Terradom: (The Watcher’s Prophecy)

By Brian Good

All that was once beautiful is now blackened by fire. Everyone lost everything. Those that died were the lucky ones. The survivors had starvation and oppression to look forward to.

Wicked men rose up from the ashes to take advantage of the lost—raping, pillaging, and murdering any poor soul that crossed their path.

It seemed that all hope was lost along with everything else, but the people were left with a prophecy. A boy and a girl will be born with gifts that will help them grow into strong leaders. They will become protectors who will crush all who threaten the people.

After the firestorm, Jonahs’s family searched for their friends—four families that had grown close to them when Jonahs was young. The five families included the family of Ariannis, Jonahs’s soul mate. Jonahs led the families to a safe, hidden place. It is believed that Jonahs and Ariannis are the children from the prophecy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532077753

Brian Good

Being an Electrical Engineer by profession, makes this project a far stretch from my norm. I’ve have always enjoyed reading and watching Fantasies. One day I wondered if I could write one of my own. Two years later I have a story. This is the first chapter of that story.

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Copyright © 2019 Brian Good.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, places, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-7774-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-7775-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019908949

iUniverse rev. date: 07/18/2019

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Watcher’s Prophecy

Chapter 2 The Birth of the Falcon Lords

Chapter 3 The Five Families

Chapter 4 Pulled Apart

Chapter 5 The Bear Slayer

Chapter 6 Lost Love

Chapter 7 The Compound

Chapter 8 The Outlaws

Chapter 9 Return to The Plains

Chapter 10 The Bulan Tamaru

Chapter 11 A Safe Place

Chapter 12 The Reunion

Chapter 13 The Marauder King

Chapter 14 Escaping Peril

Chapter 15 The Deception

Chapter 16 The Stand

Chapter 17 Victory

Chapter 18 Once and for All

INTRODUCTION

There is a world that is nearly entirely covered by a body of water called Calypso. This world is warmed by day under the brilliant life giving light of Solaris and cooled by night under the seductive light of Lunas. A land rises out of the salty waters with peaks reaching thousands of feet into the air as if they’re trying desperately to touch something that cannot be reached.

This land resists the advances of turbulent waters of Calypso with high walls that rise up high on all sides, except on its south side. Here long ago violent events tore apart mountains and ground stones into sand and soil.

On the south, the land now has a low lying shoreline that stretches from east to west further than the eye can see. To the north the land slopes slightly upward to sheer cliffs that reach thousands of feet into the sky. Falling from the cliffs are hundreds of waterfalls that create several rivers and streams that eventually flow back to Calypso.

These rugged low lands offer a diverse landscape of great beauty and danger for the abundant life that shares them. The people who make this land their home call it Terradom…

CHAPTER 1

The Watcher’s Prophecy

In the beginning Terradom was hard and cold. No life could survive in her harsh, desolate landscape, until after the coming of the Bulan Tamaru. The Bulan Tamaru passed by Terradom long ago bringing violent tribulation in its wake, leaving Terradom broken; softened, which in turn allowed a vast abundance of life to flourish in her new environment.

Of all the life that took hold on Terradom, man was the most clever and creative, and was therefore bestowed with the gift of magic by Tama Uma, the father of all. The magic made it possible for man to commune with the other life on Terradom. Those that were given the gifts were called according to the beasts they could commune with: horse friends, wolf friends, falcon friends and so on with nine beasts in all.

The abilities of the gifted ones also enabled them to learn how to communicate with Tama Uma. Tama Uma would advise them on how to live in the way of peace and harmony. The gifted ones were continually watching for signs from nature and messages from Tama Uma, and came to be called the ‘Watchers’ by the other people.

In those days it was foretold to the Watchers, by Tama Uma, that a day would come when the Bulan Tamaru would return, and again bring violence and devastation upon Terradom and all that drew life from her bosom. The people called this ‘The Watcher’s Prophecy’.

"There will come a day when discontent will enter the hearts of men and give birth to envy, and envy to lust, and lust to greed. The hearts of men will be twisted and hardened. The Strong will prey on the weak and take what they want from those who are unable to resist them. They will reject the voice of reason and peace, and will seek to destroy all those that try to guide them to such things. The people will be divided and scattered to the four winds and life for the people will be hard and filled with struggle and fear. There will be many orphans and widows as the stronger nations enslave the weaker. Their conquest to rule all of Terradom will leave the land scarred by war and murder, and the people will despair because peace and hope will have left Terradom.

But, as it was in the first days it shall be again. There will be a cleansing by fire. Just as the hardness of Terradom was torn down by the Bulan Tamaru, to reveal her true strength and beauty, so will it be for man. Calamity and destruction will once again come to Terradom and many things will perish in the fires, and in the long winter that follows, the Gara Ziema, but hope will not be lost.

A thing that hasn’t happened for several generations will occur. Two will be born a male and female, they will be given the gifts of the old magic and will make a mark in Terradom that will be remembered by all, but they will remain hidden in a dark place until the Gara Ziema begins to subside. They will emerge from the hidden place, as a pair of lions, who will tear their enemies’ to pieces with their sharp claws, and crush their bones in their powerful Jaws, and hope will ride on their tails. They will have the ability to commune with the falcons, which will extend their vision and knowledge, and they will be called The Falcon Lords. They will restore peace and harmony to Terradom. All who bend their knee to them will prosper and heal, while all that defy them will perish.

Their Blood will flow in Terradom for generations and will one day reunite all the people under their rule. No man will be able to stand against the chosen ones. But be warned if the hearts of men do not open to them, if no man stands with them to fight for the old ways. The two lions shall cleanse Terradom and start all anew."

In the time before the prophecy all of the people of Terradom lived together in peace and harmony in one place. The place they chose to live, because of its great beauty, abundant resources and well protected shoreline lay in the southeastern half of Terradom. The people call it Palidom.

Palidom is the largest stretch of land east of the river Tears and west of the cliffs of the high plateau. The Tears is the largest river in Terradom. It is formed by the hundreds of waterfalls that pour out of Terra’s reach down the face of the weeping cliffs.

Palidom is covered by pristine white sand and spotted with hundreds of oases ranging in size from as small as a patch of grass that comes and goes with the shifting dunes, to so large that they can support cities that provide homes for thousands of people.

Palidom is surrounded by water with the river Tears and Terra’s Marsh on the west, the Bitter Bay on the south, the King’s Pool and the King’s River on the north. On the east the land butts up against the cliffs of the High Plateau that rise a five hundred feet above the dunes of Palidom.

Terra’s Marsh is a wet land that is created at the west end of the King’s Forest where the King’s river mingles with the river Tears. Here the rivers go shallow and spread across an area of five hundred leagues to the west of the King’s Forest and another five hundred leagues south to north. The King’s Forest stretches five hundred leagues from the marsh to the King’s Pool and another three hundred leagues south to north. The King’s Pool is a large lake that covers over five hundred leagues from the King’s Forest to the cliffs of the High Plateau and is over two hundred leagues across north to south. The Bitter Bay is formed by a submerged mountain range that lays nearly five hundred leagues off the shoreline and stretches the full length of Palidom. Only the jagged peaks show above the waters of the bay and they make a very effective protective barrier against the ravaging waters of Calypso. The water of the bay is a mix of the salty waters of Calypso and the fresh water from the many rivers and stream that run across Terradom. All of this makes Palidom a place with an abundance of resources to support tens of thousands of people.

As populations grew in Palidom some men distinguished themselves with acts of courage and great success in their endeavors and became just as respected as the Watchers, and since the Watchers would never take positions of leadership, these successful men accepted the role. As more time passed the descendants of the new class of successful men took up the mantle of leadership, but these generations of leaders did not have the same integrity as their forefathers.

There will come a day when discontent will enter the hearts of men and give birth to envy, and envy to lust, and lust to greed. The hearts of men will be twisted and hardened.

These new leaders were very good at coming across as friends of the Watchers while undermining the respect the people held for them. Their true goal was to bring the ruin of the Watchers so that they could rule as they desired without the Watchers interference. In the end the destruction of the Watchers was the chosen course of action.

The men seeking to destroy the Watchers had made one mistake; they had underestimated the power of the old magic, the Watchers had learned of the plots against them and when the wicked men made their move against the Watchers they found that they had all fled to the north into the King’s Forest. The Watcher’s had very powerful friends in the King’s Forest. It was the falcon’s showed them a hidden path that would take them across the King’s Gorge into the wilderness of the north, and the beasts of the forest guarded the way so that no others could follow. This hidden path is the only way across the gorge and the King’s River. The only other ways into the north are through Terra’s Marsh, or across the King’s Pool. The men that were sent after the Watcher’s never found them, and never returned.

They will reject the voice of reason and peace, and will seek to destroy all those that speak of such things.

It did not take long for the people to learn about what really happened, and many of those that still respected the Watchers were upset that they were chased away, but were too afraid of the men behind it to do anything about it. Some considered trying to follow the Watchers but the fear of the King’s Forest and the unknown lands of the north kept them from it. However, as the greed of the new leaders brought oppression and persecution upon the people. More and more of their livelihood was taken and soon the fear of being taken into slavery, because they couldn’t pay the taxes, exceeded the fear of the unknown. And many began to search for roads into the north as the Watchers did.

In the beginning of this exodus the oppressive leaders had no real concern, they would simply raise the taxes of those that remained, but as more and more people left the leaders began to target those that in the beginning supported them. It wasn’t long before large groups of people with common interests began leaving in mass. The leaders tried to stop them but the people fought them off. The new leaders of Palidom were not prepared for such resistance and the people were able to escape with minor casualties.

The different peoples that left all went in separate direction, north, east, and west, forming seven new nations, making nine in total including those that stayed in Palidom and the Watchers. The seven new nations are the Platidians settled the high plateau directly east of Palidom. They call this land Platidom. The Feredians settled the low plateau north of Platidom on the other side of the Fallen King Spur. They call their land Feredom. The Kastidians settled the dark plateau, east of Platidom and Feredom. They call that land Kastidom. The Lahtadians settled the lands directly west of Palidom that is mostly consumed by a large Bay. This place is called Lahtadom. The Kivinidians settled directly north of Lahtadom. These people name the land Kivinidom. The Korbadians settled the great desert that covers the western half of Terradom, it is known as Korbadom. The last nation is Verdadom settled by some of the first that left following the Watchers. They are called the Verdadians by the other nations but don’t really consider themselves as a nation just independent people living their lives as the old ways prescribed.

The people will be divided and scattered to the four winds

Of the nine nations of Terradom five are ruled by a King, Palidom, Platidom, Feredom, Lahtadom and Kivinidom. Of these five nations only in Feredom was the King chosen by the people. In the other four of these nations the King took the thrown by being the wealthiest and strongest.

In Kastidom and Korbadom the people are organized into tribes with each tribe having its own chief as a leader. In Verdadom there is no organized government at all. Many of the people are loaners making a living off the land. Some have organized into small villages and towns and elect their own governors.

Little is known of the Watchers but those that believe they still live suspect that they have settled high in the mountains to the north, looking down over all of Terradom. A place the people call Terra’s Reach, from where they are watching for the birth of the chosen ones, and waiting for the fulfillment of the prophecy and the time when they can return to the low lands…

CHAPTER 2

The Birth of the Falcon Lords

Cut into the face of the cliffs high above the lowlands of Terradom is a temple. On either side of the temple water flows over the edge of the cliff splashing off the rocky face, hiding everything in mist. These waterfalls are two of hundreds giving the cliffs their name ‘The Weeping Cliffs’ the falling waters are called Terra’s Tears.

The temple in the cliff face has a door about thirty feet down from the top of the cliff, from the door of this temple are a half a dozen steps cut out of the cliff that descend down to a narrow ledge that protrudes straight out from the Cliffs face. Out on the end of this ledge a man is sitting precariously with his legs crossed underneath him, his elbows resting on his knees, his long white hair and beard blowing wildly in the wind and his hands held up open to the sky in meditation. On the lowest step where the narrow ledge begins, I stand watching as my father seeks guidance from Tama Uma regarding the prophecy.

The Watchers have been doing this for several generations. My Father, Anárion, is one in a long line of high priests that have been chosen to focus their lives on watching for the signs. My name is Liam, and like my father, I have been chosen for a task of the prophecy, I am a Guardian.

The task of the Guardian is to find and protect the chosen ones, without interfering in their lives, until they reach an age where they can defend themselves. I, as was my father, was chosen as a young boy for this task and have been training every day since. I learned how to track, how to survive off the land, how to fight with any weapon or without any weapon, all so that I can protect a couple of children.

Standing behind me, in the doorway of the temple, is Francis. Francis is a young man that has volunteered to serve the high priest for life. Inside the temple another young boy waits, Corbin is his name, and he is the one my father has chosen as his apprentice to continue on as the high priest after his passing.

Normally father would do his meditating in the pavilion at the top of the cliff, which is part of the temple and up three flights of winding steps from where we are now. The pavilion is an ornately carved octagonal structure with a stone roof held up by nine stone pillars representing the nine nations of Terradom, eight supporting each of the eight corners and a center support column that also supports the winding stair case that spirals down through all floors of the temple. Each of the nine pillars is carved with a figure of a man and woman on one side and the figure of an animal familiar on the other; a Lion, a horse, a bison and representing the beasts of the field; a bear, a wolf and a panther representing the beast of the forest; an eagle, a falcon and on the center column an owl representing the beasts of the air.

Father only goes out onto the ledge when he has received some important sign that requires more clarity. The rest of us have been watching and waiting from the moment he went out there. After several hours he broke his frozen state of meditation and began to move. He looked up into the sky, and then gazed out over the lowlands for several minutes before he rose to his feet and walked back to the temple. He paused momentarily when he reached me, but his face indicated nothing, and he continued up to the temple, I followed. Francis rushed in ahead of us and he and Corbin were already setting four places at the table when we reached the dining area.

Father took a seat at the head of the table and I sat across from him, Francis brought in a tray of food and set it in the middle of the table. Corbin handed father a tall mug of a hot broth. No one spoke and neither Francis nor Corbin took their seats until father gestured for them to be seated. We all started to eat in silence waiting for father to tell us what he had been shown, the moment he spoke the meal was ended.

The Bulan Tamaru is returning and it will bring much destruction and despair, he said.

I had been calm and serious up to this point. But at these words I sprung to my feet breaking my composure because I knew what this meant.

When father, when is it coming?

I will see it with my own eyes Guardian.

I could tell he was not pleased with my loss of composure, but then I saw a glint in his eye which confirmed what I was hoping. Francis and Corbin sat quietly as I impatiently probed for what he saw.

Then the chosen ones have been born?

The vision I was given suggests that only the male child has been born.

What of the female child?

He ignored my question and began recalling what he was shown.

I saw fire falling from the skies and there was no place in Terradom to escape from it. After the fire I saw men begin to rise up out of the ash and smoke bringing terror and despair. The good people that survived the fire storm were trying to flee from them but there was no place they could go to escape their oppressors.

This was exactly the scene I imagined when the Bulan Tamaru returned, fire, destruction and death amongst all living things. I felt a tinge of fear because father said that no place in Terradom would escape it. That meant that some people among the Watchers were going to perish in the storm as well. I was momentarily lost in my thoughts of what I could do to protect our people but was brought back by my father clearing his throat. I snapped out of my daze realizing that I was chosen to be guardian of the chosen ones not guardian of my people. When father saw that he once again had my full attention he continued.

Then I had two visions of the same young man. In both he was a fierce lion. In the first he was surrounded by light and many strong men rallied behind him and the men that oppressed the people ran from him in fear but could not escape his wrath. In the second vision men ran from the lion just as in the first, but in this vision he was alone and darkness followed him. In neither vision did I see a woman.

What does this mean Master asked young Corbin.

I’m not sure of its full meaning Corbin. The absence of the chosen female child could merely indicate that she has not yet been born yet, or it could mean that something has happened that has changed the prophecy. But the two visions of the young man make it clear that there are two possible paths that the chosen one will take one of light, or one of darkness.

Everyone at the table looked confused by my father’s words, including me so he continued to explain.

The path of light is the one we have all been placing our hope upon, that the chosen one will lead the people against the hate and evil in Terradom and restore the peace and harmony we once had. But the prophecy has always indicated that there could be another outcome, the dark path where the chosen one will destroy all that now exists cleansing Terradom so that all can start anew.

At this revelation the mood around the table changed from that of hopeful anticipation to doubt and confusion. Father remained quiet for a moment but when he saw how all our faces had change. He spoke to me directly.

Unfortunately Liam, this means that your task has just become even more important and more difficult. You must make sure that the chosen one takes the path of light. If you fail I am not sure that we, even being up here in Terra’s Reach, will be safe from him.

I understand Master and I am ready, where will I find the child?

You will find him near the village called Green Corner, in the north west of Verdadom, where the great river Tears turns to the south.

I stood up and left the others still sitting at the table and went to my chambers to pack up some supplies, an hour later I was back at the center of the temple ready to take the spiral stairs down to the lowlands, ready to begin my quest. Father was waiting for me there with a look of concern on his face.

I am ready for this father.

Liam, you are the strongest and most disciplined Guardian ever trained but you have not been trained to for the decisions you have to make. The only advice I can give you is to trust your heart my son.

Thank you father

I trust your judgment Liam, and I wish you success on your quest.

I will not disappoint you father.

Anárion simply smiled and turned away as I started down the spiral stair that would take me down to the lowlands. I went down through three more stories of the temple before I found myself in a tunnel. From here it will take me a few days to travel nearly a mile down through a dark labyrinth of tunnels and caverns that will eventually take me out to the very center of Verdadom.

The first day of travel was treacherous, working my way through the dark, damp of the tunnel. Often it would open up into an enormous cavern where the path would narrow and become very steep. Running along the curve of the cavern wall, or a narrow bridge crossing the deep caverns, where a single misstep was a fall into a bottomless darkness.

Along the steepest paths ropes were attached to the walls to provide some security to those traveling here, but they were nearly a hundred years old, so I didn’t trust their integrity to hold me if I slipped, so I traveled very carefully, and slowly. It took me two days to get to where the paths widened and their slope lessened. Some of these tunnels and paths were natural while others were cut out of the stone a century ago by my people looking for a safe place from which to watch and wait for the time when we could safely return to the lowlands.

At the end of the third day I had reached an area where temporary dwellings were cut into the walls of the tunnel. These were where the stone cutters would stay at the end of their work day to remain close to their work. I stepped inside several of these dwellings and found words carved in the walls. The men working here had written their hopes and fears, poems to their families and plans for their work, on the walls. I spent the night in this area, and read many of the messages left on the walls as I thought about how long I could stay in the darkness before I lost track of day and night.

Half way into the next day of travel, I reached an amazing sight, a city built in a gigantic cavern. It was empty now but the beauty of the structures that housed thousands of my people for decades were still fully intact. The fields of eatable fungus and plants, that have no need of the light of Solaris, were a bit out of control, but still viable.

The reservoirs and wells that provided water for the city were still functional. Even though it has been empty for nearly a century it was clean and structurally sound. Curiosity overcame me so I stayed in the city the rest of that day and explored it from top to bottom. I made my midday and evening meals from things growing in the fields and fish I caught in the reservoirs. Even with many sources of water it was dry and fresh here in the city. There was always fresh air moving through from unseen vents.

On the west side of the city was a staircase carved into the wall that went up nearly to the ceiling of the cavern several hundred feet above the floor. At the top of these stairs was a temple very much like the one I came through to get to this place, in the temple I found a library, I decided to stay the night there. I found a nice solid wooden table in the top chamber to lie on, and was staring at the ceiling admiring the art work painted on it when it occurred to me that this place would be completely immune to the fire storm from the Bulan Tamaru.

The next day I continued my journey and reached the bottom of the cliffs and the way out of the caverns in a little over four hours. The entrance to the caverns was hidden by a narrow passage and the two waterfalls that flowed past the temple in Terra’s Reach combined into one large waterfall. When I came out from behind the waterfall it took several minutes for my eyes to adjust to the bright light of Solaris. I found a large rock several feet from the spray of the falling water and sat down while my eyes adjusted. A few minutes later I turned west towards Green Corner. The trek to Green Corner is over a thousand leagues and will take me three months…

Several months earlier near the village of Green Corner

It was a clear night, and Lunas, the largest source of light in the night sky, seemed much larger than usual, he cast a light that gave everything it touched an iridescent glow. There was a noticeable tension in the air that seemed to be affecting every living thing in Terradom, and the usual night sounds were silent.

Just to the east of Green Corner two men stood outside a small shelter. One man was older and was leaning against a tree, while the other younger man was pacing back and forth, often glancing up at the shelter. The older man, whose name is Jacob, watched the younger man, Gabriel, with a grin on his face.

Relax son women have been doing this since the beginning of time, and they are quite amazing. They have a strength men cannot match, besides your mother is the best healer in all of Terradom and there is no better midwife to be found anywhere.

In the shelter are two women, Rebecca the wife of Jacob and mother of Gabriel, and Leanne the wife of Gabriel. Leanne is in labor, and having a bit of trouble, and that is what is causing Gabriel’s worry. There was a moment when the tension of the night reached a climax and everything went absolutely quiet. Then the men heard two sounds almost simultaneously, the cry of a new born baby and the cry of a falcon. The next sound was Rebecca calling out, It’s a boy, a fine strong boy. Gabriel come, see your son.

Gabriel rushed into the shelter and straight to the side of Leanne who was already nursing the new born child. Gabriel kissed her and she pulled their son from her breast and handed him to Gabriel. As he held his son for the first time, he noticed two things, the child did not cry even when prematurely pulled from his mother’s breast and he looked Gabriel directly in the eye which he thought odd for a new born child.

We will name him Jonahs.

Jonahs is a fine name Gabriel a very good choice my husband.

He is a fine boy my son, a strong beautiful boy Rebecca added.

Then Jacob, who had entered the shelter quietly behind Gabriel and Rebecca, broke his silence.

He is indeed Rebecca, a very strong and beautiful boy. Son, let’s go back outside and allow your wife to nurse your son and rest

Both men went outside and walked away from the house a short distance Jacob didn’t speak at all while they walked, and he was still quiet for a moment after they stopped near the same tree they were under before. Gabriel was beginning to become concerned because he expected his father to be sharing all of his advice on raising a son.

Father is there something bothering you?

This day has reminded me of something, a story my father told me, and his father told him, the Watchers Prophecy. I’ve told you the story haven’t I?

The Watchers Prophecy, yes, I thought that was just an old tale?

Yes, a very old tale, it describes a night just like this, the closeness of Lunas, the unnatural quiet on the plains and the cry of a falcon at the very moment a child is born.

This causes you some concern father?

Not concern my son, curiosity.

What does the prophecy say that sparks this curiosity father?

The prophecy speaks of some great calamity that will bring great despair to the people of Terradom but especially Verdadom. Wicked men will arise in the aftermath and those that survive the calamity will be killed or enslaved by these men.

That sounds very concerning to me father.

Yes, but there is more, the Watcher’s Prophecy also says a boy will be born with special talents and there is a girl as well she will be born some years later and together they will bring peace and freedom to the people of Verdadom.

Are you suggesting that my son is a fulfillment of this prophecy?

No son, it is just that this night reminded me of the story.

What is this event and when will it take place Father?

It is the Bulan Tamaru, the Lunar Shadow, and it will take place after they have both come of age, according to the prophecy.

Jacob and Gabriel had their thoughts interrupted as Rebecca called to the evening meal…

Liam the Guardian

Since leaving my father in Terra’s Reach, I have spent the last five days working my way out of the darkness of the caverns, and now I find myself on the bright grass swept plains of Verdadom. I have spent all my life in the high altitudes of Terra’s Reach, and it is very beautiful in its own way. The light here on the plains casts many different colors, softer colors, and the air is much warmer. There is great beauty to the land as the breeze exposes the different colors of the grasses and the hidden flowers as they wave. There is majesty about the trees, with all their variety, as they reach high into the sky, and there are aromas in the air that I have never smelled before. Even the smell of the earth and water down here is much more invigorating a fragrance than anything in Terra’s Reach. I now understand the hope the elders have always had of one day returning to the low lands.

I first arrived at the village called Green