Catching on
A week later, a week and a day after the first marriage, a week of getting up several times each night to eat, and the most painful dreams he had ever had, there were only four students left with Ishvi, and the five of them sat listening to ‘story time’; having listened to a Horseman story as told by Tristan, and now listening to Seth.
//So, as soon as you are ready, you will be sent out on the plains where you will transform, or change, into Horsemen. It takes a while. I still remember when I changed…//
//We are going to change into Horsemen??!// Ishvi interrupted, finally understanding what Seth was saying.
Seth looked at him, //Yes. That is the next part of the plan. Indeed, you have already started.//
What? //But why?// Ishvi asked, not willing to follow up on the ‘already started’.
//There are several reasons, I will be able to explain all of them afterwards. Some of them would not make sense now, and others might hinder your transformation.//
//But what do we have to do?// put in another lad. Ishvi could see heads nodding all around the circle.
//Well, the first thing you need to do is what you’ve already done. You need to have learned Kelii well enough to carry on a decent conversation.//
Ishvi’s heart started pounding. Kelii verb tenses were difficult, but it seemed to him that Seth had said ‘already done’ − that he was saying that they had passed their first test. The test that led to… /
/And then what?// asked a third lad, interrupting his thoughts, his very pleasant but very nervous thoughts.
//I will now marry you, each to only one Wife// Seth replied with a grin, nodding at Tristan, who left the room, //and I shall send each of you on a trip.
You will each go with a Horseman and your own Aviovamimo. In a few days you will begin to feel dizzy, go to sleep, and change.//
Ishvi’s heart pounded out of his chest. He looked around at the other lads, and they all looked excited. Then he heard a noise from the door, and the lads all leapt to their feet together.
He looked, they all looked, as the lasses came in. Suddenly he realised that the other four lads with him were all from the north, that they would all be marrying lasses from his own area, which meant that he would be marrying… He looked at her, and she looked at him. He did his best, and it was hard, to look at her eyes. She saw his struggle, and grinned, causing him to blush furiously. He started as Seth took his hand, and walked him over toward her. Then, for the first time, he held his Wife’s hand, his new Wife, his beautiful Wife. She looked at him frankly, squeezed his hand, and turned toward Seth.
Ishvi turned as well, and heard the words he had been dreaming of for days, and words he now fully understood, //Ishvi Gregson, standing in the place of your Father…//
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.