Separated Soul: Prologue
"As the small woman's dying body sank into the sea her illusion dissolved revealing auburn hair, smoky teal eyes, aquamarine garments, and a mortal knife wound in her chest. The sea washed the blood from her bodice and flesh as the clouds broke and a shaft of pure silver moonlight fell upon the very place where the woman sank. The sea began to bubble and churn as Reality and the moon spread their treacherous net. As soon as the woman's heart stopped beating and her water-filled lungs ceased to function; Reality caught and pulled her in, stopping her voyage into death. Her glazed eyes blinked once more as the moon's beams pulled her back to the surface while her shadow was left behind.
Heedless of the savage crashing of the waves the woman swam to the shore and crawled upon the sand. Gone were the pale garments she wore before. In their place was a black silk shift and velvet bodice studded with silver crystals. As she stood shivering in the sand her much greyer skin and black garments were covered once more by a chaste beam and a silver robe of her lost people formed around her. The woman who fell prey to a murderer's sacrificial knife then leapt into the sea to rob the assailant of his glory was gone. In her place was a lady who was not alive, nor was she dead; she was an immensely powerful sorceress but also a witch. She was the offspring of neither man nor woman, but of a storm-darkened sea and a chaste moonbeam; the creation of no god but of Reality itself. She was Moon Child."--Separated Soul prologue-pg.iv.
Heedless of the savage crashing of the waves the woman swam to the shore and crawled upon the sand. Gone were the pale garments she wore before. In their place was a black silk shift and velvet bodice studded with silver crystals. As she stood shivering in the sand her much greyer skin and black garments were covered once more by a chaste beam and a silver robe of her lost people formed around her. The woman who fell prey to a murderer's sacrificial knife then leapt into the sea to rob the assailant of his glory was gone. In her place was a lady who was not alive, nor was she dead; she was an immensely powerful sorceress but also a witch. She was the offspring of neither man nor woman, but of a storm-darkened sea and a chaste moonbeam; the creation of no god but of Reality itself. She was Moon Child."--Separated Soul prologue-pg.iv.
Escape to Ellse Where: Chapter 1
It was the year I turned twenty-one, I was going to be placed within the Sacred Ring of Star Journeys to undergo the ritual all of my kindred faced. Why we did this I do not recall, except that it was the time when our gods decided how much magical power they would bequeath to the one in the ring. It happened so long ago now and yet I remember it like it was yesterday.
Seven boats made of oilskin bags washed up on our shore. The people in them were ragged and dirty. These people all smelled of the sea, dead fish, and stale sweat. Salt crystals encrusted every available surface and their eyes were pale blue and cold like a poor quality aquamarine. Not a gray iris in the lot.
What walked out of the sea behind these boats was terrifying. mottled, scaly skin, yellowish green eyes; uneven claws and sharp fangs; while boils, warts spots, and every other conceivable blemish decorated their flesh. Not one had a complete set of limbs, and several were missing an eye. The limbs that were not naturally missing were often deformed and the creatures smelled of iron. The bag-boat men called these barely humanoid creatures Fomorii and bowed to them as gods. The deformed Fomorii did all the talking for the people of the bag boats.
"Greetings, gentles," a Fomorii said. "Would it be possible for you to provide sustenance for the Chosen of the Fomorii? they have traveled a long way and their stomachs can no longer tolerate raw fish."
High Sorcerer Hyllaell told the creatures that they could have food only when he heard the bagmen's tale. his voice was the closest to stern that I had ever heard.
The Fomorii told the story of the people behind him. He told us that these people in the strange boats were called Celts, and they were the original inhabitants of a place called Thrace. I have since learned that he lied about his followers place of origin and quite a bit more.---from pgs. 1 &2 Chapter One of Escape to Ellse Where
Seven boats made of oilskin bags washed up on our shore. The people in them were ragged and dirty. These people all smelled of the sea, dead fish, and stale sweat. Salt crystals encrusted every available surface and their eyes were pale blue and cold like a poor quality aquamarine. Not a gray iris in the lot.
What walked out of the sea behind these boats was terrifying. mottled, scaly skin, yellowish green eyes; uneven claws and sharp fangs; while boils, warts spots, and every other conceivable blemish decorated their flesh. Not one had a complete set of limbs, and several were missing an eye. The limbs that were not naturally missing were often deformed and the creatures smelled of iron. The bag-boat men called these barely humanoid creatures Fomorii and bowed to them as gods. The deformed Fomorii did all the talking for the people of the bag boats.
"Greetings, gentles," a Fomorii said. "Would it be possible for you to provide sustenance for the Chosen of the Fomorii? they have traveled a long way and their stomachs can no longer tolerate raw fish."
High Sorcerer Hyllaell told the creatures that they could have food only when he heard the bagmen's tale. his voice was the closest to stern that I had ever heard.
The Fomorii told the story of the people behind him. He told us that these people in the strange boats were called Celts, and they were the original inhabitants of a place called Thrace. I have since learned that he lied about his followers place of origin and quite a bit more.---from pgs. 1 &2 Chapter One of Escape to Ellse Where
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter 1
A bright pink vortex disrupted the dust of the old throne room. The small man who knelt in the centre of the room ignored the zephyr. His black hair, threaded here and there with silver, brushed against his unlined face and closed eyes. A flash of fuchsia light greeted his efforts as Feline was thrown onto the floor. The man in blue opened his eyes and smiled, the Stolen Sorcerer was back.
"Well met, my most dear associate," Feline High Sorcerer of the Ellfs and ex-ambassador to the Tuatha de Danann, laughed as he picked himself up from the mattress he landed upon. "your timing was always the most accurate. I am indebted to you my dear Rabbit."
"And I am indebted to you, my friend," Rabbit, King of the Ellfs, secret High Sorcerer and best friend of Feline laughed as he stood. The cramped muscles and sinews of his legs complained as he straightened. "I now possess far more silver, thanks to you."
"I am most sorry to say that I do not understand," Feline replied as he straightened his black velvet, beaded jerkin and dusted off his white spider silk, full sleeved shirt.
"It is very easy to see," Rabbit replied with a rueful smile. Just look at my hair and you will see my new bank."...pg.3 Chapter 1 of Secret Sorcerer, Book Two of The Moon Child Memoirs.
"Well met, my most dear associate," Feline High Sorcerer of the Ellfs and ex-ambassador to the Tuatha de Danann, laughed as he picked himself up from the mattress he landed upon. "your timing was always the most accurate. I am indebted to you my dear Rabbit."
"And I am indebted to you, my friend," Rabbit, King of the Ellfs, secret High Sorcerer and best friend of Feline laughed as he stood. The cramped muscles and sinews of his legs complained as he straightened. "I now possess far more silver, thanks to you."
"I am most sorry to say that I do not understand," Feline replied as he straightened his black velvet, beaded jerkin and dusted off his white spider silk, full sleeved shirt.
"It is very easy to see," Rabbit replied with a rueful smile. Just look at my hair and you will see my new bank."...pg.3 Chapter 1 of Secret Sorcerer, Book Two of The Moon Child Memoirs.
SEparated Soul : Chapter 1
The wind howled as dark rain-filled clouds scudded across the moon's face and a Roman's Celtic slave hurried across the moors. He glanced around furtively, missing nothing except the black and white Norwegian Forest cat who watched him closely. The man was visibly nervous, he had the look of one who knew all the tales of the dark witch who was said to live in this dreary patch of land, and he knew the Romans' laws against consorting with her and her demons. As he stood there shivering, a man's lilting baritone voice invaded his mind.
"Why dost thou seek my mistress?" the voice said in formal Latin. "Knowest thee not the penalty for so seeking her?"
"I was sent," the Celt said in the common Latin of the slave pens, as his mind radiated his fear. "The Picts must be held back."
"The Picts are Celts, are they not?" the voice asked of the shivering man.
"What does that have to do with anything?" the Celt said around the chattering of his teeth.
"Thou are't also a Celt," the voice replied.
"But my master is not and he wishes for your lady's help," the Celt shivered as he spoke. "The Picts are seeking to drive out the Roman masters. My master is worried; Hadrian's Wall is all that stands between them and us. Only by the grace of your lady dis Boadicea fall the last time a group of Celts rebelled."
"Ah, but the Picts are not rebelling, my dear Celt," the voice laughingly replied. They are invading. Why can your master not summon help from Rome, is not an invasion of Roman ruled lands sufficient excuse?"
"Barbarians are trying to force their way into Rome; the Roman ary is already taxed by that invasion," the Celt sighed. "The legions here are on their own that is why they need your lady's help."
"So it is," the voice replied. "She shall grant thee an audience now.
As the voice finished speaking, a black mist crept up the Celt's legs, around his body and over his head. A sense of weightlessness descended upon him as disorientation invaded his thoughts. When the mist cleared he found himself standing in a dark room where a great black cauldron bubbled over a large fire in a huge hearth. Rude tables held glass phials and bottles filled with noxious substances, while a woman sat watching him from an oversized chair made of twigs.--from Chapter one pg.s 1&2 of Separated Soul Book One of The Moon Child Memoirs.
"Why dost thou seek my mistress?" the voice said in formal Latin. "Knowest thee not the penalty for so seeking her?"
"I was sent," the Celt said in the common Latin of the slave pens, as his mind radiated his fear. "The Picts must be held back."
"The Picts are Celts, are they not?" the voice asked of the shivering man.
"What does that have to do with anything?" the Celt said around the chattering of his teeth.
"Thou are't also a Celt," the voice replied.
"But my master is not and he wishes for your lady's help," the Celt shivered as he spoke. "The Picts are seeking to drive out the Roman masters. My master is worried; Hadrian's Wall is all that stands between them and us. Only by the grace of your lady dis Boadicea fall the last time a group of Celts rebelled."
"Ah, but the Picts are not rebelling, my dear Celt," the voice laughingly replied. They are invading. Why can your master not summon help from Rome, is not an invasion of Roman ruled lands sufficient excuse?"
"Barbarians are trying to force their way into Rome; the Roman ary is already taxed by that invasion," the Celt sighed. "The legions here are on their own that is why they need your lady's help."
"So it is," the voice replied. "She shall grant thee an audience now.
As the voice finished speaking, a black mist crept up the Celt's legs, around his body and over his head. A sense of weightlessness descended upon him as disorientation invaded his thoughts. When the mist cleared he found himself standing in a dark room where a great black cauldron bubbled over a large fire in a huge hearth. Rude tables held glass phials and bottles filled with noxious substances, while a woman sat watching him from an oversized chair made of twigs.--from Chapter one pg.s 1&2 of Separated Soul Book One of The Moon Child Memoirs.
Escape to Ellse Where : Chapter 2
Ellfstane smiled and his eyes turned a warm gray, like a rain washed granite boulder warming in the summer sun. He perched upon the stool, leaving the chair for her.
"Katara, we don't have any way of fighting these Firbolls and Fomorii, at least not on their terms." He started to pleat the leg of his green velvet trews. Not an easy task; trews were always cut rather tight.
"What are you saying?" Katara asked as she sat in the down-filled chair.
"We do not know how to fight." His left hand began to twist up the hem of his tabard. "Either we ask the Tuatha De Danann for help, or we assemble all of our sorcery and use that against these Thracian Celts. Is it possible for you to assemble our most powerful spells?"
"I will try, my friend, I will try." Katara began to fold up the pendulum of her girdle. "Do you think it will help?"
"We cannot just accept what is happening." Ellfstane got up and stood as tall as his two feet and three inches of height would let him. "We must try to protect ourselves and our children as best we can."
"We will, my friend. We will never surrender or give up until the last Ellf lies in death." Katara stood up. The lifts on the heels of her slippers made her the same height as her friend, despite the fact that she was only twenty-two inches tall.
"We think as one then." Ellfstane stretched out his hand, his palm toward Katara. "Fortune Favor you Katara."
Katara placed her palm over his in the Ellfic gesture of greeting, friendship, and farewell. "Fortune Favor you, Ellfstane."
The young prince of the Ellfs smiled and left her washroom. Katara stared at her worktable and pondered Ellfstane's visit. Would the Ellfs' sorcery be sufficient or would it be necessary for her to create new spells as time went on?
One thing stuck in Katara's mind: Ellfstane's refusal to give up. The Ellfs would never give up unless all of the Ellfic leaders told them that the situation was hopeless. It looked like Ellfstane would never make that proclamation, and if Katara knew Caraedon, the king wouldn't give up either.
She sank back into the the chair and removed her left slipper. It had started to chafe her heel. One glance inside showed her why. The velvet lining needed replacing.
When she glanced up, she saw the Solstice Stones in the scrying mirror. They stood in all their radiant, magical glory, and then the vision faded to be replaced by a vaguely recognizable jumble of rocks that roughly formed the shape of a circle. When this vision faded, it was replaced by the Solstice Stones semi-erected toward the heavens, but with only a weak flicker of their former power. -- from pgs. 22 & 23 Escape to Ellse Where: book one of the Ellfaerran Diaries, Chapter 2.
"Katara, we don't have any way of fighting these Firbolls and Fomorii, at least not on their terms." He started to pleat the leg of his green velvet trews. Not an easy task; trews were always cut rather tight.
"What are you saying?" Katara asked as she sat in the down-filled chair.
"We do not know how to fight." His left hand began to twist up the hem of his tabard. "Either we ask the Tuatha De Danann for help, or we assemble all of our sorcery and use that against these Thracian Celts. Is it possible for you to assemble our most powerful spells?"
"I will try, my friend, I will try." Katara began to fold up the pendulum of her girdle. "Do you think it will help?"
"We cannot just accept what is happening." Ellfstane got up and stood as tall as his two feet and three inches of height would let him. "We must try to protect ourselves and our children as best we can."
"We will, my friend. We will never surrender or give up until the last Ellf lies in death." Katara stood up. The lifts on the heels of her slippers made her the same height as her friend, despite the fact that she was only twenty-two inches tall.
"We think as one then." Ellfstane stretched out his hand, his palm toward Katara. "Fortune Favor you Katara."
Katara placed her palm over his in the Ellfic gesture of greeting, friendship, and farewell. "Fortune Favor you, Ellfstane."
The young prince of the Ellfs smiled and left her washroom. Katara stared at her worktable and pondered Ellfstane's visit. Would the Ellfs' sorcery be sufficient or would it be necessary for her to create new spells as time went on?
One thing stuck in Katara's mind: Ellfstane's refusal to give up. The Ellfs would never give up unless all of the Ellfic leaders told them that the situation was hopeless. It looked like Ellfstane would never make that proclamation, and if Katara knew Caraedon, the king wouldn't give up either.
She sank back into the the chair and removed her left slipper. It had started to chafe her heel. One glance inside showed her why. The velvet lining needed replacing.
When she glanced up, she saw the Solstice Stones in the scrying mirror. They stood in all their radiant, magical glory, and then the vision faded to be replaced by a vaguely recognizable jumble of rocks that roughly formed the shape of a circle. When this vision faded, it was replaced by the Solstice Stones semi-erected toward the heavens, but with only a weak flicker of their former power. -- from pgs. 22 & 23 Escape to Ellse Where: book one of the Ellfaerran Diaries, Chapter 2.
Secret Sorcerer : Chapter 2
LLa Lune was very lonely. She'd been waiting for her familiar for months now, although she couldn't say how many passed since her escape from Uther's bonfire.
He still hadn't shown up. maybe he thought she died up there. She hoped that wasn't the case. Somehow she had to find a way to get him back. Shadow's Dawn had become very important to her, she couldn't recall the precise moment when he'd gained such a strong hold on her emotions, but he did.
La Lune's gaze searched the hovel, looking for anything of Shadow's Dawn's. Nothing was there. He hadn't left so much as a hair behind. Perhaps he found himself another witch? La Lune banished that thought as fast as it came. She would never accept such a possibility, even though she kept coming back to it no matter how far her thoughts traveled. This was all Uther's fault for making Shadow's Dawn believe she was dead. She'd fix him, she would...her eye fell on the quivering amphibian form on her table.
A knock fell upon the outside of the hut. La Lune crossed to the door and opened it to see a tall woman standing there.
"May I come in?" the woman asked in old Gaelic, which made La Lune nervous; the Kieran vision and it's implied threat were not forgotten by her yet.
"Yes, of course," La Lune was so stunned that she stepped back as the stranger walked in. Why was the woman there, and if she was one of the searchers why was she so polite? La Lune decided to blank her mind and obseerve.
The woman was tall compared to La Lune's diminutive stature. The stranger stood about five feet and six inches in height, her hair was a dark brown like tilled earth, and her eyes were the colour of bark. Her hair was piled on her head, but a few rebellious ringlets escaped down her back. A circlet of silver wrought in the shape of complex knots rested below the confined hair and across her forehead.
She was very slender, but muscular as well and the light from the fire brought out the scarlet figures of swords, ravens, and spears on her ebony brocade gown. A rope of red and black cords, twisted together, was wrapped around her waist, and was threaded through a silver ornament of complex knots that matched her circlet. The strange design the northern Celts in the Caledonian Islands called the Key of Life ran down both sides of her obsidian cloak and it was figured in carnelian.
"I be known to my people as the Queen of Ghosts and Shadows," the woman said in her very accented voice. "I have recently discovered that you escaped the wretched Briton's fire, that is if you truly are the Dark Witch of the Moors."
"I am."
"Ah, that's all to the good," she smiled. "I be searchin' for ye for a long time. I be the closest thing to a rival you've got, as far as witchcraft be concerned. I decided it might be in our combined interests to work together. That's why I be here."
"How?"
"You've been havin' some trouble with a certain High Sorcerer," the Queen of Ghosts and Shadows replied. "I happen to be knowin' someone who'd pay me a fortune, or even a pardon, if I brought that little man to her in chains. I once was her Druidess ye see. I didna ask her why she wants him as her captive, but she does. And there's one known as Dana who would pay even more to have him for her slave. If I managed to trap him and take him out of yer hair, plus helpin' ye take yer revenge upon ol' Uther, how much would it be worth t'ye?"---from pgs 17 & 18 Chapter 2 Secret Sorcerer, Moon Child Memoirs Book 2
He still hadn't shown up. maybe he thought she died up there. She hoped that wasn't the case. Somehow she had to find a way to get him back. Shadow's Dawn had become very important to her, she couldn't recall the precise moment when he'd gained such a strong hold on her emotions, but he did.
La Lune's gaze searched the hovel, looking for anything of Shadow's Dawn's. Nothing was there. He hadn't left so much as a hair behind. Perhaps he found himself another witch? La Lune banished that thought as fast as it came. She would never accept such a possibility, even though she kept coming back to it no matter how far her thoughts traveled. This was all Uther's fault for making Shadow's Dawn believe she was dead. She'd fix him, she would...her eye fell on the quivering amphibian form on her table.
A knock fell upon the outside of the hut. La Lune crossed to the door and opened it to see a tall woman standing there.
"May I come in?" the woman asked in old Gaelic, which made La Lune nervous; the Kieran vision and it's implied threat were not forgotten by her yet.
"Yes, of course," La Lune was so stunned that she stepped back as the stranger walked in. Why was the woman there, and if she was one of the searchers why was she so polite? La Lune decided to blank her mind and obseerve.
The woman was tall compared to La Lune's diminutive stature. The stranger stood about five feet and six inches in height, her hair was a dark brown like tilled earth, and her eyes were the colour of bark. Her hair was piled on her head, but a few rebellious ringlets escaped down her back. A circlet of silver wrought in the shape of complex knots rested below the confined hair and across her forehead.
She was very slender, but muscular as well and the light from the fire brought out the scarlet figures of swords, ravens, and spears on her ebony brocade gown. A rope of red and black cords, twisted together, was wrapped around her waist, and was threaded through a silver ornament of complex knots that matched her circlet. The strange design the northern Celts in the Caledonian Islands called the Key of Life ran down both sides of her obsidian cloak and it was figured in carnelian.
"I be known to my people as the Queen of Ghosts and Shadows," the woman said in her very accented voice. "I have recently discovered that you escaped the wretched Briton's fire, that is if you truly are the Dark Witch of the Moors."
"I am."
"Ah, that's all to the good," she smiled. "I be searchin' for ye for a long time. I be the closest thing to a rival you've got, as far as witchcraft be concerned. I decided it might be in our combined interests to work together. That's why I be here."
"How?"
"You've been havin' some trouble with a certain High Sorcerer," the Queen of Ghosts and Shadows replied. "I happen to be knowin' someone who'd pay me a fortune, or even a pardon, if I brought that little man to her in chains. I once was her Druidess ye see. I didna ask her why she wants him as her captive, but she does. And there's one known as Dana who would pay even more to have him for her slave. If I managed to trap him and take him out of yer hair, plus helpin' ye take yer revenge upon ol' Uther, how much would it be worth t'ye?"---from pgs 17 & 18 Chapter 2 Secret Sorcerer, Moon Child Memoirs Book 2
Separated Soul : Chapter 2
She was alone. This was something the stars couldn't hide from her, and they tried. Oh, how they tried. Whenever that inevitable sense of loss and solitude crept up on her millions upon millions of voices would call out to her. Reassuring and questioning alike.
"What about us?" was their cry. "When are you coming to see us?"
For perhaps a century, maybe less--she lost count of the years after the first five decades--the stars managed to ease the loneliness away. but now a new cry added itself to the struggle in her mind. This one came from the sea. It had no words, yet it spoke of unlimited sorrow. In it were the mournful songs of the humpbacks, the lonely cry of a lost seal pup, and the despairing whistle of a beached dolphin. Somehow, she knew the cries were for her. At first she couldn't understand why they cried. After all, she already was part of the sea, wasn't she? Every moonrise she would emerge with the first virginal touch of the moon's beams upon the water, but not before. Never before.
"Why not before?" she finally cried as she sat upon a partially submerged rock, the black silk petals of her dress and the silver skirt of her robe were pulled by the waves to and fro. "Why can't I exist during the day? I know there is such a time. From where I cannot say, but I do know it exists. Why can't I see the sky when the sun rises?"
"Because you are ours," the multiple cries of the stars replied. "You belong to us. You know this. You have always known this. Your mother is the chaste moon of your world and your father is a storm-tossed sea. You are the Moon's child, so we are your relatives."
"Can this be real?" she finally asked, as a half remembered image of another place, and another time flashed through her mind. "Is this...Reality?"
"What else is there?" answered the stars.
"There is also...I believe there is another realm of existence, one called..." slowly non-decipherable words spoken in an unknown--but familiar--voice became distinguishable, and then faded out once more, but not without leaving something behind. "A place called...Fantasy. The real and the fantastical, they exists side-by-side. Isn't this fantastical?"
"No!" replied the stars, a fierce anger colouring their voices. "Do not think of such a place. It does not exist. That is why it is called fantasy. It is a dream, an illusion that man creates in his mind, but can never attain. You are not a part of Fantasy."
"And never can be, my child," the soft voice of the moon caressed the lost woman's mind, easing the startled hurt from the star's reaction. "Reality has you too firmly in her grasp, as she has all men. The fantastical is not a realm you can enter."
"The few men I've met all say that the stars and moon can't talk," the silver and black garbed woman replied as the water crept higher up her legs. They say I live in a fantasy world. Sometimes I think they're right."
"Fantasy world, my child?" the moon asked in her gentle voice. "So that is where you found that word. No, my child, you do not live in a fantasy world and you are not mad either, which is what they really mean. The stars aren't really talking; it is the souls of the learned peoples supported by the stars you hear."
"And you?" the woman couldn't help asking. "Aren't you just a ball of green cheese?"
"A ball of..? No, my child," the moon laughed. "I am a spirit. Some call me Phoebe, some Artemis, and some Diana. I am a servant of Reality, and my home is a celestial sphere of gray rock; not cheese."
"Then that is what I am? A creation of Reality?" the moon's child asked.
"Yes, my child," the moon replied.---pg.s 9 & 10 from Chapter 2 Separated Soul: Moon Child Memoirs Book 1
"What about us?" was their cry. "When are you coming to see us?"
For perhaps a century, maybe less--she lost count of the years after the first five decades--the stars managed to ease the loneliness away. but now a new cry added itself to the struggle in her mind. This one came from the sea. It had no words, yet it spoke of unlimited sorrow. In it were the mournful songs of the humpbacks, the lonely cry of a lost seal pup, and the despairing whistle of a beached dolphin. Somehow, she knew the cries were for her. At first she couldn't understand why they cried. After all, she already was part of the sea, wasn't she? Every moonrise she would emerge with the first virginal touch of the moon's beams upon the water, but not before. Never before.
"Why not before?" she finally cried as she sat upon a partially submerged rock, the black silk petals of her dress and the silver skirt of her robe were pulled by the waves to and fro. "Why can't I exist during the day? I know there is such a time. From where I cannot say, but I do know it exists. Why can't I see the sky when the sun rises?"
"Because you are ours," the multiple cries of the stars replied. "You belong to us. You know this. You have always known this. Your mother is the chaste moon of your world and your father is a storm-tossed sea. You are the Moon's child, so we are your relatives."
"Can this be real?" she finally asked, as a half remembered image of another place, and another time flashed through her mind. "Is this...Reality?"
"What else is there?" answered the stars.
"There is also...I believe there is another realm of existence, one called..." slowly non-decipherable words spoken in an unknown--but familiar--voice became distinguishable, and then faded out once more, but not without leaving something behind. "A place called...Fantasy. The real and the fantastical, they exists side-by-side. Isn't this fantastical?"
"No!" replied the stars, a fierce anger colouring their voices. "Do not think of such a place. It does not exist. That is why it is called fantasy. It is a dream, an illusion that man creates in his mind, but can never attain. You are not a part of Fantasy."
"And never can be, my child," the soft voice of the moon caressed the lost woman's mind, easing the startled hurt from the star's reaction. "Reality has you too firmly in her grasp, as she has all men. The fantastical is not a realm you can enter."
"The few men I've met all say that the stars and moon can't talk," the silver and black garbed woman replied as the water crept higher up her legs. They say I live in a fantasy world. Sometimes I think they're right."
"Fantasy world, my child?" the moon asked in her gentle voice. "So that is where you found that word. No, my child, you do not live in a fantasy world and you are not mad either, which is what they really mean. The stars aren't really talking; it is the souls of the learned peoples supported by the stars you hear."
"And you?" the woman couldn't help asking. "Aren't you just a ball of green cheese?"
"A ball of..? No, my child," the moon laughed. "I am a spirit. Some call me Phoebe, some Artemis, and some Diana. I am a servant of Reality, and my home is a celestial sphere of gray rock; not cheese."
"Then that is what I am? A creation of Reality?" the moon's child asked.
"Yes, my child," the moon replied.---pg.s 9 & 10 from Chapter 2 Separated Soul: Moon Child Memoirs Book 1
EScape to Ellse where: Chapter three
" "I am a High Sorceress of the realm on a mission to discover any defense that could protect us from the Firbolls." She said, with the Ellfs' glottal stop in place of the g. "I came here from the Wind Hill moors to the Emerald Isle to check on my burrowing family members."
"Be your search successful, Sorceress Lady?" the precocious Alberon asked, as he played with several smoky crystals.
"No."
"Would ya ask me father about such a thing?" the boy asked as he arranged the crystals in a large triangle.
"No." Katara replied as she watched the boy play. "Only your twisting tunnels prevented the Firbolls from destroying you. I doubt that the Emerald Islanders possess such a weapon as the Agate Isle requires."
"Mayhap you're right," Alberon sighed. "But mayhap you're wrong. See these stones? I saw a pony die from this smoky crystal. First, she were mad, then a day or so later she were dead. The crystal in her flank were sharp and dark grey. By the time she were dead, the stone had become white."
"This smoky crystal killed a pony?" Katara knelt beside the boy. The lavender and gray petals of her dress cushioned her knees.
"Aye, but the stone ain't new. It were used by the Burrowers when the Traders first came to the isles." Alberon's silver-gray eyes looked into Katara's. "This stone tipped their arrows. They called it Crazy Crystal because it bled madness into the victim before causing death. There were a county that were named after the stone. The region is now known as Granite County."
Katara knew where Granite County was--the Solstice Stones were there. It was an area of dark gray stone at the south-eastern part of the largest isle. According to legend, the Trader people were very aggressive when they first came to the Agate isle, but the Burrowers were more in tune with the land. For forty years or so, they fought the Burrowers for the islands until everyone concerned realized that what the Traders wanted and what the Burrowers wanted were different. The Burrowers were hermit-like diggers with their thoughts in the mines and no knowledge of war. The Traders were gregarious craftsmen with keen intelligence and a sharp eye for a bargain. They had nothing in common, but everything in complement.
The actual race names of the two groups have long since disappeared, around the same time that the Traders ceased the practice of burying weapons and beakers with their dead. The two races were so thoroughly merged that it was impossible to tell one from the other, except in one person. Caraedon was the last king to be completely of Trader blood. In a purely emotional move, he married the daughter of a Burrower. The queen came from the region that provided the bluestone for the giant megalith near the royal palace. She died in that quarry and her last son, Ellfstane, was born in it.---from pgs. 27-29 of Escape to Ellse Where chapter Three.
"Be your search successful, Sorceress Lady?" the precocious Alberon asked, as he played with several smoky crystals.
"No."
"Would ya ask me father about such a thing?" the boy asked as he arranged the crystals in a large triangle.
"No." Katara replied as she watched the boy play. "Only your twisting tunnels prevented the Firbolls from destroying you. I doubt that the Emerald Islanders possess such a weapon as the Agate Isle requires."
"Mayhap you're right," Alberon sighed. "But mayhap you're wrong. See these stones? I saw a pony die from this smoky crystal. First, she were mad, then a day or so later she were dead. The crystal in her flank were sharp and dark grey. By the time she were dead, the stone had become white."
"This smoky crystal killed a pony?" Katara knelt beside the boy. The lavender and gray petals of her dress cushioned her knees.
"Aye, but the stone ain't new. It were used by the Burrowers when the Traders first came to the isles." Alberon's silver-gray eyes looked into Katara's. "This stone tipped their arrows. They called it Crazy Crystal because it bled madness into the victim before causing death. There were a county that were named after the stone. The region is now known as Granite County."
Katara knew where Granite County was--the Solstice Stones were there. It was an area of dark gray stone at the south-eastern part of the largest isle. According to legend, the Trader people were very aggressive when they first came to the Agate isle, but the Burrowers were more in tune with the land. For forty years or so, they fought the Burrowers for the islands until everyone concerned realized that what the Traders wanted and what the Burrowers wanted were different. The Burrowers were hermit-like diggers with their thoughts in the mines and no knowledge of war. The Traders were gregarious craftsmen with keen intelligence and a sharp eye for a bargain. They had nothing in common, but everything in complement.
The actual race names of the two groups have long since disappeared, around the same time that the Traders ceased the practice of burying weapons and beakers with their dead. The two races were so thoroughly merged that it was impossible to tell one from the other, except in one person. Caraedon was the last king to be completely of Trader blood. In a purely emotional move, he married the daughter of a Burrower. The queen came from the region that provided the bluestone for the giant megalith near the royal palace. She died in that quarry and her last son, Ellfstane, was born in it.---from pgs. 27-29 of Escape to Ellse Where chapter Three.
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter 3
"She was trying to kill me again," Feline sighed as he accepted the glass Sapphire gave him. "It is most certain."
"Actually," Sapphire replied as he averted his greyish brown eyes from Feline's gaze. "The Skethryll and his apprentice were surprised by how light her grasp was at the point of impact. They believe she was only using strangulation as a method of abduction."
"What?" Feline's throat felt as if someone had forced him to eat a bowl of sand. He drank some of the water in the goblet, rejoicing in the coolness of the liquid as it eased the burning in his tissues.
"She started to release you as you lost consciousness," Sapphire's oval face held concern in the ageless contours countless millennia had created. "You were correct. Compared to Morrigan, the Skethrylln are not an actual threat to you. I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I misjudged your reading of the situation," Sapphire sighed as he played with the tatters of his right sleeve. At one time, Sapphire had been a well-muscled man, and a skinny youth. The traces still remained from both within his slim form. "I guess I've spent so much time hating all Paras that I never once thought that there could ever be a stronger, and worse, force out there in the universe."
"I would not actually call her a force," Feline replied as he placed the empty glass on the table. He started to look around the room he was in. He was lying on a bed that was covered by a silk coverlet of rose, and the bedposts were made of rose quartz. The light in the chamber was pink tinged as the windows were made of the same material as the posts only much thinner and in sheets. What little wood was in the place was very pale. "Wait, Sapphire, where am I?'
"Chrystall Ellfaeras," Sapphire replied. "This is your domain within it, the lush gardens of the cat in the south."
"You mean I am back in--?"
"no, at least..." Sapphire paused; a light breeze disturbed the gauzy draperies in the room. "You are back in my galaxy, but not in its Reality, so you haven't broken you oath to the young Skethryll, although you eventually will."
"I fear I do not understand," Feline said as he shifted himself until he was in a sitting position. "I have no intention of ever interfering with, or even entering, his galaxy at any time in the future. It is most perilous at all times."
"That little Skethryll will not let you get away with that, besides," Sapphire sighed, then looked directly into Feline's eyes his gaze was intense. "My cousin's family has grown immensely since the fall of Ancient Ellfaera."
"I do not see what--"
"I can't watch them all," Sapphire rushed in, cutting off Feline's confused protest. "Kendall was one of the few Parapsychologists in the entire bunch, but I made a mistake. I wanted it to be a mortal who selected the chosen one, but he had to be a Skethryll and he had to carry the blood of the Ellfaers. I amended the curse, in a desire for symmetry and stated the One Who Chose also had to be of Kendall's blood and kin. A direct descendant. The thing is, I can't look out for the entire family now, how can I watch over the important one when he comes? Besides, I'll be killed if the Skethrylln pick up any hint of my presence near their stupid Citadel. At least they only want to study and hold you. You're too valuable to them to kill."
"Most reassuring," Feline replied in bitter tones as he tried to stand, only to find he also made himself dizzy. "And I thought the Splitting Spell was bad."
"Also, remember, I said I made a mistake," Sapphire's rather light voice said as his eyes began to gleam.
"I thought you already explained that," Feline replied as he sat back down on the bed as he waited for the room to stop imitating a speeding roundabout.
"No, actually I hadn't," a dull red stained Sapphire's skin as an embarrassed note stained his tone. "my mistake was to make it impossible for an actual Ellfaer to remove the darkness inherent in the power of the Adlamar Spiral. Only a sorcerer from another world can do so, and that sorcerer must belong to the ocean goddess of my wife--."
"Pearl!" Feline exclaimed as the dizziness passed and his thoughts cleared.
"Well, yes," Sapphire said, somewhat confused.
"So that was what Onyx meant," the ex-ambassador muttered to himself. "My apprentice must remove the evil of the Paras, but what does that have to do with me, and why did you say the young Para would not let me--?"
"Any excuse to reclaim you for his Citadel will do," Sapphire sneered. "Besides, your godchild will be involved in the weaving of the spell, unwillingly it's true, but he will be there bside the One Who Was Mistaken."
"My what?" Feline was shocked by the disclosure. "What would any godchild of mine be doing there?"
"That is what I have been trying to ask you." ---from pgs 34, 35, & 36 chapter three Moon Child Memoirs Book II Secret Sorcerer
"Actually," Sapphire replied as he averted his greyish brown eyes from Feline's gaze. "The Skethryll and his apprentice were surprised by how light her grasp was at the point of impact. They believe she was only using strangulation as a method of abduction."
"What?" Feline's throat felt as if someone had forced him to eat a bowl of sand. He drank some of the water in the goblet, rejoicing in the coolness of the liquid as it eased the burning in his tissues.
"She started to release you as you lost consciousness," Sapphire's oval face held concern in the ageless contours countless millennia had created. "You were correct. Compared to Morrigan, the Skethrylln are not an actual threat to you. I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I misjudged your reading of the situation," Sapphire sighed as he played with the tatters of his right sleeve. At one time, Sapphire had been a well-muscled man, and a skinny youth. The traces still remained from both within his slim form. "I guess I've spent so much time hating all Paras that I never once thought that there could ever be a stronger, and worse, force out there in the universe."
"I would not actually call her a force," Feline replied as he placed the empty glass on the table. He started to look around the room he was in. He was lying on a bed that was covered by a silk coverlet of rose, and the bedposts were made of rose quartz. The light in the chamber was pink tinged as the windows were made of the same material as the posts only much thinner and in sheets. What little wood was in the place was very pale. "Wait, Sapphire, where am I?'
"Chrystall Ellfaeras," Sapphire replied. "This is your domain within it, the lush gardens of the cat in the south."
"You mean I am back in--?"
"no, at least..." Sapphire paused; a light breeze disturbed the gauzy draperies in the room. "You are back in my galaxy, but not in its Reality, so you haven't broken you oath to the young Skethryll, although you eventually will."
"I fear I do not understand," Feline said as he shifted himself until he was in a sitting position. "I have no intention of ever interfering with, or even entering, his galaxy at any time in the future. It is most perilous at all times."
"That little Skethryll will not let you get away with that, besides," Sapphire sighed, then looked directly into Feline's eyes his gaze was intense. "My cousin's family has grown immensely since the fall of Ancient Ellfaera."
"I do not see what--"
"I can't watch them all," Sapphire rushed in, cutting off Feline's confused protest. "Kendall was one of the few Parapsychologists in the entire bunch, but I made a mistake. I wanted it to be a mortal who selected the chosen one, but he had to be a Skethryll and he had to carry the blood of the Ellfaers. I amended the curse, in a desire for symmetry and stated the One Who Chose also had to be of Kendall's blood and kin. A direct descendant. The thing is, I can't look out for the entire family now, how can I watch over the important one when he comes? Besides, I'll be killed if the Skethrylln pick up any hint of my presence near their stupid Citadel. At least they only want to study and hold you. You're too valuable to them to kill."
"Most reassuring," Feline replied in bitter tones as he tried to stand, only to find he also made himself dizzy. "And I thought the Splitting Spell was bad."
"Also, remember, I said I made a mistake," Sapphire's rather light voice said as his eyes began to gleam.
"I thought you already explained that," Feline replied as he sat back down on the bed as he waited for the room to stop imitating a speeding roundabout.
"No, actually I hadn't," a dull red stained Sapphire's skin as an embarrassed note stained his tone. "my mistake was to make it impossible for an actual Ellfaer to remove the darkness inherent in the power of the Adlamar Spiral. Only a sorcerer from another world can do so, and that sorcerer must belong to the ocean goddess of my wife--."
"Pearl!" Feline exclaimed as the dizziness passed and his thoughts cleared.
"Well, yes," Sapphire said, somewhat confused.
"So that was what Onyx meant," the ex-ambassador muttered to himself. "My apprentice must remove the evil of the Paras, but what does that have to do with me, and why did you say the young Para would not let me--?"
"Any excuse to reclaim you for his Citadel will do," Sapphire sneered. "Besides, your godchild will be involved in the weaving of the spell, unwillingly it's true, but he will be there bside the One Who Was Mistaken."
"My what?" Feline was shocked by the disclosure. "What would any godchild of mine be doing there?"
"That is what I have been trying to ask you." ---from pgs 34, 35, & 36 chapter three Moon Child Memoirs Book II Secret Sorcerer
Separated Soul: Chapter 3
" "A formidable task?" he muttered to himself, and then called to the presence in his mind. "My sponsor hinted that the moon and Reality might remove her from this world to limit my control over her mind. Do you think it is possible? She said it happened before."
"Yes, my friend, it did but I doubt it will happen here," Unicorn sighed. "You see, that galaxy was completely different from this one."
"Different?" Feline asked of the goddess who spoke in his mind.
"Yes," she sighed. "You see, Reality controlled that galaxy. There was only one instance of sorcery anywhere in it. The sorcery belonged to a cluster of our children on one solitary planet. There were no Fates there and Fortune didn't exist. Reality was offended by or powerful children who exhibited no measurable characteristics of power until they transmorphed a being into a toad. Reality didn't ,like that one little bit. So, it created another power that could be charted and measured by mind graphs or some other scientific means from birth.That specific power was unique to that galaxy as several of the others tended to include small vestiges of Fantasy throughout. The problem was reality itself did not have the power to do what it desired."
"So, it did not do as it wished?" the multi-named Feline asked of the divine voice in his mind.
"On the contrary, it did pull it off," Unicorn replied.
"Well, how?"
"It chased us away, hounded us if you prefer, until all but one sorcerer was gone," she sighed. Obviously she found the memory to be quite painful. "Not all of our children were sorcerers, in fact this is the first time we've allowed all of our children to possess magical powers. Generally, after we leave, the sorcerers and to a lesser extent their weaker aides, handle all calls upon magic our children make, but I digress. As it happens, Reality didn't want all of our children out of the way, just the sorcerers and their helpers. It created a planet-wide outcry and arranged the slaughter of all our witches, warlocks, wizards, and sorcerers, except one.
"Reality itself confronted that survivor and demanded its measurable power in exchange for his life. Reality even went so far as to threaten the lives of the non-magical followers of the High Sorcerer it caught, for that was the sorcerer's rank. It was too much for him. He reluctantly agreed and created a power that could only be described as super-natural, as it could manipulate the natural plane, to a point. Reality thought it won, but our sorcerers were not fools. He placed an inherent evil in that power and a strict set of rules. You see, he knew Reality was going to eliminate him and he was a firm believer of justice. Reality did dispose of him as soon as it got the chance and then released the rest of our children to follow its dictates. We never went back."
"What happened to your non-magical children?" Feline asked the melancholy voice. "Did they forget the High Sorcerer who surrendered so much to protect them?"
"No, Feline, as far as I know they never did," Unicorn's voice sounded confused as she spoke to him. "Blue-Stone went back once just to check and found a bizarre situation. The survivors did not forget the high Sorcerer who saved their lives. In fact, they remembered him only too well. They spread tales of the sorcerers' powers. Hours were spent describing each article of a sorcerer's skill until the very words were branded into the minds of the planet's entire populace. It's a common, easily alluded to, idea that found its way into everyday folk-lore. The people of that world still describe those with power as 'sorcerers' and I don't think it will ever stop."
"You said that Blue-Stone went back to check," the pink-robed High Sorcerer said as an idea popped into his brain. "Was the sorcerer Blue-Stone's High Sorcerer, by any chance?"
"No, Love," Unicorn sighed deeply, "I'm sorry to say he was mine."
"Unicorn, I am most truly sorry," Feline--which was not his true name--could not believe he would make such a callus mistake. "I did not mean to upset you. Please, Most Illustrious Goddess, accept my most extreme apologies."
"It's all right, Love," Unicorn sighed as her thoughts began to sound distant. "You did not know."
"These other ones, the ones with the measurable power," he said quickly, to change the subject. "Can they do what we can?"
"Of course they can't!" Unicorn laughed. "Reality won't let them. Only a sorcerer can halt the sun, alter time, resurrect the dead, hop from one universe to another, skip dimensions and control the very fabric of Reality. That's why it hates you so much."-- from Moon Child Memoirs: Separated soul, pgs 26-27 Chapter 3
"Yes, my friend, it did but I doubt it will happen here," Unicorn sighed. "You see, that galaxy was completely different from this one."
"Different?" Feline asked of the goddess who spoke in his mind.
"Yes," she sighed. "You see, Reality controlled that galaxy. There was only one instance of sorcery anywhere in it. The sorcery belonged to a cluster of our children on one solitary planet. There were no Fates there and Fortune didn't exist. Reality was offended by or powerful children who exhibited no measurable characteristics of power until they transmorphed a being into a toad. Reality didn't ,like that one little bit. So, it created another power that could be charted and measured by mind graphs or some other scientific means from birth.That specific power was unique to that galaxy as several of the others tended to include small vestiges of Fantasy throughout. The problem was reality itself did not have the power to do what it desired."
"So, it did not do as it wished?" the multi-named Feline asked of the divine voice in his mind.
"On the contrary, it did pull it off," Unicorn replied.
"Well, how?"
"It chased us away, hounded us if you prefer, until all but one sorcerer was gone," she sighed. Obviously she found the memory to be quite painful. "Not all of our children were sorcerers, in fact this is the first time we've allowed all of our children to possess magical powers. Generally, after we leave, the sorcerers and to a lesser extent their weaker aides, handle all calls upon magic our children make, but I digress. As it happens, Reality didn't want all of our children out of the way, just the sorcerers and their helpers. It created a planet-wide outcry and arranged the slaughter of all our witches, warlocks, wizards, and sorcerers, except one.
"Reality itself confronted that survivor and demanded its measurable power in exchange for his life. Reality even went so far as to threaten the lives of the non-magical followers of the High Sorcerer it caught, for that was the sorcerer's rank. It was too much for him. He reluctantly agreed and created a power that could only be described as super-natural, as it could manipulate the natural plane, to a point. Reality thought it won, but our sorcerers were not fools. He placed an inherent evil in that power and a strict set of rules. You see, he knew Reality was going to eliminate him and he was a firm believer of justice. Reality did dispose of him as soon as it got the chance and then released the rest of our children to follow its dictates. We never went back."
"What happened to your non-magical children?" Feline asked the melancholy voice. "Did they forget the High Sorcerer who surrendered so much to protect them?"
"No, Feline, as far as I know they never did," Unicorn's voice sounded confused as she spoke to him. "Blue-Stone went back once just to check and found a bizarre situation. The survivors did not forget the high Sorcerer who saved their lives. In fact, they remembered him only too well. They spread tales of the sorcerers' powers. Hours were spent describing each article of a sorcerer's skill until the very words were branded into the minds of the planet's entire populace. It's a common, easily alluded to, idea that found its way into everyday folk-lore. The people of that world still describe those with power as 'sorcerers' and I don't think it will ever stop."
"You said that Blue-Stone went back to check," the pink-robed High Sorcerer said as an idea popped into his brain. "Was the sorcerer Blue-Stone's High Sorcerer, by any chance?"
"No, Love," Unicorn sighed deeply, "I'm sorry to say he was mine."
"Unicorn, I am most truly sorry," Feline--which was not his true name--could not believe he would make such a callus mistake. "I did not mean to upset you. Please, Most Illustrious Goddess, accept my most extreme apologies."
"It's all right, Love," Unicorn sighed as her thoughts began to sound distant. "You did not know."
"These other ones, the ones with the measurable power," he said quickly, to change the subject. "Can they do what we can?"
"Of course they can't!" Unicorn laughed. "Reality won't let them. Only a sorcerer can halt the sun, alter time, resurrect the dead, hop from one universe to another, skip dimensions and control the very fabric of Reality. That's why it hates you so much."-- from Moon Child Memoirs: Separated soul, pgs 26-27 Chapter 3
EScape to Ellse Where: Chapter 4
Katara passed the linen leaf she held to the king, who scanned it, then handed it to Hyllaell. Both turned a funny colour as they read the page. Katara saw this as a good sign.
"Daughter, do you propose that we actually use this as a defense?" Hyllaell asked as the king made gagging sounds in his throat.
"I do," Katara said. She looked down at Alberon, smiled, and then added. "I also propose that we use the arrows tipped with Crazy Crystals."
"Crazy Crystals?" Hyllaell asked of his grinning daughter. "What do you mean?"
"I mean the crystals that drive a person crazy as they destroy that person's nervous system." Her sapphire-hued eyes glinted as she looked at the king. "Like the crystal that killed Queen Allaella by causing her fall into that quarry. They're easy to find. Just search for a crystal that looks like Ellfstane's eyes."
"This weapon," Hyllaell asked, "what is it called?"
"Ellfshot," Alberon replied. "So your worships, what d'you say?"
"I vote aye," said Hyllaell.
"Then so do I," the king responded. "The king votes aye."
"Thanks, your worships," Alberon said, before Katara could answer. "Katara, can I play with your amethyst unicorn now?"
"Yes, you can," Katara said through her smile. "Pardon me, your Excellencies, but the child wishes his reward for his part of the discoveries."
"You may retire, Sorceress Katara," the king replied. Alberon tugged on Katara's hand hard enough to pull her off-balance.
Alberon and Katara ran back through the palace and up the twelve flights of stairs in the tower. By the time they had reached her door, she was certain that she had become a candidate for heart failure. Alberon made a dash for her down-filled chair and threw himself into it. Katara saw Ellfstane on her stool with a piece of linen in his hand. There was a frown on his face and the joyous violet colour disappeared from his eyes. When she thought her legs had recovered from her run, she walked over to the table.
"What's on that page?" she asked as she came up behind the king's second son.
"It is a spell," Ellfstane's voice was emotionless, a mere ghost of his usually vibrant tone. "The Burrowers created it in case the Traders refused the peace treaty. This spell turns a tunnel or cavern into a separate world. It seals the user into the earth. The person in this bubble has air to breath, grass beneath his feet, and a sky above his head, and all of it is below the ground."
"Why does that depress you?" she asked as she read the cryptic script on the linen square.
"What if we have to use this?" Ellfstane asked, as a small snore came from the vicinity of the chair.--pgs. 40-41 chapter 4 of Escape to Ellse Where, book one of the Ellfaerran Diaries.
"Daughter, do you propose that we actually use this as a defense?" Hyllaell asked as the king made gagging sounds in his throat.
"I do," Katara said. She looked down at Alberon, smiled, and then added. "I also propose that we use the arrows tipped with Crazy Crystals."
"Crazy Crystals?" Hyllaell asked of his grinning daughter. "What do you mean?"
"I mean the crystals that drive a person crazy as they destroy that person's nervous system." Her sapphire-hued eyes glinted as she looked at the king. "Like the crystal that killed Queen Allaella by causing her fall into that quarry. They're easy to find. Just search for a crystal that looks like Ellfstane's eyes."
"This weapon," Hyllaell asked, "what is it called?"
"Ellfshot," Alberon replied. "So your worships, what d'you say?"
"I vote aye," said Hyllaell.
"Then so do I," the king responded. "The king votes aye."
"Thanks, your worships," Alberon said, before Katara could answer. "Katara, can I play with your amethyst unicorn now?"
"Yes, you can," Katara said through her smile. "Pardon me, your Excellencies, but the child wishes his reward for his part of the discoveries."
"You may retire, Sorceress Katara," the king replied. Alberon tugged on Katara's hand hard enough to pull her off-balance.
Alberon and Katara ran back through the palace and up the twelve flights of stairs in the tower. By the time they had reached her door, she was certain that she had become a candidate for heart failure. Alberon made a dash for her down-filled chair and threw himself into it. Katara saw Ellfstane on her stool with a piece of linen in his hand. There was a frown on his face and the joyous violet colour disappeared from his eyes. When she thought her legs had recovered from her run, she walked over to the table.
"What's on that page?" she asked as she came up behind the king's second son.
"It is a spell," Ellfstane's voice was emotionless, a mere ghost of his usually vibrant tone. "The Burrowers created it in case the Traders refused the peace treaty. This spell turns a tunnel or cavern into a separate world. It seals the user into the earth. The person in this bubble has air to breath, grass beneath his feet, and a sky above his head, and all of it is below the ground."
"Why does that depress you?" she asked as she read the cryptic script on the linen square.
"What if we have to use this?" Ellfstane asked, as a small snore came from the vicinity of the chair.--pgs. 40-41 chapter 4 of Escape to Ellse Where, book one of the Ellfaerran Diaries.
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter 4
"I will require a spy in the southern Saxon's camp," Purrae replied, his voice lost its sing-song cadence and became very direct. "I have arranged for one to infiltrate York, so that will not be a problem. The best time to spy is at night, when they will be gathering to discuss their plans. I cannot do it as I am keeping watch over La Lune herself and Huge will be in the north, as he is my usual spy. Moon Child, you already know enough to act as my southern watcher; that is my point."
"You want me to spy on people?" Moon Child was aghast.
"If you would not mind," Purrae replied as his navy blue eyes became black once again, and a pink glow entered his pupils.
"You want me to become invisible and listen to their plans?" she pressed. "Or use the flowing waves to see if any are planning a rebellion, right?"
"That is most correct," Purrae's voice and expression were both sombre. He knew what he was asking of her and all it entailed. "I would not ask, except it is the only way to overturn L'Enfant de La Lune's attempts to destroy Uther, Ambrosius, and Merlinus Pendragon."
"Merlin!"
"Yes, great Moon Goddess, Merlin," Purrae sighed and looked up at the calcium cliffs. "My other pupil is the son of King Ambrosius, albeit an illegitimate one, incapable of ruling."
"Well, it's obvious your days as an ambassador have not been forgotten," Phoebe Artemis sneered.
"I'll do it, then," Moon Child replied.
"What?" the moon shrieked.
"I'll spy on the southern Saxons, on one condition," it hurt Moon Child to see Purrae's face fall from hope to caution the way it did, but she needed to take that one chance of returning her life to normal. "I'll be your watcher only if you agree to continue as my tutor."
"I beg your pardon?" Purrae stepped back as he turned, his sandy cloak in one hand, and stared at Moon Child.
"I said I'd do it only as long as you continue to instruct me in the ways of Sorcery," she was proud of the firmness in her voice, it didn't once betray her bone deep fear. "You stop teaching me and your source of southern Saxon information will dry up."
"Very well," he replied as he shook sand out of the black materiel and flung it over his right shoulder. "I will continue to tempt fate and the entity who rules Reality by being your sorcery master in exchange for information about the Saxons. I can see your realistic guardians have given you the mercenary edge all prosaic people possess when they deeal with Fantasy's enchanters."
"I'll do what I have to, Master Purrae," she replied as relief coursed through her. She got him back.--pgs. 48-49 Moon Child Memoirs book two: Secret Sorcerer chapter 4
Separated Soul Chapter 4
""Murdered?" Shadow's Dawn , who was Feline, could not keep the astonishment out of his voice as he spoke and bolted upright on the bed. "You mean you are dead?"
"Well, not exactly," La Lune replied, her voice sounded confused as if she herself did not truly comprehend what she was attempting to explain. "You see, it didn't work, not completely anyway. So, I'm stuck halfway between life and death with no way of completing the journey in either direction."
"You still eat and sleep," Feline said, in an attempt to force her into saying more.
"Only when you're here," She replied with a weary sigh. "Or when company is due. It puts them at ease somewhat, lowering some of their suspicions and their defenses. This way they don't realize they can't kill me."
"Because you are already dead?" Feline asked his voice soft in sympathy. Death was a state he never wanted to learn about first hand.
"Something like that," she smiled the sad smile Porpoise always used. It caused a terrible pain in Feline's chest to see it on La Lune's face.
"What about the Celt?" Feline asked, although he knew the answer. He just wanted to ease that pain in his heart and erase his late friend's expression from La Lune's lips. "Was he the one who tried to end your life?"
"No, he didn't and neither did any of his relations," she sighed, and then her face contorted with defiance. "But a Celt did try to steal my life and it's the thought that counts!"--from pages 34-35 of Moon Child Memoirs book 1: Separated Soul chapter 4.
"Well, not exactly," La Lune replied, her voice sounded confused as if she herself did not truly comprehend what she was attempting to explain. "You see, it didn't work, not completely anyway. So, I'm stuck halfway between life and death with no way of completing the journey in either direction."
"You still eat and sleep," Feline said, in an attempt to force her into saying more.
"Only when you're here," She replied with a weary sigh. "Or when company is due. It puts them at ease somewhat, lowering some of their suspicions and their defenses. This way they don't realize they can't kill me."
"Because you are already dead?" Feline asked his voice soft in sympathy. Death was a state he never wanted to learn about first hand.
"Something like that," she smiled the sad smile Porpoise always used. It caused a terrible pain in Feline's chest to see it on La Lune's face.
"What about the Celt?" Feline asked, although he knew the answer. He just wanted to ease that pain in his heart and erase his late friend's expression from La Lune's lips. "Was he the one who tried to end your life?"
"No, he didn't and neither did any of his relations," she sighed, and then her face contorted with defiance. "But a Celt did try to steal my life and it's the thought that counts!"--from pages 34-35 of Moon Child Memoirs book 1: Separated Soul chapter 4.
Escape to ellse where: chapter 5
The wielder of this spell could design the lower, or inner, world to his or her liking. Only human food crops could not be changed. This meant that said spell-caster could populate the underground world with purple ponies, rainbow rooks, and orange oysters. These bizarre creatures could stand in fields of crimson clover, on burgundy branches, and in saffron seas.
Thankfully, Katara did not get that carried away with her interior decorating, yet. I can only hope things stay just
mildly weird.
I read the sheet twice. One thought was at the top on my mind: we may have to use this. I also remembered the commands that Katara issued just before I left for my Majority Ritual. I had followed all but one of her orders--I had not taken refuge in a deserted mine or empty cave. I would like to say that my failure to comply was due to my compelling sense of duty to my people, but the simple truth is that I forgot. It completely slipped my mind until the moment that I read that spell sheet.
As I sat there remembering the instructions that I had forgotten, and my realization of Caraell's duplicity, Katara's scrying mirror came to life. The midnight black glass faded into a pearl gray. The center of the glass cleared and displayed a disheartening scene: I was using the Burrower's separate world spell.
The mage held for about a minute and thirty seconds, and then the glass went dark so suddenly that i dropped the linen sheet. While I was retrieving the square of unbleached linen, I became aware that this spell was important and that my people may have to use it. That thought was extremely depressing. With each passing second, my mood got darker and more forbidding. Not even the blur of Alberon throwing himself into Katara's only chair helped my mood. I was so wrapped up in my depression that I did not hear Katara enter the room.
I am sure I jumped a good six inches when I heard her voice behind me. My mood was so dark, I don't even know what was said except for the last part of the conversation. I am pretty sure that I gave voice to my fear concerning the spell I had found, for I definitely remember Katara answering my internal question.
"We already have two effective weapons. We won't need this," she said.
Katara sounded so sure of herself that I found myself nodding, despite my dark and depressing vision.
I hate to say it, but she did not dispel my mood. After the tower incident, I realized that I could not be suicidal. It was extremely selfish of me to feel that way. every day reports of more villages and towns falling to the Firbolgs and their Fomorii masters crossed my father's desk. Soon we wouldn't have as much as an acre to call our own. I should have been thinking of those poor Ellfs who were no more instead of myself.
Katara told me about her meeting with the king and her father. She told me how Caraell acted and how the impertinent Alberon handled his first encounter with a powerful man. I barely even smiled. I am certain now that Alberon changed my father's opinion of Katara. Her report cheered me up somewhat, especially when she told me to build a new palace that was all one level. In many ways, I am glad that my depression did not lift.
When I left Katara's workroom, my mind was still stuck on that spell I had found and the vision I saw in her mirror. Caraell was waiting for me at the base of the stairs. If I had not been so wrapped up in what had happened to me in that room while Katara was gone, I would probably have turned and tried to sprint back up the stairs. AS it was, all Caraell had to do was grab my elbow and steer me out of the palace. It was not until a drop of rain fell on my nose that I noticed I was no longer in my father's nice warm hall or in the spell-protected parameters of the castle grounds. When I came out of my fog, I realized that I could not even see it. I stopped walking.
This angered Caraell. After I had turned and started to walk back home, my brother grabbed both of my arms above the elbow, hauled me around, and forced me to walk in front of him up a little-used path. Just beyond the bend in the path stood the Firbolg who spat on my boot that first day; he held a rope and a canvas sack in one hand and a knife in the other. When he saw Caraell, he sheathed his knife and held out his hand.
Caraell pushed me toward the Firbolg and said, "I have kept my part of the bargain, now keep yours."
"Don't you worry, Caraell," the Firbolg replied as he grabbed the front of my jerkin. "A deal with Balor in always honored."
I did not wait to see or hear anything else. I pictured lovely ivy vines wrapping around both of them, ensuring my freedom. Neither man noticed me softly saying the release phrase, nor did the notice the vines that grew up their bodies until the vines tightened to a stranglehold. As soon as the Firbolg's grip on my jerkin loosened, I tore free and ran back down the path. As I ran, I spotted a crevice that would just barely allow me to enter. The rowan tree that stood next to it was a familiar one. The crevice opened up into a fair-sized cave that Katara and I used to play in as children. If it had been any other day, I would probably have run past the crevice and continued on to the dubious safety of the palace. Since the spell I had read and worried about was still fresh in my mind, it dictated my actions.
I squeezed myself into the crevice, through the tunnel, and into the dark, damp cave. When I heard my brother's voice just outside the crevice, I hastily built up an image in my mind and used the release word of the spell, which sealed the back of the crevice. It worked quite well, despite the purple ponies, rainbow rooks and red foliage.----from pgs. 54-57 chapter 5 Escape to Ellse Where, Book 1 of the Ellfaerran Diaries
Thankfully, Katara did not get that carried away with her interior decorating, yet. I can only hope things stay just
mildly weird.
I read the sheet twice. One thought was at the top on my mind: we may have to use this. I also remembered the commands that Katara issued just before I left for my Majority Ritual. I had followed all but one of her orders--I had not taken refuge in a deserted mine or empty cave. I would like to say that my failure to comply was due to my compelling sense of duty to my people, but the simple truth is that I forgot. It completely slipped my mind until the moment that I read that spell sheet.
As I sat there remembering the instructions that I had forgotten, and my realization of Caraell's duplicity, Katara's scrying mirror came to life. The midnight black glass faded into a pearl gray. The center of the glass cleared and displayed a disheartening scene: I was using the Burrower's separate world spell.
The mage held for about a minute and thirty seconds, and then the glass went dark so suddenly that i dropped the linen sheet. While I was retrieving the square of unbleached linen, I became aware that this spell was important and that my people may have to use it. That thought was extremely depressing. With each passing second, my mood got darker and more forbidding. Not even the blur of Alberon throwing himself into Katara's only chair helped my mood. I was so wrapped up in my depression that I did not hear Katara enter the room.
I am sure I jumped a good six inches when I heard her voice behind me. My mood was so dark, I don't even know what was said except for the last part of the conversation. I am pretty sure that I gave voice to my fear concerning the spell I had found, for I definitely remember Katara answering my internal question.
"We already have two effective weapons. We won't need this," she said.
Katara sounded so sure of herself that I found myself nodding, despite my dark and depressing vision.
I hate to say it, but she did not dispel my mood. After the tower incident, I realized that I could not be suicidal. It was extremely selfish of me to feel that way. every day reports of more villages and towns falling to the Firbolgs and their Fomorii masters crossed my father's desk. Soon we wouldn't have as much as an acre to call our own. I should have been thinking of those poor Ellfs who were no more instead of myself.
Katara told me about her meeting with the king and her father. She told me how Caraell acted and how the impertinent Alberon handled his first encounter with a powerful man. I barely even smiled. I am certain now that Alberon changed my father's opinion of Katara. Her report cheered me up somewhat, especially when she told me to build a new palace that was all one level. In many ways, I am glad that my depression did not lift.
When I left Katara's workroom, my mind was still stuck on that spell I had found and the vision I saw in her mirror. Caraell was waiting for me at the base of the stairs. If I had not been so wrapped up in what had happened to me in that room while Katara was gone, I would probably have turned and tried to sprint back up the stairs. AS it was, all Caraell had to do was grab my elbow and steer me out of the palace. It was not until a drop of rain fell on my nose that I noticed I was no longer in my father's nice warm hall or in the spell-protected parameters of the castle grounds. When I came out of my fog, I realized that I could not even see it. I stopped walking.
This angered Caraell. After I had turned and started to walk back home, my brother grabbed both of my arms above the elbow, hauled me around, and forced me to walk in front of him up a little-used path. Just beyond the bend in the path stood the Firbolg who spat on my boot that first day; he held a rope and a canvas sack in one hand and a knife in the other. When he saw Caraell, he sheathed his knife and held out his hand.
Caraell pushed me toward the Firbolg and said, "I have kept my part of the bargain, now keep yours."
"Don't you worry, Caraell," the Firbolg replied as he grabbed the front of my jerkin. "A deal with Balor in always honored."
I did not wait to see or hear anything else. I pictured lovely ivy vines wrapping around both of them, ensuring my freedom. Neither man noticed me softly saying the release phrase, nor did the notice the vines that grew up their bodies until the vines tightened to a stranglehold. As soon as the Firbolg's grip on my jerkin loosened, I tore free and ran back down the path. As I ran, I spotted a crevice that would just barely allow me to enter. The rowan tree that stood next to it was a familiar one. The crevice opened up into a fair-sized cave that Katara and I used to play in as children. If it had been any other day, I would probably have run past the crevice and continued on to the dubious safety of the palace. Since the spell I had read and worried about was still fresh in my mind, it dictated my actions.
I squeezed myself into the crevice, through the tunnel, and into the dark, damp cave. When I heard my brother's voice just outside the crevice, I hastily built up an image in my mind and used the release word of the spell, which sealed the back of the crevice. It worked quite well, despite the purple ponies, rainbow rooks and red foliage.----from pgs. 54-57 chapter 5 Escape to Ellse Where, Book 1 of the Ellfaerran Diaries
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter 5
A strange rushing sound filled Feline's ears and his spoon dropped from his nerveless fingers. A tickle ran over his scalp, as his hair tried to stand on end. A feeling like melted ice galloped through his body as he slumped in his chair. Feline's eyes began to lose focus as the lids descended over them and his head drifted backward. The touch of the Para's mind eased some of the disputed sorcerer's nervousness, but not all. It was not Morrigan, but it was someone else trying to take control of him.
"Let go, Feline," the Parapsychologist said hypnotically. "Give in. Return to us and be honoured. My masters have agreed no more cages. You will be treated as our guest."
"A great discovery," Sapphire's voice, thick with disgust, broke the hypnotic trance the alien was trying to weave. "They'd be crazy not to use any way they could to keep you in their hands, even honour."
"Don't listen to him, Feline," the Para said as he tried to recreate the web the other sorcerer severed. "You know we won't let you be hurt. You're very valuable to us. You know this."
"As a thing," Sapphire retorted.
"You know the truth is in my mind," the Para replied. "Look in my thoughts and you'll see the truth."
Feline hesitated to do as the alien asked. A memory from the first year the star man tormented the sorcerer surfaced. The extraterrestrial tormentor nearly abducted Feline simply by gaining a hold on the sorcerer's mind. If the alien tried that again Feline would lose all choice. He would be a prisoner on a strange planet once again.
"You are hesitating, why?" there was suspicion in the Para's voice. "What will happen if our minds touch?"
"Nothing," Feline and Sapphire were quick to reply.
"Then why hesitate?" The Para's voice became smooth and coaxing. " If nothing will happen, you have nothing to fear. Look into my thoughts, for they're open to you."
"Very well," Sapphire replied for Feline, "but only a quick touch. Feline is a very busy being and can't spend all day playing games with you.
Reluctantly, Feline sent out a tendril of thought and brushed against the Para's mind. The touch was tenuous, just as the last one had been. From what he could see, the Para was telling the truth, but his oath to the young one rang in Feline's mind. What would that little one do if ever the sorcerer broke his word and returned to that other galaxy?
"He wants you to come back, Feline," the hypnotic voice replied. "The answer's here, in my mind, you just have to look deeper."
As the experiment was free from any of the problems that occurred during the first attemp the sorcerer dared to dive just a little deeper within the Para's mind. What the Para said was indeed there. Still nervous of the alien's motives, Feline tried to pull back, only to find he could not. An overwhelming rush of memories and sensations washed over him as the net of thought sealed around Feline. The Sorcerer's very self began to be drawn into the Para's reality.
"So that's it!" the alien's voice was triumphant. "That's why the ghost sorcerer broke this net once before, and that's why you feared the touch of minds. Come Feline, stop struggling. You can't break this net."
Huge, meanwhile, had become aware that something was wrong. He grabbed Feline's hand and flinched at the icy laxness in the limp limb. A pale lavender haze began to emanate from Feline's body as he began to fade away. The sapphire rabbit, on the other hand, blazed with azure light. Shaking and shouting did nothing to draw Feline bak, and he was becoming less substantial with every shake huge gave him. Finally, the half-breed stopped. He didn't know what to do to reclaim Feline.
"Your friends don't have the power to free you," the voice continued to say in Feline's mind as it drew him away. "You're in too deep. I didn't want to do this to you, my dear Purrae Pollaer alias Feline, but you're not safe here. At least where I am, Reality wants you alive."
The psychic net was so firmly woven around Feline's mental self that he could not move. The alien was right, he could not escape. The last thing Feline wanted to do was go back to that dangerous culture with its spaceships and complex intrigues."
"I wonder," a voice, a very familiar voice, replied. It sounded like Moon Child but it was not and it used La Lune's tones, but it was not the witch either. It was Porpoise.
Aqua mist enveloped the net, dissolving it as a teal tendril wrapped around the sorcerer's soul. There was a mental wrench as the tendril, which was solidifying into a tentacle, pulled Feline out of the dissipating net and the mist of aquamarine.
"Oops, I broke your net," the impish voice of Porpoise, which both of her sides were missing, said gaily as she effortlessly removed her old friend from the Para's mental trap. "Naughty me."
Her sad laughter and twinkling melancholy wrapped around Feline as he returned to his body, which was solid once again. his deep lapis eyes opened to a teal haze, through which he saw the anxious face of his spy and one time friend.
"Feline?" Huge asked as he shook the small man once more. "Are you okay?...---from pgs. 56-58 Moon Child Memoirs book 2: Secret Sorcerer chapter 5.
Separated soul: chapter 5
At first nothing happened. Then, a few moments later, she felt an immense surge of power course through her and exit via the tip of the wand. She just barely felt her hand move to point the crystal tip at her master as the wave of magic crashed through her. The sensation continued for she didn't know how long. It could have been hours, or the merest of moments. When it finally stopped, and she opened her eyes, she found a small green tree frog in the sand by her head. There was something strange about the frog: he had bright pink eyes and they were glowing.
"Very good Moon Child," said the frog, but with Pollaer's voice. "You performed the spell correctly."
"M-master?" she stuttered as she stared at the tiny creature while she rolled onto her knees. "Is that really you? What's wrong with your eyes? Did I do that?"
"Yes, Moon Child, this is me," Pollaer replied solemnly from the lips of the amphibian. "Do not worry about the glow from my eyes, I am creating that. I told you I would prepare for all eventualities."
"So," she said, quite unsure of herself. "What now?"
"Now you shall attempt to change me back," Pollaer replied in a calm voice.
"Now?" her voice came out as a squeak as anxiety clutched at her throat. What if she couldn't change him back? When the frog nodded she took a deep breath and muttered to herself. "Well, I'll give it a try anyway."
"That is all I can possibly ask of you," the amphibious Pollaer said, as if he knew what she was feeling and thinking. "If all else fails I can repair the damage. Now, proceed, Moon Child, for I believe you can do it."
Master Pollaer's belief stilled her anxiety and she concentrated all of her mind on how Pollaer looked before, with his eyes closed and sitting in that awful position. The pulling on her spirit was even stronger than before and the power she felt in her body was stronger as well. She placed her wish for his return to his old form to the forefront of her mind and the power she felt grew even more. Just when she felt herself about to be torn asunder by the power she was tapping, she deliberately pointed her wand in the direction of the frog and practically screamed the keyword.
Even through her closed eyelids she could see the intense light which came from the tip of her wand, as the magical breakers crashed through her body once more. If anything the sensations she felt this time were even more intense. She suddenly understood how sorcerers could lose their minds so frequently. When the last wave of enchantment faded away Moon Child felt drained and spent. She opened her eyes to see Pollaer as he was before the experiment in transformation. The smoothness of his rising as he stood testified to his familiarity with that awful sitting position. His eyes still glowed with that inhuman pink light as he looked down at her and offered her a gloved hand."
"Well done, Moon Child," he smiled as he helped her back onto her feet then dropped her hand and stepped back. The glow from his eyes began to extend to the rest of his body. "I knew you could do it. Now, you wanted to know about stars, did you not? Very simply, they are immense ovoids of cosmic gas that are continually burning. Their heat is dispersed through space to all of the round rocks which orbit them. These rocks are called planets and, sometimes, they are populated by a variety of different beings, even some like us. Will that do child? I know you speak to them quite often. Now, I have something I want to ask you. I am trying to convince the southern Celts to abandon the plains and move west for their own protection. Will you help me to do this?"
"Yes, Master," the stunned, but happy, Moon Child replied. "I'll do whatever you ask of me."
"Thank you, Moon Child," Pollaer said as the light increased until it obscured his body and stung his pupil's eyes. After the light faded, Moon Child could see that Master Pollaer was no longer there.
"Well, Mother," she said as she looked up to the sky. "Is he so insane?"
"YES!" the moon shouted, her voice reeking with anger.
"Are you upset because he knew the answer?" Moon Child could not stop herself from asking. "Or because he spoiled your plan to humiliate him?"
"Both!" the moon said, her voice tinged with frigid anger. "You should've pressed him for an answer at the very beginning. He had time to read your mind the way you handled it. There was no way he could've known the answer on his own!"
"I wonder?" Moon Child said just as the solitary star voice said the same thing. Moon Child felt the oddest sensation in her chest as if some sort of sound was trying to get out, only she did not know what it could possibly be. She wondered if a small man in gold could tell her what it was, only she could put no name to the figure and she definitely did not know who he was.
"There is more to this sorcery than I thought," that lone voice continued. "Perhaps, just perhaps, we were wrong all, this time. He and his bear strict watching from now on."---from pg.s 53-55 Moon Child Memoirs Book I: Separated Soul, chapter 5.
Escape to ellse where: chapter 6
"What is so interesting, Ellf?" The Firbolg's voice was directly behind Caraell. "Why are you staring at the ground?"
"This tree with the crevice next to it was a meeting place for my brother and Katara when they were children," Caraell replied. He showed the Firbolg the tuft of velvet and pointed at the ground. "This tuft of material and small footprint hint that my brother has been this way. The footprint is about his size and the velvet is the same colour as his trousers."
"So then what?" the Firbolg asked. "Did he crawl into the crevice? Did he climb the tree? Did he continue on? How does this help us?"
"The footprints stop here. He did not go any farther on foot," Caraell replied. "He could never climb trees, so he is not there."
"What about the crevice?" the Firbolg demanded. "Could he have wriggled into that? He is incredibly small and that crevice is large."
The Firbolg's question startled Caraell. He hadn't thought about the importance of the crevice. It did look large enough for Ellfstane to enter comfortably. Before his sense of guilt could stop him, Caraell sent out a probing thought. The answer filled him with relief.
"No, he couldn't enter the crevice," Caraell reported his findings to the only sandy-haired Celt to serve the Fomorii. "It's only four inches deep. Not even Ellfstane clould fit into that."
"Then what is the answer?" the Firbolg demanded.
"Earlier I said that my brother had gone no farther on foot."
"So?" the Firbolg asked harshly.
"So, Katara must have changed his form and flown off with him. " Caraell's mind instantly latched onto that explanation. "He's probably back at the palace now. Possibly hidden in Katara's workroom with the child she brought back from the Emerald Isle."
"I shall be back in two days," The sandy-haired Celt waved his dagger under Caraell's nose as he issued his ultimatum. "If your brother has not returned or been found by that time then, to show your good faith to Balor, you shall accompany me back to the encampment of the Firbolgs and will fight alongside the Celts and Fomors that you have given promises to. If you do not do so, then you shall die. Do you understand?"
"It's understood. I shall have Ellfstane here in two days." Caraell's voice was firm and confident as he spoke to the Firbolg. Not a hint of his apprehension escaped to be seen or heard by the burly Celt before him.
"He had better be," the Celt replied, his voice resembled a growl, "or you shall join the fighting forces of the Celts."--- from pg.s 65-66 chapter 6 Ellfaerran Diaries book 1: Escape to Ellse Where.
"This tree with the crevice next to it was a meeting place for my brother and Katara when they were children," Caraell replied. He showed the Firbolg the tuft of velvet and pointed at the ground. "This tuft of material and small footprint hint that my brother has been this way. The footprint is about his size and the velvet is the same colour as his trousers."
"So then what?" the Firbolg asked. "Did he crawl into the crevice? Did he climb the tree? Did he continue on? How does this help us?"
"The footprints stop here. He did not go any farther on foot," Caraell replied. "He could never climb trees, so he is not there."
"What about the crevice?" the Firbolg demanded. "Could he have wriggled into that? He is incredibly small and that crevice is large."
The Firbolg's question startled Caraell. He hadn't thought about the importance of the crevice. It did look large enough for Ellfstane to enter comfortably. Before his sense of guilt could stop him, Caraell sent out a probing thought. The answer filled him with relief.
"No, he couldn't enter the crevice," Caraell reported his findings to the only sandy-haired Celt to serve the Fomorii. "It's only four inches deep. Not even Ellfstane clould fit into that."
"Then what is the answer?" the Firbolg demanded.
"Earlier I said that my brother had gone no farther on foot."
"So?" the Firbolg asked harshly.
"So, Katara must have changed his form and flown off with him. " Caraell's mind instantly latched onto that explanation. "He's probably back at the palace now. Possibly hidden in Katara's workroom with the child she brought back from the Emerald Isle."
"I shall be back in two days," The sandy-haired Celt waved his dagger under Caraell's nose as he issued his ultimatum. "If your brother has not returned or been found by that time then, to show your good faith to Balor, you shall accompany me back to the encampment of the Firbolgs and will fight alongside the Celts and Fomors that you have given promises to. If you do not do so, then you shall die. Do you understand?"
"It's understood. I shall have Ellfstane here in two days." Caraell's voice was firm and confident as he spoke to the Firbolg. Not a hint of his apprehension escaped to be seen or heard by the burly Celt before him.
"He had better be," the Celt replied, his voice resembled a growl, "or you shall join the fighting forces of the Celts."--- from pg.s 65-66 chapter 6 Ellfaerran Diaries book 1: Escape to Ellse Where.
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter 6
The garnets around her throat began to increase in temperature, almost as if they truly became droplets of her blood dripping around her neck. The scent of blood was in her nostrils as a feeling like cold seawater encased her chalk flesh.
"Is that so, little gryphon?" a male voice asked in La Lune's mind.
"Yes," she replied as she raised her other hand to the droplet shaped stones in her necklace, which were once her life fluid.
"Why is that, my gryphon?" the voice asked.
"I feel pain and I'm crying," La Lune replied as the hardness of the stones reassured her. "Next I shall probably blush. All are physically impossible for a witch."
"Did you not hear anything your familiar said to you all those years ago?" his voice was sad, but had a slight happy lilt to it, even though it did sound hesitant.
"About what?" the cold clamminess had her completely in its grasp at that point and everything was darkening. A sense that she went through this once before overwhelmed her.
"You are not a normal witch, my little gryphon," the voice said as La Lune tried to close out the watery darkness before her eyes.
"So he said," she whispered as her old scar began to burn, as if it was new opened and touched by salt.
"You can change sides at any time," the voice replied. "Once, long ago, you were a white witch in the service of others. You lived in opulence and splendour and you died to protect those others, or you would have if someone had not interfered."
"I don't remember that," La Lune replied as weakness leeched her body's resources.
"No, you cannot, as you lost your past with your life," the voice replied as before. "But ask yourself, La Lune, why you remained. Why did you not die when your life ended? The answer could very easily astound you, my gryphon."
The voice faded and disappeared as the words echoed in La Lune's mind. She completely forgot the other mental presence while speaking with the male voice in her mind. The twinkling sadness of the voice surprised her when it spoke.
"So now the Ancient Gryphon himself has entered the scene," the joyous melancholy voice said,
"What's happening?" La Lune whispered, as her consciousness seemed to fade. "Who's Ancient Gryphon?"
"As to the last, he is an archaic god of witchcraft, forgotten by most Ellfs," the joy was gone from the melancholy. "As for the first, you are reliving your death and this time you may actually die."
"No," she gasped as her thoughts began to fade.
"You have obviously not fulfilled your purpose," the voice replied in an unconcerned manner. "And it does not appear that you ever will. Now, you will die."
"What must I do to stop this?" La Lune asked as panic made an attempt to grab her mind. It missed.
"Learn about your past, La Lune," the voice was hard and so like La Lune's own. "You were not always what you are and long ago you had a name--a true name--of your own. You shall learn your purpose then, and perhaps you'll live."
"I'll try," La Lune mumbled. "Please, make this stop."
"Then have courage," the teal voice replied.--from pg.s 68-70 of Moon Child Memoirs Book 2: Secret Sorcerer Chapter 6.
"Is that so, little gryphon?" a male voice asked in La Lune's mind.
"Yes," she replied as she raised her other hand to the droplet shaped stones in her necklace, which were once her life fluid.
"Why is that, my gryphon?" the voice asked.
"I feel pain and I'm crying," La Lune replied as the hardness of the stones reassured her. "Next I shall probably blush. All are physically impossible for a witch."
"Did you not hear anything your familiar said to you all those years ago?" his voice was sad, but had a slight happy lilt to it, even though it did sound hesitant.
"About what?" the cold clamminess had her completely in its grasp at that point and everything was darkening. A sense that she went through this once before overwhelmed her.
"You are not a normal witch, my little gryphon," the voice said as La Lune tried to close out the watery darkness before her eyes.
"So he said," she whispered as her old scar began to burn, as if it was new opened and touched by salt.
"You can change sides at any time," the voice replied. "Once, long ago, you were a white witch in the service of others. You lived in opulence and splendour and you died to protect those others, or you would have if someone had not interfered."
"I don't remember that," La Lune replied as weakness leeched her body's resources.
"No, you cannot, as you lost your past with your life," the voice replied as before. "But ask yourself, La Lune, why you remained. Why did you not die when your life ended? The answer could very easily astound you, my gryphon."
The voice faded and disappeared as the words echoed in La Lune's mind. She completely forgot the other mental presence while speaking with the male voice in her mind. The twinkling sadness of the voice surprised her when it spoke.
"So now the Ancient Gryphon himself has entered the scene," the joyous melancholy voice said,
"What's happening?" La Lune whispered, as her consciousness seemed to fade. "Who's Ancient Gryphon?"
"As to the last, he is an archaic god of witchcraft, forgotten by most Ellfs," the joy was gone from the melancholy. "As for the first, you are reliving your death and this time you may actually die."
"No," she gasped as her thoughts began to fade.
"You have obviously not fulfilled your purpose," the voice replied in an unconcerned manner. "And it does not appear that you ever will. Now, you will die."
"What must I do to stop this?" La Lune asked as panic made an attempt to grab her mind. It missed.
"Learn about your past, La Lune," the voice was hard and so like La Lune's own. "You were not always what you are and long ago you had a name--a true name--of your own. You shall learn your purpose then, and perhaps you'll live."
"I'll try," La Lune mumbled. "Please, make this stop."
"Then have courage," the teal voice replied.--from pg.s 68-70 of Moon Child Memoirs Book 2: Secret Sorcerer Chapter 6.
Separated Soul: Chapter 6
"There is something Familiar about you," an unknown voice said in Feline's mind. "Familiar, and yet not."
"Who are you?" the shape-changing High Sorcerer asked of the voice. He spoke aloud as he did not know in which direction to aim his thoughts.
"You do know that the moon's child speaks to people from other worlds do you not?" the voice asked, in a very superior tone.
"I know she speaks to stars," he replied wearily. "I mean the people of other stars, but what does that have to do with who you are?"
"I am one of those people," was the star man's calm reply.
"I am sorry for being so dense," Feline replied, somewhat uncomfortably, "but why are you speaking to me?"
"You are a controversial issue amongst the star people and the moon deity herself," the star voice replied. "I have been wondering about you for a while, so I decided to get to know you. That is all."
"Controversial?" Feline asked as he stopped and looked up to the lightening sky.
"Many of us do not want you anywhere near the moon's offspring," the star man said, in a conversational tone. "I do not agree with them. I would like to know and understand you before I make any snap judgments about you, or your ability to instruct your moon's daughter in the psychic arts of your world."
"How do you intend to do that, may I ask?" Feline asked with genuine curiosity, although he hoped the alien would keep the explanations short. The sorcerer was very tired and was consumed with a need to sleep.
"I intend to inhabit your mind," the star voice replied, quite calmly. "There is something you are hiding and I think I need to know exactly what it is. So, whether you mind or not, I will make it a habit of examining your deepest,innermost thoughts until I find the secret of your personality."
"What did you just say?!?" Feline exclaimed in shock...and fear. The last thing he wanted, or needed, was for that nosy entity to discover the truth about who Feline really was. It was a discovery that could steal Feline's very life.
"Very interesting, you fear me. You are afraid that I will discover exactly who you and your friends are. I wonder why you want that hidden?" with that statement uttered, the alien left Feline's weary and confused mind.
"What in the world is going on?" Feline asked no one in particular as he rubbed his eyes with the fingers of his right hand.
"Well, you're standin' in a field askin' yourself dumb questions when you're supposed t'be reuniting both halves of our dear departed Porpoise," a decidedly facetious voice replied telepathically. A very familiar voice.
"Shut up, Know-It-All," Feline sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do not have the answers to this scenario."
"What scenario?" Know-It-All asked eagerly.
"Someone spoke to me," Feline sighed again as he realized he had just set himself up as Know-It-All's straight man. He released his nose and looked up. He hands dropped to his hips and he shook his head in resignation.
"Someone spoke to you!?!" Know-It-All exclaimed in alarm. "Oh, wait half a sec that was me! I'm so glad we sorted that out."
"Tell me, has anyone ever laughed at these lame jokes of yours?" Feline could not help asking his friend's assistant. "I know Amethyst does not."
"Okay, so who spoke to you?" Know-It-All asked grumpily. "The moon?"
"No," Feline laughed then instantly became serious. "Actually, it was a distant star.
"Yeah, right," Know-It-All grumbled sulkily.
"It was an inhabitant of a distant star," Feline replied adamantly. "It appears Moon Child has become friends with certain members of the celestial bodies.
Just then he realized he was avoiding mentioning the actual conversation that took place. He wanted to talk about it. He needed to warn Amethyst and Rabbit in case that star man found out about them. He felt an overpoweringly desperate need to inform them of the latest turn of events.
"No you don't," that star voice whispered in the sorcerer's mind. "That conversation is just between us. Your friends need never know what we discussed this evening."
Feline felt the web of hypnotism wrap around his mind as the alien spoke. The mystic voice was soft and compelling as it entrapped his thoughts and pulled him away from Know-It-All. In an attempt to break the hypnotist's hold, Feline brought all his sorcery enhanced power to bear in shaving the voice away.
It worked. The hypnotic web of that extraterrestrial mystic's voice swiftly dissolved, but the alien's vocalization powers remained. The difference was that the alien was the one whose voice was shaky and confused.
"Such power," the voice breathed in awed tones, "and so unfamiliar. I must know more about you, but do not tell...Alberon. Know-It-All's true name is Alberon! I must think about this. Oh, and Feline--as you call yourself--I promise I shall not breathe a word of this momentous event to anyone until my study of you is completed. I expect the same professional courtesy from you."
The voice was gone again, but the unease remained. Feline could smell the star-person's victory as he stood frozen on the plain, staring at the jumbled heap of stones that was once a circular structure sacred to his people. It did not take him any time to realize exactly what the alien's victory alluded to. It discovered the identity of one of his friends and colleagues. Maybe even all of them. That voice probably even discovered the truth about his people, all aspects of them. Such information could answer all the extraterrestrial's questions and seal them off from Moon Child for eternity.
"Feline? Hey Feline," Know-It-All's voice broke into his musings. "Are you there? Ellfaera to Feline, come back to Ellse Where."
"Ellse Where," Feline repeated as a germ of a thought entered his mind.---from pg.s 64-67 of Moon Child Memoirs book 1: Separated Soul-- Chapter 6
"Who are you?" the shape-changing High Sorcerer asked of the voice. He spoke aloud as he did not know in which direction to aim his thoughts.
"You do know that the moon's child speaks to people from other worlds do you not?" the voice asked, in a very superior tone.
"I know she speaks to stars," he replied wearily. "I mean the people of other stars, but what does that have to do with who you are?"
"I am one of those people," was the star man's calm reply.
"I am sorry for being so dense," Feline replied, somewhat uncomfortably, "but why are you speaking to me?"
"You are a controversial issue amongst the star people and the moon deity herself," the star voice replied. "I have been wondering about you for a while, so I decided to get to know you. That is all."
"Controversial?" Feline asked as he stopped and looked up to the lightening sky.
"Many of us do not want you anywhere near the moon's offspring," the star man said, in a conversational tone. "I do not agree with them. I would like to know and understand you before I make any snap judgments about you, or your ability to instruct your moon's daughter in the psychic arts of your world."
"How do you intend to do that, may I ask?" Feline asked with genuine curiosity, although he hoped the alien would keep the explanations short. The sorcerer was very tired and was consumed with a need to sleep.
"I intend to inhabit your mind," the star voice replied, quite calmly. "There is something you are hiding and I think I need to know exactly what it is. So, whether you mind or not, I will make it a habit of examining your deepest,innermost thoughts until I find the secret of your personality."
"What did you just say?!?" Feline exclaimed in shock...and fear. The last thing he wanted, or needed, was for that nosy entity to discover the truth about who Feline really was. It was a discovery that could steal Feline's very life.
"Very interesting, you fear me. You are afraid that I will discover exactly who you and your friends are. I wonder why you want that hidden?" with that statement uttered, the alien left Feline's weary and confused mind.
"What in the world is going on?" Feline asked no one in particular as he rubbed his eyes with the fingers of his right hand.
"Well, you're standin' in a field askin' yourself dumb questions when you're supposed t'be reuniting both halves of our dear departed Porpoise," a decidedly facetious voice replied telepathically. A very familiar voice.
"Shut up, Know-It-All," Feline sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do not have the answers to this scenario."
"What scenario?" Know-It-All asked eagerly.
"Someone spoke to me," Feline sighed again as he realized he had just set himself up as Know-It-All's straight man. He released his nose and looked up. He hands dropped to his hips and he shook his head in resignation.
"Someone spoke to you!?!" Know-It-All exclaimed in alarm. "Oh, wait half a sec that was me! I'm so glad we sorted that out."
"Tell me, has anyone ever laughed at these lame jokes of yours?" Feline could not help asking his friend's assistant. "I know Amethyst does not."
"Okay, so who spoke to you?" Know-It-All asked grumpily. "The moon?"
"No," Feline laughed then instantly became serious. "Actually, it was a distant star.
"Yeah, right," Know-It-All grumbled sulkily.
"It was an inhabitant of a distant star," Feline replied adamantly. "It appears Moon Child has become friends with certain members of the celestial bodies.
Just then he realized he was avoiding mentioning the actual conversation that took place. He wanted to talk about it. He needed to warn Amethyst and Rabbit in case that star man found out about them. He felt an overpoweringly desperate need to inform them of the latest turn of events.
"No you don't," that star voice whispered in the sorcerer's mind. "That conversation is just between us. Your friends need never know what we discussed this evening."
Feline felt the web of hypnotism wrap around his mind as the alien spoke. The mystic voice was soft and compelling as it entrapped his thoughts and pulled him away from Know-It-All. In an attempt to break the hypnotist's hold, Feline brought all his sorcery enhanced power to bear in shaving the voice away.
It worked. The hypnotic web of that extraterrestrial mystic's voice swiftly dissolved, but the alien's vocalization powers remained. The difference was that the alien was the one whose voice was shaky and confused.
"Such power," the voice breathed in awed tones, "and so unfamiliar. I must know more about you, but do not tell...Alberon. Know-It-All's true name is Alberon! I must think about this. Oh, and Feline--as you call yourself--I promise I shall not breathe a word of this momentous event to anyone until my study of you is completed. I expect the same professional courtesy from you."
The voice was gone again, but the unease remained. Feline could smell the star-person's victory as he stood frozen on the plain, staring at the jumbled heap of stones that was once a circular structure sacred to his people. It did not take him any time to realize exactly what the alien's victory alluded to. It discovered the identity of one of his friends and colleagues. Maybe even all of them. That voice probably even discovered the truth about his people, all aspects of them. Such information could answer all the extraterrestrial's questions and seal them off from Moon Child for eternity.
"Feline? Hey Feline," Know-It-All's voice broke into his musings. "Are you there? Ellfaera to Feline, come back to Ellse Where."
"Ellse Where," Feline repeated as a germ of a thought entered his mind.---from pg.s 64-67 of Moon Child Memoirs book 1: Separated Soul-- Chapter 6
Escape to ellse where: Chapter 7
"There's just one thing that's bugging me." Alberon felt secure in asking his question as the traitor was now gone. "Where's Ellfstane?"
"Somewhere else."
"I know that Sorceress Lady," Alberon muttered. "I meant where is he?" Alberon looked up at the Ellfic Sorceress he'd conned into semi-adopting him. "Somewhere else doesn't help. Where in the world is he?"
"That's the point," Katara replied. "He isn't really in our world any longer. If I am right, he has built himself a new one."
"A new one?" Alberon's confusion was such that his mobile eye stopped moving. "How could he do that? Not to mention why?"
"The why is easy: I told him to do it. As for the rest," Katara paused. "That won't be easy. The how comes from a spell that he discovered while we were introducing the Ellfshot to my father and the king. The where is the difficult part. I have a few ideas about where he could be, but they all depend on the amount of power Ellfstane possesses, and that I don't know."
"Why do you need to know the full extent of Ellfstane's power?" Alberon asked as he searched the impassive face of his new guardian.
"It is likely that he would attempt to remove himself from the areas that are under the Celts' influence. Where he is depends on the amount of distance he can fly or translocate." The only expression that escaped from her statue-like composure was the tapping of her fingernails against the Rhodonite casement. "Prince Ellfstane has hiding places all through the Jeweled Isles. Unfortunately, I only know half of them."
"So what do we do now?" Alberon asked in a small voice.
"We tell King Caraedon that Ellfstane is safe," Katara replied, "and hope that is all he needs to hear. If he asks for more information, or if he needs more to recover from his collapse, then I shall think of some excuse to keep him from discovering our ignorance."
"What about Caraell?"
"I'll keep him from discovering the truth about the traitor until he is recovered from Ellfstane's disappearance," Katara's voice was brisk as she moved away from the window. "It will be time enough to tell him the truth when the younger prince returns. Until then, I don't think the information of that negative kind will help the king. We need Caraedon on his feet and in control. We can't allow him to be incapacitated and he dotes on Caraell--not as much as Ellfstane, but he does love the boy. I don't think he could handle the news that his eldest son had kidnapped and tried to deliver the youngest to the enemy. He certainly won't take the news of Caraell's desertion very well, especially after the disappearance of his youngest son. No, King Caraedon would not be able to handle it."
Alberon nodded slowly as he realized the truth of Katara's arguments. He had to fight his natural inclination to make a sarcastic or funny retort as he looked at her drawn face. The dark shadows under her eyes told him how little sleep she managed to scrounge since Ellfstane's disappearance. Alberon couldn't help wondering how much of her distress was caused by him. In a secluded corner of his mind, Alberon secretly hoped that she had worried about him as a mother is said to do.
"Hey, Sorceress Lady," Alberon called as he walked across the room to the door. "Don't worry, everything will work out in the end. You'll see."---from pg.s 77-79 of The Ellfaerran Diaries book one: Escape To Ellse Where, Chapter 7
"Somewhere else."
"I know that Sorceress Lady," Alberon muttered. "I meant where is he?" Alberon looked up at the Ellfic Sorceress he'd conned into semi-adopting him. "Somewhere else doesn't help. Where in the world is he?"
"That's the point," Katara replied. "He isn't really in our world any longer. If I am right, he has built himself a new one."
"A new one?" Alberon's confusion was such that his mobile eye stopped moving. "How could he do that? Not to mention why?"
"The why is easy: I told him to do it. As for the rest," Katara paused. "That won't be easy. The how comes from a spell that he discovered while we were introducing the Ellfshot to my father and the king. The where is the difficult part. I have a few ideas about where he could be, but they all depend on the amount of power Ellfstane possesses, and that I don't know."
"Why do you need to know the full extent of Ellfstane's power?" Alberon asked as he searched the impassive face of his new guardian.
"It is likely that he would attempt to remove himself from the areas that are under the Celts' influence. Where he is depends on the amount of distance he can fly or translocate." The only expression that escaped from her statue-like composure was the tapping of her fingernails against the Rhodonite casement. "Prince Ellfstane has hiding places all through the Jeweled Isles. Unfortunately, I only know half of them."
"So what do we do now?" Alberon asked in a small voice.
"We tell King Caraedon that Ellfstane is safe," Katara replied, "and hope that is all he needs to hear. If he asks for more information, or if he needs more to recover from his collapse, then I shall think of some excuse to keep him from discovering our ignorance."
"What about Caraell?"
"I'll keep him from discovering the truth about the traitor until he is recovered from Ellfstane's disappearance," Katara's voice was brisk as she moved away from the window. "It will be time enough to tell him the truth when the younger prince returns. Until then, I don't think the information of that negative kind will help the king. We need Caraedon on his feet and in control. We can't allow him to be incapacitated and he dotes on Caraell--not as much as Ellfstane, but he does love the boy. I don't think he could handle the news that his eldest son had kidnapped and tried to deliver the youngest to the enemy. He certainly won't take the news of Caraell's desertion very well, especially after the disappearance of his youngest son. No, King Caraedon would not be able to handle it."
Alberon nodded slowly as he realized the truth of Katara's arguments. He had to fight his natural inclination to make a sarcastic or funny retort as he looked at her drawn face. The dark shadows under her eyes told him how little sleep she managed to scrounge since Ellfstane's disappearance. Alberon couldn't help wondering how much of her distress was caused by him. In a secluded corner of his mind, Alberon secretly hoped that she had worried about him as a mother is said to do.
"Hey, Sorceress Lady," Alberon called as he walked across the room to the door. "Don't worry, everything will work out in the end. You'll see."---from pg.s 77-79 of The Ellfaerran Diaries book one: Escape To Ellse Where, Chapter 7
SEcret Sorcerer: Chapter 7
..."Look at all the facts, Feline," Marigold replied as he backed up Rabbit's statement. "Moon Child's side of her blackmailed you into remaining as her instructor, as for La Lune she's been fixated on you for a while."
"That has nothing to do with--"
"Yes, it does," Rabbit's voice was sharp as he cut Feline off. "The only way for Porpoise to come to your aid is for the two sides to amalgamate, partially at least, and they would bring their perceptions of you with them. As Porpoise, the La Lune side would know that Shadow's Dawn and Pollaer are both you, and she is obsessed with both of your identities."
"What are you trying to tell me Rabbit?" Feline asked as he slid down the side of one of the circle's standing stones.
"You will have to go back, I will not allow your replacement," Rabbit replied. "I know Amethyst will back me up on this. La Lune's obsession could easily result in the return of our dear friend and her entrance into the Spiritual Hall of Pearl's deceased sorcerers and other major enchanters."
"Is there a way to bring back a High Sorceress once she's dead?" the voice of Marigold broke through and entered Feline's mind.
"No," Rabbit sighed.
"Yes," Feline whispered as the words of Onyx the Moth God repeated in his mind,
"What?" Rabbit and Marigold asked in unison.
"There is a way, but it is most ancient," Feline's voice was distant as the memory played in his mind. "It would require at least one mortal whose emotions have been touched by the sorcerer in question. The only problem is how to use this to our advantage, and where to find the mortal we require."
Sapphire's strange request found its way into Feline's mind. There was a possible answer. If a sense of gratitude could be entered into the mind of his future godchild, then he could be used to retrieve Porpoise from the realm of death.
"And he might complete his destiny," the morbid tones of Onyx entered Feline's mind at that point.
"You said that he--"
"Would die before that point," Onyx answered. "There is the chance that he will accept your offer and will ask you to Take him. Once the time is right you would simply awaken him and return the man to his own people. If not, then you would have to resurrect him."
"Is that why Sapphire asked me--?"
"Yes," Onyx replied in grim tones. "Only Porpoise and yourself could ever do what must be done. Sapphire would not be able to resurrect the One Who Will Choose, nor convince him to be Taken."
"I guess I'm staying here then," Marigold sighed. "I have to admit that I really likes Porpoise, and I miss here like anything, but she'd never get fixated on me. Remember, she was walking out with you, Feline, before she was abducted and forcibly wed to that Celt. You two were practically engaged. Deep down, both La Lune and Moon Child know that and the emotions of life have spilled into the perceptions of the Separated Sorceress."
"The what?" Rabbit asked in confusion.
"That's the name Destiny gave Porpoise a long time ago," Marigold muttered. "Pearl told her that she was known to Destiny as the Separated Sorceress, just as Feline here is the Stolen Sorcerer."
The terms were familiar to Feline. Onyx of the Ancient Gods used them back on that distant world in the other fantasy realm... ---from Moon Child Memoirs Book Two: Secret Sorcerer chapter 7 pg.s 83-84
"That has nothing to do with--"
"Yes, it does," Rabbit's voice was sharp as he cut Feline off. "The only way for Porpoise to come to your aid is for the two sides to amalgamate, partially at least, and they would bring their perceptions of you with them. As Porpoise, the La Lune side would know that Shadow's Dawn and Pollaer are both you, and she is obsessed with both of your identities."
"What are you trying to tell me Rabbit?" Feline asked as he slid down the side of one of the circle's standing stones.
"You will have to go back, I will not allow your replacement," Rabbit replied. "I know Amethyst will back me up on this. La Lune's obsession could easily result in the return of our dear friend and her entrance into the Spiritual Hall of Pearl's deceased sorcerers and other major enchanters."
"Is there a way to bring back a High Sorceress once she's dead?" the voice of Marigold broke through and entered Feline's mind.
"No," Rabbit sighed.
"Yes," Feline whispered as the words of Onyx the Moth God repeated in his mind,
"What?" Rabbit and Marigold asked in unison.
"There is a way, but it is most ancient," Feline's voice was distant as the memory played in his mind. "It would require at least one mortal whose emotions have been touched by the sorcerer in question. The only problem is how to use this to our advantage, and where to find the mortal we require."
Sapphire's strange request found its way into Feline's mind. There was a possible answer. If a sense of gratitude could be entered into the mind of his future godchild, then he could be used to retrieve Porpoise from the realm of death.
"And he might complete his destiny," the morbid tones of Onyx entered Feline's mind at that point.
"You said that he--"
"Would die before that point," Onyx answered. "There is the chance that he will accept your offer and will ask you to Take him. Once the time is right you would simply awaken him and return the man to his own people. If not, then you would have to resurrect him."
"Is that why Sapphire asked me--?"
"Yes," Onyx replied in grim tones. "Only Porpoise and yourself could ever do what must be done. Sapphire would not be able to resurrect the One Who Will Choose, nor convince him to be Taken."
"I guess I'm staying here then," Marigold sighed. "I have to admit that I really likes Porpoise, and I miss here like anything, but she'd never get fixated on me. Remember, she was walking out with you, Feline, before she was abducted and forcibly wed to that Celt. You two were practically engaged. Deep down, both La Lune and Moon Child know that and the emotions of life have spilled into the perceptions of the Separated Sorceress."
"The what?" Rabbit asked in confusion.
"That's the name Destiny gave Porpoise a long time ago," Marigold muttered. "Pearl told her that she was known to Destiny as the Separated Sorceress, just as Feline here is the Stolen Sorcerer."
The terms were familiar to Feline. Onyx of the Ancient Gods used them back on that distant world in the other fantasy realm... ---from Moon Child Memoirs Book Two: Secret Sorcerer chapter 7 pg.s 83-84
Separated Soul: Chapter 7
"Offspring of the moon's chaste beam and a storm darkened sea, listen well. Pollaer contrived, with the aid of a friend, to bring word of the dark one's actions to the Southern Celts. Pollaer was exhausted, which was why his associate had to utilize such a dangerous illusion. They managed to evacuate the villagers and escorted them to the hollow mountains. The reason for the subterfuge and evacuation is a woman who calls herself Luna. She is setting the Picts, Romans and Saxons against one another with the Britons and Bretons as the losing parties. She promised to help the Picts, while entertaining offers from the Romans for her magical services, but has instead enticed whole fleets of Saxon pirates to muddy up the waters and create more turmoil in Britannia. She has some sort of hatred aimed at the inhabitants of the southern part of this isle. I do not know why."
"You said that she was a dark one," Moon Child said as a hint of memory tugged at her mind. "I've heard that phrase before. What does it mean?"
"An anti-Reality person, for lack of a better definition," the alien replied. "A dark one rarely follows the Rules of Reality and always embraces the madness of Fantasy."
"Like Pollaer," the moon piped in cheerfully.
"No," the alien's voice was firm as he reprimanded the moon. "Not like Pollaer. Master Pollaer has deeply hidden secrets that is true, but he does not fully embrace Fantasy, despite how much he claims otherwise. He chose the fantastic over the realistic because of the immense pressure he was under. The prejudices of your world drove him to the brink of insanity, which he fully admits. He has not, however fallen into the abyss yet. This other, this Luna is different. Her soul is as black as her gown. Evil resides in her, and nothing else. Master Pollaer is assuredly nothing like her."
"You like to call him 'Master Pollaer,' don't you?" the moon replied snippily.
"He is a master," the extraterrestrial answered in his passive voice. "His mastery is over sorcery, not any ceramic craft, but he is still a master and must be respected and addressed as such, whether you like him or not."
"What makes you an expert on Master Pollaer's mind?" the moon's query was tinged with malice. "Unless you've occasionally become unhinged yourself."
"I was wondering what he was really like, as he hides so much of himself whenever he is here," the alien's voice gave no indication of whether or not he heard the moon's question. "The prejudices of Reality and Fantasy were masking his personality, making it impossible for me to read. He is hiding something. Buried in his mind are the whereabouts of the mad sorcerers and a race of humans who have sought refuge with the insane disciples of Fantasy. Something must have convinced an entire nation of the sorcerers' kindness of heart. A vast amount of knowledge is missing from Reality's view of the sorcerers and Pollaer is the key."
"Why do you want to know about them?" Moon Child asked the celestial entity. "Why are you concentrating on Master Pollaer?"
"He is the only sorcerer we have access to," the star-voice replied in calm tones. "When there is a question raised it is necessary to do research to answer the unknown. Pollaer's mind is both the unknown quantity and the research equipment."
"Pollaer's mind is not just some scroll you can pick up and peruse in the Library of Alexandria," Moon Child retorted in the heat of anger. She felt a pressing desire to protect the honor of her Master, despite the slurs of the stars and her celestial parent. "His brain is that of a human being, an intelligent and sapient creature. How would you like it if someone came along and examined your innermost thoughts as if you were just an interesting play to be read?"
"My dear child," the alien chuckled softly. "My masters did so every chance they got. They claimed that it was necessary in determining advancement in my chosen field. I am of a sentient race, and highly intelligent, just like your friend. Such considerations did not stop my masters, and it will not stop me either."
"Why not?" Moon Child demanded.
"Pollaer holds many secrets that could reveal not only the nature of Fantasy, but Reality as well," the alien's voice was patient as he spoke. It was also cultured and refined; not too different from Pollaer's.
"Pollaer's mind knows nothing about Reality!" the moon replied in a tart voice. "He's insane. He has always been insane, and he will die insane. Everyone who has ever had the misfortune to come in contact with a sorcerer knows that."
"Are you trying to defend Master Pollaer from my research?" the alien's refined and beautifully modulated voice took on a sharp edge. "Or is it Reality you seek to protect? Which one is at fault I wonder?"---from Moon Child Memoirs Book 1: Separated Soul Chapter seven, pg.s 72-74
"You said that she was a dark one," Moon Child said as a hint of memory tugged at her mind. "I've heard that phrase before. What does it mean?"
"An anti-Reality person, for lack of a better definition," the alien replied. "A dark one rarely follows the Rules of Reality and always embraces the madness of Fantasy."
"Like Pollaer," the moon piped in cheerfully.
"No," the alien's voice was firm as he reprimanded the moon. "Not like Pollaer. Master Pollaer has deeply hidden secrets that is true, but he does not fully embrace Fantasy, despite how much he claims otherwise. He chose the fantastic over the realistic because of the immense pressure he was under. The prejudices of your world drove him to the brink of insanity, which he fully admits. He has not, however fallen into the abyss yet. This other, this Luna is different. Her soul is as black as her gown. Evil resides in her, and nothing else. Master Pollaer is assuredly nothing like her."
"You like to call him 'Master Pollaer,' don't you?" the moon replied snippily.
"He is a master," the extraterrestrial answered in his passive voice. "His mastery is over sorcery, not any ceramic craft, but he is still a master and must be respected and addressed as such, whether you like him or not."
"What makes you an expert on Master Pollaer's mind?" the moon's query was tinged with malice. "Unless you've occasionally become unhinged yourself."
"I was wondering what he was really like, as he hides so much of himself whenever he is here," the alien's voice gave no indication of whether or not he heard the moon's question. "The prejudices of Reality and Fantasy were masking his personality, making it impossible for me to read. He is hiding something. Buried in his mind are the whereabouts of the mad sorcerers and a race of humans who have sought refuge with the insane disciples of Fantasy. Something must have convinced an entire nation of the sorcerers' kindness of heart. A vast amount of knowledge is missing from Reality's view of the sorcerers and Pollaer is the key."
"Why do you want to know about them?" Moon Child asked the celestial entity. "Why are you concentrating on Master Pollaer?"
"He is the only sorcerer we have access to," the star-voice replied in calm tones. "When there is a question raised it is necessary to do research to answer the unknown. Pollaer's mind is both the unknown quantity and the research equipment."
"Pollaer's mind is not just some scroll you can pick up and peruse in the Library of Alexandria," Moon Child retorted in the heat of anger. She felt a pressing desire to protect the honor of her Master, despite the slurs of the stars and her celestial parent. "His brain is that of a human being, an intelligent and sapient creature. How would you like it if someone came along and examined your innermost thoughts as if you were just an interesting play to be read?"
"My dear child," the alien chuckled softly. "My masters did so every chance they got. They claimed that it was necessary in determining advancement in my chosen field. I am of a sentient race, and highly intelligent, just like your friend. Such considerations did not stop my masters, and it will not stop me either."
"Why not?" Moon Child demanded.
"Pollaer holds many secrets that could reveal not only the nature of Fantasy, but Reality as well," the alien's voice was patient as he spoke. It was also cultured and refined; not too different from Pollaer's.
"Pollaer's mind knows nothing about Reality!" the moon replied in a tart voice. "He's insane. He has always been insane, and he will die insane. Everyone who has ever had the misfortune to come in contact with a sorcerer knows that."
"Are you trying to defend Master Pollaer from my research?" the alien's refined and beautifully modulated voice took on a sharp edge. "Or is it Reality you seek to protect? Which one is at fault I wonder?"---from Moon Child Memoirs Book 1: Separated Soul Chapter seven, pg.s 72-74
EScape To Ellse where: Chapter 8
"How will we know that Ellfstane remains safe if we don't know where he is?"
"I'll know," Katara replied as the certainty struck her that she would indeed know.
"How?" her father demanded. "Has he perchance developed the obscure power of telepathy?"
"Yes," Katara answered despitte the fact that she believed otherwise. "He does have the power of telepathy." AS soon as she finished speaking a strange thought, which was almost like Ellfstane's voice, entered her mind.
"I do, you know," said the thought.
"Do what?" Katara asked in her mind.
"Have the power of telepathy," responded the mental voice, which was what that stray thought turned out to be. "So have you."
"Ellfstane, is that you?" Katara asked in her mind.
"Yes." The psychic voice replied.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere else."
"Did you place that inhibition on the Separate World Spell?" Katara asked. "I tried to tell Hyllaell about it and something tried to hold the words back. The same something just completely erased the spell from my father's mind."
"It was not me," Ellfstane's mental voice replied. "Come to think of it, Alberon fell asleep when we were discussing it, and something made us decide to keep the spell a secret. A reserve, if you will, for a last ditch defense."
"What could it be?" Katara's mind asked Ellfstane's "Who could have put it there?"
"look into your sub-conscious mind and see if you can detect anything," Ellfstane replied. "Then look into your father's mind. Try to see if anything is different."
"All right, I'll try." Katara sent her thoughts into the depths of her mind, past conscious ideas and into the buried levels.----from pg.s 84- 85 chapter 8 of The Ellfaerran Diaries book 1 : Escape to Ellse Where.
"I'll know," Katara replied as the certainty struck her that she would indeed know.
"How?" her father demanded. "Has he perchance developed the obscure power of telepathy?"
"Yes," Katara answered despitte the fact that she believed otherwise. "He does have the power of telepathy." AS soon as she finished speaking a strange thought, which was almost like Ellfstane's voice, entered her mind.
"I do, you know," said the thought.
"Do what?" Katara asked in her mind.
"Have the power of telepathy," responded the mental voice, which was what that stray thought turned out to be. "So have you."
"Ellfstane, is that you?" Katara asked in her mind.
"Yes." The psychic voice replied.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere else."
"Did you place that inhibition on the Separate World Spell?" Katara asked. "I tried to tell Hyllaell about it and something tried to hold the words back. The same something just completely erased the spell from my father's mind."
"It was not me," Ellfstane's mental voice replied. "Come to think of it, Alberon fell asleep when we were discussing it, and something made us decide to keep the spell a secret. A reserve, if you will, for a last ditch defense."
"What could it be?" Katara's mind asked Ellfstane's "Who could have put it there?"
"look into your sub-conscious mind and see if you can detect anything," Ellfstane replied. "Then look into your father's mind. Try to see if anything is different."
"All right, I'll try." Katara sent her thoughts into the depths of her mind, past conscious ideas and into the buried levels.----from pg.s 84- 85 chapter 8 of The Ellfaerran Diaries book 1 : Escape to Ellse Where.
Secret Sorcerer: Chapter Eight
"Yes, Moon Child I am Porpoise, " said the teal voice, "but I did not die."
"Master Purrae said you did," Moon Child replied as she wondered what to believe, and who to place her faith in.
"He thinks I did," Porpoise's teal voice dropped back into melancholy. "Reality was not that kind to me. If I had died, I would have joined the spirits of the deceased High Sorcerers from many millennia in the after-life of my people. Instead a lucky Briton deprived me of my life when he stabbed me up on that cliff, but Reality would not let me go. It held me fast in its net, just as it held me in the court of Eire's high King. I am its hostage and it won't release me until it gets what it wants, what it has never ceased to want."
"What is that?" Moon Child felt breathless as she asked her question of the morbid teal voice in her mind.
"Revenge," was the flat reply.
"What?"
"Reality seeks revenge against a High Sorcerer named Sapphire from another galaxy known as the Adlamar Spiral," this answer was unexpected. "He placed darkness in the power Reality made to replace sorcery, so she seeks a way to make him pay and she has hit on the very scheme to do it."
"What are you trying to say?" Moon Child asked, even though she didn't know if she actually wanted to hear the answer.
"Sapphire was a mineral, or earth, High Sorcerer," Porpoise explained. "Now, What is your good master?"
"The High Sorcerer of the...oh dear," a thought struck Moon Child's mind.
"Yes, Purrae Pollaer is her revenge," the voice of Porpoise said, confirming the thought Moon Child had. "With him in her power Sapphire's Sorcerer Spirit will be wracked with guilt until Feline's eventual demise."
"Which would be?" Moon Child asked as her throat grew tight. Somehow, she'd always thought Purrae was just like her.
"Never," was the calm reply. "Unless slain by violent means, Purrae Pollaer, also known as Feline, will never die and that is another reason why Reality both hates us, and wants him. She could hold him in torment for eternity."--pg.s 88-89 Chapter 8 from Moon Child Memoirs book two Secret Sorcerer
"Master Purrae said you did," Moon Child replied as she wondered what to believe, and who to place her faith in.
"He thinks I did," Porpoise's teal voice dropped back into melancholy. "Reality was not that kind to me. If I had died, I would have joined the spirits of the deceased High Sorcerers from many millennia in the after-life of my people. Instead a lucky Briton deprived me of my life when he stabbed me up on that cliff, but Reality would not let me go. It held me fast in its net, just as it held me in the court of Eire's high King. I am its hostage and it won't release me until it gets what it wants, what it has never ceased to want."
"What is that?" Moon Child felt breathless as she asked her question of the morbid teal voice in her mind.
"Revenge," was the flat reply.
"What?"
"Reality seeks revenge against a High Sorcerer named Sapphire from another galaxy known as the Adlamar Spiral," this answer was unexpected. "He placed darkness in the power Reality made to replace sorcery, so she seeks a way to make him pay and she has hit on the very scheme to do it."
"What are you trying to say?" Moon Child asked, even though she didn't know if she actually wanted to hear the answer.
"Sapphire was a mineral, or earth, High Sorcerer," Porpoise explained. "Now, What is your good master?"
"The High Sorcerer of the...oh dear," a thought struck Moon Child's mind.
"Yes, Purrae Pollaer is her revenge," the voice of Porpoise said, confirming the thought Moon Child had. "With him in her power Sapphire's Sorcerer Spirit will be wracked with guilt until Feline's eventual demise."
"Which would be?" Moon Child asked as her throat grew tight. Somehow, she'd always thought Purrae was just like her.
"Never," was the calm reply. "Unless slain by violent means, Purrae Pollaer, also known as Feline, will never die and that is another reason why Reality both hates us, and wants him. She could hold him in torment for eternity."--pg.s 88-89 Chapter 8 from Moon Child Memoirs book two Secret Sorcerer
Separated Soul: Chapter 8
"I sense something in you," the voice replied, although the tone was laced with confusion. "Something I cannot place. I feel it may prove impossible for anyone to identify the mysterious element that powers you from as great a distance as separates us."
"Why would you want to do such a thing?" Feline asked as he himself started to delve into the extraterrestrial's mind, looking for the source of the alien's curiousity. "I am not anything you could possibly consider important."
Feline felt the connection as it secured a tenuous hold. Remembering the mental powers of the unknown being, the sorcerer kept the attachment as tentative as possible, without disconnecting. After a few seconds of stressful waiting , with no reaction having come from the creature of the distant star, Feline started to probe into the being's mind. Initially the images were slow and indistinct. Then everything changed. A mental dam seemed to break and an overwhelming flood of visions swamped the High Sorcerer's perceptions. The visions seemed to be forming a web of light around him. A faint, almost spectral, thought voice broke into Feline's trapped consciousness.
"No!" the spectral voice cried. "No, release your hold!"
"Why should I do such a thing?" the extraterrestrial asked as triumph danced in his voice. "I shall finally attain my answers now."
"No, you shan't," the specter replied angrily. "Feline, release your hold. I shall break his web of Para-perception."
"Para what?" the exhausted, confused, and terrified Feline asked.
"Perception," the specter said patiently. "That is what they call this. I know how to sever his web. Please, for your own good, return to your own body."
Feline forced his mind away from the thoughts of the alien being. His retreat was initially blocked until a blue line rent the net asunder. The retreat was steady and sure after that, within a matter of eight seconds Feline was free.
He lay upon the dew dampened grass panting from exertion. The struggle to break free and return to himself took so much power the sorcerer was forced to revert back to his natural form. He was human once again, where earlier he was a large cat.---pg.s 90-91 from Moon Child Memoirs Book One: Separated Soul.
"Why would you want to do such a thing?" Feline asked as he himself started to delve into the extraterrestrial's mind, looking for the source of the alien's curiousity. "I am not anything you could possibly consider important."
Feline felt the connection as it secured a tenuous hold. Remembering the mental powers of the unknown being, the sorcerer kept the attachment as tentative as possible, without disconnecting. After a few seconds of stressful waiting , with no reaction having come from the creature of the distant star, Feline started to probe into the being's mind. Initially the images were slow and indistinct. Then everything changed. A mental dam seemed to break and an overwhelming flood of visions swamped the High Sorcerer's perceptions. The visions seemed to be forming a web of light around him. A faint, almost spectral, thought voice broke into Feline's trapped consciousness.
"No!" the spectral voice cried. "No, release your hold!"
"Why should I do such a thing?" the extraterrestrial asked as triumph danced in his voice. "I shall finally attain my answers now."
"No, you shan't," the specter replied angrily. "Feline, release your hold. I shall break his web of Para-perception."
"Para what?" the exhausted, confused, and terrified Feline asked.
"Perception," the specter said patiently. "That is what they call this. I know how to sever his web. Please, for your own good, return to your own body."
Feline forced his mind away from the thoughts of the alien being. His retreat was initially blocked until a blue line rent the net asunder. The retreat was steady and sure after that, within a matter of eight seconds Feline was free.
He lay upon the dew dampened grass panting from exertion. The struggle to break free and return to himself took so much power the sorcerer was forced to revert back to his natural form. He was human once again, where earlier he was a large cat.---pg.s 90-91 from Moon Child Memoirs Book One: Separated Soul.
EScape to Ellse Where: Chapter IX
"Do you remember when I was being so irritating about the unicorns?" Ellfstane asked her.
"You mean you figured it out that fast?"
"I guess I could say that," Ellfstane replied. "But no, I did not. I was told by Arra. In fact it was Arra who told me to be that irritating."
"Arra told you to give me those hints?" Katara could feel her temper rising.
"Yes," Ellfstane replied. "She said that since you are smarter than I am, all you needed was a few hints to point you in the right direction."
"Did she?" Katara asked her temper un-appeased. Irrationally she took Arra's actions as a slight instead of as a compliment to her intelligence.
"Yes," Ellfstane said, unaware of his friend's anger. "By the way, who is Hollae?"
"Hollae?"
"Arra was giving me a lecture about self-sacrifice," Ellfstane elaborated. "Arra seems to think that Hollae will have to suffer the most."
"She's my cousin," The confused Katara replied, "From the Ruby Isle."
"Arra seems to think that Hollae is important, or at least very special." Ellfstane mused. "Do you know why?"
"No I don't." Katara replied huffily. "Why do you think I couldn't sleep? I couldn't think of a single thing that was special about Hollae. At least nothing worth suffering over."
"The Unicorn Goddess thinks there is."
"Well she's wrong." Katara replied her own anxieties and self-doubt slashing at Ellfstane's mental voice. "Hollae must make a sacrifice, in other words she must lose something or someone. That is all."
A painful mental wrench and the empty silence of a severed mind link were the only responses she received from Ellfstane. In the mood she was in she was very irrational and argumentative. She believed that the fact that all of her mental conversations with the younger prince were terminated by him was a measure of his supreme arrogance. She couldn't see that Ellfstane terminated them only because he had to or because Katara had hurt him emotionally. No one told her about the events that took place while she was gone or about Ellfstane's resultant emotional instability. Lost in bitter thought, she leaned against the granite wall, a splash of golden velvet and black silk against a gray back-drop. ---from pg.s 105-107 Ellfaerran Diaries Book I: Escape to Ellse Where
"You mean you figured it out that fast?"
"I guess I could say that," Ellfstane replied. "But no, I did not. I was told by Arra. In fact it was Arra who told me to be that irritating."
"Arra told you to give me those hints?" Katara could feel her temper rising.
"Yes," Ellfstane replied. "She said that since you are smarter than I am, all you needed was a few hints to point you in the right direction."
"Did she?" Katara asked her temper un-appeased. Irrationally she took Arra's actions as a slight instead of as a compliment to her intelligence.
"Yes," Ellfstane said, unaware of his friend's anger. "By the way, who is Hollae?"
"Hollae?"
"Arra was giving me a lecture about self-sacrifice," Ellfstane elaborated. "Arra seems to think that Hollae will have to suffer the most."
"She's my cousin," The confused Katara replied, "From the Ruby Isle."
"Arra seems to think that Hollae is important, or at least very special." Ellfstane mused. "Do you know why?"
"No I don't." Katara replied huffily. "Why do you think I couldn't sleep? I couldn't think of a single thing that was special about Hollae. At least nothing worth suffering over."
"The Unicorn Goddess thinks there is."
"Well she's wrong." Katara replied her own anxieties and self-doubt slashing at Ellfstane's mental voice. "Hollae must make a sacrifice, in other words she must lose something or someone. That is all."
A painful mental wrench and the empty silence of a severed mind link were the only responses she received from Ellfstane. In the mood she was in she was very irrational and argumentative. She believed that the fact that all of her mental conversations with the younger prince were terminated by him was a measure of his supreme arrogance. She couldn't see that Ellfstane terminated them only because he had to or because Katara had hurt him emotionally. No one told her about the events that took place while she was gone or about Ellfstane's resultant emotional instability. Lost in bitter thought, she leaned against the granite wall, a splash of golden velvet and black silk against a gray back-drop. ---from pg.s 105-107 Ellfaerran Diaries Book I: Escape to Ellse Where
