Journey to Queyon: The Innocence Cycle, Book 3

by J D Abbas

  Malak nickered and shoved at Celdorn’s back. As he turned to see what was upsetting the stallion, Silvandir spoke. “Malak says he can help. He can hear the boy’s thoughts clearly.”

  “What is he trying to tell us?” Celdorn asked.

  Waadar ran to Malak and stood in front of his muzzle, letting out soft grunts as his arms waved emphatically

  “The boy says when he collapsed on the other side of the mountain, it was because of the lady Elena,” Silvandir relayed. Celdorn straightened, fully alert now. “When she went into the space, she cried out for him.”

  “What? Why would she cry out for you?” Celdorn’s skin prickled at Waadar’s words though he wasn’t sure why.

  “She has lots of times before.” The boy stopped and his lips pulled into a trembling pout. The stallion nickered and nuzzled the boy’s head. Waadar laid his tiny hand on Malak’s cheek as if the connection gave him strength. “I think—”

  Silvandir fell to his knees, holding his chest, mouth agape.

  Celdorn glanced between Silvandir and the boy. “What? What does he think?”

  “Waadar thinks ...” Silvandir rubbed and cleared his throat as if the words were stuck there. “He thinks Elena was his mother.”

  Celdorn staggered as the world tilted off balance.

  The boy’s hands swung wildly, and Malak snorted.

  Silvandir wrapped his arms around himself and swallowed a sob. “Is. Waadar insists she’s not dead. That he can hear her still. She continues to call to him.”

  Celdorn dropped to his knees in front of Waadar and held his tiny face. “What is she telling you?”

  Waadar cringed and wouldn’t meet his eyes as tears wet his cheeks.

  Silvandir sucked in a breath before relaying the boy’s words. “That she loves me. That she is in a place filled with light, and we will be together someday.”

  The boy looked directly into Celdorn’s eyes.

  “And she’ll never stop looking for me.” Silvandir’s legs gave way, and he slid to the ground, barely able to repeat the words.

  Celdorn wiped the boy’s tears with his thumbs. “How do you know it’s Elena calling to you and not someone else?”

  Mishon stepped behind Waadar and patted his shoulders though Mishon kept his focus on Celdorn. “Can’t you tell?” He held out Waadar’s arms to Celdorn. “I shoulda noticed sooner. They’ve been different since he woke up.”

  Celdorn examined the boy’s hands. “I don’t see anything.”

  Mishon’s shoulders lifted to his ears, and he huffed. “No one ever sees what I do.” The boy turned to Elbrion with a hopeful expression, but he shook his head.

  Waadar stepped closer to Celdorn and put his tiny hand over Celdorn’s heart. The jolt that shook his body took him back to his first encounter with Elena in Alsimion—the first time she shifted into Gia. An ache gripped his chest that took his breath away. He pulled Waadar into a firm embrace. “I believe you,” he whispered. “I believe you.” The boy stiffened and wiggled free. Celdorn immediately scooted back with a stab in his heart. It was like dealing with Elena all over again, only in a much smaller person.

  Malak snorted and pawed the ground, and Silvandir relayed Waadar’s words. “We have to find her.”

  Celdorn turned to Elbrion, at a loss as to how to make the boy understand that Elena may well be alive, but not in this world.

  Elbrion squatted beside them and said, “We will, Waadar. We will never stop searching.” Celdorn stared at Elbrion dumbfounded. Was he placating the boy or did he really believe him? “For now, we have to get the wounded to the healers in Queyon, and we need to make sure the children have a safe place. We can start looking after that.”

  The boy glanced over his shoulder at Mishon, and then gave Elbrion a stiff nod.

  Celdorn rubbed his aching neck. “I think we need to do one more thing before we head off for Queyon.” He swallowed hard and tugged at his beard. “If you ... since you are Elena’s son and Elbrion and I are Elena’s fathers that makes us your grandfathers, your family.”

  Waadar’s eyes went wide and he froze, like a rabbit catching wind of a fox.

  Celdorn winced and cursed himself. “I don’t know what kind of family you’ve had, Waadar. If you’ve lived with your father or not. But I’m talking about a different kind of family, a safe family that won’t hurt you. Elena was scared at the thought of having a family too. But she learned. She let us adopt her, and she was going to marry Silvandir.” He tipped his head toward the young Guardian. “They were going to build a family together.”

  Silvandir gaped at Celdorn as if he had just gutted him. Silvandir’s pain blasted Celdorn as the young man rose, walked a few feet away, and turned his back to them.

  Celdorn sighed and held Waadar’s face again. “We will take care of you. We will be your family while”—was it wise to humor this boy’s dream?—“while we search for your mother.”

  Silvandir winced and heaved a breath. He turned around, focusing on Waadar, his face stern. “Come here.”

  Waadar backed up into Mishon, knees shaking.

  “It’s all right,” Mishon whispered in his ear. “He was nice to your mother, and she loved him a lot. He’s a good man.” Mishon gave Waadar a little shove. “Go on.”

  Waadar scuffed his feet in the grass as he inched toward Silvandir. He stopped a few feet short of the big man and stared at his boots. Silvandir looked like a storm cloud ready to burst, and Celdorn got to his feet, prepared to intervene if necessary.

  Silvandir cleared his throat and straightened. “I know what Elena would want me to do.” His throat convulsed a few times before he could continue. “In my heart, she was already my wife. So her son is my son.” Silvandir squatted down. “And I think one of the first things she would want me to do is give you a new name.” Drawing in a deep breath, he ran his hand across his face. “You mother’s name meant “little light.” I would like to name you Terzhel, which means “son of the light,” so that her name will always be a part of yours. Would that be all right with you?”

  Waadar’s hands moved, and he glanced at Malak before focusing on the ground. The Ilqazar moved closer and whuffled Waadar’s hair.

  Silvandir gave a weak laugh. “Your mother had a hard time accepting my love too. And yes, I’m sure. I would love to be your adamar. I must warn you, though, I’m new at this. I might need some help.” He gripped his jaw and chewed on his lip. “And ... my heart has a huge gaping hole in it right now.”

  The boy’s gaze slid upward. When their eyes met, he leaned forward and placed his petite hand on Silvandir’s cheek. Moving slowly and with a shaky breath, Silvandir covered Terzhel’s hand with his own.

  Silvandir stood and ruffled the boy’s blond curls. “What do you say we get these children to Queyon? Terzhel, Mishon, would you go see that they’re ready to move forward. Charaq can help too.” He flashed a weak smile at the leader from Greenholt and raised his brow.

  Charaq dipped his chin. “My pleasure, sir.”

  Mishon stood tall and gave a straight-armed salute to Silvandir. “Happy to do it, sir.” Then he turned to Celdorn. “With your leave of course, sir.” And put his fist to his heart.

  Celdorn suppressed a smile. “You’re dismissed. And Terzhel ...” The boy halfway met his eyes. “We’ll talk again. As soon as we’re settled.”

  The boy gave an attempt at a salute, which woke Mishon’s ire. “No, no, no. You never salute off to the side. That looks like you’re flapping a wing.” His voice faded as they moved through the company, followed by a chuckling Charaq.

  Celdorn cocked his head at Silvandir. “So you’re a father now.”

  Silvandir shrugged and shifted his weight, focused somewhere on the distant sunset. “It’s what she would have wanted. I just hope I have enough heart left to do it—and do it well.”

  Celdorn wrapped his arm around Silvandir’s shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll all have to help each other. She would have wanted that as well.”

&n
bsp; Elbrion stepped forward and embraced both men. “There are two hundred children she helped free that need our attention. Only together will that be accomplished.”

  Into the tiny circle of their embrace, Celdorn whispered, “Do you really think she’s alive somewhere or were you just trying to soothe Waad—Terzhel?”

  Elbrion paused and looked toward the gates of Queyon. “When the boy spoke, I felt the truth of his words. But reason says, it is not possible and she has passed on to Elondhur.”

  Celdorn nodded. “We can search, but I’m afraid it will be fruitless. Either way, we must carry on her work by protecting and providing for the children. As we’ve seen, there are emerging powers among them. The elders in Queyon should be able to help us with that.”

  ~

  The men broke their huddle and called for their steeds. As they mounted and led the entourage toward the gates of Queyon, Mikaelin pulled to the side and dropped to the rear of the procession to be closer to the children—finding some strange comfort in that. Almost like being with the smaller parts of Elena.

  When Terzhel had disclosed what he’d heard Elena saying to him, Mikaelin knew beyond all hope or reason that the boy’s words were true. On this side of the Pallanor pass, Mikaelin had heard her too.

  Elena was alive.

  Coming Spring 2017

  The Innocence Cycle, Book 4:

  Birth of Innocence

  By

  J D Abbas

  About the Author

  J D considers herself a modern day abolitionist in the fight against slavery and human trafficking. She has a particular concern for survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. One dollar from each book sale goes to help survivors in the greater Seattle area.

  In addition to writing and abolitionist work, J D loves to travel and has been to four continents and fifteen countries. But Kenya holds her heart.

  She and her husband live in a rural part of the Pacific Northwest. They have four children and five grandchildren living nearby, who fill their lives with great joy.

  Feel free to connect with J D via:

  WordPress blog

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  Because of her advocacy work with human trafficking, J D writes under a pseudonym, gives out minimal identifying information, and does not post pictures of herself. Thank you for respecting her privacy in that regard.

  Names & Pronunciation Guide

  Alsimion – Al-SIM-ee-on – magical forest in the central Shalamhar Valley, offshoot of the ancient forest of Yabwana

  Anakh – AH-nukh – female survivor of an ancient race that has turned evil

  Athebria – Uh-THEH-bree-uh – in prophecy, a leader who would stand against evil

  Bardulah – Bar-DO-luh - realm to the east of the Shalamhar

  Borham – BORE-ham – Castellan at Greenholt

  Borok – BORE-ahk – the trade tongue of the Shalamhar

  Braiden – BRAY-duhn – Celdorn’s healer-in-training. Youngest of Celdorn’s group. Rogaran

  Bria – BREE-uh – Celdorn’s older dog. Like a Great Dane. Black and white

  Celdorn – KELL-dorn – Lord Protector of the Shalamhar. Rogaran.

  Charaq – KHAR-ahk – Second in command at Greenholt

  Celebriana – Kuh-LEE-bree-ah-nuh. Second name given to Elena

  Dahmid – DAH-mid – Silvandir’s second in command at Kelach

  Dalgo – DAHL-go – Celdorn’s healer. Rogaran.

  Domar – DOE-mhar – Elena’s father

  Drahmil – DRAH-muhl – Guardian serving at Kelach

  Drendil – DREN-duhl – Elbrion’s Ilqazar

  Dussendor – DO-sen-door - Guardian stronghold in the western part of the Shalamhar

  Elbrion – L-bree-uhn – the prince of the Elrodanar people. An empath, who left his people to partner and travel with Celdorn

  Elena – L-EE-nuh – Giara’s new name, given by Celdorn. It means “little light.”

  Elnar – L-nahr - language of the Elrodanar

  Elondhur – L-ohn-dhur – the realm of fullest light, a final realm

  Elrodanar – L-RAH-duh-nar – the light-infused race of empaths that live in Queyon

  Farak – FAR-ahk – a race of mountain people in the western part of the Shalamhar. Cave dwellers

  Garan – GAR-uhn - language of the Rogaran

  Giara (Gia) – Ghee-R-uh (GHEE-uh) – Elena’s given name. It means “useful.” Wallanard

  Giyon – Ghee-YOHN – a Guardian at Kelach

  Greenholt – Guardian stronghold in the eastern part of the Shalamhar

  Guardians – the overseers and protectors of the Shalamhar, mostly of the Rogaran race

  Haldor – HALL-dur – Travels with Celdorn. Former priest. Close connection with the hidden realm

  Ilqazar – ILL-kah-zar – an ancient equine species that serves with the Guardians

  Kelach – KELL-ahk – southernmost Guardian stronghold

  Keymar – KEY-mahr – young Guardian from Dussendor

  Khazamir – KAH-zuh-meer – mythical winged horse

  Khradak – KRAH-dahk – language used by Anakh and her followers

  Kyola – KEYE-oh-luh – Celdorn’s former love

  Lanar – LAH-nar – language of the Wallanard people

  Lazhur – LAH-zer – Mikaelin’s Ilqazar

  Lillianna – lill-lee-AH-na – girl rescued from the Farak, Wallanard girl sold by Vargona

  Liora (liorai, pl) – Lee-OR-uh (Lee-OR-eye) – woodland spirits, part of the middle realm

  Malak – MAL-ack – Celdorn’s Ilqazar

  Malqor – MAL-kor – a Guardian at Kelach

  Marach – MAR-ahk – Northernmost Guardian stronghold

  Mikaelin – Mi-KAY-lin – Serves at Kelach

  Mikard – MI-kard – second in command in Dussendor

  Mishon – Me-SHON – Borham’s son, from Greenholt

  Morah – MORE-uh – derogative and misleading name for the Guardians

  Nandhur – NAHN-dur – the middle realm between Elondhur and Umbradhur

  Nasara – Nuh-SAR-uh – the renewal. When Yabwana was destroyed and Queyon created

  Neldon – NELL-dun – sister village to Rhamal

  Penumbra – Peh-NUHM-bruh – the realm south of the Shalamhar

  Qabara – Kuh-BAR-uh – the earth

  Qalam – KAHL-ahm – Guardian from Greenholt, second to Charaq

  Qarhelon – Kar-HEY-lun – the written laws of the Shalamhar

  Qho’el – KOH-el – personal name for the Source of all Light

  Queyon – Key-YOHN – realm of light in the northern Shalamhar

  Raka – RAH-kuh – language spoken by the Farak

  Raphar – RAH-far – language of the Alraphim, from which Elnar developed

  Rhamal – RAM-uhl – Elena’s home village in the Wallan Valley, southern part of the Shalamhar

  Rogaran – Row-GAR-un – Race of people in the northern part of the Shalamhar

  Sasha – SAH-shuh – Celdorn’s younger dog. Like a Great Dane. Bluish black

  Shalamhar – SHALL-la-mhar – the realm governed by the Guardians and Council of Elders

  Shatur – Sha-TOUR – Serves at Kelach. Rogaran. Develops ability to see through guises/glamours.

  Silvandir – SIL-van-dur – castellan of Kelach. Rogaran. Can read Ilqazar’s thoughts.

  Tobil – TOE-bull – Celdorn’s weapons’ master, a bard. Rogaran

  Toreno – Tor-EE-no – Wallanard priest that serves in Rhamal

  Umbradhur – UM-brah-dhur – the realm of deepest shadow, a final realm

  Vargona – Var-GO-nuh – Elena’s grandmother, of the same race as Anakh

  Waadar – WHAH-dar – One of the rescued children traveling to Queyon

  Wallanard – WALL-uh-nard – the people living in the Wallan Valley. Giara’s people

  Wharndon – WARN-duhn – Guardian strong
hold in the northeastern part of the Shalamhar Valley

  Windham – WIN-duhm - Silvandir’s Ilqazar

  Yabwana – Yuh-BWA-nuh – ancient land filled with light, destroyed by the first Nasara

  Yaelmargon – YEL-mar-gon

  Yolena – Yo-LEE-nuh – one of the liorai

  Zhalor – ZHAH-lore – prince of the Ilqazar

  Foreign Words

  *in Elrodanar, unless noted otherwise

  Ada (adai, pl) – daddy, informal form of Adamar

  Adamar, Adamari (pl) – father

  Alianthar – healing ointment

  Barah – ability to sense emotion and connect with the Jhadhela

  Barqhel, Barqhelon (pl) – brother(s) of the light

  Briella, Briellai (pl) – angels, bearers of light (brion – bear, el – light)

  Briochella, Briochellai – Elrodanar women, descendants of the Briellai

  Chiamad – Elrodanar brewers

  Diagmatz – presentation day, the naming ceremony for a child

  Doqajh, Doqajhi (pl) – little temple, a smaller, simplified version of the Qajh in Queyon

  Gille d’Zhajh, Gille d’Zhajhi (pl) – pleasure girl/giver

  Jhadhela – the power of the light, literal translation: straight toward the light

  Nasara – renewal, referring to a time when volcanoes and floods destroyed the world, due to evil

  Qabara – the planet, the earth they live on

  Qadhar – the council of elders in Queyon

  Qajh Dhorhelon – the original temple of Augmented Light in Queyon, appeared after Nasara

  Qarhelon – the law of light

  Qho’el – personal name of the Source of all Light - Jha Qhon - the source; Elon- of light, their deity

  Rahim (m), Rahima (f) (Raphar) – shifters, first race of Guardians

  Rakshad (Khradak) – stay

  Rhulmhon, Rhulmha – like godparents

  Sheya – precious

  Sheyshon – precious one

  Silothani – peace