PROLOGUE:
Eleven year old Liannis sat on the sod roof of her parents’ cottage in her night-shift, stroking No-tail’s soft fur, and gazing into the night sky. She loved to sit here to think, but chose to do so only after she was sure her parents slept soundly below. They did not approve, fearing she might fall off and be injured. Liannis knew better. At times like this, No-tail, their small cat, usually followed her and took advantage of the warm nest made by the hammock of her skirt as she sat cross-legged.
As a small child, Liannis had spent many happy days at court playing with Lionn, Lord Gaelen’s son, Sennia, his sister, and Borless, the son of Lady Marja’s maid. But as she grew older, the press of her growing inner gifts made it harder to be among so many people. The impressions of their emotions pressed on her spirit and threatened to overwhelm her. Like Liethis, seer to the court of Bargia, she preferred the isolation of her home outside the city.
At first Lord Gaelen and Lady Marja had been reluctant to have their son and heir come to the cottage to visit with her here, fearing for his safety away from the guards. But Liannis knew he would come to no harm. She told them, with full confidence that nothing would happen to him as long as he was with her. Earth had told her so.
Gaelen had relented only upon assurance from Liethis, official seer of Bargia, that Liannis’ sight was true. From that time on, under the watchful eyes of Liannis’ parents, the three children had visited with her often,. They had occasionally accompanied her in her night vigils on the roof.
Liannis had not returned to court again after her eighth summer. The press of impressions there caused her too much pain.
Tonight, Liannis kept her vigil alone. She considered what her future would hold. When she reached her twelfth birthday, she understood she would start spending the winter months with Liethis as her apprentice.
Liethis had already explained to Lord Gaelen and her parents that Liannis would grow into a much more powerful seer than she was. Liannis’ gifts of truth-reading and her ability to mind-speak birds and animals already outshone her own and had not yet grown into their full strength. But the girl needed other skills that would help her use her gifts to their full potential; how to dampen the press that would drive her mad otherwise, how to deal with persons of influence diplomatically and how to handle unwelcome questions from those whose problems were too small for Earth to be concerned with.
Liannis did not look forward to leaving her peaceful home but she understood its necessity. Already, she found it hard to control the barrage that assaulted her senses, and this would only increase. But at least the summers would still be spent here at home.
Liannis smiled, as she sensed her father reach for her mother and lay his sleeping arm across her waist. Earth had given her special parents. She knew they would never have another child. Seers were always only daughters. Earth never burdened a seer with siblings, as they matured too quickly and felt the emotions of those around them too keenly, to thrive in larger families. They needed a serene environment in which their gifts could grow without constraint.
She dreamily pulled a blade of grass from the sod to chew. Then, stroking No-tail one last time, she smiled to herself, content, climbed down and went to her bed in the loft.
Yvonne Hertzberger 
January 24, 2012 at 1:40 am
I have just completed ” EARTH’S PENDULUM -BOOK TWO– THROUGH KESTREL’S EYES”. By YVONNE HERTZBERGER.
Again Yvonne has written another book that I found extremely hard to put down. You know the feeling of being busy beyond belief and you have the itch that won’t stop to be able to sit down with your blanket, hot drink and your good book? Well let me tell you if I had no interruptions i would have been able to read this book from start to finish in no time at all. Each page turned drew me in to the character and plot more and more. I felt every heart race Liannis felt. Every tension, suspision, worry, pain, love that Klast felt. The frustration, struggle, and triumph Dugal endured. I love the added twist of communication with animals as well. Always brought a smile to my face. As a pet owner I always wonder what goes through there minds. And the saddness that everyone felt at the end. (Keep your tissues close!)
As I look forward to reading book three “THE DREAMT CHILD” I find myself thinking of the tale that will capture us all once again. Where will She take us this time with her fabulous writing skills? Who is this child…i have my suspisions….how will she end a story that you never want to end?
All I can add is a word for Yvonne herself….You are very gifted Yvonne. Please never allow your talent to drift. You are truly an amazing writer and I look forward to reading everything you write. Short stories and all you have the ability to captivate and move your readers. Another job well done!! God Bless.
January 24, 2012 at 2:56 am
Thank you so much, Dana. If I could affect all my readers this way I would be vary happy indeed.
November 7, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Cool beginning, especially No-tail. And I’m interested in Liannis.
(A tip—-“as” is a weak conjunction between sentence clauses; often it’s best to use a new sentence or rephrase where an “as” conjunction appears. “Trust me on this.”) The rest of this story, at least the piece here, is GREAT.
p.s. Thanks for liking the posts on my authorpaulafriedman.com blog.
November 8, 2012 at 2:40 am
Thank you Paula. No-tail’s origins are a chapter in the first book. One of my favourites. I appreciate the tip on the ‘as’ as well. Never too late to learn something.
March 23, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Great prologue. It definitely leaves me wanting to read more.
March 23, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Thanks Karla. That’s always good to hear. 🙂
April 8, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Glad you liked Write Right.
Rita
August 12, 2015 at 11:56 am
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August 12, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Thanks Aron. 🙂