Part 1 (1/2)
Percepliquis.
Michael J. Sullivan.
This book is entirely dedicated to my wife Robin Sullivan.
Some have asked how it is I write such strong women without resorting to putting swords in their hands. It is because of her.
She is Arista She is Thrace She is Modina She is Amilia And she is my Gwen.
This series has been a tribute to her.
This is your book Robin.
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
-- Elton John, Bernie Taupin.
Known Regions of the World of Elan:.
Estrendor: Northern Wastes.
Erivan Empire: Elvenlands Apeladorn: Nations of Man BaRan Archipelago: Islands of Goblins Westerlands: Western Wastes.
Dacca: Isle of South Men Nations of Apeladorn: Avryn: Central wealthy kingdoms Trent: Northern mountainous kingdoms.
Calis: South-eastern tropical warlords Delgos: Southern Republic Kingdoms of Avryn: Ghent: Ecclesiastical holding of the Nyphron Church.
Melengar: Small but old and respected kingdom Warric: Most power of the kingdoms of Avyrn.
Dunmore: Youngest and lest sophisticated kingdom Alburn: Forested kingdom Rhenydd: Poor Kingdom.
Maranon: Producer of food. Once part of Delgos lost when Delgos became a republic Galeannon: Lawless kingdom of barren hills, the site of several great battles The G.o.ds Erebus: Father of the G.o.ds Ferrol: eldest son G.o.d of the elves.
Drome: second son G.o.d of dwarves Maribor: third son, G.o.d of men Murial: only daughter G.o.d of nature Uberlin: son of Murial and Erebus, G.o.d of darkness.
CHAPTER 1.
THE CHILD.
Miranda had been certain that the end of the world would begin like this-without warning, but with fire. Behind them, the sky glowed red as flames and plumes of sparks rose into the night sky. The university at Sheridan was burning.
Holding Mercy's little hand, Miranda was terrified she might lose the girl in the dark. They had been running for hours, das.h.i.+ng blindly through the pine forest, pus.h.i.+ng their way past unseen branches. Beneath the laden boughs, the snow was deep. Miranda fought through drifts higher than her knees, breaking a path for the little girl and the old professor.
Struggling somewhere behind, Arcadius called out, ”Go on, go on, don't wait for me.”
Hauling the heavy pack and dragging the little girl, Miranda was moving as fast as she could. Every time she heard a sound or thought a shadow moved, Miranda fought back a scream. Panic hovered just below the surface, threatening to break free. Death was on their heels and her feet were anchors.
Miranda felt sorry for the child and worried that hauling her forward was hurting her arm. Once, Miranda had pulled too hard and dragged Mercy across the surface of the snow. The girl had cried when her face skimmed the powder, but her whimpering was short-lived. Mercy had stopped asking questions, stopped complaining about being tired. She had given up talking altogether and trudged behind Miranda as best she could. She was a brave girl.
They reached the road and Miranda knelt down to inspect the child. Her nose ran. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes. Her cheeks were red, and her black hair lay matted with sweat to her forehead. Miranda took a moment to brush several loose strands behind her ears while Mr. Rings kept a close eye on her. As if he were a fur stole, the racc.o.o.n curled around the girl's neck. Mercy had insisted on freeing the animals from their cages before leaving. Once released, the racc.o.o.n had run up Mercy's arm and held tight. Apparently, Mr. Rings also sensed something bad was coming.
”How are you doing?” Miranda asked, pulling the girl's hood up and tightening the broach holding her cloak.
”My feet are cold,” she said. The child's voice was little more than a whisper as she stared down at the snow.
”So are mine,” Miranda replied in the brightest tone she could muster.
”Ah, well, that was fun, wasn't it?” the old professor said while climbing the slope to join them. He puffed large clouds and s.h.i.+fted the satchel over his shoulder, his beard and eyebrows thick with snow and ice.
”And how are you doing?” Miranda asked.
”Oh, I'm fine, fine. An old man needs a bit of exercise now and again, but we need to keep moving.”
”Where are we going?” Mercy asked.
”Aquesta,” Arcadius replied. ”You know what Aquesta is, don't you, dear? That's where the empress rules from a big palace. You'd like to meet her, wouldn't you?”
”Will she be able to stop them?”
Miranda noticed the little girl's gaze had s.h.i.+fted over the old man's shoulder to the burning university. Miranda looked as well, watching the brilliant glow rising above the treetops. They were many miles away now, and yet the light still filled the horizon. Dark shadows flew above the fire's light. They swooped and circled over the burning university, and from their mouths spewed torrents of flame.
”We can hope, my dear. We can hope,” Arcadius said. ”Now let's keep moving. I know you're tired. I know you're cold. So am I, but we have to go as fast as we can. We have to get farther away.”
Mercy nodded or s.h.i.+vered. It was difficult to discern which.
Miranda dusted the snow from the child's back and legs in an attempt to keep her from getting wetter than she already was. This drew a cautious glare from Mr. Rings.
”Do you think the other animals got away?” Mercy asked.
”I'm certain they did,” Arcadius a.s.sured her. ”They are smart, aren't they? Maybe not as smart as Mr. Rings here-after all, he managed to get a ride.”
Mercy nodded again and added in a hopeful voice, ”I'm sure Teacup got away. She can fly.”