Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 71
January 30, 2024
520+!
Thank you SO MUCH for visiting my Writing World!!
xxx
January 29, 2024
VIAN: Winter of the Unicorn - first images
So VIAN is now a proper WIP! This is book 2 in the Seasons Series, and here's the first two images I've inserted into the manuscript to serve as inspiration :)
January 28, 2024
Tower of Stairs (Excerpt & real world proof)
Today I'm showcasing the Tower of Stairs, a sacred site in my Lore Universe. I wrote this many years ago, but only recently did I come across a real world place that actually mirrors what imagination conjured up. Here I'm including the excerpt from the Kallanon Scales (and AI image), as well as images of Ambuluwawa Tower in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Amazing, isn't it?!
Northern Valaris
The Tower of Stairs
TORRULLIN TRANSPORTED north the afternoonbefore the others were expected. Thundor accompanied him. The Thinningsentertained the notion of entering the Zone and made good argument.
After surveying the massive arena that wasthe Tower of Stairs, Torrullin was satisfied. It was the best place for whatwould come next. He cleared the vast floor of light snow and hopped up onto thefirst tier to check the caverns hewn into the rock. The caverns werecomfortable suites for the Valleur when they spent time here. He reinstated thetradition of gathering at the amphitheatre for winter and summer solstices.Twice a year the mountains thus reverberated with celebration. The nextsolstice was a month and a half away.
Torrullin raised his gaze to the four peaks,Mon, Shin, Rue and Bres, permanently snow-capped, but free of cloud. Saskaloved those peaks, different to anything on her homeworld, watery Canimer.
Snow lay thick around the edges of thearena, but conditions were acceptable under the auspices of the site’s magic.There were five tiers and the Vallorin’s suite was on the central level at thenorthern compass point, and that was where Torrullin headed. He did not go in,swivelling instead before the entrance to view the fantastical tower in thecentre of the arena, rising to a height to rival that of the four peaks. Aroundthis spike a stairway wound, no handholds, no railing, ever tighter as thediameter decreased with height, until it ended in a platform no more than twohand spans in width.
At every solstice gathering, they elected asolstice king and queen and theirs was the challenge to mount the stairs andclimb as high as they dared, and thereafter others attempted to better them. Thusfar, only Vannis attained the pinnacle, in another era.
During Margus’ unsavoury reign, Vannis andTaranis challenged each other. A year later, in autumn, they made good on it.Those remaining after the final battle with Margus came to witness; himself,Saska, Raken, Lycea with the infant twins, Belun, Lanto, Kisha and Kylan,Quilla, Phet and Shep Lore.
They came to witness, but also to reunite.Fun they had, laughing hard when Taranis ventured a third of the way to descendwith dark mutterings about it being impossible. He was immortal, but notstupid. Vannis proved him wrong, ascending an additional third, but came downwithout attempting the pinnacle. He wryly stated he no longer possessed thesame fearlessness, and Torrullin wondered if he lied to spare Taranis. Vannisand Taranis could be competitive, were often at odds.
He stared now at the Tower. He had deniedevery challenge at the solstice meetings. His gaze travelled the length of thespike, pausing midway on a tiny speck. Thundor.
Now it was him. And the Thinnings. Awitness.
Torrullin ambled across the arena floor,gathering missing willpower, and wits. He needed to challenge and sharpen hishuman abilities. He placed a booted foot on the first step and looked up tofind Thundor five steps removed.
The Thinnings raised an eyebrow. “With noValleur in the vicinity? Does that not defeat the purpose of the exercise?”
“If you have been watching as closely as yousuggest, you must know those questions are immaterial.”
Thundor bowed. “The Enchanter prefersprivacy.”
For a moment that put Torrullin off. “Youbelieve it a fault?”
“For this, no. I think the reason many failin the climb is the pressure of personalities watching.”
“Out of my way.”
Thundor scuttled aside as Torrullin passedhim and began to climb. One carefully placed foot after the other, maintainingeye contact with the next precarious step. He climbed slowly, halting everytenth to draw a deep breath.
It was simple at first, taking littleenergy, but gradually the gaps between the stairs lessened and the widthnarrowed. He looked neither up nor down, clamping down every natural instinctthat would have him check his progress, but his heart began to hammer, and hewondered belatedly if he should have removed his boots at the base; there wasbarely enough room to place his foot.
Too soon, he placed his feet on alternatesteps, causing him to over-balance. For the first time he put a steadying handto the Tower itself, and retracted instantly when it felt as if it would tosshim down. He understood what others said about the Tower’s influence upon theclimb.
The stairs became slippery, the air colder,and he knew he passed the two-thirds level. He dared not check. There were hisfeet, the next cautious placement, and his hammering heart. Nothing to beafraid of, for he could arrest his fall if he tumbled over, but he desired togo as far as he was able to, and return to ground without a humiliating tumble.
Resting to draw deep breaths in the thinair, he released in a cloud of vapour that nearly blinded him. He shallowed hisbreathing, through his nose now, grit his teeth and took another step, everythird thereafter.
He lifted for the next before he realisedthere were no more. With a silent oath he sought to regain balance, standingswaying on his toes on the tiny platform.
Long moments passed and he had it, standingunmoving at the top of the world. Without sorcery, it was all him. He wanted toshout, revel in the achievement, and dared not. He needed to go down and,according to reports, that was worse.
He gazed around, not long, for he felt thepull of gravity, and looked upon Valaris without the Sight. What a wondrousplanet, such incredible beauty and diversity. How he loved this world of hisbirth, through every change. He stared south in the direction of the Keep andcould see and sense the activity there. He felt Torrke, the sentient presence,acknowledge his gaze. He drew breath, feeling lost. Torrke, a friend as noother, but not human, not Valleur, no tangible, beating heart.
Where are you, Saska?
He turned before loneliness overcameconcentration, but had the presence of mind to do so in infinitesimal degreesuntil he faced the downward spiral. For an instant, his gaze fixed on thefaraway arena floor, and he understood how the downward view influenced thedescent.
Regaining control, he pasted his gaze to thestairs. He attempted to ignore his pounding heart, but that was not as easywith blood pulsing in his ears. He descended.
He could not do this with the entire Valleurnation hanging onto his every move; their expectations alone would debilitate.Thundor was right. He was certain Vannis achieved this feat in private. Hewould ask sometime.
Torrullin came to the point where the stairstook on every aspect of normality, and realised he had succeeded, the up andthe murderous down, and ran to the bottom.
A tinny clapping of hands marked hisremarkable achievement, and he laughed aloud. Thundor danced a merry jig on thearena floor.
“Very well done, Enchanter!”
Torrullin slapped the side of the Tower inglee. “Got your measure now!”
Thundor appeared on the step at eye level.“You have courage, Enchanter. The Thinnings revere that.”
Torrullin’s hands slid from the cold rock.“My little friend, courage isn’t everything.”
“I was not talking about courage alone,”Thundor demurred. “I meant we revere you.”
“I do not deserve it.”
“Humble also? It doesn’t suit you. It is asit is. Of course, the Thinnings do understand that your tale is yet to begin,but …”
“Begin?”
Thundor chewed at his lips. “Me and my bigmouth.”
“There are Dragons, Thundor?”
The Thinnings looked at him sideways. “Isthis a test?”
“I have no idea.”
“I hate tests,” Thundor muttered, lookingeverywhere but at Torrullin. “Every examiner seeks a difference answer. Whatare you looking for?”
“A simple yes or no will suffice.”
Thundor sighed deeply. “Yes, Enchanter,there are Dragons.”
“As I suspected.”
The Thinnings knew something was confirmedthat had less to do with the actual existence of Dragons than an innersomething.
Torrullin shrugged and paced away, his mindin renewed turmoil. It was time for Quilla to come clean. No more stalling.After a while, he began counting paces, realising what use it would be to Matt,and thus could set aside thoughts of Dragons. He set aside the achievement inascending the Tower; it was not important. He did not set aside Thundor’sinadvertent comment about his journey having yet to begin.
THE KALLANON SCALES
An ancient map points theway …
… as well as a strange prophecy, and anyone who daresspeak of either, dies.
A new enemy entersthe Valla arena, but this one is as old as time and seeks a forbidden place.The terrible source of Valla power is uncovered. As friends and family aremurdered, Torrullin reveals the truth about the Valla Dragon. He hurtles intobattle when his twin sons are kidnapped, and takes with him into danger apilot, a navigator and an innocent girl - they are the Dalrish seeking escapefrom Xen III.
Another truth rearsup, the tale of the Nine who fled into the Forbidden Zone with a strange taliesmanin the shape of a dragon. Quilla knows who the fire creatures are; the Q’lin’lafled them in ancient time. They are the Kallanon, the Glittering Darkness.
“There are dragonsin my future,” Torrullin once tells Quilla, and that future is now.
War erupts on aworld no more than a circle on an ancient map. There Torrullin discovers whohis sons really are, Taranis of the Guardians confronts his inner demons,Bartholamu of the Siric faces his arch-nemesis, Q’lin’la and Kallanon arethrown into the same melting pot, an ancient emperor speaks again, the new Ladyof Life is born, the Dalrish have a profound effect on Torrullin, and Vannisseeks revenge.
The Kallanon Scalesis an epic journey into the realms of time and legend, and forever alters thefuture.
January 27, 2024
January 26, 2024
Had to share!
Updated image of the shortest version of ALIEN 😄
