Page 1 of Where We Belong

Prologue

“Have I not been punished enough?” Feye, the God of the In Between, stood in the onyx stretch between worlds, pleading with His equals in the place He once called home. It was now nothing but a courtroom.

“You add to your crimes by the day,” Present thundered above Him.

“He could never be trusted. He was always a danger to us. A liability,” chuckled the ancient voice of Past. Feye couldn’t see Past in the darkness, but their presence clawed at the back of His mind, like the talons of a mighty beast that once was. Before time began, Feye knew He would never quite fit in, being made of something entirely different. But the betrayal still cut deep into His very soul. The same soul they were convinced He did not have.

“It may not always be this way,” mused Future, their butterfly-shaped mass flapping gently in the distance. Though no ally, Future had always considered Him fairly.

“They are wreaking havoc on our world,” Present spat. “The humans are worshipping the beasts He creates. It is blasphemy.”

“That’s what this is about? You crave worship?” Feye snarled. “Let them worship whatever serves them.”

“And that’s been you, I suppose?” Past’s voice dripped with contempt.

“It most certainly isn’t any of you. You sit up here yearning for praise you do not deserve and prayers you do not answer.”

“You’ve always sought glory and power, Feye, not us. It is why you were cast out,” Past bellowed.

“So, what now? Why have you summoned me? You cannot take my life, and you’ve already condemned me to wander the Earth for eternity, I-”

“Your continuous defiance leaves us no choice,” Present sneered.

Feye grew frantic as the atmosphere began to stir around him; gusts of wind and stardust whipped at his face and the constellations began to shake. “What is happening?” He squinted down into the distance at His world, full of swirling greens and blues. Full of life and warmth. The place He had once loathed. But it had shown Him the quiet mercy of safety, of provision, and peace, and He had slowly learned to love it. To call it home. The glorious, bright clouds spattered across it turned a grey so dark, it absorbed the sage and cobalt. Rain poured from the heavens and the oceans swelled and burst their banks. The waters reached into the farthest parts of the earth, seizing his creations. His beautiful, powerful, fearless people. And it swallowed them whole.

“You would condemn us to the seas?” Feye roared, malice contorting His face.

“No. But you will be caged beneath them, in the barren lands you will call Sheyole,” Future whispered in His ear. The hint of regret in the command did nothing to calm the rage burrowing into His bones.

Before He could retort, He was thrown from the skies once more. He crashed into the churning waves. A suffocating force dragged His body down. Past the schools of fish, the myths and shipwrecks, until His back hit the searing mantle below. Staggering to His feet, Feye looked up at the closing waters and roared in despair, tearing at His clothes. The sea flowed like an endless sky far above. A prison. And around Him, His bewildered people writhed in panic and despair.

“I have failed us this day,” He whispered. “But one day we will take back what is ours... one day we will be free.”

The Hymn of the First Breath

Feye breathed life into poisoned crags o’ Earth,

Ixten and Kawir emerged from their fumes.

Here the scholars of Cinder Cliffs were birthed,

Veins laced with venom from the womb.

Rock fell from the cliff and struck the mountain,

The stone glowed black with the heat of Feye’s breath,

Obsidian Hold rose ruled by Odric and Thrain,

The steam of their hands forging weapons of death.

The sparks of their labour fell upon the sands,

And the desert burned with Feye’s Holy fire.

Ember Court spread its glory across th’ land,

All hail our priests, Kings Rai and Osira!