Zodiac Clans

By John Leader

A great read and a great gift for the Sci-Fi Buff! With the passage to manhood, as Young Fredrick Whitetrus discovers, comes clan responsibly. As he volunteers and escorts Aderyn Greeneo, of the Leo Clan, and who must complete her Ladyship Journey, the ritual for young lades of Torgart, comes hidden perils. Sir Alfred Whitetrus of the Warrior Class and leader of The Taurus Major Clan, Fredrick’s father, faces rumors of warfare. A wrong move against one of the other eleven clans can lead to civil war and bloodletting. The Merchant Class made up of The Cancer, Leo, and Virgo Clans is monetarily and politically strong. Could they be seeking military expansionism or is it The Agrarian Class with The Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius Clans, they are keepers of the land but also business enterprising and politically ambitious? And what about the Ambassador Class consisting of The Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces Clans and their desire to create peace and economic equilibrium through their philosophy of government by words and by the consent-based decisions of individuals and organizations? Find out about the assassination , the duels, and how Sir Alfred Whitetrus, a Torgart warrior and major general with historic victories, acts for Torgart, his clan, and his family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Leader
• Release date: Feb 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311181961

John Leader

John Leader enjoys writing science fiction, his first choice. He writes horror just as well. He works using commercial arts techniques and creates his own book covers. His science fiction stories take on action adventure themes.He reads general and technical magazines and books when he can find good materials.He is a part time martial arts practitioner and is familiar with a variety of defense systems.

Book preview

Zodiac Clans

by

John Leader

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 John Leader

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Fiction titles by John Leader:

Ebooks :Sci-Fi

Blood Grip Against The Land / Sankor Sangres: Mercenary For Hire/ Space Retriever: Mike Long

Short Stories – Sci-Fi:

Courage For Profit (Sample)

Four Short Stories – Space Warrior 60,400.111102

Six Short Stories – Space Warrior 60,400.111103

Six Short Stories – Space Warrior BOOK IV 60,400.111104

Horror:

The Horror Of Skull Face

My Love, My Hate, And My Voodoo Murders

Zombie Love Stories

Humor:

Alien Jokes

Joke To Joke

Children’s Books: Fiction

My Green Potato Monster

The Boy With Animal Friends

The Girl With Animal Friends

The Strange Stories of Mr. Murkadew

Non-Fiction Ebook :

Educational – Early Childhood and Pre-K

Brainy Kids Book I: Pre-K Activities (Pre-Reading/Pre-Writing/Art)

Brainy Kids BOOK II: Pre-K Activities (Reading/ Social Studies/ Health)

Brainy Kids Book III: Pre-K Activities (Writing/Math/Science)

Pre-K Puppets: Illustrated

Simple Counting: Bulldozers

Simple Counting: Monkeys

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Contents

Chapter

One

Chapter

Two

Chapter

Three

Chapter

Four

Chapter

Five

Chapter

Six

Chapter

Seven

Chapter

Eight

Chapter

Nine

Chapter

Ten

Chapter

Eleven

Chapter

Twelve

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Chapter

One

It was a miserable time on the planet Torgart in the black mysteries of the deep vast ever-expanding galactic universe. This was the home planet of Fredrick Whitetrus of the Zodiac Clan Taurus Major, one of three tightly bound zodiac clans, and a young man of the elite Warrior Class, whose father sat on the planetary council and who, as the leader, represented the three binding clans: The Aries Clan, his clan The Taurus Major Clan, and The Gemini Clan. Such was the connection of the twelve zodiac clans in that they formed iron bonds of triclan connections with one leader to represent all three in all worldly affairs, his word final. In the span of planetary time the sequence of clansmen living next to one another had bonded into groups of three, forming four blood-connected groups each made up of three zodiac clans. The clans took the zodiac name they felt favored their land point on the planet. They felt the zodiac points in the sky served as a sign to them and that it was a sign from their God and as such they felt that they should take on the zodiac title befitting the clan. As the need arose, usually with the death of the triclanic leader, one member from the three clans was chosen through the ancient tradition of combat to lead the three blood united zodiac clans. The traditions and formations of the twelve clans went back eons and had flourished into hard unyielding traditions and entrenched rituals. Torgart boiled and simmered with this deep rooted tradition, a hard, cruel planet, one dark planet some said, hard like the strange metal it extruded. The planet population grew and its kinship formed a stronger connection to the twelve celestial zodiac star systems upon which the clan system became founded. It grew into a hardened and tempered clan system challenged multiple times but its social structure never changed. The long established four classes with traditions were hard to kill on Torgart. Each class, just like the Warrior Class, formed one voice through its selected leaders, one man was chosen as ranking general from the three clans and served above the other two leaders holding the rank of major general and selected from the other two clans, they were also its leaders. The same social function and rituals established the other classes, the Merchant Class, the Agrarian Class and the Ambassador Class, each class with its three intertwined clan groups. Underneath the four class systems there was a blended system of business and a deeper secret class system of political intrigue where powerful men and families, elitist in all respects, yielded power with underground secret challenges and word-provoked duels that ended in cold ruthless death. The men were honorable, tied to chivalry, pride, and revenge from past actions of family or friends. Dueling was an accepted and social form of solving personal disputes. All this had shaped its society and the customs sprung from and formed into traditions entrenched into the society like forged metal that once poured was difficult to change. The duels were ruthlessness and of single combats and they tied into family blood and honor, and to avoid individual combat was considered a shameful deed and a fate worse than death for those refusing to duel. It left a stain of shame against the clan.

The zodiac clans had survived a long warring history, their true origins lost over the ever-progressing line of universal time. Their tradition flourished and remained deeply intertwined between the lines of chivalry and meshed like burning steel exposed to rich oxygen and hammered over time into the planet Torgart and its social system of traditions, strictly followed. And more than that, it was a tradition deeply cherished because it came from the distant lost past of the planet, from an ancestry highly respected, it was said, and one that demanded the highest homage to it by combat and duel. Torgart endured civil turmoil, blood conflicts, some personal, others of revenge, until it grew into a stratocracy where rank and merit meant everything for those holding current positions and those wanting to climb; a dangerous and guarded time in deed.

Torgart grew from a hard history drenched in blood and savage civil wars and from a time when men were made of iron and fire, and from an honest ground soaked with the hot blood of combat, as the planet revolved around an orange and a deep colored sun. And yet with all the progress and technology they embraced its primitive traditions with its cruel blood feuds, some so secret no one knew the true deaths that resulted from pride, from those seeking honor and satisfaction, and family revenge that could only be quenched with a blood challenge. Running and hidden feuds of all kinds seemed to evolve from their unspoken ancient traditions and others from old blood feuds that failed to die with time, perhaps, this was one reason the clans had melted and bonded into triclans or groups of three their sole aim to survive and keep their family names alive. On Torgart a family name was more valuable than gold and honoring it meant that blood must be spilled.

In fact, some said Torgart highly embraced and modeled its social structure after its lost and questionable ancient planetary historical period, and an age well before the advancement of technology. It was a historical period that should have been passed over and finished in a changing civilization where its primitive historic period should have been left behind. But that was a heroic time, and from there had sprung the blood-hardened rites that kept Torgart and its strange people together, a strong and at times, a warring people never yielding until death itself presented before them and even then death hesitated against their stubbornness. And as in all civilizations, the people must meet and so the leaders gathered, Torgart ever first on their minds. Their actions kept cohesion through the gathering, their official planetary meetings where crucial decisions about the workings and direction of Torgart were made, a historic development in itself.

The parley chamber, as some clansmen and leaders referred to it, was the gathering hall used for the top decision making leaders. The air clattered as they waited on several zodiac clan leaders to arrive. Young Fredrick Whitetrus and his father, Sir Alfred Whitetrus, sat at the large zodiac forged round table constructed specially for the planet council gatherings. The three clans Sir Alfred Whitetrus represented including their clan, The Taurus Major Clan, its symbolic inlay facing them on the table, and one of the three bonded clan symbols of the triclan zodiac, clearly etched in front of them in gold and silver on the elegant molded marble table. Their flag, a field of white with dark blue shield and dark gold crossed swords behind the shield, flew proudly in its place of honor outside along the side of the other zodiac clan flags. Several clan emblems on the table waited for the missing leaders, their chairs empty, the bordering emblems a sign of whom the clan leaders represented, the clansmen of Torgart. The day before had been a special day for Young Fredrick Whitetrus.

It had been the yearly day nationally set aside for passage when all the young men who reached the age of trial took their sworn place in the clan to live or die as needed. Before the sword of manhood was bestowed to symbolize their social status into manhood, each young man had to prove himself in blood combat in the arena, a place where manhood must be proven and where only one winner was left to show the ritualistic passage and consecration before all of Torgart, the people on the vigil, some guarding or praying, a ceremony much talked about but never changed.

Although rarely did death occur, the ritual in combat using heavy wooden swords left young men dead especially those too weak or stuck by sadistic hands seeking revenge or targeted for some other hidden blood feud reason. The wooden swords swung wildly clashing loudly. At times the hardened wooden swords left bloody broken bones at days end against those young men poorly trained or too weak to withstand the passage and the so called mock combat. Their common light armor had weak points and powerful energy swiping blows dug deep with each intended strike. No one standing or injured was removed from the melee until one young man fighting in the combat arena battled his way up the stone steps of honor and reached the top of a single steps pyramid where he stood upon a small stone slab floor big enough for one true warrior. Reaching the top he raised his wooden sword before all in victory. Immediately the fighting stopped. The young men fought fiercely and proved themselves against one another to reach the steps of honor, a repeated long history of Torgart tradition and a most difficult battle even for the best and strongest of the young warriors battling and sweating to the end. The name of the young man who reached the pinnacle of the single step pyramid was forever etched with the long list of names and other young warriors on the pyramid wall and on the victory wall outside on the arena wall of honor, a most distinct recognition for the family and clan.

This week started with the passage, a yearly event, and continued with the gatherings, time set for affairs and it served for much talk, business, and politics that formed or broke blood connections. One had to measure his words and remember that the secretive blood challenges left many a strong warrior dead. Fierce was the planet, fiery were the duels even after the wars, and death given for failure on the planet Torgart upon the command of the clan leader should he decide it so. Blood arguments and personal quarrels followed the daily lives of the zodiac clans, a social system that bled Torgart guided only by a strong sword hand.

The leadership waited until the missing clan leaders arrived and took their seats on the table of zodiac clans. Young Fredrick Whitetrus sat next to his father, not only as his son, but also as his second, and with his passage and his victory in combat had well earned a position as a loyal clan member. This meeting was one of debate and change. Those that avoid challenges and duels were revered as the best of leader and if all failed there was the duel to the death at day’s end.

As Young Fredrick and his father Sir Alfred Whitetrus sat, talked, and waited for the gathering to begin one of the Major Taurus clansmen and warriors entered the gathering hall, the meeting not yet started. He approached Sir Alfred Whitetrus and whispered in his ear then left.

What is it, father? Young Fredrick wondered, his curiosity great.

Just a report that a duel outside has killed Sir Virgil Faraher son of Sir Athos Faraher of the Cancer Clan, After the bereavement probably a revenge duel, so thought Sir Alfred Whitetrus.

"What was the duel about? Young Fredrick looked at his father.

With a half chuckle and serious expression Sir Alfred Whitetrus looked at his young son, It seems that a dispute arose from the fact as to who was to enter the capitol building first, Sir Virgil Faraher of the Merchant Class or Sir Huges Danielar of the our Warrior Class, he is of the Aries Clan. I believe Sir Virgil Farahar drew his swords with mal intent, and Sir Huges Danielar instinctively drew and cut him down before Sir Farahar could finish his thrust and slash.

Another death by dueling and a poor argument, Torgartian against Torgartian, one to prove his position, the other to defend his honor and more important his life. There could be little for Sir Athos Faraher to object to, many witnesses made it difficult to dispute the killing, but vengeance followed an old track since the time of traditions. All moved quietly with little to alter the gathering, the dead young man taken away as if nothing had happened. It was a common occurrence on Torgart and a wonder that men survived and moved about their daily business.

The presiding leadership of the planetary clanship and yearly meeting was Sir Anthony Mitchellio, the Supreme General, and leader of The Scorpio Clan and as head represented the other two clans, The Libra Clan and The Sagittarius Clan. With all clan hoods represented the meeting opened with words from Sir Mitchellio.

We salute all clan members and send respects to the twelve zodiac clans of the planet Torgart. We sent regrets to Sir Athos Faraher of the Cancer Clan for the honorable death of his son, Sir Virgil Faraher, Sir Mitchellio set out words and followed with the historical notes of the last meeting summarized by the voice of the official recording secretary, he then laid out some of the current planetary issues, and the prospects for the future of Torgart. The words ran short, all clan leaders knew well all the issue if not all the solutions. Sir Greeneo of the Leo Clan and connected to The Cancer Clan and The Virgo Clan was recognized and stood to speak, Sir Walter Clarkego of the Virgo Clan the triclan leader listened with respect.

As the leader of the Leo Clan, Sir Greeneo looked around at the other clansmen some looking at document other sipping drinks, I have come before this gathering to request a warrior. My daughter Aderyn has come of age and no warrior has presented himself for the day of her honor. Who among you can send forth a valiant warrior to appear at her eighteenth birthday this week of reckoning and her day of Ladyship? Sir Greeneo waited as he stood, the firsts and seconds sitting at the table with their leaders turning their heads wondering who would stand and take the appeal. It was unusual but not unheard for such a request to take place at this most important gathering of planetary leaders, a desperate cry indeed. Silence held the hall.

Soon Sir Greeneo repeated his request and mentioned once more time that Aderyn must take her Ladyship Journey but to do so a champion had to present himself as her escort and act as her champion warrior. The task was easy, but unknown perils came at times without warning as noted by others who had completed the journey, a trip that lasted about ten days on the planet Marigold. The job of the champion warrior obligated him to serve as the escort on the ten day journey and as her protector and champion thereafter, a position held for life by the escort. It could be a hard and dangerous endeavor and failure meant dishonor for both the champion warrior