Soul Dead And Green Eyes: A Kellaran Fantasy - USA Measurements Edition

Soul Dead and Green Eyes

By

Wayne Edward Clarke

A Kellaran Fantasy

US (Standard) measurements

Smashwords Edition

Copyright2015

By

Wayne Edward Clarke

All Rights Reserved

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters and any real persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

The purchaser of this ebook may copy this ebook to any computers, ebook reading devices, or backup digital storage media that the purchaser personally owns. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people by the purchaser. This ebook may not be loaned by the purchaser to other people unless the purchaser is also loaning the ebook reading device that this ebook will be read on. This ebook may not be copied to any device or media that is not personally owned by the purchaser. The purchaser must delete this ebook from any devices or media that the purchaser is selling, giving away, or disposing of. For the purposes of this statement of rights; corporations are not people. Corporations must purchase one copy of each eBook for each human person associated with the company who will read them.

Books By Wayne Edward Clarke:

Epic Science Fiction:

The Rational Future Trilogy:

Book 1; People Of The Tiger

Book 2; Hunters In The Sky

Book 3; Victory Or Extinction

Epic Fantasy:

The Nexus Of Kellaran Trilogy:

Book 1; Blessings Of A Curse (free)

Book 2; The Fire And The Storm

And coming in 2015;

Book 3; Chaos Of A Demon War

Standard-length Kellaran Fantasy:

Soul Dead and Green Eyes

Non-Fiction;

Answers: The Fundamentals of Rational Realism

These are available in most popular ebook formats at leading online book retailers

And on popular ebook apps for Apple and Android devices.

Maps

Be sure to check out the full-color video of the globe of Kellaran rotating in space on my Facebook Author’s page, and soon at my website. These grayscale maps are not all to the same scale. Symbols that look like upside-down V are mountains, the symbols that look a bit like upside-down W are volcanoes.

Kellaran Maps Key

Towns and Cities

1 - Shinosa Valley

2 - Gimoosh

3 - Latrel

4 - Bojoston

5 - Coradok

6 - Copper Strike

7 - Axis

8 - White Sands

9 - Verzaclon City

10 - Focus Mountain

11 - Xerv-Upon-Loch-Crotia

12 - Kejaz

13 - City of The Lair of The Dragon Lord

14 - Zarkog’s observatory

15 - Bejiur

16 - Kraka

Small Nations, Islands, Archipelagos

A - The People Of Life

B - The High People

C - The People Of Clouds

D - The Fisher Folk

E - Hilia

F - Hiliani

G - The Lava Shapers

H - Enj

J - The Thundering Escarpment

K - The Dakrin Cliffs

L - The Stone Islands

M - Nipukbu

N - Simifilibufitu

SP - Enclaves of The Sea People with Embassy status

Debevin

Felion

Serminak

Xervia

Kletiuk

Foreword

This is the USA Edition, which uses American Imperial (Standard) units of measurement. A Metric units edition is also available.

Elements of my style that the reader should note are my use of italics to indicate quoted sentences that are telepathically or psionicly communicated. For example;

"It’s wonderful to be able to think with you, mind-to-mind." she responded.

I use the same MS Word files for both eBooks and paper books, and paper book printers don’t like bold or underlined text, so I also use italics occasionally to indicate words that are spoken with intensity. For example;

"You are absolutely out of your mind!" he growled.

If a sentence is already italicized because it’s a telepathic communication, any words in that sentence that are communicated with extra intensity will be indicated by being non-italicized, for example;

"That’s all a bunch of crap, and you know it." she psionicly reprimanded him.

I use ALL CAPITALS occasionally to indicate yelling or great loudness, whether the words are spoken or telepathic; volume and intensity being distinct qualities.

In this story, many common words are also the names of magic spells, such as Sending, Flight, and Speaking, or have traditionally had highly religious connotations like The Source, and those words are capitalized to indicate this.

Since languages began, they have constantly changed and evolved. The advents of written language, printing, and language standardization have all slowed language evolution, but it still goes on. Sometimes the resulting conventions that make up ‘proper English’ don’t make a lot of sense, and they are slightly different in every English-speaking country. In most of these cases I’ve caved and used the conventions anyway in order to avoid irritating my readers who are sensitive about these things, like writing ‘seven thousand, three hundred and fifty-five’. It makes no sense that the compound words for numbers up to one hundred are hyphenated, like fifty-five, and the others aren’t, like three thousand. But I go with it anyway. I’m Canadian, and I’ve recently realized that the way I use semicolons is only correct in Canadian English, but other than that I try to use USA English because it’s less irrational than the other varieties.

However, there is one English convention that I absolutely refuse to follow because it distorts the emotional connotations of the writing. I’ll point it out one here so that you’ll know that it’s not a mistake; I’m doing it on purpose.

If a quoted sentence is a question or an exclamation, it is conventionally written as a complete sentence within quotations, for example;

Get down! she yelled. Or;

Is that right? he asked.

However if a sentence that would normally end in a period is a quotation, correct English says that it should be ended with a comma. For example;

I live here, he said.

But the comma makes it a sentence fragment rather than a complete sentence, and leaves the reader hanging, giving a different emotional feel to the writing compared to the way I would write it, which is;

I live here. he said.

I only use a comma to end a quotation if it truly is a sentence fragment, because the sentence was interrupted where a comma would normally go. For example;

I live here, he said, And you’re not welcome.

I suppose in that case I shouldn’t capitalize the word ‘and’, since it’s not really the first word in a sentence, but it bugs me if I don’t.

It’s hard to change what is considered Correct English, but I hope that other writers who read my books will agree with me about these points and do the same in their own writing, and that eventually doing it our way will be considered correct.

Kellaran is over 84,000 miles (135,185 km) in circumference. The circumference of the Earth is 24,901 miles (40,075 km).

The events in this book take place 5201 years before the beginnings of Blessings Of A Curse - Book One of The Nexus Of Kellaran Trilogy and The Age of The Just Alliance, and six years before the last Sylvan war.

Wayne Edward Clarke, March 27, 2015.

Soul Dead and Green Eyes

Chapter 1

(If you are reading this account in a language other than Grand High Draconian, you might consider making a contribution to the Translation section of your local Magic Users Guild. XVD)

Report! Captain Dhiak ordered as the two tired soldiers shed their armor and were given food and water. Where are Belgran and Sergeant Lekin?!

Sir. Smid said, then paused a moment, as if to order his thoughts. "It was the strangest thing. We were takin’ a shortcut that Belgran knew about, a little two-rut cart path about two miles south of the highway. We came to this burnt out house. It must have burned last night because there was still a bit of smoke from the smoldering, and you could smell it was really recent, an’ bad. It’d been right beside the road, and one of the half-burned main timbers had fallen mostly across the way, and there was this kid sittin’ on the end of the timber with his legs out, blockin’ the rest a’ the road. He’s all covered in ash an’ soot, his head down, his hands on his thighs, ain’t wearin’ nothin’ but his trousers. Couldn’t of been more than twelve, maybe thirteen years old. He didn’t move a muscle as we come marchin’ up.

It was just after noon so we were all hot and sweaty, and you know how Sergeant Lekin was, he hated everything just on general principles anyway, so he was in a pretty snarly mood from marchin’ in the heat in his armor. He kicks the kid’s legs out of the way as he walks past, not hard to hurt ‘em, just to get ‘em out ‘a the way, but not nice about it neither, an’ he says; ‘Outta the way, peasant!

Smid paused for a drink of water, his eyes unfocused as he remembered, then continued. "The kid stands up an’ says ‘Hey’ as he steps up behind Sergeant Lekin. Not yellin’ or anything, just hey, in a completely normal tone of voice. Lekin spins around like he’s gonna yell somethin’ nasty, but he’s kinda’ surprised to find the kid so close to him that their bellies are almost touchin, and the kid’s looking him up right in the eye with this strange look on his face, or I should say no look on his face, no expression at all, and that was the strange part. And as this is happenin’ the kid takes Lekin’s short sword out of its scabbard enough to get the tip clear, and he lowers the handle end enough to get it pointing up as the tip is restin’ on Lekin’s belt, and he shoves it up under Sergeant Lekin’s breast plate and into his heart. He didn’t do it particularly fast, or slow, he just did it, casual like, like you’d slice a carrot, without lookin’ away from Sergeant Lekin’s eyes. It was all over in a second.

"Sergeant Lekin’ gets this stunned look on his face as he tries to grab the blade or the wound through his armor, then his legs start to give out an’ shake, an’ the kid casually pushes him backward off the blade, and he falls.

"We were so close as this is goin’ on that I could’ve reached out and touched him. The kid turns around and looks at the rest of us. He didn’t threaten us with the sword, he just let it hang by his side, drippin’ blood. But his face… It was like havin’ a dead man lookin’ at you.

"We all just stood there for a second, then Belgran says ‘Crap!’ an’ he reaches for the kid, and the kid cuts off two of Belgran’s fingers with no more hurry or emotion than wavin’ away flies. Then Belgran yells crap again, a lot louder this time as he draws his longsword, and an arrow hits him in the throat. A small arrow, prob’ly elf made, or… Or from a bow for a kid.

The boy just stands there as Belgran starts thrashin’ his life out on the ground, then me an’ Krin here, we ran the hell outta there. Once we were in the trees an’ had some cover, we look back and the kid’s just sittin’ on the end of the burnt beam again, just like how we found ‘im, ‘cept with the bloody sword.

Sir, I figured it was an elven trap and the boy was spelled. Krin stated. I thought the best thing to do at that point was to catch up to you here at the camp and report.

Captain Dhiak looked from one to the other of them for a moment, his jaw clenched. You’ll take Lieutenant Fastel’s platoon back there in the morning. he ordered. They have our best trackers. Tell Fastel that you’re to find the boy and the archer. Kill them.

Yes Sir.

Earlier that day;

She waited almost twelve minutes, until she was sure that the other two were gone. She stalked carefully out of the trees, her knife in her right hand held toward the boy, her bow in her left, her eyes looking everywhere.

The boy looked at her as she came within a few feet of him, mildly surprised that he hadn’t heard her approach.

She was prepared to fight, but he didn’t move anything but his head and his eyes. She stopped and met his gaze, inspected his expression carefully, then turned away from him as she muttered Soul dead. to herself in Elvish.

She looked over the soldier with the arrow in his throat long enough to be sure he was dead without a doubt, then gingerly approached the other, and when she was just close enough to touch him she suddenly stabbed him in the neck with her little five-inch knife seven or eight times while quietly screaming in rage. She stabbed him as hard as she could, like she was punching him and just happened to be holding a knife at the time. Satisfied he was stone dead, she went back to the first one and carefully pulled her arrow out of his throat, then cleaned it on the sleeve of his tunic just as carefully, along with her knife. She quietly cursed in Elvish as she saw that the arrow was damaged, but put it in a waist-quiver anyway.

She returned her attention to the boy and asked him as she waved at the burnt house; What happened here?

He just stared at her a moment, then muttered to himself; Huh. A little forest elf. Everything about her was forest brown except her bright green eyes. Her boots, pantaloons, short tunic, cloak with the hood thrown back, and her hair were all mottled medium brown, even her bow and the handle of her knife.

She asked again, insistently, almost angrily; What happened here?!

He stared at her another moment before he told her; I know that’s Bhian, but I don’t understand it.

She tried again, asking the same in another tongue, but he shook his head.

If that’s supposed to be Taldrian, you’re no good at it. he informed her.

Fried dragon on a stick! she cursed in anger in Elvish, and tried one more time in Trade Common. What happened here?!

Oh. he said, then answered her in the same language with a strong Taldrian accent as he went back to staring at his feet. "Well last night as we were sitting down to supper, four soldiers came to the door and banged hard. Not these ones, other ones. It should have been okay because they were Taldrian soldiers, but it was wrong, it was all wrong right from the beginning and we could all feel it from the way they looked at us. Father gave us the quiet sign that they were enemies, but we already knew, and we got our minds ready to fight like he taught us.

"He was nice to them anyway, he bid them good evening and asked how they fared, and they asked to share our meal because they smelt it as they marched up the road, and they were tired from marching for many days. Father said yes and told mother to give them the places of honor, which meant we moved our plates down and they were served at the head end of the table by father, between us and him. Mother never sat, she made sure she was bustling around the whole time as the men ate and talked with Father about the war and looked around like they were deciding which of them were going to get which of our things. They had loosened their armor, but they never took it off, they just left their helmets by the door, and they kept their swords on.

"As the leader finished eating he suddenly stops being nice, and he smiled real mean at Father and said that he appreciated Father’s hospitality, and now they were gonna bed our women and help themselves to anything else we had.

"Father had his spare sword clipped to the underside of the table, and he made a faked afraid face as he drew it fast and shoved it all the way through the leader’s neck, but the man grabbed the blade of the sword with his hands as he was dying and held it long enough for another of them to cut Father’s guts open. Mother went for that one with Father’s regular sword but she only hit his armor for two swings, and then he chopped her down. My big sister Madia and I had hunting knives clipped to the underside of our chairs, and Madia stabbed one in the side of his neck really good. The one on my side was already standing up and drawing his sword when I got my knife out, so I cut him pretty good on his sword hand, but he hit me hard with his other hand and the back of my head hit the stone of the floor and it knocked me out.

"When I woke up there was fire everywhere, and there was only one soldier still alive, and he was on top of Madia and he was mating her by force and she was crying really hard. I grabbed the big cast iron pan and hit him in the back of his neck with the edge as hard as I could, and I heard his neck go crack, but I hadn’t realized that he was holding Madia’s knife at her throat to keep her from fighting back, and he killed her with it as he thrashed a second and fell on her when he died. I realized it when I rolled him off.

I stood there until my shirt and socks were holed from embers, and I got burned here, and here, and here, and here. I said the holy words so my family’s souls would go to the afterlife. Then the fire was so hot that I had to get out. I watched the fire burn until it was done. Then I sat down on this beam, until these other soldiers came along. I’m getting thirsty. I’ll have to go get some water soon.

She stared at him for a long moment before unslinging a water-skin from beneath her cloak. The tension drained from her as she handed it to him and sat beside him on the beam, suddenly seeming weary.

He drank deep, then handed the skin back. Thanks.

She put it away, then they sat in silence for a minute.

I still don’t understand. he suddenly stated. We’re Taldrian. They were Taldrian soldiers. But they looked at us as enemies from the second they saw us.

You’re Bhian, and Taldria just fought a vicious war with Bhia. she told him, then bitterly added; There’s a lot of hate.

No, we’re Taldrian. he patiently explained a moment later. We’re over a mile from the Bhian border, and we’ve lived here all my life.

That’s not always where the border was. You look Bhian, the red hair and blue eyes with the up-turned nose is distinct. Your ancestors were from Bhia, as sure as the Source will rise tomorrow morning. For scum like these, that’s enough. she explained, and spat on the one he’d heart-stabbed.

Ah. he nodded. They were silent for another long moment before he spoke again.

I suppose I should thank you for killing that one.

I’m going to kill them all. she stated with obvious hatred.

What, all the Taldrian soldiers?

"All the humans. They’re a blight on the world and they need to be exterminated. But yes, I’ll start with the Taldrian army, and most importantly of all, I’m going to kill Vork the Third, King of Taldria.

Oh. he nodded. A moment later he asked; Are you going to kill me?

He didn’t seem at all concerned about it.

You’re already dead. she stated with a dismissive wave. You were killed by those soldiers last night, along with your family.

He pinched himself on his leg, and said; Actually, I’m pretty sure that I’m still alive.

Your body and your mind are still alive, but your soul is dead. she stated. Your mind yearns for death so it can join your soul. That’s why you killed this pig, and because he irritated you, but you knew there was little chance you’d survive a fight against the four of them. If I tell you to hold still for a minute so I can kill you, you’d probably let me, and not care a whit about it one way or the other.

He considered that, then nodded. You’re right. You can kill me if you want. You seem pretty upset at humans. Maybe it’ll help you feel better.

She shook her head. No. There’s no pleasure in killing someone who’s already dead. Besides, I’ve been alone almost all the time for over a year, hunting the Taldrian army, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to for a change, even if I have to use this disharmonious noise to do it.

Yeah, Trade Common is pretty ugly, all right. he agreed. But people everywhere know it, so it’s useful. That’s what my father said when he made me learn it, anyway.

She snorted. You should be thankful your soul is dead. It’s the only thing keeping you from being in a world of horrible pain and sorrow and horror and hatred right now. Your soul might start to come back to life in a while, and if you feel that happening you should stop it. You’re better off this way. Believe me, I know.

He nodded, then asked; Why didn’t you shoot those other two soldiers?

"Because I only had the one arrow left. I don’t have the skill for making any more, so we’ll have to hike to the land of my people to get some more.

Stay here. I’m going to search the wreckage of your home for anything useful, then we’ll move on.

Why? he asked.

Because those two soldiers that got away will be back in the morning with a whole lot of their comrades, and they’ll be hunting us.

No, I mean, why should I go with you?

Because I saved your life, even if you don’t care about it. You owe me a debt of honor and you have to do what I say until I release you.

Oh.

And check these scum. Take any valuables. The packs will have food and water. Get the belt and scabbard for that short sword too, you’re big enough to be able to use it. Clean it before you sheath it.

When he was done what she’d asked he sat down on the beam again and trimmed the sword belt to fit, put it on, and waited.

She eventually returned, and handed him his father’s best sword in a half-burned scabbard, and a leather coin pouch. Sorry, there was really nothing else worth saving. The fire really burned hot, from the wind last night. The sword’s too big for you for now, but I figured you’d want it anyway for when you’re grown. The dead soldiers had coins, they probably had just been paid at the end of the war and hadn’t had a chance to spend it yet. It’s melted, but it’s still gold. Same with your parents’ coins and jewelry. The stones are still good, but the gold’s melted. I saved a few jars of preserves.

Thanks. he said as he handed her five gold coins, and put another five into the pouch with the melted gold and jewels. "Those are from the one you shot. I kept these from the one I stabbed, and both the short swords because they’re too big for you.

You know, if you really want to kill soldiers, we should stay around here. My family were professional hunters, and my father made sure we were ready in case the war came here. I know the whole area for twenty miles in every direction, and I know every foot of it. We have five shelters, twelve caches of supplies and weapons, trap lines that are good for men as well as animals, some drop traps and pit traps and lots of other nasty surprises. And I know how to make arrows.

She gave a nasty laugh. Ha. You’re going to be useful, Soul Dead.

That’s what you’re going to call me? he asked, a bit surprised. Soul Dead, like it’s a nickname or something?

Sure, why not? I don’t want to know your name, since I’ll probably have to kill you later.

Ah. Okay. And what do I call you?

Anything you want. I renounced my name when I became a renegade from The People Of Life.

Anything I want? What if I want to call you ‘Smells Like Wildcat Crap’? he asked as he shouldered one of the soldiers’ packs, into which he’d consolidated the best of the two men’s supplies and possessions.

Then you can. she calmly stated as she dumped out the other pack and put the jars of preserves and the five coins in it. "But I swear that if you do, when I do finally kill you, I’ll blind you and torture you for a month first."

Ah. Then I think I’ll call you Green Eyes. They’re your best feature, and they’re very pretty.

She whirled on him in sudden rage, her knife appearing in her hand. "Are you trying to flatter me, you stupid bloody human?!!" she screeched.

No. he calmly stated. I really couldn’t care less whether you like me or hate me. It’s just a fact. Wild pigs are ugly, your eyes are pretty, and that’s all there is to it.

With that he turned his back on her and made his way around the ruin of the house.

She followed as she put her knife away and adjusted her bow and the over-large pack on her back, and was irritated to realize that he meant exactly what he said, then she was irritated at herself for being irritated about it.

Chapter 2

You have a plan?! she demanded of him as he turned onto