Black Moon

By Tegon Maus

Every twenty-eight years, the reign of the old Shalic comes to an end with the arrival of the Black Moon. The symbol of the law is a spear that holds sway over the whole of the Kindred, and is passed onto the old Shalic’s successor with the passing of the Black Moon.

When the old Shalic is murdered, war between those who carried the spear and those who were to receive it divides the Kindred bent on settling old scores.

Only one man stands between them...Tucker Littlefield, and he holds the spear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463958759

Tegon Maus

Dearheart, my wife of forty five years and I live in Cherry Valley, a little town of 8,200 in Southern California. In that time, I've built a successful remodeling /contracting business. But that's just my day job... everyone that writes, everyone who tells you how to write, all say the same thing... Write about what you know and what I know is me. Well, at least the me I see when I write... a protagonist frequently wedged between a rock and a hard place but manages to work things out at the last minute after all. Like most of us when pushed into a corner it only brings out the best in us and we become the unstoppable force of a reluctant hero. If I have a signature style for creating a character then this is it. I have a Action / Adventure novel called "The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield," published by Netherworld Books and a Paranormal Fiction story called My Grandfather’s Pants as well as Sci-Fi novel called "Machines of the Little People carried by Tirgearr Publiashing and a number of short stories published by The Short Humor Site.

Book preview

Every twenty-eight years, the reign of the old Shalic comes to an end with the arrival of the Black Moon. The symbol of the law is a spear that holds sway over the whole of the Kindred, and is passed onto the old Shalic’s successor with the passing of the Black Moon.

When the old Shalic is murdered, war between those who carried the spear and those who were to receive it divides the Kindred bent on settling old scores.

Only one man stands between them...Tucker Littlefield, and he holds the spear.

BLACK MOON

The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield, book 2

Tegon Maus

Published by Tirgearr Publishing

Author Copyright 2018 Tegon Maus

Cover Art: Cora Graphics (www.coragraphics.it)

Editor: Sharon Pickrel

Proofreader: Elizabeth Delisi

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Thank you for respecting our author’s hard work.

This story is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, incidents are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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DEDICATION

To my wife, Dearheart, who tells me what’s funny and WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To all the women in my life: Dearheart, for reading this book so many times she can now recite it verbatim, just to be sure I didn’t screw up. To Tirgearr Publishing for publishing all my works. And to Christine McPherson for making it readable!

GLOSSARY

Black Moon: A solar eclipse that occurs in the same place every twenty-eight years, and seen by the Kindred as the time to pass the Spear (symbol of the law-keepers) to the Kindred’s next ruler. Each tribe rules for twenty-eight years in the order of their creation.

THE KINDRED

First wife: The Kindred have many wives as time and importance grows; each is added while still married to the first. There are no limits to the number of wives a man can have, but two or three is seen as common–all living in the same household.

Inamid: First wife to Migisi, the Shalic.

Migisi: Shalic for the past twenty-eight years.

Nanna Shay: Caregiver to lost children–a non-family member.

The Ogin: Keepers of the law for the past twenty-eight years.

Pules: Tyro for the Ogin–Migisi’s student.

Shalic: The leader or king of the Kindred. The old Shalic passes the Spear to the new Shalic at each new Black Moon.

Shaman: each of the nine tribes has a Shaman/tribal leader who maintains the law amongst his kinsmen.

Spear: The Kindred’s symbol of the law, carried by the Shalic.

Tayen: Second wife to Migisi, mother of the Shalic's daughter, Shada.

Tyro: Apprentice to a Shaman, who passes on what he was taught to the next Tyro and the next, until it is that tribe’s turn to rule.

The Achak

Etu: Tyro for the Achak.

The Chesmu

Paco: Tyro for the Chesmu.

The Delsin

Mookie: Helaku Pinon Mojag–Daughter of Elsu & Siwili, keepers of the flame…the wonderful Delsin cook.

Nitis: Tyro for the Delsin–makers of wives.

The Jansu

Cura: Tyro for the Jansu.

The Jonda

Bowen: Tyro for the Jonda–Daneba’s student.

Daneba: Shaman for the Jonda.

Enon: Tyro for the Jonda–Daneba’s student before being captured by Tahki.

The Turtle men: Daneba’s enforcers.

The Minal

Tuwa: Tyro for the Minal.

The Norha

Grake: Tyro for the Norha–Tahki’s student.

Soul Walkers: Tahki’s enforcers. Once the shaman and Tyro to the Norha, they were defeated by Tahki and forced to serve her will.

Tahki: Shaman for the Norha. An Ogin who became the leader for the Norha.

The Sahale

Hakan: Tyro for the Sahale.

LANDMARKS

Bahari: The Sea of Sorrows, the Great Water.

Mehne and Axxea: Brother and sister who live in the great water

Miakoda: The great basin where a total eclipse occurs every twenty-eight years. A sacred place, where the old Shalic passes along the spear–the law–to the next Shalic in line.

Taree’uus: Bitterly contested home of the Ogin–stolen from the Norha.

Namid: A thick, elongated star cluster, believed by the Kindred to be the souls of the dead. They believe it is where the soul resides as they wait for the Goddess’ return.

Algoma: A sacred valley where the Shamen decide the fate of the tribes, and where all Shalics are buried.

BLACK MOON

The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield, book 2

Tegon Maus

Chapter 1

Damn the luck, Jack said, throwing his cards in disgust to the table. If I didn't know better, Tucker Littlefield, I'd say you were cheating.

Why, Jack, what a terrible thing to say, and we've been friends for so long, I answered innocently, raking the pot to my side of the table.

Few things pleased me more than a quiet drink on a Saturday morning and a friendly game of cards. Jack's Tavern had always held that contentment for me for as long as I could remember. There is something comforting in the smell of well-worn wood, stale beer, burnt food, and the dust of an energetic broom.

I know you, Littlefield, and no one wins this much without cheating. I don't know how you're doing it, but you're doing it right enough.

Jack, you were dealing; how could I possibly cheat?

At that moment, the door flew open with a loud bang, startling me, not to mention Jack.

You'd better come quick, Mr. Littlefield, they're looking for you, a young man called, breathing heavily as he leaned against the door.

Who's looking for him? Jack asked, standing.

They are, he said, pointing nervously down the street.

Slowly, I stood, moving to the door.

Soul Bearer, a deep, angry voice boomed.

Who the hell? Jack asked.

Littlefield, a second voice shouted, almost as annoyed, adding itself to the first.

My heart sank at the sound of it. I was certain who it was before I stuck my head out the door to confirm it.

Damn it, I said softly, slipping back inside.

Littlefield! they shouted again.

Outside, two Jonda, each dressed in nothing more than loincloths, walked down the center of the street as if they did it every day. They stood well over seven feet tall, with long, black hair pulled into a tail at the back of their heads and tied with a thick, red string. Around their necks they wore a small string of blue and white shells. Their near-naked, copper colored bodies had been painted with thin, dull yellow paint in misshapen circles, giving them a turtle-like appearance. Hanging low from their hips were the overly large knives I had seen in action far more than I cared to remember.

It had been two years, and I still trembled a little inside at the sight of those knives, not to mention the men that knew how to use them.

You better go see what they want before they set fire to the whole damn town, Jack said sternly, stabbing a meaty thumb at the door.

I gave him a distasteful look but knew he was right.

Here, I shouted. Standing half in and half out of the doorway, I waved an arm to get their attention, bidding them to come this way.

Better bring some cheese, Jack, I said dully.

His face contorted with concern at my words.

So help me, Tucker, if they break one– he began.

Cheese, Jack, quickly, I interrupted, turning him by his shoulders toward the kitchen.

I straightened my clothes quickly, determined not to let my nervous concern show, and turned toward the door to wait.

After a few moments, both Jonda came to the door, bending slightly to peer inside far more tentatively than I would have thought. The larger of the two was first to enter, bowing slightly to clear the doorway. The second followed his lead to stand next to him. They turned their heads from side to side with distaste as they inspected their surroundings.

At that moment, Jack reappeared with a large wedge of cheese on a cutting board, a knife stuck in its surface quivering next to it.

Jack, not a small man by any measure, stood mouth gaping widely, staring up the length of each man until he tilted back dramatically then passed out, falling with a loud thump.

Gentlemen, I said, trying desperately to balance the offering I caught from his failing grip. Nice to see you again.

Without a word, the larger of the two picked it up, sniffed at it hesitantly and then broke it in half, handing one piece to his counterpart. Each sniffed at it several times before devouring it in three or four bites.

Daneba say come, the largest intoned.

So, she's still alive, I said with no small level of relief. I owed my life to the woman, hands down. Her fate had kept me up more nights than I cared to count. Well, give her my thanks, but I'm afraid my schedule doesn't allow me to be– I began to lie.

Daneba say Black Moon coming, Soul Bearer must come.

No.

Daneba say Black Moon…Tucker come in two days or all Jonda come here for Soul Bearer, he said, folding his arms across his chest.

All Jonda? Jack asked from the floor, looking up to me. Tucker, that cannot be good.

I'll think about it, I returned, waving him off. It had been two years, and I was determined I wouldn't risk my life in the outlands again for anything in the world…not for anything.

Soul Bearer come…two days…Black Moon comes soon, the larger of the two men said again, pushing my shoulder to make his point before turning to leave.

I folded my arms in defiance but said nothing.

Bring more this, the shorter one whispered harshly, before pushing the now empty wax cheese rind into my chest.

I stood there unmoved as they made their way outside.

Tucker, you have any idea what a black moon is?

No, and I have no desire to find out, I said, moving to look out the door. I hadn't realized it until this moment, but I had been holding my breath.

By the time I reached the opening, my Jonda friends were nowhere to be seen.

You know you have to go, right? Jack asked, getting off the floor and pushing lightly past me to look outside.

Yeah, I do, I said in resignation.

* * *

I said no. Daneba sent them to get me and they said Black Moon was coming, whatever the hell that means. I'll tell you all about it when I get back, I said, shoving a shirt into my travel bag.

Oh no, Black Moon or not, I remember the last time. You were up to your navel in trouble and that was with me looking out for you, Eloise said, turning me to face her.

Wife…I said no, and that's the end of it. Besides, that's not the way I remember it, I said firmly.

That's the end of it? Did you say that's the end of it? Tucker Littlefield, if you think you can tell me what I can and cannot do, you have no idea who you are talking to, she groused, throwing my bag to the floor.

Wife, I couldn't bear it if anything were to happen to you, I said earnestly.

And what do I do if you are killed this time, or you come home with another new wife?

That wasn't my fault and you know it, I protested.

So you say. I'm going with you or without you, and that is the end of it, she huffed, folding her arms.

Fine, have it your way, but if you get killed, don't complain to me.

Why would I complain to you? You never listen to me. That's how you wound up with that Jonda girl following you everywhere we went. Who knows? Maybe this time I'll find a handsome young man who wants to be my second husband, she said with a sly grin.

He would have to be deaf or he would want to take his own life as well, I returned, trying to decide what to take.

Oh no, he would be happy to listen to me. He would take my advice and be happy for it, instead of spending all his time telling stories to his drunken friends at the tavern, she huffed angrily.

Good Goddess, woman! Are you going to talk me to death or are you going to help me?

Huh, simply the most helpless man I have ever known, she said harshly under her breath, and began throwing random clothes into the bag.

When you get that new husband…don't let him wear my socks, I said.

You are such an old fool.

We spent the next few hours in silence, doing all the little things that