Cooper, Harlan, and Gregor had not missed me, nor read my note, until the following morning.
Then they’d rented a team of mules as fast as possible and come after me, not arriving until evening.
Several of the villagers showed them the veil, and they’d quickly found my wool dress and my bag. Cooper had gone through alone, leaving Harlan and Gregor to spell each other to either help or fight anything that might come through—depending on what came through.
However, once on the other side, Cooper realized he had no idea where to go and that if he got lost, he could forever lose me.
He decided that no matter what happened with my plan, in the end, I would make a run back for the veil. So he decided to remain there for a while. Shortly after that, the young village men had come running from out of the twisted trees. As I said, time seemed to work differently on both sides.
I tried not to think too much on all I had seen—nor worry that I’d made an enemy of the horned creature who lived through the waterfall. Instead, I focused on Tetovo having its young men back again, hopefully in time to bring in most of the harvest.
Cooper considered staying long enough to take one barge load of grapes back to Golognè, but he decided against it. The weather was turning bitter, and it was time for us to head to Kéonsk… and for me to meet Cooper’s parents.
Werner, Bronson, and old Alma saw us off at the dock, and as I waved to them from the river, I knew I’d made several friends, and it pleased me that in this new life, I would see them again and again.
As I sat on the barge, the world slipped past on both sides of me. Gregor was on the north side of the river, leading the team of mules, while Harlan and Cooper were positioned at each end of our vessel, navigating with their poles.
Cooper stood over me as I huddled in my cloak, and I looked up at him.
He was stoic and somewhat prickly and hard to know. I was much less predictable than he’d expected. Some people would call us foolish for having married so quickly without truly knowing one another.
I didn’t find us foolish. Not at all.
·•♦•·
Other Works
About “Pending” Works:
This indicator within brackets is only used for works confirmed for release within six months following the release of this text. Where a more specific schedule has been set, this is usually mentioned instead.
The Noble Dead Saga
by Barb & J.C. Hendee
Series/Phase 1
Dhampir
Thief of Lives
Sister of the Dead
Traitor to the Blood
Rebel Fay
Child of a Dead God
Series/Phase 2
In Shade and Shadow
Through Stone and Sea
Of Truth and Beasts
Series/Phase 3
Between Their Worlds
The Dog in the Dark
A Wind in the Night
First and Last Sorcerer [2014-01]
[…and one more to come.]
T·N·D·S:
Tales from the world of
by Barb and/or J.C. Hendee
“Homeward”
The Game Piece
The Feral Path
The Sapphire
The Keepers
The Reluctant Guardian
Captives
Claws
The Sleeping Curse
Silent Bells
“Bones of the Earth”
Karras the Kitten
Karras the Cat
“Tales of Misbelief”
The Forgotten Lord
The Forgotten Mistress
The Forgotten Village
“Sagecraft”
Puppy Love
The Mist-Torn Witches Series
by Barb Hendee
The Mist-Torn Witches
Witches in Red
The Vampire Memories Series
by Barb Hendee
Blood Memories
Hunting Memories
Memories of Envy
In Memories We Fear
Ghosts of Memories
[Complete]