Category Archives: Book 1

Introduction Book 1: The Gift of Flame

Date: 441 Passes Ago Two trails struggled side by side through the looming snow drifts. White seared the landscape until both sky and ground were faded mirrors of nothingness. From time to time, a scraggly tree limb poked through the more »

Posted in An Introduction 1 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch1-1: The Host Gate

This doesn’t look anything like what I imagined the Host Gate would. AsaHi stepped warily into the dampness of the cave, as if she expected something to pounce from the shadows at any moment. At first glace, the cave seemed more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ch1-2: The Apprentice

The writing stick made a wild scree as the teacher drew across the board, finishing the last leg of the diagram’s triangle. A mass of indigo arrows, circles and words sprawled all over the white writing-platter. The man at the more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Ch1-3: The Dragon’s Dream

“Aunt SaRa?” SoYa paused in the doorway of the dimly lit room, a palm on either side of the doorframe. He swallowed down his trepidation as the older woman sitting in the corner glanced up with a familiar, worn smile. more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ch1-4: New Reality

“Well, now. Welcome back!” The voice was overly cheerful, even through the groggy haze that clouded AsaHi’s mind. The girl’s eyes inched open, then fluttered against the amber light filtering in from window above. “Sunset already?” she murmured. “I slept more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch1-5: Brotherly Advice

SoYa made his way double-time down the streets of Nefol. His green eyes watched warily over one shoulder as he rounded a corner. Nefol. It had been SoYa’s home since he could remember. It was the first city of its more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch1-6: Ambition’s Spark

TsuYa didn’t know why it was so cold in his room. He piled the fire until it roared within the wall cleft, but nothing TsuYa did gave any warmth to his quarters. It had been that way since SoYa left more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ch1-7: Snow Sparrow

SoYa instantly knew that something was wrong. The life force that had once flowed through the stone of the Host Gate was not there. The presence that he could always feel was gone. Nothing remained except a churning void in more »

Posted in Chapter 01 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-1: Shadow Hunt

This is all your fault, you know? AsaHi grumbled to herself as she shifted the aching weight of the traveling pack on her shoulders. All she had done for the past three days was walk, and it was starting to more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-2: Kaze

Patterns of light trickled down through the leaves, dappling AsaHi’s face. The speckles seeped through her closed eye lids, tugging her awake from depths of the calm sleep. She woke to the instant knowledge that the events from the night more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ch2-3: Crash Course in Life

“That’s sorta right. Try doing it more like this,” AsaHi leaned down into the stream’s current, allowing her hair to flow with the water’s silver tide. She carefully demonstrated a thorough hair-washing using the fingers of both hands. It was more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-4: Firemaker

They had been traveling together for a number of days when the fire-maker vanished. AsaHi searched her pack nearly twenty times over. She dumped everything out, including the pockets on the outside, all to no avail. It was absolutely nowhere more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-5: Ill Omen

AsaHi stood knee-deep in the cool flow of the mountain stream. Between her hands she held the heavy wet cloth of an apron-turned-fish-net. Her green eyes watched the darting flashes of silver fish as they scattered away from her shadow more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-6: ZenToYa

“I can’t believe it!” AsaHi stared at the map. She turned it upside down. She turned it backwards and forwards. No matter how she looked at it, it said the same thing. “The map says it should be right here. more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch2-7: Wayrift

They look exactly like the statues I saw at the Host Gate! AsaHi craned her head back, staring up at the monolithic stone dragons that arched over the small rock clearing. Their eyes were hooded in deep shadow, giving them more »

Posted in Chapter 02 | 2 Comments

Ch3-1: Homecoming

Father is alive! The same thought ran through SoYa’s mind over and over again. His heart pounded with bounding exhilaration as he rounded the corner of the Apprentice’s quarters. Green eyes flickering with excitement, he lifted his fist and pounded more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Leave a comment

Ch3-2: Dual Revelations

The Council began stripping feathers from the little girl’s wings in a downpour of shimmering white. The child couldn’t have been much older than twelve turns old at the most, her wrists bound and face shoved against the wooden planked more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch3-3: Coming To Terms

Aunt SaRa reined in beside SoYa’s mount, a concerned look on her face. Her cream-colored rhawn sidestepped tensely as the woman began to speak, “SoYa, we need to rest. If I don’t tend the child’s wounds soon, she’ll only grow more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch3-4: Dawndreamt Sunset

AsaHi woke to find herself draped in a satiny night-robe. She lifted her head, her long white hair spilling over her shoulders as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. It took her a few moments to realize where more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ch3-5: Question and Answer

“Master ZenToYa? I’m sorry to bother you…” The man turned his head in a playful, half-upside-down manner and peered at AsaHi where she peeked shyly at him from behind a tree branch. The girl just happened to find him as more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch3-6: True Name

AsaHi was beginning to wonder if Kaze was avoiding her. For days, she was left on own to explore the strange and wonderful floating Islands. This she did with both interest and trepidation. AsaHi still couldn’t get past the feeling more »

Posted in Chapter 03 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ch4-1: Unending Night

Another twilight draped across the land, the end of a long day of riding. Though SoYa had no way of measuring how far ahead they were from those who may be following, they were all too tired to ride any more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-2: Spirit’s Armor

“Wait!” AsaHi shouted, dogging the man’s steps. “Please, I need to ask you a question!” “I’m terribly sorry, sweetie, but for just this once I can’t stop to talk,” Zento replied over one shoulder as he turned the hallway corner. more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-3: Casting Stones

“Zento… about your son… I’m sorry,” Zemi intoned with a sound that was almost true regret. “You apologize like it’s your fault,” the winged man lifted his head, his eyes remaining distant upon the horizon. From the moment he received more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-4: Darkblade

“This way, just a little further now,” SaRa urged, tugging gently at the reigns of her mount as she led it over the craggy grounds. The little girl slumped motionless over the back of the rhawn. She looked worse every more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ch4-5: Nightmare Storm

Father! Emotion pulled SoYa in so many different directions. Joy at seeing his father’s face again. Deep concern at watching the strange transformation sweep over his brother. And growing fear at the deep thundering darkness that rose up in the more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-6: Lost to Silence

Ohh… Kaze… er… Zemi… er… whoever! You’re in big trouble next time I catch you! AsaHi sat, arms crossed, watching the rift circle on small floating island. This was the spot she remembered appearing when they first entered the city more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-7: Worlds Apart

“Is he really Lord Zemi?” It was the first time SoYa found the courage to speak to AsaHi. “I think so,” her voice was weak, eyes fixed on the bridge beneath their feet. Her delicate hands wrapped around the white more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ch4-8: The Day We Meet Again

“Hey there, pretty girl. You goin’ my way?” SaRa wiped the sleepy haze from her eyes at the sound of the voice. She peered up from the covers of her bed, straight into the face of– “Zento!” the gasp made more »

Posted in Chapter 04 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment