A month later... It is the Coronation for Upashna, the Princess-Wizard of EarthSea and her wedding day to Tao. The Dragon Lord has invited dragons to return to the Other Realm with the promise to never call upon them again to reignite the sun. Humankind must begin to take responsibility for their actions as members …
The Philosopher – 27 Reigniting The Sun
The father and son embrace for the first time since Ged cut Tao from his dead mother’s womb to give him life. Everyone watched in absolute silence, standing perfectly still. It was as if there was a private transmission of heart, soul, energy and time going on between the two wizards. All of The Philosopher’s …
The Philosopher – 26 The Assembly
While washing his face, Tao telepathically communicates with Simone. “Where did you get the ring.” “I do not know sire. It appeared when you asked Upashna to be your wife. I received the transmission of its story from the ring itself and passed it to you. I did not have the ring this morning when …
The Philosopher – 25 The Time Is Near
Upashna woke early the next morning while Tao continued to sleep. Eno also woke to be with his mistress and Simone jumps upon Upashna’s bed and curls up besides Tao. Upashna and Eno leave quietly to visit her parents’ chamber on the other side of the courtyard. “Mother,” asks Upashna. “Did father speak with you …
The Philosopher – 24 The Void Between Dragons And Man
“We had best be getting back love. Look.” Upashna points to the darkening sun. “The darkness grows larger. We will have to time the reigniting of the sun when it is almost completely dark on this side to reduce any possible injuries.” “Any possible injury to whom?” Tao asks. “To the dragons who are selected …
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The Philosopher – 23 Tao And Simone, A Maiden Voyage
Tao riding on the back of his familiar, Simone, in her transfiguration as a dragon and with them the dragon transfiguration of Upashna are flying high above the small hamlet of wizards, Samadhi. “I love you my philosopher Tao. I am pleased you chose to share this life and eternity with me. There is no …
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The Philosopher – 22 Tao Sparrowhawk, Philosopher-Wizard of Havnor, Dragon Lord
Many generations ago dragons and humans lived together peacefully in the world until man became greedy and demanded more land and resources from the dragons. The dragons had no use for the land and its resources and asked only for a small parcel of land to raise their young and to call home. They travelled …
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The Philosopher – 21 The Philosopher Receives His True Name
Upashna immediately leaves her chambers to visit The Philosopher. Although she had a feeling something was afoot when she studied The Philosopher’s staff and again when Extor mentioned The Philosopher having his father’s eyes she had never imagined the man she loves to be a wizard. After The Philosopher finished sweeping up the broken wine …
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The Philosopher – 20 The Known, Part Two
The Philosopher drops his wine glass and it shatters on the stone floor. Eno reacts by springing straight up into the air at least two meters before running and jumping out the open window. The wizard Baldwin takes another sip of his wine and moves to the sink counter to fetch another glass for The …
The Philosopher – 19 The Known, Part One
“Mother,” says Upashna, “l do not care who or what he is. I want to share my life with him and I am concerned the Council of Wizards might attempt to prevent our being together as they tried with you and father. I need your help to prevent that possibility from happening.” “Upashna. Your father …
The Philosopher – 18 The Familiar And The Unknown
The Philosopher finally catches up to Eno, while a bit out of breath, he feels much stronger and youthful than his seventy two years normally felt like. “Normal. That is an interesting word to use as I no longer seem to know what normal is anymore,” he says to himself. “Well sir, if I may …
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The Philosopher – 17 Samadhi – The City Of Wizards
Upashna tilts her wings to a forty-five degree angle and she and The Philosopher glide gently down to a grassy site on the outskirts of the Great Hall. She telepathically tells The Philosopher to climb down her left wing. He grabs their packs along with their staves and does as instructed. Then he steps away …
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The Philosopher – 16 The Vortex
Most of the far side of the sun is dark like the darkness on the new moon. There is only a glowing outline where there was once a bright burning sphere. Upashna had heard stories in her youth of this event happening before but had never imagined the possibility in her own lifetime. She steered …
The Philosopher – 15 Currents Of The Sun
Upashna knew her heart was true but she did have one worry she did not share with The Philosopher nor Kara. The Philosopher was not a wizard. Wizards were not permitted to marry non-wizard humans. The marriage between her father the Wizard Baldwin of Swansea and the Princess of Morocco was only permitted because the …
The Philosopher – 14 The Princess And The Dragon
“Wow. This is amazing. In my wildest imagination I could not have imagined this. Upashna! You are a dragon! A beautiful dragon,” exclaims The Philosopher. “Please do not be afraid of me my Philosopher. I will bring you no harm. This form is the only way we can ride the currents of the Other Wind …
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The Philosopher – 13 The Other Realm
Extor was surprised by The Philosopher’s willingness to forget all memories of his life but he was not surprised by his attraction to Upashna, the Princess of EarthSea, for she was an intelligent and most comely figure of a woman. “Well then my good man and Princess Upashna you are both permitted to pass through …
The Philosopher – 12 The Other Wind
That night The Philosopher had many dreams. They swirled around his head like a kaleidoscope. Upashna, The Princess of EarthSea. The gatekeepers, Extor, Free and Mingus. The stone walls of the labyrinth, the forest of trees, the desert with four suns. He could no longer remember who he was or what he was searching for. …
The Philosopher – 11 The Last Gatekeeper
After Upashna and The Philosopher refreshed themselves and dressed in the fresh clothing provided by their host Extor, the third gatekeeper of the labyrinths, they meet each other at the entrance to the tent which Extor had also provided for their use and comfort. “A warm bath in the pool and a set of fresh …
The Philosopher – 10 The Desert Labyrinth
“Philosopher.” “Yes?” “I think I can walk now. You can put me down,” said Upashna. “O’ I had grown accustomed to your being in my arms but if we are to get through this desert labyrinth we will each do better under our own power.” This desert had four suns and it looked as if …
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The Philosopher – 9 The Second Gatekeeper
The Philosopher, who no longer knew himself by that name nor responded to it except when called by Upashna for they met in the realm of magic where he sacrificed his name for passage through the first gate, picked up their two packs placing one across his chest and the other on his back. He …
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The Philosopher – 8 The Journey Continues
The Philosopher and Upashna were through the first gate. They felt a sigh of relief which soon faded when they looked up and realized the stones which formed the walls of the labyrinth before were now a forest of trees. “The unchanging factor when traveling in magical realms is that they are always changing,” said …
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The Philosopher – 7 The First Gatekeeper
“We must complete the journey through the labyrinth within the next forty eight hours. It is imperative that we arrive in the Other Realm by the third night of the new moon. My father told me to keep due North whenever possible,” said Upashna. “Our only choice right now is to go either west or …
The Philosopher – 6 Enter The Labyrinth
When Upashna awakened the next morning, The Philosopher, his bedroll, pack and staff were not there to be seen. Her heart felt a sudden emptiness in his absence. He was a man she had only met two days ago but she was inspired by his joy, his views of life, his vitality and love for …
The Philosopher – 5 The Night Before
The sun was just beginning to set below the surrounding mountains when Upashna and The Philosopher reached the stone labyrinth. Above the entrance was a sign written in an ancient language. Upashna said the language was once used by the First Wizards. Her father had taught her to read and write the forgotten script when …
The Philosopher – 4 The Unexpected Journey
Upashna woke early before the sun and made a hearty breakfast of porridge, fresh warm eggs from her hens and dates from the tree near the cabin. She rolled the leftover bread from the night before in a moist towel for later in the day along with some berries and herbs from the garden. The …
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The Philosopher – 3 The Wizard Of SwanSea
As he lay unconscious on the floor of the small cabin, The Philosopher dreamed he was in a different, far off land, a land of dragons where he was the only human who walked upon the earth. He felt a wave of water upon his face. “Wake up! Wake up.” The distant sounding voice called …
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The Philosopher – 2 The Dream Path
The Philosopher placed the tome on his desk and studied the intricate pattern of the raised labyrinth on the cover. Once again he thought his eyes were deceiving him because the pattern of the labyrinth seemed to change when ever he peered too closely. He decided it might be best for him to get some …
The Philosopher – 1 The Search For Truth
There lived some time ago in the village of South Port on the Isle of Havnor in the land of EarthSea a philosopher. The cerebral castle of his thoughts filled much of his life but existed only in the air. His kingdom lived in his heart. He was a good, generous, fair and just man. …
The Philosopher – Prologue
The Philosopher Dedication: This story is in the realm of science fiction and fantasy due to the first fantasy series I read and fell in love with, the EarthSea series by Ursula K Le Guin. Later I read J R R Tolkien and CS Lewis but Le Guin was the first. She was the …