Shadow of the Otherverse (The Last Whisper of the Gods Saga Book 3) by James Berardinelli
Authors: James Berardinelli
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From time-to-time, a ship would sail across one of the seas to other, distant lands but her understanding of what they were like was limited. As far as Alicia knew, the best maps of the other continents were rough sketches made by the few explorers who returned alive.
If there were indigenous populations of humans on the other continents, visitors had never encountered them. Attempts had been made to start colonies but none had taken root, although the precise reasons weren’t known. The treks were long and dangerous and three out of four ships were lost on the crossing, meaning that few reached the distant continents and even fewer returned. Trips had been more frequent in the distant past; the last successful return crossing had been in her father’s youth. The members of that expedition - treasure hunters in search of precious gems or minerals - had told tales of a wild, untamed land with monstrous carnivores and no sign of anything resembling a man. None of them had expressed any interest in going back.
It was known that wizards had once made frequent journeys to the world’s two other significant landmasses. The Yu’Tar Library had been established on one to limit visitation and keep away all but the most dedicated knowledge-seekers. Most scholars considered it to be a legend but Ferguson had sojourned there for an extended period. None of the sea creatures she communicated with knew of its existence even though it was supposed to be near the shore. Once she reached land, she would have to search for it by walking the coastline. That could take a long time.
She had no idea what to expect. Stories about the other continents told of lush jungles filled with dangerous animals. In places, it could rain for weeks on end - not something that would bother Alicia. Food and water were plentiful but the plants were so foreign it was impossible to determine whether their fruits were poisonous or not, except by trial. Alicia assumed she could sample them and, if they proved to be dangerous, use her powers to void her system. It wasn’t the safest approach to eating but it was better than starving and less risky than attempting to bring down a large animal for its meat. Overall, Alicia wasn’t concerned about her well-being; she was more apprehensive about taking too much time. Every minute she spent overseas gave another minute to The Lord of Fire to achieve his goal. She had to locate the library as quickly as possible and hope she’d be able to find the necessary information while it remained relevant and useful.
Like a lizard, she stretched out on a flat rock and sunned herself. Her stomach was full of sweet fruits and the leaves from a plant similar to one cultivated by Vantok’s farmers. She allowed the warmth of the mid-day sun to lull her near to the edge of sleep. One hand drifted between her legs as her thoughts concentrated on Sorial. Images of him lying with the queen, giving Myselene the same pleasure he had given Alicia, were discomfiting but also strangely arousing. Alicia began to apply pressure as she imagined the two of them together in the darkness of Myselene’s tent. When she cried out, only the few birds and small burrowing animals populating the isolated island heard her.
She awoke after the sun had set; the stars were wheeling across the night sky, proceeding on predetermined journeys from horizon to horizon. There was no moon. The patterns in the heavens were those to which Alicia was accustomed. She had assumed that, after traveling such a great distance, they would be different. However, even though she was thousands upon thousands of miles from anything familiar, the stars were all where they were supposed to be. There was something comforting about that, but it also gave her a sense of being very, very small. What was one wizard in such a vast universe? That was the difference between men and gods: men gazed in awe at the firmament; the gods dwelt in it - or had until they abandoned it
If there were indigenous populations of humans on the other continents, visitors had never encountered them. Attempts had been made to start colonies but none had taken root, although the precise reasons weren’t known. The treks were long and dangerous and three out of four ships were lost on the crossing, meaning that few reached the distant continents and even fewer returned. Trips had been more frequent in the distant past; the last successful return crossing had been in her father’s youth. The members of that expedition - treasure hunters in search of precious gems or minerals - had told tales of a wild, untamed land with monstrous carnivores and no sign of anything resembling a man. None of them had expressed any interest in going back.
It was known that wizards had once made frequent journeys to the world’s two other significant landmasses. The Yu’Tar Library had been established on one to limit visitation and keep away all but the most dedicated knowledge-seekers. Most scholars considered it to be a legend but Ferguson had sojourned there for an extended period. None of the sea creatures she communicated with knew of its existence even though it was supposed to be near the shore. Once she reached land, she would have to search for it by walking the coastline. That could take a long time.
She had no idea what to expect. Stories about the other continents told of lush jungles filled with dangerous animals. In places, it could rain for weeks on end - not something that would bother Alicia. Food and water were plentiful but the plants were so foreign it was impossible to determine whether their fruits were poisonous or not, except by trial. Alicia assumed she could sample them and, if they proved to be dangerous, use her powers to void her system. It wasn’t the safest approach to eating but it was better than starving and less risky than attempting to bring down a large animal for its meat. Overall, Alicia wasn’t concerned about her well-being; she was more apprehensive about taking too much time. Every minute she spent overseas gave another minute to The Lord of Fire to achieve his goal. She had to locate the library as quickly as possible and hope she’d be able to find the necessary information while it remained relevant and useful.
Like a lizard, she stretched out on a flat rock and sunned herself. Her stomach was full of sweet fruits and the leaves from a plant similar to one cultivated by Vantok’s farmers. She allowed the warmth of the mid-day sun to lull her near to the edge of sleep. One hand drifted between her legs as her thoughts concentrated on Sorial. Images of him lying with the queen, giving Myselene the same pleasure he had given Alicia, were discomfiting but also strangely arousing. Alicia began to apply pressure as she imagined the two of them together in the darkness of Myselene’s tent. When she cried out, only the few birds and small burrowing animals populating the isolated island heard her.
She awoke after the sun had set; the stars were wheeling across the night sky, proceeding on predetermined journeys from horizon to horizon. There was no moon. The patterns in the heavens were those to which Alicia was accustomed. She had assumed that, after traveling such a great distance, they would be different. However, even though she was thousands upon thousands of miles from anything familiar, the stars were all where they were supposed to be. There was something comforting about that, but it also gave her a sense of being very, very small. What was one wizard in such a vast universe? That was the difference between men and gods: men gazed in awe at the firmament; the gods dwelt in it - or had until they abandoned it
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