The Falcoran’s Faith Read online

  The Falcorans’ Faith

  A Soul-Linked Saga Story

  Book 8

  by

  Laura Jo Phillips

  Copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Honsinger

  Cover art/design Copyright © 2013 by Kathleen Honsinger

  All rights reserved.

  DEDICATION

  For my family. For my husband. Thank you.

  And, as always, for Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma---Thank you all for the creativity you passed along to me, as well as the heart to do something with it. There is a little bit of each of you in these books, just as there is a little bit of each of you in me

  Look for previews and coming release announcements at:

  Website:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  Blog:

  arimaslove.blogspot.com

  Facebook:

  facebook.com/laurajophillipsauthor

  Other Books by Laura Jo Phillips

  The Dracons’ Woman

  Book One of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Lobos’ HeartSong

  Book Two of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Katres’ Summer

  Book Three of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Bearens’ Hope

  Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Gryphon’s Dream

  Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Berta’s Choice

  Book Six of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Vulpiran’s Honor

  Book Seven of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Quest for the Moon Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book One

  Quest for the Sun Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book Two

  Secrets Kept

  Mixed Blood, Book One

  (Available under the name Kathleen Honsinger)

  Books by Harvey Phillips and Paul Honsinger

  To Honor You Call Us

  Man of War, Book One

  For Honor We Stand

  Man of War, Book Two

  Visit the home of the Soul-Linked Saga online at:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  [email protected]

  CONTENTS

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  The Prophecy of Semat Katre

  (Includes lost portion)

  In the fullness of manhood, the patience of the royal sons of the third generation beyond this day, shall be met with their soul’s fulfillment in a daughter of a distant sun.

  Have they faith in the three, by the three shall all be blessed.

  Radiant with the glory of lau-lotu shall they descend from the sky in flame before the people, and the people shall be renewed.

  Shall faith be denied, so the people shall be lost, forevermore.

  Shall the people have faith, so shall the people be blessed with a chance for renewal.

  The renewal of the people shall begin with the Soul,

  Who shall call to the soil of her distant home for she who shall be the Heart, and she who shall be the Mind.

  And these shall be the Three.

  Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

  By the Three shall be found new knowledge

  Of shadowed truths,

  Of enemies born to be brothers,

  Of Black Deceivers

  Of schemes from beyond the Veil of Stars to cast the peoples of the suns numbering a hundred times ten into the eternal deep.

  Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

  Shall the Three endure, the people and their brothers shall banish the Black Deceivers from the Veil of Stars forever.

  Shall the Three perish, so shall the people be lost, forevermore.

  ***

  The Gathering of The Nine

  Behold, Clans of the Jasani, the Lehen Triad of Jasan is formed.

  Through them, we, the Nine First Arimas of the Nine Clans of Ugaztun, shall speak to the people. A truth that should not have been forgotten, was forgotten. Before the future can be formed, this lost truth of the past must now be remembered.”

  “Hear us now, Clan Dracon, Clan Lobo, Clan Katre, Clan Bearen.”

  “Hear us now, Clan Gryphon, Clan Falcoran, Clan Vulpiran.”

  “Hear us now, as we are not bound by the Covenant of Silence that should never have been made.”

  “So shall we speak of the Lost Clans, of the Owlfen, and the Tigrenca.”

  “Once, long and long and long ago, the Clans were Nine as they were meant to be. But they were not brothers, the Clans, one to another as they are now.

  In that time, the Clans fought among themselves, squabbling over land and air and sea as young races often do.

  In that time, females had the Right of Choice and fought as they wished, or not, as they wished.

  In that time, Enclave was a gathering of females, led by the First Nine Arimas, in part for those women whose time it was to consider the finding of their Rami. All but a few of the women of all the Clans attended.

  “The Owlfen and the Tigrenca were at war, each with the other. The heat of their battle ran through the Enclave. In the depths of their blood rages, they noticed not where they were, nor what they did.

  “By day’s end, all of the Nine were dead, as were all but a few of the other females. Such was the blood rage of the men of the other Clans that the Owlfen and the Tigrenca were both annihilated in retribution.

  “Only when the last of the two Clans was destroyed, did the blood rages cool and the males understand what they had done. The Clans were now seven, out of communion with the world and nature. The power of the Clans was broken. There were few women left, and the people were lost.

  “In despair, the male-sets of the remaining Clans gathered together in the first male Enclave. They worked together in peace to find a way to save the race of the Ugaztun.

  “So it was decided that the women would not go to war, nor would they be taught the ways of war, that the men would guard and protect them.

  “So it was decided that the Clans would not war, but become brothers in all things and never again raise hand or claw or fang or talon one to the other.

  “So it was decided that the Shame of Ugaztun would remain in the past, and not be spoken of again under the Covenant of Silence.

  “And so it came to be, and the Clans kept their covenant and warred no more. In time, the Shame of Ugaztun was forgotten, as were the Lost Clans, as though they had never been.

  “Then came the time of the Narrasti. The women were sheltered, coddled, hidden away. The Seven First Arimas tried to come together, to raise the strength they knew should be their own, to warn the Clans of the future which lay ahead on the chosen path. But they did not know they were supposed to be Nine. They did not know the past. Thus they could not raise that which they needed, and it came to pas
s as they had feared, and all of the women of Ugaztun were lost.

  So ends Ugaztun.

  So begins Jasan.

  Time is not measured by the cup; it is a river that is endlessly renewed. So the remnants of the women of Ugaztun did as they could to keep the blood of the Clans alive among the people of the world they found. Now is the time for those women, the descendents of the remains of the women of Ugaztun, to fulfill their destinies.

  So comes the chance to renew the Lost Clans. If the Clans are not restored to number nine as they are meant, so shall the people be lost, forevermore.

  “By the energy and the power of the Heart, Soul and Mind are the Jasani now truly joined with the Earth, Air, Fire and Water of this new world. If the Clans heed not the Triad, if they do not abide by their words and warnings, the Clans of Jasan will no more be. If the Clans honor the wisdom of the Triad, there is hope.

  So speak the Nine.

  So is our task done.

  ***

  The Oraculum of the Arkandu

  Oh Black Deceivers, you have come, on the day and hour foreseen and appointed.

  We have seen our death, and accept with grim sadness our passing into the realm which lies beyond.

  Before you do the evil deed you have come to carry out, know this;

  You are allotted a span of time for your webs of evil to endure, and when that span is done, so are you.

  Across the Wide Deep, the eggs of your destruction are already hatched.

  In the fullness of time, you and all your broods shall be devoured.

  In the Veil of Stars, nestled in the crook of the Great Hunter's Arm, lie the peoples of a Thousand Worlds, all woven from the same Fabric of Life, and thus connected one to the other in spite of the differences they perceive of themselves.

  Beware, oh, Black Deceivers,

  For when the shifters who emerge singly from eggs, and the shifters who emerge in threes covered with the blood of their mothers, discover that they are brothers, they will bind the Thousand Worlds with eternal bonds of blood.

  Thus shall they destroy you.

  Utterly.

  And none shall mourn your passing.

  Preface

  Jung Del, Supreme Commander of the Marrazon Space Defense Force, Uncle and Regent to the reigning Queen of the Two Systems, and friend to Ellicia Daniels of Earth, gazed down at the remains of what had once been a human man. “It is a shame he did not last longer,” he commented idly.

  “I apologize, Sire,” Captain Yoli replied. “We tried very hard to make him last longer, but in the end, there really wasn’t any more to be done.”

  “I understand, Captain, do not distress yourself,” Jung Del replied with a dismissive shrug of his wide shoulders. “It is to your credit that you got six months more out of him than I’d expected. In fact, I am impressed that he lasted so much longer than his Terien bodyguards.”

  Captain Yoli did not make the mistake of swelling up with pride at the praise, but he did relax just a little. “You are most generous, Sire.”

  “Well, dispose of the leftovers however you see fit,” Jung Del said. “Did he have anything of interest to say of late?”

  “Not that I am aware of so far, Sir,” Captain Yoli replied. “I have not yet finished reviewing the recordings though. I expect to have a final report for you by this time tomorrow, if that is acceptable.”

  “That’s fine, but I would like a copy of the file now, if that’s possible.”

  “Certainly, Sire,” Captain Yoli replied, glancing sharply at one of his men. Just because Jung Del had used polite words did not mean it was not an order, and Captain Yoli knew it. Jung Del had a well deserved reputation for unfailing politeness, and utter ruthlessness. Captain Yoli watched as the guardsman turned and raced away at high speed.

  Jung Del took a last look at what had once been the much feared, sadistic crime boss known as Stephan Loggia, with a touch of regret. He’d been so busy since his Sister Queen’s death that he hadn’t had nearly as much leisure time as he would have liked. He’d enjoyed semi-frequent visits with Loggia and his bodyguards, and he’d received daily reports on them, but he’d missed the one-on-one participation that he generally preferred with the most deserving of prisoners.

  “Sidley, I want you to prepare a message to Agent Ellicia Daniels of Earth,” he said, addressing the small, bluish-grey male standing beside him. “Inform her that the last of our mutual enemies has, at long last, gone to the nine hells to suffer eternity however the ruler of that realm sees fit.”

  “Yes yes, Lord Jung Del, Sire, at once, at once,” Sidley replied in his high, piping voice.

  Jung Del looked down at his assistant for a long moment. “Sidley, have you been into the jellyfish-fire again?”

  Sidley’s narrow face flushed neon yellow. “Yes, Lord Jung Del, Sire Sire Sire, sorry sorry,” he replied, his nervousness causing his voice to rise higher and higher with each word.

  Jung Del started to speak, but paused when the guardsman raced back into the tank room and handed Captain Yoli a memory crystal.

  “Here you are, Sire,” Captain Yoli said, offering the crystal to Jung Del.

  “Thank you Captain Yoli,” Jung Del replied. “Carry on.” Jung Del barely waited for Captain Yoli’s polite bow before turning and heading out of the tank room. He turned the crystal over in his hand a few times, then reached into his pocket for his portable reader. He doubted that Loggia had said anything in the past six months that he hadn’t said repeatedly in the years prior, but one never knew. He would listen to it anyway, just in case. He slipped the crystal into the reader and returned it to his pocket.

  “Sidley, I want you to send that message to Miss Daniels, then go down to the dispensary for an antidote,” he said. “When I return from my niece’s birthday party I will expect you to be fully sober.”

  “Yes yes, Lord Jung Del, Sire, as you wish wish wish.”

  Jung Del stopped walking and turned to face his assistant. “Sidley, listen to me carefully now.” Jung Del waited for Sidley to return his gaze. “If you do this again, you will be permanently demoted. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes yes, Lord Jung Del, Sire Sire,” Sidley replied, his voice so high now it was a squeak that hurt Jung Del’s hearing apertures. “Not again, Sire, no no no, not again.”

  Jung Del smiled, baring several rows of sharp, triangular teeth. “Very good, Sidley, you’re dismissed.” He shook his head, then put the little fish from his mind and resumed his walk toward the palace.

  He really did not have the time, or the desire, to attend Karniva’s birthday party today, but even though she didn’t hold full power yet, she was Queen, and it would be rude not to show up. He loved the child, and thought that, once she grew into her fins a bit, she would one day become a fitting ruler for Marrazo. In the meantime however, most of the day to day decision making fell on his shoulders. He didn’t mind, but he did sometimes wonder if he should have taken the throne himself after his sister’s death. He was doing the work of a monarch now as it was.

  But no. He didn’t want to be King. He enjoyed the freedom that the comparatively low rank of Commander of the Defense Forces offered him. He could go where he willed, do as he wished, and maintain his more unsavory contacts without comment. Much of that freedom had been temporarily curtailed due to his responsibilities as Regent. If he were King, those curtailments would be permanent, a thought that made his gills flutter with distaste.

  It was nearly midnight when Jung Del slid into bed, exhausted from the long day. The birthday party had been exactly what he expected. Too loud, too bright, too crowded, too everything. But, the young Queen had been happy and that was all that really mattered for any child on her sixteenth birthday.

  As much as he wanted to sleep, he decided to take a few minutes to scroll through the memory crystal on Loggia first. He grew sleepy as he skipped through several weeks of mumblings and ramblings which no amount of computer interpretation could clean up. He was just about to shut
off the device when something caught his attention. He reversed, then replayed a section. A few minutes later he was wide awake and pacing his floor in thoughtful deliberation.

  He thought of the last message he received from the Director many months earlier. It had been upsetting to learn that Ellicia had been seriously injured in an attack that had killed many of her colleagues. He not only owed a blood debt to Ellicia Daniels, he had developed a genuine fondness for her in the brief time that they’d worked together.

  He hadn’t given much thought to her attack. It seemed a reasonable risk for the line of work she was in. Now though, after listening to Loggia’s ramblings, he was fairly certain that something far more sinister was going on. Something he didn’t think either the Director, or Ellicia, knew about.

  Jung Del stopped pacing and made up his mind. Sending a message was not enough. He owed both the Director and Ellicia more than that. Especially since he now had no way of knowing whether his message would reach either of them. He stepped up to the vid terminal on the wall and hit the button for his assistant.

  “Sidley, I want the Predator prepped. We are leaving for Earth in three hours. I want no excuses, and no delays.”

  “Yes, Sire, at once Sire,” Sidley replied. Jung Del pressed another button and got the Queen’s fin-maiden. “Dor, awaken the Queen at once,” he ordered. “I am on my way over to speak with her and I want her alert enough to pay attention.”

  “Yes, Sire,” the young female replied at once. “As you command.”

  Jung Del closed the connection and hit another button. “Tolip, get in here,” he said as soon as his valet answered the call. He closed that connection before Tolip had a chance to respond, then stepped into the bathroom to dress. A moment later the door to his bed chamber opened. “Get in here, Tolip,” he called. The thin, silver skinned male hurried into the bathroom. “Pack for an extended trip,” he said. “I leave in three hours for Earth so send everything to the Predator at once. You’re coming, so prepare yourself as well.”