Heartskein (Fiction)

First Edition Cover

The story of Vasiht'h picking up his kits from Anseahla's temple and things that happened along the way. It is a reader commissioned book.

Publication Data

• Series: Standalones
• Book: Standalone
• Publication Date: February 2020
• Editions: Ebook and Paperback
• Revisions: 1
• Reader-Commissioned Book

Blurb

For as long as he could remember, Vasiht’h planned on starting a family, a plan that surviving the war only made more urgent. The temple on Anseahla has summoned him at last to pick up his new kits, an errand he decides will be an excellent opportunity to have some alone-time with his partner, Jahir. But his partner is now an imperial prince-consort, and Vasiht’h himself has more responsibilities than he anticipated, and it isn’t long before their private getaway turns into a huge production. And that’s before the children join the party!

But becoming a father is only one of the changes that Vasiht’h must accept as he moves into this newest phase of his life. For the longest time he’s thought of himself as living in an Eldritch shadow. If he wants to thrive–if he wants to lead his contingent of Glaseah to a fuller life themselves–he has to accept that sometimes a supporting role is just an excuse to stay out of the limelight….

Heartskein is a cozy science fiction novel and returns to the dreamhealers in their new roles as powers in the new Eldritch Empire: Jahir is now a married man and a prince, and Vasiht’h an administrator, a lord, and a father! But no matter what changes, some things stay the same: like a bond of love stronger than wars and unconquered by time. Come unwind, and meet the babies!

Tags and Content Notes

• Tags: parenthood; space elves; multicultural; asexual; aliens; family; relationships
• Rating: PG for references to adult situations

Summary beyond blurb

Beyond what the blurb says: V quells a riot, the guards assigned to the pair pledge fealty(or something like it) to P, they also understand they need training in the culture and gravity of the Alliance, the kits are real happy having a mind mage father who can quickly understand their needs, the 3 helpers noted do help V, a Glaseah style temple complete with genetic samples and priests & priestess) is sent to Escutcheon, the Alliance intelligence pair (Mina Brown and Montie Dawson) and some human Fleet contractors (including Colonel Melanie Easter, Sargent Major Pels Gesner and Master Chief Emile Meija) who are assigned to Escutcheon, likely a few things missed. The J&V pair pick up a book on mind mages while on [[]], discover that most if not all the Glaseah mindmages are mythical. Both Jahir and Val are very happy with the mind training book of a young girl, promise to return.

Chapter 1

• V talks with Sevhi and decides he needs to delegate more, but not to his father, who needs time to adjust. (break) J and V talk.(break) V and J explore a book, a list of personal entries on mind mage stuff (=annals). It is disorganized, and makes V's fingertips throb, as though they were freshly burned. V lists out all the current threats and problems. Sediryl is expected, arrives, goes to bed, and V's tablet's alarm goes off. His children are ready to be picked up. J and V plan to pick up the kits, "It'll be nice, now that I think of it. for the two of us to be doing something together, the way we used to (V)" (also irony)

Chapter 2

• Two cousins and an aunt will be going with V. His mother talked to them and they have been on standby for a month. And the household is going to make beer. "Your children never belong to only you, (Sevhi)Eight swords added to retinue. And will need to pick up military contractors to deliver them to Escutcheon. As holder of the Sword of State, must inform the court of his departure.

Chapter 3

• They(J & V) present themselves to the Empress (Liolesa), V is able to understand Eldren by mental connection with J. (Break) J talks with Val. "Because most people who tried to see the future went insane" (Val)

"To answer your question... I don't dream, no. But I'm not an idiot, and unlike a lot of people, I'm not so busy denying the existence of the God and Goddess that I miss the evidence of Their movement in the universe. They don't create a Liolisa to rule a planetary empire. The structures of man don't interest them. Their scale is as large as Creation... and as intimate as the sapient soul. Everything in between is meaningless. (Val speaking) "They give their secrets to those who love Them."(Val to J)

Chapter 4

V talked with his minders (aunt Drusti, and cousins Josi and Vihthi) about the babys, the temple, about finding a wife (no said V), And with J plus internal conversation about the new existence of Eldritch military, about the uniforms, the White Swords, the Eldritch future, mind-mages, names for the triplets, and gelato. And viewpoints of their history.

Chapter 5

• V was looking to have time with J, and finds taking that time to be a way to avoid his relative's chatter and advice.

Still, they no longer did the things that they did in college years and beyond. As well, having access to interstellar instant communication meant that they could be kept busy.

• V goes to the ship's gym, where he spars with the guards, and learns their names.
• V, relaxing with J, observes that J does not love his new sword, J replies, "This sword is forged when men carried heavier weapons, and trained with them... because they were as likely to be killing monsters as fighting duels"
• (narration) That melancholy softness, like a tattered blanket, was surely Jahir's reflection that few were the Eldritch children who were honestly wanted. Not the way a typical Pelted child was.
• (quote, V to J) "I'm guessing that's a little of you wondering if I don't feel fulfilled. Or if I feel abandoned by you. Or if I want something like my parents have, since that's the model I grew up with. And maybe a little that youre happy with Sediryl and wonder if I am missing out on the chance to be happy too." He looked up a Jahir. "But I am happy, and I have enough people in my life,. You're closer to me than any friend I might have married, and no matter what you are doing or who you are with you're not with me, you're with me in a way no one else can guess at."

Chapter 6

They reach Anseahla orbit, V sends his relatives shopping.

• Guards must be with them. Guards: Noah Angstrom and Aria Nettlesdown mentioned and detailed.
• The group goes to the temple, talks with the priestess, gets kids, who will be named when all family will be together.
• (Narrative quote, V to self and J)Their sleeping spirits had a quality he was hard-pressed to describe... a newness that reminded him of an oyster shell opened to the sun, pearlescent and glowing J thinks the children can hear the mindlink, and that they feel like V more then his family does.
• They get a class on infant care then check out of the temple. They decide to take a side trip through one of the busiest markets on planet. V soothes his kids mentally, and knows their needs almost instantly.
• After buying plants and other stuff, they Pad to the starbase and then to their ship. And straight into the Aunt and Cousins who get upset, and upset the kids, until V calms them mentally,and takes them off to the nursery room.
• V states that the Eldritch eventually will have psychologically healthy parents, even tho not Glaseah style but their own style.
• V soothes the ruffled feathers of his relatives, explaining that they will be included in the care of his kits.

Chapter 7

• The temple is ready with a team and full-temple stuff. Scheduling problem: too little time and the visit to the university to pick up the mind-mage books and advice is same time, University prof only has an hour free,. V asks J if he or his people will mind having foreign priests/priests on Escutcheon. V gets the temple, J gets the university.
• University: CaLLed Tabula Rasa, it had a beautiful setting.
• Temple

Chapter 13

Jahir sits a vigil and gains Pattern sensing to Liolesa's level, somewhat. Calls her 'Sister' and she calls him 'Brother' after the vigil is done.

The three helpers

two cousins Viht'hi, Josi, and an aunt, Drusti were sent as helpers.

Eldritch security, assigned to them by the Lord of War

• Noah Angstrom, Pelted
• Aria Nettledown, Pelted

Buy Links

https://books2read.com/heartskein

Characters

Aevanauv

Drusti

Efaeanoc

Faereth Ruth Sili

Hannah Sirensbie

Iralin Dova Ulurith

Ithauvni

Jahir Seni Galare

Kahvti

Liolesa Galare

Mina Brown

Montie Dawson

Sediryl Nuera Galare

Thorlon Meln Sora

Vasiht'h

Veris Telis Sara

Quotes

"We're the kind of society where peacekeepers aren't stormtroopers."

(narration) Vasiht'h did not hide his amusement, knowing that they'd assume it was about something normal and easy, not about arrangement of your worldview and your perception of your role in it."

(narration) While standing, unremarked, he (Jahir) sank back into the cradle of the minds that guarded this world: Val's nearby, Hirianthial's in the distance, and here. of course, both his Empress's and his wife's, though Sediryl remained blissfully unaware of the fountain of heat and light she generated merely by existing"

(narration) There were many things about Eldritch culture that stifled and oppressed, and Jahir hoped those things would be amendable to change, were that change introduced properly. But there were many thinks about their culture worth preserving, that comforted and gave dignity to its participants.

(narration) It used to be easier for him (V) to sympathize with her (Sediryl) desire to modernize everything and 'free' people from drudgery, until Jahir's observations made it plain that you could not call it freedom if what you were delivering people to was idleness, and a feeling that they were unnecessary.

reference

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