Reflexia in a Dragon Eye

By Raymond Duane

Oldest Known Creation Story
Which came first, good or evil, and which is the excuse for the other? Is it possible that without evil there would be no good? From one point of view, it was good that started the cosmic ruckus in the first place.

If the bringer of light doesn’t come forth, the dark remains forever and no one is the wiser.

But Goddess did arrive and Negater, the keeper of all that had been empty, didn’t like the intrusion.
Thus began the cosmic struggle to create our world: Goddess to make it happen. Negater to stop it.
The Quinine stories are from a translation of the ancient stone tablets discovered in 1955 in the remote mountains of Tierra del Fuego.

Chiseled in a script connected to all languages, the eight tablets tell a story in which a female deity battles an evil, invisible force for control of eternity. It's the oldest known creation story.

According to the earliest scribes, Goddess created the universe and all the creatures in it. If the old texts, numbers and symbols are to be believed, all we know comes from Goddess, and from the Hand, a living forest world.

The stories about Quinine's life on Parallax are based on ancient writings that few can translate, but modern scientific thought supports their truth.

According to a simple understanding of string theory and quantum gravity, the universe is divided into 11 dimensions. Countless tiny strings of universal membranes inhabit the 11 dimensions, floating and undulating in spacetime. When two of these membranes touch, the contact causes a cosmic blast that creates a universe.

It's not only likely, but entirely possible that long ago, a single spacetime string curled in on itself to complete a circle, and it was this celestial collision that created our Big Bang.

This is the Goddess Theory. – Raymond Duane

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raymond Duane
• Release date: Apr 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005221539

Raymond Duane

Born in antiquity, I was raised with Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott and Mark Twain. I'd spend Friday nights with my grandmother and she would read to me. With sound effects and excitement.All I've ever wanted to be is a writer and dreamed of being Ernest Hemingway. (I got the drinking part right.)I worked for the college paper; was founding editor of a weekly newspaper; and I did a lot of magazine work, including for adult entertainment.That experience formed the basis of Noodle Boy in Porn Valley, which is very blue and very "adults only."My fantasy books are for Jill, my wife, who loves dragon stories with strange creatures and magick. Sword and sorcery, with a blend of mystical philosophy about life and love. She and I wrote a dragon story titled Fort Jafra and we're working on a follow-up.She and I published Unfinished Faces, a book of my poetry and her art. I also have written a few cookbooks. My characters like to eat.These days, I'm in rural Central Valley, with Jill, three dogs and five kittens I found in a discarded box in the walnut grove.

Book preview

Reflexia in a Dragon Eye

A Quinine Adventure

Raymond Duane. Copyright©2022. All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

She claimed the Castle as …

The dingy threesome arriving from …

The Mistress was naked in …

Animals in Sacque's stables were …

Killing Diamantea was too thrilling …

In the male lounge, attendants …

They celebrated Airtha's victories in …

In the Book Room at …

The smell of animal urine …

The Gorge Wind stopped when …

He heard the clicks and …

The bright side was he …

He released the bloodied dragon …

By the time the sun …

Their destination didn't start out …

A big female, maybe lion …

When Draconta reached the tunnel …

Kitchen help removed the remnants …

How long were you captured? …

Phokte and Mitt returned by …

A moment before he released …

At Sacque's stable, Quinine charged …

Inside the cupper, the candle …

Quinine left MisCal on the …

Map …

She claimed the Castle as mystics had long ago predicted.

A few minor obstacles stood in her way.

In the Shadow Forest several days before, she learned from travelers that the mayor of Port Lair had puffed up his hubris and decided to move to the Castle.

After the death of the previous occupant, the Castle had stood abandoned for many years on a wide stretch of beach at the southern tip of the Little Finger.

A noon sun warmed the assembly gathered at the Castle's beach pavilion to discuss the situation. Waves from the South Ocean crashed and put mist redolent with sea life into the air. A breeze brought the damp smell to the patio as cawing seagulls circled overhead.

Another female's voice sounded above the crowd.

He's a male.

The speaker was Arragate, from a family of androgynous blends. Beautiful, brawny and tanned, the brash female radiated threat.

She stepped forward on leather boots that rose thigh high on top of tight jean pants. Bare skin from the waist up, taut stomach jeweled at the button. There shouldn't be a male at the Castle. More than that, he's not a Speller.

Things change, said Mayor Taji.

Yes they do, the challenger agreed.

She frightened Taji, but he stood his ground. No match for Arragate physically. Taji's soul essence was part flower. Pinkish white complexion colored a skinny body. His head looked like a blossom trimmed into facial features and ears. Wearing a bright yellow bathing suit and a short green robe, his clothing and manner suggested a quiet calm. His eyes belied that, and shined with apprehension.

It's time for new leadership. The Little Finger needs a resident at the Castle to unite and inspire the forces against the Positives.

So you think you're inspiring, do you? Arragate's eyes of fiery emerald, with white wispy pupils, surveyed the tittering crowd of would-be worshippers. Listen to me. A politico and bureaucrat is fine as mayor, but the Castle demands a powerful female.

You, I suppose? Taji tried for arrogance. A little came through.

He did have a certain defense. Being of Negative lineage and part oleander, his body flowed with deadly toxin. He used it to poison enemies. He had no idea how to use it against Arragate. He couldn't match her muscle, and the official Mayor's Guard was circling, ready to betray him. Arragate stood as the fickle crowd's new favorite.

Viscera was the preeminent Negative Speller. Her death was a terrible blow against Negater. Don't let this pretender go unchallenged. It's an ignoble misfortune for the Castle to suffer a male with no magick.

Arragate gazed with mean intent at Taji. From her right eye socket came a large boa constrictor, its girth the same bright green and white as her eyes. The snake grew larger as its head hit the stone patio. It slithered into the crowd and engulfed a Pupa in one gulp.

Pupas, literally, heart on a string were a blend of dwarf willow, little hairless toadies found in most every city, usually on the Negative side of town. Servants to their superiors, whoever it might be, and often fanatically so. Some magick aside from traveling spells, their power was to do as they were told. With a natural inclination for domestic duties, they were also capable guards, savage and skilled with knives.

The audience laughed. Some had to jump away to keep from being crushed by the giant snake. The Pupa being swallowed to death was fantastic. The impression of the little thing struggling inside the snake, kicking and punching, muffled screams, delighted the crowd.

Looks like he's trying for his knife, said a fan up front near the action.

Dead in five minutes, sounded a declaration.

Three minutes, tops, came the argument.

I'll take that bet.

The gambling was on. More vinum and stout. Killing Pupas was a favorite party game.

Arragate snapped her fingers. The snake disappeared digesting the Pupa.

I love snakes, don't you? All bets are off, except I wager the mayor won't eat the fruit.

The crowd cheered approval for the female they assumed would replace Viscera.

For all his smooth talk and being smarter than most of the residents of Port Lair, Mayor Taji should have known better than to buck Viscera's memory.

Arragate's blazing green eyes focused on Taji. She pointed at him. Eat from Viscera's Tree. Follow the ritual.

The crowd murmured its approval.

Viscera's Tree, the only Negative tree. The only tree seeded without Goddess' essence. A magnificent wonder of mutated nature ugly and twisted. A deviant version of the Goddess Tree, which Viscera had destroyed many years ago in a remarkable feat of magick strength, as if the Red Witch knew her Negative destiny when she planted her own tree.

Mystics foretold that one day a Speller would eat the fruit of the Tree and become her true Negative self. She would then be the rightful successor.

Believers called the fruit Viscera's Heart. Inspiration for the name is obvious, but something more. The fruit ripened yellow and red in the shape of a heart. Not an actual heart. The romantic version, the stem in the valley between round edges that curved down to a point.

Negative Spellers arrived on pilgrimages to bite the fruit. Died the instant the fruit's tart blood touched their lips. Never got a chance to finish the bite. The deaths didn't stop others from trying.

Positives arrived, too, although, not too many of those pilgrims got through the Shadow Forest. If they did reach the Castle, Pupas killed most of them. Others died when they foolishly bit the fruit.

The V Tree connected through the Creation Continuum to the mass frenzy of the Neg-Pos War. Goddess, saddened by the blood and killing, touched the whole of Her first world with Her spirit. The spirit was the Essentia. Magick was the name given to the ability to use the Essentia. It took a long time for it to become a common skill.

It was a mistake to give the world access to the Essentia, Goddess admitted. A desperate act against a ruthless enemy. She regretted doing it. She had thought that only Positive hearts would acquire the touch. Instead, Her eternal enemy, Negater, manipulated magick in horrifying ways, giving the Negative side a powerful weapon.

Viscera's parents were the first Spellers. Her father, Coqua, being the Positive heart, was the first to feel the touch of the Essentia. Vortrag was the Negative who sensed that Goddess had unleashed a powerful weapon.

The two met in a spectacular magick battle, the first in the universe, which legend says ended in a stalemate. In truth, the Positive side lost because it didn't win, which set the stage for an eternal war against Negater.

The essence of Coqua, a water blend, had so intertwined with Vortrag during the magick confrontation in the Essentia that months later he sought out the radiant thistle blend at Port Lair. He was in love. She not so much. Vortrag, however, hatched a plan to steal Coqua's magick. She feigned affection, and manipulated him into subservience.

A daughter was born, Viscera. When she came of age, the couple's only offspring killed her mother and father. The younger ate their hearts in celebration.

Engorged with her ritual feasting, Viscera walked to the edge of the Shadow Forest at the southern beach. She dug a hole and deposited her personal nochnaya pochva, her night soil, to seed what would become Negater's mutation of the Goddess Tree. The roots kept Negative magick strong, or so the mystics said. No reason not to believe them.

Viscera enslaved thousands to build the Castle near where the Tree grew. Many workers died, often through exhaustion or being tortured for fun. She supervised the design of the pavilion and patio, making sure the Tree had a place of honor.

Sounding like a politico, Arragate pressed the point. Anyone who challenges for the Castle throne must bite Viscera's Heart.

Mayor Taji had thought he might be able to weasel out of that requirement. He did have a compelling way of telling lies and influencing minds, which had gotten him that far. At that moment, the situation was out of his control. He wanted to slink away. Impossible. The party started moving en masse to the Tree. Caught in its momentum, he couldn't get away.

Arragate pulled her blade with her right hand. She cut a stem and a piece of fruit dropped. She caught it with her left hand before it hit the ground. Held it out to Taji.

Here you are mayor.

Taji made no move to accept the offering.

A new voice broke into the conference.

I wouldn't do that, Mayor, said the destined female. You're not fated to control the Castle.

Arragate sneered. And you are?

That's why I'm here.

A tall blonde, yellow hair back in a ponytail under a wide-billed canvas hat. Judging by the dirty hiking boots, well-worn canvas pants, and a vest over a stained long-sleeved linen shirt, she'd been traveling in the forest for several days. Not bothering to bathe. Sweaty. Grime on her cheeks. A pungent female musk wafted from her, a heady scent that put male nostrils to work. They started drifting toward her.

Taji sensed that a new favorite had arrived. Attention concentrated on the two females. Eyes couldn’t look away. The mayor thought again that he might be able to sneak out. He started easing his way back toward an exit.

The two mesmerizing females circled each other like cautious beasts each looking for a meal.

There's no need to fight, said the blonde. Bite the fruit. You have it in your hand.

Take care of this for me. Arragate gave the fruit to a Pupa. As she released the fruit, and the Pupa accepted it, Arragate stepped closer to the newcomer. Her body tensed, muscles bulged. She held the blade in her right hand ready to use it.

The blonde sighed at Arragate's posture, like a parent when a child won't see reason. No need for this, a light voice.

I'm going to gut you.

Why not use magick? the blonde suggested. Come to think of it, magick won't help, either.

The blonde pulled up her shirt sleeves and presented her forearms for inspection. Not the size of Arragate's, but still impressive. No one, however, was comparing muscles. Something else caused the gasps and murmurs of fear.

Frightened and expecting death, most of the audience scattered for safety. Taji almost got away in the rush. One of his own guards, knowing the mayor's tenure was over, threw him to the ground at the females' feet.

Taji ended up kneeling before the blonde. He had a clear view of the letter G fire-scarred on the inside of each forearm.

You're a Magu, awestruck. His mind swirled. No doubt, the blonde's veins ran with Negative blood. He had thought the monks at the Mystic Temple didn't train Negative hearts. He never expected to see a Negative Speller with Goddess' magick mark.

The revelation put Arragate on her heels.

The blonde ignored Taji's simpering and Arragate's unsteady defiance. She sauntered to the Pupa holding the piece of fruit.

The blonde grabbed the fruit. She hefted it a few times, tossed it to Arragate. The female warrior caught the object. She hesitated to bite it, but she wanted to.

Arragate looked at the fruit, imagined it throbbing like a real heart.

Go ahead, the blonde said. You're a Speller. You might be the one.

Arragate smiled. She had long believed of her destiny to rule the Little Finger. She had trained for it, prepared herself for the moment. Now she held the fruit that would decide her fate.

Arragate brought the fruit to her mouth. Her teeth sunk into the flesh. Syrupy red juice spilled from the corners of her lips. She choked. Her eyes went wide as she comprehended her last thought, I'm not the one. She crumpled to the ground and soon was a pyre of death. She burned to ashes. The wind blew the pile away.

Weak. The blonde pulled another piece of fruit from the V Tree. She calmed herself, exhaled, and adjusted her stance. Like Arragate, she had long thought of herself as special, a Speller of incredible touch. She admitted to herself that she had no trust that the pains her soul suffered at the Mystic Temple would be enough to claim the power she sought. But that moment at Viscera's Tree was why she had endured the monks' painful tutelage. She intended to follow through.

She bit into Viscera's Heart.

A dazzling burst of light exploded, concealing the female and burning the eyes of some onlookers, who didn't see the female become her true Negative self.

From the light emerged Reflexia.

With a flourish of her right hand, the hapless Taji disappeared only to reappear inside the female's now reflective body, a walking mirror in human form. Inside was Taji, alive, in an opposite version of the Castle and of his life, as he had perceived it. He would live inside Reflexia's magick body, only guessing at the truth, until death relieved his madness.

Reflexia changed from the mirror form back to an arrogant blonde, this time dressed for the beach. After a wild celebration, she began her reign of terror, like the inhabitants of Port Lair preferred of their authoritarian leaders.

The dingy threesome arriving from the forest didn't fit the bill for the front entrance of Sacque's club. So like good regulars they went around to the back door.

You're going to get new clothes, Quinine, Airtha. You need them in the worst way.

The worst way?

The very worst. Adena pinched her nose.

Let's go by the stable, Quinine said. I want to visit Shield.