Valiant and Sage: Ahran Archives, #1

By Eliza Sinclair

Niamh Starsong is a distinguished soldier sworn to protect the Northgate Expedition, but as an Ivory Order spy, she is on a top-secret assignment for the safety of all Ahra. A Sylvan elf newly stationed near the Tanahr capital of Easthaven, she discovers that the city and its people are not at all what she had expected, and that the most important assignment of her career comes with both sorrows and joys.

Jeron, a talented mage, inventor, and healer, seeks out Valiant Niamh Starsong's smiles and warm conversation, teasing the serious soldier out of her shell. Tragedy strikes their expedition's encampment and Jeron saves Niamh from the brink of death, forging a powerful, heart-to-heart bond in the process.

As monstrous terrors straight out of myth threaten Easthaven, Jeron and Niamh must work together to save the people and world they love, and discover along the way that a friendship tested by trials can deepen into so much more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eliza Sinclair
• Release date: Nov 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781945249105

Book preview

Valiant and Sage

Ahran Archives

Book One

Eliza Sinclair

Dedication

To those I journeyed with in other worlds—online, through shared narrative, or with good old fashioned board game pieces or a roll of the dice. Wonder, laughs, and treasures untold tend to find their way to those who gleefully brave the unknown, so keep adventuring. We’re never too old to play!

Copyright Page

OMG, writing is work. A lot of work. Since it is so much work (done out of the author’s love of the words and worlds she builds), it would be really mean to steal her books. TL:DR? Stealing books is bad. Thank you for not being a book-stealer and thank you for reading!

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Valiant and Sage, formerly Valiant Heart, 2nd Edition Revised

Ahran Archives, Book One

Copyright © 2019, 2022 by Eliza Sinclair

ISBN: 978-1-945249-10-5 (Second Edition)

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used, transmitted, or reproduced in any manner or form without written permission from the author, except for short quotations excerpted for critical articles and reviews.

First eBook edition: January 2019

Second eBook edition: November 2022

elizasinclair.com

Cosmic Cat Publishing

10013 West 50th Terrace

Merriam, Kansas 66203

Niamh Starsong is a distinguished soldier sworn to protect the Northgate Expedition, but as an Ivory Order spy, she is on a top-secret assignment for the safety of all Ahra. A Sylvan elf newly stationed near the Tanahr capital of Easthaven, she discovers that the city and its people are not at all what she had expected, and that the most important assignment of her career comes with both sorrows and joys.

Jeron, a talented mage, inventor, and healer, seeks out Valiant Niamh Starsong’s smiles and warm conversation, teasing the serious soldier out of her shell. Tragedy strikes their expedition’s encampment and Jeron saves Niamh from the brink of death, forging a powerful, heart-to-heart bond in the process.

As terrors straight out of myth threaten Easthaven, Jeron and Niamh must work together to save the people and world they love and discover along the way that a friendship tested by trials can deepen into so much more.

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Prologue

The Beechwoods, Central Sylvania

Melt Moon Two

Niamh Starsong gazed around the clearing where she stood and sighed. When would she see her home after today?

Source, Niamh, you look miserable.

I’m not. That’s just my thinking-face, Niamh replied, her morose tone unconvincing.

Well, I’d be miserable if I were traveling all the way to Tanahr with its treeless cities full of mad mages, storms from the sea, and polluted skies. I’m not too happy about having to deal with a bunch of magic-hungry Empyreans myself, though. I suppose such misery may be our lot.

Sari, you’re being dramatic. Niamh bent to pick up an acorn, tossing and catching it absently. You know these assignments are an honor, so I must ask you to cease and desist naysaying. Or else. Niamh lobbed the acorn at the other elf, hitting her square between the eyes.

Ow, Sari griped. She stopped to gather a handful of retaliatory acorns from the forest floor.

Who is the better shot here? Niamh laughed, dodging her friend’s return fire. Sari’s acorn plonked to the ground somewhere in the distance.

Fine, fine. I surrender. Just thought I’d try to land a good hit to your face before we’re both gone on errands for the greater good, Sari said. I’d say we could write long gossipy letters, but— Her voice faded.

But I won’t be able to reach you, Niamh said. A Scout and a Valiant both on ‘very important missions’ far from their Sylvan home probably won’t do much letter-writing.

Niamh couldn't indulge in feelings of regret or wistfulness. She was on a ‘very important mission.’ A top-secret mission that not even her commanding officer in the Valiants knew about. As an Ivory Order informant, hiding in plain sight was part of Niamh’s job—besides concealing her true mission even from one of her best friends. Not that Niamh was a spy exactly, but close enough that her life would mean many secrets, and many partings.

I’m thinking that we won’t all be together for the Solstice feast or any other holidays in the future, Sariel said, interrupting Niamh’s thoughts.

It’s depressing when you put it like that.

It’s depressing when I think about it like that. I have to focus on the fact, though, that this is an excellent opportunity for us both. Me off to Empyrea to dig up clues about their missing prince, you off to Tanahr to do Niamh things. At least I will admit, despite what I said earlier, that Tanahr won’t be as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Sariel smiled softly.

You know how Beechwoods folk like to exaggerate the downsides of anything not Beechwoods, Niamh said with an answering grin. I’ll be fine.

Niamh had heard from far more reliable sources than Sariel’s rumor mill that Tanahr, the Seat of the Accord, was an interesting place. Her commanding officer briefed her on everything she needed to know, saying he thought it was a good chance for Niamh to build connections outside of their homeland. This was true, but the purpose of Niamh’s mission went deeper.

To anyone on the outside, she was serving Guard Duty for the Northgate Expedition, a group of scholars and soldiers from all over the world sent to survey one of the two long defunct Waystones in Ahra. There was hope of coaxing it back to life, allowing instant travel to one of the three functional Waystones. Which one it linked to would be anyone’s guess, but the promise of being able to step on a Waystone and be transported all across the world in the blink of an eye was too enticing to ignore. Sylvania’s representatives in the Ivory Order, a shadow organization dedicated to protecting all Ahra, had a personal stake in what this new research might turn up.

Niamh would hold the title of Valiant Protector, a rank that oversaw operations and perimeter checks. She was well-suited to such work. Thanks to bandit incursions from across the Canrish border and pirates coming over the Greatsea between Empyrea and the Canrish coast, Niamh had seen her share of combat. The previous year, she’d thwarted a major raid on the city of Ruvyn’s northernmost watch post and brought all but a few of the criminals to justice with no casualties in her detachment.

It was a fortunate victory, since that had caught the eye of her superior officers and, shortly after, a Valiant Captain. Brennan Hawke oversaw a large garrison in the Tanahr capital of Easthaven, so suddenly here she was, about to leave for Source knew how long, but with the perfect opportunity to carry information back to the Order.

You leave today, and I’m gone by week’s end. Sariel heaved an exaggerated sigh. What will Beechwoods do without us to keep them honest? She held her serious expression for only a moment before grinning.

They will hold a parade in their glee to be rid of us. Niamh jostled her friend. Sari, be safe out there. The northern borders are in rough shape right now. Stick to the shadows and let your armed escort do the heavy lifting, okay?

I’m all about avoiding heavy lifting, Sariel laughed, pulling Niamh into a hug.

Source keep you, Niamh whispered into Sari’s hair.

And you too, Sari said fondly.

Niamh drew back, fighting a sudden urge to cry. Sariel was important to her, the closest thing she had to a sister.

But duty calls, and I must keep a clear head.

Hurry up, Starsong, A voice called out from the Garrison gates. Time to stow your gear and go.

Niamh turned to the small group of Valiants who would accompany her as far as Elmsgate, just over the Tanahr border.

Ready as I’ll ever be, Niamh said. She tucked her long, brown and gold braids behind her ears, stood taller, and with a last wave to her friend, said goodbye to the only lands she’d ever known, ready to journey into the world she’d sworn to protect.

Chapter One

Easthaven, Tanahr

Melt Moon Eleven

Of course there had to be snow, Niamh grumped and swiped a hand over her face. White flakes whirled in the air, catching in her eyelashes and leaving icy drops on her cheeks. The Tanahr capital of Easthaven was colder than usual for this time of year, snow dusting spring-green vines and flowering shrubs. Niamh pulled up her hood to warm her long, pointed ears and glided through the orderly foot traffic. Everyone was polite, keeping to one side of the sidewalk or moving to let someone in a hurry slip by. This surprised her, since she’d been expecting folks to be abrupt or rude.

She crested a hill and paused in front of a long, low-roofed structure. Its facade was a lighter stone than the surrounding buildings, and the sign hanging above its wooden double doors bore the image of a black wildcat. Duskcat Inn shone in gold Tan’shi script beneath the cat’s paws. This was the place.

A group of soldiers in Tanahr militia armor and plumed helmets burst from the entrance in a flurry of conversation and laughter, rambling out onto the street. Were any of these people Valiants she’d be serving with? Niamh glimpsed golden firelight within and felt a rush of warm, savory-scented air.

She stepped onto the foyer carpet and blinked from the bright lights and energy of the place. People gathered around tables, sat in overstuffed chairs, and perched on stools at the bar and against the walls. Two huge hearths boasted crackling fires, and in the back left of the inn, a crowd clustered around a miniature stage where a fiery-haired woman sang to her own violin accompaniment, stomping and twirling energetically. Another time, Niamh would have lingered to bask in the performance but tonight was all about her mission.

She wound through the throng, back to the bar. A single unoccupied stool sat next to a stately Xereth noblewoman studying a sheaf of parchment covered in purple ink script, one gray, sharp-nailed hand tracing a sigil. On the other side of the empty stool, a Sylvan man in well-worn forest leathers perched, gazing into the crowd with alert brown eyes. Though they were nearly opposite in demeanor, Xereth and elf seemed to know each other, conversing quietly and with practiced ease now and again before going back to their solitary reflections.

Xereth and Sylvans mingling with ease… I’m not the only outsider in this place, Niamh thought. A promising sign.

What’ll it be? A bartender appeared in front of her. He smiled, his cheeks rosy from bustling about to pour drinks and serve food.

What’s best here? Niamh answered the question with one of her own.

Our Springtide Ale can’t be beat, and we only have it this time of year. Try it with a piece of brambleberry pie, and it’ll knock your socks off.

As long as I can get my socks back afterwards. It’s freezing out there, Niamh deadpanned, digging silver coins—Tanahr crowns, since Sylvan crescents or Canrish gold drew undue attention—from her leather purse.

"Yes, this weather is something. Now, you can put those crowns away, Sparrow, the bartender said, fixing his gaze on Niamh. Your food’s already been paid for."

How in the world did this man know her alias?

Keleth told me to give you all the best, the bartender said with a casual air. And that your new Valiant Captain is waiting to welcome and debrief you upstairs.

Niamh nodded, keeping her expression neutral, her body language unthreatening. This was unexpected.

Keleth—named after an astringent herb that grew on mountaintops and was used to imbue weapons with magic—had been Sparrow’s contact for three years now. They knew the Tanahr political scene inside-out and sideways. Even better for her purposes, Keleth understood the inner workings of Ahra’s largest militia, the Tanahr Valiant Corps, more than many officers would. Even though she’d never met Keleth in person, they’d been the one to recommend that Niamh and the