Excerpt: Riven

Rain drummed a steady beat against the soft earth. It was to this pounding nine women danced, moonlight catching in their hair and shimmering softly against their wan skin. Their voices wove the collective wholeness of the water’s noise and the forest’s usual sounds into a song that subtly changed as the rain shower did.

For hours they continued, and neither limb nor voice grew weary. It was as if stopping would also stop the world.

“Sisters.” Whispered one of the women as her eyes dulled and she slipped into a trance. “The fruit of discord will now fall, split, and spew its seeds in the hearts of mortals.” Her body slowed its movement and she collapsed onto her knees. None of the others dared pause, feeling the harmony already shifting into disarray.

“Temptation shall exist in all save one, though within her chest a darkness binds.” Her voice, husky and soft, sent the trees rustling as if a wind had touched them.

“Herbs and gentle healing cast away to take up the sword, her plight is fated to be crushed.” There was a brief pause as the dancing and the song faltered in shock. “The last hope, defeated, heart riven in two.” Her eyes fluttered, then shut, and her body rocked and fell to one side as if in a swoon. Silence. No one had noticed the rain slow, then still.