Zietsch The Woodzee Chronicles: Book 3 - Pearlmoon

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-3-946773-39-9
Verlag: Fabylon
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, Band 3, 450 Seiten

Reihe: Woodzee Chronicles

"A great fantasy adventure that is impossible to resist after the first few pages." Lies-und-lausch

"More legends, heroism and epicness you will rarely find." Mediamania

The great epic about young knight Rowarn and his battle companions.
Centuries ago, a magical artifact shattered into seven pieces during a murderous war. Only the Two-Splitted, it is said, can heal the Tabernacle - but no one knows what will happen.
Who might it be? Will he use the powers for good or for bad?

All seems lost, Rowarn and his companions must flee from the Lightless Dubhan. It seems that Femris can no longer be stopped - so all the races join together once again in an alliance against him.
Rowarn sets out in search of the last Shards of the Tabernacle, and in the process gets into Demon Land and lost in deep waters.
In the end, the fate of the Two-Splitted bound to the Tabernacle must be fulfilled, and the decision as to whether Woodzee will fall into darkness will be made.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Zietsch, Uschi

Leseproben

Chapter 38
Of Dreams and Women

Rowarn returned to his old room in the main house, which was already waiting for him. Landi, the caring maid, had placed a bouquet of straw flowers and fragrant dried herbs on the table, and fresh clothes lay on the bed. Soon Korela came to him, and this time Rowarn endured the brief examination procedure without objection.

"Where is Angmor?" he asked the healer.

"In his usual house," she answered. "Don't worry about him, young master, he is better than the last time. He merely needs rest, and we can give him something for the pain. Your other companions are also well."

"Not all of them," he said sadly.

She nodded. "Yes, I am sorry for your friend. But now that Lady Arlyn is here, there will be healing for the Prince as well."

Rowarn wished he could share her confidence. It shook him to see the once strong and vital Prince gray and suffering. Olrig, too, seemed to firmly believe that all would be well. Sure, it hadn't been that long since Noïrun had been wounded. But Arlyn's horrified face had expressed exactly what Rowarn felt as well.

The next few days passed quietly. After the first onset of winter, it became warmer again, the night frosts failed to appear, and rain alternated with sunshine. Rowarn sent Reeb and Laradim on patrol every day around Fernhame, because he did not really trust the peace despite everything. The horses were well cared for, equipment and weapons mended. Olrig's leg was almost healed, and he no longer limped. Arlyn still kept House Fernhame closed to travelers, but those seeking healing were not turned away.

Rowarn spent time alternately with Angmor and Noïrun, and at the hot springs, where he could think best. At least there was something to be glad about – he was not the Two-Splitted. As Heir to Ardig Hall, he was still bound to the Tabernacle, but it was not he who would one day have to decide whether its power should be unleashed – and how it should be used. Rather, he now had a clear goal in mind: to prevent Femris from getting his hands on the remaining fragments. Angmor had confirmed Olrig's assumption that Femris was alive, that he had protected himself from death by a magical spell. This did not lessen Rowarn's guilty conscience, but it gave him hope that all was not lost.

"That's not quite right, though," Graum once said to him when they met at the Houses of Healing and Rowarn spoke in response to the demon's question about what was bothering him. "If he is the Two-Splitted, then he must use the Tabernacle, that is how it was meant to be. You almost ruined Erenatar's plan with your sword thrust, but if you withhold the Shards from Femris, it makes no difference to me."

"I know," Rowarn replied. "But I have decided to heal the Tabernacle first, and then, I think, the decision will be made as to whether Femris is the chosen one. He may be the Two-Splitted, but still, he has to earn the Tabernacle first. That, at least, is my view."

"Femris fought the war only because he was wronged," objected the Shadow Lynx. "How do you know he really turned to the Darkness for good?"

"Angmor fears, and he is not the only one, Halrid Falkon also believes that Femris wants to use the Tabernacle to bring the Black Annatai, the Lord of the Flame Throne to Woodzee. – Don't worry, I won't speak his name," he hastily added when he saw Graum's fur bristle.

Graum's long brush ears twitched. "That would be ..." he put in a hiss, and Rowarn raised his hand.

"Now you see. As long as that possibility exists, I will do everything I can to deprive Femris of the Tabernacle, no matter how much I put myself in the wrong. For this cannot have been Erenatar's plan."

"Then I guess it's going to come down to one last confrontation between you and him, for which you'll need a lot of strength," Graum said. "I don't want to be in your shoes, young King of Ardig Hall, no, I really don't."

He turned to go, but on the way he shouted something back. "But I will give my hide for you, Rowarn, and stay by your side to the end."

"Thank you," Rowarn murmured, not sure if he wouldn't have preferred to be the Two-Splitted himself. Instead of lighter, Graum's words had made everything even heavier.

But that didn't help him, he couldn't go back, he bore the responsibility. The first thing to do was to end this unfortunate war.

Every day he waited for news from the messenger falcons, and his hands trembled with excitement when he finally received a letter from his foster parents. He immediately recognized Snow Moon's curved handwriting, completely even, as if every word had been drawn. He sought a quiet corner in the inn, broke the seal, and read tensely.

Dear Son,

Your Muhmes greet you.

Weideling is quiet without you and we miss you very much. Especially now in the approaching winter, we will miss the long evenings with candlelight and stories. It may seem strange, but with none of our foals was the pain of separation so great. Velerii children are quite independent from the beginning, but with you it was something completely different, for you we were there every day for twenty years, have protected and cared for you.

Anyway, Shadowrunner and I have decided to have another foal. We want to have children's laughter and happiness around us again. In the spring after next it will be so far. I am sure that by then our child will be born into a new time of peace.

Don't think that the changes will pass Inniu by unnoticed. We follow with trepidation and hope how the situation is getting worse and are grateful for any news.

We are therefore happy about your long letter, but it has also shaken us deeply and has kept us busy for days. But let us tell you before anything else: We are very proud of you. What you have already achieved at your young age is hardly imaginable. You are a true and worthy Heir to Ardig Hall, and we hope that you are also ready in your heart to accept the kingship. After all, you have written that you want to accept your inheritance – but you don't seem to be sure yet whether you can handle it. Be of good cheer! We have done our best to prepare you for this task. Shadowrunner would never admit it, of course, but he got a little misty-eyed when he heard about your exploits.

What we are struggling with, however, is the news about your father. Please forgive us for not going into more detail here. We have to get a grip on it first. Perhaps we will be able to talk about it one day when we meet again.

Now let us come to your request. We have already rounded up two hundred good horses, for fifty will not be enough for you. These horses are yours, Rowarn. Consider them a gift from Weideling to the King of Ardig Hall. A few new recruits from the Hinterlands, who could not go last spring, will drive the herd directly to Iron Watch, to the new army camp. They will certainly arrive there this winter, but they will take the Northeast Passage, not the route you took to Ardig Hall. We think it is safer to stay as close as possible to the borders of Gandur to avoid the Dubhani. Two moon changes, therefore, they will be on their way, but certainly not too late. The horses are already well trained, they just need the final touches to be used as war horses. The recruits are inexperienced, but I think they are loyal, strong and well-behaved lads and a few young women who are quick learners. I am also to give you greetings from Jelim. Of course she wanted to accompany the herd, but we won't allow it, her circumstances are already much too advanced. You can imagine the grief her arrival caused Rayem's parents. But they have taken Jelim in like a daughter. The grandchild is a comfort to them, and they can hardly wait for the confinement. I think in two moon changes it will be time. Jelim, by the way, is in the process of setting up a city guard in case the turmoil of war reaches Inniu. There are marauding gangs everywhere, as I'm sure you know, and also the troops searching for the Guardians of the remaining Shards. But don't worry about us, we can defend Weideling, and Jelim has the young men well in hand.

Dear foster son, from afar we send you our greetings. Go your way and believe in yourself.

Lúvenor's Light be with you!

With love

Snow Moon and Shadowrunner

NS: I hope the messenger falcon doesn't lose the Royal Willow Oil on the way. It's only a few drops, but I'm sure Arlyn can use it. If it no longer has the oil on it, you have permission to pluck and roast it.

Rowarn read the letter twice while his fingers played with the small bottle of the Royal Willow Oil that the messenger falcon had brought back safe and sound. Again and again he had to smile, but at the same time he felt deep melancholy. He looked up when Arlyn came in. "Sit with me, I have something for you." He handed her the flacon, which she accepted with her eyes lighting up, and read the letter aloud to her. Several times Arlyn laughed in amusement.

"They have given me – but also you – an extremely generous gift," she remarked in conclusion. "Two hundred noble horses, that's enough to buy a small county, along with a castle."

"Already own it, albeit a bit run down," Rowarn said with a wry grin. "But I'm really touched by it, I never expected that. With this, we can rebuild the cavalry from scratch, and later ... oh, I don't want to think that far yet. Who knows what will become of me. I can't really imagine being King of Ardig Hall for the rest of my life. Maybe I'll go away when it's all over and peace has come."

She blinked...