This is the ongoing sequel to Dark Wishes', both copyrighted under Nifty and International Common Law. Sorry for the time lapse but work got hectic and a tedious cold reared its ugly head. And I had to stop and write an actual outline of Dark Wishes' to send a potential literary agent, and select three chapters from 90,000 words. The entire thing left me exhausted.
Unspoken Wishes
M.C. Gordon
Part One: Markel
Chapter Nine
Tynan and Iashain were greatly heartened as they made their way slowly westward toward the large lake that marked the furthest western border of Elanen. Lake of Sorrow it was called, for it had formed through the centuries at the eastern base of the once mighty Chennai Mountains.
Their journey took them through deep forests and the Qell decided that each camp would last several days, casting a gentle magic that would summon all living things, man and animal, to be counted. It was time to determine to what extent wildlife remained, what grains still grew, and what knowledge man had kept alive in scattered gatherings of humanity.
They had not traveled far from Aolane, perhaps a journey of only three or four days, when they came across Perinel's great harem, slowly making its way toward the ruined fortress. Tynan was pleased at the number of young, male and female, traveling with their dames. He was equally surprised that two young men and a young woman were riding three of the mares.
"Our forefathers lived in Aolane," one of the men explained. "They numbered among the horse-masters and stable boys. We heard that the Kings have returned and were journeying to offer our services when we came upon this herd and joined them. I am Dil. This is my brother Filen and his good wife Yashidra."
"We welcome you to our service," Iashain replied.
"We will need all of Elanen's people to rebuild the land." Glancing at Yashidra he added, "and all of the land's children."
The shy lady blushed at the acknowledgement that she was with child.
"Join us and share our meal," Tynan added. "There is enough sweet grass for the horses and we would hear more of your people." As he asked he held up his arms and assisted Yashidra from the height of the dappled mare she rode.
Iashain aided Dil in removing the pack from another mare, deep chestnut in color, and a fire was soon started and the iron kettle from the pack in place. Efren drew water from a nearby brook for the kettle and Yashidra added dried vegetables from a pouch. Markel drew his sling and was soon able to add two fat quail to the simmering stew.
"Our home lies not far from here," Filen said when they had all finished eating. "Our father, Bidwent, is the village elder and will welcome you as visitors. We have a herd of smaller horses than these, and my people raise a few sheep and grains. Your blessing for abundant young and harvest will mean much."
"We will use our magic where it is needed," Tynan assured him. "It is our purpose serve as those before us have done, the reason we were summoned."
Their talk continued through the evening of villages known to Dil and Filen, who often traveled with their father to conduct trade. Yashidra had little to add as she had spent her entire life in the village and had never before ventured beyond her mother's sight. Markel took one of the hides from his pack and sketched maps as Dil and Filen talked.
"You can draw and write?" Yashidra quietly asked him. "I should like to learn."
"I will ask Iashain to teach you when we return and he has time," Markel told her. "Efren is learning as we travel. Perhaps more people will journey to Aolane before the next winter and the ancient archive will be restored. Much knowledge was lost that needs to be learned again."
Night finally took day from the sky, leaving only distant stars and moonlight. The travelers made what comfort they could and quickly fell into sleep.
"Ask Elder Bidwent for the use of more horses than Perinel," Yashidra told Markel the next morning as they prepared to go their separate ways. "And ask my mother, Narcia, to see young Efren. He is too thin and the blue beneath his eyes shows against his pale skin."
"Tynan believes his skin reflects his gray eyes," Markel whispered, for he too worried. "Efren was ill during the winter and is recovering slowly."
"That may be," Yashidra returned, "or it may not.
My mother will know for she is from a village of healers who tried to keep that knowledge alive. She trained me in healing enough to believe that she should see Efren, for her knowledge is far greater than mine."
"Then I will seek out your mother, and thank you," Markel said. "Aolane will need a healer and I will put your name to Iashain. There are many old scrolls which King Trelaine held safe by his magic, but only the Kings can read them and they do not understand all that is written for much of it is knowledge of the ancient crafts. There might be healing scrolls among them which you will understand when you have learned to read."
Yashidra impulsively kissed Markel for his friendship and thoughtfulness.
"What is this?" Iashain asked, appearing suddenly. "Are you about to run off with a married woman who is with child, Markel?" The tone of his voice told that he spoke in jest.
"Lady Yashidra holds many surprises," Markel responded in a teasing manner. "If I had been born other than I was, and she had not already pledged her heart to Filen, I might court her. But she has chosen her love, as have I. Instead of plotting to run off together we have been discussing the future of Aolane and the chance that you will teach her to read."
"Then the future holds hope indeed, Lady Yashidra," Iashain replied. "The kingdom will need those who are willing to learn and share their knowledge. It is my dream that others will be drawn to Aolane through the coming months and I will spend this next winter teaching many to read and write."
"Come, lass," Filen said as he approached them. "We must be on our way for the horses must go to Aolane and we have our own work to do there."
They all bid each other a fond farewell and Yashidra hastily said, "Remember to ask to see my mother."
"I will," Markel replied.
"Speak to Hanrad," Tynan told Dil. "He has great plans to rebuild the castle but tell him I require that his first task be to build cottages for all who journey to Aolane. The horses will need warm shelter for the next winter. Storehouses are required for grain."
"Yes, Majesty," Dil replied. "All will be ready when you return."
. . .
The Qell were amazed at the number of people who greeted them when they approached the small village described to them by Dil and Filen. The huts and cottages, placed at odd angles connected by narrow paths, could comfortably house no more than two hundred yet twice that number appeared. Elder Bidwent introduced himself and explained that villagers from the surrounding area had traveled to his small village with the knowledge that it was one of the Qell's first destinations.
"How could they have known when we did not know ourselves until a few days past?" Tynan asked Bidwent.
The elder smiled and replied, "The doves, Majesties. They speaks to each other and those of us who give them warmth in the winter."
The cottages were small and Bidwell insisted that Tynan and Efren use his humble home during their stay.
Iashain and Markel were welcomed by Yashidra's mother, Narcia, for the woman lived alone since her daughter's marriage and was anxious for news when she learned that the Kings had met her only child.
Iashain assured her that Yashidra was well, as was the child she carried. They were not many days' journey from Aolane and another woman lived there who would be of assistance when the child came into the world. Narcia was grateful for the reassurance and almost as equally pleased when the Qell advised her that Yashidra would be taught to read and allowed to study any ancient scrolls of healing that had been found.
"I have other apprentices I would like to send to Aolane when they are ready," she informed Iashain, and gained his immediate approval.
Markel had no time to speak with Nacira regarding Yashidra's concern about Efren for the Qell and healer talked long into the night and the weary lad drifted to sleep.
Aolane sat in a valley where the weather had warmed, but this village was further north and in the foothills of a small mountain. The nights still grew cold and the air was damp. It was in the early morning hours before the sun began to burn away the chill that Bidwell burst into Narcia's cottage calling, "Healer! Come quickly. The King's lad cannot breathe!"
To be continued:
Comments to quasito_cat@hotmail.com or quasito_cat@yahoo.com This is the ongoing sequel to Dark Wishes', both copyrighted under Nifty and International Common Law. Sorry for the time lapse but work got hectic and a tedious cold reared its ugly head. And I had to stop and write an actual outline of Dark Wishes' to send a potential literary agent, and select three chapters from 90,000 words. The entire thing left me exhausted.
Unspoken Wishes
M.C. Gordon
Part One: Markel
Chapter Nine
Tynan and Iashain were greatly heartened as they made their way slowly westward toward the large lake that marked the furthest western border of Elanen. Lake of Sorrow it was called, for it had formed through the centuries at the eastern base of the once mighty Chennai Mountains.
Their journey took them through deep forests and the Qell decided that each camp would last several days, casting a gentle magic that would summon all living things, man and animal, to be counted. It was time to determine to what extent wildlife remained, what grains still grew, and what knowledge man had kept alive in scattered gatherings of humanity.
They had not traveled far from Aolane, perhaps a journey of only three or four days, when they came across Perinel's great harem, slowly making its way toward the ruined fortress. Tynan was pleased at the number of young, male and female, traveling with their dames. He was equally surprised that two young men and a young woman were riding three of the mares.
"Our forefathers lived in Aolane," one of the men explained. "They numbered among the horse-masters and stable boys. We heard that the Kings have returned and were journeying to offer our services when we came upon this herd and joined them. I am Dil. This is my brother Filen and his good wife Yashidra."
"We welcome you to our service," Iashain replied.
"We will need all of Elanen's people to rebuild the land." Glancing at Yashidra he added, "and all of the land's children."
The shy lady blushed at the acknowledgement that she was with child.
"Join us and share our meal," Tynan added. "There is enough sweet grass for the horses and we would hear more of your people." As he asked he held up his arms and assisted Yashidra from the height of the dappled mare she rode.
Iashain aided Dil in removing the pack from another mare, deep chestnut in color, and a fire was soon started and the iron kettle from the pack in place. Efren drew water from a nearby brook for the kettle and Yashidra added dried vegetables from a pouch. Markel drew his sling and was soon able to add two fat quail to the simmering stew.
"Our home lies not far from here," Filen said when they had all finished eating. "Our father, Bidwent, is the village elder and will welcome you as visitors. We have a herd of smaller horses than these, and my people raise a few sheep and grains. Your blessing for abundant young and harvest will mean much."
"We will use our magic where it is needed," Tynan assured him. "It is our purpose serve as those before us have done, the reason we were summoned."
Their talk continued through the evening of villages known to Dil and Filen, who often traveled with their father to conduct trade. Yashidra had little to add as she had spent her entire life in the village and had never before ventured beyond her mother's sight. Markel took one of the hides from his pack and sketched maps as Dil and Filen talked.
"You can draw and write?" Yashidra quietly asked him. "I should like to learn."
"I will ask Iashain to teach you when we return and he has time," Markel told her. "Efren is learning as we travel. Perhaps more people will journey to Aolane before the next winter and the ancient archive will be restored. Much knowledge was lost that needs to be learned again."
Night finally took day from the sky, leaving only distant stars and moonlight. The travelers made what comfort they could and quickly fell into sleep.
"Ask Elder Bidwent for the use of more horses than Perinel," Yashidra told Markel the next morning as they prepared to go their separate ways. "And ask my mother, Narcia, to see young Efren. He is too thin and the blue beneath his eyes shows against his pale skin."
"Tynan believes his skin reflects his gray eyes," Markel whispered, for he too worried. "Efren was ill during the winter and is recovering slowly."
"That may be," Yashidra returned, "or it may not.
My mother will know for she is from a village of healers who tried to keep that knowledge alive. She trained me in healing enough to believe that she should see Efren, for her knowledge is far greater than mine."
"Then I will seek out your mother, and thank you," Markel said. "Aolane will need a healer and I will put your name to Iashain. There are many old scrolls which King Trelaine held safe by his magic, but only the Kings can read them and they do not understand all that is written for much of it is knowledge of the ancient crafts. There might be healing scrolls among them which you will understand when you have learned to read."
Yashidra impulsively kissed Markel for his friendship and thoughtfulness.
"What is this?" Iashain asked, appearing suddenly. "Are you about to run off with a married woman who is with child, Markel?" The tone of his voice told that he spoke in jest.
"Lady Yashidra holds many surprises," Markel responded in a teasing manner. "If I had been born other than I was, and she had not already pledged her heart to Filen, I might court her. But she has chosen her love, as have I. Instead of plotting to run off together we have been discussing the future of Aolane and the chance that you will teach her to read."
"Then the future holds hope indeed, Lady Yashidra," Iashain replied. "The kingdom will need those who are willing to learn and share their knowledge. It is my dream that others will be drawn to Aolane through the coming months and I will spend this next winter teaching many to read and write."
"Come, lass," Filen said as he approached them. "We must be on our way for the horses must go to Aolane and we have our own work to do there."
They all bid each other a fond farewell and Yashidra hastily said, "Remember to ask to see my mother."
"I will," Markel replied.
"Speak to Hanrad," Tynan told Dil. "He has great plans to rebuild the castle but tell him I require that his first task be to build cottages for all who journey to Aolane. The horses will need warm shelter for the next winter. Storehouses are required for grain."
"Yes, Majesty," Dil replied. "All will be ready when you return."
. . .
The Qell were amazed at the number of people who greeted them when they approached the small village described to them by Dil and Filen. The huts and cottages, placed at odd angles connected by narrow paths, could comfortably house no more than two hundred yet twice that number appeared. Elder Bidwent introduced himself and explained that villagers from the surrounding area had traveled to his small village with the knowledge that it was one of the Qell's first destinations.
"How could they have known when we did not know ourselves until a few days past?" Tynan asked Bidwent.
The elder smiled and replied, "The doves, Majesties. They speaks to each other and those of us who give them warmth in the winter."
The cottages were small and Bidwell insisted that Tynan and Efren use his humble home during their stay.
Iashain and Markel were welcomed by Yashidra's mother, Narcia, for the woman lived alone since her daughter's marriage and was anxious for news when she learned that the Kings had met her only child.
Iashain assured her that Yashidra was well, as was the child she carried. They were not many days' journey from Aolane and another woman lived there who would be of assistance when the child came into the world. Narcia was grateful for the reassurance and almost as equally pleased when the Qell advised her that Yashidra would be taught to read and allowed to study any ancient scrolls of healing that had been found.
"I have other apprentices I would like to send to Aolane when they are ready," she informed Iashain, and gained his immediate approval.
Markel had no time to speak with Nacira regarding Yashidra's concern about Efren for the Qell and healer talked long into the night and the weary lad drifted to sleep.
Aolane sat in a valley where the weather had warmed, but this village was further north and in the foothills of a small mountain. The nights still grew cold and the air was damp. It was in the early morning hours before the sun began to burn away the chill that Bidwell burst into Narcia's cottage calling, "Healer! Come quickly. The King's lad cannot breathe!"
To be continued:
Comments to quasito_cat@hotmail.com or quasito_cat@yahoo.com