Prologue

The Tirnano (Books 1 & 2) FINN and KIEREEM

Some readers skip happily across the poor little Prologue, but sometimes it can give a great clue to the delights which are hidden deep within the pages: The Tirnano is a mix of the two first books of the Tirnano series. I have however shuffled the content slightly, to give what I feel is a smoother transition between the scenes and chapters. Much remains the same as Books 1 and 2, Book 3 (The Purple Queen) however picks up where the compilation leaves off:

Prologue

Seek the Babe with Brother One

Honour the Brother with his Blade of Souls

Worship the Mother with her Shield of Stars

Remember the Knight with Demons Dead

Respect them all – for all are One

~

The Temple of Dilkadek.

 

A millennium had passed since the Ennead of Heliopolis had last walked together in the same room, they laid aside their differences to speak face to face.

“Why have you called me to this fly-blown, disease infested place, sister-wife?” demanded Seth.

He stood where he had manifested, behind the black basalt cathedrae, his shadow thrown onto the wall beside them. His brother and two sisters rose from their thrones to face his flickering, grotesque silhouette.

“We have grave news, brother-husband,” replied Nephthys, extending her wings in a gesture of homage.

The Lord of Chaos strode from behind the dais, “Then speak!” he said, his voice, issuing from the outlandish mouth and throat boomed with an echoing quality, two voices blended ineptly into one. “I weary already of this place.”

“Is that the only greeting you have for your siblings after all this time?” asked Isis in her soft sibilant way, she moved towards him in a sinuous manner.

Seth threw up his right arm in a warding gesture, “Keep away from me sister; I need not your vile magic contaminating me.” He turned to Osiris his voice dripping disgust, “Have you no respect for your image brother, why have you not as yet improved your appearance, that filthy, ugly green face? It does you little favour.”

“At least my brother-husband can be recognised, what is that ridiculous visage you refuse to give up?” asked Isis.

“Enough,” cut in Nephthys, “we are not here to indulge in petty bickering.”

“Well sister, what are we here for?” hissed Isis.

“I have divined that the Light is contriving to bring outlandish warriors from the deepest ends of space and time to stand against you. Worse still, the Anakim have found no way to break through the crafted barriers shaped by that interfering aberration Bes.”

“Stamp him out!” Boomed Seth.

“Ra and his kin have thrown in with that fat dwarf, there is no way that alone will you be able to stand against them. You have need of us, your dear brother and sisters, for together we can augment the Anakim’s ability to break the barriers. Together we can bring your plan for this disgusting world to completion.”

Nephthys looked at the three gods who stood before her. “Are you prepared to join me to bring to fruition my brother-husband’s plan to create a paradise more splendid than that from which we were deported so inconveniently?”

“Has the Light yet activated seeding?” Osiris spoke for the first time, the three spun towards him; the sound of his voice had not been heard for many thousands of years. It was a low croak, such as might have emanated from the throat of a great bullfrog; it carried latent horror. An intimate understanding of death curdled and crawled within it.

“So it speaks,” said Seth.

“I but posed a question brother,” continued Osiris, his grotesque green head spun, his yellow eyes gazed malevolently at the magnificent figure of the Chaos Lord.

“It has, – the final creatures have been planted by the Ogdoad throughout the land masses.” It was Nephthys who answered.

“What forms have they?” Seth interjected.

“That of their creator… Atum is as ever nothing but vain about his appearance.”

“It matters not, they will one day provide our progeny with much sustenance,” hissed her sister.

~