Shield of the Goddess - Book Idea and Sample Chapter
Another writing project I am working on is a novel I call Shield of the Goddess.
SUMMARY
Shield of the Goddess is set in Kishana, a fantasy world rich in myth, music, and magic. Jenan, horse archer of Feros, must protect the beautiful priestess Shala, for she alone can find the Shield of Peace, a legendary magical artifact that can save their ancient city from the horde of the Skethian empire, desert tribes poised to conquer the continent.
CAVEAT
Shield of the Goddess is an adult fantasy, that depicts an ancient world for modern readers. If fits how I see the world. If it does not fit how you see the world, feel free to write a novel that does. I won't stop you.
SAMPLE CHAPTER
This is a sample chapter. I have changed the story flow since I wrote this chapter, so when I finish the novel it will start differently. But all the characters in this sample will be part of the novel.
CHAPTER 1 - THE SPEAR
Jenan of Feros decided it was time to get out of here. Time to warn his people that their world was about to change forever.
Laying face down on the crest of a ridge, he watched the largest gathering of people he had ever seen.
The winter camp of the Skethian army. Thousands of tents were spread across the valley floor below. Tents full of enemies.
He was not alone. Tannu and Chay lay beside him. The three of them had laid here all night, counting campfires, and freezing to the bone. But the knowledge they had just learned chilled him far more.
The army below them was more than a count of soldiers and horses. It was a spear pointed at everything Jenan loved. In his mind he could see this army crossing the mountains, sacking his city, killing his family, and ending his people and their way of life so completely that only the World Mother would remember they had ever been.
His imagination loved to do this to him, to show him visions of the worst that could happen. He had learned to take them as warnings, to drive himself to action to stop them from coming to be. He would stop this horde too. He did not know how. The first step would be to tell his people what he had learned, laying under the moons and stars this night.
“Let’s go,” he whispered. “The sun is almost up. We can’t risk being seen here.”
“I would love nothing better,” said Tannu. “If I stay here any longer my arms will grow roots,” he said quietly.
“Wait!” hissed Chay. She pointed. “Something moving down there.”
Jenan strained to see in the dim light. The camp below stirred. Shapes moved near the tents. Voices shouted. A horn sounded, then another, and then many more.
Birds startled and scattered. A repetitive, squeaking sound rose from the valley. It reminded Jenan of a swarm of mice. The sounds of wheels rubbing on axles.
“Chariots on the move! Get to your horses!” said Jenan.
They slid backwards off the crest, and ran together down the hill.
Jenan was the tallest of the three, with short black hair, a closely trimmed beard, and brown eyes that looked at the world with curiosity.
He wore a brown tunic, and carried a bow and quiver, and a wooden shield with a bronze boss. On his hip hung a bronze sword, curved forward at the tip, in a leather scabbard.
Etched on the chest plate of his leather armor was a symbol of a palm tree. His cloak was fastened with a brooch of twisted copper wire fashioned with a horse head on each end, and a single star in the center. These marked him as a Team Leader in the Arrow Riders of Feros.
The Arrow Riders were the scouts of the Ferosian army. Jenan had joined after his eighteenth winter. Now at twenty-six, he was well-built, an uncommon description in a coastal city state ruled by well-fed merchants. Eight years of patrolling the roads, hills, and forests of the hinterland did that to you. Most people in Feros could sail a boat, but few could ride on the back of a horse. Jenan could, and he was proud of it.
Waiting down the hill was Ikin, the youngest member of Jenan’s team. He had seen only sixteen winters, and this was his first mission. He was asleep on the ground under a blanket. The boy was supposed to have stayed awake, guarding their horses during the night. He had complained of being given such an inglorious duty. At least no harm had been done. The horses were still here. Jenan kicked the boy firmly in the shoulder.
“Mount up! No time for sleeping!” he shouted.
The boy stumbled to his feet. A mass of red curls fell around a face that knew it was in trouble.
“I am sorry, Team Leader, I don’t know how...”
“Save it,” interrupted Jenan, raising his hand. “There are chariots on the move out there.”
The horses had reins, a bridle, and a simple riding pad of cloth and leather. Leather straps were hobbled around their front legs to discourage them from moving during the night.
Jenan’s horse was a mare. He had named her NightHeart, because of her black coat, and her temper. Arrow Riders did not break their horses, but bonded with them, a process that took longer, and was gentler, on the horse. Jenan had been impatient, and had pushed her faster than she wanted to go, so she had kicked him hard, more than once. But it had been worth it. Now she was sure footed, fearless and loyal. He would not choose another horse, even if he could.
Jenan patted her on the shoulder, and spoke softly to her. She nodded her head in recognition of his voice. He released her from the hobble, spoke softly to her, then grabbed her by the mane and the ridge of her back, and threw his right leg up and over, pulling himself onto her back with practiced skill. He turned to the others.
“We need to get back to the camp. Our people need to know what’s coming,” he said.
They rode hard to the west. The peaks of the Silver Mountains shined with snow before them. Snow is our ally, Jenan thought. Feros lay beyond the mountains, far to the west of here. The snow blocked the Skethian army from crossing the passes, at least until spring. But after that. Best not to finish the thought.
They reached a ridge overlooking six round tents, set up in a valley between the ridge they were on and a higher ridge to the south. The location was a good choice. The camp could not be seen from a distance.
Their unit, called Shield Patrol, or simply The Shields, had five Teams of four riders each. Each team had its own tent, and the patrol had another tent for meals.
Jenan tied up his horse at one of a line of wooden posts sunk into the ground in the middle of the camp.
“Tannu, Ikin, start packing up our tent. I want to be ready to break camp at a moment’s notice. I need to talk to the Patrol Leader.”
“Team Leader, wait. May I come with you?” asked Chay.
“Yes. I thought you might want to,” said Jenan.
Chay was tall, thinly built, with short blonde hair, and fierce blue eyes. She could easily pass for a young man. That was good, because it was said that the Skethians killed any female warriors they captured. There were rumours that they did far worse.
She had asked Jenan, before they had left on this mission, not to let her be taken alive by them. I promise, he had said.
Not that Chay was likely to be captured. Only twenty, she was already the most skilled archer in Shield Patrol. Jenan had seen her prove it many times. He just hoped she did not have to prove it again today.
He walked to the first tent, Chay beside him.
“Team Leader Jenan reporting. Request permission to enter,” he said.
“Come.” A woman’s voice answered. Jenan entered. Chay waited outside.
The woman sat on a folding chair, looking at a scroll that was spread out on a small table. She looked up at him. She had long black hair, and grey eyes. She wore a uniform like his own, but with two white stars on her brooch. Her leather armor hung from one of the tent poles.
“Patrol Leader Drena.” He touched the fist of his right hand to his heart, the salute of his people.
“Team Leader Jenan,” said Drena, returning the salute. “What brings you back so early? I thought your team were scouting on the eastern ridge above the Skethian camp.” “We were. We completed our estimate of their army. We were about to return when we saw movement in their camp. Hundreds of chariots on the move. We rode back right away.”
“You did rightly. Did they see you?”
“Unlikely. It was still dark when we left. But I strongly recommend that we break camp immediately, just in case they come this way.”
“Denied. Most of the teams are still out scouting. They should all return soon for the morning meal. We will break camp as soon as all the teams have arrived.”
“We could send out riders to call them back,” he suggested.
“No. That would leave the camp too unguarded. And I don’t like the feel of it. The The Shields have a proud history. We have never been defeated. I don’t want a fight, but I don’t want to run away either. We will leave quietly and with order after all the teams have returned.”
“Yes, Patrol Leader,” said Jenan. Well, she had made up her mind, and that settled that matter. He waited for the obvious question.
“What was your estimate?” said Drena, finally
“Fifty thousand. Including at least two thousand chariots.”
Her face turned pale. “Gods help us if they cross the mountains.“
“Yes, Patrol Leader.”
Drena dismissed him. Jenan saluted and stepped out. He nodded at Chay, motioning toward the tent.
“Don’t be long. I want our team to be ready as soon as she gives the order. Find me afterward.”
She nodded, and entered. Jenan waited to listen.
“Hello, Chay,” said Drena. “I missed you. Did you miss me?”
“You know I did,” said Chay.
“I hope you didn’t freeze that beautiful body of yours last night.”
“No, Patrol Leader. Everything in working order.”
“Too bad we don’t have time to find out,” said Drena.
Jenan walked away. He had heard enough. He was protective of Chay because she was so young. But she had nothing to fear from Drena, except for the dangers of the heart. They were in love, he was sure. On long missions, Chay could be irritable and impulsive. But when she was able to spend time with Drena, she was centered, calm, even happy. It was good for her, and that was enough for him.
Jenan headed for the meal tent. He found hard bread, dried fruit, and strips of cured meat. Cooked food was impossible here. They could not risk starting any fires, so close to the enemy camp. Jenan looked forward to getting back over the mountains, where he could have hot food once again.
He nodded greetings as more Arrow Riders arrived and helped themselves. When he finished eating, he saw that Chay had still not come. He started toward Drena’s tent.
He stopped when a rider crested the ridge. It was Anani. She was the leader of the last team to return. The expression on her face concerned Jenan. He saw fear there. She called out to the entire camp.
“Mount your horses! Chariots headed this way!”
SUMMARY
Shield of the Goddess is set in Kishana, a fantasy world rich in myth, music, and magic. Jenan, horse archer of Feros, must protect the beautiful priestess Shala, for she alone can find the Shield of Peace, a legendary magical artifact that can save their ancient city from the horde of the Skethian empire, desert tribes poised to conquer the continent.
CAVEAT
Shield of the Goddess is an adult fantasy, that depicts an ancient world for modern readers. If fits how I see the world. If it does not fit how you see the world, feel free to write a novel that does. I won't stop you.
SAMPLE CHAPTER
This is a sample chapter. I have changed the story flow since I wrote this chapter, so when I finish the novel it will start differently. But all the characters in this sample will be part of the novel.
CHAPTER 1 - THE SPEAR
Jenan of Feros decided it was time to get out of here. Time to warn his people that their world was about to change forever.
Laying face down on the crest of a ridge, he watched the largest gathering of people he had ever seen.
The winter camp of the Skethian army. Thousands of tents were spread across the valley floor below. Tents full of enemies.
He was not alone. Tannu and Chay lay beside him. The three of them had laid here all night, counting campfires, and freezing to the bone. But the knowledge they had just learned chilled him far more.
The army below them was more than a count of soldiers and horses. It was a spear pointed at everything Jenan loved. In his mind he could see this army crossing the mountains, sacking his city, killing his family, and ending his people and their way of life so completely that only the World Mother would remember they had ever been.
His imagination loved to do this to him, to show him visions of the worst that could happen. He had learned to take them as warnings, to drive himself to action to stop them from coming to be. He would stop this horde too. He did not know how. The first step would be to tell his people what he had learned, laying under the moons and stars this night.
“Let’s go,” he whispered. “The sun is almost up. We can’t risk being seen here.”
“I would love nothing better,” said Tannu. “If I stay here any longer my arms will grow roots,” he said quietly.
“Wait!” hissed Chay. She pointed. “Something moving down there.”
Jenan strained to see in the dim light. The camp below stirred. Shapes moved near the tents. Voices shouted. A horn sounded, then another, and then many more.
Birds startled and scattered. A repetitive, squeaking sound rose from the valley. It reminded Jenan of a swarm of mice. The sounds of wheels rubbing on axles.
“Chariots on the move! Get to your horses!” said Jenan.
They slid backwards off the crest, and ran together down the hill.
Jenan was the tallest of the three, with short black hair, a closely trimmed beard, and brown eyes that looked at the world with curiosity.
He wore a brown tunic, and carried a bow and quiver, and a wooden shield with a bronze boss. On his hip hung a bronze sword, curved forward at the tip, in a leather scabbard.
Etched on the chest plate of his leather armor was a symbol of a palm tree. His cloak was fastened with a brooch of twisted copper wire fashioned with a horse head on each end, and a single star in the center. These marked him as a Team Leader in the Arrow Riders of Feros.
The Arrow Riders were the scouts of the Ferosian army. Jenan had joined after his eighteenth winter. Now at twenty-six, he was well-built, an uncommon description in a coastal city state ruled by well-fed merchants. Eight years of patrolling the roads, hills, and forests of the hinterland did that to you. Most people in Feros could sail a boat, but few could ride on the back of a horse. Jenan could, and he was proud of it.
Waiting down the hill was Ikin, the youngest member of Jenan’s team. He had seen only sixteen winters, and this was his first mission. He was asleep on the ground under a blanket. The boy was supposed to have stayed awake, guarding their horses during the night. He had complained of being given such an inglorious duty. At least no harm had been done. The horses were still here. Jenan kicked the boy firmly in the shoulder.
“Mount up! No time for sleeping!” he shouted.
The boy stumbled to his feet. A mass of red curls fell around a face that knew it was in trouble.
“I am sorry, Team Leader, I don’t know how...”
“Save it,” interrupted Jenan, raising his hand. “There are chariots on the move out there.”
The horses had reins, a bridle, and a simple riding pad of cloth and leather. Leather straps were hobbled around their front legs to discourage them from moving during the night.
Jenan’s horse was a mare. He had named her NightHeart, because of her black coat, and her temper. Arrow Riders did not break their horses, but bonded with them, a process that took longer, and was gentler, on the horse. Jenan had been impatient, and had pushed her faster than she wanted to go, so she had kicked him hard, more than once. But it had been worth it. Now she was sure footed, fearless and loyal. He would not choose another horse, even if he could.
Jenan patted her on the shoulder, and spoke softly to her. She nodded her head in recognition of his voice. He released her from the hobble, spoke softly to her, then grabbed her by the mane and the ridge of her back, and threw his right leg up and over, pulling himself onto her back with practiced skill. He turned to the others.
“We need to get back to the camp. Our people need to know what’s coming,” he said.
They rode hard to the west. The peaks of the Silver Mountains shined with snow before them. Snow is our ally, Jenan thought. Feros lay beyond the mountains, far to the west of here. The snow blocked the Skethian army from crossing the passes, at least until spring. But after that. Best not to finish the thought.
They reached a ridge overlooking six round tents, set up in a valley between the ridge they were on and a higher ridge to the south. The location was a good choice. The camp could not be seen from a distance.
Their unit, called Shield Patrol, or simply The Shields, had five Teams of four riders each. Each team had its own tent, and the patrol had another tent for meals.
Jenan tied up his horse at one of a line of wooden posts sunk into the ground in the middle of the camp.
“Tannu, Ikin, start packing up our tent. I want to be ready to break camp at a moment’s notice. I need to talk to the Patrol Leader.”
“Team Leader, wait. May I come with you?” asked Chay.
“Yes. I thought you might want to,” said Jenan.
Chay was tall, thinly built, with short blonde hair, and fierce blue eyes. She could easily pass for a young man. That was good, because it was said that the Skethians killed any female warriors they captured. There were rumours that they did far worse.
She had asked Jenan, before they had left on this mission, not to let her be taken alive by them. I promise, he had said.
Not that Chay was likely to be captured. Only twenty, she was already the most skilled archer in Shield Patrol. Jenan had seen her prove it many times. He just hoped she did not have to prove it again today.
He walked to the first tent, Chay beside him.
“Team Leader Jenan reporting. Request permission to enter,” he said.
“Come.” A woman’s voice answered. Jenan entered. Chay waited outside.
The woman sat on a folding chair, looking at a scroll that was spread out on a small table. She looked up at him. She had long black hair, and grey eyes. She wore a uniform like his own, but with two white stars on her brooch. Her leather armor hung from one of the tent poles.
“Patrol Leader Drena.” He touched the fist of his right hand to his heart, the salute of his people.
“Team Leader Jenan,” said Drena, returning the salute. “What brings you back so early? I thought your team were scouting on the eastern ridge above the Skethian camp.” “We were. We completed our estimate of their army. We were about to return when we saw movement in their camp. Hundreds of chariots on the move. We rode back right away.”
“You did rightly. Did they see you?”
“Unlikely. It was still dark when we left. But I strongly recommend that we break camp immediately, just in case they come this way.”
“Denied. Most of the teams are still out scouting. They should all return soon for the morning meal. We will break camp as soon as all the teams have arrived.”
“We could send out riders to call them back,” he suggested.
“No. That would leave the camp too unguarded. And I don’t like the feel of it. The The Shields have a proud history. We have never been defeated. I don’t want a fight, but I don’t want to run away either. We will leave quietly and with order after all the teams have returned.”
“Yes, Patrol Leader,” said Jenan. Well, she had made up her mind, and that settled that matter. He waited for the obvious question.
“What was your estimate?” said Drena, finally
“Fifty thousand. Including at least two thousand chariots.”
Her face turned pale. “Gods help us if they cross the mountains.“
“Yes, Patrol Leader.”
Drena dismissed him. Jenan saluted and stepped out. He nodded at Chay, motioning toward the tent.
“Don’t be long. I want our team to be ready as soon as she gives the order. Find me afterward.”
She nodded, and entered. Jenan waited to listen.
“Hello, Chay,” said Drena. “I missed you. Did you miss me?”
“You know I did,” said Chay.
“I hope you didn’t freeze that beautiful body of yours last night.”
“No, Patrol Leader. Everything in working order.”
“Too bad we don’t have time to find out,” said Drena.
Jenan walked away. He had heard enough. He was protective of Chay because she was so young. But she had nothing to fear from Drena, except for the dangers of the heart. They were in love, he was sure. On long missions, Chay could be irritable and impulsive. But when she was able to spend time with Drena, she was centered, calm, even happy. It was good for her, and that was enough for him.
Jenan headed for the meal tent. He found hard bread, dried fruit, and strips of cured meat. Cooked food was impossible here. They could not risk starting any fires, so close to the enemy camp. Jenan looked forward to getting back over the mountains, where he could have hot food once again.
He nodded greetings as more Arrow Riders arrived and helped themselves. When he finished eating, he saw that Chay had still not come. He started toward Drena’s tent.
He stopped when a rider crested the ridge. It was Anani. She was the leader of the last team to return. The expression on her face concerned Jenan. He saw fear there. She called out to the entire camp.
“Mount your horses! Chariots headed this way!”
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