About Remedy (A story of Aligare)
Remedy is a 97 000-word story. This version has some minor changes from previously published editions. Remedy is a self-contained one-shot, although some characters make cameo appearances in other Stories of Aligare. (Some sources call Remedy "Book 1" of the series, as though it's a required starting point for readers. It's not.)

Remedy was my first complete novel shared with the public (though not the first novel-length thing I had written). I wrote it with the intent of making for myself what I couldn't find on the library shelves: I wanted to see less world-shattering stakes. Less cruelty and grimdark. Less politics. Less assumption that humans are the only species that matters. More good intentions, and questions of identity, and moments of growth and quiet wonder. More of the most delicate sorts of magic a sapient being can experience.

This was an unpopular take in the mainstream publishing atmosphere of 2010. Lots of people told me I "had" to rewrite Remedy into something more like Game of Thrones, or more like Redwall (both series I intensely dislike). I thought that was a narrow-minded attitude to have in a genre that's supposed to be speculative. So I self-published Remedy in February 2011. There were some rough journeys after that decision. But I'm grateful that I've always let this story be its weird, gentle-hearted self.


Blurb/summary:
   After a century of mining, Peregrine is tired. He is an aging dragon who can't hear a simple conversation for himself: he relies on the help of keen-eared weasel assistants, whom he raises like his own children. But with his two hundred year lifespan, Peregrine has buried four of his dear companions and he will outlive Tillian as well. Convinced that he is robbing Tillian of her short life, Peregrine resolves to change his profession. He promises himself that he'll set his earferrin free.

   The same day Peregrine takes wing for a messenger job, Rose's village faces an epidemic. Dozens of insect-like people are showing symptoms of gripthia -- and without enough healing magic, they will die. Young and recently hurried into her mage position, Rose can't save her village alone. She sends out a plea for other races to lend their hands. And because Tillian wants to help, Peregrine leaves his other half behind sooner than he ever planned. While innocent people grow sicker, Peregrine wonders whether he can live for himself, whether Tillian wants to live without him, and whether Rose and her villagers will live at all.



Content advisory:

Remedy is a character-driven drama with scenes of medical crisis. If it had a standardized rating, it'd probably be PG-13.

For more detailed content advisory, click here.




This story takes place on another world, among people who are not humans. The three peoplekinds live together in varied mixtures, with no history of war or racial strife. They work together and still have troubles to face.
Line drawings of the three Aligare peoplekinds. They are nude figures drawn in a simplified diagram style. Korvi are tall feathered dragons that stand on two feet. They have crocodile-like faces and a pair of Z-shaped horns. Ferrin are small, weasel-like mammals with large triangular ears. They sit upright like a squirrel. Aemets are mid-sized, human-like people with shell plates on their backs, two antennae on their foreheads, and multiple fingernails per finger in a way that resembles spined insect feet.

In this world, among these folk, the Remedy story begins.

   Go where sixteen winds whistle
   The sky is a festival attended by light
   Fly until your wings blaze vigorous
   Enjoy falling – air or earth will catch you

      -Song of the Skywager dance, translated from korvitongue


The story:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26



Back to main page.