With Archie lying in a half-circle, head on paws, Heather had made herself at home on the ground, nestling in the crescent formed by his body. The girl had taken off her cloak, and rolling it up, was using it as a pillow. Within reach, she laid her Maiden dagger and, having bid Fallasha a murmured goodnight, set the small brooch carefully alongside the weapon. Then, in sober observation, she and her ‘Mate watched while TreeLofters raised the ladders and ropes to disappear into the softly radiant and seclusive heights.

“I guess that makes the people especially safe up there at night,” said Heather.

Probably so. And despite having lookouts stationed all around in the trees, realistically, one is never truly safe.

“What do you mean?”

I mean that, ultimately, as long as anyone is alive, there is always the risk of death.

“That’s a happy thought.”

Happy or not, the thought is logical. HumanKinders don’t like to think of life that way.

Excerpt

Maiden of a Darkness Shining

Part Two – Of Souls Gone Lost

Smirking at her younger sister’s rebuke, S’ilKuSheere strutted past the departing butlers, past Mistraya and her flowing, purple robes, and into the heart of the luxurious bedchamber. Before her, visible between the parted draperies of the bedstead, the stricken Maiden Portent lay looking like a young Sleeping Beauty in state. Sidestepping her LuggageBox, Mistraya followed on the heels of her shapely sister, whereby they joined Brutessa and Insensatia in observation.

“So, what have we here, Brutessa?” asked S’ilKuSheere, peering down. “She’s a lovely little Nearling, isn’t she?”

“Shall I be allowed a look?” said Mistraya, firmly guiding Insensatia aside to make room near the headboard. “Oh, and isn’t she just that, Sister of mine? Although, I must admit, this youngling is not nearly as attractive as one Heather Nighborne, she who will probably blossom into our most feared Maiden Portent.”

“You and your favorites,” declared Brutessa. “Why do you bother putting claim on them, investing emotionally in these children? We’ll be killing them all in short order.”

Excerpt

Maiden of a Darkness Shining

Part Three – A Nearling Arises

“Heather,” said Molly, drawing closer. “Look at the pot…”

The GlissenCauldron’s light was swelling, surging, becoming increasingly brighter. The girls stood captivated, their faces full of the glow.

Molly shrieked and shrank away as, from within the large vessel, a blinding light flashed and dimmed.

“Molly…?”

“What?” The cringing girl dared to open her eyes.

There in front of the pair, looming large—far larger than life—over the lip of the ‘Cauldron was a beautiful face in a paper-thin veneer of golden light.