A Revelation at Ancandanter

By Paul G Mann

Cristin, a human female of fearsome temper, is haunted by the nightmares of her fathers' death. She meets another human who claims to be her brother, awakening the deeply buried hatred and loathing for the man who killed her father. Arlo, a Dwarf, is the closest thing to a friend she has, he is also the focal point of her tantrums. Chait, an Elf who once saved her life using the magic of the trees that all Elves posses. He is a friend and confidant whose hands she has placed her life many times, he leads their small band of misfits.
All three are outcasts, Dwarf, Elf and Human, who together, have wandered the lands for over ten years. Danger and trouble follow them, the fighting force that is un-equalled in all three lands striking back, dealing out death to all that cross them. They meet a magician who takes them on an adventure of a lifetime. Passing through the lands of the Elf and Dwarf. Into the human territories, they travel in their quest each searching for fulfillment and revenge on those who wronged them. No less so than the magician, who unknown to the small band, has his own agenda.
Cristin's quest changes her in ways she could never imagine. Surprise after surprise leads her to emotions she never thought she had. Love and compassion find her heart as she reunites with family. The peace she finds in a strange world, along with the promise of a normal life. Will the promise be fulfilled? Can it be, is the real question?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul G Mann
• Release date: Mar 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463757338

Paul G Mann

Writing never came easy to me, even at school but somewhere inside me I always thought I had a story to tell. Before word processors and spell checks the bringing up of a family and out working to support them took precedence over such things as writing and as such setting my story down on paper was the least of my priorities.Things changed in 2007 when I suffered a heart attack which effectively ended my working life. My first computer back in 1988 was an old Amstrad word processor that allowed me to take work home from the office without the need of a ream of paper and white correction fluid. All I needed was a small three inch disc that fitted quite nicely into my pocket. It made letter writing so much easier and renewed my interest in writing although at that time I didn’t pursue it.I have had a large and varied working life to give me inspiration. I was a seaman for three years in my teenage years; I worked as a bus conductor on leaving the sea to raise a family before training as a plasterer and working in the building industry. A telecommunications factory offered better pay and conditions so I moved into the production of telephone exchanges for six years until securing a job in BT for seventeen years until made redundant in 1992. Ultimately I worked as a private hire taxi driver until illness forced me to stop.I am twice married with 3 children of my own (all grown up and flown the coup now) and 3 step children (also flown away). My present wife Gillian is a rock to me and who without her support and encouragement these books may never have been finished for publication. So if you don't like them blame her not me.The heart attack changed my life. I had to find something to occupy my mind and soon decided the best thing I could do was write. I readily admit I am not and probably never will be the most gifted writer in the world but as an exercise in keeping the old grey matter in working order it cannot be surpassed.All my work is ready for reading in e-book format from Smashwords and Paperback from http://www.Feedaread.com (cheaper at smashwords}

Book preview

Prologue

A magician sat in a meadow on the outskirts of the Umma Woods, casting a spell over a bowl of sacred water taken from the lake of Lyert. He watched, intent as the water cleared to show an Elf, a Dwarf and a Human sitting around an open fire in a clearing surrounded by tall trees on the outskirts of Lentenmere Forest. A brother and sister to those he looked on would soon join them, one known and one unknown, he smiled as his plans started to bear the fruit he craved. At last his need for retribution and revenge was coming nearer with every passing day. Twelve cycles had come and gone, forty-eight long lonely seasons, the time in isolation fuelling his desire for vengeance. The wait was over, they would avenge him.

Part One

Chapter One

Arlo the son of Thane, looked up from the dirt where he had been kicked not ten seconds earlier. His assailant was human, a female of a fearful temper that even her own kind was terrified of. Being a dwarf she towered over him, as did all the other races, but for some unknown reason of Grunhaller’s, he had the uncanny knack of always being under her feet. He had known her for eleven summers, ever since he came across her as an angry youthful girl, terrified of men, but willing to take one on with the long thin rapier like sword she carried at her waist.

The two had come a long way since that fateful meeting, what drew them together or why they became friends, he could never recall. He disliked humans, in all his dealings with them he could never trust one to tell the truth. If they didn’t lie to you, they would steal the bedding off your back, and probably cut your throat if you complained. In the early days he had taught her how to use both knife and sword. She had come a long way from the urchin who waved it over her head hoping to hit someone. Now, he would put her against anyone, and knew she would come out best. Her lightening reflexes, and deft use of wrist would disarm or kill an opponent within seconds.

She was also beautiful for a human, nearly six foot in height with long golden hair tied in braids, framed a face that belied the anger and hate inside her. Slim, her small petite breasts gave her a boyish look, detracting from her well muscled frame. She had the body of an athlete, an athlete whose sport was death to any who crossed her.

‘Once more Arlo,’ she shouted, ‘and I swear by Grunhaller’s beard I will kick you from one end of this miserable village to the other. I’m sick of tripping over you, next time I’ll swing you on a gibbet and let the crows have your eyes for supper.’

‘Leave me be Cristin,’ Arlo snarled in reply, ‘If you want to stop tripping over me, pick up your great big feet. Your boots are that big they should be fitted with sails.’

‘Quiet, the pair of you,’ Chait hissed, ‘we approach the inn, you two arguing will get us thrown out before we get in.’

Chait was an elf, the unelected leader of the small band of three, deadly with a bow, but agile with a knife or sword. He could usually keep his companions in line, but some-days proved more difficult than others, especially if Cristin was in a foul mood. Today she had tried his patience to the limit, since daybreak her aggressive nature had been on display for the world to see, with Arlo and himself the ones to suffer. A few ales, relaxing, sitting back in front of a roaring fire might, just might calm her down. Besides word reached him via the woodland trees, to meet with his sister, a strange request given the place of meeting. It was not like her.

‘Well if she…,’ was as far as Arlo got before Chait gripped his collar and hauled him upright, back on to his feet.

‘I said be quiet,’ he said letting go of the dwarf’s collar. ‘Something is amiss in the Elvin world, and I don't need you two at each other’s throats. Who knows what would happen if I have to leave you alone for a few minutes.’

‘What kind of something amiss?’ Cristin asked. ‘Something nice I can punch and kick, I need a good workout, things have been too quiet of late.’

‘I don’t know,’ Chait replied as he reached the steps of the inn. ‘My sister is asking to meet me here, if nothing else, that tells me something is wrong, she hates the human world.’

Inside the inn, drinkers sat at long tables, serving wenches plied them with warm foaming beer, doing their best to avoid the grubby fingers of the drinking crowd, that tried to grab or pinch buttocks and breasts. Chait ignored them, casting his Elvin eyesight around the inn looking for his sister. She was in a booth, one reserved for the more affluent customers seeking privacy at a price. She dressed as a human youth, breeches and shirt, her breasts flattened, her hair cropped short and her ears hidden by an excuse for a hat. The relief on her face as Chait approached the booth was evident for all to see, as were the tears that formed in her eyes. Brother and sister never spoke, they stood in a long embrace until she pushed him away holding him at arms length, looking at him.

The four sat down and shouted for the serving girl to bring ale and bread, the elves holding their silence until the girl brought them to the table with a smile that Arlo thought was a thank you for not groping her.

‘Okay,’ Chait said still holding his sisters hand over the table, ‘may I introduce my sister Kayna, Kayna these two rogues are my companions, Arlo and Cristin. With that done with, tell me what brings you out here and why the secrecy, what happened, is all well with the family?’

‘It’s difficult,’ she replied looking at Arlo and Cristin.

‘I trust them with my life,’ Chait replied knowing she was unsure of the odd-looking pair. ‘And so can you, now out with it.’

‘Half a moon ago,’ she began, ‘we found a wandering human deep in the woods near the sacred lake of Lyert. By rights we should have killed him, but Petrok stayed fathers hand because of the way the human dressed, and the strange dialect he spoke. His clothing is strange, made from strange material and the way he speaks has no comparison to any human speech I have ever heard. From what we can understand he is alone, but he’s expecting more of his kind to invade our lands. He says he came here in what he calls a machine, a monstrosity that has flattened an acre of meadow land near Lyert. It is still there, locked against us and the human refuses to open it, even at sword point. He distrusts us and we need another human to prove we live in peace with each other. As the only humans allowed within our lands are invited and enter of their own free will, we need you to bring one home with you.’

‘Why me? Chait replied. ‘Am I the only Elf who lives outside the sacred lands? Besides, I seem to recall being banished, told never to darken the Elvin lands again. Petrok was most insistent that I be put to death if I am found on the land of my ancestors.’

‘This is new,’ Arlo grunted, ‘What the hell did you do?’

‘They accused me of sexually assaulting his ugly daughter, who is also forty years older than me,’ Chait answered, ‘but that is for later, I want to know what changed his mind. Under Elvin laws, touching a woman in the wrong place, or in my case, being accused of it, is either marry her or be banished for life.’

‘You groped a woman forty years older than you!?’ Cristin snapped, ‘I don’t believe it, I’ve known you for ten summers and always seen you treat women with civility and kindness.’

‘Thank you,’ Chait replied without humour, ‘It’s nice to know my friends have faith in me, but why for Grunhaller's sake has Petrok changed his mind.’

‘Delan changed her story three summers ago.’ Kayna replied. ‘It seems she accused you hoping you would be forced to marry her. She thought she was pregnant, when all along she had a human lover she met while bathing. You would make a nice husband, so she accused you knowing you would have to marry her. You know the rest. She wasn’t pregnant of course, the truth came out when she was caught in a compromising position with him. Petrok of course demanded the human marry her. He wouldn’t, so Delan executed him on the spot. It seems two refusals of marriage was too much for her to bear.’

‘Why wasn’t I told three summers ago? Chait demanded.

To save Petrok’s face and Delan’s discomfort,’ Kayna said, ‘but now he needs you, they have graciously forgiven you.’

‘I come back to why me?’ Chait replied. ‘Others are banished or live outside of our homelands, if all you need is a human, I would think I was the last one he would seek.’

‘I don’t know,’ she answered, ‘I think Delan still harbours thoughts of marriage. Maybe with you being exiled for twelve summers, she probably thinks given the option again, you will agree and marry her.’

‘OK, I’ll come,’ he smiled, ‘but not before I safeguard myself from Delan’s claws. Cristin, under Elvin law I take you as my wife. Do you agree?’

‘No I do not!’ she retorted, her eyes boring into him with the threat of imminent death if he so much as mentioned it again.

‘Good, that’s settled then, as my wife you will have the full honours of any other Elvin bride, and calm down, the steam coming out of your ears does not become you. Just tell anyone you meet you are my wife, and for Grunhaller's sake try to smile when you say it.

‘Just don’t try to kiss me!’ she snorted contemptuously.

‘One thing,’ Arlo piped up from his empty tankard, ‘in case it has slipped your minds, it is forbidden for a Dwarf to stay on Elvin land after dark.’

‘In normal circumstances you are right,’ Chait smiled, ‘but that only applies to wandering Dwarf’s. If you are employed by an Elf, they welcome you. I will make you my servant.’

‘Servant!, the Dwarf near exploded. ‘I am servant to no one, Human, Elf or Gnome. It is beneath a Dwarf to serve another for reward. I shall be your advisor.’ He finished with a stretch of his diminutive frame, daring any to argue.

Chapter TWO

Chait met Arlo and Cristin on a dark wet winter night over ten summers ago, not long after his exile. He was sheltering in a small cave in the southern forest of Elestren when he heard shouts above the wind and rain. Investigating, he found Cristin, neck deep in the mud of a sink-hole. Unseen in the darkness, she had tripped and fallen in, now it was doing its best to swallow her. Arlo was near to exhaustion trying to haul her out, but despite his incredible strength, he was fighting a losing battle as the clinging mud sucked at her, pulling her closer and closer to drowning in the thick mud filled hole. The heavy rain stopped him from gaining a strong foothold or grip to pull her out. The more he dug his heels in, the deeper his feet slid in the mud and running rainwater. His rope was useless, nothing let him get a purchase or footing on the mud encrusted sink hole sides. Cristin was a powerful woman, but her strength too was failing. Unless someone pulled her out and soon, death was minutes away. 

Within the Elvin race is the ability to call forth the magic of the trees, and Chait was no exception. He stood on the rim of the sink-hole, ten lengths of his forearm above her struggling body. Raising his hands he called on the magic of the trees and let it flow, through his body, down to his feet and the roots of a tall pine, and brought the roots to her, pushing her upwards to the surface of the mud, where a thin tendril of root wrapped around her waist, and gently pushed her through the rain to the sink-hole rim.

The dwarf watched in amazement as this happened, springing into action as she neared the rim. He grabbed her, frantically dragging her to safety; the two laying on the rain soaked ground in complete exhaustion. Chait returned the roots to the tree, piled stones and soil around the hole edges to stop others falling in. he then turned to the worn-out pair, still on the ground, soaking wet and filthy from the mud. 

He took the unlikely twosome back to the cave, built the fire up. Giving both a dry blanket, and an old deer skin for warmth, he went out to wash the mud from their clothing in the never ending and increasing rain downpour. Everything else of hers, clothing, travel pack and weapons, was all lost to the sink hole mud. Both of them followed him outside, the woman, too tired to care about decency was naked. To clean herself, she stood outside the cave helping the rain water wash and clean her with soapwort leaves and root.

Arlo on the other hand came out in grubby looking underclothes, splashed water over his face in the hope where it touched, it cleaned. It was clear the two were friends, each watching the other, helping where help was needed. Once clean, they returned inside the cave, sitting round the fire, holding their clothing up to it, waiting for it to dry. Exhaustion claimed Cristin within a quarter of the hour, holding a shirt to the fire, her eyes rolled in her head, only the lightening reactions of Arlo saved her from falling face first into the roaring flames. 

Ever since that meeting, they had been friends and constant companions. All were outcasts from their own communities, for differing reasons. Each knew the reasons why, but no questions were ever asked, the past was the past; all accepted each other for who they were. Their loyalty to each other was never questioned, if something threatened, the three became as one.

Together they were a formidable trio; Cristin, light and fast with a knife and sword. Arlo, with his incredible strength and ability to wield the famed Dwarven axe/hammer. Chait, his Elvin eyesight, his use of woodland magic, and Elvin arts, caused panic and confusion in the strongest of opponents.   

An odd group, Chait, an Elf, the leader, not because of his fighting or leadership skills, but because Arlo and Cristin never stopped arguing. They could never agree what to eat for breakfast, or which way to turn on a path, never mind lead, it made Chait the obvious choice as a leader. Arlo and Cristin had a strange relationship. For all their arguing and bad tempered outbursts with each other, they were inseparable, and defended each other without question against any outsider. Chait learnt long ago to leave them to their bickering, neither was happy unless biting the head off the other. 

Kayna settled in well with the group; she strode out ahead on the way to her ancestral tribal grounds, a week or more journey away. Chait watched her, unsettled and wary to why he was wanted at home. He didn’t doubt a human had been captured wandering in the sacred grounds, what he doubted was the reason he still lived, and why he, of all the elves, was summoned to help with the problem, if there was a problem to help with. 

On the second day of the journey they stopped to eat and refill water skins in a fast-flowing stream. It was an everyday normal thing that each of them did without thought or question to keep their water supplies topped up and fresh. 

‘You know we’re being followed?’ Arlo said bending to fill his water skin next to Chait. 

‘Yes, since early yesterday morning,’ Chait replied. ‘He means us no harm, but I would like to talk to him. Cristin can bring him in when we stop for the night.’ 

‘Let me,’ the dwarf said, ‘whoever it is, is a human and a male, he will have a hard time taking his eyes off her.’ he pointed with his thumb to Cristin. 

‘Good point,’ Chait smiled, ‘OK my friend, as soon as the sun sets, go get him, just bring him back able to answer a few questions. Try not to break any bones.’ 

‘You take the fun out of life,’ the dwarf moaned with a glint in his eye. 

The afternoon wore on. The travellers cut across woodland to save time instead of following the rutted paths. All the time the follower remained behind, dogging their steps without signs of tiring. Chait told Cristin about the follower and the reasons for sending Arlo, she spent the rest of the day making sure whoever followed had an excellent view of her bare flesh to keep his interest. 

Night came and Arlo quietly left the camp, circling back, round and behind to take the follower by surprise. The next thing the companions knew was a shout from Arlo as he entered the camp at sword point, followed by a human male. He was huge, at least three hand spans taller than the slender Elf with rippling muscles that did nothing to detract from his bulk. He was grinning while the dwarf grimaced at the indignity of being held at the point of a sword. 

‘I mean no harm,’ the stranger said sheathing the weapon. ‘I follow two Elves in the  hope they lead me to where friends of mine may be?’ 

‘Now can I kill him?’ Arlo spluttered. ‘I swear by Grunhaller he would be dead if you hadn’t said you wanted him alive.’ 

‘Later, after I talk to him,’ Chait replied with a smile. ‘Now Sir, what’s this about leading you to your friends?’ 

‘They are in Elvin lands and have been for twelve summers.’ He answered. ‘Those who have tried to find them before have failed, or killed outright for trespass in Elvin territory, I hoped you would show me the way.’ 

‘I am sorry,’ Chait said, ‘but I know nothing of any human captives from that time. You should turn back, humans are not welcome in the Elvin heartland. Those you seek are undoubtedly dead, killed outright if someone found them wandering on sacred ground.’ 

‘Please, if they are dead, I need proof,’ he pleaded. ‘One of the men I seek is the chief of my clan, we can’t continue without a leader; we have to move on but while he lives, we cannot pass the leadership on to his successor. May I travel with you? Once on Elvin ground I will leave you to continue my search alone.’ 

‘The answer is no,’ Cristin interrupted, speaking from behind him. ‘I don’t believe or trust you. If you wanted our help, you would have approached us, and not followed like a stalking thief. I’m sorry, but you have another reason for travelling to Elvin lands, one that will bear us ill will to both us, and the Elves. My vote says we let Arlo loose on you.’ 

‘You have your answer,’ Chait said to him, ‘and a word of warning, don’t follow us, if you do I’ll set Arlo on you. Besides, if you set foot on Elvin land, my people will kill you for trespass.’ 

‘Please,’ he replied turning to face Cristin, ‘among the party I seek is a girl, she was only twelve summers old when I last saw her. Now she is a woman of twenty six, she is my sister, my father is the missing chief.’ 

‘The girls name,’ Cristin growled, ‘What is it?’ 

‘Christine, daughter of Jago,’ he replied without hesitation, ‘They call me Cador eldest son of Jago, heir to my fathers domain.’ 

‘I still don’t believe you,’ Cristin replied, ‘it still sounds false, why follow us, why not ask for our help?’ 

‘Because I thought you were her,’ he replied,‘ I’ve searched for your party for a summer and a half after hearing of a human woman, roaming the world with an Elf and a Dwarf. I followed, trying to decide if you were my kin or not.’ He shrugged his shoulders. 

‘Now can I kill him?’ Arlo growled.

Chapter THREE

‘We’ll think about it,’ Chait said ignoring Arlo. ‘While we do, I suggest you make camp a hundred paces downstream for the night. But I warn you Cador, come the morning, whatever we decide will be final, we will not negotiate and if it is no, you will continue on your journey alone.’

‘So be it,’ Cador replied downhearted. ‘I suppose that’s the best I can expect.’ With that he spun on his heels and strode downhill to camp by the fast-flowing stream, in sight of, but out of hearing range of the small group.

‘We make camp, then we decide his future,’ Chait said as Cador walked away. Soon after, with a fire gently heating water for a herbal tea, the four sat round eating cold roast mutton, the last of their supplies until they could hunt game and forage for roots, shoots or any fruit that remained on trees and shrubs.

‘Well,’ Cristin snapped. Obviously she was angry or edgy over something by the way she continually played with her knife, stabbing it in the ground. ‘My vote is we kick him out and say a fond farewell.’

‘Yeah,’ Arlo mumbled through a mouthful of food, ‘but I still think I should kill him first.’

‘I’m not so sure,’ Kayna spoke in a quiet voice. ‘I have the soothsayers gift of my mother, I know when someone is lying, and he at least believes what he told us. He’s convinced you’re his sister; I assume that’s why he wants to be with us.’

‘I have no siblings,’ Cristin spat, ‘someone slaughtered my family when I was a child. The day nears when I will seek revenge, I wait until I know where they hide; then I will strike, when they think they are safe and have everything, then I will take from them as they took from me. There will be no quarter, no mercy, they will die, all of them!’

‘When that day comes,’ Chait said taking her hands in his, stilling the knife, ‘you know you have friends here who will stand by your side. Until then we have a problem to resolve. He believes you’re his sister, that said, he’ll be useful in a fight, if he comes with us he can find his own answers in the Elvin lands, he doesn't have to be around us all the time.’ he paused, ‘Cristin are you sure he is not your brother, you have the same colouring and eyes, could he be telling the truth. Was he left behind when your father left to do what Grunhaller knows what?’

‘I don’t know,’ she replied, ‘Christine was my name, but I was only a child, and so long ago I forget. My burning memory is my fathers face as they thrust a sword through his body, and the mans face who killed him laughing. You know what they did to me after that. I was afraid of everyone I met until Arlo crossed my path. He calmed me and taught me not all people were like that, and to accept people, all people, human, Elf, or dwarf for who they are. You came into our lives, and taught me swordsmanship, and I was never afraid again; and my oath to one day seek revenge was forgotten. I’m sorry Chait, but his stalking and calling me sister, has awakened those memories.’

‘I ask one question,’ Chait said softly, ‘if the answer is no then he leaves in the morning, if yes, he comes with us.’ He paused looking at her and watched her nod her head in agreement. ‘Do you want to know if he is your brother or not?’

‘Yes,’ she replied after a few moments spent in thought. ‘But him thinking it is no proof. My fathers face is burned in my memory and he looks nothing like him. Before he comes with us I have to be sure Chait.’ She finished.

‘If it is any help,’ Kayna said, ‘I have a good feeling about him.’

‘Then that’s the way of things,’ Arlo