Ideas - Vhalgenn

The Last Vhalgenn is Fantasy, about a young woman who is the companion, bodyguard, bedmate, soulmate, and protector of the King of Qarth.

Tradition holds that the Vhalgenn is always the opposite sex of the ruler, whether male or female, and may never marry. When the king or queen takes a spouse, generally for political reasons, the Vhalgenn accepts his or her place as second in the household.

In the Last Vhalgenn, however, this is not acceptable to the new queen, and she banishes the Vhalgenn from the castle.

Asked to return with news of a victorious battle, Raik discovers her arrival is part of a ruse. The queen is near delivery of a child, and fears death.

Before the king may see his newborn son, the boy must undergo a ritual in the queen's homeland of Kellindahr. He is to be passed beneath "the Gates", a monstrously tall set of silver arches which the Kellindahrii believe was created by the Faerii. Although the Qarthians do not believe in the Fae, the Vhalgenn understands that the queen's fears for her child are sincere, and she agrees to help.

Like most of my books, this is where the twist only begins.

The Last Vhalgenn is available in audio book format at AudioLark, Audible, and iTunes.

The following pictures serve as illustrations for portions of the story.

"We were up long before light and out of the mountains as day broke. Sammon Falls, to the east of us, sent up its mist like smoke, luminous in the dawn."

"From the hills, I could see the bright arch of the Gates far to the west; at least another two days ride, since we dared not use the roads. I pointed them out to Estria.

'Big,' she said, cradling the babe closer. She looked up at me. 'Do we 'ave to go through 'em? Can't we just say we did?'

'Dahr said he'd die if he didn't. She said it offends the Faerii.'

She laughed scoffingly at that. 'Anything a Kellindahrii doesn't want to dirty her hands with is summat that offends the Faerii. The bleedin' Faerii likely give less than a lick about these Gates.'

But, I noticed, she did not discount the Faerii's existence."

I plan a sequel to this book, featuring the young prince when he is older, perhaps in his mid-to-late twenties. Once I do, I'll add more information to this page.