A Girl Named Blue: The Adventure Begins (The Adventures of Blue Faust Book 1) Read online

  A Girl Named Blue

  The Adventures of Blue Faust:

  The Adventure Begins

  By Cecilia Randell

  Copyright © 2017 by Cecilia Randell

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotes in a book review.

  This book is for everyone out there who has ever made up stories while driving a crazy commute in horrific traffic. You know who you are.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  MAPS

  GLOSSARY

  PREFACE

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  EPILOUGUE

  MAPS

  WORLDS OF KARRAN

  KARRAN

  GLOSSARY

  WORLDS

  Karran - Main world, where all portals lead to and from. Capitol, Tremmir.

  Earth - currently considered a closed world, limited travel, restricted to agencies only for the purpose of monitoring.

  Padilra – An opened world, but only in the last 100 years or so. One of their main populations are the Prizzoli, a nomadic people governed by a group of elders. Much is not known about them, as they have been very careful of what they share with off-worlders. Padilra is generally governed by an elected president, who serves a 10-year term, and a council, whose terms are for life, though the Prizzoli operate on their own authority much of the time. They have not officially joined the Alliance as yet.

  Martika – An open world, governed by the Families, many of whom dabble in smuggling. The Families are structured like large clans, with smaller clans pledging allegiance to larger ones. They have a very strong sense of honor, though it does not always correspond to what others consider ‘right’. Generally left to their own devices unless their activities spill into other worlds. Additionally, has space travel and trade with Cularna, another open world of the Alliance. Because of this, there is a cultural and philosophical overlap that doesn’t exist with other worlds.

  Cularna – An open world of the Alliance. Also has space travel capabilities, traveling to Martika separately from portal travel. It is also the home world of the Order of Terril, and is where the headquarters are maintained, though this is known only to a few. Most think the Order is stationed on Karran, and it is to a certain extent, at the least the overt agents are. Theirs is a VERY old society, with philosophical and ethical overlap with the peoples of Martika. Cularna is known as a world of mercenaries, and they have a very strict code of honor. Like any society, they have different classes of citizens, farmers, artists, lawyers, healers. All are afforded their own respect and honor for the roles they play in the society and what they contribute. Though mercenaries and soldiers are the world main “export”, all are respected.

  Turamm – Another open world, member of the Alliance

  Falass – A closed world

  Sturi – A closed world

  CULTURES

  Clansmen - live in western Karran. They have a matriarchal and polyandrous society, and seek to minimize technological use in day-to-day life, only allowing advanced healing and bathing facilities, recognizing these as important for the health of their society. Much of their culture still revolves around training for and the practice of the art of war, though most clans live in peace in their own territories now, under the central government of Karran. Most stay within their own clan, some marry into another, but rarely does a clansman leave. When one does they are usually accepted readily into any of the enforcement branches for their weapons and protection skills.

  Prizzoli – Ethnic and cultural group on Padilra. They are governed by a council of Elders, and are strongly religious. Though they will defer to the government of Padilra, they consider themselves separate. Generally nomadic, they control a lard portion of the land on Padilra. They consider themselves the guardians of the Crystals of Shardon.

  Mercenary Guild – A highly respected group on Cularna. Many of their members are also part of the Order of Terril. They have control of much of the military technology of Cularna, giving them a distinct advantage over other worlds. Though they are separate, they are considered to be the military branch of their government, on a permanent retainer.

  TERMS

  The Alliance of Cormant – An alliance of worlds made up of all those who have been opened to trade amongst the worlds connected by portals. Also includes some worlds not connected by portals, but having close ties to those that do, via space travel.

  Closed world - used to designate a world that has been discovered or has naturally occurring portals, but has not yet been brought into the Alliance. These are usually worlds that are too primitive to understand the ramifications, or who have been shown to be too warlike to play nice with others. Earth is considered both. The tipping point for inclusion in the Alliance is usually when a cohesive world government has evolved.

  Portals - A naturally occurring phenomenon on Karran where ‘thin spaces’ create a kind of shortcut between areas, similar to worm holes. Some people on Karran are born with an ability to manipulate these, opening and closing them at will if they are strong enough, or even being able to set off natural ones where the energies of two planets are compatible.

  The Order of Terril – An enforcement agency for the Alliance. It is an elite organization of enforcers. Each world and territory has their own police, those who handle the day to day monitoring of the laws. The Order of Terril is an interplanetary enforcement agency, only called in when the crimes have spread beyond one planet. In addition to their stated purpose, there is a branch made up of sleeper agents, those placed in various positions throughout the worlds, and activated when necessary. The stated purpose of this branch is to monitor and maintain the freedom of individuals on the alliance worlds, no matter what. This is actually the true purpose of the order, and the more apparent enforcement agents are the true cover.

  The Ministry - an organization appointed by the Karran government to train those who operate the portals, as well as monitor and regulate their use. Those who have a natural aptitude can be trained to recognize and manipulate the energies needed. The Ministry has their own agency to handle issues with portal abuse.

  The Academy – A sister organization to the Ministry, where those with potential in portals are trained and educated, as well as those who desire to become agents of the Ministry. Different from the university.

  Mamanna – the title for the matriarch of a clan.

  Draga – title for war chief of a clan

  Prida - Among the Clansmen of Karran, the term used to denote the family unit, one woman and multiple men. The prida is made up of the Heart and her priden. All members are selected by the Heart and the First Priden, and all those in the prida must agree when a new member is proposed and selected.

  Shopa – means heart in the clan language. The heart is the center of the pride, and is also used as a term of endearment from a priden.

  Druada – means blue in the clan dialect.

  Chuka – an insult in clan dialect. Means someone who is not to be trusted, with a side meaning of asshole.

  Piquet – a
large feline, similar to a cross between and tiger and a lion, striped but with a small mane.

  Tripi – the equivalent of a penny in the clans’ monetary system.

  Corin – In Alliance currency, equivalent to about $100 Earth U.S. dollars

  trilki root – the root of a plant known to grow in the Filiri region of Karran. When pressed and processed the correct way, it produces a non-addictive drug that causes sleep. Usually used on low doses and concentration to assist those with chronic insomnia, in higher concentrations, it can keep someone under for hours, unable to be woken. If the dose is strong enough, it can cause a coma.

  Quorin – a type of mount similar to a horse, with horns. They choose their own riders, and sometimes will form a deeper bond with them.

  Tiri – small pack-animals, like a cross between a cow and a deer.

  Life Debt - Used among the clansmen of Karran. If a clansman owes a life-debt to another, this means that he must take on the burdens of the one to whom his debt is owed until such time as the debt is discharged. The one owed determines when this is. It is not something given or stated lightly. Usually, a life-debt only occurs when the Heart of the prida is protected or defended by someone not of her prida, as it is a point of shame when the priden fail at her protection, no matter the circumstances.

  Crystals of Shardon - A rare, naturally occurring crystal on Padilra that when properly prepared are able to store life healing energies. Used exclusively in religious ceremonies or by those who are members of the Prizzoli, they are really a last resort, since to charge the crystal, someone must give up a portion of their life force. Traditionally, the life force is given by the elders once they have decided to leave this life. The years remaining to them are then stored in the crystals, where it remains until used. Similar to the Portals on Karran, the ability to use the crystals takes an affinity for their energy that not all have.

  PREFACE

  Many believe that Earth is the only world with life. Others believe that there is life out there, but it is so far away, and so alien to us that we will never understand it. Both are wrong.

  Somewhere in the universes is a world called Karran. This world has a unique trait. It has what the natives call ‘thin spaces’, where time and space between it and other worlds becomes disrupted, allowing travel. One such world is Earth.

  Whether human life began there, traveling to Earth through the portals, or on Earth, traveling to Karran, is not known, though many suspect Karran to be the origin point.

  There are other worlds as well. These worlds all contain areas where the energy corresponds to those ‘thin spaces’. They also contain humanoid life, supporting the ‘Karran first’ theory. Some have advanced civilizations, even having developed space travel, and openly trade with other worlds. They have formed an alliance to advance and support the welfare of these worlds. Others are still relatively primitive, and are considered too dangerous to deal with openly. Earth is considered the latter.

  While those on Karran have developed methods to control the thin spaces and portals between the worlds, they can still sometimes activate on their own, transporting accidental travelers. One such ‘thin space’ is near Austin, Texas, and one such traveler is Blue Faust. This is the beginning of her adventures through the universes.

  PROLOGUE

  “Daddy, tell me another adventure,” Blue pleaded. It was time for bed, and the 5-year-old wasn’t ready to sleep.

  David Faust laughed. “Blue-bell, your mommy will kill me, murder me in my sleep, if you don’t get to bed on time.”

  Blue giggled. Her daddy was so funny. Her mommy wouldn’t hurt him, they loved each other too much. “Tell me, tell me.”

  David sighed dramatically, “Fine, but if you tell your mother, we’re both in big trouble.” Blue nodded, agreeing eagerly, as long as she got to hear another adventure. “How about one of the little piper boy?”

  “Yes, yes!” said Blue, bouncing on her bed. The Piper Boy was her favorite. “I’m going to do this when I grow up,” she told her dad, now serious as a five-year-old could be.

  “Go on adventures like the Piper Boy, or tell stories?”

  “Both!”

  David laughed and hugged her, “My little adventuring Blue-bell. Yes, I see it now.” Then he settled down to tell Blue, once again, of the mis-adventures of the Piper Boy.

  CHAPTER 1

  “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the

  little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.”

  ― Mary Anne Radmacher

  It was the first day at a new school, in a new city, and Blue Faust was determined. She had a List and a Plan. This was going to be The Year of New Things. She took one last look in the mirror, studying her appearance. The dirty blond hair with the new blue streaks in it, cut short. Blue-grey eyes, petite frame at only 5’-2”. She had gotten a little more of a figure in the last few months, though she thought she was late coming to it. She was turning 18 in October, and only now had any sort of boobs to speak of. Her outfit today was a dark blue skirt, white blouse and lighter blue sweater, in case it got cool inside. She was usually more of a jeans and t-shirt type girl, but she’d wanted to try something different.

  She looked back up to her hair, admiring those new streaks. It had taken her a while to convince her mom to let her get them, this tribute to her dad. It was one of her efforts to change things up, to step out of her comfort zone, to try to distract herself from the last year of her life. They were in a new city, new school, new people, so she was going to try for new everything. Blue was used to moving, they'd always had to do it every few years for her mom's work, but this time was different. Her dad had died in a car accident a year ago, and she and her mom were doing this move to Austin without him, as they'd had to do everything without him for the last year. It was hard, for both of them.

  "Come on Blue, you're going to be late!" called her mom from below.

  "Coming!" she yelled down. Blue stepped back from the mirror and it hit her, she had blue streaks in her hair and was wearing an all blue outfit. Crap, no time to change now, she thought.

  "Blue!" called her mom again.

  Blue grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. When she got to the kitchen, she stopped just inside, frozen to the spot. Her mom had made The Breakfast, chocolate chip and banana pancakes, just like her dad had always made on the first day at a new school. Blue looked at her mom, not sure what she felt exactly. A little mad, that her mom had done this without dad, a little sad that he wasn't here to do it himself, but mostly so incredibly touched that she had made the effort. Her mom did not cook.

  Blue's mom looked nervous, like she didn't know how she felt about this either. "Mom," Blue started, but had to stop, her throat tight. Blue walked to her and hugged her, tight, trying not to cry. "Thank you."

  Her mom's shoulders dropped in relief, and she hugged Blue back, rocking a little. They stayed like that for a few minutes, just taking comfort in the other. "I miss him," her mom said. "I just... I needed to do this. It's your senior year, the last pancake breakfast, and I didn't want it to not happen. He should have been here, but he's not." She took a deep breath and stepped back, keeping her hands on Blue's shoulders. "I know I've not really been what you needed this last year. I buried myself in work. I should have been here more, I should have - "

  "Mom, stop," Blue cut in. It was true, her mom had worked more this last year, barely even home some weeks. Blue knew, though, that it was just how her mom processed. The same thing had happened when her grandparents died. At the time, she'd been so young, and didn't understand why she never saw her mom anymore. Her dad had explained it, or as best as a 10-year-old could have understood. "Your mom still loves you, Blue," he'd said. "She just needs to do this right now. It's how she deals with things when she's sad, or upset. It makes her feel better, like she can still control what's going on around her. Does that make sense?" It hadn't, not then, and Blue told her dad so. "Let's see," he said, "how to e
xplain? Remember when Pats died?" Pats had been their cat. Blue nodded. "Remember how you were really sad? What did you do to feel better?" he asked.

  "We built Pats a play area in the back, near where we buried him, so he would have somewhere to play," Blue had answered.

  "Right. You knew he wouldn't be able to use the play area how he normally would, but it made you feel better to be able to do this thing for him, and to help you remember him."

  "Yeah, I liked that."

  "Well, when your mom is feeling sad, she works at what she knows best. It makes her feel like you felt when we built the play area for Pats. Everyone is different, Blue. Building the play area wouldn't have done the trick for your mom, but it did for you. And working may not help you when you're sad, but it helps your mom."

  "What do you do daddy?"

  "Me? Well, I always feel better when I help out my girls. If I can get a laugh or a smile or a hug, then that makes me feel better. So, if I don't seem really sad about your grandma, it's not that I don't miss her, it just makes me feel better to be silly and get a smile." Blue smiled. "Just like that!" her dad had exclaimed, then given her a big hug.

  "Mom," Blue continued now, "It's really okay. I get it, I do. Dad - " Blue took a breath, there was still too much emotion going on inside her, and her voice was shaking. "Dad explained it after Grandma died. It's your way of coping, you work. And it's okay, because I understood. But, I'm really glad you're back now." Blue hugged her again. "Now, let's eat!"

  Her mom laughed. "Well, you can try to eat them, but you don't have to. We both know I can't cook."

  "I don't care, I'm going to choke down at least one pancake," Blue teased back.