Mammoths at the Gates

The wandering Cleric Chih returns to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in three years, to be met with joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather's body for burial. Chih must balance honouring their mentor's chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 16 October 2023
Publisher: St Martin's Press

The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest. Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of the Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather's body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honouring their mentor's chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve. But as Chih and their neixin, Almost Brilliant, navigate the looming crisis, Myriad Virtues, Cleric Thien's own beloved hoopoe companion, grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate.

The Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass has been in mourning for the past three years since the passing of their patriarch, Cleric Thien. His death has left a void that has been difficult to fill, and the clan has been struggling to come to terms with their loss. However, their grief has been compounded by the arrival of their granddaughters, who have come to the abbey on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding that their grandfather's body be buried.

Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of the Coh clan and was revered by his people for his wisdom and leadership. He had been a respected member of the Singing Hills Abbey for many years, and his death has left the clerics and storytellers of the abbey in shock. They are not prepared to let their mentor's body be taken away from them, and they are determined to do everything they can to protect the history and legacy of the abbey.

The granddaughters of the Coh clan are determined to have their grandfather's body buried in the Singing Hills Abbey. They believe that it is their right to do so and that the abbey is the only place that their grandfather should be laid to rest. However, the clerics and storytellers of the abbey are not willing to give up their mentor's body without a fight. They have worked tirelessly to preserve the history and legacy of the abbey, and they are not willing to let it be destroyed by the demands of the granddaughters.

As the crisis escalates, Chih, the wandering cleric, becomes caught in the middle. He is torn between his loyalty to his mentor and his duty to protect the abbey. He knows that the granddaughters are not going to give up easily, and he is concerned that they may resort to violence to get what they want. He also knows that the clerics and storytellers of the abbey are not willing to let their mentor's body be taken away from them without a fight.

Chih and Almost Brilliant, the neixin of the Coh clan, work together to try to find a solution to the crisis. They are determined to find a way to honour their mentor's chosen life while also protecting the abbey and its history. They consult with the other clerics and storytellers of the abbey, and they come up with a plan to keep the granddaughters from storming the gates and destroying the history of the abbey.

The plan involves using the hoopoe companion of Cleric Thien, Myriad Virtues, to distract the granddaughters while the clerics and storytellers work to secure the abbey. Myriad Virtues is a powerful being with perfect memory, and she is able to recall every detail of her life. She is able to mimic the voice of Cleric Thien, and she is able to convince the granddaughters that their grandfather is still alive and well.

The plan works, and the granddaughters are distracted from their goal. The clerics and storytellers are able to secure the abbey and its history, and the granddaughters are forced to leave without their grandfather's body.

However, the crisis is not over yet. Myriad Virtues grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate. She is determined to find a way to bring her mentor back to life, and she begins to search for a way to break the curse that has been placed on him.

As Myriad Virtues searches for a way to break the curse, Chih and Almost Brilliant work together to try to find a way to stop her. They are aware that they cannot stop her alone, and they are determined to do everything they can to protect the abbey and its history.

In the end, Myriad Virtues is able to break the curse and bring Cleric Thien back to life. He is reunited with his granddaughters, and the Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass is able to find peace and closure. The abbey and its history are preserved, and the clerics and storytellers are able to continue their work to preserve the legacy of the Clans of Northern Bell Pass.

The crisis that threatened to destroy the Singing Hills Abbey and its history has been resolved, thanks to the efforts of Chih, Almost Brilliant, and Myriad Virtues. The Clans of Northern Bell Pass have been able to find peace and closure, and the abbey and its history are preserved for future generations. The story of the wandering Cleric Chih and his journey home to the Singing Hills Abbey is a testament to the power of courage, determination, and the love of history.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 135 x 211 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250851437