An Introduction

I have two things I’d like to say here. First, I don’t know why I said I’d have an update on Monday. Monday’s are horrible days for me at work. Because of what I do, Monday’s tend to be the day where I have the most to do, simply because I’m basically filing everything from the week previous. So yeah, thinking I’d have time to do much of anything was simply a pipe-dream. Second, Tuesday was a holiday, and there was no way in hell I was going to do anything – at all – when I could play Red Alert 3 all day.

That said I found all of my source documents. Which makes the rest of this update quite simple: I’m just going to copy and paste 4 pages of pre-written material. How’s that for simple. So without further ado, I give you the prologue of my “novel.”

Utopian Dreams – Book 1 – Prologue – Where Once There Was Hope…
© 2003 Brett Pedersen

Panting she felt the energy of the spell coursing through her. Thin tendrils of light flowed from her outstretched fingers into an ever-growing sliver of white light. It wouldn’t be much longer, the worst, she knew, was already over. Just a few more inches, there, it was finished. Clenching both her hands into fists she felt the final wisps of power leaving her, and then felt the counter flow of the finished spell lancing out to form a circular portal large enough to pass through, if only just barely.

Breathing a sigh of relief she turned around to face the crowd of people behind her. She was standing in the middle of a small valley nestled between two hills. The hills themselves weren’t very large, but the valley that lay between was large enough to hold a few hundred people. It had been chosen partially because of its size, but also because of its ease of defensibility. A single path snaked up one of the hills and down its other side. To either side of the paths were littered anything from rocks the size of pony to thorny Boka bushes with thorns as long as a finger. Someone could walk down the hill between the stones and bushes, but doing so would allow the watchers below ample time to deal with them. No, the path was the only real way down into the valley, and unfortunately this acted as a double edged sword. Both attacker and fleers would find it difficult to enter or leave the valley, but it was a risk they were all willing to take.

So they had fled, gathering what few remained from all corners of the world. Many had been in the valley for months before the last would arrive, but they were all there now, most down in the valley, but a few were still standing in wait on the path, waiting for those nearest the portal to enter. Everything had gone according to plan until that morning. Skywatchers had brought warning of the Templar forces coming in fleets of crimson to their tiny island. Somehow their forces had learned of their attempt to flee. No one was able to figure out how though. Most believed that the Templar’s network of spies had been disrupted after The Breaking six months ago, but either the Templars had several contingency plans, or they were better organized and informed than anyone thought. They had been forced to accelerate their plans for leaving. Everyone had hoped they would have more time to prepare, more time to leave. In fact many people were now still hurriedly repacking everything, having not been prepared for such a rapid flight. But none of that mattered now, all that mattered was everyone passing through the portal before the Templar forces broke through their defensive wards.

Breaking from her reverie she looked around at her companions. Worry was plain on all their faces, but there was something else there too: resolve. All of them knew what was expected; they had all agreed to this and were going to follow the path now before them to its final destination – whatever that may be.

“My friends,” she spoke breaking the tense silence that had befallen them once the portal had opened. “We must go through the portal. Even now I can feel the Templars trying to break through our defenses and I do not know how much longer they will hold.”

Pausing, she took a deep breath to steady herself. She was still weak from the casting, it would do no good to collapse now in front of everyone, and they needed her strength. “I’m afraid that we won’t be able to take everything with us, there isn’t enough time now. Take only what you have packed, leave the rest.”

A murmur of disapproval rose up from the gathered crowd. She had been afraid this would happen. There were still people who thought they would be able to pick up their lives right where they left them. People didn’t believe, or more likely, chose not to believe what their flight entailed. The young in particular seemed the most vocal about her announcement. As often happened to those still young, they had grown attached to their belongings, and were loathe leaving them behind. But this sentiment was also shared by the old, many of them had lost family and kin during the many wars and battles, and their mementos were all they had left. Sadly none of this could be helped; there was just no more time.

“Most of the things that you will leave behind can be found on the other side. We will be going someplace that is yet unspoiled. The land will offer all that we need; there is no need to fear.” That seemed to console the crowd, at least enough for them to cease their complaints and do as she said.

The crowd began to slowly make its way towards the portal. The first ones to approached seemed weary at first, pausing to take a deep breath before stepping through, but once they had made it through, those that followed did through more willingly. Suddenly a massive explosion shook the earth, causing a few of the elderly and young to fall to the ground, unable to hold themselves upright. She was afraid of this, though it had happened sooner than she had thought. Apparently the Templars had brought more forces than the Skywatchers thought. This was no good, not now, only a few people had gone through the portal, and there were still people on the path leading up the hill. Casting about for what to do, she came to the only decision that remained to her. Turning around, she stepped away from the portal, and began making her way away from the crowd.

“Ca’rinn!” a voice called to her as she left the edge of the crowd.

Turning, she looked behind her, to see her young apprentice pushing his way towards her through the crowd, jostled from side to side as the crowd thronged around him trying to reach the portal in time. Inaudibly she groaned; she didn’t have time for this. Dougan wasn’t the strongest of students, but he had potential, and what he lack in ability he made up in youthful exuberance, but youthful exuberance was not what she needed right now. Stopping where she was, she waited for Dougan to catch up with her.

“What is it Dougan?” she inquired once he had reached her.

“Where are you going?” Dougan inquired curiosity and unease on his face.

“I’m going to stop the Templars, Dougan; they’ve broken through our defenses,” she said.

“But…how will you make it through the portal in time?” asked Dougan.

“I don’t know Dougan.” Ca’rinn said.

A gamut of emotions flashed across Dougan’s face before he could calm himself, “but Ca’rinn, we need you.” He seemed to be wrestling with something inside him as he paused before continuing. “I need you; I still haven’t completed my training.”

Ca’rinn’s hardened face softened slightly at this admission, she knew the real reason that Dougan wanted her there, though she would never tell him she knew. “Dougan, you know I must, I’m the only one who can hold the Templars off long enough for everyone to make it through. What happens to me doesn’t matter so long as most of us survive.”

Dougan appeared to still be struggling with his inner demons as he did not respond to her immediately. Visibly shaking from who knew what, he seemed to be willing himself to not lash out at her. This would always be his problem Ca’rinn thought to herself. He always had trouble controlling his temper. He had massive potential, but until he could control himself emotionally, he would never reach his full potential. She probed his eyes, trying to read him. Sadly Dougan still carried his emotions on his sleeve and Ca’rinn knew his response probably before he did. Sighing to herself, she patiently awaited his response.

“Ca’rinn,” Dougan said, his voice shaking with anger, rage, sadness or all of the above, “you do matter to us, we need you, how will we make it on our own in this new world without you there to help us?”

“You will survive,” Ca’rinn replied plainly, her voice devoid of emotions. “You have lasted this long without me; I know you will make it even I don’t survive.” Her eyes flashed at this last remark. They had gone steely grey, she had no time for this, and Dougan must learn to stand on his own two feet.

“But Ca’rinn…” he trailed off, seeing the look in her eyes. Sighing he resigned himself to his fate. He knew better than to argue with her once she was like this. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few I suppose,” he finished wistfully.

“Make sure everyone gets through the portal,” Ca’rinn said, suddenly all business again. “Once they have all gotten through, wait for me at the entrance to the portal. I will send you a message, you will obey it. No, you will obey it,” she repeated seeing him about to interrupt. “I do not need the thought of you trying to be noble to get in the way of what I must do.”

Staring back hotly at her, Dougan seemed once again on the verge of saying something, but she did not back down, she took his gaze unflinchingly. He opened his mouth, but being unable to think of anything to say, he shut it again, and then averted his eyes. “It shall be as you say Ca’rinn,” and then he turned and began walking back to the throng that was passing through the portal.

Ca’rinn watched him as he made his way back. He shoulders were hunched, and he had the look of a defeated man about him. He will survive, Ca’rinn reassured herself – they all would. Once again she turned towards where the sounds of explosions were still lingering beyond the hill. Focusing, she felt the magic flow from the ground into her body. She concentrated on a point beyond the hill only for a moment, before she cast the spell to teleport herself to where she would make her last stand.

“Goodbye, Dougan,” she whispered, and then she was gone.

~*~

She felt the magic teleport her from the valley and over the hill to where a small dilapidated temple stood marking the beginning of the small trail that would eventually lead into the valley where she had just come. This temple was their last line of defense. She personally had placed the defensive wards around its entrance, and already could feel the Templars trying to break free. She knew that her shield wouldn’t stay in place for much longer, but it would be enough for her to erect once last shield behind her, just in case…

She tried not to think of that, any thought of failure would just cloud her judgment, what she needed now was to find her center, and focus on the job at hand. Once again she opened herself to the magic and felt it flowing through her. It felt almost like a lover’s embrace, almost as if the earth beneath her knew what she was about to ask and was trying to comfort her in her last moments. Focusing her thoughts she willed the magic inside her into a wall, one that would block out anything that was cast against one. She felt the magic taking shape inside her, felt it flowing out of her – moving to where she willed it. She was part of the magic; she cast herself across the path and around the bass of the hill, guarding her friends from the people who wished to harm them. Feeling the wall take hold, she withdrew herself from the casting, allowing it to settle into place and stand on its own. She felt the subtle pop of the magic as it released her and snapped into place. It had taken but a few seconds, but to Ca’rinn it felt like an eternity. They would make it on their own she reassured herself once again.