Rift in the Sky (Stratification #3)

Rift in the Sky (2009) is the third SF novel in the Stratification subseries of the Clan Chronicles, following

Riders of the Storm

. In the previous volume, Aryl fled Grona and the other Yena exiles went with her. They walked the mountain slopes, but Enris stayed on the flats.

They found an abandoned town in which the Sona Clan had dwelled. They also found the remains of the former residents. Apparently the Oud had tumbled the homes, destroyed the bridges, and diverted the water. Yet they did find stored food and supplies.

In this novel, Aryl Sarc is an Om’ray, the daughter of Taisal di Sarc. Aryl was the first to teleport through the M’hir darkness. Now she is Speaker for Sona. She recently Chose Enris and is pregnant with their first child.

Enris sud Sarc is an Om’ray. He is the Chosen of Aryl. He was an unChosen of Tauna, but joined the exiles from Yena. He is very proficient with M’hir skills.

Naryn S’udlaat is an Om’ray. She was a Choser of Tuana, but joined the exiles in Sona. She had Chosen Enris, but he rejected her. Now she is pregnant without a Chosen.

Yao Gethen is an Om’ray, the daughter of Oswa from Grona. Yao does not have the Talent to feel other Om’ray, except through the M’hir. The Sona Clan are worried that others will be born without the ability to sense their neighbors.

Oran di Caraat is an Om’ray from Grona. She is an Adept and Healer and the Choser of Bren sud Caraat. Their attempts to force Aryl to divulge the secrets of M’hir are the reason for the flight of the Yena exiles from Grona.

Marcus Bowman is a Human. He is First Triad on Cersi, responsible for all the Trade Pact archaeological sites. He has been a friend of Aryl since they met in Yena.

In this story, it is springtime in Sona. The exiles have rebuilt homes for everyone. Now they are planting the seeds found in storage. Since few are familiar with the local plants, there are questions about which is a weed or a useful plant.

Aryl and Enris are watching Yao and the other children play ‘port and seek. One child ‘ports and then the other searches for the first. The kids have been playing the game since they learned to teleport through the M’hir.

Enris goes to get something to eat and Aryl goes to weed the crops. She is poking at a purple plant with thorns when Naryn appears with a problem. Oran was seen coming out of the Cloisters.

At first Aryl doesn’t see any problem. Then Naryn states that Oran unlocked the doors. Only Aryl has been able to do so previously and only since she became pregnant. Maybe Oran is finally pregnant.

So Aryl ‘ports to the Cloisters. At first, she can’t find anyone, but she feels other Sona presences within the building. She waits and Oran comes to her to admit that the Adepts are having an argument.

Aryl accompanies Oran to their concealed location and finds that the Adepts are not dreaming as they should. Although Hoyon had been appointed Keeper, he cannot dream. Aryl suggests that Oran be selected as his replacement.

Later Aryl returns to Yena and finds that the Adepts there are dreaming of Sona. She returns to Sona to find the Oran IS dreaming and that her dreams are being broadcast to every Cloister. Aryl wakes Oran and informs her of the extent of her dreams.

Then Ael sud Sarc vanishes into the M’hir. Apparently he was trying something different and couldn’t return. His Choser Myris is Lost with his disappearance.

This tale eventually brings all those capable of teleporting through the M’hir to Sona. Offworld pirates raid Bowman’s sites. Then the Oud start violating the Cersi Agreement.

This is the last tale in the subseries. The next volume by internal chronological order is

A Thousand Words for Stranger

in the Trade Pact sequence. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Czerneda fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of power politics, alien cultures, and true romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin