Cobweb Empire
“This is all the stuff of poetry and minstrel song,” muttered Lord Nathan after a quarter of an hour—or its seeming equivalent in this timeless place—had passed. “But surely something must be done to hurry along this infernal courtship process—by Hades, or Zeus, or Bacchus, just look at them, they aren’t even moving!”
Percy meanwhile, seated next to Beltain on a pile of crumbling bones, atop their black cloak, looked at the young man with a gaze of wonder. She had forgotten, in this sweet somnolent silence, where exactly it was they were and what was happening. It was as if the world itself was suspended, and just for the instant, nothing mattered. . . . And the black knight took her by the hand and smiled down into her eyes with his own internal fire that filled the air of grey apathy around them with a nimbus of common warmth.
“Percy!” exclaimed Catrine, interrupting their reverie. “Since we’re all stuck here, “Tell me about sis! How’s Niosta? Where is she?”
“She is at Letheburg, with Grial,” Percy said, tearing herself from Beltain. And then she told Catrine the whole story of their adventures—since they apparently had all the time in the world. As she spoke, Beltain listened to her with bemusement.
Many long minutes later, Catrine told her own side of the story.
“—An’ after we got off the damn boat on that damn fool river,” she concluded, “we ended up here. Only, for some reason, we could all see an’ hear Death, and that’s because of the dratted river itself, he told us! Because we sailed the river made of twilight, and felt its waters, what with the wet spray and stuff durin’ all the rowin’, and Their Lordships sticking their fingers in the nasty water, now we are all marked! Unless the world is set aright, we cannot leave this hall!”
“What?” Percy shook her head with a frown. “How awful!”
“Awful is right! We’ll starve to death!” Catrine said. “An’ Death himself will just sit there, do nuttin’, and look at us!”
“What a strange river it is that you describe!” Beltain interrupted. “You say it is that same river that is down below in our old Chidair Keep dungeon? I remember it vaguely, for I had gone there maybe a handful of times, if at all, mostly as a young boy, to hide and play with other children of the Keep. In those days, we kept no prisoners in that rotten damp cavern. And, now that I think about it, I vaguely remember those same strange rules and warnings you mention, about not touching the water or drinking from it or extinguishing the lantern—childish games, I thought, told by adults to scare us and keep us away from harm, from possible drowning.”
Apparently the Lady Amaryllis heard their discussion. “The river,” she said, coming a few steps to join them, “supposedly has a name. Lord Death had told us it is the River Lethe, the most ancient and secret river in all of the Realm, one that no one knows about in truth, except in very old stories.”
“The Kingdom of Lethe is named for it,” mused Beltain. “I do know this, having somewhat dubiously learned my history lesson years ago.”
“My Lord,” said Amaryllis, giving him a glance of appraisal. “Are you indeed Lord Beltain Chidair, the son of that insane Duke Hoarfrost? The same man known as the Black Knight?”
“Regretfully, yes,” said he.
“Rumors of your prowess have reached the Silver Court.” Lady Amaryllis gazed at him with an interested smile. “But in truth you appear neither gruesome nor fierce, and rather a fine sight for a man of your terrifying reputation. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance now, Lord Beltain, under these impossible circumstances. Indeed, I am suddenly far less bored than I was only moments ago.”
“Ah, Chidair! Don’t listen to My Lady, for she is always bored out of her wits, and furthermore, flirts outrageously,” said Nathan from where he half reclined on the floor. He threw one sharp glance of his handsome dark eyes in their direction.
“And what does it matter to you, sweetest, that I flirt?” said the lady, with a backward glance. “When one has nothing else to do but flirt and starve, which do you think is the best course of action?”
“The River Lethe,” Nathan said, ignoring her. “Supposedly, it has wondrous properties not found in nature. And I refer not only to its impossible existence in the twilight state. Lord Death informs us that if one were to drink from the river once, everything one knows will be forgotten.”
“Oh, yes!” exclaimed Catrine. And then she recited: “Drink once, and you forget everything you know, drink for the second time and you remember everything you knew, drink for the third time and you die!”
“Lovely and gruesome, is it not?” Nathan said. “At least none of us had the fool notion to drink. It is bad enough we all touched its waters. And darling Amaryllis even bottled some in a flask.”
Percy was struck with a sudden thought.
“What if—” she said, turning to Lady Amaryllis. “What if the Lady Melinoë, who can remember nothing of her life, were to be given this water to drink? Your Ladyship has a flask of this water, is that not so? If the magic is true, then if the Cobweb Bride drinks twice, she will then remember everything she ever knew!”
And Percy stood up in excitement, and she turned to look at Death on his throne, and his Bride reclining before him at his feet.
“Lord Death! Let your Bride drink the water from the River of Lethe!”
Lady Melinoë stood holding in her trembling hands the flask filled with a strangely swirling liquid that appeared at times dark and yet colored with silver, and at the same time transparent. Since it was permanent twilight here, the water in the flask was visible.
“Will you do this?” Death asked. “This is the most potent water of all the sacred rivers. It is never to be taken lightly, and I may not insist that you drink, only offer you this choice.”
But Melinoë looked up at her Bridegroom and she whispered: “I drink gladly, for I must know what kind of mother it is who did this to me. She is no mother of mine! And yet, I must know.”
“Then, drink . . .” said Death. “But remember—drink once, then drink again. Two sips. But no more. For such death as will come upon you if you drink for the third time is even beyond my scope. It will take you and cast you out beyond the universe, further destroying this mortal world.”
“Then, My Lord,” Melinoë said, “stand here beside me and help me drink each time, and hold me up when I forget myself entirely.”
“I am here with you, always,” he replied, placing his ivory fingers upon her own, and uncorking the flask.
And Melinoë drank. She took one sip, and swallowed, and then set down the flask, into Death’s hands.
She stood, her face becoming radiant and her eyes clear, as though the grey world itself was shifting all around her in the Hall, surrounding her with golden light.
“Your remember nothing now, Lady Melinoë,” said Death, gentle as the wind. “Now, drink again.”
“No,” she replied. “Now I—remember everything.”
And as they all gazed upon her in amazement, noting not only her remarkably clear eyes but also the radiance coming from her, she continued.
“I remember everything now, because I have drunk the water of Lethe once before. This is the second time. And no, she is indeed no mother of mine. For I am hers. My true name has never been Melinoë. . . I am not dead, and I can never be.”
The light grew around her, golden and radiant, and her visage changed, so that Percy felt a crack in her own heart and with it a flood of recognition.
“You know me. . . .” She who had been Melinoë spoke directly into their minds. “I am the one known as Thesmos. You know me also as the Goddess of Tradition. I am not the Cobweb Bride, for I am Demeter, and I am immortal.”
The End of Cobweb Empire, Book Two
The story concludes in . . .
Cobweb Forest, Book Three
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Author’s Note: Imaginary History, Geography, Weather, and Warfare
If you’ve made it this far, you are probably wondering about some of the liberties taken with history, in particular the fantasy version of the Renaissance, and the unusual European geography and topology in this alternate universe.
The Cobweb Bride trilogy takes place in an imaginary “pocket” of Europe sometime in an alternate version of the 17th century Renaissance. I’ve modified the continent of Europe by inserting a significant wedge of land between France and Italy, dissolving Austria and Hungary into Germany and pushing the whole thing up north, shifting Spain halfway to the east and lowering the northern shores of the Mediterranean by pushing the southern portion of the continental landmass further down south so that the French Riviera is now where the sea is in our own reality.
Imagine a cross, with Germany up north, Spain to the south, France to the west, and Italy to the East. In the heart of the cross lies the imaginary land that comprises the Realm and the Domain.
The weather is an enchanted microcosm, with a greater range of temperature contained within a smaller area than in its counterpart in our own reality, continental Europe. The Realm is a cold land, especially the Kingdom of Lethe, with harsh winter in the north and a mild summer. The southern portions of Styx and Morphaea are temperate, with milder winters and hot summers. Meanwhile, the Domain is hot and subtropical, with no snowfall except the temperate northern portion of Serenoa and the small northern tip of Balmue that borders with the Aepienne Mountain range.
The Renaissance warfare here portrayed takes full advantage of the complexities of a remarkable transition period between the brute force of the Middle Ages and the more sophisticated mixed warfare that followed, expanding the use of gunpowder and explosives, so that firearms are employed alongside plate armor, swords, and pole weapons, similar to the way it happened in our own reality.
The culture of the Realm and the Domain is an uneven mixture of French, Italian, Spanish, and German influences of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The language spoken is Latin-based “Romance,” and the linguistics are also a mixture of the same.
Other minor liberties taken include the referral to some physical parcels of land as “Dukedom” as opposed to the correct term “Duchy.” Royal and noble titles, ranks, and their terminology are similar, but not the exact equivalents of our own historical reality.
And now, please see the next page for a list of all the character names with a pronunciation key.
List of Characters
(Dramatis Personae)
With Pronunciation Key
Death, Lord of the Keep of the Northern Forest
Village of Oarclaven (Lethe) (Oh-ahr-CLAY-ven)
Persephone (Per-SEH-phonee) or Percy (PUR-see) Ayren (EYE-Ren), middle daughter
Parabelle (Pah-rah-BELL) or Belle (Bell) Ayren, eldest daughter
Patriciana (Pah-tree-see-AHNA) or Patty (PEH-dee) Ayren, youngest daughter
Niobea (Nee-oh-BEH-ah) Ayren, their mother
Alann (Ah-LAHN) Ayren, their father
Bethesia (Beth-EH-zee-ah) Ayren, their grandmother
Johuan (Joh-HWAN) Ayren, their grandfather
Guel (Goo-EHL) Ayren, their uncle from Fioren (south of Letheburg)
Jack Rosten (ROS-ten), villager
Jules (JOOL-z), Jack’s second son, promised to Jenna Doneil
Father Dibue (Dee-B’YOU), village priest
Nicholas (NIH-koh-luss) Doneil (Doh-NEYL), village butcher
Marie (Muh-REE) Doneil, his wife
Faith Groaden (GROW-den), village girl
Mister Jaquard (Zhah-KARD), villager
Uncle Roald (ROH-uld), villager, the Ayrens’ neighbor across the street.
Bettie (BEH-tee), village girl
Kingdom of Lethe (LEH-thee) (Realm)
The Prince Heir Roland (Roh-LUND) Osenni (Oh-SYEN-nee) of Lethe
The Princess Lucia (Liu-SEE-ah) Osenni of Lethe
Queen Mother Andrelise (Un-dreh-LEEZ) Osenni
Prince John-Meryl (JON MEH-reel) Osenni, son and heir of the Prince.
Dukedom of Chidair (Chee-DEHR) (Lethe)
Duke Hoarfrost, Ian Chidair of Lethe
Lord Beltain (Bell-TEYN) Chidair of Lethe, his son, the black knight
Rivour (Ree-VOOR), Beltain’s old valet
Father Orweil (Or-WAIL), Chidair family chapel priest
Riquar (Reek-WAHR), Beltain’s man-a-arms
Laurent (Loh-RENT), pennant bearer of Chidair
Annie, girl in the forest
Dukedom of Goraque (Gor-AH-k) (Lethe)
Duke Vitalio (Vee-TAH-lee-oh) Goraque of Lethe
The Silver Court (Realm)
The Emperor Josephuste (Jo-zeh-FOOS-teh) Liguon (Lee-G’WON) II of the Realm
The Empress Justinia (Joo-STEE-nee-ah) Liguon
The Infanta Claere (KLEH-r) Liguon, the Grand Princess
Lady Milagra (Mee-LAH-grah) Rinon (Ree-NOHN), the Infanta’s First Lady-in-Attendance
Marquis Rinon of Morphaea, her father
Lady Selene (Seh-LEHN) Jenevais (Zheh-neh-VAH-is), Lady-in-Attendance, of Lethe
Lady Floricca (FLOH-ree-kah) Grati (GRAH-tee), Lady-in-Attendance, of Styx
Lady Liana (Lee-AH-nah) Crusait (Kroo-SAH-eet), Lady-in-Attendance, of Morphaea
Lady Alis (Ah-LEE-s) Denear (Deh-ne-AHR), Lady-in-Attendance, of Lethe
Baron Carlo (KAR-loh) Irnolas (Eer-noh-LAH-s), Imperial knight
Lord Givard (Ghee-VAHR-d) Mariseli (Mah-ree-SEH-lee), Imperial Knight
Doctor Belquar (Behl-KWAH-r), head Imperial physician
Doctor Hartel (Hahr-TEH-l), Imperial physician
Kingdom of Styx (STEEK-s) (Realm)
King Augustus (Uh-GUS-tus) Ixion (EEK-see-ohn) of Styx
King Claudeis (Kloh-DEH-ees) Ixion of Styx, deceased
Queen Rea (REH-ah) Ixion of Styx, deceased
Marquis Vlau (V’LAH-oo) Fiomarre (F’yoh-MAH-r) of Styx
Micul (Mee-KOOL) Fiomarre of Styx, Vlau’s father
Ebrai (Eh-BRAH-ee) Fiomarre, Vlau’s older brother
Celen (Seh-LEH-n) Fiomarre, Vlau’s younger brother
Marquise Eloise (Eh-loh-EEZ) Fiomarre, Vlau’s mother, deceased
Oleandre (Oh-leh-AHN-dr) Fiomarre, Vlau’s younger sister
Lady Ignacia (Eeg-NAY-shuh) Chitain (Chee-TAY-n), of Styx/Balmue
Kingdom of Morphaea (Mohr-FEH-ah) (Realm)
King Orphe (Or-FEH) Geroard (Geh-roh-AHR-d) of Morphaea
Duke Claude (KLOH-d) Rovait (Roh-VEY-t) of Morphaea
Andre (Ahn-DREH) Eldon (Ehl-DOH-n), the Duke of Plaimes (PLEY-m’s), of Morphaea
Duchess Christiana (Khree-stee-AH-nah) Rovait of Morphaea
Countess Jain (JEY-n) Lirabeau (Lee-rah-BOH) of Morphaea
Lady Amaryllis (Ah-mah-REE-liss) Roulle (ROOL), of Morphaea
Lord Nathan (NEY-th’n) Woult (WOOL-t), of Morphaea
The Road
Grial (Gree-AHL), witch woman from Letheburg (LEH-thee-b’rg)
Ronna (ROHN-nuh) Liet (LEE-eh-t), Innkeeper at Tussecan (TUSS-see-kahn), Grial’s cousin
Mrs. Beck (BEH-k), cook at Ronna’s Inn
Jenna (JEH-nuh) Doneil (Doh-NEY-l), butcher’s daughter from Oarclaven
Flor (FLOH-r) Murel (M’you-REH-l), baker’s daughter from Oarclaven
Gloria (GLOH-ree-ah) Libbin (LEE-bin), blacksmith’s daughter from Oarclaven
Emilie (Eh-mee-LEE) Bordon (Bohr-DOHN), swineherd’s daughter from south of Oarclaven
Sibyl (SEE-beel), tailor’s daughter from Letheburg
Regata (Reh-GAH-tah), merchant’s daughter from Letheburg
Lizabette (Lee-zah-BET) Crowlé (Krow-LEH), teacher’s daughter from Duarden (Doo-AHR-dehn)
Catrine (Kaht-REEN), sister of Niosta, from south of Letheburg
Niosta (Nee-OHS-tuh), sister of Catrine, from sou
th of Letheburg
Marie (Mah-REE), girl from Fioren (F’YOH-rehn), originally from the Kingdom of Serenoa (Seh-REH-noh-ah) (Domain)
The Sapphire Court (Domain)
The Sovereign, Rumanar (Roo-mah-NAH-r) Avalais (Ah-vah-LAH-ees) of the Domain
Kingdom of Balmue (Bahl-MOO) (Domain)
King Clavian (Klah-vee-AHN) Sestial (Ses-tee-AH-l) of Balmue
Marquis Nuor (Noo-OHR) Alfre (Ahl-FREH), ambassador of Balmue, Peer of the Domain
Viscount Halronne (Hal-RONN) Deupris (Deh-oo-PREE), Peer of the Domain
New Characters Introduced in Cobweb Empire
Kingdom of Lethe (Realm)
Carlinne (Kahr-LEEN) Ayren, wife of Guel, in Fioren
Martin (MAHR-tin) Ayren, Percy’s cousin in Fioren
Mistress Saronne (Sah-RONN), tavern proprietress in Duarden
André (Ahn-DREH) Saronne, young boy, her son, dead, in Duarden
Jared (JEH-red) Gaisse (Gah-EESS), dead man in Duarden
Hendrick (HEN-drik), dead man in Duarden
Faeline (Fey-LEEN), girl in Chidair Keep
Jacques (ZHAHK) / Jack, the black knight’s horse
Village of Oarclaven (Lethe)
Martha (MAR-thuh) Poiron (Poy-ROHN), old village woman
Rosaide (Ro-ZAH-eed) Vellerin (Vel-leh-REEN), village gossip
Kingdom of Tanathe (Tah-nah-theh) (Domain)
Flavio (FLAH-vee-oh) San Quellenne (SAHN Kweh-LENN), young boy on the beach
Jelavie (Zhe-lah-VEE) San Quellenne, his older sister on the beach
Kingdom of Solemnis (Soh-LEM-niss) (Domain)