When Voiha Wakes: Joy Chant

Book III of Vanderai. Most peoples have a way of explaining the imperfection of the world. In Halilak they used to say God is powerful and wise but She is asleep...Not that Rahike had yet found much in life requiring such an excuse. Strong, handsome and clever, chosen as future ruler of a prosperous little country, possessed already of a fine house and healthy child and secure in public respect; she had no need to reproach fate. When to these blessings was added a love whose beauty might move a goddess to envy, it seemed that if Voiha was sleeping, She was dreaming well.But Mairilek brought unexpected difficulties with him. Not only the problems of understanding the Town and the strangeness of men - most women had those. Nor the harder problem of his failure to live as a man should. There was the other peculiarity he had - as remarkable as his beauty but far less welcome. He had his own response to Voiha's dreaming. As she understood, she too began to look with longing for the time when the dreaming might end, when the world might be restored - when Voiha wakes. Cover art by Steve Weston.