Soravakhin: The Fall of the Onyx — Wendy A. Peabody

The Rekonatah, Book 1. Soravakhin-- (Seeker of Darkness) The Fall of the Onyx. The people called themselves Rekonatah, the Longtails, due to their long, tapering tails that ended in subtle scales and a bony point, with a pair of extra spikes on the males. They had long muzzles with sharp corner-teeth, flaring nostrils, and large, expressive eyes that often matched the subtle coloring at the ends of their tails. Their ears were long and tapered, ending in two points, and their manes were generally thick, often long, and ranged from black to russet to gold, and the rare platinum, depending on the lineage of the region. Skins were smooth and hairless, except for eyebrows, and the males often sported goatees and lip-whiskers. Light, velvety fuzz covered the bodies of the infants, and hides became leathery with advanced age.The land of Anyat was governed by members of the Council of the Order of the Onyx. They were Tarkha knights, riders of sapient and telepathic horses, the Ei-Avakharah. Partnered for life, horse and rider trained from childhood for nearly a decade at the Academy, before they were sent into the Field to serve as judges and law-enforcers. The Tarkha were shining examples of duty, honor and the protocol of righteousness, given by the Book of Wisdom. This righteousness was maintained by strict self-discipline and self-denial, and by the innate integrity of their mounts. Together, they successfully defended Anyat's citizens from intruders, criminals, and the monstrous Izhnarin. Thus the land enjoyed peace and prosperity for many generations. As a result, the Tarkha enjoyed a high level of power and privilege.There were those who stood out from even these elite, known as the best of the best. One of them was Commander Azren áin Vogen. A warrior-poet, a clairvoyant, he was greatly admired, and greatly feared as the Council's Bloody Truncheon, exacting swift and severe punishments on his foes. His horse, Rarikei, also stood out from among his own, by his exceptional size, strength and intelligence, and his onyx-black coat. Ordinary people, even other Tarkha, wondered if this horse and this rider were truly made of flesh and blood. No one, not even his closest friend and Patrol partner Marh Atero, could imagine Azren turning against the will of the Council, and secretly pursuing an agenda of his own. It was unthinkable, and by the time Atero understood Azren's true intent, it was too late to stop him.