Recreance (The Aeternum Chronicles Book 1)
Page 31
She nodded, deciding not to give voice to the lie. In truth, Khalil should have been the only one to die that day…though the girl was expendable. Besamael’s demise had come as a surprise…a riddle she had yet to unravel.
There was a flash of suspicion in his eyes, and he continued, “It is of great concern to our master, that one so young has kindled. You know well his stance on suppressing those with the ability.”
It was true, the Patriarch would not allow any who could gather to roam free without his permission, hence the ascension ceremonies. Only those able to evade ascension and serve him, while also avoiding his assassins, were allowed the chance to prove themselves and gain their freedom…or some bridled version of it. The fact that Oren and Clementine had kindled before their twentieth year—over one-hundred years early—was concerning; but even more than that, she found it curious.
“I understand you spent time with him, before the attack. Were you able to learn anything?”
“Our time was limited, and I was unable to study him in depth without raising Khalil’s suspicion. I believe the kindling may have resulted from a traumatic event in the boy’s life…namely, the death of his parents.”
Marconas nodded. “Anything else?”
“No,” she shook her head, “other than the fact that it was too early to gauge his true capacity.”
“Well that is wholly unhelpful,” he muttered, looking away and placing a hand to his chin. “Somehow, he and the girl were able to defeat an ancient and powerful Shaoh Mah. It may have been a fluke…perhaps Besamael’s luck had run out, or perhaps not. They must not be underestimated.”
Medeia nodded.
“We tracked them to an archway in the outer core. Records indicate it led to Eros, before it was destroyed from the other side.”
“It does…did,” she affirmed. “Tell me, Variant, are you familiar with Eros?”
He looked at her flatly, then sighed and answered, “Yes, I have spent some time on that broken excuse for a world.”
“Then you are familiar with the adage?”
He stared at her impatiently, not speaking.
Medeia took on a lecturing tone, “Nothing survives the nights of Eros.” She paused, letting it sink in. “By the time they reached the gate, the sun had nearly set.”
Marconas remained skeptical. “It changes nothing. He was your responsibility, and you failed to contain him.”
She resisted the urge to remind him it was his men who allowed them to escape.
“This is your mess, Medeia,” he lectured, “I have been tasked with ensuring that you clean it up.”
She frowned. “Absolutely not. I don’t need a chaperone, Marconas. I work alone.”
“You don’t have a choice, unless of course you’d like to take it up with the Lord Patriarch?”
Boil it, she cursed to herself. She must have let slip her mask of serenity, judging by Marconas’ self-satisfied smile.
“Come now, am I such poor company?” he asked sarcastically, spreading his arms.
She didn’t trust herself to answer.
Eventually, he continued, “Don’t fret, little robin, I’ll not interfere…unless it becomes evident that you are unfit for the task. You won’t even know I’m there.” He grinned.
This was not how she had anticipated this conversation going, but it was the hand she had been dealt. She would find a way to make it work in her favor.
She clenched her jaw and gave a slight nod.
“It is expected that you begin your search immediately. Keep in mind, the Patriarch will require evidence of the boy’s death.” He turned to leave, then paused at the doorway, and spoke over his shoulder, “Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Should you display even the slightest hesitation, you have been promised to me, to do with as I please.” His mirthless grin sent a shiver down her spine, and he walked out of the room.
Medeia gripped the arms of her chair with white-knuckled frustration. Would the Lord Patriarch really have sent Marconas to supervise her? After she had betrayed everything she once loved in order to serve? It was possible Marconas was lying; that he was misrepresenting his instructions in order to maintain dominance over her. They both knew she was in no position to call him on it…not while Oren still lived.
She would have to tread carefully. When it came down to it, she didn’t know if she could do it. It was one thing to leave him to his fate, it was something else entirely to be the one to take Oren’s life. One thing was for sure, if she was unable to do it, she would sooner die than become Marconas’ slave. A life of unending servitude to one as twisted as him filled her with a dread eclipsed only by that of the Great Dark.
Medeia took several deep breaths, calming her nerves and steadying her hands. She stood and grasped the omni-stone in her pocket. Gathering and directing her kai into it, she held the image of a four winged serpent in her mind. The air before her rippled in concentric circles, and eventually revealed the vast beaches of Eros. She took one last look toward the room’s exit, and stepped through the portal.
VIGILANCE
Book Two of the Aeternum Chronicles
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Glossary
The Aeternum Wars The centuries of conflict that resulted from the discovery of everlasting life, bringing humanity to the brink of extinction.
Agaza Lizard A large spiked lizard indigenous to the Miralaja desert, nearly invisible to the naked eye, but an abundant food source for desert peoples.
Arak A weapon wielded by the Hasai, used to brand their victims with the Hasai Amon.
Arbaterix (Arbex) An enormous four-winged predator that hunts from the skies of the Miralaja. It is covered in black iridescent feathers, has a razor sharp beak, and a snake-like tail used to hypnotize and distract.
Archways Ancient stone structures once used to travel between worlds (see waygates).
Ascension The mandatory ceremony performed by the Ministry for citizens reaching one-hundred fifty years of age.
Blue Mucca A small lizard (sixteen to twenty-five inches) native to the red desert within the Miralaja. Their venom has been used by the Sahra’ for centuries as both a medicine and spiritual catalyst.
Breaker (Desiccant) A dark agent of the Ministry with the ability to manipulate gravity.
Bùxiû tree A rare tree found in the Miralaja. Its wood contains special properties, making it both strong and flexible.
Chitin A massive centipede-like creature found in the tall grasslands of Eurig’s Veld.
Clayfowl (desert chicken) A small flightless fowl that roosts in the craggy buttes of the Miralaja.
C-SEC Civilian Security forces, comprised primarily of City Wards.
Desiccant See Breaker
Desiccation The act of destroying a person or property through the manipulation of gravity.
Disc Inversion A complete rotation of one of the eighteen ferromagnetic discs keeping New Arcadia off the desert floor.
Eros An ancient world wracked by natural disasters.
Ferromagnetic Polarity Discharger A massive device comprised of a two mile diameter black iron disc and rotating mechanical arms that distribute electricity to it. Eighteen of these exert downward force on the ground, keeping the entirety of New Arcadia hovering fifteen feet above the desert floor.
Gathering The act of drawing on kai energy, and expending it to exert your will on the natural forces of the universe.
Global Ascension A long feared Ko’jin rumor depicting an apocalyptic Ministry plot to subjugate all life on the planet.
Hasai Low level assassins in service to the Ministry with the ability to manipulate time in short bursts. Usually only ever seen outside New A
rcadia.
Hasai Amon The name of the symbol branded onto the skin by the Arak. It saps its victim’s strength over a long period of time, and eventually exerts the energy, destroying the victim and anything around them.
Hover-trans An electromagnetic levitating transport vehicle, available only to Ministry officials, and constrained to New Arcadia’s levi-tracks.
Illyria The land containing New Arcadia and its people. Wracked by centuries of war, much of it has been reclaimed by the wild.
Levi-tracks Flat tracks embedded into the streets of New Arcadia.
Kai The universal energy that pervades all things physical and metaphysical.
Kai-lock a fist sized indentation surrounded by elaborate symbols.
Keraba roots Purple tubers found buried in the stone and dirt of the Miralaja desert.
Kill Car An autonomous, armed vehicle used by the Ministry to patrol the levi-tracks and destroy any unauthorized vehicles.
Kindle A metamorphosis that unveils the kai and its true nature. It happens at different times for different people, but always after the age of Ascension (One-hundred fifty years of age).
Ko’jin An ancient order of warriors, sworn to protect the innocent from subjugation.
Masada A secret Ko’jin town far to the northwest of New Arcadia. It is refuge to Recreants, and any others hoping to avoid the Ministry’s persecution.
Miralaja A vast desert stretching to the west of New Arcadia. Filled with deadly plants and creatures, it quickly kills any unprepared travelers.
New Arcadia The massive colony containing the bulk of humanity.
The Oath of Sacrifice The oath required to become a Ko’jin warrior. It empowers the oath taker with heightened senses, and the silent council of the Ko’jin warriors whom have lived and died in centuries past.
Pilgrims Beings who spent their entire lives moving from one universe to the next, observing, experiencing, and learning of other worlds. Some say they abandoned their home long ago in an attempt to chart the entirety of existence.
Pillars of Ascension The two tallest structures in New Arcadia, built by the Ministry to facilitate the Ascension of dusk-aged citizens.
Recreant A slanderous label given by the Ministry to citizens who attempt to avoid Ascension. The Ko’jin have repurposed this word to be one of honor.
Reverse Polarity Lodestones Massive stones buried beneath New Arcadia that work in conjunction with ferromagnetic polarity dischargers.
Sahra’ An ancient desert people of whom very little is known.
Shattered Peak Mountains A massive mountain range stretching north to south, west of the Miralaja and Wyrewood.
Strangleweed A desert plant that hides beneath the sand until it senses movement above, at which point strong blades of long grass wrap around its prey, holding it in place.
Tectum Caverns An ancient hidden refuge within the Wyrewood.
The Tower of G’shiyrah Destroyed over seven centuries ago, the tower of G’shiyrah was once a powerful symbol of the kingdom of Sunnmor. It was also rumored to function as a waygate for pilgrims and other travelers.
Time Gathering A technique used by the hasai in which they briefly slow their passage through time, and as a result are launched at great speed back into the local time-stream.
Vita Aeternum (V.A.) Translated it means Life Eternal. Its abbreviation, V.A. marks the beginning of the current age.
Void Weaver A name given to those with the ability to form micro-singularities. They are most commonly known for bending light around themselves and other objects, rendering them invisible to the naked eye.
City Ward As the law and order of New Arcadia, this group of dedicated citizens operates as the Ministry’s Civilian Security Force (C-SEC)
Waterslythe A reptilian creature native to the Miralaja desert with the uncanny ability to disguise itself as a pool of crystal clear water.
Waygate A rippling window into an adjacent world, usually generated within an Archway.
Wyrewood A sprawling forest stretching north to south along the base of the Shattered Peak Mountains.
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without support and input from a group of incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, and passionate individuals. For those brave enough to dive into the unpolished copy and provide feedback, my thanks goes out to you: Tom Tucker, Robert Campsall, Christina Puccio, and Michael McAleese. Without Jane Tucker’s keen editing expertise, this novel would no doubt be riddled with typos and grammatical transgressions. Your eye for detail and tireless passion for this project are so very much appreciated. Another big thank you to Tom, who worked hard on ensuring the layout was executed properly.
Lastly, I’d like to thank my wife, Melanie, without whom this story would not exist. Your unfettered feedback, great ideas, and encouragement are evident in nearly every chapter of this book.
Table of Contents
1 Curiosity
2 Desiccation
3 Oblivion
4 Beneath the Veil
5 The Oath
6 The Job
7 Luck
8 Disc Inversion
9 Eurig’s Veld
10 Honest
11 The Spy
12 Acrimony
13 Ahn Ket Suun
14 Purpose
15 Defiance
16 The Burden
17 Kai
18 Accountability
19 The Supplication
20 Battle Plans
21 Eros
22 A Difficult Truth
23 A Light in the Dark
24 Egression
Meet the Author
Introducing
Newsletter
Glossary
Acknowledgments