The Liberation of Trespia

By Earl (Tom) Bowers

A society besieged by an ancient beast needs heroes that will travel their planet in search of answers, allies, and long term solutions. Ancient secrets and betrayals foster alliances bent on the destruction of species. Newly formed coalitions will clash in skirmishes and battles to create a new world order. Three brothers will stand tall with their countrymen and allies to liberate their own home “Trespia” and their planet “Algeador” of a hideous carnivore and known and unknown enemies

• Language: English
• Publisher: tomandliz
• Release date: Oct 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9780999414217

Book preview

The Liberation of Trespia

The Liberation of Trespia

Synopsis

A society besieged by an ancient beast needs heroes that will travel their planet in search of answers and allies. Old secrets and betrayals fostered alliances bent on the destruction of their species. Newly formed coalitions will clash with ancient enemies to create a new world order. Three brothers will stand tall with their countrymen and allies to liberate their own home Trespia and their planet Algador from a hideous carnivore and known and unknown adversaries.

Dedication

To Liz who takes my breath away, makes me smile, and loves my creative mind.

copyright

Copyright © 2017 by Earl Bowers

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing 2017

ISBN 978-0-9994142-0-0

Tomandliz Publishing

[e-mail]

CHAPTER ONE: The Dreamer

The race was on, his Zandusk, a gentle horse-like creature, was in full stride now. Kristor came around the curve in a fluid motion. He was one with his ride, moving in complete unison. Martei and Horvi, his brothers, were dead ahead and they were impeding his triumph. He did not have to usher his customary eilgmor reisch. His Zandusk sensed this call of on to victory and increased its speed. He was now even with his brothers.

He looked to his right and saw Martei. His eldest brother had no evidence of ever being in a hurry as he rode; he coolly guided his Zandusk to increase its stride. As he looked admiringly at his brother, Kristor’s mind wandered to the events of the last week.

Martei had given him detailed instructions on what to do if he encountered the Lucor (a carnivorous beast that besieged their compound). Martei wasted no details in terrifying the young lad with gore filled tales of how the creature could turn invisible and had caused the near annihilation of their race. Kristor had been mesmerized as Martei talked with an intensity that he had never seen in his brother. He determined that he would follow his brother’s specific instructions if he ever encountered a Lucor. In fact, he rehearsed the steps until he memorized every combat move.

The actual day of the hunt came far too slowly for Kristor. His compound, Trespia, was isolated from the other compounds of their planet, Algador due to the inaccessibility caused by the Lucor. Ancient supply and trade routes had dried up because no one could safely travel between compounds. The hunts were the only means of providing food for the Trespians. The compound's residents desperately needed supplies and meat.

Each light time (start of a new day) Kristor waited outside the Chief of Chambers’ door, Cletuz, for the Chamber Guards to assess if it was safe to hunt. The Chamber Guards would survey the woods from the top of the wall, and if there were three consecutive all clear reports; Cletuz then directed all Trespians to assemble and the chambers heralds issued an announcement, 

"By issue of the Chambers, be it known to all those of Trespia, that the time of the hunt shall be five hundred and fifty-seven Zorbets from the settlement (the date when they established their compound).

Kristor could hardly sleep that dark time. When the twin suns rose, it would be time for the hunt. He was so excited, he was sixteen Zorbets, and he was now of the age to know, and this would be his first hunt. Finally, he fell asleep in exhaustion and awoke to the gentle warmth of the suns. He rose quickly and bounded into the space of nourishment.

Horvi was the first to bring the youth to reality. As he rushed by Horvi grabbed him,

Slow down young one there is much to experience, but many dangers abound. You must keep your head, or you will lose it.

Kristor ignored his brother and sat for first nourishment. He ate slowly and watched his brothers as they ate in silence. The usual table banter was absent. His excitement was in direct contrast to their apprehension. He could not understand the disparity of emotions. Suddenly it became clear to him why they were so silent; the Lucor must be more deadly and horrible than the imagery caused by their words. Now it was his emotions in turmoil, he continued to have an overwhelming excitement, but it now mingled with a new-found fear.

Martei and Horvi went into the space of hospitality (where they welcomed guests) and started to argue. Martei and Horvi's discussion intensified and Kristor's anxiety increased. He knew better than to disrespect them by interrupting. Why wouldn't they retreat to reflect?  Why did they keep arguing? Kristor strained to hear the content of their conversation that by now was reaching an unpleasant crescendo. Their words were unintelligible and soon escalated to the use of the ancient tongue. Kristor trembled with fear because he knew that the usage of the old language meant the exchange of vows. He seldom heard anyone use the ancient language and never his brothers. He found himself shaking as he pondered their interactions.

Suddenly, Horvi ran from the space of hospitality with Martei in pursuit. Horvi screamed:

He is too young. It is too dangerous.

Martei gathered himself and responded:

He is of the age to know; we cannot keep him from going.

Horvi emphatically stated,

Then my vow remains, losing our parents to the Lucor was enough, I will not lose a brother.

Martei forcefully grabbed Horvi by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. Martei towered over his younger brother. His eyes were as red as the Algadorian suns. When Martei got this angry, it was futile to oppose him.

What do you mean by that? replied Martei.

I will stick closer to him than an Elgorkan Nosset. No harm will come to the young one while I am on guard.

Martei understood the analogy. Elgorkan Nossets were fiercely loyal creatures that compensated for their lack of smell via a symbiotic relationship with Regellian Tresurs who has a keen sense of smell but has very limited peripheral vision. In short, Horvi promised that he and Kristor would be stronger together.

Martei’s facial expressions lightened, and he replied:

And, nothing will happen to you too brother, we will all come through this hunt unscathed.

Kristor took all this in and determined to be aggressive and swift in fulfilling his part of the hunt. He would gather as none had before and then brag with the best at Markung, the end of hunt celebration. Kristor felt a fierce determination mingled with apprehension about a possible Lucor encounter.

They all sat in silence until Martei offered a toast.

We are Martei, Horvi and Kristor part of The Knights of Valor, we will stick together, protect each other, and one day rid our compound of the dreaded Lucor."

Kristor liked the allegory. The Trespians respected oral traditions and deeply revered picture drawers who told stories that captured the audience’s imaginations. These stories were called verbal pictures because of the imagery they evoked. One day a picture drawer had entered the compound. Since visitors were rare, there was as always, a Facoon, a celebration of hospitality and friendship. All regular schedules were interrupted, and every Trespian gathered at the Chambers. There was an official decree of welcome and then horns sounded, and then a pre-selected chosen citizen proclaimed: 

Let the celebration of friendship begin.

The party went on for two dark times (nights). The chosen citizen served as the Master of Ceremonies and was accorded great honor. Kristor was delighted when they chose Leekai one of his family’s best friends. Leekai served with honor and distinction. Kristor secretly desired one day to lead so wisely.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the time of storytelling when the storyteller became a ‘true friend of Trespia.' A good picture drawer was a rare find. The whole compound welcomed his stories from the outside world.

The crowd gathered until all Trespians sat to listen. Kristor and his best friend, Rastner, huddled together on the fringes of the crowd. They were both too young to be of ‘the age to know' and were not allowed up close. The vast crowd intently listened as Leekai introduced the speaker as Clorxus of Melmon.

Clorxus stood to speak, and the crowd was in complete awe. Melmon was a compound at the farthest known region of Algador. After this was by legend a place called the Wreuy Felous. The crowd was amazed that he knew of the empty nothingness; and marveled at how one so old and slow could have traveled so far.

Clorxus talked late into the dark time. He revealed many things that were contrary to what was taught at the age to know. He spoke of peoples they had never heard of, beauties they had never seen, and stories they could have never conceptualized. He was so eloquent and wise that all hearers sought to capture the imagery of every word.

One story that entranced all the young male Trespians was that of a faraway place beyond the stars that had a place of knights, lords, earls, princes, princesses and a curious creature called a dragon. Clorxus detailed the bravery of knights in ardent battles with the dragons. His discourse struck a heart chord with the youth for they saw their perils with the Lucor in Clorxus’ tales.

As soon as the light time full broke, five of Trespia’s finest youth decided that it was a question of valor to face the Lucor. Before the leadership found out, the young ones had evaded the gate guards and had lost their lives. There was an uproar in the compound. Most of the grieving parents demanded the head of Clorxus for encouraging the rebellious behavior. All manner of traditional hospitality capitulated. Clorxus was the first picture drawer ever to be forced from the compound.

The leadership could cast Clorxus out, but his stories remained firmly embedded in the people’s minds. The Chambers debated for multiple sessions about the validity of his claims. The old Trespians held that he was to be dismissed entirely as a heretic. The Young ruled that he was a pioneer of revealed truth, his stories were cohesive, and the Council should examine Clorxus’ claims further. The senior leadership had more of a power base. It was easiest to devalue the impact of Clorxus by emphasizing his heresy. The old guard had won the political battle, but to the youth, Clorxus enflamed the hope that the Lucor was vulnerable if they could find its weakness. The young people of the compound formed the Knights of Valor.

His daydreaming now complete, Kristor turned his attention back to the race. Kristor could see the finish line, he dug his heels into the Zandusk and leaned forward holding on to dear life. Martei was now to the right slightly ahead, Horvi was to the left and was falling behind. Horvi called after him:

We are spent young one teach the old one a lesson.

With that, Horvi pulled his Zandusk to a slow pace.

Martei looked at Kristor with a look of disdain and yelled over his shoulder:

Eilgmor reisch. Victory will be ours; you are doomed to lose young one.

Kristor replied,

Not this time, youth will prevail.

Kristor talked sweetly to his Zandusk and pulled dead even. The finish line was six lengths ahead.

Kristor yelled,

Go, Priskoy Go!

His ‘swift one’ loved to be called by that affectionate name and surged ahead. Priskoy moved as never before and the six lengths passed in an instant, he took the lead, and quickly crossed the finish line. He had done it, finally after years of trying and taunting; he had beaten his brothers.

He dismounted from his beloved beast. Martei approached looking quite angry, and Kristor braced himself. Martei walked right up to his brother and looked him square in the eyes. He looked quite angry, but a flicker of emotion betrayed him. He embraced Kristor and told him:

I am proud of you; now you are mature.

The races were designed to teach and practice basic combat skills and fight boredom in the compound. The final Trespian measure of manhood was to win a race. Kristor finally would be recognized as a man.

Horvi arrived and joined Martei in the ceremonial showing of respect. They knelt before him and said the words he had waited a whole lifetime to hear Eilgmor Reisch (To the Victor) chanted in response to his accomplishments. He glowed in the respect that he had now earned. He wanted the moment never to end.

How about a kiss for the champion?

The words startled Kristor, he responded:

Why would I want a kiss from you ugly Zandusk look-alikes?

Horvi said,

Not us, her.

Kristor looked, and she was striding confidentially towards him dressed in spectacular ancient garments. She wore a full-length wrap-around dress, made of the finest Gresher, which glimmered from the Sea of Covata shells crushed into its lining. She looked like a goddess. Kristor had dreamed of her many times. Each time she had been at a distance always lovely but never approachable. He had tried in his dreams to chase after her, but some force kept him from getting near to her. He fought like crazy but, could not reach her. Finally, he would collapse in exhaustion and disgust. She would motion for him to follow then and when she knew he could not, she would blow him a kiss and disappear.

Kristor trembled with excitement. She did exist, and it was not just a dream. She was there in the flesh, and she was going to kiss him. He leaned forward, slowly parted his lips and met hers. They were the wettest lips he could have ever imagined. He looked into her green eyes, he took in her feminine aroma and touched her beautiful red hair. He touched her arm and trembled with excitement. He leaned to kiss her again and said:

One more.

He kissed her lips again. They were even moister than the last kiss. He savored every portion of the experience. The moistness seemed to increase. He felt wet on his lips, chin, neck and now his chest. What was happening? No woman’s lips were this moist. He was now soaked and came to full awareness. He opened his eyes to ask what was going on just in time to see a bucket of water coming his way.

Hit him again screamed Horvi.

Because if he kisses me again. I’m going to punch him! 

Before he could speak, Martei had doused him one more time. Kristor woke up yelling at them,

What are you doing? Are you insane?

Martei laughed and quipped,

Perhaps he wants another one?  Here, I am. Kiss me dreamer boy.

Kristor sat there confused as his brothers howled with laughter. He had been dreaming about the race. Or had he