Origins: an ECHOS novel (teaser chapters)

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

"Come on Lasair, we'll be late if you don't hurry!" the disembodied voice of my mother called from the beyond my darkened room. "By the time we get there, he will have already left!"

Rousing myself from last tendrils of sleep, I pulled myself up from the straw mattress and stumbled over to the looking glass on the wall. Blue eyes stared at the mirror for a moment, reflecting a porcelain-skinned girl with masses of auburn hair sticking out in every direction. Yawning, I picked up the bone-handled brush from the table and proceeded to untangle the mess of hair that I unfortunately inherited. My dark hair was the one thing about myself that made me feel like an ugly duckling in a world of blonde beauties. My parents were blonde, yet I was born with dark auburn hair. The women of the tribe were willowy and tall in body structure while I was curvy and small. This little anachronism set the community's tongues wagging. Ridiculous rumors spread like wildfire in the small town. Did my mother have an illicit relationship with one of the men from the Aeron Tribe, who were dark-haired and stout?

"Come along, daughter!" Mother called once again.

"I'm coming!" I shouted back, immediately regretting my tone toward my mother. Muttering to the empty stone room, I shivered at the cold that seeped under the door. Little did I know that today would be the day my life would change. I was still young and my life was just beginning. However today, I, Lasair Ja'el of Elen was to meet the man my parents wished me to marry.

Many people of my tribe, the Elenites, believed that I was too old to be married. Many of my childhood friends were already married. The man that my parents wanted me to marry was nearly twice my age. I was completely in the dark about who they felt would be a good match for me.

"He is of good breeding, lass," my father, General Iago Ja'el told me the other day. "He already has one young wife and wishes another. You would do well with this match. He is a very rich man, and can take care of you." He sighed and I could see the frustration settled in his clear blue eyes, "You are older now and everyone your age is already joined with children around their hearth."

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, I sat on the edge of the bed as I tried to work out a very stubborn knot in my hair. I had always wondered if there was more to life than just this. I wanted to meet new people and help those who were weaker than I, but those were only dreams of a child. Now I had to face up to my duty and responsibilities. I just hoped that my future husband was not too harsh with me because of my need to fulfill my dreams. Picking up my leather strap from the table, I braided my hair before tying it. Today I would have to keep my hair up. The women of the tribe were taught that it was considered beautiful to have your neck on show day in, day out. If I wished to make a good impression, then I needed to do this for my family. Otherwise, it would be dishonorable. Usually, once I was away from the confines of the walls and out in the hills that surrounded Elen, I let my hair down while the wind ruffled through it. But not today.

Perusing through my closet, I picked up the royal blue dress that had been made by my mother for this special occasion. The bodice was low cut but cinched around my waist. Showing off the gifts that—as my mother would say—"The Goddess had given me." It flared out to swirl around my legs to rest just below my ankles. My mother would constantly remind me that it was inappropriate to show off your ankles when men were present. Once changed into appropriate attire, I braced myself and stepped outside the room. Uncertainties about my future swam inside my mind. Hesitating, I took a deep breath to help settle my nerves and pulled open the door to step into the gloom beyond.

"Ah, here she is. So glad you could join us, Lasair!" my Father's voice boomed around the stone walls of the great hall like a military general. "Come child and meet your future husband." Freezing in the doorway, my stomach started to swirl, causing me to feel sick to the core. There before me was the most dreadful man I had ever known. Gwynfor Gor'chan was known as the village parasite. We had often been told to stay away from him as young children. This was due to his proclivities towards very young children. This was the same man who used to follow me around the keep, trying to gain my favor when I was only eight. This was the man my parents thought would be a good match for me? Swallowing hard and praying to the Goddess above, I entered the room and held my hand out to the man before me.

"Master Gor'chan, welcome to the humble abode of the family Ja'el? I am grateful that you would consider ..." I paused to swallow the bile that rose in my throat. Grinding my teeth, I continued, "to take me as your second wife." Slowly, I tried to pull my hand out from his greasy paws. "Please be seated and I will gather some food for you to break your fast this morn." Backing away, I motioned him toward the wooden seat at the end of the hallway table.

"My darling, Lasair, please join me to break your fast," Gor'chan said with a smile that made my stomach reel. "I'm sure you have servants that can bring the food out this morn." He tapped the seat next to him. "Please sit here and spend a quiet word with me so we can talk about our wedding this day." Grabbing hold of my hand he pulled me onto the seat next to him, dragging the chair so close that our thighs were touching. "You have beautiful hair, I will be glad to see it spread across my mattress this night!" I looked up to see that my mother and father had retreated to the confines of the kitchen. Leaving me to fight off the advances of this louse and his fumbling hands that were currently squeezing my thigh.

"Oh please, Master Gor'chan, I've oft been told that I'm the ugly duckling off Elen. While I do appreciate the flattery, it is not required!" Please, Goddess, strike me down now, I prayed to whoever was up high. Did I have to be tied to this beast? Carefully I tried to move away from his oily hands and putrid breath that was cascading down my neck.

"You will make a fine bedmate," he remarked as he grabbed my face with his fingers to make me look him in the eye. "I can hardly wait to stroke your virginal flesh and spear you with my member." He only let go of me when the food started to arrive on wooden platters from the kitchen. "Now let's eat, while the preparations are done for our wedding!" Swallowing hard I played with the food in front of me, my appetite suddenly was gone. Breaking the bread into little bits that only a small flying beast could truly appreciate. I looked at the man I was to be married and grimaced at the way he was devouring the meat in front of him. I noted that he was disgusting in more ways than one. I couldn't help but be appalled by his table manners and the way spittle and food flew from his mouth when he spoke to my parents. They were discussing all things political within Elen. Unexpectedly, they started talking about something that actually caught my interest.

"Is it true Gwynfor, that there have been strangers seen beyond the walls?" my mother asked timidly of the man in front of her, her blue eyes full of concern. "I heard that they had stopped in Aeron two days past?"

"Yes, Mistress Lynette, strangers have been spotted in Aeron. Some people say they have traveled from beyond the stars. The people of Aeron sent a messenger to my keep to inform me of the situation. It is said they have come here on great ships, others have stated they have come through the great arches to the west of Aeron." He looked inquisitively at my father, "I have heard they are savages, and their women wear leg coverings not tunics, as is customary with Elen. I regret that I have not heard word on where they are traveling, but I feel that they may arrive at our doorstep any day now. My men are ready to protect us all from these savages." Sitting back in his chair and belching, he patted his stomach. "As always, my lady, a divine spread to break the fast. Shall we proceed to the courtyard, to discuss the plans for the wedding this evening?" Getting up from the chair he pulled me up beside him and placed my hand in the crook of his arm. "Come, my darling, let us see what is about this fine day!"