Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

By Heather Hobson

The planet Karna has suffered for generations under the rule of the corrupt High Kings. Pollution fills the seas. Mountains have been toppled. Deserts encase much of the land. It is to this world Light calls Raphael to be the first Conrad: a human gifted with the power to call and transform energy. Yet Raphael will not follow Light alone, others will join him and Conrad Communities will be formed. "Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna" reveals the trials and struggles of the Conrads as they battle to heal their homeworld. Within these pages you will journey with Raphael, Bruner, Serenity, and the other Conrads of Karna as they find the strength to follow and obey the Light for the betterment of their planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257346509

Book preview

H.S.

The First Calling

Before Aleron, before the Conrad exile, before the first Conrad Community, before the rise of the first High King of Karna, there was the First Calling . . .

You're evil, Ariel giggled as she tossed a yellow thistle at Raphael. He leapt back. The thistle's thorns stuck to his roughly woven britches. I'm going to get you, Raphael roared with laughter. He chased his younger sister up the hill.

Ariel squealed. Her arms waved wildly like aqua seeker branches in the wind. Her green hair ribbon fell loose, fluttering off like a butterfly. Long auburn hair streamed behind her, reminding Raphael of flowing water.

Suddenly, Raphael's mirth faded. His feet halted. He stood motionless, his sister forgotten. Raphael's eyes focused on the equine galloping toward the village huts. Even at twelve cycles of age, he knew that King Anatol's warriors would bring trouble to the village.

Heart pounding, he watched as those in the village of Salafin reluctantly left their abodes. Chills ran up his back, as he heard Ariel squeal. His crystal blue eyes locked on her. In her four-cycle-old innocence, she continued to run. As if bitten by a dirt crawler, Raphael leapt forward. Once in motion, he moved like a chariot horse. In one swift movement, he seized Ariel's arm. Whipping her around, he pushed her onto the dewy grass. Before she screamed, he threw his body upon hers and covered her as a lion would its prey.

Ariel thrashed. Tears spilled from her eyes. Raphael covered her mouth with his hand. Raising only his head, he peered in the direction of the village. At the same time, he kept Ariel pinned.

The King of Crosleah's warriors had lined everyone up. Raphael noticed one was counting heads, while others searched the huts. He knew they sought something or someone. The villagers of Salafin led a perilous life, living in a border village. They had once been part of the great kingdom of the north, Gallan, but were now subjects to the kingdom of the east, Crosleah. To their south lay the sparse remains of the declining kingdom of the west, Mora, which struggled to remain independent in a war for the High Kingship of all of Karna.

A piercing pain caused Raphael to glance down. Ariel's sharp teeth tore hard into his hand. He bit his lip, enduring the pain. For half a sun-shift they lay like that. Raphael did not let go until he no longer saw a single mount.

Raphael pulled back onto his knees. He covered his bleeding hand with his other one.

Ariel popped to her feet like a hopper set free. She wailed.

Raphael rocked back and forth. His hand numb as if it had been resting in an icy stream. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. Tears rolled down his tanned cheeks.

Tears burning on her face, Ariel punched Raphael. Exhausted, he toppled backward. She kicked his sandaled foot. Then her wailing began afresh as she ran down the hill.

Raphael lay on his back. For a long time he focused on nothing but his breathing. He ignored the steady stream of blood spilling between his thumb and pointer finger. He no longer heard the birds calling or insects crawling on the grass blades. The wind ceased to exist in his mind.

As his breaths grew short and deep, he saw himself standing inside a white pillar. He couldn't tell if the floor and walls were smooth or textured. All he knew was they were white. In the pillar Raphael felt no pain or fear. He no longer felt human. Instead, he felt as satisfied as a hummingbird gathering nectar.

A cozy contentment spread through his mind and body. Yet, he felt alert like never before.

You are my child, a nonhuman voice spoke.

At first Raphael did not comprehend the words. They didn't alarm him either. Instead, they sounded as sweet and light as spring music.

Trust me, and I will take care of you.

Raphael never knew when he opened his eyes or noticed that he stared at dusk's sky. Sitting up, he scanned the grassy slope. He shook his head, a peaceful dreamy state still engulfing him.

Slowly he rose to his feet and strolled down the hill. Swirls of smoke rose from chimneys. It wasn't until Raphael tugged open the door latch to his home, that he noticed his hand. There was no blood, or wound, or scar. He stared in amazement. A peaceful smile spread across his face.

Raphael quietly slipped inside. His mother sat with her back to him, her mending in hand. Ariel lay curled abed, with his two other sisters. His father's presence was strangely absent.

Raphael walked toward his mother and placed a hand upon her shoulder. Elata gave a start, but didn't scream. Once she acknowledged it was Raphael, her body relaxed a bit.

You had me worried, she whispered.

I'm sorry, Raphael replied, sitting down cross-legged between his mother and the fire. Where's Pa? he questioned.

He sensed his mother's tension. He thought he could hear her blood racing through her as her heartbeat sped up.

Out, she mumbled. She turned her blue eyes to her mending.

For a while they sat in silence. Raphael's senses were alive. He felt his mother's moods constantly shifting from suppressed anger to fear to hope to anger. He could hear his sisters' hearts beating in unison, despite the fact they lay across the room from him. For a moment, he swore he detected the subtle movements of worms in the ground beneath the hard packed clay.

I'm glad you stopped her, his mother said at last.

Raphael looked up.

Ariel said she bit you. She cried herself to sleep for fear she had killed you.

Raphael frowned. He moved to awaken Ariel, to reassure her he was fine, but his mother placed a hand on his wrist. Let her sleep. Let me see your hand.

It's fine, Raphael whispered. He tried to hide his hand, but his mother was too swift.

She squinted in the firelight as she looked over one hand, then the other. Returning to examine the first, she said, There's no mark.

I know.

But, his mother started and then paused. She glanced at Ariel and then looked down at Raphael. But there was blood around Ariel's mouth.

Raphael looked at his hand. Then he turned and watched the fire. Finally he said, It healed.

How?

Raphael studied his hand. He almost wished he had the wound. Closing his eyes, he struggled to find words to explain.

A rustling at the door drew Raphael and Elata's attentions. The door squeaked as it slowly opened. Raphael and his mother did not inhale, until the man pushed back his cloak.

You scared me, Elata chided her husband. She rose, walked toward Ger, and embraced him.

Ger kissed her soundly. Raphael averted his gaze. A relief washed over him, realizing he had escaped explaining his hand.

I'm glad you're back, Elata whispered. She guided Ger to a chair, then fetched him a drink.

Raphael studied his father. His dark hair with gray strands was tousled. Ger smelled of oil and fire. Stray ashes clung to his beard.

Well? asked Elata, handing a tankard of water to Ger.

It's done.

Raphael wanted to ask, What is? but knew better. Instead, he moved closer to his father, sitting by his booted feet. Fine, fresh ash covered his boots. Raphael noted a small trail of ash leading from the door to the chair.

We covered our tracks well. They won't know it was us, Ger stated. He handed the tankard to Raphael and seized Elata's hands. With a gentle yank, he pulled her into his lap.

You better have, she softly replied.

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Ariel clung to the side of her mother's skirts. I don't want to, she whined.

Elata looked down at her youngest child, then at Raphael. But you like to gather wood.

Ariel tossed her head then buried her face in the folds of Elata's skirt.

It's all right. I'll go alone, Raphael said. Glumly he headed off. Usually Ariel was more than delighted to spend the day with him. He wished Blanca or Radinka would come at least, but both had gone off to help old lady Bernard with her chores.

Solemnly Raphael marched on until he reached the forest. With one foot he kicked an area clear. He would use the clearing to stack the wood he collected, before carrying it home.

Determined to finish quickly, he started gathering fallen limbs. A quick blink of color caused Raphael to pause. He turned to look at the yellow and crimson butterfly darting around. Enchanted by the fluid fluttering, he set the wood down and dropped onto a log to watch.

Unconsciously his breath deepened as his eyes focused on the creature's movement. Raphael's thoughts blanked. His body felt light. His arms tingled, a breeze caressing them. He found himself flying, using the wind to guide him from flower to flower.

Then with one deep, sudden breath, Raphael's body felt different. Besides a slight wavering, he found all movement had stopped. He saw nothing, but felt the tiny appendages of the butterfly resting upon him. He sensed insects crawling up his legs, which had become one.

Another cleansing breath brought Raphael back into his body. You are a child of the Light, he heard in the same mystical voice of the previous afternoon. You are the first I grant these powers to. You will learn to be all. You will learn to be energy.

Blinking, Raphael shook his head. He smiled, feeling warm and loved.

Gathering the firewood, Raphael headed for the edge