BookChapter:Chosen - Chapter One: Difference between revisions

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 “They’re well... but worried about me. Father and Grandfather have been extremely busy managing the business.”
-“Do your predecessors not alternate every twenty years? Who runs the business?” [[Popus Terenlek|Popus]] said. “Your grandfather, [[Jarak Teslek|Jarak]], was talking about something like that last time he was in.” Merik nodded softly.
+“Do your predecessors not alternate every twenty years? Who runs the business?” [[Popus Terenlek|Popus]] said. “Your grandfather, [[Džarak Teslek|Džarak]], was talking about something like that last time he was in.” Merik nodded softly.
 “Now, back to business, Merik; it has been a few months since we last saw you. Been keeping yourself fed, without us,” [[Popus Terenlek|Popus]] teased.
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 He approached them. The near-silent patter of his feet and the drip-drops of his soaked clothing unnerved him. It was quieter than a crypt. He could feel the intense concern and prowess held by his elders through the [[Vistrum]]—even from over two hundred yards away. The others must not have joined the intervention due to work matters.
-Merik felt cold. The Curse surged with his frustration; he suppressed it, and he knew they felt it. He finally reached them and stood before youthful-faced individuals who rivaled his age almost tenfold. [[Lûwela Nîran Teslek|'''Lûwela''']], his mother, sat with arms crossed—deeply concerned, almost indignant. Her blue eye and turquoise eye flashed. His father, '''[[Malek Teslek|Malek]]''', stood with his cyberware right hand on her shoulder. '''Jarak''' and '''Svoeldiir''', his grandfather and great-grandfather, stood next to their lifemates: '''Onja''' and '''Gerta'''.
+Merik felt cold. The Curse surged with his frustration; he suppressed it, and he knew they felt it. He finally reached them and stood before youthful-faced individuals who rivaled his age almost tenfold. [[Lûwela Nîran Teslek|'''Lûwela''']], his mother, sat with arms crossed—deeply concerned, almost indignant. Her blue eye and turquoise eye flashed. His father, '''[[Malek Teslek|Malek]]''', stood with his cyberware right hand on her shoulder. '''Džarak''' and '''Svoeldiir''', his grandfather and great-grandfather, stood next to their lifemates: '''Onja''' and '''Gerta'''.
 “Son... We need to talk.” Her voice reverberated through the emptiness of the hall. She spoke with command and firmness, but motherly concern shone through. [[Gerta Adnar Teslek|'''Gerta''']] was holding back tears. [[Onja Voorlek Teslek|'''Onja''']] was beyond words. '''[[Lûwela Nîran Teslek|Lûwela]]''' continued: “You are Of-Age, and by all that’s right, the Mother and Father have preserved your mind from the Curse. Merik, you ''must'' be bound! You are a danger to all of us and every other person you come across! Why are you ignoring M—” She became frantic, and Merik interrupted.
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 He did not know what she was about to say, but he knew he had to stop her. Merik grew hot. The sickly smell of [[Malisik]] blood stank about him, permeating the air like rotting flesh. “Mother, please, this is not the time for an intervention,” Merik objected politely.
-[[Jarak Teslek|Jarak]] and [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] looked to [[Malek Teslek|Malek]] for his reaction. Merik knew they expected a reprimand—even if he was Of-Age. “Merik, where have you been? Have you been off-world?” Malek asked firmly. The color had left his face; sweat dewed on his forehead. Merik saw it with [[Valorîin]] eyes. Malek’s eye twitched for a second; he held his composure. The other elders caught the foul odor of [[Malisik]] blood. It stained Merik’s clothing; it was on his hands but could be mistaken for dried mud.
+[[Džarak Teslek|Džarak]] and [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] looked to [[Malek Teslek|Malek]] for his reaction. Merik knew they expected a reprimand—even if he was Of-Age. “Merik, where have you been? Have you been off-world?” Malek asked firmly. The color had left his face; sweat dewed on his forehead. Merik saw it with [[Valorîin]] eyes. Malek’s eye twitched for a second; he held his composure. The other elders caught the foul odor of [[Malisik]] blood. It stained Merik’s clothing; it was on his hands but could be mistaken for dried mud.
-[[Malek Teslek|Malek]], [[Jarak Teslek|Jarak]], and [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] had all served as warriors in youth and knew the scent. Malek had a cyberware lower leg and right hand, lost to a plasma blaster bolt. Jarak had a cyberware right eye. Svoeldiir had several cyberware fingers and toes.
+[[Malek Teslek|Malek]], [[Džarak Teslek|Džarak]], and [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] had all served as warriors in youth and knew the scent. Malek had a cyberware lower leg and right hand, lost to a plasma blaster bolt. Džarak had a cyberware right eye. Svoeldiir had several cyberware fingers and toes.
 “No, Father—my elders. I have been up north, sating my... thirst. We have a big problem,” Merik said formally. He grew silent. “The Horde is here on [[Ûvlâ]],” [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] elaborated. He nodded firmly. “I encountered a scouting party roughly fifteen miles south of the [[Polar Crown (Ûvlâ)|Polar Crown]]. I had finished hunting when a rift opened in the sky. I would estimate several hundred vessels landed in the [[Polar Crown (Ûvlâ)|Polar Crown]].”
-Merik’s hair stood on end. The air was charged with anxiety. The [[Vistrum]] tingled like lightning about to strike. Fear scented the hall. “Were you not able to avoid the scouting party successfully?” [[Jarak Teslek|Jarak]] asked. “Grandfather, you forget, I am [[Shaikû Brotherhood|Shaikû]]. I slaughtered them all,” Merik announced fervently. His elders sighed in a sliver of relief. [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] shook his fist at chest height and grimaced in triumph—both for [[Ûvlâ]] and his great-grandson.
+Merik’s hair stood on end. The air was charged with anxiety. The [[Vistrum]] tingled like lightning about to strike. Fear scented the hall. “Were you not able to avoid the scouting party successfully?” [[Džarak Teslek|Džarak]] asked. “Grandfather, you forget, I am [[Shaikû Brotherhood|Shaikû]]. I slaughtered them all,” Merik announced fervently. His elders sighed in a sliver of relief. [[Svôldiir Teslek|Svôldiir]] shook his fist at chest height and grimaced in triumph—both for [[Ûvlâ]] and his great-grandson.
 “We still have time. The [[Malisik]] will be delayed—hopefully for some time. They will wait for the party’s return. We must get word to [[General Commander]] [[Benar Lazrik|Lazrik]] and [[Ig'nar Vîzra|King Ig’nar]] and [[Kîta Vakovich Vîzra|Queen Kîta]],” [[Malek Teslek|Malek]] determined. “I am quite aware of our situation—respectfully, my elders. But I have seen more war than all three of you combined,” Merik interjected, still formal. “But I am tired. I must rest before tomorrow’s journey. I have traveled nearly a fifth of a continent, and it has taken its toll.”
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 He set the locket down, popped two large brown pills, and waited. The gnashing of his torment faded as the drug sedated him, and he quickly fell asleep.
 {{Copyright|2023|name=Christian Daniel Jensen}}
+[[Category:Book chapters]]