Kemp lagged behind them, lost in his own thoughts and memories. Something impossible caught his eye and he yelled at the others to stop. Kenward walked back to Kemp and stopped in his tracks, frozen in the same way as Kemp.
When the knights reached Redswift and Zela they quickly sketched out what had happened. The Elf and Dryad immediately took action and Zela led them to the Elven village. Redswift explained the situation to his leaders and the Humans were admitted entrance. Zela left to inform Heartwood of the events. The knights were given one of the treetop huts to sleep and rest in.&n
Sigwulf sat there and stared at Astrid with satisfaction that he was finally sitting.“Did you mean what you said?” She asked softly.“Probably. What did I say?” He asked with aplomb.“When you were talking to Lakon he asked why so happy. Then you said if she goes the Galadon’s are lost. Why else. So is that the only reason?”Sigwulf’s expression became serious. “It is just one reason, but I think you can guess the main reason why I was happy. It’s just that we’ve not announced anything yet.&rd
Astrid sniffed again. “Let’s begin this meeting shall we?” She added then pulled out her pendants from under her clothing so that they were aggressively on display as she sat down. Reil, the leader of the Elves glanced at his wife, the co-leader, who was coughing in an attempt at smothering a smile as her shoulders shook very slightly with tightly suppressed mirth. Realising he would be getting no help from his convulsing wife for the moment, he took the lead for the meeting. Reil leaned towards Astrid. “At last,” he said. “An heir who can prove legitimacy.
“How do you manage to hide all of this from other Humans?” Redswift asked as Sigwulf led the group of eight who walked their horses to the stables.“Ghost stories,” Sigwulf replied. “Scary fantasy is our main defence. Plus we have men in all of the main offices in the Hawthorn Palace. Archives, Law, Justice and Complaints, which is my position.”“I thought Kalash Priests held those positions?”Sigwulf gave him an appraising look. “You Elves keep right on top of things don’t you?”“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We try to keep abreas
The door to Draynon’s office opened and the four people walked out. Astrid bumped into Sigwulf who was waiting outside.“Astrid?” He said softly, taking one of her hands in his. Astrid and Zela stopped.“Zela?” Astrid asked. “Can you make sure Redswift and Hengist get to the men’s wing without killing each other please.”Zela nodded. “Can I go back to your room after that?”“Of course,” she handed Zela her key. “If you get lost, any of the women will give you directions.Zela turned
Astrid woke late that night to a light tapping on her door. She lit her bedside candle and climbed out of bed, pulling on a robe.“Who is it?” She whispered through the door. “You’re expecting some other late night visitor,” the familiar voice whispered the query. “I’m crushed.”Astrid grinned and silently opened the door. She pulled Sigwulf in and shut the door behind him. Sigwulf unexpectedly grabbed her waist and burrowed his face into her neck. She gasped with surprise and wrapped her arms around him.“I feel li
Sigwulf jumped back and ran for his clothing. “Astrid,” his voice was crisp and authoritative. “Wake the women. The procedure is that all women go into the church. There is a backdoor in the cellar that leads into the forest. Do you hear me? Wake them quietly.” He pulled on his hose and tunic. “Do you have that?”Astrid nodded curtly as she too began to dress. “Wake the women quietly.
Astrid coughed in the smoke. She sank to her knees. The air was choking her and the flames were so hot. The floor swayed beneath her. She wanted to sleep. The floor dipped and swayed again. Glass exploded all around her as the stained windows burst. Her vision clouded and she sank to the floor, not caring as the flames reached for her. A loud cracking sound signalled that the church roof had begun to collapse. Her hearing failed, replaced by a low ringing.Sigwulf ran through the burning church
Prologue.The following in an exert from ‘The Book of Faynon and Other Histories’.Property of the University of Kothmar. Faynon. This is what our planet is called. It is named after the God that we believe created it. Faynon. He is also the leader of the Gods and Goddesses who, together, created every living thing as well as the weather, oceans, the sun, the moon, animals, plants and many ot
Astrid coughed in the smoke. She sank to her knees. The air was choking her and the flames were so hot. The floor swayed beneath her. She wanted to sleep. The floor dipped and swayed again. Glass exploded all around her as the stained windows burst. Her vision clouded and she sank to the floor, not caring as the flames reached for her. A loud cracking sound signalled that the church roof had begun to collapse. Her hearing failed, replaced by a low ringing.Sigwulf ran through the burning church
Sigwulf jumped back and ran for his clothing. “Astrid,” his voice was crisp and authoritative. “Wake the women. The procedure is that all women go into the church. There is a backdoor in the cellar that leads into the forest. Do you hear me? Wake them quietly.” He pulled on his hose and tunic. “Do you have that?”Astrid nodded curtly as she too began to dress. “Wake the women quietly.
Astrid woke late that night to a light tapping on her door. She lit her bedside candle and climbed out of bed, pulling on a robe.“Who is it?” She whispered through the door. “You’re expecting some other late night visitor,” the familiar voice whispered the query. “I’m crushed.”Astrid grinned and silently opened the door. She pulled Sigwulf in and shut the door behind him. Sigwulf unexpectedly grabbed her waist and burrowed his face into her neck. She gasped with surprise and wrapped her arms around him.“I feel li
The door to Draynon’s office opened and the four people walked out. Astrid bumped into Sigwulf who was waiting outside.“Astrid?” He said softly, taking one of her hands in his. Astrid and Zela stopped.“Zela?” Astrid asked. “Can you make sure Redswift and Hengist get to the men’s wing without killing each other please.”Zela nodded. “Can I go back to your room after that?”“Of course,” she handed Zela her key. “If you get lost, any of the women will give you directions.Zela turned
“How do you manage to hide all of this from other Humans?” Redswift asked as Sigwulf led the group of eight who walked their horses to the stables.“Ghost stories,” Sigwulf replied. “Scary fantasy is our main defence. Plus we have men in all of the main offices in the Hawthorn Palace. Archives, Law, Justice and Complaints, which is my position.”“I thought Kalash Priests held those positions?”Sigwulf gave him an appraising look. “You Elves keep right on top of things don’t you?”“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We try to keep abreas
Astrid sniffed again. “Let’s begin this meeting shall we?” She added then pulled out her pendants from under her clothing so that they were aggressively on display as she sat down. Reil, the leader of the Elves glanced at his wife, the co-leader, who was coughing in an attempt at smothering a smile as her shoulders shook very slightly with tightly suppressed mirth. Realising he would be getting no help from his convulsing wife for the moment, he took the lead for the meeting. Reil leaned towards Astrid. “At last,” he said. “An heir who can prove legitimacy.
Sigwulf sat there and stared at Astrid with satisfaction that he was finally sitting.“Did you mean what you said?” She asked softly.“Probably. What did I say?” He asked with aplomb.“When you were talking to Lakon he asked why so happy. Then you said if she goes the Galadon’s are lost. Why else. So is that the only reason?”Sigwulf’s expression became serious. “It is just one reason, but I think you can guess the main reason why I was happy. It’s just that we’ve not announced anything yet.&rd
Kemp lagged behind them, lost in his own thoughts and memories. Something impossible caught his eye and he yelled at the others to stop. Kenward walked back to Kemp and stopped in his tracks, frozen in the same way as Kemp. When the knights reached Redswift and Zela they quickly sketched out what had happened. The Elf and Dryad immediately took action and Zela led them to the Elven village. Redswift explained the situation to his leaders and the Humans were admitted entrance. Zela left to inform Heartwood of the events. The knights were given one of the treetop huts to sleep and rest in.&n
She slapped his hand away as he reached for her. To his horror she stood on the flagstone and calmly stepped onto another one. She waited for a moment, then stepped onto another, moving slowly along the tunnel in front of the arrow holes. She turned back to face him with a smile on her face. The pendant was glowing brightly.“It glows brighter and pulls me towards the flagstones that are safe. Follow me.”Sigwulf had no choice. He stepped onto the first flagstone. Nothing happened and no arrows riddled him with holes. They cautiously made their way across, Sigwulf stepping o