The Great Darkening (Epic of Haven Trilogy) (48 page)

A Bright Fame will point the way, illuminating, to all who might see it, the glory of the THREE who is SEVEN,
Ruarc screeched.

“Cal,” Tolk whispered to his brothers, overwhelmed at the reference to their young friend and the great weight of the calling he carried.

It was with a silent smile and an affirming nod that Iolanthe answered them.

The voice of Haizea screeched loud in their thoughts.
And not all is lost in the shadows of the failing tree, for even now a small remnant of those who dare to hope is gathering, and they seek to endure the tides of war and the enslavement of Nogcwren.

“Then … it falls to us to aid them in their efforts,” Tolk said definitively.

“Indeed it does, my dear Poet friend,” Iolanthe agreed.

Acknowledgements

I
must admit, first and foremost, that I am a very blessed man. Most of my days are lived out in the company of some of the most talented and creative people that I have ever known. So, as you can imagine, it would be rather silly of me to not call upon their skills and their hearts when attempting such a feat as this epic. This book was divinely inspired, though when I first set out upon this journey I lacked the foresight to see exactly why. Thankfully, my fellow travelers on this sojourn have helped me to uncover this tale from the recesses of our hearts; they have, with great care, helped to shape and reshape its telling.

Brandon Hyde
is partly responsible for the uncovering and discovering of the intricate plot lines, as it was he and I who spent countless hours dreaming over scenes and lands, names and narrative. I must thank you for dreaming and re-dreaming with me, sir. I am grateful beyond words for your contribution to this work and to the world of Aiénor. Here is to many, many more tales to tell together.

I cannot express strongly enough how indebted I am to
Melody Farrell
for her tireless contribution to the continuity and the layers of emotion and allegory communicated in this work. The title of editor barely begins to scratch the surface of both the work and the heart that she poured into this narrative and into me. Melody, I am honored to have worked so closely with you and your “red parentheses of doom”, and I truly believe that your proximity to this story is a large part of its potential for true greatness. Seriously, I cannot thank you enough, nor would I want to imagine attempting this without you.

Rob Stainback
is brilliant, and his ability to take words and descriptions and give them depth and terrain, tangible shorelines and aged believability, will never cease to amaze me. Rob, your illustrations and cartography are not mere works of art; they are gifts to the story and to my heart.

A special thank you goes out to
Grant Radebaugh
and
Richard Kesky
for both your willingness and your enthusiasm to trudge through my grammatical minefield of half-developed plotlines while the book was still being written and while the world of Aiénor was still being formed. Thank you for your questions, your feedback, and your hunger to read more. Your involvement was indeed one of the greatest encouragements throughout the process.

To all of you beta testers:
Tammy, Jennifer, Leann, Josh, Darah, Grant, Katie, Traci
and
Rich,
your feedback and excitement about the project has led to many a change and insightful conversation. I am truly a blessed man to have such people like you in my life ... thank you so much.

To
Chris Farrell
: thank you, good sir, for the hours of work that you have given to this labor of love. I have counted it a joy and a privilege to collaborate with you on all of our projects over the years, and I can’t wait to do the next epic video with you again soon. Thank you, bro.

Dr. Don King
and
Michael Warden
, your wisdom and advice has been fuel for the fire. I am a greenhorn in this arena, and your grace to listen to my questions and share your experiences has been a gift I did not know I needed, but am so grateful to have found.

Dalton, Amanda, Stephen,
and
Lauren
, thank you for joining our team of Lost Poets and lending your talents to the publishing process of this book. Your contributions have truly been invaluable.

To my
Element Church family
: you are the good soil that the seeds of this story needed to take root and grow strong and tall. Thank you for your love for me and all of my epic, sword-wielding quirks. You are a “colony of heaven in the country of death”, and I am so proud of your heart.

To my wife,
Jill
: thank you for the sacrifices you made to help this book come to life; I promise, one of these days, I will pay you back in full for them. I love you.

To my children,
Annsley
and
Gabriel
: I beg you to know that there is indeed magic still in the world and a hope worth hoping in. I pray that you will find my heart here in the pages of these stories, and that you will discover and use your God-given beauty and y
our God-given strength to wake this greying world to the true light that He has placed in all of our hearts.

And lastly, to you, the reader and fellow traveler … thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Lead courageously. Fight victoriously. Love immeasurably.

Bobby

Index

Caution: This index contains spoilers for Book One.

PLACES/LANDMARKS in the world of Aiénor

Aiénor (ahy-NOR):
the world in which the
Kingdom of Haven
resides; the only form of unmade light comes from a great burning tree

Bay of Eurwen (YOOR-wihn):
lies just beyond the southernmost part of the
Kingdom of Haven
; connected to the kingdom by the
Talfryn Pass
; calm and fruitful waters are largely inaccessible except for the small stretch of hospitable shoreline where the town of
Bright Harbor
, the shipyard of kings, is situated

Black Mountains of Cair (CAH-er):
mountains to the east of the great tree; stretch north and contain
Halvard
and
Meinir
(Mahyn-EER)

Dardanos (DAR-dah-nohs):
ancient city seated in the
Itzal
valley of the
Hekate’ (he-KAH-tay) Mountains
; a once proud place of commerce

Dark Sea:
the cold, deep sea surrounding the
Kingdom of Haven
and separating it from the
Western Wreath
; its black waters are sailed by the colonists on the
Determination
and
Resolve

Falls of Sarangrael (Ser-
ahn
-grey-EL):
the final resting place of the
River Abonris;
located in the
Secret Grove
beneath the
Hilgari Mountains
; it waters and strengthens all who live in
Islwyn

Gnarly Knob:
tavern run by
Shameus
and
Keily;
located in
Piney Creek
between the
Capital
and the northern territory

Herald Tower:
sits to the west of the
Kingdom of Haven
on the shore of the
Dark Sea
; built in the shape of a large ram’s horn; constructed by
Queen
Evande
as she searched and waited for her lost husband,
King Illium
, to return; a scouting party rides to the coast daily, with the intention of lighting the signal beacon in the
Herald Tower
if the King should return

Hilgari (hihl-GAR-ee) Mountains:
mountain range located to the north of
Piney Creek
and watered by the fens of the
River Abonris
; the base of these mountains once contained the greatest forestland in all of the
Kingdom of Haven
; this ancient range has served as home to many peoples, including the now ruined
Kingdom of Terriah

Isle Dušana (doo-SAH-nah):
mysterious island in the
Dark Sea;
west of the
Herald Tower
and just off the shores of the
Western Wreath
; ruled by the evil lady
Morana

Islwyn (IH-sehl-wihn):
“Secret Grove”
; hidden in the heart of the
Hilgari Mountains
; contains hundreds of jacaranda trees with purple blooms and white bark; for many generations the
Sprites
have both guarded and tended this holy place that has played a part in many a tale

Kalein (kah-LEEN):
“Beauty is Calling”
; the Poet colony hidden in the mountain palace,
Petros,
of the forgotten
Kingdom of Terriah
underneath the
Hilgari
; located in the accessible southern wing to the rear of the ancient palace; contains a great hall, kitchen, sleeping chambers, storerooms, adapted stables, and a library

Kingdom of Haven:
rooted in the fertile and lush green of the most sought after and fought over ground in all of the lands of
Aiénor
, its great walls stretch their majestic and protective reach over the enormous city and its many citizens; at its very center lives the great burning tree

Capital:
the royal homestead that houses libraries, halls, cathedrals, and the
Citadel
: a towering structure built to the east atop the highest elevation of the kingdom; there, within the shadow of the hallowed
Mt. Aureole,
lies the great garden surrounding the burning tree

Boroughs
: surround the
Capital
, separated from it by the
River Abonris
:

Abondale
: rich farmlands and shipyards to the south/southwest

Piney Creek
: cold forestlands to the north/northwest

Westriver
: military and industry to the west

Lake Riene (ree-ANN):
“
Queen
”; located below the eastern shadow of
Mount Aureole;
fed by the
River Ithelum (ITH-eh-lum)
from the
Black Mountains of Cair

Maris (MAH-rihs):
“
Star of the Sea”
; the ancient lighthouse of the
Kingdom of Haven
; situated at the southernmost tip of the outlying lands; burns without fail and guards the mouth of the
Bay of Eurwen

Mount Aureole (AH-rohl):
made of glittering black granite, its unassailable precipices act as a setting bejeweled with the silver and amber light of the great tree; serves as the eastern guardian and boundary of the great walled
Kingdom of Haven

Northern Altar of the Priest:
stands at the center of the interchange of wilderness and civilization; seen as a sacred sacrificial sight and constructed under the reign of the
Priest King Jhames

Pool of Eiluned (ahy-LU-nihd):
“
Pool of Rescue”
; bordered by a large waterfall and fed by the wild water of the
River Abonris
; located at the base of the
Hilgari Mountains,
five hundred paces from the path leading to the entrance of
Petros

Petros (PEH-trohs):
the stone palace and royal residence of
Terriah
’s past kings; only partially accessible after damage by an unknown cause collapsed and closed off portions of the mountain; inhabited by the Poet colony,
Kalein

River Abonris (AB-ohn-rihs):
runs northward from
Abondale
and fingers out into the
Hilgari Mountains
and the dying forests of the northern territory; divides the
Boroughs
from the
Capital

Talfryn (TAL-frihn) Pass:
an extension of the great wall that guards the realm of the
Kingdom of Haven
; a secure land bridge through the outlying lands beyond the borders of
Abondale
; the large overpass was constructed as a means of safe passage to the
Bay of Eurwen
and
Bright Harbor
from the city of
Haven

Terriah (TAIR-ah):
its ruins are situated on the northern vale between the north shore of the
Dark Sea
and hidden by the
Hilgari Mountains
; the
Oweles
have made their eyrie in the ruined halls of this ancient city

Western Wreath:
the land across the
Dark Sea
, which encircles the
Kingdom of Haven;
contains unknown civilizations that live in the shadows outside the light of the great tree

CHARACTERS:

Ádhamh
(AH-dahm):
the first father, who shaped and sired the people of
Terriah

Arborists
: stewards of the burning tree; their home is located in the
Capital
at the foot of the hallowed
Mount Aureole,
beneath the roots of the great tree; keepers of the ancient magic and prophecies

Cedar: Sitka’s
cousin

Douglas

Dogwood

Elmer
: youngest of all the living Arborists

Engelmann
: known as Engelmann the Hopeful; frowned upon by the Citadel

Hemlock and Hawthorne:
brothers

Hornbeam

Ispen
and
Aspen
: brothers who brought the prophecy to
King Illium

Sitka: Engelmann’s
great-grandfather

Willow
: father and first of their kind

Bartle
: resident of
Piney Creek

Branwen (BRAN-wehn):
the beauty of the
Kingdom of Terriah
; raven-haired wife of
Caedmon;
later called
Nogcwren

Caedmon (CAYD-mohn):
hero dragon slayer of the ancient
Kingdom of Terriah
; defeated Šárka and aided in her eternal imprisonment; his sword, called
Gwarwyn
(the
“beautiful dawn”
)
,
was a gift of the THREE who is SEVEN and later bestowed to
Cal

Calarmindon (
cal
-ahr-MIN-duhn):
“Bright Fame”;
known as
Cal;
begins as a groomsman in service to the Citadel; called by the THREE who is SEVEN to seek a new light for the
Kingdom of Haven

Cal’s Horses:

Dreamer:
dun; injured in
Owele
attack; escaped from highwaymen

Moa (MOH-ah):
“Mother
”
; black Percheron; protected
Cal
at woodcutter camp and traveled with him to
Kalein
; stays with
Meledae

Farran (FAIR-ahn):
“Iron”
; dapple-grey courser;
Cal
saved him from
Pyrrhus
and the
Dark Sea

Captain Barkas:
captain of the Capital Guard at the time the first branch fell; sailed with
King Illium
to seek a new light

Captain Means:
captain of the ship
Resolve;
white-bearded, leathery-faced mariner with a youthful eagerness

Captain Tahd (TAWD)
: rival of
Lieutenant Armas
; newly appointed captain of the Colony Guard; lapdog to
Seig

Captain Seig (SEEG):
captain of the Capital Guard; newly appointed Governor and protector of the first colony

Chancellor Chaiphus
(KAHY-fus):
personal advisor to
Priest King Jhames
; suggested sailing across the
Dark Sea
to harvest timber from the
Western Wreath
and using the timber stockpiles to build the ships
Determination
and
Resolve

Evande (eh-VAN-day):
King Illium’s
Queen; lived for a year in the
Herald Tower
awaiting her King’s return; ultimately threw herself into the
Dark Sea

Gaereld (GER-uhld) and Nancwen (NANS-wehn):
parents of
Cal
; sympathetic to the Poets; killed by outliers

Keily (KAHY-lee):
hospitable, flirtatious barmaid at the
Gnarly Knob
; daughter of
Shameus
; love interest of
Yasen

King Cascarie (KAS-kah-ree):
father of
King Illium

King Faramund (FAIR-ah-muhnd):
ancient king of
Terriah
; journeyed across the
Dark Sea
to the
Western Wreath

King Illium (IHL-ee-uhm):
“The Light Seeker”;
king of
Haven
at the time the first branch fell; sailed on the great ship
Wilderness
to seek a new light seventy-three years ago and never returned

King Kaestor (KAY-stohr):
commissioned the
Talfryn Pass;
named it for his daughter who was murdered while traveling to the
Bay of Eurwen

Lieutenant Armas (AR-mahs):
leader of the mounted Capital guard; later replaced
Captain Seig
when he was made governor of the first colony

Lieutenant Marcum
: high ranking officer in the cavalry of the Capital Guard

Michael:
cousin and closest friend to
Cal
; groomsman; stays in Haven when
Cal
sails to the
Western Wreath
; befriended by
Engelmann
and taught the ways of the
Arborists

Margarid:
student of
Engelmann
and love interest of
Michael

Morana (mohr-AH-nah):
lady and mistress of
Isle Dušana
; lures men to her mansion, devours their souls, and takes control of their bodies; seen as a lust-inducing seductress in the light, but in the shadows is revealed for the lady of death that she really is; her name as a
Sprite
before the great betrayal of her people was
Niniané

Nogcwren (NOCK-ren):
evil; desires to enslave the race of men; maker of the un-light, and marrer of all created things; before Šárka’s evil corrupted her, she was known as
Branwen
, wife of
Caedmon

Oweles (OOLS)
: watchers and servants of the THREE who is SEVEN, friends of the
Poets
and
Sprites

Azrael (AS-ray-el):
“Angel of Death”

Basajuan (bah-shah-ZHOHN):
“Lord of the Woods”

Edur (ee-DOOR):
“Snow”

Haizea (Hi-ZAY-ah):
“Wind of God”

Remiel (Reh-mee-EL):
“Mercy of God”