The Tirna Star

By Rachel-Marie Boughton

The ultimate battle between good and evil, Lopin and Miroh, is about to begin. The Warrior Queen will rise, and Tiirslin will never be the same. Will the Tirna Star be bright enough to illuminate even the darkest hearts?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483532653

Book preview

Kel.

            With an almost imperceptible snarl, the Miroh lunged. His three-inch canines effortlessly lacerated the soft underbelly of Kir-laan’s younger brother. Tir-lan was dead before a scream could leave his lips, but the Miroh bloodlust would not be sated near so easily as that.

            Kir-laan crouched whimpering in fear beneath her family’s wooden porch, her large black eyes staring between the thick wooden steps. Her father howled his rage, and raised their garden hoe against the towering Miroh. His ears flapped wildly as the blade cut deep into the beast’s shoulder.

            Too late, he heard its mate come crashing through the field. He yanked against the hoe, but it held firmly, and as he turned, a pair of giant jaws clashed shut around his neck.

            She heard her mother wail, and saw her charge. Her tears poured forth in stinging streams. She begged her mother, Stay, oh hide with me! Please, mama, do not go, but her cries were never heard.

~~~

            Fear sliced through her heart as a blood-curdling scream rent the air. A large, black eye flew open in the dark, and Kir-laan gasped for breath. The weight of death still heavy on her soul, young Kir-laan curled sobbing in the brush.

            Ten years, and still I fear the dreams! Ten years! And still their voices haunt me. Ten years, she moaned into the wind, Fool! The angry scars pulsed fiercely where her right eye had been so long ago.

            A twig snapped behind her, and in one swift move, she drew her sword, turned, and rose to her silvery white feet. She wore a long brown shift for ease of fighting and for camouflage in the Autumnal fields. Yet in the moonlight, her exposed fur shone bright as stars against the shadowy scrub.

            Hold, sister, I mean you no harm; indeed, I come to seek your strength. The voice came from a tall, white figure glowing brightly not even ten feet away, Peace, I come unarmed. May Tiir-na strike me dead if I speak false.

            Who are you, that you should call me ‘sister’? I have no kin. Her tear-thickened voice broke harshly on the last. She quickly cleared her throat and spoke again, Come closer, that I might see you better.

            The lithe figure stepped forward slowly with a fluid, feminine grace Kir-laan remembered vaguely from her youth. I meant only that we are the same, or sisters in our faith, if nothing else. You bear the Tirna Star upon your breast. To me that shines more brightly than the sun.

            The Star? But, it was lost. I have not…worn…the Star since my fourth summer past. Her right hand fluttered to her breast, her knees gave way in shock, and Kir-laan gazed unabashedly into the large black eyes of the Lopin who stood before her. Her vision blurred by tears, young Kir-laan blinked against the brilliance of the Tirna Star the Lopin woman bore.

            It has been safe, young Lopin kit, though now I think the time has come when you should bear the Star once more…You know, Kir-laan, you are quite difficult to track.

            How did you know… my name? Kir-laan queried, her voice barely audible. I thought the Miroh destroyed it… You tracked me?

            The Tirna Star is not so easy to destroy, and as for tracking you, I merely followed your light… Come share the fire. None will harm you here.

            Kir-laan shuffled closer on her knees, not trusting her legs to carry her even the short distance to the fire. (A fire, she realized, which had not been there three seconds earlier.) The sword slid unnoticed from her hand, as she leaned in toward the much-needed warmth.

            The fire…you did not light it. How?

            It does not matter how. The fire glows, and it is warm. There is fire in all things. You only need ask, and it will come. Tiir-na wills it so. You must never lose your faith in Tiir-na’s aid… Without your faith, Arila cannot come.

            Arila? You dare to summon the Tirna Flame? Is it not forbidden?

            It is not. It is merely dangerous to those unaccustomed to its use. Thus saying, the Lopin woman leaned forward to clasp the silver chain ‘round young Kir-laan’s soft throat. With blue flame lapping at her torso, the Lopin spoke once more, You see, Arila knows and does not burn. Unless used poorly, Arila does no harm. She leaned back and sat upon her heels, wrists crossed with hands resting palms upward in her lap.

            "Your face, I have seen it before… I remember now… You were there! I saw you when Grivan and his mate attacked. You stood above me, and they went away. I thought you were a dream… Delirium from blood loss, anything but real. She wept freely, bitterly, For, if you were real, I could not understand how you could let them do such things, and not react! Realization struck hard and fast, They did not see you! They acted as though they had killed me, and they walked away…"

            You are right, they did not see me. But you are wrong, there was nothing I could do, the Lopin smiled sadly, and from behind her there came a soft, rustling whisper, as a pair of long, white wings spread out. She lowered her head in a gesture of resignation, then closed her eyes and sighed a gentle breeze, I was not to interfere, except to save your life.

            You?! Kir-laan pointed a confused accusation, "You are a Tirna Guard? My Tirna Guard?" She sat in bewildered silence, unable to comprehend why Tiir-na would value her life above those of her brother and her parents. Finally, her confused whisper broke the silence, Why?

            It is not ours to ask… You do not ask, ‘Why does the river run, or the grass grow?’ Tiir-na sent me. I am here, but I will understand if you wish that I should leave… I am as Grivan in the harm which I have done. I failed you when you needed most my aid.

            "You have not answered my question. Why me? Why not Tir-lan, he was so fearless… What use had She for me? I am not brave! My muscles are not strong as his would be. You saved my life, now tell me WHY."

            "I cannot, you do not understand. Tiir-na will tell you in Her time, not ours. Please, do not ask this thing of me! She turned her head aside from the hurt she saw in Kir-laan’s eye, Know only, I would give my wings to you if they would serve you well…"

            A Tirna Guard without her wings? She chuckled bitterly, No. I could not ask a thing so grave of you… You are right; I did you ill to ask. Pray, do not think me fool, but would you grant one thing of me? Would you but stay and be my friend? My Tirna Sister, and my Guard? I-I am alone, and fear the dark.

            Oh kit’ling! You are not alone! So quickly were the wings around her, and so warm the arms’ embrace, that Kir-laan wept to feel a love she thought was lost forever. "Dear one, pray weep no more. Tiir-na loves you, child, and so do I. Their deaths were not your fault, although you blame yourself. Some day you’ll see the truth."

            Then you will stay? Kir-laan looked up into the gentle face, and