Hello all. Just wanted to share another excerpt with you. Have a magical (and problem free) day! As if life isn't scary enough, as writers we have to go and make scary stuff up!

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“That’s quite a story, Kayla,” said Corianna. “I wonder why you ended up here in Rowse Briar, when you are supposed to be on Crith Talún.”

“Maybe it’s all nonsense about the Gap. I ended up short, at the tale end of Avonwych.”

“I take it you ran into some Hobblers then,” said Corianna, her furtive smile acknowledging that Kayla was clearly able to take the diseased Andurii in her stride.

“I didn’t kill them, if that’s what you’re thinking. No Hobbler ever tried to kill me.”

Corianna had already observed Kayla’s backpack. A number of arrows were missing.

Corianna knew the passage between Belalzel’s Gap and Crith Talún was real. The barrier had been opened the last time Anadyr had been there.

A Stormling just had to be involved in this.

“Have you seen Anadyr recently, Kayla?”

“No, but now you mention it, I did bump into his supposed understudy, skulking around like a lost puppy.”

“Aha!”

“Come, now ‘Anna, when you say a little you mean a lot.”

Corianna was quite fond of Jaden, but this was interfering with Aynara’s plan. Why he had done this, she would have to find out later. It might upset his chances of becoming the head Stormling when Anadyr retired.

Corianna also knew that Jaden wanted Kayla for himself, that could explain his actions But using magic that Corianna had taught him was not helping things. It would only serve to aid Rey’s forces.

Unless Aynara was up to something, it made no sense to Corianna that Aynara would send Kayla to Crith Talún instead of Anadyr. Corianna could not put her finger on it. They shared so many things in common…they were both half-breeds, they were both skilled in sorcery, and both of them had to stay put.

But that was peacetime. In Westwych, hadn’t Crowlass proclaimed that ‘war was coming?’ How could the old Andurii be so sure?

“Kayla, I think Jaden cares about you. All the Stormlings care about the Andurii, but he shouldn’t have interfered.”

“What? What did he interfere with?”

“Jaden is the reason you are here. He must have followed you to Firetop. Tell me, Kayla, did you waste any arrows on the way to Aynara?”

Kayla paused pensively, and then answered. “No. Come to think of it, it was awfully quiet along the way. I didn’t meet a single soul.”

“It would seem that Jaden cleared the path for you. His magic seems to be performed under the sight of Rey himself. I think I need to chat with the young Stormling myself. If I knew what he seems to know, I could leave this place. Come and go as I want to.”

“No, ‘Anna, you’re wrong. He’s an immature boy, yet you claim his magic powers are better than yours? He is not the one to lead the Stormlings, trust me, and you should be careful what you teach him.”

“I did not say better…his skills would appear to be different to my own. As for succession, you have to trust Anadyr on that decision alone. We all do.”

“Okay,” said Kayla simply. “So what now?”

“You will have to go to Crith Talún, just as Aynara bade you.”

Kayla’s eyes bulged as if to say 'But I just got here'.

“It doesn’t matter, Kayla. If you stay on Mordana, Rey will find you. Peacetime is at an end. I don’t think they care anymore if Stormlings or Anduriis are killed. We should beware of the ones who care nothing for rules.”

Before Kayla could respond, Jaden materialised before them.

“No Corianna! I beg you, don’t send Kayla back!”

“A Stormling does not beg,” said Corianna. “Perhaps Kayla is right. You are too immature to lead the Stormlings. You should not have used your powers.”

“I’m not going to lead them! I’m running out of time. You know that Corianna!”

“Send her back now, or I will. Then, when The Three get here, you can fight them yourself.”

Jaden knew Anadyr barely came out from the last battle alive.

“I’ll prove my worth to you Kayla. I will.”

With a wave of his hand, Jaden sent Kayla back to the moment she jumped through the Gap. He feared he would never see her alive again.

***

Another knock on the door of the Faeries Wings.

“We’re CLOSED!” screamed Corianna.

“Do I not get a ‘Heyloleeluleelu’?" came a familiar voice from beyond the door. "Where is the famed Rowsen welcome? Lost these days, I fear.”

“Much like yourself,” said Corianna, pulling open the door. “Though it is good to see you, Anadyr.”

“Jaden.” Anadyr nodded towards the young Stormling.

“How did you find me?”

“I’m the head Stormling.”

Jaden snorted, thinking 'He’s as cryptic as ever'. He pointed an accusatory finger at Corianna.

“She made me send Kayla away.”

“Hah!” said Corianna, stamping her feet lightly. “You don’t like elves, do you?”

“It’s not elves I dislike, it’s you, Corianna. Especially when you send someone I care about away.”

“Maybe it was my Dwarf side that sent your girlfriend away.”

“So maybe it’s that I find distasteful. You make good beer though.”

“Oh well, that’s alright then.” Corianna was trying to avoid sounding sarcastic. She found herself agreeing with Kayla. Jaden, though likeable enough, was far too immature.

“I suppose you won’t teach me any more magic now, will you?”

Anadyr interjected. “Jaden, Corianna is just upset that you used your powers for rather selfish reasons.”

“What is the point of having power if we cannot use them?”

“That we only use them when we absolutely have to. You interfered. There’s a price to pay for that.”

“Let me go after Kayla, my Lord. I need to know that she is okay.”

“Anadyr, you cannot let him be amongst the Erelings!”

“You’re right, Corianna. But someone does need to watch over Kayla. I will go. I’ve been there before.”

“No, Anadyr! You can’t go. This is Aynara’s business. You can’t be within a yard of the other Twin.”

“I’m not concerned with that. It’s the Invincibility Stone that has to be returned.”

Corianna sat down. This was an impossible situation. She found herself agreeing with Jaden. What good were her powers if she did not use them?

“Not just a stone," and she knew of its dual purpose. "It contains the Fourth, yes?”

“Right now, it imprisons him. But were he to get free, on Earth, the Erelings would be destroyed, and the whole of Mordana will choke with the red and black ash of AnnanGhorst.”

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