The Realm—Chapter Outline

 

Chapter 5

1. Briar arrives at Eton
1. Briar has visions of the town being burned and the people being slaughtered eighteen years before.
2. Srandon sees the visions also and tries to calm her anger
3. A thunderstorm swells as her anger intensifies; Srandon notices this
2. On her journey to Larso, down the river Kwain, Briar passes the tower of Tedra.
1. She has a strange sense of danger as she nears it
2. She wonders about it but quickly tries to pass it, thinking it to be empty.
3. She then forgets about the tower as she enters the city of Larso.
3. Barroom fight at the edge of Larso
1. Five men try to rob and rape Briar in a tavern
2. Srandon sees her struggles in his visions

                                                               i.      He sneaks out of the palace; it is the middle of the night.

                                                             ii.      He races to the tavern on his great white tiger.

                                                            iii.      He sees her fighting the five men

                                                           iv.      He arrives too late; Briar has fought the five men and won

3. Briar leaves just before Srandon arrives

                                                               i.      She watches as he enters the tavern, not knowing who he is, but having a familiar sense about him.

                                                             ii.      Srandon rushes back to the palace, looking for her.

4. Tedra attacks the nearby city of Zoropo, killing many of the citizens.
1. The city is mysteriously scorched.
2. Some people are burnt alive
3. Others are allowed to escape
4. Zoris senses danger and sends Legion personnel to investigate.
5. Srandon is nowhere to be found

                                                               i.      Srandon, in disguise, is searching the streets of Larso for Briar

5. The tournament begins
1. Briar enters the tournament in disguise, impersonating one of the contestants
2. Srandon senses what she is doing and tries to stop her by pleading to her mind; she is headstrong and doesn’t listen
3. Briar wins a match under a false name.
4. A messenger interrupts the tournament with news of Zoropo’s destruction.
5. The tournament is postponed.

                                                               i.      Several of the gladiators volunteer to go with the Legion to help the city of Zoropo.

                                                             ii.      Only five competitions, out of ten, have taken place.  The other five will take place after the emergency is resolved.

 

Chapter 6

1. Briar meets with King Zoris, revealing to him her true identity.
1. They discuss Brark and the past.
2. They question Tedra’s involvement in this new emergency; the circumstances are too similar to Eton.
3. Briar reveals her knowledge of Eton and describes the situation in explicit detail, as if she had actually been there.
2. Briar and Srandon meet, face to face.
1. Srandon immediately takes her to the Oracle, who informs her of her extent of powers and her more extensive mission.
2. Briar uses her powers, with the Oracle’s help, to show Srandon her visions of the future, the way the Realm will one day be, a truly peaceful and paradisiacal land.
3. Srandon begins to acknowledge his attraction to Briar, but refuses to succumb to his feelings, for fear for her life.
1. He senses a slight attraction in her towards him also, in the way she looks at him.
2. Zoris warns him about his feelings
3. Dryleria warns him about falling in love with her
4. Mijir comments on the attraction he has sensed between the two and teases Srandon about it; Srandon denies it by claiming Briar is stubborn and headstrong and not his type.
4. Zoris and Briar grow closer; the bond between them becomes stronger.
1. They enjoy long, late night talks about the past
2. Srandon is curious about their conversations
3. They discuss Tedra and his apparent plans
5. Srandon questions Briar
1. Srandon asks about the emerald necklace and about her talks with the king.
2. Briar is very removed, mysterious, reserved, cautious, but polite towards him; she regards him as a danger to her
3. Srandon gets frustrated and argues with her, but she is stubborn
4. Srandon reveals his true identity to Briar, explaining his stake in her quest, and his desire to help her for his father.
5. Briar questions his motives and his story, which further irritates him.
6. The Legion and the gladiators return with the results of the disaster at Zoropo
1. Zoris ponders the mysterious evidence
2. Zoris plans a party for the gladiators who have won the competitions, and for the safe return of the other gladiators.
3. Zoris hides his concern about the emergency and tries to not upset the court.
4. Only a few people were killed in the fire that destroyed the entire town; others had escaped.
5. Zoris sends part of the Legion in search for the survivors.
6. Zoris invites Briar to be his special guest at the party.

                                                               i.      Zoris discusses Brark with the dinner party quests and introduces Briar as the daughter of the prior Commander.

                                                             ii.      Srandon is stunned as to her identity, and begins to make connections between her and Zoris and her father.

                                                            iii.      He tries to communicate with her, telepathically, during the party; she senses his probing of her mind but refuses to respond.

                                                           iv.      Srandon thinks he remembers her as a young girl in the palace.

1.      flashbacks of a young blond-headed girl playing in the garden

2.      flashbacks of him hiding in the secret passageways, and watching her with her father, Brark

7. Tedra curses his failure in drawing Zoris away from the palace.
1. The apprentice reports back to him; there is no rumor of Tedra’s involvement around the palace.
2. Tedra plans his next attack on one of Zoris’ lands

 

Chapter 7

1. Srandon finds Briar in the cathedral, speaking to the Oracle.
1. He asks her to acknowledge the connection between them and their predestined relationship.
2. He demands that she not resist his help
3. The Oracle confirms his sincerity and desire to participate in her quest.
4. Briar relinquishes and apologizes for her evasiveness.

                                                               i.      Briar tells him of her promise to her father.

                                                             ii.      They discuss how they can accomplish the acquisition of Tanscaberal and the capture of Tedra.

                                                            iii.      Their ideas seem hopeless; Tedra’s powers are too strong

5. The Oracle reminds Briar again of her own unique powers, and suggests that she explore their potential.
1. Srandon and Briar walk alone in the garden back to the palace.
1. Their minds are open to each other.

                                                               i.      Srandon confesses his attraction to her as well as his knowledge of the forefathers’ journals

                                                             ii.      Briar becomes resistant and angry; she accuses him of bringing harm to her—there is a heated discussion between them

                                                            iii.      She becomes angry with herself for trusting him.

1.      Her anger causes some of her unique powers, which she was not previously aware of, to surface.

2.      A sudden storm forms in the sky

3.      A nearby tree bursts into flames in the pouring rain

4.      Srandon calms her down

a.       When she calms, the storm stops and the clouds separate

b.       The flames extinguish themselves

c.       Briar doesn’t remember anything about the previous few minutes; she had blacked out

                                                           iv.      Srandon asks her about the fight at the tavern

1.      She does not recall how she got out of it

2.      He tells her what he saw in his visions; she doesn’t remember

3.      She accuses him of trying to trick her

3. Mijir and Dryleria have another rendevous
1. Dryleria questions his flirting with Briar; he denies it
2. Dryleria boasts of her love for him
4. Briar has a premonition of another city being attacked
1. She sees the magical destruction of the buildings and the people by the apparition of a dragon.
2. She suspects Tedra
3. Briar goes immediately to Zoris, who is already aware of the situation

                                                               i.      Briar names the city and describes what she has seen

                                                             ii.      Zoris sends legion personnel to the city to investigate

                                                            iii.      Nothing has happened as of yet

4. Briar warns him of the strength of her vision and suggests that he send an army there.

                                                               i.      Zoris responds.

                                                             ii.      The army arrives at the site moments before the city is attacked.

                                                            iii.      Zoris has dreams of his army being annihilated; Briar has the same dream

                                                           iv.      Some of the army personnel mysteriously disappear from the site

                                                             v.      They are believed to be dead

5. Srandon suggests that he go, personally, to help the Legion

                                                               i.      Zoris forbids him to get involved—they argue in front of Briar

                                                             ii.      Zoris feels the danger that some of his Legion is in

                                                            iii.      Briar senses Zoris’ strength and control over his own magical abilities, and realizes how powerful the king really is.

5. Briar questions Zoris about her feelings; she swears to keep his secret
1. During late night visits between her and the king, he shows her how to control her anger and thus, control her powers
2. She thinks of her mother; she sees the rape and mutilation of her mother
3. Zoris sees the same vision
4. Srandon sees the same vision, alone in his room

                                                               i.      Srandon hurriedly dresses and goes in search of Briar to help her

                                                             ii.      He goes first to her room as the vision becomes stronger

5. Tedra sees the same vision, while conversing with his apprentice in the tower

                                                               i.      The vision catches him by surprise; he dismisses the apprentice

                                                             ii.      He wonders why this vision is coming to him suddenly

                                                            iii.      Briar feels him probing her thoughts

6. Brark sees the same vision, alone in the cabin in the Northern Icelands.

                                                               i.      He becomes very worried about Briar and very distraught

                                                             ii.      The vision brings back memories of his dead wife

                                                            iii.      Brark is very saddened by the vision

7. Briar’s anger and fear engulf her

                                                               i.      Storm clouds form; thunder and rain begin

1.      Zoris urges her to control her anger

2.      Tedra hears the storm

3.      Glass items shatter, both in Zoris’ office and in Tedra’s study

4.      Objects begin to levitate

5.      Zoris again urges her to control her anger, by concentrating on her energy and power

a.       She hears him and starts to breathe deeply

b.      The objects slowly lower and the storm subsides

8. Brark’s memories carry him back to wonderful years passed before his wife died.

                                                               i.      He remembers his wedding

                                                             ii.      He remembers the birth of his daughter

                                                            iii.      He remembers finding his wife dead and reading the note from Tedra

                                                           iv.      He once again vows his vengeance on Tedra

9. As Briar calms down, she, too, sees the happy memories of her father and then feels the sadness in him when he remembers finding her body

                                                               i.      She breaks down into tears

                                                             ii.      Zoris comforts her

                                                            iii.      She regains her composure and concentrates on centering her energy into her powers

1.      With her mind, she makes the broken glass repair itself in Zoris’ office.

2.      Srandon bursts into the office, as she is performing this task

3.      The intensity of the energy in her reopens the wounds on her leg, which begin to bleed profusely

4.      Srandon’s identical wound also reopens

a.       He reacts to it, which distracts her.

b.      She notices the wound and realizes the connection between them

c.       She goes to him and with her mind, she heals the wound on his leg, making it completely disappear.

d.      This makes her wound even deeper, causing it to bleed more.

e.       She collapses into his arms

f.        He carries to her room to rest at Zoris’ request

 

Chapter 8

1. Srandon tends to Briar’s wounds, wrapping them in fresh bandages and anointing them with healing herbs, while she rests.
1. He holds her in his arms all night, while she sleeps.
2. As he watches her sleep, he falls deeper under her spell.
3. The early morning light wakes her.
4. Briar is alarmed by Srandon’s presence in her bed.  She tries to get up hastily, but she is weak.
5. Once she sees how he has taken care of her, Briar remembers only parts of the previous night.
6. Briar confesses her attraction to Srandon but claims they can never be together, and she can never love him in the way he wishes for.
7. Srandon suggests that they can and will be together in a future life.

                                                               i.      He claims his eternal devotion to her, and says he will wait for that day.

                                                             ii.      Srandon speaks of a perfect place, a place of love and peace, between fantasy and reality, where lovers go, where angels dwell.

                                                            iii.      Briar is swept up by his description and passion, and swears that one day, they will be together in that place.

2. Zoris, Srandon and Briar discuss their plan of attack on Tedra.
1. They consider his magical abilities.
2. They conclude about the urgency in being safe after the disappearance of the Legion fighters

                                                               i.      They think that if Tedra has captured them, they need to know

                                                             ii.      If they are dead somewhere, they need to be found and buried properly

3. They determine the first step is to locate Tedra.
4. Zoris suggests that Briar try to concentrate on him, to see if she can see his surroundings.
5. Briar concentrates; she soon sees the inside of the tower.
6. The three of them try to figure out where he might be, by her description.
2. Tedra feels Briar’s mind searching for information about him.
1. He senses her power and strength, and wonders who she is
2. He distracts her by disguising her visions.

                                                               i.      As Briar envisions the bottom floor of Tedra’s tower, Tedra changes the appearance of it

                                                             ii.      Staircases appear and disappear in strange places

                                                            iii.      He tries to confuse her

                                                           iv.      Briar senses his power and tries to delve deeper.

3. Tedra goes into the hidden room where the sword is

                                                               i.      Briar sees the sword

                                                             ii.      Tedra asks her, to her mind, if the sword is what she is looking for.

                                                            iii.      Briar hears his voice in her head and immediately cuts off the communication

                                                           iv.      Zoris senses Tedra drawing Briar into his thoughts and blocks the communication between them

4. Briar tells Zoris and Srandon of her vision of the sword.
1. Zoris claims the urgency of retrieving the sword if at all possible.
2. Srandon claims the urgency for his involvement, because the sword is to be ultimately his, as his father’s son
3. The three of them deliberate about how they will accomplish such a feat.
4. Briar claims it is time for Brark to join them

                                                               i.      They need his knowledge of the sword, and the forefathers’ journal, which is in his possession

                                                             ii.      She claims that Srandon will need to know the powers of Tanscaberal before they attempt to retrieve it from Tedra

                                                            iii.      Zoris agrees, but fears for Brark’s life, if he should return to the palace

                                                           iv.      Tedra feels the connection between him and Briar blocked.

1.      He does hear the name, Brark, though and instantly knows who he is up against.

2.      He thinks at last, Brark is returning to hunt him down

3.      He invites the king to lead Brark straight to him

4.      Tedra revels in the idea of killing Brark once and for all

5. The apprentice shows up to inform Tedra of the happenings at the palace
1. He doesn’t have much information for Tedra.
2. He tells Tedra of the findings of the Legion in Zoropo
3. This pleases Tedra
4. The apprentice informs Tedra of the king’s not suspecting Tedra’s involvement
5.  Tedra informs the apprentice that he knows exactly what Zoris is up to, and that he does know that Tedra was involved
6. The apprentice is baffled
7. Tedra informs the apprentice to be looking for Brark to return soon
8. The apprentice offers to kill Brark when he arrives, when he is least suspecting
9. Tedra claims that he wants to kill Brark personally; he wants Brark to come looking for him
10. He has been waiting for that day, when he shall come face to face with Brark, for years
11. The apprentice agrees and leaves
6. Mijir and Dryleria are getting closer.
1. They have another rendevous in the privacy of the small, cascading waterfall at night
2. With the quest at hand, no one seems to notice their relationship evolving
3. Dryleria starts feeling ill, and realizes that she is pregnant with Mijir’s child
4. Dryleria becomes scared and wonders how she can hide this pregnancy and for how long, from Zoris and Srandon.
5. She hesitates to tell Mijir right away

 

Chapter 9

1. Tedra attacks another nearby city, trying to draw the king away from the palace.
1. Tedra has been holding Legion fighters in the dungeons below his tower
2. He had captured and imprisoned these fighters at Zoropo
3. He places a spell on them, turning them against Zoris, to fight for him
4. He sends the fighters to the city of Krasner to destroy it
5. They are all under his hypnotic spell
2. The Legion fighters attack the city of Krasner, killing its inhabitants and destroying the city
1. Some of the citizens recognize the enemy fighters to be part of the king’s Legion
2. Some of the citizens escape and flee to Larso to plead for the king’s mercy, thinking he is punishing them for something.
3. The king is baffled as to the actions of his Legion, and immediately suspects Tedra’s part in it.
4. He assures the people of Krasner that he did not order this attack and that he will send an army to help them
3. Zoris orders the Legion to take food to the citizens of Krasner and to help them in their time of need.
1. Zoris is angered at Tedra’s turning his army against him
2. He meets with Briar and Srandon, and stresses the urgency in locating Tedra as soon as possible
3. The three of them conclude Tedra’s antics, the capturing of the army personnel and then placing a spell over them
4. Briar stresses the urgency in sending for Brark immediately.
5. Zoris agrees.
4. An armed escort is sent to the valley of Kwisir to find Brark.
1. Srandon expresses his desire to go but Zoris forbids him to
2. Zoris claims that Srandon must remain in hiding until Tedra is located and they devise a plan to capture him
3. If Tedra discovers the identity of Srandon, the future of Cirosa is in grave danger
4. Zoris thinks Tedra would set out to kill Srandon immediately

                                                               i.      His survival depends on no one knowing who he is until Tedra is dead

5. Briar agrees with the plan
4. Briar and Srandon leave Zoris’ offices to further discuss their plans
1. Briar persuades Srandon to be patient, that his time for recognition will come soon enough
2. Srandon expresses his anger and anxiousness to take his place as the prince he is
3. They compare their isolated childhoods
4. They become closer by sharing their similar feelings about their childhoods
5. They share a passionate kiss, which Briar stops abruptly
6. Briar leaves his presence, claiming his actions are dangerous
5. Srandon dreams about Briar, as he sleeps alone in his bed
1. Briar, alone in her bed, dreams about Srandon
2. Simultaneously, with their minds open to one another, they dream of making love to each other in the place Srandon described, the realm between fantasy and reality
3. Passionate love scene—their dream

                                                               i.      Vivid description of the Realm

                                                             ii.      A place of beauty, love and perfection

                                                            iii.      A place where anything is possible and dreams prevail

 

Chapter 10

1. Armed guards arrive at the cabin in Kwisir to inform Brark of Zoris’ request for his return to Larso
1. Brark claims that the time is not right yet, that the quest is not ready
2. Brark reads a letter from the king
3. Brark hesitates but consents to travel back with the escort
4. He is sure to grab the journal of Tanscaberal and hides it in his belongings
5. Brark feels the danger around him and questions his own actions, his own hastiness
6. He bids farewell to his little hideaway and the memories there
7. He momentarily enjoys the thought of seeing the king and his daughter
8. He knows his mission is inevitable now; he must follow through with the quest, and hopes that Briar is ready
9.