About the Book
Rayojini lives an idyllic life amongst the soulscapers of Taparak until
she reaches the age at which she will be initiated into their ranks.
Her initiation rite, though it follows the traditional pattern of
thousands of others, is different in one vital respect. The
guardian-pursuers that are invoked to watch over Rayojini's progress
are real.
In far off Sacramante, the artisans who are
patronised by the upper echelons of Bochanegran society, live in
isolated atelier courts. The public may watch performances at chosen
times, but only the patron families have constant access to the
astounding creations of the eloim artists. The eloim themselves are
more than content to remain a race apart, for so they are, and if the
majority were to know their true nature, their lives would be forfeit.
After eons of contented cohabitation, a phenomenon known as the Fear is
beginning to infect the eloim, who have previously considered
themselves free from the petty psychological problems of humanity. They
have been virtually immortal – thanks to the protection of the patrons,
who exchange their life's blood for culture – but now the artisans are
beginning to die in despair.
Gimel and Beth Metatronim, an
actress and a painter, set out to find a Tappish soulscaper, who will
be proficient enough to enter the racial soulscape of the eloim, track
down the cause of the Fear and eradicate it.
The soulscaper of
their choice, Rayojini, is puzzled that her guardian pursuers should be
so much more real than those of other soulscapers. Then, as she delves
deeper into the cause of the terrible 'non-death', a mysterious
affliction akin to the Fear, their attentions become unavoidable.
