Shadow of Sohvan

By Shane C. Callow

"She stared about in confusion before noticing something. The crystal rose was twinkling in the snow. She huddled down next to it. Her fingers stretched toward it, brushing the snow off from the pile it lay in. Intently, her hazel eyes lingered upon the rose. The red surface of the petals reflected her stare. She closed her eyes and clutching the rose closer to her chest. Her eyes opened. Golden light swam across her face and in an instant, she was gone only leaving a flash of light behind her." -passage from Shadow of Sohvan

Shadow of Sohvan is a tale of heroics in an epic fantasy world filled with magic, monsters and the sword. The story follows the quest of a young girl to be reunited with her lost love. Her journey takes her from distant shores of the wizard isles to the Tomb of the Ancient Kings in the tall Iterian Mountains.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781456739898

Shane C. Callow

Shane C. Callow has been developing and writing fantasy works for ten years with the satisfaction of many. Shane C. Callow's writing has been described as exciting, creative and inspiring. "It's like watching a movie," commented Dacia Thompson in analysis of Shane C. Callow's writing. While traditionally Shane C. Callow writes within the fantasy fiction genre, he does have fans of his less common works based in modern fantasy.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Church bells rang over the small village lying deep in the Iterian Mountains. School had concluded for the day. The church doors burst open heralding the shouts of children young and old. Some simply ran out across the short stalks of grass surrounding the old building while others casually walked together. One specific girl strode down the creaking steps beside her friends happily conversing as they strode across the meadows. Do you think Nate likes me, Trina? I mean he keeps looking at me with those large teddy bear eyes during class, mentioned the girl with reddish hues on pecan brown hair to the older girl.

I don’t know… But I could ask Michael and he could tell me. They are best friends after all, Trina answered while brushing away the bangs from her long brown hair. Moments later the teacher from the church called to Trina. Trina gave her friends short good byes and hurried to the waiting monk.

He stood tapping his sandal impatiently on the oak stairs in front of the structure. Trina, you forgot your books… again, he said impatiently. If you don’t bring them home, then how are you supposed to learn about today’s lesson?

Brother Tomas, she mentioned sheepishly, please, just this once can I skip our history lesson? Besides who wants to learn about a stupid, crusty, old wizard that no one has even heard of? She paused for a second. What kind of a name is Solaris anyway? Oh please… can I not do it, just this once? I promise I’ll read two chapters tomorrow. Trina’s clear eyes fluttered after finishing her plea.

Solaris named our town, Trina. He looked into her brown eyes hesitating. Ohhhh… just this once you can. But, don’t tell any of the other students about this. He waved a menacing looking finger as he spoke, If they did, how do you think they would react to your actions? They would run amuck and expect me to let them skip lessons too.

A broad smile crossed her face before she wrapped her arms around him. Thank you! Trina squeaked, You won’t regret this! Following her statement, she sprinted off.

Tomas muttered under his breath, That’s what I’m afraid of.

Her hair blew in the wind while she crossed the grassy hills. The purple hews of the sunset behind her cut out a silhouette of her shadow. As she passed over a rise, she thought to go spy on the boys in her village since they were still in their school right now.

She came bounding up the nearby hill and surveyed the students learning from the sword master, Cedric Muhr. The boys’ school taught them how to defend the community and the ways of honor. Each boy followed an artistic drill where they lifted and swung their swords in the exact position as Master Muhr. Down each row blades would fall and rise to the bidding of the swordsman’s movements.

These drills went on for some time before one boy stepped out from the crowd. Trina wasn’t sure if he didn’t like the idea of following all the strict rules of honor or if he just wanted to have a little fun. That boy was Geoff Stormsen. Trina giggled as Geoff lifted his sword into the air and mockingly tripped to his right flinging the blade right in front of Nate, the nearby boy’s face. Trina watched Nate, the giant of a boy, roar before leaping into the nearby row in an attempt to dodge the wide arc from Geoff’s sword. Chaos erupted from the young men trying to avoid blades being swung everywhere as Nate let loose a full rampage against Geoff. Geoff though, because he was smaller, easily dodged the older boy’s swings. Trina watched as Sir Muhr ran between the boys deflecting Nate’s sword and disarming Geoff of his. While their teacher started lecturing both of them, Trina just shook her head and started toward home again.

Birds sang and squirrels chattered while Trina passed by the forest surrounding her town. She turned, watching pine tree after pine tree go by. A cool breeze blew across her face catching her hair as it danced across the meadow at the edge of the forest.

A loud clang rang out from the forest. Trina stopped, turning toward the forest. She watched as birds flew out over the trees. The sound rang out again. She paused, listening for the noise. A third time metal could distinctly be heard clashing against metal. Her eyes held fixed on the tree line. She blinked once before wandering around the forest’s edge. She pushed the branches away from each other before poking her head through a hole searching the woods beyond. She crouched listening again. There was an eerie silence around her. No animals in the forest were making any noise. Her heart began to pound as she stalked into the forest. While she drew deeper through the trees, clangs began to ring out. At first there was a slow rhythm to the sound, but then the clashing grew faster.

Trina approached the edge of a clearing. Some twigs snapped as she leaned down gazing out from under some brush. Two warriors were standing in a clearing staring each other down. One wore a wool shirt covered by a leather vest. This warrior held his hand clutching at his chest while his other held a large sword waving before his opponent. Trina brought her hand to her mouth upon gazing at the other fighter. This warrior was more a boy than a man. The tip of a katana rested on the ground while the handle fit easily in the youth’s grip. Ungloved hands flowed up into a loose fitting black suit. His long silver hair draped across the shoulders of black silk. His green eyes, hiding behind locks of shimmering hair, remained uncaring while observing the other man.

A droplet splashed against the dirt. Crimson liquid slid from under the other man’s hand. The man scowled while that hand clasped around his chest. Trina’s eyes widened as the man pulled his hand away from the shirt revealing a mortal wound. Anguish wore heavily on his face as he attempted to thrust and swing at the boy who easily parried each strike. Eventually in desperation, the man swung his broad sword at the boy’s head like a club. Trina covered her eyes. The whistle of the air sped through the grove as if being parted by an arrow. She felt a tear slide down her face. A quiet moaning emitted before she heard a dull thud. She peeked out between her fingers. The man laid sprawled, face first, across the forest floor with the green eyed boy standing over him.

She could hear the boy mumble something before he turned the body over with his boot. His hair shifted while his hand passed by it sheathing the sword across his back. He then knelt down looking closer at his opponent’s face. A gentle hand pressed against the man’s neck for a brief second. His eyes drooped for a moment before rising. Trina trembled as she locked vision with his unwavering gaze. She gasped before spinning around to flea.

In mid spin she stopped and fell back. The boy stood just in front of her looking down at her. He held his sight on her hazel eyes. You never saw me. His voice was calm. It would be better for your own good if you never remembered this incident. Following this remark he strode off, into the shadows of the trees. Trina remained quivering in the brush as she watched him disappear.

Chapter 2

Trina burst through a pair of wooden doors into her family’s small cottage. Cold tears trickled down her face as she blindly stumbled about calling, Mother! Mother! In answer to her daughter’s call, an older woman rushed to Trina, embracing the crying girl. Her mother held her daughter’s head as she ran her fingers through Trina’s long, silky hair.

What is it dear? She questioned soothingly.

Oh mother, it was horrible… I was walking home as usual when I heard a noise, Trina tried to relate through her convulsions. Droplets slid down her cheeks while sniffles caused her whole body to tremble.

It’s Ok, I’m here now. Tell me everything.

Slowly Trina shared the events that led up to her fleeing in terror. Trina lingered in her description of the mysterious boy appearing in front of her. Each time she described the dying man, she paused for a moment before more tears flowed. Her mother kept listening while combing Trina’s hair. Every few moments, the two would hug. While this was happening her younger brother, Curtis, was listening too, from the loft.

#***#

Hey Michael… why wis Twina so swad? The min didn’t do nut-in ta her, Curtis whispered to his older brother up in the hay of the loft.

Michael, looking at his younger brother, sighed to the question, and answered, Curtis… she’s upset because she saw someone die in front of her.

Zoe… why see so swaaaad. I tink die-n be gweat. It swign of be-in bwave.

Michael rolled his eyes. He ruffled Curtis’s scraggily hair. Shortly after, there was silence downstairs. I think it is over. Michael turned to Curtis. Maybe we can go down now, Michael stated before taking Curtis’ hand and inching his way down the stairs from the loft. Trina seemed at peace now but Michael could still see the stains across her cheeks from her tears. She had a fake grin across her face.

Curtis… would you set the table with me, please? their mother mentioned. Curtis looked into Trina’s eyes for one moment before gazing back to his mother’s. Curtis vigorously nodded his head in consent. His mother and he then went to the cupboard for the dishes. Soon after this, the table was set and Trina’s father came home from working in the fields. Trina’s mother whispered something in his ear before he sat down at the table.

Once the family assembled at the table, they all bowed their heads in prayer. Trina’s father began, Oh holy Avenisa, grant us peace in our lives. Please bless this food that it may give us the sustenance we need to perform our labors. Please give us hope. Amen. Not a word was spoken the entire dinner. When it was over Trina sullenly climbed the stairs to the loft. Soon after Curtis was asked to go to bed since it was late. He made one attempt to complain before he was carried away by Michael giving time for his parents to discuss the problem in the grove.

#***#

Her eyelids shot open as she silently screamed in the still darkness. Cold sweat beaded the brow of Trina’s forehead. She held her hand to her heart while searching the room. Her eyelids drooped for a second as she exhaled. It was only a nightmare. In her dreams she had come back from picking wild flowers only to find her village, Cyles, burning. Screams of children rang out from buildings caught in the inferno. Trina had begun to walk down the main street of town staring at the lifeless faces of friends lying dead on the dark soil. It was then that she discovered him. The boy with long silver hair stood amongst the broken bodies of her mother and father. The boy lifted his vision to Trina. She gasped before watching a single tear slide down his cheek. She reached out to him just as a rumble thundered between them. A gigantic, red lizard with wings came soaring through the sky toward her. Fire was erupting from its maw as it plummeted toward her. Before the flames licked her, she had woken up.

Trina wiped away the damp sweat from her brow with the hem of her sleeve. She sat there staring at the darkness in her room. Her hand covered her face for a moment before stripping the blankets off the bed. Her slender foot set upon the cold oak floor in the attic. She stepped up to the window. Her eyes lifted and fell to the hills around the cottage. Strands of brown hair fell in front of her face. Moonlight reflected in her eyes as she brushed her bangs out of her vision. It was only a dream… A sigh of relief passed from her lips.

The sound of a flute pierced the silence. She cast her gaze away from the moon to the lush country side. Who would be up at this time of night? she whispered as she placed her hand on the glass. In the distance there was a dim, reddish glow with smoke rising from the dull light. Who is playing that? She listened to the sound in the distance and the song played on. A smile crossed her face before she tiptoed back to her bed.

#***#

Pitter—patter. Rain droplets spattered against the panes of glass leaving streaks on the window. Trina’s eyes lazily opened. The low sound of sizzling breakfast wafted up through the cracks in the floor boards. The sound of her mother listing chores to her brothers shadowed the sound of the cooking. Trina’s stomach growled at the scent of rabbit bacon cooking downstairs. Drowsily, her eyes tarried on the trickles of water sliding down her window. She blinked for a few seconds before her eyelids shut and she turned over. She pulled her blankets up over her head.

Twina! Curtis hollered from the other side of the blanket. Her little brother was sitting on her side. Trina sighed behind the covers. Gwet uuuuup! Curtis roared again. Reacting swiftly, she swung her legs forward. He squealed before falling off balance and plummeting over the side of the bed. A dull thud rang out as the little boy impacted