Eclipsed Promise(A Rusted Promises Story)

By David Silver

An injured king gives a sudden order to a noble woman, who happens to be a skunk, asking her to leave her home and take part in an adventure. She takes her childhood friend, also a skunk, and a would-be kidnapper, who just happens to be a raccoon, and possessed, with her to fulfill her duties as a citizen of Sweetwater.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Silver
• Release date: Nov 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301005116

Book preview

Eclipsed Promise

David Silver

Copyright 2012 by David Silver

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

It was my birthday. I had the unique advantage of knowing this despite just coming into being. I could feel the joy of my kin at my presence, and with it, so many feelings and images. I knew what they knew. It burned through me in dark waves. I could see our past and present and they blended together in a confusing pastiche of information. In an ideal universe, I would be permitted days, weeks, years, to sift through it all and determine my place, but we did not live in an ideal universe.

I could feel the insistent tugging of duty. Newborn or not, there were things that needed doing. First, I was to be given a true body. While our native energy form was majestic and flexible, there were many advantages to having a physical presence. I flowed towards the calling presence, and found a body, empty and waiting for me. In a flash, I could see its source. Screaming and panic as the body's old essence struggled futilely against its fate. It did not know the terrible truth. It is just as well that the essence has been removed, leaving the body clear for me to inhabit.

As easily as a physical creature dons clothing, I drew up the form around myself, and slipped my essence into its limbs. It held around me snugly. I felt stifled a moment. The solidity of a physical form was a startlingly restricted existence to my short lived freedom, but the feeling passed as I opened my new eyes. Darkness. I had not realized how dark it was before. These eyes could not perceive well, but other senses began to be felt. I could smell the scent of other bodies, many empty, awaiting others like myself, all in slumber.

I could also hear. Soft breaths close by, the scraping and scampering of claws, the soft padding of feet, even quiet voices came to me as I stood still for a moment. Touch came next, and I realized I was laying down. I rose to my feet in the darkness, growing more assured of my new body. It would do. It would have to do, for it was to be my own for some time. As I inspected myself with touch, I confirmed I was covered in soft fur, had five limbs. I paused then. A tail, the fifth was a tail. Our progenitors did not have tails. Finishing the inspection, I determine that I am healthy, and male. Moving with increased confidence, I felt a gentle pulling and knew that I must hasten.

I left the small room, following my unseeing senses through the dark tunnels. My duty was becoming more clear by the moment, and I didn't pause as I fled the tunnels and emerged into the open. My eyes stung for a moment as sight returned to them. I could see a great darkness above with many specks of light. A grey streak that ran across the sky. That used to be the moon, said my still awakening memories. Our arrival was when it shattered. The people of this world still weep over the event, but our kind know none of it. Why should we shed tears for a moon we have known for such a short time? Tears. I raised a hand to touch the moisture running from my black eyes. I was crying. There was no time for that. Following the images that burned through my essence, I took off at a run towards the nearest native city.

Chapter 2

It was a bright and sunny day. It felt great against my fur as I laid in bed. I should have been awake and about hours ago, but at the moment, I didn't care at all. I faced the sun with closed eyes and whispered soft thanks to the Creators as the sun soaked my body. How good of them to make me able to soak up this warmth so well. My black and white fur glistened in it, and I felt renewed. If it wasn't for the loud thumping of a fist at my door, I might have just slept the rest of the day away.

I shouted towards the wooden door, I'm getting up. Creators preserve, I'm coming!

Swinging my legs over the side and slipping to my feet, I took a moment to observe myself in the mirror as I reached for my brush. As females go, I considered myself appealing. Bright cyan eyes, clean white fur, deep black fur. The huge tail that drew the attention of the males, to say nothing of the rest of my body. I was also naked, and that wouldn't do. I abandoned thoughts of brushing, Christopher wouldn't wait that long.

I grabbed a long robe and threw it over myself, becoming passably decent. The soft blue cottons and yellow trim were subtly appealing, proper for any noble being. Come in, I beckoned to the door, which opened almost immediately.

Christopher hurried in. He was a skunk too, just like me. Male, as you probably guessed. Jessica, you're late, he said with a weary expression.

Tell me something I am not aware of, I retorted as I began to slip on a large necklace with heavy amber and jade pieces, I am coming now. What's going on that made you come personally?

We have a missive from the Good King himself, and it's addressed directly to you, he said with clear surprise. He put a hand on his hip, What did you do this time?

I stuck out my tongue at him, I did nothing that I wouldn't be proud of. Where is the letter? While speaking, I slipped earrings into either ear, two golden hoops on either, and a single thick band that wrapped around the thick tail near the center.

Father wouldn't let anyone touch it until you came down to accept it.

I burst into laughter, Is that what this is about. You got tired of waiting to see what it was. You're just here out of curiosity.

He flushed white in his nose and looked away, practically admitting I had struck right without saying so, Of course not. Father was just looking restless is all.

I moved up and kissed his cheek, You are too kind brother, now go, tell him I will be down in a moment.

He left the room with a final glance back at me, Just come down, alright? And he was gone, closing the door behind himself.

The servants were staring at me unusually intensely as I moved through the manor. As a Blackback, having attention was not a new thing. We were a noble family, known for pressing into the unknown and discovering amazing things. It's a big thing to live up to. I descended the stairs and could see father and Christopher standing beside a table. On the table was a small sealed scroll.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, father gestured towards the letter. A servant hurried forward. He was a feline. A long time servant of the house, but not a member. As he hurried the scroll towards me, father stared at me. What he wanted was quite clear, and I didn't insult him by asking or commenting. I just took the scroll from the feline, thanked him, and broke the seal.

My eyes scanned over the parchment and I could feel the blood draining away from my face. Father's expression deepened into a frown, but he remained silent, waiting for me to finish reading. When I had, I rolled it slowly back up again. Father, I began, taking a slow breath, The country has need of me.

Father slapped the table like a smith striking an anvil, You will give me more than that, my daughter. What is the meaning of this?

You know I would tell you more if I could, father, but the Good King needs me, immediately. My words were firm and proper, but I could feel my tail lowering, quivering. I did not like arguing with father, especially not when he grew into a proper fury that I could feel brewing rapidly by the moment.

Good King! Creators take him if he thinks he can just snatch away my daughter without so much as a whisper to me. He approached rapidly towards me. Acting on a sudden impulse, I hurled the parchment into the fireplace. The dry paper caught immediately and the smell of it wafted into the room.

It's a secret, father. You know that. It's our duty.

He stared at the burning paper a moment before looking back at me intensely. I couldn't keep the gaze and found myself inspecting the tiles of the floor, counting their patterns before I felt his hand lifting my chin gently.

My daughter, dear Jessica. Wherever you go, my love goes with you. The Creators sculpted you with care, just as I raised you. Make me proud, and return to me safe.

I opened my mouth to reply, but he drew me into a powerful hug and we just stood there quietly a moment, embracing.

Christopher approached as father drew away, and we exchanged hugs a bit less intensely. Come back a hero, sis, he whispered to me, Or at least a famous outlaw.

I swatted at him lightly, then moved back for the stairs, I'll be careful, promise, and do us all proud. I'll be packing.

As I ascended the stairs, I could hear father giving loud orders for my supplies. It would likely be twice as much as I needed, Creators bless his kind heart. My thoughts drifted away from him though. What use would the Good King have for me? My talents were not especially remarkable. I carved soul gems, wonderful spheres of concentrated knowledge and techniques that could be absorbed by a special few. Why spend years of apprenticeship picking up a trade or learning magic when you could do it in weeks or months with a properly filled soul gem?

There wasn't much to pack. I gathered a second set of clothes and set them in my backpack, then paused to think about it. I'd never really been on an assignment before that took me away from my house for more than a few hours. I wasn't really sure what to bring along at all. I pulled open a drawer and took out a dull brown jewel. It was spherical and just large enough to fill my palm. It was the first soulgem I had ever carved. I couldn't use it, not being one of the gifted few that could draw the secrets from them, but it did feel warm and reassuring. I slipped it into a pocket and threw the backpack over my shoulder.

***

By the time I left the house, my backpack was much fuller. The servants had greeted me with enough food for a week, water packs, another change of clothes and camping supplies. I suppose I couldn't blame them for loading me with all sorts of things, just in case. The sun was still high and warm, but a chill wind blew as well, as fitted a fall day. Noon time had passed, it would only get cooler. Without further delay, I turned towards the great castle, and was face to face with a black and white snout.

Hey Jessie, where are you headed to? he asked.

Hello Clyde, I replied, I'm off to wild adventure and things. I tried to feign sarcastic uninterest, glancing off and away.

With a backpack like that, I bet you're really going to do it. I'm not going to miss this.

He reached for the backpack and I swatted at his hand, I'm not camping. It's serious, I said with a frown, half at myself as I realized swiftly I had blown it.

This I have to see. Lead on, fair holder of my heart. Your knight is one step behind you.

I didn't ask for company. And you're my friend, not my courter or my knight.

He stuck out his tongue at me, We could court. Not my fault you're always busy with things. I'm sticking with you for this, rain or shine.

Creators preserve, I sighed out as I moved past him, trodding along the cobbled path through the noble district. Most noble houses were located there, near the castle. It was a sign of prestige, having proven one's loyalty to the nation and be given a place right beside the royalty. It also meant we were close and easy to summon in times of need. With a hostile nation at our doorstep, there was definitely plenty of need to go around. Sweetwater had seen better days.

So what are we doing? Clyde asked as he walked alongside me, looking sidelong as we approached the tall castle.

I, I said, emphasizing the word, am reporting for duty. You are snooping and tagging along where you weren't asked to.

He swung around in front of me, dancing backwards, That's my specialty.

The note hadn't explicitly said to come alone, so I didn't try arguing the point further with him. I took a moment to look him over since he was walking backwards in front of me. He was wearing a dull brown outfit that looked suited to long distance hiking. He wasn't a Blackback, though could easily become one if he married into it, being a skunk. Perhaps that was his interest in me, but we had been friends for long before we knew about a bit of that. He had golden eyes, round facial features, and a very feathery tail behind him. He was also one of those gifted I had mentioned earlier, and could make use of soul gems to great effect. As adventuring companions could go, he would fit the bill very well, but I wasn't even sure yet what the adventure would entail, just where to go to find out.

We were not alone on the city road. Mostly servants of the assorted houses, hurrying about their tasks, but also a few nobles strolled. I saw a small unit of foxes marching in strict order. Salacious house, no doubt, long known for their military exploits. This was a time made for them, surely, with the siege in full effect. Not to say that Blackback hasn't been shining. Do you think the Good King is looking for soul gem experts? I asked.

Why else would he call you? You're great with that.

I lifted my shoulders as we went along, Perhaps, but not the best, just one of the early artisans.

Certainly one of the prettiest.

I swatted him with my tail as I walked past him, approaching the castle guard. The castle was a tall structure of stone, crafted by talented earth mathemagicians