Category Archives: Book 1
Introduction Book 1: The Gift of Flame
Date: 441 Passes Ago Two trails struggled side by side through the fatal snow drifts. A vast, heavy white washed away the landscape until the sky and ground were faded mirrors of nothingness that reflected back on each other. From … Continue reading
Ch1-1: The Host Gate
This doesn’t look anything like what I imagined the Host Gate would. AsaHi stepped slowly into the dampness of the cave with a wary look, as if she expected something to pounce from the shadows at any moment. At first … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
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 her head. “Sunset already?” she murmured. … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 had … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Ch2-1: Shadow Hunt
This is all your fault, you know? AsaHi grumbled to herself as she shifted the aching weight of the travelling pack on her shoulders. All she had done for the past three days was walk… and it was starting to … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 had dumped everything out, including the pockets on the outside, all to no avail. It was absolutely … Continue reading
Ch2-5: Ill Omen
AsaHi stood knee-deep in the cool flow of the mountain stream. Between her hands she held the wet heavy cloth of an apron-turned-fish-net. Her green eyes watched the darting flashes of silver fish as they scattered away from her shadow … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
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 up over the small rock clearing. Their eyes were hooded in deep shadow, giving … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 from where she peeked shyly at him from behind a tree branch. The girl had just happened to find … Continue reading
Ch3-6: True Name
AsaHi was beginning to wonder if Kaze was avoiding her. For days, she had been 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 … Continue reading
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 of those who may be following, they were all too tired to ride any … Continue reading
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, sweety, but for just this once I can’t stop to talk,” Zento replied over one shoulder as he turned the hallway corner. … Continue reading
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 is your fault,” the winged man lifted his head, his eyes remaining distant upon the horizon. From the moment he … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 had rose up in … Continue reading
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 at when they first entered the … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Ch4-8: The Day We Meet Again
“Hey there, pretty girl. You goin’ my way?” SaRa swept away the sleepy haze in 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 … Continue reading
