The Shining Orb Series

Throughout my book series, there are constant reminders of a civil war and revolution that took place prior. Whether a character mentions it in a positive or negative way. It is always on their minds. The Bruthaki Flames was the first revolution to topple a monarchy and not immediately restore it. The people of the time had to come up with new ways to govern themselves, and depending on the area of the kingdom, you either had mutual aid and defense or were under a more central government. Either way it was a bold experiment in my book’s world, and one that some people want to return to.

The Bruthaki Flames lasted almost 20 years, and at the end, the monarch was restored, dousing the flames, and leading to a small restructure, but it was a technically a failure. The government of old returned, but the people remember a better way. Below is piece of lore that shows how one action can drive people to revolt. And I’m reminded of things happening in our current time, and seeing hope for a better future. From Los Angeles to Kansas City and Oklahoma City to Minneapolis, people are standing up and pushing back, and that’s where true power lies.

The Spark of Baba

“Though the winter of 1293-1294 was mild, it did create some problems in Rowan. Parts of the Bruthak River froze near the mouth, causing ship traffic to drop considerably, coupled with the loss of ports in the west meant imports of food had decreased.

It wasn’t until spring arrived that ship traffic became normal again. The people of Bruthaki Fields felt this the hardest. Not only was food becoming scarcer, but Bruthaki Fields was the major port for central Rowan, including the capital, thousands of people were out of work in the winter. Evictions began in February as commoners couldn’t afford rent to the landed gentry or nobles that owned the home.

On Meret’s first day of the second month of 1294, an old woman called Baba, loved for the bread she made, refused to be evicted. The man who owned the home she rented, Mouri Aven, called the city guards. Other commoners began to surround the home and push back against the guards. There was a scuffle and in the chaos Baba was killed. The commoners in Westport, the neighborhood Baba had lived in her whole life, answered the calls for revenge. Hundreds of people descended on the guards and Mouri Aven. Dozens were killed, Mouri among them, and the people decided to rebel against other evictions as well, attacking nobles and landed gentry in the city, and refusing to pay rent. This was the first riot outside of western Rowan since the Kindling Massacre, and Queen Amalia began to doubt herself.”

– from The Fire of Rowan by Doma Claran (1344)

See how future characters react to the Flames below:

A Breath of Power