Books 1-3: A High Fantasy Novel, page 6
part #1 of A Talnarin Novel Boxed Series
Before I can dwell on the realization that I can move my body, His voice calls my attention once more.
“We have so many fun things planned for you, Little Bhria. We even have a room already picked out for you. It’s secluded to give you privacy, away from all the commotion. There’s even top-class entertainment available if you manage to stay that long. And who knows, perhaps you’ll last a little longer than others, wouldn’t that be something?”
That nagging feeling starts to swell and I falter. He notices and by the look on His face, I would say my hesitation pleases Him, although I have no idea why. I resist with more force this time as he tries to coax me further. My emotions are no longer locked down, and the overwhelming tide swipes me under.
The terror is overpowering. My mind can’t comprehend all that has happened. I don’t understand why I was enthralled by this thing. What is wrong with me? What is wrong with this place?
I no longer stand by the edge of town. Instead, I am standing a few paces from the steps leading to the house. A handful of people have stepped outside to see their new ‘guest’ and now stare at me in wonder. The weight of the stares makes my skin crawl.
I glance up frightfully as He motions to someone behind me. Before I can blink, a hand on my shoulder shoves my knees forcefully to the ground. The jolt of my knees hitting the rocks, rips a cry from my lips. In no time, my hands are secured behind my back.
I swallow the scream threatening to rise.
“That willpower of yours is something. I think you’ll do well here indeed. I have high hopes that you’ll last a while; don’t let me down, Little Bhria.” He pats my head before glancing at the person gripping me. “Don’t hurt her. We need her whole... for now.”
The air thins and my breathing labors. Panic grips me as His words penetrate. This isn’t real, it’s just a bad dream. I watch Him through blurry eyes as He turns away. My arms are wrenched back, and my ass lands in the dirt. I whimper as I’m dragged away to the concrete prison.
My mind comes back to me and I’m free from the past for a moment.
Even to this day I hate bhria’s. Those small, fragile, weak, flying creatures. To be compared to a docile and shy creature like that angers me.
I slam the door to my thoughts before the poison leaches further. This time it’s different. These people are humans. These people are my kind. Once I explain everything, they will help me. They will release me, I just need to stay calm and think.
Too soon I’m tossed into a filthy cell underneath the town hall. As I land, the dust jumps to life and I hack and wheeze uncontrollably. Unable to catch my breath, I watch helplessly as the villagers take their leave, knowing I may have just lost my only opportunity to speak to them and convience them of my innocence. Despair starts to creep its way into my heart.
After what feels like a lifetime, I’m able to at last breath. My eyes are bone dry and burn like I haven’t blinked in weeks. It’s as if I swallowed mouthfuls of sand and stones, the stinging in my throat beyond uncomfortable. My body aches from the fall and my arms are going numb.
Dragging myself to the corner, I rest against the wall. I pull my knees up to rest my chin as my mind wanders.
Chapter 3
Time crawls in this cramped cement prison. I manage to sleep in spurts. Only a tiny barred window above me denotes the passing of time at all. Through the narrow spaces in the bars, I can see the clear night with thousands of tiny lights sparkling, the moon standing proudly high in the sky. Even as bright as the stars appear, they aren’t enough to light my cell. I sit in complete darkness and strain to keep the shadow-like wraiths, or rayns, at bay.
Only slight differences in my environment remind me my reality is different from my nightmare. There was never a window in my nightmare, just a steel door that closed with a haunting finality. Sunlight never penetrated the deafening darkness of that room either. At least in my nightmare, my body was free to pace around the small box of a room as I saw fit. As soon as I was locked away, the bonds that gripped me were removed. But in my nightmares, there was never any doubt that my freedom was gone for good.
The Others made sure I knew only my death would free me, and even that choice they took from me. Perhaps reality is worse, not knowing what these humans plan.
I half expected to panic, to scream. I expected tears and shaking. Yet, I’m unnaturally calm. I’ve been here before, and I can weather it again. I’ll wait as long as I must until someone returns. Then I’ll demand to know why they brought this injustice upon me. They’ll realize their error, and treat me as an honored guest. I’ll have hot food and cold water. I’ll be given the best room and care, my wounds will heal, and my journey will begin once more.
In the midst of my outlandish daydreams, I miss the approach of a young woman. She unlocks the cell door and stands before me, holding a lantern in one hand. Her straight dark hair reaches mid-thigh, and her eyes are light—maybe blue or green. I can’t tell in the dim light. She carries a large object across her back and a small bundle in her free hand.
Automatically, my tired eyes zero in on the loaf of bread in her hands. My stomach rumbles and my mouth salivates. How long has it been since I ate bread? I know I’d last eaten proper at my village, but when exactly was that? The days all bled together when I was taken by Them.
What I wouldn’t give for just a crumb of that bread she has. If I ask politely, she might give some to me. But before my words have a chance to leave my open mouth, she whispers, “They’re going to hang you as soon as the sun rises.”
My mouth closes with a click, and I stare at her in disbelief. It snaps open again, but still no sound leaves my throat. I don’t understand. The hostile behavior, the restraints, the cell, the death sentence...none of this makes sense. I’m missing crucial information to explain their extreme reaction.
“What did I do?”
She looks slightly sheepish as she states, “You entered town. The people in this town aren’t as... welcoming to your kind as other villages might be.”
And suddenly, I understand. The villagers think I’m like Them. My ears. If my hands weren’t currently secured behind my back, I would reach out to trace them. Even without seeing them, I know what they look like now. The tips are long, narrow, and pointed—nothing like the rounded tips humans have. And my eyes. My eyes shine with an unnatural glow, no longer their original blue. Instead, the molten silver shines like a cerla’s in the dark. The two-tailed felines with saber teeth are fierce and free creatures, yet I’m trapped in this cage awaiting my death.
How could I have been so stupid? It never crossed my mind to hide my ears because up until this moment, I had completely forgotten about them. Then again, with everything that’s happened, I’ve only been concerned with immediate survival. All other worries were shoved to the back of my mind to deal with later. When later will be, I have no idea.
I can try to reason with them. I can explain what happened. The villagers will understand, I’m sure. No—who am I trying to kid? If they decided to execute me for my appearance alone, I highly doubt they will listen to something They say. These people will probably sooner gag me then hear me fumble through an explanation.
The other flaw to this ingenious plan is I can’t share my story. I refuse to let my thoughts wander to those memories. Not to mention the credibility of my story is shit. If it hadn’t happened to me, I wouldn’t believe it either. So, I’m fucked either way.
The woman shakes me from my mental ramblings, and I try to flinch away but get nowhere with shackled hands. She is looking at me with concern, something I haven’t seen in so long. Why would this women care? How quickly the hope I had allowed to bloom inside my chest shrivels to nothing. How quickly my optimism turns to paranoia and pessimism.
“Are you listening? We haven’t got much time before the guards out front come back. I’m here to help you, but you also need to help yourself, I can only do so much. I brought some things to help you on your journey to Craforian. They’ll help you there, just tell them Lori sent you. You need to turn so I can cut the bindings on your arms.”
When I just continued to stare in confusion, she sighed quietly before reaching out once more.
Her hand froze inches from my skin when I burst out, “You’re helping me? Why? And what’s Crawforan? Why would I go there? Where is there anyway? Who’s there? And who the fuck are you?” I suck in a lungful of much needed and air, and eye her suspiciously.
She smiles at me. “Yes, I’m here to help you. My name is Lori and although human, I’m quite familiar with the talnarin. My recent return from Craforian, a town for both humans and talnarin, put me at odds with a very important man there. By helping you, I hope to gain favor with him once more. Your people are so wonderful and hospitable. But enough talk. I need to remove the binds and send you on your way. We don’t have much time.”
Well, isn’t she honest? I don’t see how helping me will gain this man’s favor since I have no intention of going anywhere near where They are. I definitely won’t tell her how much I hate those monsters she hopes to win over. I definitely won’t tell her what they did to me and my people. I definitely won’t tell her just what I think about her brainless opinions on ‘my kind.’ I need her help, desperately.
Besides, she just admitted to using me for her own gain. If I didn’t prove to be useful to her, she wouldn’t have tried to spring me in the first place. Wonder what she did to piss off that guy?
In a matter of seconds, the rope loosens behind me. I pull my arms in front of my chest and rub my wrist to urge the feeling back. All too soon, the uncomfortable pricks and needles stretch across my skin where the restraints left marks. I move to stand and falter. Still weak, my head sways as I attempt to stand once more. Lori reaches out to steady me, but I push her hands away. She looks disgruntled and a little offended, but I shrug it off.
Now steady enough on my feet, she silently backs out of the cell. She takes a series of turns that lead to a single door upstairs. I peek all around in search of guards but see no one. I’m about to open my mouth and ask, but quickly shut it. Now is the time for stealth, and I just need to focus on getting out of here while I can still stand.
We start moving again, still hypervigilant. Lori takes that last step and reaches for the handle. But before her hand touches the metal, the door swings open. Standing in the doorway is man armed with a sword and bow.
Oh shit.
Chapter 4
I can’t stop the memory no matter how hard I try.
I step over the boundary line and stumble to the gate. I’m finally home. With a pull, the gate swings open. The loud bang causes everyone nearby to glance up in surprise. I’m home.
Gasps resound through the silent air. Before I can utter a sound, a rock is thrown my way. I flinch and raise my arms over my head in confusion. The rock harmlessly hits the ground near my bare feet.
“Wait! It’s just me! It’s Alanna! Don’t throw anymore. Please. I’m back, I’m home.” Cautiously, I raise my head at the silence that greets me.
I cringe at the faces of the small gathering of villagers, thirty paces away. I understand the fear and confusion in their eyes, but the disgust prevalent on their faces is unexpected. I don’t understand. Why aren’t they happy to see me? Where are my parents? My sister? My brother?
I open my mouth to ask but am cut short by the sudden clamor of voices all yelling at once.
“Abomination!”
“Why did you come back?”
“Leave!”
“What are you?”
“Monster!”
The villagers throw more rocks, and this time, they connect with my bruised and bloody skin. I hiss in pain and hunch over to try to protect my tender flesh. Silent tears tread down my battered face and sting my cuts. I don’t understand. What do they mean? Why are they doing this to me? I finally came home.
Not knowing what else to do, I plead in hopes they will hear me over their screams. “I just wanted to come home. I know I shouldn’t have left and I’m sorry. I’ve learned my lesson. Please. Please don’t make me go. I can’t. They’ll kill me. I just want my parents. I just want my family.”
Abruptly I’m grabbed in a fierce hug. Someone holds me from behind while the other grips me from my front. Startled, I struggle to free myself. I still the instant I hear their pained murmurs of assurance.
My struggles cease and my body sags in their arms. Great heaving sobs wrench from my body as I grip them like a lifeline. I bury my head in my father’s chest as my mother strokes my hair.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you. I’m sorry,” I cry.
My mom shushes me, while my dad rumbles out, “We’ve missed you so much. It’s okay now. We love you. You’re home, you’re safe now. You’re okay, sweetheart. We’ve got you now. We love you. We will get you home. We’ll dress your wounds. We’ll feed you. You can bathe and relax. Gods, we’ve missed you. Don’t worry about the villagers. They’ll come around. Your mother and I will talk to the elders. There’s nothing for you to worry about. You’re safe. No matter what happens, we have you. It’s okay.”
We cling to each other for mere seconds before the crowd becomes too hard to ignore. I slowly raise my head from my dad’s shoulder and inhale a shaky breath. I will my tears to stop, but still they fall. I grip my dad’s arm and mom’s hand like a lifeline and turn to face the mob. They said they would take care of the town. It’s going to be okay now. Everything will be fine.
“It’s not her!”
“It’s not possible!”
“It’s monstrous!”
“How could you!”
“Go away!”
The shouts and screams become louder, more frequent, and my parents start shouting back. Frightened, I cower behind my parents in hopes this will all end soon. It’s too much. I just wanted to come home. I nearly jump out of my skin at the feel of arms wrapping around my stomach and shoulders. I yank at the hands and try to pull free in panic.
My mom turns at the motion and gently touches my cheek. “It’s just Anya and Andre. It’s okay, you’re okay. Calm down. Just breathe.” I turn my head and look up. Sure enough, Andre is towering over me with red misty eyes. I reach towards him with my now free hands, but fall short. Unable to move any further due to the death grip around my waist. I gently pat Anya’s hands and speak softly.
“Anya, let go. Let go, Anya. I need to turn. Anya.” I pause and wait for my release. After nothing happens, I try a different approach. “Anya, I need to see you. Please.”
Slowly the grip loosens and her arms fall away. I turn and peer down at my little sister and grip her in an equally tight hug despite the strain on my body. I raise my left arm and pull Andre to me. The three of us squeeze until we can’t breathe. A hand grips my shoulder and another grips my arm. My parents. No more words are spoken, none are needed. For the first time since that night, peace settles inside my bones once more. I pray to the Gods to never let this moment end. But I should have known it wouldn’t last.
I inhale sharply as the memory disappears as suddenly as it came. I touch my face and sure enough, my cheeks are wet from my tears. Praying was useless, I know that now. The Gods never lifted a finger to help me, never cared about one small, insignificant human.
They say there are five Gods residing in sacred Valina. Nerio, the god of creation and life, is the most powerful of the five. He is founder and father of our world and our people. Nerio is impartial to the life he creates, preferring his siblings to oversee us all. How one can be impartial to beings he brings to life is strange to me, even if he is a God. They say He never interferes in the lives of those who he creates, merely observes our paths in life.
The other four siblings are equal, having been ‘put in their place’ by the eldest and strongest. No one knows when they arrived on Bylir or when they established the hierarchy they abide by. These Gods have simply been around since our beginning, or so we’re told.
The God of mercy and love is Freal. He’s a kind, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving being. Freal is responsible for the joys in life; he gave us the gift of compassion. Personally, what I find happiness with in this world is of my own doing. No God has a role in the feelings I have.
The Goddess of trickery and misfortune is called Hedra. She has a penchant for revenge. Petty and unforgiving, she deals back ten-fold to those she deems unworthy. And those she does deem worthy? Well, they’re few are far between, or so say the stories. Hedra does have a more playful side, and enjoys a good laugh at the expense of others.
Ramic is the God of death and pain and, as one might assume from his title alone, is terrifying. He is known as the harbinger of death and disease. That’s not to say Ramic enjoys slaughtering innocents and inflicting pain of the unsuspecting. He is also known to be somewhat soft hearted at times, and has taken pity on humans before.
Finally, there is Sonya, Goddess of wisdom and arts. They say she is the reason we have our own thoughts and desires. Sonya grants each individual human their own will and talents.
So where were these magnificent, all-powerful Gods when I was suffering? Where were they when my village was suffering? Where the fuck were they when my family was suffering?
The memories of my family are the hardest ones to bare. I’d lose myself in those happy memories if I could; I just want to remember them and wither away.
But I can’t let myself do that. Not yet. I need to end Them first. After all, that’s why I ran in the first place. I need to get stronger.
I don’t know what my power is exactly or why I have it, but I need to control It. I need to harness It and I need to destroy them with It. I almost forgot my mission. My purpose. Now the vengeance is back. Stronger than before. I won’t forget again.
I pull myself from the darkening thoughts, needing to concentrate on my survival. I can’t afford to get lost in my head. Staring at the newcomer I realize in my daze I missed parts of the conversation Lori and the guard were having.
