by JC Kang
“Young Master Yan,” Thielas addressed the man, tentatively climbing to his feet. “Feiying was nowhere to be found. I assume he was killed by the altivorcs, who fell upon them unawares. Meiyun… she bid me to save her baby, to bring the girl here to be put under your protection…”
The man’s face contorted, eyes narrow and jaw tight. “Her blood is on your hands. My daughter was born to rule our sect. Feiying was to be her husband. They cared for one another until you came along. I rue the day she met you. You never loved her; you just wanted to fulfill your outrageous prophecy. How did it go? A half-human girl of Aralas’ Blood? Who believes such fairy tales? And now…”
The elf flinched, the ranting accusations hitting him like physical blows. Still, his heart hurt even more. “I did love her. It was never about the prophecy. I am sorry.”
“You are sorry? Get out of my sight.”
“Just give me a few moments to regain my energy and I will leave you forever.”
“You will leave her forever, too.” Young Master Yan motioned toward the babe in Thielas’ arms. “She is my granddaughter, and the heir to the Black-Fist Sect now that Meiyun is dead. I will raise her as my own, and she will be protected here, for nobody—not even the King of the Altivorcs himself—will find our Temple unless we allow it.”
Thielas bowed his head, contrite. In that moment, he met the girl’s curious gaze. She had brown eyes, large as an elf’s, and even more almond-shaped from her Cathayi heritage.
His daughter.
For a few seconds, he considered keeping her, escaping through the ethers back to his homeland. Would he even survive a third Shallow Magic teleportation in such a short time? Maybe. However, the Young Master Yan was right. She would be better cared for here. The elves back home would always look down on the half-human, even if she were of his royal blood. And certainly, the altivorcs would look for her there. He extended his arms, his daughter in his hands. She was screaming again, even as a young woman stepped forward to receive her.
His daughter. A half-human girl of Aralas’ Blood. Destined to slay the Altivorc King.
Thielas withdrew the Arrow. “Whether or not you recognize me as her father, whether or not you believe in the prophecy, this is her birthright. I beg you to give it to her one day, when she is ready to receive it.”
With one last longing look at his daughter, he sang a half-minute lullaby in the musical language of Deep Magic. Her crying ceased, and her gently pointed ears perked up at the sound of his glorious voice. With the last syllable, he disappeared.
Jie’s adventures, past and present, continue with more stories in 2017
Appendix
Celestial Bodies
White Moon: Known as Renyue in Cathay, and represents the God of the Seas. Its orbital period is thirty days.
Iridescent Moon: Known in Cathay as Caiyue, it is the manifestation the God of Magic. It appeared at the end of the war between elves and orcs. It never moves from its spot in the sky. Its orbital period is one day, and can be used to keep time.
Blue Moon: Known in Cathay as Guanyin's Eye, it is the manifestation of the Goddess of Fertility. It sits low on the horizon. Its phases go from wide open to winking.
Tivar's Star: A red star, a manifestation of the God of Conquest. During the Year of the Second Sun, it approached the world, causing the Blue Moon to go dim.
Time
As measured by the phases of the iridescent moon:
Full = Midnight
1st Waning Gibbous = 1:00 AM
2nd Waning Gibbous =2:00 AM
Mid-Waning Gibbous = 3:00 AM
4th Waning Gibbous = 4:00 AM
5th Waning Gibbous = 5:00 AM
Waning Half = 6:00 AM
1st Waning Crescent = 7:00 AM
2nd Waning Crescent = 8:00 AM
Mid-Waning Crescent = 9:00 AM
4th Waning Crescent = 10:00 AM
5th Waning Crescent = 11: 00 AM
New = Noon
1st Waxing Crescent = 1:00 PM
2nd Waxing Crescent = 2:00 PM
Mid-Waxing Crescent = 3:00 PM
4th Waxing Crescent = 4:00 PM
5th Waxing Crescent = 5:00 PM
Waxing Half = 6:00 PM
1st Waxing Gibbous = 7:00 PM
2nd Waxing Gibbous =8:00 PM
Mid-Waxing Gibbous = 9:00 PM
4th Waxing Gibbous = 10:00 PM
5th Waxing Gibbous = 11:00 PM
Provinces of Cathay
Province
Ruling
Family
Resources
Dongmen
Zheng
Grain, stone, guns
Fenggu
Han
Timber, rice, grain
Huayuan
Wang
Livestock, rice, wheat, lumber, firepowder, guns
Jiangzhou
Liu
Timber, wheat, silk
Linshan
Lin
Wheat, millet, timber, porcelain
Nanling
Peng
Livestock, steel, stone, gems, crossbows
Ximen
Zhao
Fishing, rice
Yutou
Liang
Fishing, rice, iron, copper, fish paste
Zhenjing
Wu
Ships, rice, fish
Human Ethnicities
Aksumi: Dark-skinned with dark eyes and coarse hair. On Earth, they would be considered North Africans. They can use Sorcery.
Ayuri: Bronze-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. On Earth, they would be considered South Asians. They can use Martial Magic.
Arkothi: Olive-skinned with blond to dark hair and light-colored eyes. On Earth, they would be considered Eastern Mediterraneans. They can use weak Mental Magic.
Bovyan: The descendants of the Sun God's begotten son, they are cursed to be all male and live only to thirty-three years of age. They are much taller and larger than the average human. Their other physical characteristics are determined by their mother's race. They have no magical ability.
Cathayi (Hua): Honey-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. High-set cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. On Earth, they would be considered East Asians. They can use Artistic Magic.
Eldaeri: Olive-skinned with brown hair. Fine features and small frames, they are shorter in stature than the average human. In a previous age, they fled the orc domination of the continent and mingled with elves. They have no magical ability.
Estomari: Olive-skinned with varying eye and hair color. They are famous for their fine arts. On Earth, they would be considered Western Mediterraneans. They can use Divining Magic.
Kanin: Ruddy-skinned with dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Native Americans. They can use Shamanic Magic.
Levanthi: Dark-bronze skin and dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Persians. They can use Divine Magic.
Nothori: Fair-skinned and fair-haired. On Earth, they would be considered Northern Europeans. They can use Empathic Magic.
Acknowledgments
First, I would like to thank my wife and family for the patience they have afforded me as I pursued my childhood dream of fiction writing.
A shout-out goes to my old Dungeons and Dragons crew: Jon, Chris, Chris, Paul, Conrad, and Julian, for helping to shape the first iteration of Tivara twenty-five years ago. Huge thanks to Brent, who contributed so much backstory to the new literary version.
A huge thanks to my sister Laura for her spectacular job with the maps.
Thanks to the readers and writers on Wattpad for their encouragement and feedback.
Thanks to Hannah West for beta reading.
And finally, to writers over at critiquecircle.com who motivated and helped me along the way. Jason, for patiently providing countless ideas. Victoria, for showing me how to layer scenes. Leanne for story development and amazing suggestions. Ernie, for teaching me the fundamentals of fiction writing. Lindy and Kathryn for your sharp eyes. Rick a
nd Traci for the numerous suggestions, and all the others who critiqued.
Table of Contents
Who’s Who in Mandate of Heaven
Prologue:
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
Chapter 6:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 9:
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
Chapter 12:
Chapter 13:
Chapter 14:
Chapter 15:
Chapter 16:
Chapter 17:
Chapter 18:
Chapter 19:
Chapter 20:
Chapter 21:
Chapter 22:
Chapter 23:
Chapter 24:
Chapter 25:
Chapter 26:
Chapter 27:
Chapter 28:
Chapter 29:
Chapter 30:
Chapter 31:
Chapter 32:
Chapter 33:
Chapter 34:
Chapter 35:
Chapter 36:
Chapter 37:
Chapter 38:
Chapter 39:
Chapter 40:
Chapter 41:
Chapter 42:
Chapter 43:
Chapter 44:
Chapter 45:
Chapter 46:
Chapter 47:
Epilogue:
Birthright:
Appendix
Celestial Bodies
Time
Provinces of Cathay
Human Ethnicities
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
Who’s Who in Mandate of Heaven
Prologue:
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
Chapter 6:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 9:
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
Chapter 12:
Chapter 13:
Chapter 14:
Chapter 15:
Chapter 16:
Chapter 17:
Chapter 18:
Chapter 19:
Chapter 20:
Chapter 21:
Chapter 22:
Chapter 23:
Chapter 24:
Chapter 25:
Chapter 26:
Chapter 27:
Chapter 28:
Chapter 29:
Chapter 30:
Chapter 31:
Chapter 32:
Chapter 33:
Chapter 34:
Chapter 35:
Chapter 36:
Chapter 37:
Chapter 38:
Chapter 39:
Chapter 40:
Chapter 41:
Chapter 42:
Chapter 43:
Chapter 44:
Chapter 45:
Chapter 46:
Chapter 47:
Epilogue:
Birthright:
Appendix
Celestial Bodies
Time
Provinces of Cathay
Human Ethnicities
Acknowledgments