Ekleipsis Read online

  The sun seemed to stand still, shining bright, in all its glory. Did it not know that its heavenly friend, the moon, came to hide its countenance from the children of Erde? Could it not bring the heavens to a halt, or demand that the moon change its course, knowing it would bring forth darkness upon the people below? Did it not rule the day? Why did the sun yet remain silent and allow it happen?

  Fear began to infiltrate the very fibers of the persons who had remained in Erde, deciding against following the lead to Geheim. Candles and lanterns flicked throughout the villages where people remained, waiting for the coming darkness. Some viewed the sky through their windows, while others braved the outdoors sitting beneath the trees or against their homes. They waited to see the moon blot out the sun from among the heavens. Although they feared the darkness, they remained somewhat intrigued by it.

  Portions of light seemed to vanish, as the moon moved gradually across the face of the sun. Blotting the sun from the heavens, the darkness was inevitable. Eyes were blinded, as pupils tried to adjust to the lack of light. Though the darkness draped across all of Erde, the faint corona of the sun could yet be seen with the focused eye.

  Nyleve, one of the first ladies to live among the sustainers of Geheim, held her lantern and moved quietly toward a group of children gazing up to the sky. Dressed in a white gown which flowed to the ground, she carried warm hazelnut muffins in a napkin-draped basket to comfort the children. A delicate little girl sat among the slightly older children, with tears flowing down her freckled cheeks. Nyleve gently knelt beside the weeping child, and softly whispered, “Fear not little one, for the darkness is but for a moment, then shall you see the daystar shine again in all its glory.”

  Behold the Darkness came upon the face of Erde, seemingly annihilating all evidence of light. Reaching out from the shadows, stealing the illumination which yet remained surrounding them, it demanded total submission in claiming its dominance. The Darkness thrived on silencing the light, desiring to remove all remembrance of its being. Failing to realize light cannot be completely absorbed without limit, the Darkness gloated in its seemingly triumphant victory. All the while, the nimbus gave the souls of men hope, in seeing that the light yet shined.

  The Ekleipsis cometh but for a moment, then shall the daystar yet arise above the Darkness.

  Appendix

  Characters

  - A -

  Abejoti (A-be-jo-ti): Son of Galtare and third wife Vira. Brother of Jagare and twin of Ahnews. Killed by the Dragon (book one, Ekleipsis).

  Adevar (A-de-var): Youngest of the Council of Kirche.

  Ahnews (Ah-news): Son of Galtare and third wife Vira. Brother of Jagare and twin of Abejoti.

  Allmachtig (All-mach-tig): Father of King Salvare.

  Amar (A-mar): A Sealed among the tribe of Labat.

  Amashai (A-ma-sha-i): Wife of Nau and mother of Hisum and Misal.

  Apostas (A-pos-tas): Piradad’s brother and ruler of Varjama.

  Arkadas (Ar-ka-das): Friend to Vandor.

  Ashvar (Ash-var): Seer whom Sorie lived with after her family died.

  - B -

  Bailite (Bail-ite): Mother of Judarius.

  Baitrs (Bait-rs): Son of Galtare and concubine Mayaton. Brother of Jagare and twin of Begeren.

  Balor (Bay-lor): Thought to have killed Judarius.

  Barat (Ba-rat): One of four Melek of the Deofols army of Rubicund.

  Begeren (Be-ger-en): Son of Galtare and concubine Mayaton. Brother of Jagare and twin of Baitrs.

  Beigas (Bay-gas): One of three horsemen of King Salvare.

  Beth Hope: Young lady of good heart in prison in Trachten.

  Bron van Vreugde (Bron-van-V-reug-de): Eldest of Council of Kirche.

  - C -

  Candiance (Can-di-ance): Labat’s wife and mother of Falken and Ion.

  Cenobia (Ce-no-be-a): Girl Rayhold likes in Qualtes.

  Ciafus (Ci-a-fus): Commander of Arms of the Sealed.

  Cohart (Co-hart): Member of the Council of Hozekan.

  - D -

  Damaris (Da-mar-is): Wiltzer’s wife, which are both dwarfs.

  Dartego (Dar-te-go): MaZak’s friend.

  Desgosto (Des-gos-to): Son of Galtare and second wife Essen. Brother of Jagare. Killed by Jagare (book one, Ekleipsis).

  Dr. Toggle (Tog-gle): Doctor that delivered Vandor.

  - E -

  Ehrlich (Er-lich): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Elinora (El-i-nor-a): First wife of Galtare, mother of Jagare.

  Eniala Charity (E-nia-la): Young lady of good heart in prison in Temeto.

  Erdessest Kirche: (Er-dess-est Kir-che): Founder of Kirche.

  Eslar (Es-lar): Mother of Tindal and wife of MaZak.

  Essen (Es-sen): Second wife of Galtare, mother of Desgosto.

  - F -

  Falinn Viden (Fa-lynn Vi-den): Member of the Council of Hozekan, eldest.

  Falken (Fall-ken): Labat’s son and twin brother of Ion.

  Fiken (Fi-ken): Member of the Council of Hozekan.

  Frieden (Free-den): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Fuerza (Fuer-za): Member of Council of Kirche.

  - G -

  Galtare (Gal-tare): Son of Judarius and father of Jagare and ten brothers.

  Gniew (G-new): Son of Galtare and concubine Salena. Brother of Jagare.

  Guesald (Guess-ald): Member of the Council of Hozekan.

  - H -

  Hatan (Ha-tan): Son of Galtare and concubine Karlami. Brother of Jagare and twin of Himo.

  Helga Grace (Hel-ga): A faithful lady of Espaigne descent in Geheim.

  Hilty (Hil-ty): Physically handicapped child in Geheim.

  Himo (Hi-mo): Son of Galtare and concubine Karlami. Brother of Jagare and twin of Hatan.

  Hisum (His-um): Son of Nau and Amashai, and brother of Misal.

  Hladomor (Lad-o-more): One of three horsemen of King Salvare.

  Hoth (Hoth): A Sealed among the tribe of Labat.

  Hukum (Hu-kum): Witness, along with Prerok, of King Salvare.

  Hykler (Hike-ler): Father of Elinora and husband of Tekopyha.

  - I -

  Ignitus (Ig-ni-tus): Name Ashvar called Vikadore, though Vikadore cannot recall much but that he once used such a name.

  Imbol (I’m-bowl): Member of the Council of Hozekan.

  Ion (I-on): Labat’s son and twin brother of Falken.

  Ishbal (Ish-ball): Member of the Council of Nesal.

  - J -

  Jagare (Ja-gar): Grandson of Judarius and son of Galtare and first wife Elinora.

  Judarius (Jew-da-ri-us): Son of Bailite, grandfather of Galtare, and betrayer of King Salvare.

  - K -

  Karlami (Kar-la-my): Concubine of Galtare, mother of Hatan and Himo.

  Kayla (K-la): Vandor’s love, daughter of Tebad and Triamencia.

  Kelet (Ke-let): One of four Melek of the Deofols army of Rubicund.

  Kerubh (Ke-rub): Outcast of Himmel, many, many years ago.

  Key (Key): Owner of Brocolate.

  Krig (Krig): One of three horsemen of King Salvare.

  Kol (Coal): Member of the Council of Nesal.

  - L -

  Labat (La-bot): Falken and Ion’s father, member of the Sealed.

  Labo (La-bow): Rayhold’s father and husband of Sycress.

  Langmutig (Lang-mu-tig): Member of Council of Kirche.

  - M -

  Mayaton: (May-a-ton): Concubine of Galtare, mother of Baitrs, Begeren, and Zolba.

  MaZak (May-Zack): aka The Bladesman, father of Tindal and husband of Eslar.

  Mendis (Men-dis): A Sealed among the tribe of Labat.

  Menindas (Men-in-das): A pale, aforetime by a different name.

  Misal (Mis-al): Daughter of Nau and Amashai, and sister of Hisum.

  - N -

  Nartod (Nar-tod): Head of medical at Kirche.

  Nau (Na-u): Husband of Amashai and father of Hisum and Misal, and member of the Council of Nesal.

  Nyleve (Ny-leve): Lady of Geheim.


  - O -

  Odvaha (Od-va-ha): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Onyx (On-x): A pale that teaches Rayhold sorcery.

  Oviss (O-viss): Previous dwarf emperor of Hozekan, father of Penuh Harap.

  - P -

  Paktil (Pak-til): Dwarf watchman.

  Pameten (Pa-me-ten): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Pequena (Pe-quen-a): Female dwarf of Hozekan, aka Teeny Faith.

  Penuh Harap (Pen-u Ha-rap): Dwarf emperor of Hozekan, son of Oviss.

  Piradad (Pie-ra-dad): False seer, a pale, who brought Jagare back to life.

  Prerok (Pre-rock): Witness, along with Hukum, of King Salvare.

  Pyktis (Pyk-tis): Son of Galtare and brother of Jagare.

  - Q -

  Qad (Kaid): Member of the Council of Nesal.

  Qwen (Qwen): Dwarf watchman.

  - R -

  Rakkaus (Rak-kaus): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Rayhold (Ray-hold): Vandor’s friend, son of Labo and Sycress.

  Rem (Rem): A Sealed among the tribe of Labat.

  Rubicund (Ru-bi-cund): aka Dragon, mysterious creature which some claim really controls the Darkness from Kriminala Pasaule.

  - S -

  Salena (Sa-len-a): Concubine of Galtare, mother of Gniew.

  Salvare (Sal-vare): True King of the Land of Erde, and son of Allmachtig.

  Sir Trachten: (Trach-ten): Founder of Trachten.

  Sorie (Sor-e): Mother of Vandor and wife of Tindal.

  Sycress (Sy-cress): Rayhold’s mother and wife of Labo.

  - T -

  Tamar (Ta-mar): Sorie’s cousin, from Feltor.

  Tebad (T-bad): Kayla’s father and husband of Triamencia.

  Telba (Tel-ba): A Sealed among the tribe of Labat.

  Teeny Faith: Female dwarf of Hozekan, aka Pequena.

  Tekopyha (Te-ko-phee-ha): Mother of Elinora and wife of Hykler.

  Tindal (Tin-dal): Father of Vandor and husband of Sorie.

  Totuus (To-tus): Young poor boy who loved Elinora, slain by Galtare.

  Triamencia (Tri-a-men-c-a): Kayla’s mother and wife of Tebad.

  - U -

  Umil (U-mil): Leader of one of the Beacon groups from Geheim.

  Usk (Us-k): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Utara (U-tara): One of four Melek of the Deofols army of Rubicund.

  - V -

  Vandor (Van-dor): aka V, Tindal and Sorie’s son.

  Vasen (Va-sen): Jagare’s secret twin sister.

  Vikadore (Vike-a-dor): Caption of the Gottlos.

  Vira (Vi-ra): Third wife of Galtare, mother of Abejoti, Ahnews, and Pyktis.

  Vitis (Vi-tis): Member of Council of Kirche.

  - W -

  Wedgmark (Wedge-mark): Member of the Council of Hozekan.

  Whisper (Whis-per): aka King Salvare’s Whisper, a lingering of the King often felt by the Sealed.

  Wiltzer (Wilt-zer): Husband of Damaris, which are both dwarfs.

  - X -

  Xima (X-i-ma): Governor of the Land of the Seekers, namely Trachten.

  - Y -

  Yanes (Yanes): Member of the Council of Nesal.

  - Z -

  Zavest (Za-vest): Member of Council of Kirche.

  Zuiden (Zu-den): One of four Melek of the Deofols army of Rubicund.

  Zoac (Zo-ack): Member of the Council of Nesal.

  Zolba (Zol-ba): Son of Galtare and concubine Mayaton. Brother of Jagare.

  Groups

  - D -

  Deofols (De-o-fols): Rubicund’s wicked army of depraved beings from Kriminala Pasaule.

  - G -

  Gibborims (Gib-bor-ims): Name given to the linage of Judarius (specifically the children of his son Galtare). Jagare and his brothers are assumed to be heirs of the Darkness by the union of Judarius’ mother Bailite and a fallen Malaikat (Ubil).

  Gottlos (Gott-los): Evil creatures some claim used to be men that serve the Darkness, while others claim are half man and half Ubil.

  Greys: Those who roamed the Shadows Lands enticing the Seekers into bondage to the Shadows.

  - H -

  Hek: A female witch, user of dark magic and sorcery.

  - J -

  Jezdec (Jez-deck): Scaled Deofols, who hold the appearance of vipers and ride the Liutas.

  - L -

  Liutas (Li-u-tas): Fierce beasts, having the appearance of dark grey lions, which carry the Jezdec of Rubicund.

  - M -

  Malaikat (Ma-lai-kat): Good spiritual messengers from Creator God.

  Marked (Mark-ed): Name given to those that receive a mark after swearing allegiance to the Darkness.

  Masonisti (Ma-son-is-ti): Those which claim to follow as the Sealed, but are most secretive.

  Melek (Me-lek): Four giants which lead the Deofols of Rubicund.

  - P -

  Pale: A male sorcerer, user of dark magic, false seer, which is most often deathly pale in color.

  - S -

  Saska (Sas-ka): Vicious beast of the air, with hair as women and wings of eagles, numbered among the Deofols Rubicund.

  Sealed (Se-aled): Name given to those who give their allegiance to the true king, King Salvare.

  Seekers (Seek-ers): Name loosely used for those which are often looking for something new, especially during the markets of Trachten.

  Seer: One able to see and proclaim the future (receives ability from God, contrasted to a pale)

  - U -

  Ubils (U-bills): Fallen Malaikat, once good but now evil spirits, which serve the Darkness.

  Places

  - A -

  Almozak (Al-mo-zak): Village south of Trachten where Sorie lived.

  Ascuns Forest (As-cuns): Surrounds Nesal to its south and west.

  - B -

  Breckenly (Breck-en-ly): Village north of Nesal, where Ashvar lives.

  Brocolat (Bro-co-lat) Inn: Common inn in Palvolin, Trachten.

  - C -

  Cadas Mountains (Ca-das): East of Nesal and Breckenly.

  Cricket’s Eatery: Restaurant next to Brocolat.

  - E -

  Erde (Er-d): The land in which all this is.

  - F -

  Felter (Fel-ter): Village where Tamar, Sorie’s cousin lives.

  - G -

  Geheim (Ge-heim): Secret hiding place within the Cadas Mountains.

  Goslet (Gos-let): Village along the Liban River between Nesal and Salong.

  - H -

  Himmel (Him-mel): Kingdom of King Salvare’s father, King Allmachtig.

  Hozekan (Ho-ze-kan): Sikwayi village of the dwarfs, north east of the Lake Selatan.

  - K -

  Kartus Ocean (Kar-tus): North west ocean.

  Kirche (Kir-che): Headquarters of the Sealed, in Signum.

  Kriminala Pasaule (Kri-mi-nala Pa-sau-l): Where Rubicund the Dragon is from.

  - L -

  Lake Selatan (Se-la-tan): Lake south of Hozekan, fed by the Liban River.

  Lake Szikla (Zik-la): Lake surrounded by the Cadas Mountains.

  Liban River (Li-ban): River which flows from the Cadas Mountains.

  - M -

  Mount Dauthus (Dau-thus): Mountain on which Jagare resides in Oscuridad.

  - N -

  Nesal (Nes-al): Village south of Breckenly, where Vandor and family live.

  - O -

  Oscuridad (Os-cur-i-dad): Kingdom of Darkness, aka Darkness.

  - P -

  Palvolin (Pal-vo-lin): Area of the semiannual markets in Trachten.

  - Q -

  Qualtes (Qual-tes): Village south of Nesal, where Cenobia lives.

  - S -

  Salong (Sa-long): Village at the Liban River, Umeten Canal connection.

  Scimerian (Sci-mer-i-an]): aka Shimmering kingdom, kingdom of King Salvare.

  Shadow Lands: aka Shadows, the lands before the kingdom of Darkness.

  Signum (Sig-num): Location of Kirche, headquarters and training for the Sealed.

  - T -

  Telbaton (Tel-ba-ton): Village in Trachten
, where Rayhold was from.

  Temeto (Te-me-to): Previously known as Kirche.

  Trachten (Trac-ten): aka Land of the Seekers, settled by those desiring to serve neither King Salvare nor the Darkness.

  - U -

  Umeten Canal (U-met-en): Man-made canal from Liban River, which supplies Trachten with water.

  - V -

  Valtava Forest (Val-ta-va): The forest which protects and hides Hozekan.

  Varjama (Var-ja-ma): The land from whence Piradad was from.

  - X -

  Xiacon (X-a-con): Capital city of Trachten, where Xima and dignitaries live.

  - Y -

  Yoto (Yo-to) Inn: Dignitary inn in Trachten.

  Hidden Meanings

  The List

  (Alphabetically)

  Abejoti “doubt” Lithuanian

  Adevar “truth” Romanian

  Ahnews “greed” Finnish

  Allmachtig “almighty” German

  Apostas “apostasy” Greek

  Arkadas “friend” Turkish