The Showing Of The Hand

This is one of 195 illustrations from the first book of the adventure/fantasy series titled The Vine Of Hours. I am the author/illustrator. ... more

by Al Goldfarb

Title

The Showing Of The Hand

Artist

Al Goldfarb

Medium

Drawing - Color Pencils, Markers, Pen And Ink

Description

This is one of 195 illustrations from the first book of the adventure/fantasy series titled "The Vine Of Hours". I am the author/illustrator. Therion, the lionman, commonly known as The Beast, has enlisted the aid of an old friend, Tristmagustus the Elder, head of a well established monastic Order. The object is to try to gain entry into the home of another religious disciplines's leader, The Rashi, in his monestery, which is in the same city. Another old friend of the lionman, Fukullol, is in trouble. Something has happened to him. He has disappeared without a word after having summoned the lion man to him. Clearly, things are not right. His missing friend, Fukullol, is a magician and alchemist, and whatever has happened to him was done, the Beast has recently learned, by other magicians from Fukullol's own Order, The Alchemist's Society, sorcerers all. This is completely out of the Beast's area of competence or expertise. He needs a highly specialized and hard to find kind of help for his friend's dilemma, who from all appearances seems to be the victim of some kind of magic. This is definitely a sorcerer to sorcerer kind of situation. The place where The Rashi resides is secret because his people are in disfavor in this country, having fled here decades ago from another land where they were also in disfavor, but much more so. In fact, to such a degree that they fled in peril of their lives. It seems the leaders of these two Orders,Tristmagustus and The Rashi, are old friends, though they have been out of touch with each other for quite some time. Tristmagustus has great respect for The Rashi's knowledge and abilities in the occult arena, and has told Therion that he, perhaps better than anyone else in this city at the present time might know of someone who can help The Beast's friend. This will not be easy. The Alchemist's Society is a high profile and powerful presence in Queensbury-Rind. Going against them has obvious risks. Therion is taken to the secret place by a trusted disciple of Tristmagustus, Eustace, who has been given an object taken from around the old monk's neck and handed to him with instructions as to how to use it with the hopes that it will gain them access into the monastery, and perhaps even an audience with its leader, but this is far from guaranteed. The object is a small bronze hand with symbols on its fingers and palm that hangs from a bronze chain. The Beast and Eustace travel into the old section of the city through a torrential rainstorm that has caused much flooding. After a long difficult trek they come to the right place and Eustace knocks. A small wooden door in the middle of a greater door opens and someone sticks his nose out of it and asks, "Yes! What is it?" Eustace and The Beast lower their torches and draw in close. Eustace brings the bronze hand out from inside his jerkin and raises it in front of him so it can be plainly seen and says in a whisper, "We come from Tristmagustus the Elder, and request entry".

Uploaded

August 8th, 2011