Amalure On Hold

Some complications have come up and we are needing to put Amalure on hold until they are sorted out.

We hope to have Amalure back up and posting soon!


©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Chapter 5: Zariah City

(Today's chapter is a small teaser online. It is available in full in the forthcoming Amalure Book)

*****
The pace I had kept was unreal, the plains that separated our forest from Zariah City's walls seemed to flow by and behind me, not even a week had passed and I was upon the walls of the forbidden city.

"Now just to find a way in..."
*****
What otherworldly wonders did this city not hold? I now knew I needed to find a way inside this building, the flaming gate had to signal something. This could very well be the place I would find something to bring honor back to my family.
*****
The parchments and scrolls were mind blowing... this much knowledge in written form was near inconceivable back in the Camp, this had to be a great library or the school or maybe even...

"You there! Who are you and why are you in our home!?"

Turning I found a Elven child not much older than me. He looked enraged by my very presence and I saw him reaching for some metal object on a desk; at his touch the metal glowed red and sizzled.

"I'll teach a peasant to sneak into the Delano manor!"
*****


©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Chapter 4: Council

The air was heavy with the smell of light fragrance and sweat, the words passed between these six hung in the air deepening the mood of anxiety as their conversation continued.
The Rebel Council was convened, and fear was the main topic.

One stands before the others; an Elf of many seasons less then his body hints at, the position he holds aging him faster then nature intended.

"Zariah City has sent out another search party for us. This brings the total to 4 this moon cycle..."

"We understand how many that makes Artan. What are we to do with them? If they do not return to the city, the Bacchus Senate will have a direction to start sending more. If we don't do anything, they are sure to find us eventually."

"Calmness sister, we'll need to have clear heads for finding a solution to this issue. Artan, Ishal does have a point though. How are we to combat this threat?"

"I am hearing you Pereis, and you Ishal. This council meeting will try to find out exactly that, what we can do and what we will do about the search parties and many more issues."

"Many more issues? Have my brother and I been gone so long that they have compounded?"

"Myki, please inform Pereis and Ishal of the latest events please."

There is an uneasiness as the youngest member of the Council stands and takes a step forward, thoughts whirl almost like ancient whispers from a long forgotten crypt. Near no one trusts one that can pass over a mind like a page of parchment or scroll and this Council is not immune to that stigma.

"The search parties have started to burn fields, wild crops and even lighting forests ablaze. The threat is now not if they find us, but they get close."

Myki could almost touch the tension in the room as it grew around her, she began to concentrate, visualizing her way toward blocking thoughts from invading her own. Instead of the deep tension she was filled with this longing sadness as she began to feel utterly alone.

"Myki, is something the matter?"

"No... no... Thank you Ahlan. The issue Artan was describing further gets worse; the population of our camp is growing and we may need to expand out of the forest. This brings with it dangers of living on the ground instead of above it, as well as much less cover against a Zariah search party. We have touched upon the subject of us moving the whole of the camp."

"Move the whole of the Camp! We are speaking of hundreds, if not thousands, of Elves! What other madness has been spoken while we were away?"

"Enough Ishal. We have all spoken likewise when we touched upon this issue and we wish to find another way then moving, though for the good of our people we must keep our options open to anything. Please continue Myki."

"Thank you Artan. Our final worry of this meeting is the rumors we have heard of Zariah City and its blossoming school of Magic. Whispers of the school actively researching forms of Magic for war and destruction. We all know who they would first wish to use these new techniques on, so the question of how to combat it merits much thought."

"Thank you Myki. The threats from Zariah City are becoming very hard to ignore and we must act soon if our Camp is to survive much longer. This is the reason for this meeting, and the reason for us calling both Pereis and Ishal back from their negotiations with the Human elders... I now open the floor, how are we to face this threat?"

The room was visited with profound silence, even Ishal seemed deep in thought for many moments.

"Perhaps..."

"Yes Nami?"

"Perhaps if we were to have access and knowledge of the spells Zariah is creating, a suitable counter could be found. We find a water to quench their fire, a fire to melt their ice."

"And how would we gain access to these spells? Much less form an opposite in the time it would take them to march upon our borders and destroy us..."

"Ishal, please. While I have more confidence in our ability to form a counter spell, I do also agree with my sister's first point, Nami how would we gain these spells? If they were even held in the middle square of Zariah, they are still within its walls."

"We are able to sneak into the city to obtain information and yet not items?"

"Madness! Suggesting that we put someone to not only sneak into Zariah, but to also steal scrolls from their school? Who would agree with such a suicide mission?"

"It may not be suicide Ishal. Perhaps the informant could help us with this."

"That half traitor? Brave enough to save some of us, but not enough to break from Zariah City... feh."

"I will remind you he has provided us with many crucial pieces of information thanks to him staying under the Zariah banner. I shall seek a meeting with him and see what he can do for us."

"I suppose that is settled then Artan? Perhaps he will be able to solve at least one of our problems... I'm up for optimism."


©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Chapter 3: Market

"Man, I knew this would be a long walk… huff... This is a long walk..."
 
"Hehehe It's quite a walk Doc, I agree. Something for us to get used to though right? If we're to start going to Market more often, that is."
 
"I... huff... hadn't thought of that."
 
Doc seemed to find some kind of inner strength when I said those words and started walking with more purpose. It was a nice thought that I had an effect on him like that.
 
"So what started Market father?"
 
"Well it was started when Elves and Humans first met, at the same spot Market is held today actually..."
 
Nahum started to move his hands in the delicate and elaborate way that meant he was about to use some illusion Magic. This type of Magic always fascinated me... powerful and yet it could do nothing to those it affected. Worked great with many things from story telling to planning to distracting an opponent in a fight. A very well rounded and diverse form of Magic.
 
"The Humans were part of a hunting party, coming North to hunt and gather for the few months of Winter that made their mountain range hard on wildlife and plants."
 
Doc and I were watching the phantom images appear just in front of Nahum while we both listened to the story. Nahum was quite good, the images forming near perfect replicas of his story.
 
"The Elves were part of a scouting party... coming out to the mountains making maps of the area and searching for anything that our camp could use. The meeting was one of almost calamity... The Elves alert for Magi Knight from Zariah City and the Humans alert for any mountain predator. Both parties knew there was something just over a ridge, but not what. Finally one of our Elves gathered the courage and held his hands high as he walked over the ridge. Hoping he was not just walking into a Magi Knight party, and thus certain death, he was as surprised as the Humans he now looked at."
 
Nahum's images shifted to showing both parties looking at each other cautiously.
 
"After a few moments of watching each other, it was a Human that took the next step of courage. Looking not much older than 16 Summers, he stepped forward and held out an odd stick of some material. After the Elves looked at it a moment without moving the Human brought it too his mouth and took a bite from it, offering it again, an Elf took it and tasted it... it was like nothing we had ever tried, bitter and grease taste, the Elf gagged slightly on the food the Humans called dried meat. The gift, although not anything we would have chose, was understood and the Elf thanked the Human. Another Elf took out a seed and began to grow a plant to give to the Humans and both parties were in for a surprise, the Humans had never before seen Magic! The Human hunters jumped back from the slender vine growing from the small patch of ground in the Elf's hand, though more curious then afraid, they slowly crept forward while watching the small plant take form. What an amazing thing this must have been for them!"
 
We had stopped for a break and a light meal, I knew Doc had something on his mind; he had been silent for a while now.
 
"The Humans had never known Magic?"
 
"No Doc, not before we showed them it, they had been hunters and gatherers using nothing but skill and muscle. This was one thing that brought the Elves and Humans into the agreement that would bring about the Market. Watching an Elf create a form of food, a plant in the Elf's very hand, was something the Humans wanted to learn. And we Elves found things that the Humans could teach us in return, many of our tracking techniques as well as building using stone instead of wood were taught to us by the Humans. They also had more then one language; each of the Human tribes had its own dialect of a similar language and the Humans have taught them all to us over the years. Our trader language is actually one of those dialects."
 
"Wow... I can't think of a time not having Magic. And before they met us, Humans would live their entire life without knowing it exists. Can you imagine that Cae?"
 
"It is odd to think about. I wonder if that was what the first Elves to find Magic felt like. The feeling of something much larger then yourself, understanding that this larger thing has been here before you knew of it... Interesting things to think of."
 
"That is very insightful Cae."
 
"Thank you Nahum. Has anyone recorded Human history from before the Elves came across them?"
 
"The Humans use a verbal record of history, which makes it hard to pinpoint and be accurate, though last I heard some tribes are starting to integrate a written record in these last few years."
 
The rest of the walk to Market was mostly silent, I was thinking more on the history of Humans. How interesting must it have been going through generations without knowing of Magic, much less using it.
The silence wouldn't last however, for very soon we were within sight of
 
"The Market! Cae, we are really so close to the Market!"
 
"Haha, yes Doc. Yes we are... Nahum, how long will we be here at Market?"
 
"We'll be here the rest of this Market, which is four more days of full moon. I don't mind you two running off, just don't get into trouble. Be back by moon-high and you will get to hear our group telling stories tonight."
 
"We won't get into trouble Nahum, right Doc?"
 
I looked around to find Doc was already running toward Market. Chuckling to myself I followed him.
 
****
 
"Cae... there is a Human trader..."
 
"Yeah, why does that matter... Oh... You want to as..."

Too late, Doc was already running up to the Human.
 
"What is it like to be a Human?"
 
"... I don't know... What is it like to be an Elf?"
 
I knew my face was in a broad smile and I tried very hard not to chuckle.
 
"It's really interesting. I can imagine being a Human is interesting too."
 
"I'd imagine so. You want to trade or just talk?"
 
"I, hmm. I don't really have anything to trade besides a seed or two."
 
"Good enough. Hand over a seed and I'll let you try some jerky. Sound fair?"
 
"Sure!"
 
After Doc handed the Trader a seed and the Trader handed Doc back a small stick of jerky I had this sense of déjà vu, history might be repeated here...
Doc took a bite into the dried meat and sure enough gagged on whatever taste it had.
 
"Ack! This is what you eat?"
 
"Hah, you get used to it kid. See you around."
 
"Cae... Did you want to try this jerky stuff?"
 
"No thanks Doc. I think I'll pass for now... hehe... the look on your face when you bit into it..."
 
****
 
"The Magi Knights were sent out to stop the gatherings of free mages at any cost. Those gathered had asked the Magi Knights to please leave and allow them to continue practicing their Magic in peace..."
 
Doc and I had snuck into near the end of one of Nahum's stories. He was at work with his illusion Magic again, this time being helped by another Elf.
 
"The Magi Knights opened fire upon the free mages with their Magi Bows, spiting Magic fire on innocent men, women and children, many of them farmers who were learning Magic to do nothing more than to help with crops."
 
The illusions were incredible and eerily realistic. The Elf helping Nahum may have been one of the few 'lucky' ones that got away.
 
"Very few got away from the massacre, even fewer without injuries that would take their life days or weeks later... A grim procession was paraded through Zariah City the very next day, showing the funeral pyres of the young children and of supposed Magi Knights that had lost their lives 'fighting the rebels'. Not an Elf had fired back upon the Magi Knights; they were busy fleeing for their lives. The parade through the city turned into an annual reminder to keep the populace in fear of Magic. That is the origin of Remembrance Day."


©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Chapter 2: Caedmon Doran

"What's it like to be human?"

That's Doc for ya. Always questioning everything.

"I don't know. What's it like to be elf, Doc?"

"Good point."

He was already fumbling with the new shirt Nahum had made for him. Tomorrow we both would be traveling with his father to the Market, a place that we elves and humans have set up as a safe point to trade with each other. Can't blame Doc, I'm feeling excited as well. This is the first time either of us will see humans… I mean, what…

"So… What do you think they look like?"

"Haha... From what I hear, they look kinda like us. Just a bit shorter on average and their ears don't have the point ours do."

"Wow..."

Doc started to play with his ears, trying to bend them just right to make them rounded instead of pointed; he wasn't doing a good job of it...

"What time did your father say to be back by again Doc?"

"Hmm? Oh... We should be back by just past nightfall, that way we could get sleep heh, as if I could sleep knowing I'm meeting humans by this time tomorrow..."

"Huh... Just past nightfall... Wasn't that a while ago Doc?"

Looking around and seeing nothing but darkness illuminated by the moon, and double the normal light thanks to Euna, the disappearing moon was in our sky this time of the season. You could already tell she was starting her month fade as Spring turned to Summer.

"I wonder where she goes..."

"What? Cae, we should start heading back. Don't want to get in enough trouble to have father cancel our trip with him..."

"Hmm.. Ah, sure thing Doc. Lets go then.... Doc, bet you I can make it back before you..."

"Not that old bet. I know you can beat me thanks to the knack you learned with growing tree branches."

Doc was always smart, and knew me pretty well. He was grinning at his catch of my abilities.

"How about no Magic then?"

"...No Magic? Just running and climbing?"

He looked doubtful

"No Magic, purely fun"

"Deal."

"Alright. ... Ready?"

Doc gave me a nod and I know I'm grinning ear to ear now.

"Go!"

****

Nahum smirked as he looked out the window into the higher branches of the trees. Placing a hand upon the wood of his home he concentrated on the branches moving, just slightly enough to see the placement of the moon, and they granted his request. Moving slowly to show the moon for a moment before inching their way back to their original placement. Nahum noted the time and smiled in thanks to the tree.

"Thank you old friend."

While it wasn’t uncommon for Doc and Cae to be out after they were supposed to be, it was well over a few hours past time. He shook his head to himself.

"Cae, I hope my son is guiding you to being less wanderer and not you guiding my son to be more-so."

A knock at the door snapped Nahum out of his monologue and he walked over to open the door.

"Who is ... Oh... I didn't expect to see you at this hour..."

****

Doc gave it his all, I'll admit that. He hasn't been one for long distance though... After a good half mile of running he was down to jogging and down to walking after hitting around the mile mark.

"Cae! Now I know your plan... You knew you could outlast me running!"

I'm almost giggling to myself as I stop at turn around, waiting for him to catch up.

"Well I didn't use Magic..."

"Har har Cae. Alright though, you win, I'm going to walk the rest of the way..."

He is looking pretty beat, I'll turn him into a traveler yet though. I get into step next to him and we walk in silence for a while.

"Doc, where do you suppose Euna disappears to?"

"Hmm... Some people believe she and her Magic come down to the planet and refresh the Magic on this world."

"That's just a story though. I doubt a moon can turn into a woman like in those fairy tales..."

Doc shrugs and looks to the sky, I'm drawn to following him and we stare at Euna for a while. It being Spring turning to Summer Euna is glowing a bright light blue.

"She is pretty for a moon."

"She is Doc, she is. How she changes colors for the different seasons she appears in, almost like she is a maiden in the sky changing her dress for each season she celebrates."

"There is the camp. Let’s get home before father notices we're gone much longer."

Doc started to jog off and I'm grinning again, Nahum wouldn't be mad at Doc for staying out. He may, however, give me a talk about not turning his son into a wanderer... again...

"Hey Doc! Wait up!"

We got to Doc's home soon enough, walking in to find Nahum was speaking to a guest. The guest seemed to look at me intently for a moment and then looked away as if recognizing me and would not meet my eyes again.

"Oh... Sorry father, we'll get ready for tomorrow and get to bed..."

"Thank you Doc. Cae... I want to speak to you before we leave tomorrow."

"Heh... Ok Nahum..."

Doc and I walked to our room; I walked slightly slower, overhearing a small bit of their conversation... There was something in the way the guest looked at me...

"Ok, I'll speak to you again once we get back from Market. Good bye."

Once Doc and I had gotten our supplies ready for the next days trip and we were settling in to bed, I couldn't shake this odd feeling.

"Your father seemed pretty quick to end his conversation with his guest when we walked in..."

"Really? Maybe he was speaking with him until we got home. We're home now, so no more need to speak."

"Maybe... Let’s try to get some sleep for tomorrow. It is a half day journey to Market, after all"

Doc said he wouldn't be able to sleep because of the excitement, though he was out and lightly snoring within a few moments. Myself, however... There was something about that man... Something familiar...

"Arg, I give up. Wait for me in dreamland Doc, I'll be there soon."

****

Doc must have woken up before me, because he landed on me yelling something.

"Cae! It's morning! We're going to Market today!"

"Ooh... I hear you Doc, Market day. Let me up and let’s get some food before setting off."

"Why? We can just have some plants on the way like normal..."

"Do you want to have nothing but our grown plants all day? I'd like some corn and squash and fruits before we go."

Doc looked at me a bit then grinned.

"Oh... Hadn't thought of it like that..."

"I guessed you hadn't heh. Come on, let’s get some food."

Nahum was out in the camp gardens, most likely having the same idea that I had, as were the other three that would be traveling with us to Market. It seemed odd to me when I first heard that we would travel in small groups to Market instead of one large group. That was until I heard about REDOU and how they were intent on killing this Rebel Camp... Traveling in small groups made a lot more sense after hearing about all of that.

"Morning Nahum! Getting some food before we head out?"

"Ah Cae, yes. Doc and yourself should do the same. Just because we can survive off the grown plants doesn't mean we should. Try and keep them as rations for if you run out of food."

"Yes father. Cae was just saying something like that actually."

I'm feeling a smile come to my lips in pride that Doc would praise me to his father. It felt pretty good when he did that.

"Was he? Well very good thinking on your part Cae. You'll make a scout leader yet with that attitude."

"Scout Leader? Me?... hmm... Hadn't thought of being a Scout Leader..."

Scout Leader... me leading scouts around into REDOU and around the lands mapping out the land, trading with and learning from different Races. Maybe even see one of these intelligent felines that the humans said exist...

"Cae... food, remember?"

"What? Oh... right. Try this squash, really sweet for a squash; I think you'd like it."

This was going to be a trip to remember... I just knew it...

©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Book 1 Publishing

We have two announcements this Update.

First for those that have yet to notice the Count-Down clock on our webpage we are pleased to announce that the first Book of Amalure will be published in December 2010!
This is a limited edition printing and there will only be 10,000 copies printed in it. The next time it will be printed won't be until 2017.

Why won't it be printed till 2017? Because that is when all 7 Books have been released of course! That's right, the second announcement is that we will have 7 books in this series of Amalure, each one coming out a year apart from the last with a final reprinting of all 7 books in 2017.

We'll see you next week for Chapter 2!

©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga

Chapter 1: Narrator

History, as a subject, can be rather boring and time consuming. In fact one could spend their entire life consumed with long past dates and forgotten names.

But there are some historical events that are interesting. Such as the time before elves knew magic.

I know, I know.

This is not a subject to bring up in Zariah City on Remembrance Day. And they are most certainly not taught this during their formal education. But, yes. There was a time when even the Mages knew nothing of the magic that lay dormant within our worlds.

So let’s begin our lesson.

Yes, yes it has elves but more importantly…. it has a lake. A large bountiful lake that attracted all kinds of creatures, including various elvian clans.

Eventually, 100 of these clans joined together to form Zariah City. Of course it was not a city as we know of it today. More like a gathering of huts and fishing boats. To quell all claims to the lake, a Zariah Committee was formed to write out guidelines and rule upon local disputes. Every so often the Committee would rotate among the clans, varying in number. Any elvian man who wanted a seat simply put his name out there until he got it.

Logic tells us that if you get a gathering as large as this, you will find greed. Such as when the Zariah Committee decided that they were no longer going to allow seats to others. The Rafferty, Eamon, Delano, Oran and Uriah Families… there’s your greed.

Yes, you know them as the Bacchus Senate. “Founding fathers of Zariah…” we’ll move on.

It took a while, but through generations of alliances, smooth talking, bribing and in some cases strong-arm tactics… small laws started to limit the pool of elves that could run for the Zariah Committee. The last Zariah Committee had 6 elves and its final act was to pass a law to create the Bacchus Senate and the Common Goods Tax. You guessed it. The Rafferty, Eamon, Delano, Oran, and Uriah families were 5 of those elves. The 6th elf is unknown and has been scratched from history as much as possible. From this point on, seats for the Bacchus Senate could only be passed down to elvian male relations.

The political changes came slowly. Most didn’t even know that changes were happening. They were still allowed to build, fish, interact, and live as they chose. When the Common Goods Tax was introduced, it was small and used for public projects. Wood huts turned into stone buildings. Dirt trails became rock paths. A community hall and a library were built. Even a school where elvian elders volunteered to teach their craft to those who wanted to learn.

Magic came into elvian lifestyles innocently enough. A farmer learned to make small holes in the ground to help with planting his crop. A trader rubbed his hands over some logs to start a fire without flint or bow. In many small ways, by many different elves, magic was being discovered.

Now enters Fear. Greed, meet Fear.

The Bacchus Senate had become very wealthy from the Common Goods Tax. With the growing popularity of magic however, common goods started to be in less demand. Then one member of the Senate posed a question that would change Zariah forever.

“What if the use of magic bankrupts the senate?”

That day the Magic License was created. Any elf wanting to do magic had to register and pay a fee for the right to do magic. Any elf without such a license was referred to as a Commoner. As you can guess, very few were sold. So the Bacchus Senate created a group of elves called the Magi Knights, to enforce the license through intimidation. Each Magi Knight was given a Magi Bow that frightened all elves with their ability to create magical explosions. After that, Magic Licenses started being issued daily.

Even with the growing number of licenses being sold, many elves shunned the idea of paying to practice magic. Small groups would gather to shout “Free Magic!” to the Magi Knights that passed by. The Bacchus Senate passed a bill making any rebellion against the Senate a crime punishable by imprisonment. This is how the term Rebel came to be.

Unfortunately, we have come up to the point where things begin to get interesting.

With the mounting tensions it was bound to happen. Magi Knights sent to break up a gathering of Commoners. The end result: 53 dead.

The Bacchus Senate arranged for a procession of black clad Magi Knights to carry the slain through the streets the very day that the Mandatory School Law was passed.

It read “To protect the good Elves of Zariah from the dangers of the chaotic and lethal force known as Magic, all Elves must register and attend the Zariah School.”

But it didn’t stop there. To make it easier on the Magi Knights, once registered with the Senate an elf was given a mark over their right eye. They were known as Common Elves. If an elf were attending the Zariah School, they were given a 2nd mark above the first and called Student Elves. Once graduated from the school, elves was given a 3rd mark directly above the 2nd and called Educated Elves.

Only Educated Elves could apply to the Senate for the ability to start learning magic. If the Senate approved the request, the Educated Elf became an Apprentice. The final exam of an Apprentice was to remove their 3 marks on their right eye and create a single mark on their left eye. Only then were they referred to as Mage.

While most praised the Senate for the changes, a small number of elves left Zariah completely to start a new camp. They were referred to as Rebels and would be imprisoned if they returned.

And so was the environment that young Caedmon Doran grew up in. An orphan, a Rebel, and… as we will see… a thief.

©2010 Cyi Taiga & Jono Taiga