Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 67
February 20, 2024
February 19, 2024
February 18, 2024
VIAN's progress
If you recall, while I was writing ECHO (Seasons 1), I mentioned that I knew it was going somewhere once I reached 30k. Well, VIAN (Seasons 2) is now over 30k as well, which means the story not only has me, but it's going somewhere. So far, it seems VIAN will be longer (many threads this time) …
Here's the latest image insert (yup, there's a library in this one!):
Ilfin of Arc Excerpt: Triskelion
EVER AFTER, IF there was anafter for any of them, he would regard that night at the campfire as the mostpivotal time in his life.
Hisname was Damin Mur and he was known as the Marsh Devil, but this night he wouldbecome the one who ripped masks off. Was there a name for such a creature? Unmasker?Was that a word? Soulslicer? Was he to be known as the Devil Delver?
Theywere silent after the meal – leftovers from the morning’s rabbit stew – andthus the crackling from the fire was louder than usual. Damin noticed it, andthen realised the snapping of burning twigs did not quite cover the terriblesense of expectancy in their surrounds. It felt as if the self-contained worldof Arc was waiting, was listening, and was judging. Was it judging him? Or wouldit use what he discovered in this silence? Was he the harbinger it needed?
Lyralay with her head on his lap, her eyes closed. She seemed relaxed to theothers, but he felt how tense she was and knew she was as aware of his innerstruggle. Siri was curled up on his other side, reading a scroll from Joseph’spersonal store in his saddlebags. The Messenger loved reading, and so did hissister.
Daminglanced at her briefly and understood she was the one who would gift to him theIlfin image. Not only was she relaxed and therefore open, but she wouldunderstand why he delved her if she sensed an invasion into her thoughts.
Loweringhis chin to his chest, Damin closed his eyes and concentrated. Hopefully, theothers would think he was in deep thought or dozing where he sat.
Siri’smind was made of light. The brightness she had inside initially astonished him.His sister was a Healer indeed, and she walked in goodness. He smiled, lovingher even more.
Thenhe saw it.
The image. He knew it was the onehe sought, for he had not seen the like before. A silvery-blue curved triangle,a leaf at each point and inside, a triple curl design; it shimmered before hismind’s eye as a mark of benevolence.
Atriskelion.
TheIlfin image was beautiful, and it filled him with joy. It meant there wasnothing anyone needed to fear from those with that genesis. Even slave mastersunder this sign upon the plateau were redeemable. He hoped so anyway.
Hisinner joy threatened to overcome his outer self. Vibrations rippled over hisskin. Lyra lifting her head slightly revealed she felt it as well. Of course,she understood why it was happening, and gently squeezed his thigh in support …and warning. No one was to become aware of his reaction.
Forcingmotionlessness upon himself, Damin breathed as if entering a deeper kind ofsleep. The continuing silence surrounding them told him no one suspectedanything. Siri ruffled the parchment as she further unfurled it; she remainedunaware also.
Hefocused next on Lyra and saw the triskelion immediately. Lyra and Siri had nowestablished the pattern he sought when delving for Ilfin. Shifting hisattention to Horin, he saw the entire image around him. He was overtly Ilfinand made no apology for it.
Attis,markedly quiet the last few days, was asleep not far from Lyra’s feet. The twoof them spent a few hours talking on the ride towards this rest site, and Daminwondered now what passed between them. All he knew was that Attis seemed tohave taken on the role of Lyra’s protector.
Abruptlyhe was wary of what the boy’s mind would reveal and chose instead to move on toHanna. Her image was Ilfin. Joseph? He delved there, but nothing came forth. Itmeant the Messenger was blocking his quest, but probably not deliberately. He mightbe thinking on something else intensively, which created a barrier. He wouldreturn to Joseph.
Kaywas next. Already Damin suspected the westerner might be the Glonu among them,based purely on where he came from, but the Ilfin image swirled inside him.Damin inhaled another slow breath, aware that he would now fully trust the manfrom the west.
Liftinghis head, he gazed casually around. The night was dark, and their fire wastherefore a bright and flickering manipulation of the inkiness they dwelled within.Siri allowed her scroll to furl and then curled into sleep. Hanna and Josephstarted a murmuring conversation. He could not hear the words, but the lowrumble served to push back the expectancy of the night.
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Come, reader, join the great march today …
According to legend, a paradise awaits across the plains, asanctuary that has survived every impact and every battle. Known as Arc, it is aplace of isolation, a place to restart civilisation.
A fireball grows ever larger in the skies and ancientenemies wing through the spaces; the world Massin is the gathering place forevery omen of disaster. Every resident soul faces a choice. Time now to marchsouth to the sanctuary, from the eastern highlands and the western seas, there toescape apocalypse, and the renewal of the war between the Ilfin and Glonu, orstay behind, hoping for a miracle.
An Elemental will find the sanctuary – Lyra is gifted – aWarrior will defend the dispossessed – the boy Horin will grow up fast – and aMarsh Devil will lead them – Damin spends years preparing for this epic event –but it is also true that a sanctuary is not always a haven. Has the legendlied? Will Arc protect them?
Prepare for an adventure that will journey from ancient waysof living into high-tech environments. Ilfin of Arc is a dystopian Fantasy talethat flies into star filled spaces – strap in!ILFIN OF ARC
