“Aerlic was faithful.” Guaron spoke in a hushed voice behind him.
Kai couldn’t speak around the lump in his throat. Tears blinded him, and he almost ran into Dorann, who stopped without warning before him. “What ails—“ Following Dorann’s gaze, he broke off.
A hollow tree yawned before them, open and empty. Rocks that had once made up a cairn lay strewn about.
Dorann’s eyes flashed amber fire. “Something—or someone—has desecrated Aerlic’s grave. He’s not here.”
Kai stared at the hollow tree and the piles of rocks. Who—or what—would do such a thing?
“Garns?” Dorann echoed Kai’s own suspicion.
“Perhaps not.” Emmerich said.
Dorann looked in the direction of Emmerich’s voice, and his face reflected shock.
Kai turned from the tree and went still.
Beyond the draetenns in the place where the brook widened, stood Aerlic with Emmerich beside him. His wound had vanished but his clothing still showed stains of blood, and a slash rent the side of his surcoat.
Emmerich extended a hand to Aerlic.
Aerlic stared at Emmerich, his eyes very blue against a dirty face. What he saw must have put him at ease, for he smiled and grasped the proffered hand.
Kai mustered his voice. “How fare you?”
Aerlic smiled. “I’m better now that I’ve freed myself from that tree. Tell me, how came I to wake there? I recall strange dreams, and then someone singing. I must have slept a long time, for I own to hunger. Have you any food?”
“We have food aplenty, Aerlic, and pleased we are to share it with you.” Kai smiled through a haze of tears. “Come then.”
Don’t miss the next book in the
Tales of Faeraven series
As trouble stirs between nations and rebellion threatens Faeraven, can the kingdom divided by the King’s mistakes be reunified before it’s too late?
Find out in WAYFARER, Tales of Faeraven, Book 2.
Coming soon.
Glossary
Aeleanor (A-LEE-a-nor)—Queen of Whellein
Aelfred (ALE-fred)—King of Merboth
Aelgarod (ALE-gah-rod)—Healer of Whellein Hold
Aergenwoad (AYR-gen-wode)—Healing herb
Allerstaed (ALL-er-stayd)—Place of Prayer
Alliance of Faeraven (FAYR-ay-ven)—High kingdom made up of low kingdoms united under one banner
Anden Raven (AN-den RAY-ven)—Other land from which the Kindren originally entered Elderland
Anders (AN-ders)—Elcon's manservant
Anemone (Ah-ne-moh-nee)—Low-growing flower with daisy-like petals
Argalent (AR-ja-lent)—Aerlic's silver wingabeast; Kindren for “luster”
Attarnine (ATT-er-nine)—Rodent poison
Benisch (BEN-ish)—Steward of Rivenn
Braegmet Doreinn (BRAYG-met DOR-ee-in)—Chasm of Confusion
Brael Shadd (BRAYL-shad)—DayStar of Prophecy
Brambleberry —Edible berries that grow in a thorny thicket
Brynn (BRIN)—Hedwynn's red-haired sister
Bursel (BUR-sel)—Dry measurement
Caedric (KAY-drik)—Healer within Graelinn Hold
Caerric Baest (KAYR-ric BAYST)—Cavern of Wonder
Caerric Daeft (KAYR-ric DAYFT)—Cavern of Death
Chaeldra (CHALE-dra)—Shae's maid at Torindan
Chrin (KRIN)—Liquid measurement
Circlet of Elder—Crown designating rulership of Rivenn
Coast of Bones— Elderland's northwestern coastline
Contender—Ancient enemy determined to destroy the Kindren and all Elderland
Craelin (CRAY-lin)—First Guardian of Rivenn
Crobok (CROW- bahk)—Small blue bird
Daelic (DAY-lic)—Healer within Torindan Hold
Daevin (DAY-vin)—Prince of Whellein, brother of Kai
Darksea—Coastal Elder kingdom
DawnSinger's Lament— Ancient prophetic song
Dithmar (DITH-mar)—A guardian of Rivenn
Dorann (DOR-ran)—Tracker for Torindan
Doreinn Ravein (DOR-ree-in RAH-veen)—Canyonlands southeast of Torindan
Draetenn (DRAY-ten)—Tree with spreading branches and fragrant bark
Ebain (ee-BAIN)—Plain
Eberhardt (EB-er-hart)—Whellein's king
Ederbaer (ED-er-bayr)—Red berry bushes that grow at the edges of meadows and in barren places
Elcon (EL-kon)—High prince of Faeraven; son of Timraen and Maeven
Elder (ELL-der)—Race of humans with darker hair and more rounded eyes; original inhabitants of Elderland
Eldritch (ELL-drich)—Eerie and malevolently strange
Emmerich (EM-mer-ik)—Elder youth
Enric (EN-rik)—Graelinn's king and Katera's husband
Erdrich Ceid (ER-drik SEE-id)—Mythical Ice Witch
Erinae (EAR-rin-ay)—Mother of Dorann and Eathnor
Eufemia (YOU-fee-me-uh)—Maeven's serving maid
Euryan (YOU-ry-an)—King of Westerland; an Elder kingdom
Ewaeri (ee-WAHR-ee)—Priests who distribute alms
Feiann (FY-an)—Elusive small folk
Flaemling (FLAYM-ling)—Tiny bird often kept as a pet
Flecht (FLECSHT)—Kai's white wingabeast; Kindren word for ”arrow”
Flitling (FLIT-ling)—Tiny bird
Frael (FRAYL)—Prince
Freaer (FREE-ear)—First Musician of Torindan
Garn (GAHRN)—Goblin-like giants
Gentian (GEN-ti-an)—Trumpet-shaped flower
Gilead Riann (GILL-ee-ad REE-an)—Gate of Life
Gladreinn (GLAD-re-in)—Bride of Rivenn; one of the first Kindren to enter Elderland at the Gate of Life
Gnarlwood—Giant tree with high branches
Graylet (GRAY-let)—Medium-sized bird of prey with speckled gray feathers
Guardians of Rivenn—Highly-trained knights
Guaron (GWAR-ron)—A guardian of Rivenn and keeper of the wingabeasts
Heddwyn (HEAD-win)—Mistress of White Feather Inn
House of Rivenn—Ruling family of Rivenn; also rule the alliance of Faeraven
Iewald (I-a-wald)—Talan's trusted friend; First Guardian of Pilaer
Iewald's Betrayal—Ancient historical song
Illandel (ILL-an-del)—Glaedreinn's maid
Ilse (ILSS)—Queen of Merboth, sister of Shae and Kai
Ivan (I-van)—Captain of the Sea Wanderer
Jaenell (JAY-nel)—Grandmother of Dorann and Eathnor
Kaba—Giant tree that has reddish bark with healing and preservative properties
Kaeroc (KAY-rok)—Large white bird with long tail feathers that roosts in tall trees and inhabits ruins
Kai (KI)—Guardian of Rivenn and Maeven's personal guard
Katera (Kuh-TEAR-ah)—Shae's twin sister
Keep—Innermost and strongest building or tower within a castle
Keirken (KEER-ken)—Deciduous tree with twisting trunks and spreading branches
Kindren (KIN-dren)—Race of humans with fair hair and slightly elongated eyes who came through the Gate of Life into Elderland from Anden Raven
Krei Doreinn (KRY DOR-ree-in)—Three canyons; a place where two rivers and three canyons meet
Kunrat (KOON-rat)—Descendent of Rivenn
Laesh Ebain (LAYSH e-BAYN)—Lost plains
Lanthorn (LAN-thorn)—Lantern paned with thin horn instead of glass
Last Battle of Pilaer—Battle that marked the fall of Pilaer to garn invasion
Leisht (LEESHT)—Dagger that breaks enchantments
Lenhardt (LEN-hart)—Morgorad's king
Lof Frael (LOFF FRAYL)—High prince
Lof Raelein (LOFF RAY-leen)—High queen
Lof Raena (LOFF RAY-nah)—High princess
Lof Shraen (LOFF SHRAYN—High king
Lof Yuel (LOFF YOU-el)—High One; God
Lohen Keil (LOH-hen KEEL)—Well of Li
ght
Lute (LOOT)—Guitar-like instrument with ten strings
Lyse (LYSS)—Shae's maid at Whellein Hold
Maeg Streihcan (MAYG STRY-kan)—Broken Mountain; a lone peak rising at the eastern edge of the Plains of Rivenn
Maeg Waer (MAYG WAYR)—Forsaken Mountain; where the Cavern of Death is located
Maegrad Ceid (MAY-grad SEE-id)—Crystal Mountains; Kindren name for the Elder's Ice Mountains
Maegrad Paesad (MAY-grad PAY-sad)—Impenetrable Mountains, located in the north of Whellein
Maegran Syld (MAY-gran SILD)—Forested Hills, Kindren name for the Elder's Hills of Mist
Mael Lido (MAYL LEE-do)—Death song
Maer Ibris (MAYR EE-bris)—Western sea
Maer Lingenn (MAYR LING-gen)—Eastern sea
Maer Syldra (MAYR SIL-dra)—Southern sea
Maer Taerat (MAYR TAY-rat)—Northern sea
Maeric (MAY-rik)—Chief Cook at Whellein Hold
Maeven (MAY-vin)—High queen of Faeraven; queen of Rivenn, Elcon's mother
Meriwen (MAIR-ee-win)—Temptress who changed the Kindren's history, mother of the Contender
Muer Maeread (MYOUR MAY-ree-ad)—Coast of Bones; the northwestern shore of Elderland
Mystael (MISS-tayl)—Craelin's silver wingabeast; Kindren for “wild wind”
Norwood (NOHR-wood)—Northerly Elder kingdom
Paiad Burein (PAY-ad BYOUR-ee-in)—Field of blood; a historic battleground
Pawel (PAH-wel)—Son of Daeramor; a kingdom east of Whellein
Percken (PERK-en)—Rainbow-colored river fish
Pilaer Hold (Pil-AYR)—Ancient stronghold of the Kindren; now a ruin
Plains of Rivenn—Grassland in Rivenn
Plaintain (Plane-tane)—Broad-leaved herb growing in moist places used for drawing poison from wounds
Praectal (PRAYK-tawl)—Healer
Purr (PUHR)—Trees with thick trunks that grow in the desert oases
Pyrek (PY-rek)—Small, vicious bird of prey
Quinn (QUIN)—Master of White Feather Inn
Raegnen (RAYG-nen)—Guaron's blue wingabeast; Kindren word for “summer rain”
Raelein (RAY-leen)—Queen
Raemwold (RAYM-wold)—King of Braeth and Maeven's father
Raena (RAY-nah)—Princess
Raven (RAY-ven)—Kingdom
Reyanna (RAY-yan-na)—Queen of Braeth and Maeven's mother
Rivenn (RIV-en)—A kingdom
River voices—Imagined voices caused by the turning of stones in riverbeds
Roaem (ROW-em)—Eathnor's black wingabeast; Kindren for the sound thunder makes
Ruescht (ROOSCHT)—Shae's silver wingabeast; Kindren word for “rushing wind”
Sceptor of Faeraven—Symbolic staff of rulership over the alliance of Faeraven
Seighardt (SIG-hart)—Prince of Braeth and Maeven's brother
Serviceberry—Small tree or large bush with broad leaves and purple berries
Shae (SHAY)—Princess of Whellein
Shaelcon (SHALE-con)—Father of Timraen
Shaenalyn (SHAY-nah-lin)—Shae's full name
Shaenn Raven (SHAYN RAY-ven)—Afterworld
Sharten (SHAR-ten)—Dorann's gray wingabeast; Kindren for “deepening shadow”
Shil shael (SHIL SHAYL)—Hereditary soul touch
Shraen (SHRAYN)—King
Shraen Brael (SHRAYN BRAY-el)—King of the Dawn; DawnKing
Strongwood—Hardwood tree
Sweetberry—Edible berry which grows on brambles
Sword of Rivenn—Sword forged in the flames of virtue for Rivenn and handed down to his descendents
Syllid (SIL-lid)—Wood or forest in Kindren
Syllid Braechnen (SIL-lid BRAYK-nen)—A murky forest
Syllid Mueric (SIL-lid MYOUR-ik)—A beautiful and terrible forest
Taelerat (TAY-le-rat)—Shraen of Selfred
Tahera (Tah-HEAR-uh)—Aeleanor's maid
Talan (TAH-lin)—Early high king of Faeraven who captured and tamed the first wingabeast
Timpani (Tim-PAN-ee)—Kettledrum
Timraen (TIM-rain)—High king of Faeraven; king of Rivenn; Maeven's husband
Triboan (TRI-bone)—Southern land occupied by garns
Turret (TUR-et)—Small projecting tower
Unibeast (UN-i-beest)—Unicorn
Varaedel (Ve-RAY-del)—Glindenn's Shraen
Viadrel (VY-ah-drel)—Flames of Virtue
Waeven (WAY-ven)—Spider-like animal
Walls of Death—Enclosed passageway that could be shut off to capture attackers
Ward—Environ within a castle; also known as a bailey
Watergate—Gate leading to and from a body of water
Weild (WEELD)—River
Weild Aenar (WEELD AY-e-nar)—Wild River
Weild Rivenn (WEELD RIV-en)—Rivenn's River
Weild Whistan (WEELD WHIS-stan)—White River; Kindren name for the Elder's White Feather River
Weilo (WY-lo)—Tree with weeping branches and long leaves that grows beside a river or in damp places
Weilton (WEEL-ton)—A guardian of Rivenn
Weithein Faen (WY-then FANE)—An estuary
Welke (WELL-key)—Giant creature of prey that is a cross between a dinosaur and a bird
Westerland—Western Elder kingdom
Whirlight (WHIR-lite)—Large; ungainly white bird
Whispan (WHIS-span)—Small tree with lacy white foliage
Whyst (WHIST)—A spirit sword, defends both flesh and spirit
Wingabeast (WING-ah-beest)—Winged horses
Wingen (WING-en)—Small, colorful bird
Wreckers—Elder who lure ships to their doom
Yellowroot—Edible tuber
Acknowledgments
A work of fiction doesn’t spring into being fully-formed and well-dressed. Ultimately, many hands groom, tailor and finish a novel. Attempting to identify them all is a difficult task, so I hope anyone I’ve unintentionally omitted will forgive me. The following people lent their touch in shaping DawnSinger:
Nicola Martinez, Editor-In-Chief of Pelican Book Group, for believing in Tales of Faeraven and for creating the beautiful cover of this book.
Lisa McCaskill, my editor at Harbourlight Books, for her kind guidance, and for polishing my novel to a fine sheen.
Suzanne Hartmann, for understanding and respecting my vision for DawnSinger, and for helping me grow as an author.
Barbara Scott, my wonderful agent at Wordserve Literary, for lending me her expertise and believing in me.
Eric Wilson, for having the humility to encourage and endorse a new author, and for giving me his most valuable commodity: his time and attention.
Jill Williamson, Linda Windsor, and Lisa Grace for endorsing DawnSinger and providing valuable insights.
Michael Duncan, Melissa Norris, K.M. Weiland, Kerry Neitz, Anne Greene, Sharon Lavy, Pride Mutoli, Linda Yezak and members of my NCWA critique groups for contributions made during DawnSinger’s inception.
Kathy Carlton Willis, my publicist, for giving me a foot up in the marketing world.
Pelican Books Marketing Staff for their support and guidance.
I also appreciate the test readers who gave me feedback on how to market my novel.
Last but not least, I extend a special thank you to my husband, John Voigt, and my children, Jessica, Zammy, and Jeremy for supporting me in innumerable ways during the writing of DawnSinger.
Thank you for purchasing this Harbourlight title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.harbourlightbooks.com.
For questions or more information, contact us at titleadmin@harbourlightbooks.com.
Harbourlight Books
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
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