Book 1 Introduction
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
Date: Many Passes Ago The Killing Winter was upon them, bearing a cold that could reach inside a man’s chest and stop his heart. The frozen white bleached the landscape
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You are browsing the Blog for Book 1.
Book 1 Chapter 1
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
The Dreigiau’s Host Gate didn’t look anything like the stories made it sound. In fact, the cave seemed quite ordinary — much like AsaHi was. Plain, magicless stone carved away
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Book 1 Chapter 2
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
“Can you believe the nerve of that KoGuRai?” TsuYa complained to his rhawn as he secured the reigns to a sturdy branch on the nearest tree. The frustration in the
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Book 1 Chapter 3
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
“For countless generations, our people lived in family clans that came together in alliances known as the Gatherings. These Gatherings migrated across the Inner Realms, moving with the changing seasons,”
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Book 1 Chapter 4
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
Though TsuYa didn’t tell him where AsaHi was, his mention of Aunt SaRa was all SoYa needed to guess. The Apprentice made his way through the city as quickly as
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Book 1 Chapter 5
May 12, 2008 in Book 1
“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
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Book 1 Chapter 6
May 13, 2008 in Book 1
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
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Book 1 Chapter 7
May 13, 2008 in Book 1
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 he did gave any warmth to
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Book 1 Chapter 8
May 13, 2008 in Book 1
She appeared within his dreams, as she always did, her two bare feet perched flat upon the stone in the middle of the wading pool. The vision perfectly recreated their
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Book 1 Chapter 9
May 13, 2008 in Book 1
“Where is she, TsuYa?” KoGuRai’s familiar, haughty voice echoed down the corridor and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. This was certainly the last person
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Book 1 Chapter 10
May 13, 2008 in Book 1
-Find the girl called AsaHi. Bring her home to Nefol.- Those were the final instructions that filled TsuYa’s mind as he left the Council chamber. He was now left to
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Book 1 Chapter 11
May 14, 2008 in Book 1
This is all your fault, you know? AsaHi grumbled to herself as she shifted the weight of the traveling pack on her shoulders. Her feet stung and her body ached
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Book 1 Chapter 12
May 14, 2008 in Book 1
Patterns of light trickled past the leaves, dappling AsaHi’s face. The speckles seeped through her closed eye lids, tugging her from depths of the calm sleep. She woke to the
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Book 1 Chapter 13
May 14, 2008 in Book 1
What started as AsaHi’s attempt to repay Kaze’s kindness turned into something so much more. The girl spent the rest of that day resting, providing him with what clothing she
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Book 1 Chapter 14
May 15, 2008 in Book 1
AsaHi stood knee-deep in the cool flow of the mountain stream, holding the heavy wet cloth of an apron-turned-fish-net. Her green eyes watched the darting flashes of silver fish under
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Book 1 Chapter 15
May 16, 2008 in Book 1
“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 indicated the
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Book 1 Chapter 16
May 22, 2008 in Book 1
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
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Book 1 Chapter 17
May 22, 2008 in Book 1
SoYa instantly knew that something was wrong. The life force that had once flowed through the stone of the Host Gate was missing. The presence that he could always feel
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Book 1 Chapter 18
May 22, 2008 in Book 1
SoYa sat next to the communication stone, waiting in a shroud of nervous anticipation. He didn’t know exactly what the stone was, only that it was something that his father
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Book 1 Chapter 19
May 22, 2008 in Book 1
Nothing felt right in Nefol anymore, not since the day TsuYa took leadership of the city. KoGuRai wasn’t much of a feely-feely guy, but even he could see the shadows
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Book 1 Chapter 20
May 27, 2008 in Book 1
So many conflicting feelings churned through SoYa’s mind. The information that NaDo gave him sparked joy at the knowledge that his father was alive and sorrow at the suffering he
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Book 1 Chapter 21
May 27, 2008 in Book 1
Aunt SaRa reined in beside SoYa’s mount, a concerned look on her face. Her cream-colored rhawn sidestepped tensely as the woman spoke, “SoYa, we need to rest. If I don’t
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Book 1 Chapter 22
July 17, 2008 in Book 1
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
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Book 1 Chapter 23
July 17, 2008 in Book 1
“Master ZenToYa? I’m sorry to bother you,” AsaHi approached him with hesitation. The man turned his head in a playful, half-upside-down manner and peered at the girl where she peeked
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Book 1 Chapter 24
July 17, 2008 in Book 1
AsaHi was beginning to wonder if Kaze was avoiding her. For days after her discussion with Zento, she was left on own to explore the floating islands. While the place
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Book 1 Chapter 25
July 18, 2008 in Book 1
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
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Book 1 Chapter 26
July 21, 2008 in Book 1
“This way, just a little further now,” SaRa urged, tugging gently at the reins of her mount as she led it over the craggy grounds. The little girl slumped motionless
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Book 1 Chapter 27
July 21, 2008 in Book 1
The world spun around TsuYa in a murky haze. Though he grappled with it, disorientation filled his mind, leaving gaps in his memory. Often, he would find himself standing somewhere
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Book 1 Chapter 28
July 24, 2008 in Book 1
Father! Emotion pulled SoYa in 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
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Book 1 Chapter 29
July 24, 2008 in Book 1
Something was happening down on the ground. AsaHi didn’t know exactly what, but she did manage to catch a flurry of activity as Zento led a whole group of winged
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Book 1 Chapter 30
July 24, 2008 in Book 1
“Are you feeling better now?” Zento asked his sister. “Yes,” SaRa answered, sipping her tea slowly. The color in her face was already returning, supporting her words. “Thank goodness you
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Book 1 Chapter 31
July 25, 2008 in Book 1
SoYa sat bolt-upright in bed, a haze of sweat and fear clouding his eyes. “Just a dream!” he gasped. “A dream! It couldn’t be real, it was all just a…”
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Book 1 Chapter 32
July 25, 2008 in Book 1
AsaHi watched with a distant frown as the blue rift-glow returned. She sat perched on a rock next to a waterfall, a place she returned to more and more often.
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Book 1 Chapter 33
July 25, 2008 in Book 1
“Well, well. Look what the Dragon dragged in.” At the sound of the voice, both AsaHi and Kudako turned, peering straight into the grinning face of ZenToYa. “If it isn’t
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Book 1 Chapter 34
July 25, 2008 in Book 1
Because something about you called to me. Lord Zemi’s words to AsaHi echoed in SoYa’s mind. He pondered them and scoured them for their true meaning. Try as he might,
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Book 1 Chapter 35
July 25, 2008 in Book 1
It was a smudge. It turned into a blot. That turned into a spot. That turned into a Mark. That turned into a puddle. That turned into a pool. That
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Book 1 Chapter 36
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
SoYa was sitting there, just like every other time that TsuYa woke. His mind faded in and out, carried on waves of restless sleep and nausea. Everything was fuzzy in
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Book 1 Chapter 37
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
“So, tell me boys, what’s the game plan?” Aunt SaRa cornered the two men immediately. “Game plan?” Zento asked innocently. “Morh-SaRa, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kudako
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Book 1 Chapter 38
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
“I don’t understand,” TsuYa’s tone was low with distress. “I know you don’t,” was Father’s only answer. “Then why are you leaving? We’ve only just found each other again!” he
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Book 1 Chapter 39
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
Coming back to the ground was a strange sensation. SoYa felt somehow more heavy-limbed and uncoordinated. Though he couldn’t understand why, back in Ceiswyr, his mind seemed more agile and
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Book 1 Chapter 40
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
They found a cave to take shelter in for the night. Though it was surprisingly warm inside once the fire was lit, their clothes were already soaked from the biting
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Book 1 Chapter 41
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
She’s looking at me again. Or at least, that was the feeling TsuYa got from the strange little girl. He didn’t know how she could see anything through the white
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Book 1 Chapter 42
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
“Master Kudako?” “Hrm?” the Dragon peered up from where he was assembling the timber for the fire. “What’s that dark area out there?” AsaHi pointed. The sky was shifting into
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Book 1 Chapter 43
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
“Heellloooooo—” -lllooo -lloo -lo AsaHi grinned in delight as her voice echoed back at her from the cleft below. It’s not such a spooky place now that I can see
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Book 1 Chapter 44
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
SoYa hissed as a sharp, stinging pain sliced through his upper arm. His defenses fell as the last of his concentration shattered away. The pain leapt on him from every
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Book 1 Chapter 45
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
The sunshine was perfect. The twittering birds were perfect. The way the grass played in the wind was perfect. The sparkling blue spray of water streaming down into the pond
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Book 1 Chapter 46
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
TsuYa sat at the edge of the Island. Every morning he came to watch the fog burned away. It unfurled in a silent ritual until the mountains below emerged a
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Book 1 Chapter 47
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
Zemi wasn’t sure if Zerom would respond to his summon. He did know that his brother wasn’t foolish enough not to see this for what it was. That was part
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Book 1 Chapter 48
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
A forlorn howl rang across the calm of the shadowed-shrouded hills, startling AsaHi out of her half-asleep state. Frightened, her green eyes darted across the fire towards where the others
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Book 1 Chapter 49
August 11, 2008 in Book 1
“AsaaaaaHiiiiiiiii?” She heard a voice cry out her name. Then another voice echoed it. The girl blinked awake at the sound, eyes blurring as the sunlight hit her full force.
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