The Lost Spellweaver begins the Elfdreams series. Set in ancient Parallan, the tale chronicles events that occurred long before the Draiths came to prominence in the World of the Three Suns. When the wandering gray sun Andreas draws near Parallan, Magick touches the dwellers of the primitive world. Only during the Approximations of Andreas are Spellweavers born to the forest dwellers, the Drelves. Generations of Drelves went about their lives, lived in harmony with the forest, and harvested the tubers of the enhancing plant, which grew only in the exotic Green Vale, the home of the Thirttene friends and one of only two green places in the mostly orange-yellow World of the Three Suns. The Drelves’ enemies, gnarly goblin-like Kiennites and powerful wolf-faced Drolls, assailed the forest folk at every opportunity. After many Approximations resulted in no Spellweavers, twin Spellweavers are born and kindle the Drelves’ hopes. Wisps of Magick connect other worlds to Parallan. Masters of the powerful ability Translocation, Dreamraiders use these threads of Magick to influence events in Parallan. What motivates the Dreamraiders? Can dreams come true? Should dreams come true?Deathquest to Parallan, the Orb of Chalar, The Death of Magick, The Chalice of Mystery, and The Dawn of Magick...The Donothor and Parallan series...a different kind of Sci-Fi/fantasy.

The Lost Spellweaver

Elfdreams of Parallan IBy Benjamin Towe

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Towe
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2539-7

Contents

PROLOGUE....................................................................iCHAPTER 1 Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest.....................1CHAPTER 2 Early Friendships................................................11CHAPTER 3 Old Yellow.......................................................15CHAPTER 4 Yannuvia's First Dream...........................................20CHAPTER 5 Yannuvia's Second Elfdream.......................................25CHAPTER 6 Moochie the Droll................................................28CHAPTER 7 The Dream Raiders................................................34CHAPTER 8 A Difficult Choice...............................................39CHAPTER 9 Journey's Beginning..............................................49CHAPTER 10 Missing.........................................................53CHAPTER 11 The Bowyer's Elfdream...........................................56CHAPTER 12 Water Sprites...................................................62CHAPTER 13 Behind the Alluring Falls.......................................71CHAPTER 14 Watching........................................................88CHAPTER 15 The Dryad.......................................................93CHAPTER 16 Tomayo's Dream..................................................98CHAPTER 17 Meadowsweet.....................................................101CHAPTER 18 Green Vale......................................................111CHAPTER 19 Amica's Reward..................................................125CHAPTER 20 Ill Tidings.....................................................129CHAPTER 21 Return to Meadowsweet...........................................132CHAPTER 22 The First War Machine...........................................138CHAPTER 23 Saligia's Assault Begins........................................143CHAPTER 24 Another Harvest.................................................145CHAPTER 25 Morganne's Dream................................................150CHAPTER 26 Kirrie's Dream..................................................154CHAPTER 27 Kirrie's Decision...............................................161CHAPTER 28 The Teacher's Dream.............................................164CHAPTER 29 Sergeant Major Rumsie's Concerns................................169CHAPTER 30 War Council of Aulgmoor.........................................172CHAPTER 31 A Gift for the Teacher..........................................178CHAPTER 32 Mobilization....................................................185CHAPTER 33 The Battle of Lone Oak Meadow Begins............................190CHAPTER 34 Old Yellow's Stand..............................................198CHAPTER 35 Zack's Sacrifice................................................202CHAPTER 36 The Felling of the Great Tree...................................209CHAPTER 37 Moochie's Triumph...............................................212CHAPTER 38 Firehorses......................................................216CHAPTER 39 Many Bryces.....................................................222CHAPTER 40 Pyres...........................................................226CHAPTER 41 Bluthgar........................................................236CHAPTER 42 War Wolves......................................................241CHAPTER 43 Klunkus's Maneuver..............................................247CHAPTER 44 Meryt and Debery's Plan.........................................250CHAPTER 45 Battle Lines....................................................260CHAPTER 46 Regrouping......................................................269CHAPTER 47 Aftermath.......................................................289

Chapter One

Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest

The Teacher Edkim breathed deeply and basked in the thick gray light. The wandering sun Andreas emitted the gray light, drew near the land, and now filled the usually amber skies. Edkim had been the spiritual leader of the Drelves for twenty-four years and at this moment witnessed his first Approximation of the wandering gray sun Andreas. Would Andreas this time grant his ilk the gift of a Spellweaver? The ultra rare purveyors of Magick were born only during these extraordinary times. Now the Teacher waited outside the stately red oak that was the home of life-mates Carinne and Glinne. Skilled Drelvish midwives attended Carinne, who was laden with child and confined. The Teacher waited and hoped.

Three very different suns gave light to Parallan, the world of the Drelves. Total darkness never covered the land. The little yellow sun Meries traversed the sky in sixteen hours. When Meries drew high in the sky, the little star bathed the World of the Three Suns with amber light, warmed the world, and gave imparted beautiful yellow and orange hues to the skies of Parallan. Rather than a round bright spot, the dark sun Orpheus was akin to a large dark unmoving spiraling defect in the sky. Giant Orpheus gave little light and controlled the movement of Meries. Andreas, the Gray Wanderer, appeared in the sky irregularly. Oft times Andreas came into view as a gray speck on the horizon. From time to time the wanderer left the skies altogether. Every now and then the gray sun wobbled a bit closer to the World of the Three Suns.

Eight-hour periods of waxing and waning amber light made up one cycle of Meries. The little yellow sun never left the horizon, but every sixty cycles Meries slunk down in the amber sky and lingered at its zenith for a time of fifteen cycles, or 240 hours. These nadirs of Meries's light were called dark periods. During the dark period the scant light that reached the World of the Three Suns derived mostly from great Orpheus with variable contribution from the Gray Wanderer. Thus the times of greatest light were called light periods, the lesser light were amber periods, and the cyclic extended periods of least illumination were called dark periods.

Some peoples used the arbitrary term "day" to describe one eight hour cycle of bright light and the term "night" to describe the eight hour amber periods. The terms day and night had little meaning during the 240 hour-long time of decreased illumination of the dark period. Most folk simply used the term dark period. But the time from the beginning of one dark period to the beginning of the next was consistently the equivalent of 75 cycles of Meries, or 1200 hours.

On the odd occasion the Gray Wanderer drew near Parallan. The Approximations of Andreas gave wondrous gifts to the fauna, flora, and folk of Parallan. During these totally unpredictable Approximations, the Gray Wanderer filled the sky, bathed the land with its deep gray light, and augmented the forces of Magick in the world.

Many peoples of Parallan celebrated the significant rituals of their given ilk during the dark periods. For instance the Drelves harvested the tubers of the enhancing plant only during the dark period. Vital to the Drelves, the enhancing plant's tubers matured in eight dark periods. Thus, a season of the harvest encompassed eight dark periods, and equaled the time of 600 cycles of Meries; 480 cycles of light and amber periods and the equivalent of 120 cycles of relative darkness. Drelves called the time between harvests a "season of the harvest" or a "year."

Drelves usually matured in fifteen to thirty years and chose life-mates when they found love. If blessed by good health and bountiful harvests of the disease fighting enhancing root, the forest folk lived to see hundreds of harvests. Teachers oft lived longer, and the ultra rare Spellweavers had uncommonly long lives.

Crossing a wandering monster or a voracious plant ended many lives prematurely in the World of the Three Suns. The Drelves were an uncommonly careful people and lost few of their numbers in such ways. The Drelves remained within the central forests of Parallan and never infringed on the territories of others. All the same, the forest folk's ancestral enemies the Drolls and Kiennites brought war to the forest people. Encountering a Droll's axe, Kiennite's bow, or shaman's spell shortened one's life very quickly.

"Teacher, it is time," Glinne's familiar voice called.

Edkim entered the great tree. Grayness bathed the small group gathered in the friendly confines of the great red oak. Typical of Approximations of the Gray Sun Andreas, the giant gray ball hovered near the World of the Three Suns and blocked out the light of Meries and the black giant sun Orpheus. Amber gave way to gray. Ordinary gave way to Magick.

The Teacher Edkim had presided at the ceremony of lifetime commitment that united the young Drelves Carinne and Glinne several harvesting seasons earlier. Now he was present at Carinne's time of confinement. Blessed with natural beauty, Drelvish females were more lovely and radiant when they were with child.

The light of the gray sun had concentrated on the great tree where the young couple resided. In times past, the dense cone of gray light had indicated the most blessed of occurrences for the Drelves, the birth of a Spellweaver.

The grayness of the Approximation of Andreas produced the darkest times on the lands, but also awakened forces of Magick.

You saw just about everything.

For the most part, little amusements occurred, but the gray light of Andreas transformed the World of the Three Suns and heightened Magick. Songbirds changed their tunes. Hummingbirds knew the words and sang phrases. Rocks radiated auras. Elephants flew. Other than the times of Approximations, Magick was limited to the varied spells of Drelvish Spellweavers and the lesser dweomers of shamans of the goblin-like Kiennites.

Spellweavers were always born during the times of Approximation, but the birth of a Spellweaver was the exception instead of the rule. Most Approximations passed without the birth of a Spellweaver. On the other hand, every Kiennish offspring born during the time of the gray light had the limited powers of a shaman.

Young for a Teacher, Edkim had seen a hundred harvests of the enhancing root. Drelves typically described longevity in terms of harvests of the precious plant's tubers. The tubers matured in eight dark periods. Some Teachers lived their entire lives without witnessing a single time of the gray light. Ten generations of Teachers might pass between births of Spellweavers.

Was this was one of those rare times?

Newborn Drelves were called sprouts. The exceptional midwifery skills of the Drelve matrons brought sprouts into the World of the Three Suns. Two new voices rang through the long hollowed and now hallowed base of the great red oak home of Glinne and Carinne. Witnesses beheld the gray light concentrating on the two sprouts.

Auras danced upon every item within the dwelling, and all within sensed a great wave on the usually tranquil sea of Magick. Though most Drelves were unable to cast spells, Magick touched the forest people, and they usually detected its presence.

Carinne and Glinne had anticipated one child and chosen the name Gaelyss. Each looked at the other with bewilderment. The appearance of the gray light, the arrival of Edkim, three midwives, and a contingent of elders of Alms Glen had made the long awaited arrival of their first born even more of an affair to remember. Now two babes arrived. The second son was given the name Yannuvia.

Both sprouts were robust and healthy. Edkim joined the elders and the gathered community in the common area of Alms Glen.

The Teacher began, "The long wait is over. We are given Spellweavers."

"You ... you said Spellweavers. What ...?" the elder Blanchard queried.

"Yes. Spellweavers. Carinne and Glinne have two sons. The gray light is strong upon both. Two copies of the ancient spell book appeared," Edkim, replied.

"Two copies ... two copies of the Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest! Has this ever happened?" the elder continued.

"Neither in the recorded annals nor the tales we tell by the fires. The most recent copy of the ancient spell book replicates when a new Spellweaver is born. The three Teachers, who preceded me, never saw the book's replication. We have been so long without the embellishment of Magick. The gifts from the Wanderer are called Gaelyss and Yannuvia. The sprouts are very healthy," Edkim replied.

"Then we will accept them as gifts of the Gray Wanderer. The family needs rest. Everyone should return to his tree for a rest period. We must prepare a festival of celebration. Teacher, please prepare the enhancing root for the festivities. This is indeed a day for our people to remember and cherish," Blanchard said triumphantly.

The elder then led the group back to their trees.

Edkim tarried and looked toward the great red oak. Brilliant flashes of silver intermingled with the deep gray light, which danced around the massive trunk of the tree.

The Teacher sighed and thought, "All my life I've wanted the opportunity to receive and teach a Spellweaver. What a boon this can be for my people! Two Spellweavers! But am I capable of teaching them? How does one teach someone who has so much more potential power and ability? How?"

Drelvish rangers carried word of the event far and wide. All Drelvedom celebrated the births of the Spellweavers.

Edkim quickly realized Gaelyss and Yannuvia were gifted and possessed power of Magick. The sprouts grew into nymphs. Nymphs were Drelves who had lived through two to five seasons of the harvest. Nymph hood described this time of life. From nymphs, Drelvish children grew into Drelvlings. Drelvling described young Drelves between five and thirteen years old. Neophyte described a Drelvling or adult Drelve who had not actually harvested the tubers from the roots of the enhancing plant. Chosen was a term reserved for thirteen-year-old Drelves selected to accompany the Teacher to the hamlet of Meadowsweet and the treasured Green Vale to harvest the enhancing root tubers. Most referred to the tubers taken from the roots of the enhancing plant simply as enhancing root. While sprouts and nymphs, all Drelvish spawn stayed in close contact with their mothers and fathers. Gradually as Drelvlings grew into older childhood, the young forest folk spent more time with the Teacher and less with their parents.

Spellweavers differed.

Learning about all aspects of Drelvedom was paramount to the ultra rare Spellweavers. The parents of young Spellweavers parted with their children more quickly.

As soon as Gaelyss and Yannuvia were weaned, walked, and entered nymph hood, the twins spent more time with the Teacher than Drelvlings of the same age. When the twins began to spend more time with the Teacher and elders, Carinne and Glinne returned to their very important roles.

The Spellweavers' mother Carinne, an exceptional purveyor of balms and potions, worked with her peers and taught her trade to Drelvlings. She led an annual trek to a very secure fertile region of the Drelvish lands, a place called Sylvan Pond. An accomplished archer, the ranger Glinne worked with the renowned Drelvish bowyer BJ Aires and served in the defenses of Alms Glen.

Gaelyss and Yannuvia grew into Drelvlings during the time of relative peace. Even as nymphs, the brothers engaged in playful competition. Gaelyss changed flower petals to red, and Yannuvia changed them to violet. Gaelyss made grass grow; Yannuvia shortened the stems. Gaelyss stuck strictly to rules and the middle of the road; Yannuvia experimented and strayed as far to the side as he could without straying off the path. Both learned quickly and performed all tasks asked of them. The Teacher Edkim supervised play and learning, and the older Drelves secured the area around Alms Glen.

At the beginning of the twins seventh year, the Teacher Edkim called them to the Old Orange Spruce.

"It is time," the Teacher began.

Edkim reached into his ever-present rucksack and removed a text. He then removed another. The identical books bore runes written in the Old Drelvish language of the annals. Both books were titled The Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest. The Teacher placed one book in Gaelyss's hands and the second in Yannuvia's hands. When he placed the books in the Spellweavers' hands the book's leathery covers changed. Odd additional runes appeared on the covers of the tomes. Gaelyss and Yannuvia stared at the books they held.

The Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest

[LAMBDA][ALPHA][RHO][LAMBDA][SIGMA] [ALPHA]&[OMEGA]

"What? What does it say, Teacher?" Gaelyss asked.

"Please, Teacher, what do the phrases mean?" Yannuvia added.

"I haven't seen such writing. But then again I've never seen copies of our precious tome in the hands of Spellweavers. I've held a copy of the tome since I became Teacher. It's to be presented to Spellweavers as soon as they can use it. In your cases, two copies have appeared. I find no instances of twin Spellweavers in our histories, though there have been times of multiple Spellweavers. Don't you understand the runes?" Edkim asked.

Finding it odd that the Teacher didn't have an answer, Gaelyss replied, "No, Teacher. I don't know what it means. Will you teach me the spells of the tome?"

Yannuvia added, "I don't understand the writings, Teacher."

"I am not a Spellweaver. I cannot interpret the tome. I'm afraid you're on your own, my young friend. I can only assist you in the general knowledge of our ilk and the World of the Three Suns. You must study the tomes. Each will become a legacy of its Spellweaver. From this moment your spell books are unique. Beyond what I've told you, I can only say study the text thoroughly," Edkim, answered.

The youths took the Teacher at his word. Aided by the Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forests, the young Spellweavers learned spells such as Entangle and Plant Growth. The spells reinforced the protection the everred forests gave Alms Glen.

Like Teachers before him, Edkim encouraged strength through study and training and safety by isolation from enemies in the sanctuary of the forest. Thick unforgiving dense forests surrounded Alms Glen to the northeast, south, and east (if a compass were available). These primeval forests gave natural protection to the Drelves. Walkabout bushes, orange Triffids, pyrocanthas, and Tree Herders roamed these forests and preyed on Drolls, Kiennites, and unwary Drelves.

A broad meadow of brilliant red permagrass separated the forest around Alm's Glen from the wild game infested forest to what would be the west and northwest. Only one tree, the ancient Lone Oak, lived among the red grass and lent its name to the meadow. Unique to the Lone Oak Meadow, the red permagrass remained the same from season to season. The height of the blades never changed. Nature or Magick replaced individual destroyed blades. Streams and rivers cut through the wild woods. One such stream flowed from Mirror Lake northeast of Alms Glen, and created the legendary Alluring Falls, and emptied into the underground realms of the deep caverns beneath the Peaks of Division and the Doombringer Peaks. Most rivers and streams continued to the great western and eastern seas. All manner of beasts filled the inhospitable areas.

The smooth red meadow provided a clear view to the Drelvish sentries stationed in the trees at the periphery of the Alm's Glen forest. Many generations of Drelves had sat in their perches watching for their enemies, the Drolls and Kiennites or a rampaging beast such as a flying wyvern emerging from the wild forest.

(Continues...)

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