.

  -Other-

  Mr. Darrow: History unknown

  Beck-ands: Short for Beck-and-Calls, the name given to human slaves.

  Jessica Hill: Jayson Hill’s younger sister. Jessica graduated her school for the arts at the age of 16. She studied acting for several years, but eventually went back to school for a psychiatric degree.

  Stephanie Mitchel: Jack Mitchel’s younger sister.

  Ms. Pince: One of the librarians at the Swansdale Public Library. She dedicated her life to the library, and was constantly passed over for promotions for one reason or another.

  George Potts: Alias given to Dimitri by Brodric Garrision.

  Uncle Rob: Jack’s Uncle. Married to Kiera, Jack’s mother’s sister.

  Aunt Kiera: Jack’s Aunt. His mother’s sister.

  The Council of the Elders: A group of individuals, each representing a different Quarter of either Mount Kelsii or The Tutarian Mountains. Each person is elected by those residing in each Quarter.

  The Conclave of Nobles: Each region within the Elven territory of Chartile is represented by a Lord, Duke or Baron. These individuals convene and meet to advise the Royals on matters of State. Though they hold no real power, the King and Queen often defer to what the Conclave wishes to keep the peace.

  Chartilian Wheel of the Year

  The Chartilian year consists of ten months, most of which are named for past kings and ancient leaders. There are 21-23 days in each month, the longest months being in Winter.

  Chartile has a very wet Spring and a long Summer. The change from Autumn to Winter occurs rapidly, leading to high amounts of snow in the month of Rhidqar, followed by extreme cold and ice in the month of Murenvar.

  Excerpt from Chartile: Magic

  The first thing Charlie noticed was the smell. It was the smell of lush grass, sweet, and of course, his one allergy. He lay there, his eyes still shut, waiting for his body to erupt in a red hot itching rash. But it never came. He dared to open his eyes, wondering where his glasses had fallen to, and found himself in a large clearing in the middle of a dense forest.

  The second thing he noticed was that he was stark naked. How he hadn’t noticed before, he had no idea. Charlie quickly looked around the clearing. There was no one around. Covering himself to the best of his ability, he darted for a mass of bushes straight ahead. He found a leaf on the ground behind the bushes the size of a dinner plate. He wiped the dirt off, and used this to cover the front of himself.

  Now panic was beginning to set in. Was this some sick joke Malcolm’s friends were playing on him? He wondered if there were cameras somewhere. Maybe behind him at this very moment. Charlie found another dinner plate-sized leaf on the ground, and quickly covered his rear end. He had to get out of here, and fast. But where was he?

  Charlie looked at the trees and bushes around him. Some looked vaguely familiar, but most everything else was entirely foreign. Not a single maple tree anywhere, and Fulton County was notorious for its maple trees.

  “Okay, don’t panic,” Charlie said to himself. He reached up to push his glasses up his nose, and realized they weren’t there. How could he see without his glasses? He was practically legally blind without them. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest, Charlie was ready for it to burst out and begin flopping around on the ground in front of him.

  Charlie felt a warm, humid air across the back of his neck. The hair stood up, and he turned around very slowly. What he saw was not what he expected to see. Charlie stared into the bright golden eyes of a black panther. It grinned back at him, showing a level of intelligence that terrified Charlie even more than being this close to a wild animal.

  “If you were to run,” the panther whispered to him, “It would be all the more fun for me.”

  It took only a second for the reali
zation that an animal had just spoke to subside before Charlie bolted back out into the clearing. The panther threw back its head and gave a kind of laughing roar before taking off after Charlie.

  About the Author

  Cassandra Morgan was born in a small town in Ohio where she spent much of her preteen and teenage years running through the woods behind her house and playing role-playing games with her friends. She comes from a family of both writers and English majors from both her maternal and paternal sides. The Chartile (pronounced KAR-tyl) series came to be when Cassie was thirteen years old. It is loosely based on some of the games she and her friends would play.

  Cassie enjoys going to the movies and hopes to be a famous actress someday. Her favorite food is her grandmother’s sweet pickles, based off of a recipe from her great-great-grandmother. Her grandma recently passed the original recipe to her. Her favorite colors are emerald green and royal purple, and she loves all animals.