Mary R. Woldering's Blog, page 6
December 8, 2013
History into Historical Fantasy
Historical Fantasy is the depiction of Historical events or persons which isn't documented or proven.
In the following excerpt from Children of Stone - Voices in Crystal I relate two characters from Ancient Egyptian literature: Prince Hordjedef and Djedi the magician. I've left out a lot of the Back story, which was related in the middle of the passage, because it contains spoilers. The omitted part gives the Historical background as taken from the known manuscript "The Westcar Papyrus"
*****
Prince Hordjedtef roused himself from his meditative trance first. Something had disturbed him this evening. Great Elder Djedi lay still and relaxed on the slightly raised lounging couch next to his own couch. Facing Nut, the night sky, and her star children, the two men had traveled in spirit in search of something “wonderful”. The old man’s wrinkled eyes cracked open slightly so that the glassy blackness of his still clear irises glittered in the lamplight. He would wake soon enough, the youthful prince knew, and decided to use these moments to reflect on the thoughts that had surfaced tonight. They had heard and seen something new as they walked among the stars.
Every night since the old man had settled in the princes home two years earlier, the two men had meditated together every night this way. Djedi had told him repeatedly that he was learning quickly and almost too eagerly, but it didn’t matter to the young prince. The learning of mysteries replaced his other thwarted desires. It became the elder’s duty to keep him busy learning all of the secrets that were even teachable as small consolation for the pain and betrayal he had endured.
"Ah, great master, I must…" He had urged. "You are old and the gods grow impatient for you to walk with them. How, then will we speak? How will we have sweet discourse when your body is in the eternal place and no longer reclining near mine?"
It had been enough. Tonight the sky had been full of life.
“Ah look, young Dede! See how the stars in Asar and the milk of Great Bat glow so clearly! They speak tonight like no other night in so many of my years!” The old teacher had exclaimed as the young prince guided him to his chair. He made certain the old man was comfortable, lit the incense, and began the proper invocation. The elder grasped the young man’s hand and fell into his trance so swiftly that the prince could barely prepare himself to follow. Now, an instant later, or was it an hour, he was waking, sitting and staring at the old man.
Children singing, just like the old man promised, when we have contemplated the gods. He thought...
Tonight the men, one young, and one old clearly heard:
We are here
We are children made of stone
Tiny voices are as grains of sand
We are lost to time in time
Look to the stars
Listen to the east wind
To the south wind
You will see...
Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
In the following excerpt from Children of Stone - Voices in Crystal I relate two characters from Ancient Egyptian literature: Prince Hordjedef and Djedi the magician. I've left out a lot of the Back story, which was related in the middle of the passage, because it contains spoilers. The omitted part gives the Historical background as taken from the known manuscript "The Westcar Papyrus"
*****
Prince Hordjedtef roused himself from his meditative trance first. Something had disturbed him this evening. Great Elder Djedi lay still and relaxed on the slightly raised lounging couch next to his own couch. Facing Nut, the night sky, and her star children, the two men had traveled in spirit in search of something “wonderful”. The old man’s wrinkled eyes cracked open slightly so that the glassy blackness of his still clear irises glittered in the lamplight. He would wake soon enough, the youthful prince knew, and decided to use these moments to reflect on the thoughts that had surfaced tonight. They had heard and seen something new as they walked among the stars.
Every night since the old man had settled in the princes home two years earlier, the two men had meditated together every night this way. Djedi had told him repeatedly that he was learning quickly and almost too eagerly, but it didn’t matter to the young prince. The learning of mysteries replaced his other thwarted desires. It became the elder’s duty to keep him busy learning all of the secrets that were even teachable as small consolation for the pain and betrayal he had endured.
"Ah, great master, I must…" He had urged. "You are old and the gods grow impatient for you to walk with them. How, then will we speak? How will we have sweet discourse when your body is in the eternal place and no longer reclining near mine?"
It had been enough. Tonight the sky had been full of life.
“Ah look, young Dede! See how the stars in Asar and the milk of Great Bat glow so clearly! They speak tonight like no other night in so many of my years!” The old teacher had exclaimed as the young prince guided him to his chair. He made certain the old man was comfortable, lit the incense, and began the proper invocation. The elder grasped the young man’s hand and fell into his trance so swiftly that the prince could barely prepare himself to follow. Now, an instant later, or was it an hour, he was waking, sitting and staring at the old man.
Children singing, just like the old man promised, when we have contemplated the gods. He thought...
Tonight the men, one young, and one old clearly heard:
We are here
We are children made of stone
Tiny voices are as grains of sand
We are lost to time in time
Look to the stars
Listen to the east wind
To the south wind
You will see...
Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
December 2, 2013
FREE Children of Stone - Voices in Crystal December 8-15, 2013
Together with the folks at Goodreads... I'm having my very first 10 book giveaway. Make sure you sign up to win a copy of Book 1 of a new Historical Fantasy set in Ancient Egypt!Children of Stone: Voices in CrystalMary R. Woldering
November 28, 2013
BLACK FRIDAY-CYBER MONDAY SALE
NOVEMBER 28 2013 thru DECEMBER 2, 2013
ALL RIGHTY THEN!!!
A lovingly packaged and autographed copy of
CHILDREN OF STONE - VOICES IN CRYSTAL - BOOK 1 of the series I've just published is
GOING ON SALE starting NOW
Thru Cyber Monday @ 10:00 PM EST
The book (without autograph) has been selling ONLINE for $24.89 to $29.99 and the shipping isn't included.
I've been selling autographed copies for $28.00 shipping included.
SO for 5 DAYS ONLY, your total price WITH SHIPPING IS $25.00 .... After that the price goes back up.
INBOX ME FOR DETAILS ... (US addresses only) If you are overseas Inbox me anyway and I'll see what can be done.Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
ALL RIGHTY THEN!!!
A lovingly packaged and autographed copy of
CHILDREN OF STONE - VOICES IN CRYSTAL - BOOK 1 of the series I've just published is
GOING ON SALE starting NOW
Thru Cyber Monday @ 10:00 PM EST
The book (without autograph) has been selling ONLINE for $24.89 to $29.99 and the shipping isn't included.
I've been selling autographed copies for $28.00 shipping included.
SO for 5 DAYS ONLY, your total price WITH SHIPPING IS $25.00 .... After that the price goes back up.
INBOX ME FOR DETAILS ... (US addresses only) If you are overseas Inbox me anyway and I'll see what can be done.Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
November 25, 2013
Sheb & Houra
In this part, 2 more characters are introduced: Marai's half-sister Houra bint Ahu and her husband Sheb who runs the wadi (oasis)
When she had been little, Sheb and his parents, brothers and sisters, their husbands and families all had tents at the water hole. Her father had named it for himself when he'd taken charge of it years before. In those days, Marai was a too-tall and lanky version of all of the other dark-haired youths living there. He was the youngest of many direct brothers and sisters, but older than the five children by Ahu's second wife. She was the youngest of those children. Sheb was the son of Ebach, one of Ahu's younger brothers. The small clan did not increase well. Houra knew well enough that the first indication of wrong was indeed when Marai's wife died in a birthing so agonizing and bloody that it nearly frightened all of women away from wanting children for fear of such a dreadful labor. Ill luck increased. A fever in one of the visiting caravans nearly turned the settlement into a charnel yard. The elders of the tribe sickened and died one by one. Children withered and wasted away. Women, herself included, miscarried. Her brothers, who said they would never desert the clan, left under cover of night. Two years ago, Marai and the remaining relatives began to fight. One by one they left, each blaming the "curse of the goddess" or the evil his madness wrought for their departure. Houra noticed her husband's snoring stop and his breathing grow still. He was pretending to sleep.
"Have you heard the way he sings to his beloved, lately?" she asked “It's been different." Houra drew close to him. "It's as if he knows we'll be leaving soon." she inclined her head to the door. "I think I can talk him into coming with us, after all."
Sheb roused himself more fully, noticed his wife and, with a tired sigh, pulled her close to his chest.
"He'd better be singing a farewell song, tonight." he muttered, scratching his head. "Sometimes I wish she'd come get him like he wants. It would solve a lot of things."
"Sheb..." Houra felt a shiver of revulsion and pulled away from him to catch his expression in the lamp light. "You never said anything so..." she frowned.
"Well, I've felt it lately." the way-man propped himself up on his elbow, grumbling. "So he's on your mind tonight, as you come to me?" The air between them grew dark and brittle.
"Just wondering how he'll do in Kemet. He’s so used to the wide places." Houra lied. She knew Sheb had always been jealous of a man who had so much less to offer, in this case, than he did...
Houra set her face against the soft, warm furriness of her husband's chest.
"Marai's able-bodied and strong.” Sheb scratched the back of his neck under the thickly bound braid of his ebony hair “He'll find work the same as the rest of us...and separately. Abu Ahu's tribe is finished. You’ve known that as much as the rest of us." Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
Tell me what you think...Ask Questions :-)
When she had been little, Sheb and his parents, brothers and sisters, their husbands and families all had tents at the water hole. Her father had named it for himself when he'd taken charge of it years before. In those days, Marai was a too-tall and lanky version of all of the other dark-haired youths living there. He was the youngest of many direct brothers and sisters, but older than the five children by Ahu's second wife. She was the youngest of those children. Sheb was the son of Ebach, one of Ahu's younger brothers. The small clan did not increase well. Houra knew well enough that the first indication of wrong was indeed when Marai's wife died in a birthing so agonizing and bloody that it nearly frightened all of women away from wanting children for fear of such a dreadful labor. Ill luck increased. A fever in one of the visiting caravans nearly turned the settlement into a charnel yard. The elders of the tribe sickened and died one by one. Children withered and wasted away. Women, herself included, miscarried. Her brothers, who said they would never desert the clan, left under cover of night. Two years ago, Marai and the remaining relatives began to fight. One by one they left, each blaming the "curse of the goddess" or the evil his madness wrought for their departure. Houra noticed her husband's snoring stop and his breathing grow still. He was pretending to sleep.
"Have you heard the way he sings to his beloved, lately?" she asked “It's been different." Houra drew close to him. "It's as if he knows we'll be leaving soon." she inclined her head to the door. "I think I can talk him into coming with us, after all."
Sheb roused himself more fully, noticed his wife and, with a tired sigh, pulled her close to his chest.
"He'd better be singing a farewell song, tonight." he muttered, scratching his head. "Sometimes I wish she'd come get him like he wants. It would solve a lot of things."
"Sheb..." Houra felt a shiver of revulsion and pulled away from him to catch his expression in the lamp light. "You never said anything so..." she frowned.
"Well, I've felt it lately." the way-man propped himself up on his elbow, grumbling. "So he's on your mind tonight, as you come to me?" The air between them grew dark and brittle.
"Just wondering how he'll do in Kemet. He’s so used to the wide places." Houra lied. She knew Sheb had always been jealous of a man who had so much less to offer, in this case, than he did...
Houra set her face against the soft, warm furriness of her husband's chest.
"Marai's able-bodied and strong.” Sheb scratched the back of his neck under the thickly bound braid of his ebony hair “He'll find work the same as the rest of us...and separately. Abu Ahu's tribe is finished. You’ve known that as much as the rest of us." Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal
Tell me what you think...Ask Questions :-)
November 22, 2013
Children of Stone - Voices in Crystal
It begins:
Chapter 1 -- The Star
“O beautiful one, Asher-ellit;
Immaculate one of the goddesses,
Torch of Heaven and earth,
Radiance of all the lands,
Goddess ‘Lady of Heaven',
First-begotten of Sin,
First-born of Ningal,
Sweet sister of Shamas
O Asher-Anu, you rule the heavens;
Oh Queen of Morning and Evening Sky,"
Marai the shepherd's, voice rose like the drone of a horn.
“Come bless me this starry night.
Shine for one who begs to serve you.
Come bless me this starry night."
Each intoned phrase he sang would be different in some way, but each would worship a particular aspect of his beloved, yet dreaded goddess. After each composed verse, he would chant "Come bless me this starry night" until fatigue overtook him.
Some nights the big man would sing only a few moments. When he finished, he would trudge cheerlessly into the inner recesses of his cave home to collapse in sleep. On more ecstatic nights, he sang of his love for the goddess until it was nearly daybreak.
Ever since his little wife had died, Marai had shunned the company of the travelers who moved through his family's wadi seeking shade, water and supplies. They were almost always headed west toward the road around the mountains and up to Kina. Sometimes the travelers made their way down into the less hospitable wastes, hoping for a miracle. Some would continue moving along the Copper Road into the protected East Gate of the Kemet lands.
Tonight, Marai hadn't felt quite as bad about eating with the travelers, even though his cousin Sheb drew him aside to continue the inevitable argument about their safety. It was past time to move on, the shepherd mused. His thoughts weren't so solidly on the goddess, tonight, even though he sang heartily enough to her. He kept pausing from time to time to see if anyone from the encampment below was annoyed by the melodious baritone he was sending up beyond the heavens.
You change our fates,
Evil turns to good;
I have sought you for so long among the gods;
I have offered all to you;
Come bless me this starry night"
*********
So I'm setting the stage. We know the main character is Marai and that he's a shepherd. His life has been full of wandering and tragedy. We know he loves to sing to his goddess whom he calls Ashera. She is a fantasy combination of Ashera and Inanna, two ancient fertility deities, but he focuses on her loving aspects more than her warlike ones. In so many ways he's quite innocent and naive.
Chapter 1 -- The Star
“O beautiful one, Asher-ellit;
Immaculate one of the goddesses,
Torch of Heaven and earth,
Radiance of all the lands,
Goddess ‘Lady of Heaven',
First-begotten of Sin,
First-born of Ningal,
Sweet sister of Shamas
O Asher-Anu, you rule the heavens;
Oh Queen of Morning and Evening Sky,"
Marai the shepherd's, voice rose like the drone of a horn.
“Come bless me this starry night.
Shine for one who begs to serve you.
Come bless me this starry night."
Each intoned phrase he sang would be different in some way, but each would worship a particular aspect of his beloved, yet dreaded goddess. After each composed verse, he would chant "Come bless me this starry night" until fatigue overtook him.
Some nights the big man would sing only a few moments. When he finished, he would trudge cheerlessly into the inner recesses of his cave home to collapse in sleep. On more ecstatic nights, he sang of his love for the goddess until it was nearly daybreak.
Ever since his little wife had died, Marai had shunned the company of the travelers who moved through his family's wadi seeking shade, water and supplies. They were almost always headed west toward the road around the mountains and up to Kina. Sometimes the travelers made their way down into the less hospitable wastes, hoping for a miracle. Some would continue moving along the Copper Road into the protected East Gate of the Kemet lands.
Tonight, Marai hadn't felt quite as bad about eating with the travelers, even though his cousin Sheb drew him aside to continue the inevitable argument about their safety. It was past time to move on, the shepherd mused. His thoughts weren't so solidly on the goddess, tonight, even though he sang heartily enough to her. He kept pausing from time to time to see if anyone from the encampment below was annoyed by the melodious baritone he was sending up beyond the heavens.
You change our fates,
Evil turns to good;
I have sought you for so long among the gods;
I have offered all to you;
Come bless me this starry night"
*********
So I'm setting the stage. We know the main character is Marai and that he's a shepherd. His life has been full of wandering and tragedy. We know he loves to sing to his goddess whom he calls Ashera. She is a fantasy combination of Ashera and Inanna, two ancient fertility deities, but he focuses on her loving aspects more than her warlike ones. In so many ways he's quite innocent and naive.
