All American Boy ...

Wow! Is it May already?! OK, so it's the last day of April but sheesh! That's close enough! Those of us in the Portland, Oregon region are all asking the big question, IS IT SPRING YET? And hopefully it will be just around the corner. Ahhhh, the great Northwest! It's been a long, long, long winter and I have been so busy I haven't been able to blog much. In fact the winter was so long and awful I took a trip to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago to see some old friends and get some sun! I came back home refreshed, relaxed, (sun will do that to you when you haven't seen it for months) and didn't so much as drop a quarter in a slot machine at the airport. For my friends who live there it's kinda like living next to Disney Land. "Go to the strip?!" They would exclaim all aghast. "You've got to be kidding, right?" I'm not into the whole Vegas strip thing anyway so just watching movies and hanging out was good enough for me. And I also came home with a book collaboration in my pocket. Non-fiction in case you were wondering.

For those of you who are not aware, I am a relationship coach aside from being a writer. And as the project is a book for women about men this should be fun. And yes, there are already a slew of books out there for women about men, but this book is straight up talk to women by a man who is basically what we women would label the "enemy".

An ex-pro baseball player, among other things, Kelley Simon has been to the "other side" and back again when it comes to relationships. He describes himself in his early years as the kind of guy you never wanted to let your daughter go out with. Yet with the prestige of being in the pro-baseball circuit, EVERYONE wanted him to go out with their daughter and then some.

After speaking with him at length and hearing all the different stories of the world he lived in during those years, my first instinct was to slap him across the face! "How could men treat women like that?!" I wanted to scream at him. Instead I continued to listen and glare accordingly, (feebly attempting to bore holes through his head for the sake of all womankind) as he told stories of men out there, "players" and I'm not talking about baseball here, who would prey on women to the point of turning it into its own sport.

All American Boy is indeed going to be straight up talk to women about men. The sub-title, Or Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, Can You Tell the Difference? is written in a "in your face" style. Kelley certainly doesn't hold anything back, especially when it comes to talking about how thankful he is he didn't get completely sucked into that world and extremely thankful Jesus Christ pulled him out and redeemed him. Now he has a passion for helping people find out who they are in Christ and helping women to see that in order to begin a healthy committed relationship with a man, one first has to be healthy, healed and whole themselves. In another book he'll be talking to men, but this first book is for the girls.

All American Boy is going to be very interesting for me to work on as all my relationship studies have been on "this side of the fence," so to speak. Doctors, psychologists, counselors and therapists have all contributed to my six years of study. But to listen to first hand accounts
from a former, hmmmm ... what shall we call him ... Bad Boy makes it all the more so and very educational.

And yes, that IS Kelley Simon back in the day in the above picture. That face really does make one ask, All American Boy or Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? Can You Tell the Difference? After reading All American Boy, you most certainly will.

You can read some of what Kelley has to say about relationships on his blog at www.askkelleysimon.blogspot.com

And go ahead, ask him a question. But brace yourself when he answers!

Snowed in with A Passion Most Pure

If you’ve been following the latest news, most of you know of the horrific winter storm that hit the Northwest this last week. I myself was snowed out of my house for the entire week. (Don't worry, I was rescued and had a nice warm safe place to stay.) My family and I missed Christmas together. My daughter was unable to fly home for the holiday from college due to all the flight cancellations. It was not the merry Christmas many had hoped for. However, God has a way of turning things around and making good come out of chaos. And as the winter storm raged outside many a home, there were a lot of folks who rediscovered what it was like to have a good neighbor, how to appreciate loved ones more, and that family is the most important thing. Not what gifts are under the Christmas tree.

Myself, being a writer, I wondered what it would be like to be snowed in with various characters from some of the books I’ve read over the last few months. My own book’s characters included. And after much thought, I decided that if I had to be snowed in with the characters from any of the books I’ve read, including my own, I’d have to say that the characters from Julie Lessman’s book, A Passion Most Pure won. Not that being snowed in with Dallan MacDonald doesn’t have its appeal. But let’s face it, those of you who have read my books know that one can only take so much of Kitty Morgan, and I just couldn’t imagine being snowed in with the whole Time Master bunch, which would definitely include Kitty. So the O’Connor family from Julie’s book won out.

Set against the backdrop of world war one in 1916, A Passion Most Pure spills off the pages and into one’s heart and mind like butter. It had a way of gripping me like no book had in many years. And let me tell you, it takes a lot to hold me especially when I’m working on my own stuff. Emotionally compelling and just as satisfying, the story revolves around Faith O’Conner and her younger sister Charity who both have their cap set for the same man. One the girls parents would rather they both leave alone. Collin McGuire isn’t exactly the type of chap to write home about in their book, let alone bring through the front door. But that’s exactly what happens.

Faith’s ever growing affection for Collin is kept hidden in her heart for many years and to suddenly find her sister Charity wrapped in his arms one day shatters her world. To see Collin then court Charity nearly rips it apart. Why can she not just let it go? What is it about him that so draws her? And why does he have to be in love with her sister? But wait! Collin seems to be asking himself some of the same questions. But he’s asking them about Faith! Ohhhh now we have a pickle!

The thing I loved about this book is the strong family core of the O’Connors. They love and laugh together, cry together, fight together. They are the stuff of the heart. The grist and guts that holds a family together. They are steadfast in their love for each other and that, along with an understanding of God’s forgiveness pulls them through an extremely difficult time. I’ve never started a rating system when I review a book, but if I did, and scored on a scale of 1 (being don’t waste your time) and 5 (being keep it on the shelf and never lend it out!) I’d have to give Julie’s book a five! The copy I read was loaned to me and under penalty of death too I might add. I need to remember to get it back to its rightful owner. One of these days …..

Pumpkins, Police Reports, Bed Times and Unsolved Mysteries!

As an author, I am amazed at how the human brain works when it comes to creativity. I've edited for years, given pointers and been privledged to read and review works by authors famous and not so famous. But occasionally you get handed a piece that is absolutely delightful. And maybe the author won't be so well known down the road, but then again, one never knows.

Given to me by twelve year old Josiah Lundstrom, and put through the rigors of edit and review, this piece is a classic! Enjoy. Comments to the author of this piece are welcome. But as he has to go to bed at nine, he might not get to read them until tomorrow!






Pumpkin Patch Police Report #643

A Robber's Story.



Court Reporter: Tammy Tomato



As told in court to Judge Jeremiah Jamba Juice



Prosecutor Pomegranate: Tell us exactly what happened the night of the crime, will you?



Defendant: As the alarm rang, forty pumpkins rammed the door just before security came crashing in on us with their tranquilizer guns. I of course was lifting the jewels from the armory. That, after all, was my part of the "job" we were pulling which also put me furthest from the chaos. But things still didn't bode well for me.

In my flight from the armory I tripped and hurt my leaf! Wounded, I had to act fast and so rammed the barricade of guards standing between me and my escape! After taking care of them, I slunk down the hall into a break room and saw three pumpkin guards milling about and thought to myself, "hee hee heeee …"(a common term used by we pumpkins about to pull a fast one) walked up behind them and yelled, "Freeze Ninja Robber!" We Pumpkins have a serious joking problem. I just couldn't help myself! It runs in my family genes! Is that court reporter writing this all down?



Prosecutor Pomegranate: Get on with the story!



Defendant: Oh, yes of course. At first they were startled but suddenly I had to duck, the whooshing sounds of their darts just above my head, as they turned on me. I quickly looked around and saw that their darts had landed in a coffee mug and were sticking out of their coffee pot. Good thing it was a metal coffee pot as I'd hate to think of losing a nice carafe …anyway, I quickly grabbed the mug and used it to deflect the next set of darts fired at me. How can a pumpkin protect him self from darts with a mere mug you ask? Mathmatics too complicated to go into at this moment, so on with my story! Besides, I got a C on my last math test.

So I grabbed the tranq gun from the guard who was more interested in having me stop using his coffee mug to defend myself with, (a split second fair trade among pumpkins) and said to them all, nighty night! I then blew out of that pumpkin patch with the jewels, (OK, so maybe I rolled just a little) and a hand held tranq gun with my last four darts. I ran outside the patch to the outer wall with the only door to freedom and immediately noticed four pumpkins.

Four darts, four pumpkins. Think of it.

Prosecutor Pomegranate: And, AND?



Defendant: They put up a good fight but as soon as I could I ran out the security door and to freedom! The first thing I saw on the other side of the wall surrounding the patch was some psycho guard dragging another pumpkin away. I don't think he was from our gang which meant I was the first pumpkin out! What should I do? Of course! I knew what I would do! I ran to the jewelry store and sold the jewels!

Prosecutor Pomegranate: Then what did you do?

Defendant: I got rich.

Prosecutor Pomegranate: Besides that?!

Defendant: And then twenty years later after living as high a life a pumpkin can live. Errr ahhh, you might not want to ask what all that involves … I realized I needed a friend! But all my friends were back at the pumpkin patch! At least I hoped they were back at the pumpkin patch and didn't become am item on a Starbucks menu! Could that have been my friend Eddie in that Pumpkin Spice Frappaccino? Ohhhh I shudder to think! So I did the only logical thing. I bought the pumpkin patch!

Anxious to be reunited with my friends I rushed through the security door and then through the main gate only to run right smack into a rather Abraham Lincoln looking sort of fellow. Imagine, a pumpkin that looks like Abraham Lincoln! And just as I exclaimed, "What the …"an old guard waltzed through the gate, took one look at me and yelled, "YOU!" His squinty little pumpkin eyes got even squintier as he yelled, "You're the one that tranq'd me twenty years ago and almost broke my favorite coffee mug!

Uh oh, I thought to myself. Just like that fateful night of the heist, I knew this wasn't going to bode well.

"And you nearly killed me with a poisoned dart!" The old pumpkin guard screamed as he began to rush at me.

Suddenly, to my amazement, a cop car pulled into the patch and stopped with a screech of tires and a cloud of dust. The Sheriff, a rather lanky built Acorn Squash, jumped out of the car and yelled "You're under arrest!"

Was he talking to me or the old pumpkin guard rushing at me? It was then all chaos broke loose. Not to mention a few other unidentified vegetables. What with all the dust the cop car created when it pulled up it was hard to tell at that point what was what. But as the dust acted like a smoke screen, I quickly used it to disappear. Things after that get a bit sketchy.

The only record of that day was found by a traveling Cucumber. A piece of a diary about a guy nobody had seen for 37 years. The diary was old, dirty and hard to read, so see if you can figure it out. It read: Nobody seen him for another 37 years at his sons grave even though his wife took care of him the cops came as the robber was crying they shot at him he grabbed a dagger and ran and stabbed the sheriff. (now that had to hurt, my words inserted) At his age he was too slow to get away from the other cop, (probably another one of those funny looking acorn squashy guy cops, my words inserted) and so he got sleepy and then fainted and when he woke up he was in the patch.



Prosecutor Pomegrante: That makes no sense!


Defendant: Er, ahh … Now I was told by an eye witness what happened after that as they came on the scene just as the old guard woke up. He moaned, got up, and just walked to the pumpkin patch gate and knocked on it and the thing fell down. He said, "Dang that's old!" just as the door landed in the dust. It was then, when the dust began to clear that he also noticed the family, the human family, standing there looking right at him and pointing! Gulp!

"We want him!" Their children cried.

"Dang it!" the old pumpkin guard exclaimed as the children began to reach for him with their evil chubby little hands!

And so he died that day, joining a family and their household to become a decorative home piece. No one ever saw him or his jewels again.

Ah ha! You say, what jewels? And therein lies the question. Was it I, the robber who stole the jewels in the first place that was taken from the patch to forever grace the living room mantel of a human family? (They've found a way to bronze pumpkins. It's the newest craft craze in case you didn't know.) OR, was it the old pumpkin guard, and what would he be doing with any jewels? You figure it out. I have to go to Starbucks to picket against Pumpkin Spice lattes!



Pumpkin Patch Case 643 was thrown out of court due to a lack of evidence, and due to the fact that Judge Jeremiah Jamba Juice and the defendant had to go to bed. It was nine o'clock after all.

She's back!

Back in the latter half of the twentieth century …

“Lordy, Kitty, can’t you just snap out of it?” Tomika Ashby chastised for at least the ninth time that day. “There is nothing we can do about Shona not being here anymore and you and I are just …” She choked back a sob. “Are just going to have to learn to deal with it!”
Kitty stared straight ahead at the television in her room. She and Tomy sat on her bed amidst various half eaten and empty containers of junk food. She pressed the mute button of the remote to better hear Tomy, her own tears falling again. Without looking she grabbed a nearby box of tissues off her night stand and shoved them at her friend. Her only friend, now that Shona was gone.
Tomy took another tissue, as did she. They both blew their noses in unison, then threw the tissues onto the already growing pile on the floor in front of them.
Kitty finally turned to Tomy and asked, “More ice cream?”
“Are you kidding me, girl? We’ve done near eaten a whole gallon already! I’ve gained eight pounds hanging around you these last three weeks!” Tomy grabbed another tissue and blew her nose again. “Hand me that package of Oreos!”
Kitty complied but not before grabbing a handful for herself. “Shona said she would be back again in a week after she came and got some of her stuff, but she hasn’t shown up yet!”
“Well someone certainly showed up and took the rest of her things back to … well … when ever they are.”
“I wish we could go see her.” Kitty mumbled between bites of Oreo.
“Now how are we supposed to do that?”
Kitty stopped chewing and sniffed against renewed tears. “That’s just it. There’s nothing we can do!” She burst into sobs again. “And we can’t even talk about it with anybody except her parents!” Tomy threw the box of tissue at her and took another cookie.
Sinclair, Kitty’s cat approached his mistress and rubbed himself against her legs. She absently reached down and petted him. “At least I still have you, Sinclair.” She said then hefted him up onto her lap.
“That has got to be the biggest, fattest cat I have ever seen!” Tomy exclaimed.
“Sinclair is not fat. He’s just big boned.” Kitty retorted as she hugged the animal until he let out a grunt.
Tomy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure he is.”
Sinclair looked right at her. Tomy met his stare head on. “And what is up with the looks he gives? Lordy, you’d think he could understand every word we say!”
Kitty buried her face in Sinclair’s thick yellow fur and mumbled, “He’s a smart cat! Aren’t you Sinclair?”
Sinclair let out a howl in response, jumped from Kitty’s lap, and ran out the bedroom door.
“He’s smart enough to leave!” Tomy laughed.
“He loves me, probably more than any of my other cats. Don’t you be mean to him!”
“I’m not being mean. I just think he’s funny looking that’s all. Lordy, he’s as big as a dog and he’s fat and boney all at the same time. Face it Kitty, he’s about as different a cat as you can get!”
There was a natural pause after Tomy spoke and both girls let out a sigh as an oppressive silence suddenly filled the room.
Kitty fidgeted on the bed then took another cookie. “Something doesn’t feel right, Tomy.”
“What do you mean, something doesn’t feel right? Lordy girl, after eating all this junk food how can anything feel right!”
“That’s not what I mean. I think something is wrong where Shona and Dallan are.”
Tomy could only look at her. “Did you have another one of those weird dreams again about Shona dying? You know they give you the willies. Stop thinking something is wrong and start thinking positive. What is up with all the doom and gloom anyway? You should be happy for Shona!”
Kitty stared straight ahead again. “I know I should be. But I’m telling you, something just doesn’t feel right. Maybe I’m dreaming things because things are wrong with them.”
Tomy scooted over and put her arm around her friend. “Tell you what, tomorrow is Sunday. Why don’t we call Maggie and Evan and see if they want to go have dinner with us? Then you can ask them about things. Who knows, maybe they know what’s going on or have even seen Shona since we talked to them last.”
“But that was only a week ago we saw them.”
“I know, but a lot could happen in a week.”
Kitty certainly knew that. In one week her best friend Shona had met the man of her dreams, gotten married, and then been whisked away to a far off land in another time. “If only it would happen to me …” she whispered to herself, and then took another bite of cookie.




Sinclair, after letting himself out of the Morgan’s house, trotted down the street to the pre-assigned meeting place. He’d had to sneak out before, and tonight was no different. But tonight he carried news. Good news that would more than likely result in some sort of reward from the Muirarans. And a reward from them would be most welcome indeed. He was growing pretty tired of human cat food.
He entered the neighborhood park and closely scanned the area. Feeling it safe enough to risk changing, he trotted behind a tree and let himself relax a moment before concentrating. He grunted as his body shuddered and jolted in response, his back rounding, belly expanding, hidden legs unfolding as his cramped muscles allowed him to complete the metamorphosis.
Foot steps.
Sinclair froze, the change almost complete. It must be Simon Kells. He hoped it was Simon Kells! It certainly wouldn’t bode well to be caught in his current nearly transformed state.
“Your tail is still showing small one.” The whisper was deep, edgy, and full of mirth.
Simon Kells had arrived.
Sinclair gave one last grunt, his rump rounding out completely, his so-called cat’s tail sucked back into the recesses of his body until he needed it again. He looked up at Simon Kells, the former Time Master, and stretched his legs. All eight of them. His rounded spine popped with the effort.
Simon Kells bent to the small Sarian now fully transformed before him. The furred creature resembled something between a spider and a cat. Its yellow fur smoother fully transformed, its eyes bigger and more luminous. Where there were whiskers, there were now furred antenna. What was the longer body of a cat was now the rounded hunched back of an orb weaver. The Sarian sat on his bottom, his back pairs of legs looking as if he sat on cat’s haunches, his front pairs bracing him. He yawned, his razor sharp teeth flashing, before he snapped his mouth shut. All at once a beautiful yet hideous creature, the little Sarian focused his full attention on his friend, Simon Kells, the Muiraran War Lord and former Time Master.
“How fares your charge, small one?” Simon Kells asked.
Sinclair blinked at him a few times as much a form of communication as speaking, and said. “She grievesseessss.”
Simon Kells cringed slightly. The smaller the Sarian, the squeakier the voice.
Simon Kells voice on the other hand, was rich, deep and edgy. The sound was enough to strike fear into any race. “But you bring her comfort, eh my little friend?”
“Yessseeessss.”
“What other news then?”
Sinclair stood, and scrambled up a nearby tree in order to put himself at eye level with the large Muiraran. His transformed feet now more claw than paw. Simon Kells stood in response. He was as tall as the Time Master Kwaku Awahnee and just as fierce looking if not more so. His head was bald but for a thick lock of hair protruding from the back and wrapped in a band of gold. His eyes were strangely dark, almost black, one could barely see the pupils and though the white skin of his face was now tanned from summer’s sun, they were still in stark contrast. His broad body was heavily muscled and hard. He had not bothered to disguise himself in human garb, but still wore the tunic, leather trappings and scabbard of his position. That of War Lord to the Muiraran race, which was the perfect position for him of course. Simon Kells inner heart after all, fed off of strategic warfare and tactics. He was the last Muiraran anyone of any known race ever wanted to pick a fight with.
Sinclair clung to the bark of the tree and got into the face of Simon Kells. “She dreamsssessss.” He rubbed his antennae together then abruptly sneezed.
Simon Kells wiped the result from his face and glared at the now shivering Sarian. “So sorrysseessss”
The War Lord smiled despite the mess. “Caught cold again, have you? Maybe this will make you feel better.” He reached into a pouch at his belt and produced a hunk of raw meat.
Sinclair began to shake with such excitement he nearly fell from the tree. “Meatsseessss!” His voice had gone up in pitch and Simon Kells cringed at the sound.
“Yes and I brought you more. But I need to hear your full report to take back to Kwaku.” He tossed the meat at the creature which easily caught it and sucked it inside his mouth. He chewed and sucked at it with relish.
“Ahhhhhsseesss, so good of you to bring me such a treatsseessss.”
“Yes, now about your reportsseessss?” Simon Kells urged sarcastically.
Sinclair swallowed the last of the meat and slurped. His antennae rubbed together furiously for a second before he spoke. “She dreams of her highnesseessss. She senses dangersseessss. The bond she shares with her highness is strongsseessss.”
Simon Kells rubbed his jaw with one hand in thought. “Interesting. I’ve not heard of such a bonding between one of the royal houses and a human female before.”
“Her heartsseesss, it is open to Muiraranssessss. Does her highness seek her friendsseessss?”
“I have not spoken to or observed her highness as yet to see. I’ve been watching over the young ones. It is with them we thought she would bond.”
“The new Time Master’s young brothersseessss? He would make a fun playmate for her highnesseessss.”
“Yes, Kwaku will begin training her highness with the young ones. They are all good boys and will make good classmates for her highness. And each boy will make a fine warrior one day.”
“The Time Master Kwaku trains them to killsseessss?”
Simon Kells looked taken aback. “Certainly not! They are as yet too young to take a life in war. It is her highness he will train.”
Sinclair deftly crawled down from the tree. “Ahhhhhsseessss. I see nowsseessss.”
“I will take this information back to Kwaku. He and Zara will know what to do with it. Now I must go. My wife is waiting.”
“Ahhhhhssessss, the Lady Garan is nearsseessss?”
“Of course. How do you think I got here?”
“Forgivesseessss me. I forget you served as Time Mastersseessss. But now you help Kwaku with such trivial thingsseessss. Whysseessss?”
“Because I feel I owe it to him and to my people.” Simon Kells face suddenly took on such a deep look of regret, Sinclair shuddered in response.
“Whysseesssss?”
“For making the mistake of choosing one such as Phillip Brennan for my successor to follow me as Time Master.” And with that, Simon Kells tossed the rest of the meat he’d brought to his little friend and turned to go join his Muiraran wife Garen. He had news Kwaku would want.
The great bond of friendship between the human Kitty Morgan and her highness might just be what they needed to succeed. Otherwise lives might well be lost. There was a great unrest among the Elders of the Royal Muiraran houses. Trouble was brewing and Kwaku knew it. If the prophecy of old were true, then Shona Shamaelon’s life may well be in danger. Not to mention that of the new Time Master Dallan. A strong bond such as the human Kitty Morgan had with the Shamaelon princess was a good thing. Humans became very perceptive when bonded with a Muiraran. Kitty Morgan could well be a very effective early warning system. Little did Kitty Morgan know, but she would probably be seeing her friend much sooner than she thought possible.
Simon Kells smiled as he joined his wife at the other side of the park. He kissed her soundly, whispered into her ear, and held her close for a moment before her entire body shuddered and she began to sing.



At the same time in the city of Mishna, Holding Cell # 639

Julia Dawson sat upon the bed of her cell and stared at the intricately designed metal bars which kept her locked inside. They were really quite beautiful, she thought as she studied the fine lines of the leaves which were sprinkled along the length of the prison bars themselves. The bars closely resembled tree limbs, the branches of which were intertwined with each other to form the door itself. She’d learned early on however that the prison bars were not only beautiful, but potentially deadly. The tips of the leaves had been coated with a shimmering red colored mixture that was probably some sort of poison. She’d made the mistake of touching a leaf while exploring any sort of possible weakness of the door. She’d woken up on the floor perhaps hours later. Much more touching of the pretty things and she doubted she’d had woken up at all.
Bored with her study of the bars she lay upon the bed and let out a slow, long, shaky breath. They would be coming for her soon to take her away. Today was her trial. Today may well also be her execution. But the Lord Councilors John Eaton and Lany Mosgofian had promised her leniency if she told the Muirarans all she knew about Phillip. And they had already been in to question her several times since her arrival several weeks ago. But not the Muirarans. No, the men who questioned her were human as far as she could tell. Judging from what she had learned from Phillip himself about the race, their camouflage instinct would only work if they were surrounded by humans, making them appear as one of them. In a city full of Muirarans, she doubted the men who had come to question her would have fluxed to human features just because they were in a prison cell with her. Not with a city full of Muirarans all around them. No, they were definitely human. Their obvious nervousness at simply being there was proof enough. The sweat on their brows, the way they paced the cell while questioning her, the furtive looks at the cell door. All indicators the men had probably never been among so many of the alien race before. She on the other hand was absolutely enthralled to be so close to them. She’d spent years seeking them out in her own time, and now here she was in a city with probably thousands of them. But as yet, she’d not seen a one. All her handling had been performed by humans. From the time she’d been passed off by the Time Master Kwaku Awahnee to the prison guards who locked her up until now. Not a sign of the Muirarans themselves. Only the alien surroundings she found herself in were any indicator of the race themselves. The light of her cell was just, well, there. It did not change or waver during the day and at night it slowly faded to darkness. But her cell and the hallway beyond it did not fall into pitch blackness as one might think considering the absence of any windows. No, it was a dark, subdued lighting to bring sleep and nothing more. The food too was strange, though some of it had been familiar as well. A delicious hot cereal of mixed grains of some kind in the morning followed by a soup served with a slice of odd, hard bread at lunch. Dinner consisted of meat, (probably beef she surmised the first night), with vegetables for dinner. Not a bad diet at all considering she was in prison. She briefly pondered what she might get for a last meal, if things came to that, before she quickly squelched the thought from her mind. She would survive this just as she’d survived everything else up until now. Including her betrayal by Phillip Brennan.
“They are ready for you.”
Julia jumped at the voice on the other side of the bars. She sat bolt upright and stared at the men standing there waiting. Guards. The same ones who had been bringing her meals and caring for her since her arrival. They dressed in brown robes which reminded her more of monks than any sort of prison guards. But she knew that beneath the robes they wore were weapons and perhaps other lethal devices. She’d seen them pull them out occasionally when the other men had come to question her.
One of the guards unlocked the door and pulled it open. “Come with us.”
Julia swallowed hard. She would get through this. Yes she would. She would survive. They would not kill her. She’d saved the Highlander after all and helped to thwart Phillip’s plan to take possession of Shona. Surely they would listen. Surely they would see she deserved to live.
Julia gathered her courage and stood. She walked slowly toward the door and met the eyes of the guards sent to escort her to her trial. A trial that, judging from the line of questioning by her human inquisitors, might well be a trial of the ages.
Her hands manacled behind her back, one guard gripped her by the arm while the other closed the door to her cell with a loud click. As they ushered her from her prison she suddenly wished she were locked back inside. A worse prison awaited her she realized. And she couldn’t afford to be locked up inside this one. She knew as well as anyone there was no escaping the prison of fear.

Introducing ....

Ahhhh, here he is everyone. Melvale.

From Time Masters Book Two, The Prophecy, chapter seven.

"Shona, Shona wake up."

The voice was familiar, but Shona couldn't quite place it. She opened her eyes to a familiar face as well, but found she still could not attach it to a name.

"Are ye all right, lassie? Can I gets ye a cup o' something … er … ah … well, does ye needs anything?"

Shona wondered at the obvious hesitancy of the question as she sat up and looked around. Angus MacNab and Lany Mosgofian were hovering over her like a couple of mother hens. They were in a medium sized room all of white. Just four walls and the odd white cot she found herself on. It was the only piece of furniture to be found. No wonder Angus was hesitant in his offer. Where would he get a cup of anything?

"What happened to me?" She asked.

Lany let go a heavy sigh. "You were brought here after passing through the … ah … gates … I guess we could call them, and Jaireth brought you here to wait for Dallan with us."

"Dallan!" She immediately tried to rise.

Angus gently pushed her down. "Nay, lass. Best ye waits until ye get some o' yer strength back." He reached into a small knap sack he had draped over one shoulder. It was adorned in the same odd markings that had covered the blankets which covered the Muiraran's mounts. What ever they were. At this point Shona had no idea.

"Here," he began as he pulled out an apple and gave it to her. "Eats up. I have a feeling ye'll be needing yer strength." He pulled his lower lip between his teeth a few times. Shona recognized the action. The man was nervous.

Lany caught the concern in her eyes. "Don't worry. Dallan will be along shortly. Eat what you can."

Shona stared at the shiny red apple in her hand, a flash of Snow White and the poisoned apple handed to her by a dangerous foe engulfed her briefly. A subtle reminder they were still quite possibly in danger. "Thank you." Was all she said before she took a much needed bite.

"When Jaireth brought you through the, ah …" Lany waved a hand in the air, trying for the right word. "Oh living stars, we'll just stick with calling them gates, you passed out."

Shona chewed a little faster, and swallowed. "What gates?"

Angus shifted his feet about a bit. "Tis the entrances into the city here. I've been through several times, but never through the ones used today."

Shona stopped chewing, swallowed, and stared at Angus. "What is wrong with the gates?"

"D'ye remember anything, lass? D'ye remember passing through the wall o' rock?"

Shona almost choked. "Wall of rock?"

"Aye." Angus confirmed as he and Lany now peered at her intently as they waited for her answer.

She thought hard a moment as she tried to remember what had happened. She and Jaireth and been speeding along across a flat plain, she did remember seeing some sort of high wall of rock ahead. Like the wall of a plateau one might see in the desert. But the wall was not the red rock of Arizona like she'd seen in books at the library. No, this was grey and sharp looking, with streaks of black in it. Rather bleak and foreboding against the bright sunshine and dusty flatness of the plains over which they rode. But then the thing flying above them had screamed that horrible scream, and she in her terror had screamed right along with it.

"Oh dear." She said.

Lany peered at her more intently.

She merely looked at him, and then to Angus whose eyes were as round as saucers. "I remember heading straight for a wall of rock. Jaireth, he … covered me with his body, just before we …" she looked at the two men, puzzled. "Just before we hit it?"

"Aye." Angus again confirmed as he pulled a cloth handkerchief from his coat pocket and swiped it across his brow.

Shona shook her head as if to clear it. "We rode through a wall of rock?"

Lany shrugged. "As far as we can figure. We're not any more sure of it than you are. We were hoping you could tell us something else other than what we already know."

Shona again thought back. "I remember it becoming suddenly very cold, then nothing. I woke up here." She looked around again. "Where are we?"

"Some sort of waiting room or holding area." Lany answered.

Angus snorted. "Try a holding cell, laddie. I've been left in one o' these before. Have ye not noticed there are no doors?"

"Angus, how can I not notice?" Lany chastised.

The apple forgotten, Shona stood and looked around the room. It was perfectly square and a bright white color. What was interesting was the fact there were no visible lights in the room, yet what light there was was of an unusual soft brilliance. And the men were right. There were no doors, windows, or even a seam in the walls, ceiling, or floor. Sterile was the word she would use to describe their surroundings. Sterile and with no escape. So how did they get there? She threw the silent question at Lany who saw it coming in her raised brows.

"We don't know how we got here either. The two of us woke up not long before you did."

"I see." She walked to the nearest wall and touched it. It seemed to quiver slightly in response.

Angus backed up a step. "Best not touch anything, lass. We dinna ken what might happen!"

A slight humming noise permeated the room, as if it soaked through the walls and into the space around them. All three suddenly realized the room had changed with the noise. Shona gasped. The room had gotten bigger.

Lany looked around nervously. "That was certainly interesting." He swallowed hard. "Shona, do us a favor and don't touch the wall again."

She shrugged in helplessness, her heart suddenly aching with hunger. Her knees weak, she slumped to the floor.

"Lassie!" Angus rushed to her as did Lany.

"Your quick attendance to my daughter is most appreciated, gentlemen."

Shona, Lany and Angus all stared at the sudden appearance of Jaireth Shamaelon and the several guards who followed him into the room. An open corridor of white was behind them. But where had it come from?

Shona struggled to her feet with the help of Lany and Angus. "Where is Dallan?" She demanded.

Jaireth offered her a face full of compassion. "Did you honestly think I would let any harm come to him, daughter?"

Shona was taken aback at the question. What had she thought he would do? Especially after the stunt he'd pulled on the journey here. Where ever here was. "I do not know at this point. Where is he?"

Jaireth simply looked at her, and then moved to the side.

Dallan's still form was held up by a Muiraran guard on either side of him. They had obviously dragged the Scot down the corridor and into the room.

"Ewwww, it's not going to be pretty when he wakes up." Lany mumbled under his breath.

Shona pushed past her father to get to Dallan. Jaireth's lips formed into a tight line at the action, but he said nothing.

She knelt next to her husband as the guards gently lowered him face first onto the floor. One of them smiled at her before he turned the big Scot onto his back. "He'll be all right, your highness. Do not worry."

Shona looked at him, ignoring how he'd addressed her, and nodded her thanks.

The two guards stood and joined Jaireth along with the others whom had entered. Belatedly Shona sensed another person and turned to stare at the tall, cloaked Muiraran Melvale, who stood behind her in the corridor's entrance. She didn't quite know how she knew it was him. She just did. He must have taken in her expression as he bowed slightly before her. He then casually stepped over Dallan's unconscious form and entered the room.

"Melvale," Jaireth began. "You know what to do for my daughter and our guests. See to their needs will you?"

Melvale merely bowed slightly to the Muiraran Ruler then turned to his charges. Lany and Angus both stared blankly back.

Jaireth smirked slightly before he and the guards left them. Shona started as the room again quivered and hummed as before. The corridor suddenly disappeared and only the wall remained. She quickly looked to Lany and Angus, who looked just as shocked as she did. All three of them slowly turned their attention back to Melvale, who merely stood and said nothing.

Dallan groaned.

Shona repositioned herself and cradled his head in her arms. "Dallan?"

His eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times before consciousness and recognition dawned. He reached up to Shona and cupped her face with a large hand. "Weel, Flower, this is different, is it no?"

She held the hand closer to her face and smiled. To touch him was bliss. To hear his voice, heaven. She now knew he was all right. "I do not think you fainted as I did. But then, we are not sure of a lot of things right now." She tried to smile at him. "Such as how we got here."

"Och, aye." Dallan said as he pushed him self up to a sitting position, gave Lany and Angus a curt nod, then leapt to his feet pulling Shona up with him. He staggered somewhat and grabbed Shona for balance until he could right himself. He was shaken. Very much so. It had been one wild ride to get here. And in more ways than one. Ways he wasn't ready to share with anyone just yet, lest they think he'd become addled in the brain. But where was here?

She supported him as best she could. "I felt the same way when I woke up too."

He straightened. "Saints," he began as he took in their surroundings. "What's happened and where are we?" Dallan shifted his gaze to the hooded Muiraran who stood nearby. "Well?" Dallan cocked his head slightly before a quirky smile formed on his lips. "Melvale?" What other Muiraran could it be? The arrogant stance was a dead give away.

The ever cloaked Melvale shifted his position and began to move along the wall behind him. The rest of them shifted naturally with him. Soon the four were lined up in front of him, all of them realizing what they'd just done. Angus, Lany, Shona, and Dallan all stood and waited as their tall host now stood as if he were looking down his nose at them. Bloody hard to tell though, Dallan thought, what with the hood he wore to cover his face.

He briefly wondered if dear Melvale didn't have some hideous deformity he was forced to hide and moved a little closer to Shona. Just in case. He didn't want her frightened.

Melvale took note of the slight action. "Hmmmm." came out in a rather sing-songy way. Beginning on a higher note and dropping in pitch slightly. Dallan narrowed his gaze and waited. He tensed as Melvale suddenly put his hands on either side of the hood he wore. All four sets of eyes widened, knowing what was coming.

Angus groaned and nodded knowingly to himself. "Here we go." He mumbled flatly.

Lany glanced slightly in his direction but didn't move at the odd statement as Melvale just as suddenly threw back the hooded cowl he wore.

Shona actually gasped. "Oh!"

Dallan and Lany on the other hand stood in silence, their mouths dropped completely open. Angus just groaned aloud again and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Melvale stood in all his splendid glory. And splendid it was too. Even Dallan had to admit that. The creature standing before them was magnificent. He'd even go so far as to describe Melvale as beautiful. His face seemed as if it had been chiseled to perfection, his mouth as equally well formed as it pulled up slightly into a satisfied smile. The Muiraran man's eyes were of a steel grey, hard and intelligent. Very intelligent, Dallan noticed, and framed by inquisitive dark brows that were in sharp contrast to his hair. Beautiful hair of thick white silver tresses which cascaded down his back and over his shoulders. Dallan had to admit it. The man was breath taking. He quickly moved closer to Shona and put an arm around her small frame, pulled her close, then glared accordingly at the god-like looking specimen standing before them.

Melvale turned his body ever so slightly, raised one hand to shoulder level, his thumb and middle finger tips touching, pinkie finger out. Dallan wondered if it were some sort of Muiraran greeting. But then when Melvale didn't move further, he realized it was just a natural posture for the man. A slight tremor of familiarity and revulsion raced up Dallan's spine. He'd been around Melvale's kind before in France in his own time. But that couldn't be. Could it? Melvale couldn't possibly be a ….

"Welllllll" escaped Melvale in the same sing-songy manner as before though much louder this time.

Melvale, thought Dallan, most certainly could be.

"You all look as if you were expecting something else, hmmmm?"

Saints! He was! A dandy, a fop! Dallan had run into enough of them in France to know one when he saw one. He had to control himself to keep his mouth from curving up into a smile.

Melvale sauntered over to Angus. "Wellllllll Angus! How long has it been?" His words came out overly punctuated and still all over the octave scale as he poked at the aged Scotsman.

Angus could only groan in response.

Melvale tapped Angus on the forehead. "I know someone who's just dying to see you! AH HA!" His last two words burst from him rather than emerge a light laugh. His whole body moved with the sounds.

Dallan's tell tale twitch began its dance, but not in annoyance or irritation. Rather, it was with the effort it took to hold him self together and not fall into complete hysterics at the man's mannerism.

Melvale moved to Lany next. "And you Lord Councilor." He exclaimed as he poked Lany playfully in the chest. "First time to be allowed into the main city? Hmmmm? HA! Ohhhhhhhhhhh but what fun you'll have and the sights you'll see! I bet the missus will be sooooo jealous when she finds out." Melvale suddenly straightened as he turned from him, his face and voice flat as he made to move down the line. "If you're ever allowed to leave that is."

Lany stiffened at the statement.

Melvale froze. He took one step backwards. Two, and put himself directly in front of Lany again. He stared hard at the new Lord Councilor, his eyes narrowed to two, dark grey slits. "Hmmmmm …."

Dallan watched as Lany began to sweat. One droplet slowly trickled its way down his temple as Melvale continued to examine him.

Lany cleared his throat. "You have no right to keep us here as prisoners."

Melvale's eyes popped wide open at the statement. "HA!" he exclaimed then shoved at Lany in a playful gesture. "Oh stab me! Prisoners? Prisoners you say?" his voice bounced around from one octave to another, causing Lany to grimace almost as if in pain. Dallan thought he might be in the same uncomfortable position he was. That of trying not to laugh at the foppish mannerisms of the pretty dote.

But suddenly Lany wasn't laughing, if he'd had been that is, silently or otherwise, as Melvale's entire expression changed to one of near malice. He leaned into Lany's face and got nose to nose with him. "Hmmmm." Melvale's head tilted slowly from one side to the other as if he was reading the Lord Councilor, examining his very core. And perhaps, Dallan thought. He was.

Melvale leaned to Lany's ear, and though the words he spoke were whispered, Dallan heard them all the same. "Secrets, eh?" Melvale then moved away from Lany, a smug look on his overly handsome face, and approached Shona.

Shona leaned into Dallan and he tightened his hold on her to bring her even closer to his side. Melvale totally ignored the action and instead looked Shona right in the eye, his manner now that of servant as he bowed before her. "Your highness." He stood erect again and looked at her with what Dallan thought was compassion. "I am at your disposal. Anything you want, anything you need, anything, OH!"

Shona jumped.

Melvale's mouth formed a perfect "O" as he slapped both his hands to the sides of his face. He then pointed an accusing finger at her. "What is that awful thing you're wearing, your highness? Why it's utterly loathsome!" he made a great show of his disdain for the drawing of 'Tweety' which adorned her tee shirt as he threw his head to one side and brought the back of his hand to his brow in an obvious show of dramatics. At least Dallan hoped it was just dramatics. The man couldn't possibly be that far over the edge of … well, foppishness?

Shona looked blankly at him a moment, both brows raised, then began to blink a few times. She tried to push back a laugh as her body tensed against Dallan. But after a brief second, she looked from first Dallan, then to Lany in silent question. Finally, as if she could stand it no longer, she simply blurted out. "Gay?"

There was dead silence for the briefest of moments before Lany lost it. Dallan hadn't heard such high pitched cackles since the day of the "Kitty incident" which had nearly destroyed Angus's weapons shop. Angus himself was shaking in silent laughter, as if not quite able to let his own suppressed cackles fly.

Melvale stood completely erect, once again his voice flat. "I say your highness, are you referring to the twentieth century term which would dictate my choice of a mate to be one of my own gender?"

Shona, knowing her foot was in her mouth, could only shrug and nod before speaking. "I am so sorry. I just did not realize that there might be such things here. I…"

"Think nothing of it, your highness." He quickly interjected. "No offense taken." He moved down the line and stood in front of Dallan. He then made a show of looking the new Time Master up and down like he was a piece of candy to be rolled about on the tongue and savored. Slowly.

Dallan's free hand balled into a fist.

Lany and Angus immediately put some distance between the Scot and themselves. If he was going to take a swing at Melvale, they didn't want to deter him in any way.

"Ohhhhh come now, you big brute. Stop looking at me like that. Do you really think that if I was in such a state I'd even consider you?" He turned to Shona. "Not when there is such beauty to be had. Ohhhhhh just look at you, your highness. You've grown into a true treasure!" He clapped both hands in front of him. "And I can't WAIT to dress you!"

Dallan scowled. "That's it!" He let his balled fist fly.

Melvale ducked gracefully and dodged the blow. "There's no need for violence, Time Master!"

Dallan seethed. "Stay away from my wife ye bloody … ye …" Saints! What does one call a thing like him?

"Oh STAB me! You mean to say you can't come up with a proper insult on the fly?" Melvale broke into complete hysterics, his laughter bounced around a musical scale like a symphony trying to sound bad.

Dallan lunged.

Melvale quickly stepped aside to spin out of Dallan's grasp. Lany and Angus grabbed Shona and jumped onto the cot with her to get her out of the way.

"Oh stop you big smelly brute! DO calm yourself!" Melvale screamed as he ran around the perimeter of the room, Dallan in hot pursuit.

Lany, Angus, and Shona stood atop the cot in amazement as the mighty Time Master of Muirara chased the screaming Melvale in circles around the room. "Stop! Desist!" the Muiraran screamed after the fourth lap before he finally stopped and turned. Dallan plowed right into him and almost toppled them both over, but Melvale stood firm. "Really, if you insist upon taking your pent up anger issues out on someone, why not take them out on Kwaku? After all, you've got plenty to settle with him but no real argument of any substance here with me. All I merely intended was to gown and bejewel your wife properly as is befit her station. Not to do to her what you were obviously thinking, you BIG OAF!" Melvale poured out.

Dallan stood still as he took in the words of Melvale's quick yet calmly voiced entreaties, and could only stare back. Saints, was this fop of a braggart for real?

Melvale stood his ground and looked down his nose at Dallan. "Apologize."

Dallan shook himself. "What?!" Ye want me to give you a bloody apology?"

"Of course I do, you big smelly brute!" Melvale huffed.

"For what, I might ask?"

"Insulting me," Melvale began as he held up one finger. "Attacking me!" he held up a second finger. "Insinuating I would do dire, not to mention nasty things, to her highness!" Three fingers. "And …"

"Shut up!" Dallan hissed. "And, and … get us out o' here!" he added as an almost after thought.

Melvale turned to Shona. "I dare say, your highness, but is he always in such a bad mood?" He asked as he shoved his way past Dallan to stand before the cot where Lany, Angus, and Shona were still perched.

Shona stood speechless on the cot, her growing hunger drowning out the hilarity of the situation. She wondered if there were other Muirarans like Melvale to be found. She shook her head and sent a pleading look to Dallan.

"Out o' the way!" Dallan pushed Melvale aside and took Shona into his arms.

"Welllllll! You don't have to be so brutish about everything, Time Master!" Was Melvale's retort.

Dallan shot Melvale a warning glare before turning his attention to Shona. "She needs to feed." He stated more to himself than anyone else.

Lany now looked to Melvale. "You'd best see to our needs then as Jaireth told you."

. Melvale huffed as he turned to the wall opposite the one he, Jaireth and the others had entered. "You humans are so impatient. Always rushing here, running there." He shot them all an annoyed look. "Well don't just stand there you ninny twits! Bring her highness along and follow me!"

And with that, Melvale walked through the wall in front of him, and disappeared.

YES! Time Masters Book One; The Call will re-release under Cold Tree Publishing in the fall of 2009. Cold Tree Publishing is a full traditional trade paperback press that will be publishing ten titles per year. The book will receive a new ISBN, new cover, the whole nine yards. Though I'm partial to the current cover, I trust the designers at Cold Tree to do their usual outstanding job and make my book shine like there's no tomorrow. Time Masters Book Two; The Prophecy will also release at the same time under Cold Tree's sister imprint, Hooded Friar Press which is strictly literary fiction and will release two titles per year. So double releases everyone! New comers to the Time Master series won't have to badger me to write faster! They'll be getting the double whammy! I'll keep you all posted as to when Time Masters Book Three; The Legacy will release. In the interim I plan to write a few contemporary and historical romances. Hey, if I can write a book of over 200k words, then 55-60k is going to be a fun challenge!

And I'm sorry to tell those of you who have asked, that TM2 The Prophecy will not be as long as TM1 The Call. But perhaps my publisher will do two TM books a year at these shorter 100k word lengths, eh?

I hope that answers everyone's questions!

Keep writing and keep reading!

Geralyn

Question: How many Peanut M & M's does one eat while writing action scenes? Hmmmm, read it and answer yourself! I'm not telling!

From Time Masters Book Two; The Prophecy

This is a scene from Chapter five. Just thought I'd share. TM fans will be able to figure out who is who easily. The rest of you, well, good luck!



"Shona!" Dallan turned as best he could and grabbed at her falling form. She'd nearly slid half way off the back of the horse before he finally got a good hold of her. He pulled her back onto the horse, positioning her in front of him sideways, and cradled her there. "Shona?" he prompted as he shook the still form in his arms.
"What has happened?" Shannell rode up beside him as she asked.
"I dinna ken. I think she fainted."
Shannell guided her horse along side Dallan's and placed her hand on Shona's forehead. She closed her eyes a moment in concentration before looking at him. "You are right. Bring her along. She will be fine in a moment." And with that she left his side and rejoined her husband as most of the party formed itself into a single line. About a half a dozen of the dark cloaked Muirarans rode out in pairs ahead of everyone else. Jaireth and Shannell rode behind them followed by more of the Muiraran guards. Even more horses joined the entourage, these carrying what looked to be women. Though hooded, their white cloaks revealed their slighter forms. Next rode Dallan and a still unconscious Shona as the two Muirarans who had prepared their horse flanked them on either side. More guards followed them, after which the wagons full of villagers ambled along. Bringing up the rear Dallan noticed, were Kwaku and Zara, both astride a black horse. Both he also noted, with a quarterstaff in hand. He frowned at the sight and grasped Shona more tightly to him. He looked down just as her eyes began to flutter back to consciousness.
Dallan bent to her. "Dinna be afraid, Flower. I'm right here." He whispered as they reached the edge of the trees where a narrow trail cut its way through the thick forest which surrounded the village. Dallan swallowed hard. For ten long years he had never been beyond the village's perimeter, not that he hadn't ever tried. He tried countless times while being held prisoner there. But each time, he'd never gotten more than twenty or thirty yards beyond the line of trees that formed the wall around his prison home. He remembered how a sudden dizziness would overtake him, and how he would run, run like there was no tomorrow. Yet the dizziness and subsequent blackness would always win out, and he would wake up each time afterward in his cottage on his bed. Shortly after which Kwaku would come and lecture him on patience or some other such thing he didn't want to hear about at the time.
"Dallan?'
Thankfully Shona's voice pulled him out of his unwanted musings. He looked to her and smiled. "Are ye all right, M'eudain?"
She smiled at the Scottish endearment he so often used. "Yes, I think so. I believe I fainted."
"Aye, that ye did. But why?"
Tears began to form in her eyes. "I do not know." Was all she could offer.
He held her a bit closer as she was clearly frightened. But whether it was because she had fainted, or because of the reasons leading up to it he didn't know. He wondered briefly about asking her, but then thought better of it. Best instead to keep his eyes on the trail in front of them.
The pace picked up as the entourage made its way deeper into the forest. All seemed very peaceful and quiet. Too quiet, but he attributed it to the fact the horses probably wore no shoes. The slight swishing of the horses adorned blankets coupled with soft sounds their hooves made on the forest floor was rather comforting. Dallan let go a long sigh and relaxed enough to enjoy the ride. Shona had sat up and, arms draped around his shoulders, also watched the trees and foliage pass by. Some of the plants he recognized. But many of them he did not. They were quite strange and grew even stranger the deeper into the woods they went. The trees were becoming thicker, and the gradual change from cedars and firs increased to trees that were taller. The most prominent were wider trunked and more heavily barked. But what were they? Their leaves were large and shaped like spades, the green rich and deep. Some appeared to have what looked to be the last remnants of blossoms on them. Their pink faded now. Rather like that of cherry trees.
"Dallan, where are we?"
"I dinna really ken. We're travelling through the forest that bordered the village. It's the path that leads to the Muiraran city. But I dinna ken how far it goes."
"The trees are strange."
The hairs on the back of Dallan's neck suddenly rose. But not at Shona's comment. A dark shadow suddenly passed over them but it was so distorted by the overhead tree branches own shadows he couldn't make it out. He quickly looked up, but saw nothing. Maybe the woods were making him see things. It was not like a few shadows would make him cower as a frightened child, but the forest around them definitely began to take on a presence. He would have to keep a sharp eye out.
An hour later the path widened and the pace picked up. The horses naturally went into a slow canter, as if used to changing gaits at this point in the journey. The white clad women riding ahead of him remained in single file however and did not take advantage of the extra room to ride side by side. And no wonder. Suddenly out of nowhere other riders began to emerge from the trees, all going along at the same pace as the rest of them. The newcomers were obviously Muiraran with their tall forms astride the same odd horses their own party rode. The horses themselves were no different than any other good piece of horseflesh Dallan had encountered through the years, but these were definitely different. These were Muiraran horses. And though the bodies and heads were mostly covered, they were easily defined by the eyes. Eyes that could be of any color. And that meant they were alien. Just as the Muirarans were. The thought made Dallan's gut twist slightly.
The newcomers aligned themselves next to the white clad women who one by one removed their hoods once joined with a man. Some of the pairs would look at each other and simply nod in greeting, while others smiled, touched one another in some manner to acknowledge the other and continued the pace. One couple kissed briefly, clasped each others hands a moment, then shifted their full attention back to the path. The last two women of the group however, Dallan noticed, remained by themselves. There was no Muiraran man to ride along side of them as yet.
"They are not joined." Shona said simply as she caught his questioning look, "That is why they ride alone."
"Who are they?" Dallan asked as they cantered along and watched the couples ride side by side silently ahead of them.
Shona wrapped her arms more tightly about him. "They are my sisters."
"Sisters?"
"Yes. All that ride before us."
"Saints, woman! Ye've a large family!"
Shona rested her head against him as they rode. "I do not as yet consider them my family." She said flatly.
Dallan wondered at the odd statement and was about to comment when another black shadow suddenly darkened the sky above them. A very large shadow. He again looked to the sky, only to see that here, the branches of trees with their large green leaves were now so thick they began to form a canopy above them. He was seeing things. But if that were so, then why did he have the unmistakable feeling that they were being watched? No, that wasn't quite right. Hunted would be a better term. Yes, hunted. He quickly scanned the trees and strange fauna which surrounded them. It was becoming so thick he could barely see but a few yards into the tangled mass. Not only that, but the trail began to narrow somewhat again. Dark thick woods, a large party tightly bunched together. A perfect place for an ambush he thought.
Perhaps he wasn't the only one who came to that conclusion as one of the Muiraran guards from the front of the line quickly rode to Jaireth and Shannell and spoke with them briefly before making his way to the back of the line and Kwaku.
Dallan felt the entire party tense, as if one body, as they continued to ride forward, the pace not slowed in the slightest. He turned in the saddle as best he could to see what was happening behind them just as Kwaku was quickly making his way up the line with the guard sent to fetch him. The big Azurti warrior's face harbored a look Dallan had never seen before until today. One of grave concern.
Kwaku galloped past, his face set, and pulled his horse up along side Jaireth's. They spoke briefly and in a language Dallan could not understand. Muiraran? It must be. Surely the race would have their own language.
His horse suddenly lunged, as if trying to bolt and Dallan fought to control the animal as Shona clung to his neck in her attempt to stay put. The beast let loose a loud cry that sent a shiver up his spine. It was not the normal sound a horse would make. It was more a shriek. The kind a large cat might produce. The other horses in turn began to pick up speed as he continued to try to slow his own down. But to no avail, soon the entire party was speeding along at a good gallop. Dallan, his eyes intent on the trail before him, again saw the same large shadow pass along the ground, but this time there were two of them, and this time the rush of wind that followed in the shadow's wake was unmistakable. Saints! What was that bloody thing?
"Hang on!" he told Shona. She said nothing, and tightened her hold around his neck even more. He in turn anchored her in place with one arm, while he tried to control the horse with the other. Though quite comfortable in the saddle, he'd not sat a horse in many years, and his balance wasn't what he thought it might be. The fact the Muiraran horse's gait had suddenly changed didn't help. And it wasn't the increased speed. No. It was instead like riding a big cat, rather than a horse, its shoulders moving with a sinewy-muscled grace, rather than a hoofed animal's clip-clop gait. The change had taken place as soon as they had gone into a gallop and Dallan sensed his horse, not to mention the others, were capable of going at an even faster pace and at a much different gait. It was then he finally noticed the ankle and hoof coverings the horses all wore. He'd seen similar adornments on war horses in France. They protected the hoof and often sported spikes which were used to bring down an enemy. He also suddenly realized why such a large party could travel so quietly. It was not that the horses were not wearing shoes. But that the horses probably did not even possesses hooves to begin with! The Muirarans had disguised their mounts well.
"What's happening?" Shona pushed out as she also noticed the change of the animals gait.
"Hang on. Dinna let go of me unless I tell ye to, understand?"
"Yes!" she pushed out as she clung to him.
Kwaku continued to ride along side Jaireth. He suddenly let out a booming laugh as another ominous shadow again passed over them. Shona started in his arms. "Dallan! What was that?"
Before he could comment Kwaku had turned his horse and was galloping to the back of the line again. He still laughed as he went, casting Dallan an all too familiar sadistic wide grin as he sped past. "Just hang onto me, Flower." He ordered and said nothing more. Something was up. And the bloody heathen knew it.
CRACK!
Shona screamed at the sudden sound as a large tree came crashing down across the trail directly in front of Jaireth and Shannell to block their path. Several of the guard's horses at the front of the line reared, while Dallan caught a glimpse of more than several of Shona's sisters mounts leap into the trees and bound away, their Muiraran husbands close behind them.
"Ochmen, deid na la!" Jaireth shouted in the same language he'd used when speaking with Kwaku. Though Dallan did not understand the strange tongue, he more than understood how his new heart interpreted it. Take cover!
It was then all chaos broke loose.
CRACK!
Another tree came crashing across the trail behind them and then another. The women villagers in the wagons screamed as black figures fell from the trees around them. Multitudes of them cascaded down like a waterfall in front of Dallan's mount, temporarily blocking his view of Jaireth and Shannell as the Muiraran ruler continued to shout orders Dallan could not understand. But he didn't need to. Protecting Shona was his first priority.
The barrage of darkly clad figures made straight for him. Covered from head to toe in strange black clothing, they were everywhere, and though not quite as tall as the Muirarans, they moved much the same. For the briefest of seconds he wondered who they were just as they surrounded his horse and pushed themselves in upon them. Like a mass of insects they clambered upon one another to get to him. But it wasn't him Dallan suddenly realized they reached for. It was Shona.
She screamed as several of them grabbed her legs in an attempt to pull her from his grasp. Dallan instinctively reached behind himself. No dirk. No weapons. In the rush to leave he'd not gone back to his cottage to retrieve any. Kwaku had him leave his dirk on the bed before they'd ventured to the arena to wait for Shannell to be done with Shona. He cursed and punched the nearest assailant in his black clad face. The figure flew across the mass encircling them, only to be replaced by another as they crushed in upon his horse.
He cursed as Shona was inched out of his tight grasp as they pulled at her from below. He wondered why the horse did not rear in protest at the onslaught. Instead it pranced about, eyes wild yet allowed itself to be surrounded by the attackers. Dallan let out a frustrated yell as some of the assailants leaped upon the back of the animal, grabbed him from behind, and began to loosen Shona's arms from about his neck.
"Dallan!"
His arms swung at anything then, just so long as he hit the nearest ones yanking and tugging at his wife. She screamed again as she was pulled from his grasp and quickly carried away. He too was pulled from the horse and set upon by more bodies than he could count. Their crushing weight made it difficult to breath. But none of them were attacking to harm him. No, they were simply trying to hold him down while they made off with his wife! He cried out in frustration and pushed at the jumbled mass of bodies now piled on top of him. The noises of the battle were muffled as he fought to free himself. The wagons full of screaming villagers quickly clambered by judging from the shaking ground. Shouts could still be heard but were soon distant. The only sound to cut its way to him was Kwaku's booming laugh. And for once, he welcomed it.
The massive pile on top of him lightened as it was picked and poked at by the big Azurti warrior's quarterstaff as he quickly disassembled the crushing mass. From what Dallan could hear, as he bloody well couldn't see anything buried as he was, the attackers were running from Kwaku. Good!
"Boyeee!" Dallan heard Kwaku call as if annoyed. "Get out of der and fetch your wife!"
As suddenly as he'd been buried beneath them, the black clad bodies scrambled off and began to run into the trees. Dallan sprang to his feet and scanned his surroundings. The wagons were gone. The guards also were gone. There was still some commotion up ahead of him but he wasn't quite sure what it was. Suddenly a horse and rider leaped over the downed tree. Its form unnaturally graceful as it came to land almost silently beside him.
Jaireth Shamaelon looked down at him from his mount, a shocked Shona imprisoned tightly in his arms before him. His horse reared, raised its head, and screamed. The high pitched noise made Shona try to cover her ears as did Dallan. The bone chilling trail up the spine the awful sound left in its wake was nerve shattering. The horse looked right at Dallan then, its bright green eyes narrowed to slits beneath the head covering it wore, and bared its teeth.
The horse had fangs.
A low, rumbling growl then escaped it as it repositioned itself and turned back to face the fallen tree. Jaireth made a show of tightening his hold of Shona and sneered down at Dallan. "All too easy." Was all he said before the horse, correction, beast gracefully jumped over the tree and bounded away.
Dallan let out a howl of frustration and began to curse up a storm in Gaelic. If he'd had something to throw he certainly would. Angrily he stomped toward the tree then thought better of it. He'd never be able to keep up with that thing Jaireth was riding on foot. He quickly spun to his own strange mount. Which was, naturally, nowhere to be seen.
He cursed again then followed the sounds of chaos still around him to find Kwaku now under a pile of bodies. But the big Azurti warrior wasn't fighting as Dallan knew he could. Instead, the heathen got back to his feet with the attackers still clambering all over him, and laughed as he began to throw them off.
"Bloody heathen!" Was all Dallan could push out as he made his way over to help, dodging the occasional body or two as they flew past his head to land in a heap behind him.
"I see you fare well, Boyeee! But where is your wife?"
Another body flew past. Dallan ducked just in time. "Wife? Saints man! Where d'ye think she is! You tell me!"
Kwaku, the last of the assailants tossed, took a gasp of breath and pointed.
"I ken well enough Jaireth took her in that direction. But why? What's going on?" He yelled at Kwaku just as one of the attackers leapt onto his back. He pulled the man off and punched him in the gut. The black form hunched over in pain, his breath gone as he began to struggle for air. "And who are these people?" Dallan demanded, taking advantage of the natural break in the battle.
Kwaku began to chuckle. But his chuckle soon turned into a full belly laugh as the remaining black clad attackers began to get up and regroup them selves. "Get yourself to de city, Boyeee! Do not dally wid dis enemy along de way. Dey are mine to contend wid!" And at that, the attackers came at them. Well, not the two of them specifically. Only Kwaku as they piled on top of him just as before, his laughter now muffled by their many bodies. Several even ran past Dallan, ignoring him completely in their haste to get to the growing pile.
Dallan could only stare at the whole scene blankly for a moment before turning and heading back in the direction he'd come. He jumped onto the fallen tree that lay across the path and scrambled over it. His mind now fixed upon the pursuit of Shona and her captor. Correction, her father. A man, who as far as Dallan was concerned, now held his wife and friends prisoner.

Copyright Geralyn Beauchamp 2008