R.M. BURGESS

BOOK 2 in the New Eartha series.

THE RISING DARK

Prologue – 1678 Z Lumin Hills, Atlantic City

 

As High Mistress of the Zon Trading Guild, Lady Vivia Pragarina normally had a thousand matters in her head that made it difficult to fall asleep. But this night she fell into a deep slumber almost immediately. An hour passed and the bedchamber seemed to grow darker and there was a low hum. Without quite knowing why, Vivia snapped awake and sat up in her huge bed, the shoulder strap of her nightgown slipping down her arm.

 

There was a white-haired man in brown robes sitting erect on one of her comfortable bedside chairs. He wore a sword and held a stout staff. As she watched, his hand released the staff, but it remained standing. He gave off a faint blue aura. I am dreaming, she thought, trying lie back down and turn her face away from the apparition. But she found that she could not move.

 

“Vivia Pragarina,” he said, his voice gravelly and harsh. “You do not know me, but I know you well. Unknowingly you have thought of me often.”

 

Vivia was made of stern stuff and no easily cowed. But the strange and unfamiliar nature of the situation had her on edge.

 

“Whoever or whatever you are,” she responded with spirit. “I have never thought of you.”

 

“Ah, but there you are mistaken. For your deepest, most fervent desires lead you to me. I am here because you have opened yourself to me. Indeed, you have been calling to me for years. It is just that you did not know it.”

 

Vivia tried to move again and failed. She willed herself to be calm thinking, It is just a nightmare. It will pass and when I will wake up I will laugh about it.

 

“Your talents and capabilities are unmatched in Sisterhood,” he went on. “And yet you have been unfairly kept down. But I can help you get what you really deserve. I can raise you to the heights you crave.”

 

“If you know so much about me, then tell me—what do I crave? I have everything I ever wanted. I am rich, I have made myself and my daughters electrae, I have become an aristocrat and my daughter Darbeni will inherit my title after I am gone.”

 

“But it is not enough, is it? For if you were content, I would not have heard your call.”

 

“I crave nothing,” she said, her voice rising. “Nothing, I tell you!”

 

“Such vehemence! I thought you had higher aspirations, but obviously I was in error. Please forgive me.” She knew he was mocking her, but her ambition overcame her irritation.

 

“What you speak of is impossible.”

 

“Why? You have immense popularity and the Queen Empress cannot rule forever.”

 

“I am popular among the commoners. But they do not vote.”

 

“Ah, but the voting electrae are just as easily swayed the commoners. I can sway them for you.”

 

Vivia was tempted, but her hardheadedness did not desert her.

 

“Why would you do this? What do you have to gain from it?”

 

He remained silent for a while, contemplating her. Just over sixty, a youthful age among the Zon, she was in her prime. Her unblemished, unlined skin shone in the light of the yellow moon that spilled in through the viewport. Her gray-green eyes glittered.

 

“I have watched you, Vivia Pragarina, since you were born. You and I, we are of like mind, a match made for eternity. Worship me, give me my due and in time I will raise you up to sit by my side. We will rule together forever.”

 

“I am Zon. We do not worship men.”

 

“I am not a man! I am one of the Chosen, an immortal.”

 

“How many women have you coopted in this manner?”

 

Her tone was unfriendly and insolent. However, it brought a smile to his face.

 

“It pleases me that I do not overawe you. You are not like other women. It is true, others will carry my seed, but they are mere vessels. You are the first one, the only one, the consort I have been seeking through the centuries.”

 

She did not respond and they sat facing each other. Hours passed, but it no longer seemed to matter. Eventually it began to grow light outside, but the bedchamber remained in darkness, the only light stemming from his blue aura. Finally she spoke.

 

“I will worship you. Guide me.”

 

Then she felt his caress, and it was lighter than any touch she had ever known. She lay back down and luxuriated as his fingers traced the lines of her body. Then he wove a cocoon of deeper darkness around the two of them and showed her how to worship him. Prologue – 1678 Z Lumin Hills, Atlantic CityAs High Mistress of the Zon Trading Guild, Lady Vivia Pragarina normally had a thousand matters in her head that made it difficult to fall asleep. But this night she fell into a deep slumber almost immediately. An hour passed and the bedchamber seemed to grow darker and there was a low hum. Without quite knowing why, Vivia snapped awake and sat up in her huge bed, the shoulder strap of her nightgown slipping down her arm. There was a white-haired man in brown robes sitting erect on one of her comfortable bedside chairs. He wore a sword and held a stout staff. As she watched, his hand released the staff, but it remained standing. He gave off a faint blue aura. I am dreaming, she thought, trying lie back down and turn her face away from the apparition. But she found that she could not move. “Vivia Pragarina,” he said, his voice gravelly and harsh. “You do not know me, but I know you well. Unknowingly you have thought of me often.” Vivia was made of stern stuff and no easily cowed. But the strange and unfamiliar nature of the situation had her on edge. “Whoever or whatever you are,” she responded with spirit. “I have never thought of you.” “Ah, but there you are mistaken. For your deepest, most fervent desires lead you to me. I am here because you have opened yourself to me. Indeed, you have been calling to me for years. It is just that you did not know it.” Vivia’s tried to move again and failed. She willed herself to be calm thinking, It is just a nightmare. It will pass and when I will wake up I will laugh about it. “Your talents and capabilities are unmatched in Sisterhood,” he went on. “And yet you have been unfairly kept down. But I can help you get what you really deserve. I can raise you to the heights you crave.” “If you know so much about me, then tell me—what do I crave? I have everything I ever wanted. I am rich, I have made myself and my daughters electrae, I have become an aristocrat and my daughter Darbeni will inherit my title after I am gone.” “But it is not enough, is it? For if you were content, I would not have heard your call.” “I crave nothing,” she said, her voice rising. “Nothing, I tell you!” “Such vehemence! I thought you had higher aspirations, but obviously I was in error. Please forgive me.” She knew he was mocking her, but her ambition overcame her irritation. “What you speak of is impossible.” “Why? You have immense popularity and the Queen Empress cannot rule forever.” “I am popular among the commoners. But they do not vote.” “Ah, but the voting electrae are just as easily swayed the commoners. I can sway them for you.” Vivia was tempted, but her hardheadedness did not desert her. “Why would you do this? What do you have to gain from it?” He remained silent for a while, contemplating her. Just over sixty, a youthful age among the Zon, she was in her prime. Her unblemished, unlined skin shone in the light of the yellow moon that spilled in through the viewport. Her gray-green eyes glittered. “I have watched you, Vivia Pragarina, since you were born. You and I, we are of like mind, a match made for eternity. Worship me, give me my due and in time I will raise you up to sit by my side. We will rule together forever.”“I am Zon. We do not worship men.”“I am not a man! I am one of the Chosen, an immortal.”“How many women have you coopted in this manner?” Her tone was unfriendly and insolent. However, it brought a smile to his face.“It pleases me that I do not overawe you. You are not like other women. It is true, others will carry my seed, but they are mere vessels. You are the first one, the only one, the consort I have been seeking through the centuries.” She did not respond and they sat facing each other. Hours passed, but it no longer seemed to matter. Eventually it began to grow light outside, but the bedchamber remained in darkness, the only light stemming from his blue aura. Finally she spoke. “I will worship you. Guide me.” Then she felt his caress, and it was lighter than any touch she had ever known. She lay back down and luxuriated as his fingers traced the lines of her body. Then he wove a cocoon of deeper darkness around the two of them and showed her how to worship him.