Truthbearer's Son: The Mapmaker Series from the Gewellyn Chronicles

By Hans Erdman

A Mother's dream, a hunter's misstep and Nathaniel "Natty" Clark ends up back at home... 33 years before he will be born. He can't go back, and he can't forget the future he has already lived. He can only go forward, but that means working for the woman he almost married then, doing the only thing a Naval Academy graduate can do, flying an airship across the Nine Worlds with the Mapmaker, Tessa Chart. But how does he prove to his sister, Queen Fiona, that he really is her brother? The answer may lie in the battered old book he carries in his pack, and the Bible that never leaves Fiona's side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hans Erdman
• Release date: Dec 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215696668

Hans Erdman

I began writing fantasy in 2016, after my wife, Ellen, was diagnosed with cancer. It really took off a year later when she was declared in full remission and was able to start helping me. When I was a park ranger and, before that, a paramedic, I used to write articles about my areas of expertise. Now, I am writing the tales that have played in my imagination for over 60 years. My stories are epic fantasy with a Biblical world-view, and we test everything by how our teenaged granddaughters would react to it. I hope you enjoy the adventures and will join us on the journeys with Connor, Iolena, Menta Kai, and Fiona!

Book preview

Truthbearer's Son

The Mapmaker Series from the Gewellyn Chronicles

Hans Erdman and Ellen Erdman

Published by White Owl Publishers, 2021.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

TRUTHBEARER'S SON

Second Edition: September 20, 2022

Copyright © 2021 Hans Erdman and Ellen Erdman.

Written by Hans Erdman and Ellen Erdman.

Elven, Irish, and Unique Words Used in the Storyline

Adar- Father (Formal)

Adara – Mother (Formal)

Adda – Dad/Daddy (Term of endearment)

Amil – Mom/Mama (Term of endearment)

An Bhanrion - The Queen (High Queen) of Eyru’s Lands

Ard Bhanrionsa - Heir to An Bhanrion

Arancrist – The King’s Great Sword of Truth (Connor’s

Sword)

H.A.G.S. – Heroes are Actually Girl Soldiers, Fiona, Menta Kai and Talia’s Warrior Sorority (for lack of a better term) identified by their forehead to heart Celtic scrollwork tattoos.

Melda – beloved

Melin er – dear one

Mellon - close friend

Nin Mel – my love

Skystormer – Ruling family of Drohana in Eldaria

Tar (name) – Queen (name)

Téigh le Dia – Go with God

Yalerius (Yaleria – feminine form) – Ruling clan of the

Aerielands

Wynfarin – Ruling family dynasty of Gewellyn

1

1: A Mother’s Dream

A

warm autumn breeze gently blew across the Truthbearer,

Connor Clark, and his Guardian and bride, Iolena Yaleria, as they lay by the fire onshore from their keelboat, Discovery II. Connor opened an eye and glanced over at his beautiful wife, who appeared to be studying the stars above.

What are you thinking about? he asked as he turned on his side and put his hand on hers that rested on her stomach.

She smiled. Us, our family, our children and theirs. She turned on her side to face Connor, moving his hand from her stomach to the curve of her hip. Connor, Nin Mel, do you ever think about having more children? I can, you know. Elven women can bear children when they are as old as five thousand, sometimes longer.

Connor furrowed his brow. What brought this on? I mean, you know we’re going to have at least one more, even if she is with us as an adult already; Fiona won’t be born for another hundred and forty years or so.

She gave him a slightly pouty look. I mean, would you want more children other than Fiona. She hasn’t even been born yet, and I feel robbed. I won’t even get to raise her because of whatever is going to happen after she and Abilynn are born. I don’t know. As you would say, never mind.

3

She started to lie back, but Connor held onto her hip. Iolena, I totally understand what you’re saying about Fi, but Mother Bridget and Mary did an excellent job raising her. However, I don’t think that’s all that’s driving this, is it my love?

Iolena closed her eyes for a few seconds, thinking before she spoke. Very shortly after I fell asleep tonight, I had a dream. Connor, I dreamt that we had a son. In my dream I got to raise him from a baby to a little boy to a young man, and then he vanished. Tears started down her face. I don’t know what it means, but I think we are going to have another child, but we’ll only have him for a time. I don’t want to lose any of my children, the girls, or the son.

Connor pulled her close and wrapped his arms around his wife. If the Lord wills that we have a son, we will have a son, and we will raise him and guide him in the way he should go. That’s what Scripture says we are to do as parents. Beyond that, it’s in God’s hands. He kissed her forehead and smiled. Tell me about him, the boy in your dream. What was he like?

He was a typical boy; he loved the Juncture and said he would live there for the rest of his life. He had your grey eyes, and as he got older he looked increasingly like you, Nin Mel, but, like Fiona, he is, or was, a half-elf, and he had ‘short tips’ like she does.

Connor raised his eyebrows. That’s pretty vivid for a dream.

Iolena nodded. I know. Perhaps that’s why it got me thinking about having more children. Would you like more, I mean other than Fiona and maybe this son?

I’m not against it, believe me. You know how much Fiona means to me and how close we are. But, he paused.

But, you’re concerned about the quest. Connor nodded. If I were to become with child, I’m sure Alenia would be willing to travel with you and Kailee. She raised her own eyebrows. She really does love you as much as she loved her own father, Rilitar.

I know, Connor nodded. And I love her as much as I love Shannon, Kai, or Fiona. It’s just that for whatever reason, I’m closest to Fiona and Kailee.

I believe that is because they are the children of our marriage, where Shannon is Claire’s daughter, and Alenia is Rilitar’s daughter.

Connor shrugged slightly. They are our daughters now, both of ours. I love Alenia, and you love Shannon, and we both love Menta Kai and Fiona. He lay back down. The dawn will be coming soon enough. Let’s try and get some more sleep. Iolena nodded and snuggled up closer to her husband. Besides, if we want to have more children, there is absolutely no reason we can’t have fun doing it.

I can live with that, Iolena replied with a smile and closed her eyes.

Adda, wakey, wakey. The sun has been up for an hour, and it’s time for you and Amil to get up too. Menta Kai, their adopted daughter, plopped down so she was seated at her parents’ heads. Of their four daughters, Kai was the only one who had the moxie to intrude on her parents’ private space, largely because the three of them spent so much time sleeping together around a campfire or some out-of-the-way travelers’ shelter. Connor opened an eye, looked at his lovely blonde daughter, gave her half a smile, then turned back