Burying the Shadow
Storm Constantine
Meisha Merlin Publishing, 2/2002
ISBN:1892065452
Rayojini lives an idyllic life amongst the soulscapers of Taparak until she reaches the age at
which she will be initiated into their ranks. Her initiation rite, though it follows the traditional
pattern of thousands of others, is different in one vital respect. The guardian-pursuers that are
invoked to watch over Rayojini's progress are real.
In far off Sacramante, the artisans who are patronised by the upper echelons of Bochanegran
society, live in isolated atelier courts. The public may watch performances at chosen times, but
only the patron families have constant access to the astounding creations of the eloim artists.
The eloim themselves are more than content to remain a race apart, for so they are, and if the
majority were to know their true nature, their lives would be forfeit. After eons of contented
cohabitation, a phenomenon known as the Fear is beginning to infect the eloim, who have
previously considered themselves free from the petty psychological problems of humanity.
They have been virtually immortal-thanks to the protection of the patrons, who exchange their
life's blood for culture-but now the artisans are beginning to die in despair.
Gimel and Beth Metatronim, an actress and a painter, set out to find a Tappish soulscaper, who
will be proficient enough to enter the racial soulscape of the eloim, track down the cause of the
Fear and eradicate it.
The soulscaper of their choice, Rayojini, is puzzled that her guardian pursuers should be so
much more real than those of other soulscapers. Then, as she delves deeper into the cause of the
terrible 'non-death', a mysterious affliction akin to the Fear, their attentions become
unavoidable.
|
