A/W (Author's Warning): stuffy, old-fashioned-ish language ahead. And boring genealogic stuff, which may offend some readers. You have been warned.

Creation

In the beginning there was no darkness, for there can be no darkness without light, and no light was yet created. There was only nothing, and everything, in the blackness of the entire Táya: everything that is, was, or ever will be. There was blackness. And then there was.

Out of the blackness came the Eldest, and the Creator, and the Namer, and the lesser goddesses, and the Creator created the High House, and they abode in it. The Eldest was the Virgin, who begot the Eleven of the Flower.

Then the Creator said, "Come forth from the blackness to below us, O calm seas!" And the calm seas flooded Táya. Again the Creator spoke. "Come forth from the seas to below us, O still lands!" And the still lands rose from beneath the waters. For the third time the Creator spoke. "Come forth from the land to below us, O sky!" And the sky rose from the land to below the High House. All who saw this agreed that there was no taint in her work.

Then the Creator created the sea-animals, and then the land-animals, and then the sky-animals. And the Creator put plants in the sea, the land, and the sky for the animals to eat. Since the animals were mortal, they had no darkness-sight, so the Creator created a bright pillar of light in the center of Táya for all the animals to see by, and for the plants to grow by. In that time, the animals that ate other animals waited first for their prey to die, because that was how the Creator had created them. And all who saw this agreed that there was no taint in her work.

The Creator's husband was the Namer, and he went through all the living things below the High House and named them, and all who saw this agreed that there was no taint in his work.

The name of the Eldest was Yáretá. The Creator was Pridith, and the Namer was Lelon.

There was life: the animals and plants, and higher than them the Powers: those who were firstly created and who live higher than the firmament. But the Powers were not content with what was done, and they believed that there should be more life. They said, "What is the use of being here if we are not known, except by the animals and plants, who have no voice or thought?" They held a council and decided that Pridith should create a race that would hold them in the highest esteem, and which were like some of the animals but were intelligent and had knowledge.

So Pridith commanded the earth to bring yield a race with the things that the council had decided, and the race of Nasiar was born. They were like the lions, in form and voice, but were truly very meek. All day they praised the Powers, and by night gave sacrifices from their meals. They never slept.

Now the Powers knew that this would not do. They wanted a race that would choose what they did, and would stop at times so that they could rest, eat, and live normal lives. Again, Pridith called to the earth, and the earth yielded the new race, called the Irinarye. The Irinarye looked very much like the Children of the Twelve, but the Children are in later stories. They looked like the Powers in shape, and strength, and they were no less fair than the Powers. But they were not as powerful, because the Powers did not want to give the Irinarye enough powers to fight against the Powers and win. In this was the first foreboding of the coming of evil to the High House, and to all Táya. The name of the first Irinar was Areya.

Areya was called the Firstborn, because she was born of the earth and not created, as the High Ones were. She was very much like people today, but stronger, more graceful, and more beautiful, because she was of Irinar race. She was also taller, and had pitch-black hair and black eyes. Her skin was dark, yet not black as the goddesses' skin. She was called also the First-Christened, because she was the first to be christened by any. Her christening stone was obsidian. And none of the Powers who saw this saw any taint in it.

Her home was by the Irinarnen River, named in glory of the Irinarye. She wandered the earth, and named everything that Lelon had named in the Irinar tongue, which no mortals can speak, because it is like music to our ears. She spoke also the language of the Powers, and was christened in their tongue.

She worshipped the Powers, as she was created for, and she built her house and made the things she needed. And as she talked in music to name everything-everything good, for there was not yet evil in Táya-she wondered if there were more like her. That night, as she prayed to the Powers, she asked Nasomhya, the lesser goddess of questions and answers, why there were not more like her where she was.

Nasomhya took Areya's question to a council of the Powers, while Areya slept. She told the other Powers of Areya's question, or prayer. Each of the Powers present agreed that Areya had done nothing that they considered to be wrong, and so they decided to make one like her-like and yet not alike. With this one, they said, she might be whole, and he with her might be whole.

So they charged Pridith to create another of the Irinarye, with whom Areya might become whole with, and he likewise with her. And the Second-born was called Húnan, "Second-glory". He was brought within a day's walk of where Areya lived. Neither of them knew fear, for fear was not yet created.

Húnan had hair and eyes as black as Areya's, and skin just as brown. His gifts were equal to hers, and could speak the Irinar tongue.

Húnan had walked for a day, eating from the fruit-trees and drinking from the clear, cool rivers. As he came around a corner, he saw a patch of trees, and next to them was the house of Areya. Húnan wondered, because he had seen nothing like this all day. He saw the river, and decided to take a dring, because he had walked long paths. As he bent down to dring, he heard something behind him.

"Nasomhya the Answerer! Eldest! Pridith the Creator! Know that I, who know your powers, am eternally grateful! Praise to the Powers!" Areya knew that this one was sent by the Powers, because he was like her.

Húnan knew that the Powers above had given him a gift, but he did not expect it to be in the form of music. He stood up, turned around, and saw Areya, whom he knew was also born, as he had been. She spoke again in the Irinar tongue, and he found he could understand her.

"Second-born! You have been sent to me, and I to you, by the Powers, the creators!" And Areya gave him a name in their own language. This was how the First-born and the Second-born came to live together. And the Powers who saw it deemed it free of taint.

Because the race of the Irinarye was created before the coming of evil to Táya, their race was free of taint and immortal. Because they had less power than the High Ones, they could not create, but since they were free of taint, they could change what the Powers had created: not always for worse. As Areya and Húnan traveled Táya, Areya taught Húnan about what she knew from her time there. Soon Húnan grew as wise as Areya. They changed things, and some changes are kept to this day. What was called the nïro by the Powers Areya changed to what we call the squirrel; its tail was made longer and its body was made smaller. And what was once the tree masru became larger, and stronger, and it became the oak. Some of the living things created by Pridith, or those that were changed by the Irinarye, survived, and some died out. But all the Powers who saw this agreed that there was no taint in it.

As Areya and Húnan traveled Táya together, they began to notice how fair the other was in their eyes. Areya knew that she loved Húnan, and Húnan knew that he loved Areya, but neither was sure if the other loved them at all, or quite so much. After a time of traveling, Húnan came to Areya and asked, "Will you share my bed?" and he dreaded her answer.

But Areya answered, "I will." Both then knew that their love was not wasted, but bestowed upon the correct one, and not someone that they had yet to meet. And in this way was fulfilled that in which the Heavenly commanded Pridith to make one for Areya with whom "she would be whole, and he with her would be whole".

The first child of the Irinarye was conceived, and after Areya's nine months, she was born. There was no pain in the birth, for pain was not yet created. The child was named Tarirya, meaning "Thanks", because Areya and Húnan gave thanks to the Powers for all their gifts. Areya shares Húnan's bed still, and her children are Tarirya, meaning "Thanks"; a son, Oleto; a daughter, Atuari; a daughter, Mirya, meaning "Dreamer", for in her sleep she could prophesy; a son, Tolil; a son, Patos; and a daughter, Jenya, meaning "Changer", for at will she could assume the shape of anything she had once seen.

Since there were no other Irinarye, the siblings shared each other's beds, and this was free of taint in the eyes of both the High Ones, the Nasiarye, the Irinarye, and the Denkevye, who were to come. Atuari shared Tolil's bed, Mirya shared Oleto's bed, and Jenya shared Patos's bed. Tarirya shared no one's bed, for she was willful and independent, though not uncaring. Areya, Húnan, and the Powers saw this and deemed it free of taint.

The children of Atuari and Tolil were Sondlo, who shared his bed with Yendir; Somol, who shared his bed with Kadren; Kadren, who shared Somol's bed; and Yendir, who shared Sondlo's bed. The two children of Sondlo and Yendir were Noren, who shared his bed with Cirel; and Cirel, who shared Noren's bed. The children of Somol and Kadren were more numerous: Nandria, who shared Kalel's bed; Kalel, who shared his bed with Nandria; Shedá, who shared Sesto's bed; Sesto, who shared his bed with Shedá; and Serteri and Malurá, who had no brothers with whom to share bed.

The children of Mirya and Oleto were Natira, who shared Talot's bed; Amira, who shared Tobïl's bed; Talot, who shared his bed with Saria; Elondra, who shared no bed; and Tobïl, who shared his bed with Amira. The children of Saria and Talot were Kembrian and Amoriol, twins who shared Amoriol's bed; Ajirne, who shared Betole's bed; Betole, who shared his bed with Ajirne; Androl, who shared his bed with none; and Karene, who chose not to share Androl's bed. Amira and Tobïl's child was Armodire, who had no siblings.

The children of Jenya and Patos were Kâdrie, who shared Timrol's bed; Leria, who shared Máno's bed; Alose, who shared Elodilen's bed; Máno, who shared his bed with Leria; Elodilen, who shared his bed with Atose; Timrol, who shared his bed with Kâdrie; and the twins Márie and Araname, who had no brothers with whom to share bed.

Now each of the Irinarye was christened at birth by pieces of obsidian found near the fiery mountain downstream of their village. They had been commanded to do this by Yáretá. And this continued until the coming of Evil, which the Irinarye resisted. And the Powers saw this and saw no taint in it.

Meanwhile, the Irinarye did on earth what they were created to do. They praised the Heavenlies at the times it was necessary to do so: at waking and sleeping; at meals; at births, christenings, and first bed-sharing; and when something was taken or changed from what the Heavenlies had created. And in return, the High Ones kept the land suited to the needs of the Irinarye.

Now after years had passed since the birth of the Eranamye, the children of the children of the children of the Firstborn and Secondborn, the Irinarye decided that one could not share a bed with one's siblings, but only with one's cousins or further relations. It was also decided that they would make a grand ceremony for first bed-sharing, and ask the goddesses' permission. And the Heavenlies perceived no taint in this.

The number of the High Ones was three, until the coming of the Eleven of the Flower. The High Ones decided that Pridith should create a third race to worship them. So Pridith created numerous Denkevye, who were much like the Irinarye, but were in manner perhaps a bit cruder. When the Irinarye perceived the through Mirya the Dreamer, they greeted the Denkevye on the Selei Plain, called the Meeting Plain. The Irinarye gave gifts to the Denkevye, who thanked them and them left to start their lives on the other side of the Denkevmen River, named in honor of the Denkevye. The Selei Plain was between the Irinarmen and Denkevmen Rivers.

After the Three Races, Pridith's Children, were created, one of the Higher Goddesses started asking herself, "Why was I not created to create?" After she could not answer this question herself, she asked Yáretá and Nasomhya. They conferred, and she waited near their small council.

Then Yáretá and Nasomhya took their answer to Vasni after a length of time:

"Vasni, Immortal, the One who knows Secrets, this is our answer: this is your purpose: to know that which is hidden, and not to create. Creation is an honor given to few, and you should not waste time trying to create, but rather use this Time perfecting your art. Creation is not your art; not for this were you created. You are dismissed; now perfect your art and knowledge."

This Vasni heard, and she grew angry at it; but she showed nothing and went back to her dwelling. And there she cried out:

"If it is not my fate to create, then let me destroy! By destruction will power be mine: and honor, and fear! Now I am no longer Vasni, but Vensi; no longer Secret-knower, but Destruction-causer!"

Yáretá and all the other High Ones heard her, and through the realm of the Heavenlies everything stopped as Vensi left, and created a new dwelling for herself: very much like the dwelling place of the Holy Ones, but with malice and evil intent woven into it. She corrupted deities: such as Ahrá, once Meni; Calit, once Pabiya; and Xottélu, once Tobomu. And the Holy Ones, who witnessed it, deemed it tainted.

The duties of the Abandoners were taken up by new deities, created because the Abandoners had left. All the High Ones sorrowed at the loss. On that day was evil brought into the world.

The Coming of Evil was like a great wave: spreading outward from the place that Vensi abandoned the Heavenlies. It touched the Heavenlies, and they resisted it. It did not touch the Nasiarye, for their realm was not reachable by anyone save Yáretá, Pridith, and Lelon. It touched the Irinarye, who were most like the Heavenlies, and they resisted it. But finally it reached the Denkevye, and to them it seemed good, and they submitted to Vensi. And the Heavenlies saw this and deemed it tainted.

A/N: To see the correct pronunciations of the accented vowels (not that you'd care), you can go to chapter 2 of The Wars of Light: Raela's Child. It's mostly about elven stuff, but it has pronunciations for accented vowels in Ritáas in Appendix B.

This is from a dragon narrator's point of view. In this universe, dragons are not gigantic, scaly, fire-breathing, black monsters. Most of the time. See next chapter for more details. Of course, there will be more (see above stuff in parentheses). If this should go under Mythology, tell me and I'll think about changing it.

Constructive criticism is appreciated!

© Maria Traxler 2004