Silverbrook Read online

  Through the Tenebris

  Part II — Silverbrook

  by J.C. Maynard

  Contents

  Title Page

  Maps

  Character Guide

  Setting Guide

  Interlogue

  The Glowing Flower

  Darkness Falls

  The Crandles

  The Sewers

  Madrick’s Letter

  Silverbrook

  The Library Under Roshk

  The Trial

  The Pawn

  Iridescence

  Sailing East

  Port Dellock

  Endlebarr

  The Last Days of War

  The Fortress

  Xandria’s Weapon

  The Silence Before the Storm

  The Army of the Dead

  The End of Winter

  Maps

  Character Guide

  ~Calleneck Bernoil - Evertauri/Sorcerer; Middle Bernoil child; Lives in Seirnkov, Cerebria.

  ~Prince Eston Whenderdehl - Prince of Ferramoor; Eldest Whenderdehl son; Lives in the Palace of Aunestauna, Ferramoor.

  ~Kyan - Street thief; Orphan; Lives in Aunestauna, Ferramoor alone in a rooftop shack.

  ~Tayben Shae - Cerebrian soldier; Only child; Stationed in the forest of Endlebarr; Native to a small fishing village - Woodshore.

  Calleneck

  ~characters who live in Seirnkov, Cerebria~

  (characters grouped by family / relevance)

  *denotes Evertauri/Sorcerer/Sorceress

  -*Aunika Bernoil (22) - Eldest Bernoil child; Sister of Calleneck; Evertauri

  -*Dalah Bernoil (16) - Youngest Bernoil child; Sister of Calleneck; Evertauri

  -Mr. Bernoil (53) - Father of the Bernoils; Cobbler

  -Mrs. Bernoil (54) - Mother of the Bernoils

  -*Madrick Nebelle (President) (46) - Founder of the Evertauri, Father of the Nebelles

  -*Raelynn Nebelle (19) - Daughter of Madrick; Evertauri

  -(*Shonnar Nebelle) (21)(X) - Diseased son of Madrick; Brother of Raelynn; Former Evertauri

  -*Selenora Everrose (23) - Skilled Evertauri; Raised by Madrick Nebelle

  -*Sir Borius Shipton (47) - Second in command in the Evertauri

  -*Sir Mordvitch (44) - Third in command in the Evertauri; Spy for the Evertauri in Xandria’s fortress; Xandria's Advisor

  -*Tallius Tooble (20) - Best friend of Calleneck; Evertauri

  -*Lillia Hane (20) - New Evertauri; Friend of the Bernoils and Tallius

  -*Sir Kishk (the Trainer) (36) - Evertauri Council member; Seer of newcomers and Evertauri trainer

  -*Sir Beshk (64) - Evertauri Council member

  -*Grennkovff (26) - Evertauri; Close to Selenora Everrose

  -Gilsha Gold (18) - Schoolfriend of Calleneck, Neighbor to the Bernoils

  -Lady Parrine (25) - Elected leader of The Crandles, a peaceful nation south of Cerebria (exception: lives in Findinholm, The Crandles)

  Eston

  ~characters who live in the Palace of Aunestauna~

  (characters grouped by family / relevance)

  *denotes Royalty

  -*King Tronum Whenderdehl (51) - King of Ferramoor; Father of Eston and Fillian; Son of Gallegore; Twin Brother of Xandria

  -*Queen Eradine Whenderdehl (47) - Queen of Ferramoor; Mother of Eston and Fillian; Born in Parusmare, and eastern nation

  -*Prince Fillian Whenderdehl (18) - Younger Prince of Ferramoor; Youngest of two Whenderdehl sons; Brother of Eston

  -(*King Gallegore the Great) (84)(X) - Diseased King; Father of Tronum and Xandria; Emperor of the Gallegorian Empire, which has since fractured

  -*Queen Xandria Whenderdehl (51) - Queen of Cerebria; Daughter of Gallegore; Twin Sister of Tronum (exception: lives in Seirnkov, Cerebria in her fortress)

  -Senator An’Drui (44) - Ferramish Senator; Member of the Ferramish Council; Mother of Qerru-Mai; Friend of Queen Eradine

  -Qerru-Mai An’Drui (19) - Daughter of the Senator; Close friend of Prince Eston and Prince Fillian; Holds multiple positions in the Palace/ Ferramish government

  -Benja Tiggins (22) - Palace Overseer in charge of the Ferramish Guard; Close friend of Prince Eston and Qerru-Mai

  -Sir Whittingale (42) - Eston’s personal teacher and mentor; advisor to King Tronum; Member of the Ferramish Council

  -Prophet Ombern (76) - Prophet of the Church of the Great Mother; Member of the Ferramish Council; (exception: lives in Great Cathedral of the Luxuex, First District of Aunestauna, Ferramoor)

  -Judge Ratticrad (60) - A crotchety High Judge for the Palace in charge of trials and punishments of government officials and infamous criminals

  Kyan

  ~characters who live in Aunestauna, Ferramoor~

  (characters sorted by group / relevance)

  *denotes Nightsnake

  -*Riccolo (25) - Leader of the Nightsnakes; “Lord of Thieves”; Fourth District

  -*Vree Srine (20) - Nightsnake; Ally of Kyan; Fourth District - Riccolo's Manor

  -*Bay (23) - Nightsnake second in command; Fourth District in Riccolo's Manor

  -“The Giant” (58) - Kyan’s pawn shop trader; Huge, seven foot tall, gruff man; Fourth District

  -Mr. Tumno (49) - The Baker; Third District

  Tayben

  ~characters who are stationed in Endlebarr~

  (characters sorted by group / relevance)

  *denotes Phantom

  -*Gallien Aris (21) - Tayben’s best friend; Cerebrian Phantom Soldier; Second Platoon; From an aristocratic family in Gienn

  -*Thephern Luck (26) - Cerebrian Phantom Soldier; Stern leader of Second Platoon

  -*Chent Vantte (23) - Cerebrian Phantom Soldier; Second Platoon; Quiet Archer

  -*Ferron Grenzo (22) - Cerebrian Phantom Soldier; Second Platoon; Jokester and tracker

  -*General Lekshane (42) - Cerebrian Phantom General

  -*Albeire Harkil (28) - Cerebrian Phantom Soldier; Third Platoon Leader

  -Birg Norr (19) - Cerebrian soldier; Platoon-mate and friend of Tayben

  -Captain Fenlell (31) - Cerebrian soldier; Captain of Tayben’s first platoon in the army

  -Vaya Irroy (27) - Personal messenger between Xandria and the Phantoms; “Fastest Rider in Cerebria”

  Setting Guide

  ~main nations and cities~

  Ferramoor - A western nation ruled by King Tronum full of green rolling hills, rivers, and deciduous forests.

  Aunestauna - The capital of Ferramoor where the Palace is located.

  *First District - royal and rich, the Palace and its surroundings. Second District - wealthy merchants, Great Bazaar, ship docks. Third District - average citizens, Kyan’s home. Fourth District - crime-ridden slums.

  Abendale - The second largest city in Ferramoor; acts as a "second capital."

  Nottinberry - A large Ferramish city; large farmer population.

  Wallingford - A large Ferramish city; military camps.

  Ifle-Laarm - A large Ferramish city.

  Cerebria - An eastern nation ruled by Queen Xandria full of coniferous forests, snowy peaks, and fjords.

  Seirnkov - The capital of Cerebria where the Evertauri , the Nexus, and Xandria’s fortress are located.

  Gienn - A Cerebrian mountainside city with a large technology and manufacturing industry.

  Ontraug - A large city in southern Cerebria on the central rivers.

  Roshk - A large city in southern Cerebria.

  Port Dellock - A Cerebrian port city in the southern fjords with a large prison.

  ~other nations from the original Gallegorean Empire~

  The Crandles - A peaceful nation southwest of Cerebria full of lakes and pastures.

  The Southlands - A huge, desert nation south of Ferramoor. Large popul
ation of gypsies and desert tribes/caravans.

  The Northlands - A desolate, tundra nation north of the Taurbeir-Krons.

  Parusemare - A green-hilled nation west of Ferramoor with many cities on its western shoreline.

  Eilland - A forested, cold nation east of Cerebria with a large, inland sea.

  Guavaan - A humid, jungled island nation far southeast of the Southlands and Cerebria.

  ~other locations~

  Endlebarr - A dense, enchanted forest spanning between Cerebria and Ferramoor. The forest remains in a perpetual summer, and shifts into a golden autumn during wintertime.

  The Taurbeir-Krons - A massive, treacherous mountain range stretching north to south through the forest of Endlebarr. This mountain range has a southern passage accessible by summer only and a central passage blocked by the Great Cerebrian Gate.

  Camp Stoneheart - A Ferramish camp in western Endlebarr settled near the nest of one of the five beasts.

  The Network - An abandoned system of underground goblin tunnels and cities spanning the length of Cerebria; home of the Evertauri.

  The Nexus - Center location of the underground Network; Headquarters of the Evertauri; abandoned city.

  Rjarnsk - Abandonded goblin capital city beneath Roshk

  Interlogue

  ~Four Years Prior

  A sliver of torchlight slipped into the dark stone room as the door creaked open. A teenage Selenora Everrose silently stepped into the pitch black of Madrick’s office and closed the large, goblin-made door behind her. Holding a small crimson flame in her hand, Selenora raised it in the air to examine her surroundings. Strange silver instruments and ornaments, as well as countless books lined the shelves of the President’s office.

  Looking back at the closed door behind her, Selenora slowly approached Madrick’s cluttered desk. Sitting down in the wooden chair, she delicately opened each drawer, sifting through the papers and objects inside. She knew it was there somewhere — she had been seeing it in visions. Whatever it is . . . it’ll show me the memory.

  Continuing to pull out drawers, she found a hidden drawer beneath the desk that unlatched from behind. Pressing a crimson flame up to the lock, she closed her eyes and focused the energy into the lock, clicking it open. Selenora slid the wooden box out. Inside it, a small flower glowed with a white-blue light, faint like starlight.

  Carefully, she grazed the petals with her finger as energy coursed between her flesh and the flower. Show me the Tenebris once and for all, she spoke in her mind. The room around her seemed to disappear as light overtook her, and she felt her body floating weightless in a void of endless light. She felt no need to breathe or move, as though she was suspended in air . . . her soul seeped into the world around her. Memories floated out of her mind and flashed before her eyes in a hazy vision.

  The world around her warped into a scene from when she was just a child, deep in a dark cavern of the Nexus. It took her to where the memory had always stopped before but then continued past the edge of her recollection. She watched as thousands of glowing roses grew behind her eight-year-old self. She saw Madrick rush her out of the cavern and place his hand to her head with a silver flame. She saw Madrick coil the light into her mind, taking out a small crimson speck of light that faded black like a cooling ember — the memory.

  Selenora didn’t have any sense of time or space. As memories and secrets and thoughts coursed through the glowing matter around her, she felt a sense of realization pass over her — Madrick had been stealing her memories. More and more stolen memories weaved into her mind from times when Selenora realized the potential of her powers and Madrick robbed her of her knowledge. She knew not how long she had floated in the void of light or when her mind slowly left the ethereal world and coursed back into her body.

  Selenora opened her eyes and her mind was thrown back into reality. Her heart stopped when she saw Madrick Nebelle standing before her in horror.

  Madrick looked at the glowing flower in her hand. “What have you done?” he whispered. His eyes shot up and he looked fearfully at Selenora. “What did you see?”

  Selenora froze in the chair, holding the glowing flower in her hand.

  President Madrick pressed her. “Did you see it? Were you there? . . . Did you connect to the Tenebris?”

  Selenora stared blankly at Madrick and ever so slowly nodded her head. “And I saw everything . . . I saw what you’ve been hiding from me.” Selenora stood up from the chair. “You’ve been hiding memories from me, trying to supress my power. The cavern of roses. I could’ve gone there to access the Tenebris.”

  Madrick stepped forward cautiously. “Selenora, you don’t know the dangers of what you’re trying to do. I’ve seen what happens when someone connects to the Tenebris. They can’t come back, the power inside them becomes too great for them to handle.”

  Selenora shook her head. “It’s more power to help cleanse the world of evil. Don’t you want that? If you showed all of the Evertauri the Tenebris, we could rule over the world ourselves and establish the peace that the world has lost. Imagine a New Evertauri Empire . . .”

  President Madrick reached forward and snatched the glowing flower out of Selenora’s hand. “Listen to yourself, Selenora . . .” He placed the flower in the drawer and slammed it shut.

  Selenora pointed. “See? You won’t tell me what that is either! Or why it keeps calling out to me and pulling me toward the Tenebris. It’s a woman’s voice that keeps speaking to me.”

  Madrick’s eyes filled with fear and he raised his hand to Selenora’s head with a silver flame. Before Madrick could think the incantation, Selenora reversed the spell with a flash of crimson light, and Madrick fell into a deep sleep, collapsing on the floor of his office.

  Selenora knelt over him and coiled her crimson Taurimous through his mind, taking out a silver speck of light. She spoke softly. “You’ve stolen my memories time and time again. Now the tables are turned. Now, you’ll have to live in the dark, not remembering this — not knowing that I’ve learned the truth about my power . . .” Selenora closed her eyes, reaching for the spell the Tenebris had revealed to her. Reaching, reaching, her light weaved into Madrick’s soul and dimmed there, hiding.

  Selenora opened her eyes and smiled at the sleeping face of Madrick. “Now, should you try to tame me again or kill me, I will always be able to come back through you . . . I’ll always come back.”

  The Glowing Flower

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  ~Afternoon, January 25th

  As winter had settled on the world beyond Endlebarr, the great forest itself had fallen into autumn. Preserved by forces of magic either from the nymphs or something else strange and ancient, the leaves changed to orange and red, and would simply turn back to green come spring, most of them never falling off the branches. When the Phantoms traveled in the canopy on the system of curving and snaking branches of the immense trees, the world around them blazed with color, painted by millions of red and orange leaves. The sunlight traveled farther through the canopy, lightening up the dim forest as the golden and brown leaves cast a warm glow above and below the Phantoms as they traversed on the system of enormous branches.

  A butterfly flapped its wings between the massive trees trunks beside Tayben, who held out his hand to catch a drop of dew falling from the canopy of Endlebarr. Somewhere out in that forest, he led an army of Ferramish troops toward Cerebria as the Ferramish Prince. Eston’s regiment was one of the largest and it moved toward Tayben like a looming storm.

  The autumn forest seemed quieter these days, but not because the bugs and birds had stopped chirping. Tayben strained to hear all the soft sounds of the . . . Come on . . . come on. “Tayben?” said a voice behind him. He spun around to see Gallien standing beside a tall fern. “Are you alright?”

  Tayben gazed into the forest and tried to make out the shape of the butterfly as it flew away, but his vision seemed to be fogged and his balance wasn’t quite as certain as it had been. Nevertheless, he ass
ured Gallien, “Yes, I’m fine.”

  Gallien tracked the butterfly long after it disappeared from Tayben’s vision and heard its fluttering among the sound of falling rain. The dark forest around them grew colder every day as the winter became more intense. “You seem out of it . . . ever since the Battle at the Great Gate.” Tayben stayed silent and tried to listen for any more distant sounds, but could hear none. Gallien picked up a stone and tossed it in his hand. “You haven’t been keeping up with us whenever we travel.”

  In a trance, Tayben looked out into the forest at a small glowing flower.