The First Wandmaker continues the Elfdreams series. Buoyed by Magick, Drelves prevail against the forces of Aulgmoor and their embittered leader Saligia. War costs the Drelves dearly. Leadership of the forest people falls on the shoulders of the beautiful young Teacher and even younger Spellweaver. Conflicts embroil all peoples of Parallan, including Drelves, Drolls, Kiennites, dryads, water sprites, tree sprites, tree harders, and rare healers called Menders. Threads of Magick connect other peoples, places, and times to Parallan. Dreamraiders use the power of Translocation, meddle in the affairs of the World of the Three Suns, and pit Drelve against Drelve, brother against brother, and Spellweaver against Spellweaver. What motivates the powerfulDream Master? What secrets do mysterious gray stones hold? What roles have the mysterious Thirttene Friends and a greenish Drelvish Menderish, Spellweaverish fellow? Escape to an elfdream! Deathquest to Parallan, the Orb of Chalar, the Death of Magick, the Chalice of Mystery, the Dawn of Magick, and The Lost Spellweaver... The Donothor and Elfdreams of Parallan series...different Sci-Fi/ Fantasy.

The First Wandmaker

Elfdreams of Parallan IIBy Benjamin Towe

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Towe
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2906-7

Contents

PROLOGUE...........................................................xiiiCHAPTER 1 The First Mender........................................1CHAPTER 2 The New Teacher.........................................9CHAPTER 3 Recovering at Aulgmoor..................................14CHAPTER 4 Fisher's Dream..........................................23CHAPTER 5 Saligia's Dream.........................................27CHAPTER 6 Saligia's Recovery......................................32CHAPTER 7 Fisher's Reply..........................................37CHAPTER 8 The Bloodstone of Aulgmoor..............................41CHAPTER 9 Morganne's Tasks........................................43CHAPTER 10 Uneasy Truce...........................................52CHAPTER 11 Saligia and Gaelyss....................................74CHAPTER 12 Awakening..............................................93CHAPTER 13 Reunion................................................101CHAPTER 14 Spellweavers at Odds...................................105CHAPTER 15 The Lost Spellweaver's Remembrance.....................117CHAPTER 16 Fisher's Confinement...................................129CHAPTER 17 Lost Sons..............................................133CHAPTER 18 Sisters................................................144CHAPTER 19 Baxcat and Leicat......................................148CHAPTER 20 Choices................................................171CHAPTER 21 Blue Light, Red Light..................................181CHAPTER 22 Return of the Wanderers................................186CHAPTER 23 Menders................................................190CHAPTER 24 Progeny................................................193CHAPTER 25 Reunion at Lost Sons...................................197CHAPTER 26 Dissenting Voices......................................216CHAPTER 27 A Green Guy in Green Vale..............................237CHAPTER 28 Saligia's Second Gift..................................247CHAPTER 29 Sylvan Pond............................................262CHAPTER 30 Aftermath of Sylvan Pond...............................268CHAPTER 31 Fire Wizard............................................271CHAPTER 32 Droll-Drelve in Aulgmoor...............................282CHAPTER 33 Yannuvia's Next Choice.................................286CHAPTER 34 Brother against Brother................................303CHAPTER 35 Just Rewards...........................................310CHAPTER 36 The Dream Master.......................................314CHAPTER 37 A Gathering of Friends.................................326

Chapter One

The First Mender

A mundane world orbited a distant globular star cluster. Simple folk inhabited the lands and stared up at a fantastic sky filled with thousands of suns. To their nave eyes, the suns were closely gathered bright dots. In reality great distances separated Nature's suns.

In a blink of those nave eyes, the skies above the primeval world changed. A massive star collapsed and doomed innumerable neighbors. The cataclysmic event instantly ruined countless civilizations. Forces of Nature overwhelmed both ordinary worlds and worlds of Magick. Many thousands of suns became the great dark sun one day called Orpheus. Meries, one of the outer suns, survived the cataclysm but fell under the influence of massive Orpheus. As a consequence Meries circled through but never left the skies of the ancient simple world. Meries and Orpheus left the world without total darkness, and cycles of light, amber, and dark periods began. Dark periods occurred at Meries' nadirs and allowed twinkling points of light to peek through. Rarely comets, shooting stars, and other visitors appeared in the amber skies. More rarely meteors fell to the land of hunters and gatherers. Following Nature's calamity, a third sun wandered unpredictably in the ancient skies. The strange gray rays of the wandering Andreas brought wonderful effects. On the odd occasion the gray giant drew near the world and bestowed its most special gifts. The odd sun visited the ancients, brought the first vestiges of Magick, and gave the world its third sun. The interval of its Approximations remained variable and unpredictable. Meries gave the world bright amber light and skies. Massive Orpheus influenced the world through gravity. The Gray Wanderer Andreas was the source of Magick.

Parallan, the World of the Three Suns ...

During an ancient Approximation, a stalwart chap stared into the skies, wondered at the giant sun's nearness, and basked in the gray light of the wandering sun. The primitive bloke heard the muffled roar of the forbidden falls in the distance. His father had warned him to avoid this area. Legends held powerful malevolent spirits lurked in the vicinity of the waterfall and lured unwary passersby to their dooms. Approximations of the Gray Wanderer increased the powers of the unseen forces.

Still curiosity drew the hunter.

His mother gave him the name Seffa Lexin. In a moment of time, the name forever left his memory. A celestial visitor appeared in the gray skies and moved toward the massive gray sun. Usually sojourners simply appeared and moved imperceptibly across the skies, but this remnant of a dead sun traveled rapidly and slammed into the giant Andreas. The cosmic collision dispersed many fragments of the gray sun. Frozen by fear and wonder, the hunter stared upward. A miniscule piece of the gray sun hurdled toward him. The fragment moved quickly, approached to within a hand's distance, paused, hovered briefly, circled him thrice, and then buried into the bewildered simple bloke's left hand, between his fifth and sixth digit. Excruciating pain stole consciousness from him, and the hunter fell to the ground.

Seffa dreamed.

His mind retraced his simple life, but then redness replaced the visions in his mind's eye.

Wisps ... Threads ... Threads of Magick ... Threads of fate ... Threads of time ... Threads connecting worlds ... Dreams connecting worlds ... Dreams of Magick ... The Magick of Dreams ... Magick connecting dreams ... Magick connecting worlds ... Dream raiders ... Elf pressure ... Albtraum ... Albtrume, elf dreams, nightmares ...

Out of the redness, the unfamiliar face of a beautiful female appeared. Seffa Lexin had only seen females of his and neighboring clans. The very tall alluring female had creamy skin, soft blue eyes, and coal black hair that fell gracefully down her back and chest. She wore a blazing red dress. The female walked gracefully back and forth across a field of odd green clover with purple flowers. Only orange, red, and blue clover grew in the forests of the World of the Three Suns. Blue flower petals showered around the beautiful female. Mesmerized and unable to move, the sleeping Seffa pondered. Had he dreamt in color before? Where did the unusual plants grow?

The matron spoke pleasantly to the sleeping huntsman, "Behold this pastoral scene. Relax. Release your pain, fear, and doubt. Do you feel your new strength? You have the power to comfort, heal, and restore. Let your eyes feast on my beauty. Don't resist. When you awaken, your mind will be clear and free of memories. Employ your gift. You will know."

Blueness surrounded her lovely face, and the vision faded. Seffa entered deep sleep.

When the sleeper awakened, the gray sun had retreated from the world and the little yellow sun scampered across the sky. The amber brightness of the light period replaced the gray light. Try as he might, the former hunter could not open his eyes. The bewildered fellow crawled defensively into the nearby bushes, hid from view, and waited. Why were his eyes so sensitive? Hours passed. The amber period arrived. Aided by its dimmer light, Seffa squinted and focused on his surroundings. The everred trees, orange and yellow grasses, and amber skies were unchanged. The gray sun was now only a dark speck in the distant horizon, and the little yellow sun approached its nadir. The prolonged dark period approached. Seffa again painfully opened his eyes and welcomed the relative darkness. Twas then the erstwhile hunter noticed the changes in his body and mind. His integument and hair were as white as the snow that covered the great peaks. The six digits on his hands were longer.

His coloration ... His memories ... He only remembered the words of the lovely image in his dream. Who was she? For that matter, who was he? Where was he? What was his name?

A crudely made spear, bow, and quiver lay on the ground near him. Though his eyes disdained the light, his hearing and smell were acutely heightened.

His hearing ...

Seffa Lexin heard the thunderous waterfall, the rhythmic beating of a tiny bird's heart high in the red elm above him, and every step of every skittering insect that crawled on the ground within fifty paces. Seffa smelled every nearby flower distinctly. Remembering nothing, the amnesiac sought to remain hidden.

No such luck ...

Seffa smelled the party of hunters long before he heard their approaching footsteps. He counted seven separate heartbeats. Who approached? What could he do? Were the seven interlopers allies ... or enemies? How would he know?

Too late!

"Someone lurks in the red thorn bushes and spies upon us!" a young voice clamored.

"Seth Lothan! Kill it ... kill him now!" an older hunter clamored.

Surprised to understand the cryptic tongue, the amnesiac sensed the end and muttered, "I'm not your enemy!"

A monotonic and emotionless voice spoke his words!

"Cefana! He speaks our tongue!" young Seth Lothan shouted.

Cefana shouted, "Kill him! He must be malevolent!"

Young Seth stood nearer the bewildered amnesiac, extended his blade to the stranger's neck, and replied, "Gladly!"

"Wait! Seffa Lexin's blade, bow, and quiver lie near him. Stay your hand, Seth. Perhaps he knows our friend's fate," a third voice authoritatively commanded.

Fortunately for the amnesiac, the third hunter seemed the leader of the small group. Seven plainly dressed hunters stood bewildered by the sight of him.

"I've never seen such folk. White as snow! Look at his purple eyes. He's got to be dangerous. He must be a warlock! Lexin, slay him before he enchants us! Why do we tarry?" the older warrior Cefana argued.

"Seth, guard the stranger. Triaxin, Vantine cover our flanks. Uroxime cover the rear. Spectra, scout beyond this clearing. Watch for others of his kind," Tycar Sillen ordered.

"Tycar, maybe he's a witch ..." young Seth asked.

"You speak of witches and warlocks. Do you believe stories told to make you fear the dark period? He's different. Maybe it's a good omen. Affairs don't go well for our clan, the Sporines. Other clans infringe on our territories," Tycar Sillen replied.

Cefana argued, "We've lost the trail of our chief's son. I tell you, Tycar, I'm wary of telling Seff Dyner that we can't find Seffa Lexin. The amber period has ended and yielded to the time of darker skies. The gray sun changes the world again and just now leaves the horizon. I say to the strange gray sun, 'Be gone!' This bloke is obviously a product of the gray light. Our leaders have ever cautioned us to stay inside the caves when the gray light bathes the lands. Seffa Lexin knew this and still trekked outside alone. Now we jeopardize the entire tribe trying to find him. If another group finds and defeats us ..."

Tycar Sillen interrupted, "I agree. We risk discovery and must return to the cavern. For now, we cannot account for the chief's son Seffa Lexin. I say we carry this stranger back to the hideaway and let the chief Seff Dyner figure him out. Our leader will know what to do."

Seth Lothan continued, "Our strong chief Seff Dyner placed too much confidence in his son. Oh! It's hard to look into the stranger's eyes. The lack of color disturbs me! He looks right through me! Let's see the color of his blood!"

"No, Seth! Bind him! Let's go!" Tycar commanded.

Searching for words and phrases, the pale stranger asked for food and water. Bewildered and fearful, the seven foragers Tycar Sillen, Seth Lothan, Cefana, Triaxin, Vantine, Uroxime, and Spectra carried him to their cave dwelling. The journey took only about an hour, or one-eighth of a period. In contrast to the brightness of the outer world, the pale stranger found the caverns dark and friendly. Hushed discussions followed the party's arrival. Enhanced hearing enabled the transformed captive to hear the cave dwellers' conversations and detect sobbing from within the primitive dwelling. Foreboding sadness preceded and overshadowed his arrival.

Young cave dwellers gathered around and stared at him. Had they not beheld a stranger? The cave people perceived him a threat and restrained him. Why? He was unarmored and weaponless. Triaxin and Vantine, two burly young adults stood nearby and carried rather large spears. Females kept little ones at a distance. Fires flickered around the large cave and provided dim light. The captive preferred dim light.

An older fellow approached. His weathered face indicated he had seen many seasons, and he carried an ornamental spear. A crude crown rested on his high brow. Had the prisoner seen the odd crown? He remembered little of anything.

A distraught female named Nova Lynn ran to the apparent leader and sobbed, "He worsens. Epidra asks for you, Chief Seff!"

The Chief groaned, "Will I should lose two sons in half a dark period's time? My clan falls apart. The searchers return with no word of my son Seffa Lexin and instead bring this odd being to our safe haven. Now my youngest son clings to life. Bring the newcomer and watch him. Don't touch him or let him touch you! In my 320 dark periods I've not seen such folk. The world gets stranger by the day!"

The chief followed Nova Lynn. Triaxin grunted and motioned with his spear. The stranger knew to follow. Nova Lynn led them through several passages in the natural cavern to a small grotto, where three older females worked over a young male. Many hides covered the more lavishly furnished grotto's walls and floor.

A beleaguered female stood and sobbed, "My mate, I have labored long. The matrons and I have tried everything. Our son burns from within. Safiten's illness prevents my grieving the loss of Seffa Lexin."

The tribal leader's child was ill.

Flickering flames revealed the child's pale face. Perspiration dripped from his body and the sound of his labored breathing resonated through the awkwardly silent cavern. The massive chief ambled over to his son's prone body. Grief overwhelmed Seff Dyner. The broad-shouldered chief dropped to his knees and sobbed.

Crude pottery vessels filled with herbs and unguents surrounded the thick mooler hide on which the child lay. Great mooler herds roamed the valleys. When something mooed, it was usually a mooler. The purplish bovines provided food for the folk of the World of the Three Suns. Hunting, pursuing, and killing the beasts required teamwork and skill.

The boy's mother glowered in the faint light and uttered, "Why have you brought this person to our vigil? Who is he?"

The burly chieftain answered, "Epidra, our parties found no sign of Seffa Lexin, but stumbled upon this lone person. I don't know from whence he came. He speaks our tongue. I had just begun to look into him when you summoned me."

Epidra replied, "Seff, I am bereft of my oldest son and my youngest lingers near death. I want you near me when he leaves us."

Seff Dyner somberly said, "I will stay by your side. Traveler, I can't deal with you now. Triaxin, please give the stranger food and water. He's shown no aggression. I think you understand me, stranger. If you try anything, you'll be killed. Do you have a name?"

The pale stranger shook his head negatively.

"Then, be off with him, Triaxin. I must attend my son and mate," the broad-shouldered leader said.

"No. I'll help you. Bring me the fruits of the tetra berry bush. I'll need unripe and all three ripe types of fruit. That's unripe, yellow, red, and green. Gather the violet sap of the crying willow. Bring them to me quickly," the pale stranger said in his monotonic voice.

Seff Dyner looked toward his mate and noted her expression of futility and hopelessness.

Seff motioned to Seth Lothan and Cefana, and the two hunters ran from the room. The stranger went to the child's side and touched Safiten's hot skin. The youthful cavern dweller barely reacted to the touch of the pale stranger's twelve fingers. Epidra, Nova Lynn, and two older women Regula and Lantis dabbed the child with cooling sponge plants.

The pale foreigner hurriedly prepared poultices and balms from the materials he found among the cavern's supplies. Cefana and Seth Lothan soon returned with clusters of tetra bush berries. The whitish outsider took a large red gourd from Epidra's wares, placed the unripe berries in the hollowed out plant, and crushed them with his fingers. Grayness briefly filled the chamber. The nimble guest then crushed yellow, red, and finally green berries in the vessel and stirred the fruits rapidly.

"In all the woods, only this plant bears green berries. We've always been taught to avoid them. Are they not poisonous?" young Seth Lothan softly asked Cefana.

"Green. As far as I know, only this bush bears green fruits. Maybe the stranger poisons the chief's son while the chief stands beside him. Let's remain quiet. We may have to kill the blighter yet," Cefana answered.

The stranger thickened the poultice with the crying willow sap and then slowly rubbed the fragrant poultice over the child with his elongated pale digits. Next he gently opened the boy's parched lips and placed a bit of the unguent on his tongue. The child's breathing dramatically improved and soon his fever dissipated. Within a few hundred heartbeats, the boy sat up. Seff Dyner, Epidra, and the entire clan rejoiced.

The pale visitor never changed his blank expression or tone of his voice.

"You are a witch! A healer! We thought you only legend," Epidra shouted.

"How did you come to know the poultice?" Lantis asked.

"You must have come from behind the Great Falls!" old Regula declared.

The stranger stood quietly. Where was his home?

"I don't care where you come. You saved my son's life and lessened the tragedy of this day," the tribal leader declared reverently.

The healer answered, "I just ... do what I do ..."

"Stranger, you speak more strangely than you look. Please tell us your name," the burly leader asked.

"I ... don't have a name," the stranger answered.

"You have restored my son and mended his broken body. I will forever call you Mender," Epidra marveled.

"We are in your debt. You've earned your freedom. Seth Lothan and Cefana will take you home," Seff Dyner said.

"I have no home," the Mender answered.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The First Wandmakerby Benjamin Towe Copyright © 2009 by Benjamin Towe. Excerpted by permission.
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