A Question of Power (The Fire Chronicles Book 2)
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A Question of Power
A Question of Power
Book#2-The Fire Chronicles
Susi Wright
Copyright © 2016 Susi Wright
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 9781523603480
ISBN-10: 1523603488
Dedication
With Thanks
First, to the Fashioner of the universe, for allowing me all the wonderful things in my life including the time to write, and fulfil a lifelong ambition. To my family and friends for their unconditional love, support, computer expertise and taking the time to read and review this book. To my life’s experiences which have shaped my imagination, and given me the passion to want to share it. To my readers who have chosen to experience this world, I hope you enjoy yet another journey!
Table of Contents
Preface
Prologue
Chapter 1 The Outset
Chapter 2 To Siva City
Chapter 3 Tall Tales and New Friends
Chapter 4 Nature is What it Is
Chapter 5 Farewells
Chapter 6 The Shift
Chapter 7 The Isle of Angels
Chapter 8 Serafina
Chapter 9 Luck or Design
Chapter 10 Strange Encounter
Chapter 11 A Decision
Chapter 12 Money Talks
Chapter 13 The Morvian
Chapter 14 Those Eyes
Chapter 15 A Wider Vision
Chapter 16 The Voyage Begins
Chapter 17 New Wisdom
Chapter 18 Angels and Angry Men
Chapter 19 The Storm
Chapter 20 Xian
Chapter 21 Lost
Chapter 22 Destruction
Chapter 23 Duty Calls
Chapter 24 Cruel Fate
Chapter 25 Separation
Chapter 26 The Theft
Chapter 27 Reluctant Bride
Chapter 28 The March
Chapter 29 Ruins and Resistance
Chapter 30 Loves Lack
Chapter 31 Answered Prayers
Chapter 32 Bad Dream
Chapter 33 New Mission
Chapter 34 Winged Creatures
Chapter 35 Possibilities
Chapter 36 Search and Rescue
Chapter 37 Battledance
Chapter 38 Healing
Chapter 39 Freedom
Chapter 40 New Brothers
Chapter 41 Promise
Chapter 42 True Power
Chapter 43 Arrival
Chapter 44 The Hunt
Chapter 45 Strange Times, New Beginnings
Chapter 46 Reconciliation
Chapter 47 Celebration
Chapter 48 The Telling
Chapter 49 Questions
Chapter 50 Equilibrium
Chapter 51 Torment
Chapter 52 Demon
Chapter 53 New Horizons
Chapter 54 Homecoming
Chapter 55 Loss and Gain
Chapter 56 Tribute and Truths
Epilogue
Preface
For those of you who have only recently come to hear of the Alliance and are inclined to know more, it is only fitting that you be offered a short history of the Gaian people and the Telling of how Luminor became the Lord of Fire.
Everything began for All-Living in the Known World, and outside of it, eons ago. Nature ran her course, too many battles were won and lost, generations of many races lived and died. Civilisations rose and fell, but now and into the future, all were meant for a common destiny. The Gaian people with their affinity for Nature, knew about this predetermination from an ancient prophecy which they had waited centuries to fulfill.
Countless wars, hate and prejudice had caused a scattering of their race to the far corners of the Known World; this alienation, for most of the clans, brought about the loss of tradition, no place to call home and finally they lost hope. They took to living secretive, nomadic lives in the wild lands of whichever country they found themselves and after many hundreds of years, humans forgot they had ever existed. The human population had generally never known of the unique Gaian talents with the elements, Earth, Air, Water or of the Lord of Fire, who alone controlled that element.
Lord Thunis, the Supreme Lord at the time of the beginning of these chronicles, considered this separation necessary and chose, for what remained of his small clan, to wander a large expanse of very sparsely populated land in the northern region of Baram, where he maintained a strict code of secrecy, guarding his people against future persecution and other dangers, posed by the largely ignorant human population.
He and his wife Aleana had been lucky enough to have two sons, Luminor and Altor, when most Gaian women in recent times were proving to be barren and the number of their race was dwindling at an increasing rate. In this respect, the situation was becoming desperate for their survival; at the same time there was a mystical shift in the fabric of Existence, sensed keenly by Thunis, that pointed to the advent of the Dire Circumstance mentioned in the prophecy, when the Lord of Fire and his people would come out of hiding and deliver All-Living from a terrible threat.
Thunis advanced age and his deteriorating health precluded him from attempting the task himself, so he chose, as was his prerogative, to pass over to the Eternal Realm; this allowed his eldest son to inherit the title and the Supreme Power, to seek the Alliance with the human population that would save them all, whilst securing a future for the Gaian race and hopefully their magic too.
Thus, Lord Luminor became Lord of Fire, proving himself worthy by taking on the quest to kill the Flame Adder, returning victorious, overcoming betrayal and playing his part in forging the long-awaited Alliance; finally reunited with his human soulmate, Fralii, after a tumultuous separation, he continued with her at his side.
After being given a hero’s welcome with his warriors when they returned from the quest, Luminor was offered a position on the Council of Baram, a home in the Capital and the country threw its arms open to the entire Gaian clan under the new treaty. And that was just the beginning!
Prologue
The plaintive hoot of a forest owlet broke the still darkness of the woodland glade, the only sound in an otherwise eerie silence. It was as if the surrounding forest and all its nocturnal inhabitants had suspended their activities, had been hiding quietly, holding tense and motionless, listening for something, perhaps a rustle of a leaf or the snap of a twig, a breath. . .but hearing nothing. It was ominously quiet, unnaturally so, and it should have served as a warning, if anyone had been awake to notice. . .
The remnant curl of smoke from the stone chimney, snaking lazily up into the night sky was the only movement through the heavy mist that hovered like a protective blanket over the thatch and down to the ground. Nestled in the foggy clearing, the small log cabin was in darkness. This deep into the night, the hearth inside contained only embers now. This deep asleep beside it, the small family of three were oblivious, and completely vulnerable to the present danger that stalked them in this remote forest.
With lethal stealth, born of years of practice, movement silent as a cat, the hooded figure slipped from behind one tree to another, circling the cabin, advancing slowly, stopping only briefly at the hoot of the owl. Then again, the dark shape moved like a wraith across the clearing towards it’s goal. Followed by another. . .and another, just as ghost-like, just as deadly, two more cloaked figures, daggers glinting in the muted moonlight, converged from the circle of trees, surrounding the cabin. The owl hooted a second time. Still nothing else moved.
Silent fingers lifted the wood-hatch, the dark figure slipping lithely inside, not even the sound of
breathing giving the intruder away, though the man fast asleep on his pallet next to the hearth was snoring peacefully. In seconds the door-bar was lifted just as quietly, allowing entry to the others. Once inside, two of them quickly dispatched the man and his wife in deadly silence, slitting their throats before they even stirred. It seemed as if the couple continued sleeping, mercifully unaware, cradled in pools of their own blood. They still lay on the pallets where they had slept safely every night for the last fifteen years, in the isolated cabin they had built to find a peaceful life away from the horrors of war or anyone who might cause them harm. It had been safe... . .up until this night. They had been happy together for the last decade but longed for a family. All those years they had tried unsuccessfully to have a child, until six months ago when they had finally been blessed with a babe. Unfortunately, deep in slumber, the Ancient arts long forgotten and secure in their remote cabin, they had not sensed the danger, no glimpse of evil intent. It was just as well. They would not want to know what was about to happen to their child.
The first black figure approached the cot and picked up the baby which began to whimper, sensing danger. Although the intruder no longer needed to employ stealth, he peered furtively into the infant’s open eyes, exclaiming in an awed whisper, “By the Ancestors. . . it’s uncanny beautiful. Look at its eyes! I’ve never seen the like!” Confident that they had indeed stumbled upon a rare treasure, he grinned at the other two. Callously flipping aside the swaddling blanket, the intruder lifted the baby’s nightgown, fingers fumbling inside the napkin. He grinned wider. “And a girl in the bargain!” The other two muttered and whistled in agreement as they clustered around in fascination to study the prize.
Of course these three were not mere ghosts but very real and ruthless raiders who had been passing through, opportunistic mercenaries, willing to trade in anything of value. They found not much else in the cottage when they ransacked it after murdering the man and his wife, except a paltry few Chuli gems and some food. They had been watching the family since the previous day and noticing their simple lifestyle, they had not expected particularly rich pickings, though food was always useful. But the child, though much younger than they preferred, would be a rare beauty when grown, extremely valuable to sell later as a slave. It would be worth taking her back to the hideout and even kidnapping a woman with a baby, from a village not too far away, as wet-nurse. They would not have to raise the child. They had agreed with great relish the woman could be used for many purposes other than caring for the babies and cooking and all three could be sold later. It was a winning plan.
One of the men went to fetch the samblars which they had hidden some distance away in the forest. The second gathered up the food supplies and the six Chuli gems, the small family’s life-savings, though nothing had saved them this terrible night! The one holding the baby clumsily wrapped the now squalling, frightened and hungry infant tightly in the blanket, jamming her feet-first into a leather bag which he slung across his back ready for the long ride to their temporary camp, deep in the forest.
CHAPTER 1
The Outset
(Sixteen years later- year 860)
The flickering of the campfire light was always a welcome and soothing mantra at the end of a long day’s travel, especially by air-cloak on a sometimes chilly early spring breeze. The small group of warriors had partaken of a simple meal of yams, always plentiful and easily dug from the surrounding forest as they collected tinder for the fire in the fading light of day. They sat companionably silent as was their habit for long periods. Contemplation was a large part of their code as Gaian warriors, its practice necessary to attain mental focus for combat and all the higher powers. They passed the meal-time in friendly banter, still buzzing with the excitement of this, the first day of their quest, before their tutor had reminded them to spend some time in silence. There had not been much to justify a traditional Telling as the day’s flight had been accomplished without incident but they all knew, even without the higher powers of Perception, that this could not be expected to continue. The quest would be long and arduous, once they left the borders of Baram and traversed unfamiliar lands.
Xandor, much taller and more powerfully built than many others of his race, had the characteristic bright blonde hair which seemed to constantly carry it’s own sunlight. He was seated on a log in the centre of the group; his mercurial eyes, a strange mix of silver and topaz, glinted intensely in the firelight, as he coaxed his mind into into a reflective state. He was the appointed leader, though at eighteen years of age, extremely young for the task. Be that as it may, he had sufficient measure of zeal and loyalty to the Alliance to make up for his lack of experience.
After a foolish drunken misdemeanour in the Capital – landing him and several of his friends in irons and placing Gaian reputation in question, during the shaky early days of the Alliance – he had been eager to earn redemption and regain the respect of his lord. Although the mission was sparked by the reprimand from Lord Luminor as a result of the arrests, it had already been his idea to ask for permission to embark on such a quest, ever since his family had joined the clan and become enamoured with the ideals of the Alliance. There were so many displaced and persecuted Gaians driven to a nomadic and clandestine existence, their dwindling numbers sparsely spread throughout the Known World. They sorely needed protection, security and a place to belong. Recognition. Acceptance. They needed to know about the Alliance. It was his pure intention to bring them that knowledge.
Gathered around in the meditative circle were three of his comrades who had suffered his leadership into the mischief in the Capital, and therefore were duty-bound to follow him also to redemption, and Churian, an elder whom Lord Luminor had appointed as their mentor and guide. Churian was an expert in the power of Perception, an early mentor and close friend of Luminor himself. His presence was a measure of protection for the four younger warriors, none of whom had done very well so far in that particular art. However, they were all proud to have achieved a high level of combat skill. For the young ones, this was only in the rigorous practice yard, but each was proficient in some kind of elemental control, so they had all been able to assist Lord Luminor in his recent quest to destroy the Flame Adder. Xandor had lost his own father and they had all lost friends on Mt Tarn, but it had been a worthy sacrifice. That had been the quest of a lifetime and they all enjoyed repeated Tellings of that tale. It had earned them fame and glory, a place to call home and an Alliance that secured the future of their people.
This mission was a continuation of those ideals, primarily to gather alienated Gaian clans and willing individuals out of hiding, and bring them under the protective wing of the Alliance. Xandor had been given additional permission, during his travels, to search for a bride. They had been betrothed as babies, when his family had lived in Siva, and a travelling clan had visited them. His father’s dearest wish had been to find that woman when he was ready to settle down. A woman he knew nothing about except her name. Saria.
The friends were all aware that this mission could take years, but they were absolutely devoted to the cause, had the unbounded energy that comes from idealism and were assured by the sentient Churian that they would be sorely tested and all would face death. All was not clear to him, perhaps one of them might not return to Baram, but they would ultimately succeed. Gaian premonition was never event-specific but this assurance from a highly respected elder such as Churian was more than sufficient to keep morale high.
It was the reason Luminor had chosen him to keep the group cohesively focused. For the duration of the quest, he was appointed to the task of protecting the four young warriors with his honed awareness, and continuing their training in the difficult art of Perception. They might at least have a chance to improve their level of skill which at present was below mediocre.
A reasonable degree of proficiency was always an advantage. The lack of foresight had gotten them into serious trouble in the Capital and a repeat of that embarrassment was to
be avoided at all cost. Daily periods of meditation would encourage the development of the first level, Receptivity, where the student should become sensitive to negative and positive energy in particular situations and be able to pick up those energies in the emotion of others. The surplus physical energy of youth and reluctance to still their minds for the required lengths of time, even with a tutor, had so far been a major obstacle for these four friends. The study of the art was a lifelong commitment with no guarantee of high-level achievement, but it was the obligation of a warrior to make the effort.
In his capacity as elder and mentor, Churian hoped this time of contemplation around the campfire would induce some necessary stillness. He brought their youthful banter to an abrupt end with a sharp mental reminder to silence to stimulate their higher senses. A high level of Receptivity was not required, at that moment, to feel the fierce sting of his authority in the matter. They would however, by their own sense of duty, remain silent until it was time to sleep and not exchange words until the following day.
Watched over diligently for the next few hours with Churian’s aura of encouragement while he also kept alert for danger, each of the four younger warriors tried in earnest to attain glimmers of enlightenment. Eventually, one by one succumbed to fatigue, leaving the fire to find rest under their feather cloaks.
CHAPTER 2
To Siva City
Dawn broke over the last familiar plains of Southern Baram. The warm orange of the rising sun washed the vast sandy landscape, like a slow tide, under a clear spring sky streaked with rosy-pink cirrus. The previous night had been still and slightly warmer as the Gaians had travelled by air further south from the Capital. Each of their clan, traditionally given a cloak woven from waterbird feathers at the age of ten years, was able to utilise the breeze, to fly. On a long journey there was some kind of euphoric peace in flying, especially with lofty purpose such as their quest. The mood of the whole group was buoyant. They had been airborne for an more than an hour, passing flocks of plains-finches making their early morning forays for insects. The hundreds of small red and orange birds wheeled and dived as one; the entire flock at first silhouetted darkly like a thundercloud against the pale sky, then seemed to light up, their plumage catching the early rays as they turned, swooping down on swarms of tiny midges that buzzed across the sand below.