David McLeod

Chapter 12: On the Eastern Continent The instant Marty opened the compartment, and some 5,000 miles away, across the eastern sea, a boy who had been a dragonrider in another time looked up from his work. My books? My books! They are here! * * * * * “How is Xander?” Phillip asked. Shortly after they had arrived in Argon’s town and time, Javari and Maranon had bartered their services for a share in a fishing boat larger than the second Xander, the one on which they’d crossed the sea to Elvenho

Chapter 11: Places of Power Over the next few weeks, Joe, TomTom, Adam, and I went to kivas—places of power—including some of the most ancient ones. At each one, TomTom and the local shamans reached out to Phillip’s world, to his shaman. We were not successful. Uncle Jim said he had an idea, but would need TomTom’s help for a couple of weeks. TomTom and I talked before he left. He was sad that he would be alone for that long. I reminded him that Casey was living with Uncle Jim, and that TomTom

Chapter 10: Oliver Linden—Adam’s Story, and Casey I I had brought clothes only for a couple of days. I figured that either I’d be going home Sunday afternoon or I’d be in jail. TomTom took me to the Animus Mall, in Window Rock to get more clothes. When we entered the mall, I realized that we could be anywhere in the country: the stores were the same ones I would find at any mall in Atlanta. The only exception was the food court, where one of the fast food places was called Navajo Taco and an

Chapter 9: What Rudy Couldn’t Know Alexis leaned against a pile of pillows. One of the pillows was warm: it was a boy’s tummy. He thought it was Petrus. All the boys who shared the dormitory were snuggled together, arms and legs wrapped around one another. Alexis took a deep breath and nearly choked on the pheromones. “A thousand lifetimes ago,” Alexis began, “ . . . or about two years ago, my master showed me in the book the first story Rudy had written about Phillip and Argon, and their jour

Ricky, It's always a thrill when someone discovers a story; more so when they comment on it. Much more so when it's an author of your caliber. Thank you! And what a nice sentiment. David

Hello, again, and again, thank you for your review. I'm reasonably certain that Alexis knew, either from something he read in the Book of Heroes or from inchoate memories of past lives, that he and Rudy were destined to become forever companions. And thank you for saying they are sweet together. There is an explanation of life-span and age in "George of Sedona" and elsewhere that might help but, as you said, on World, it's not as important as it might be elsewhere. Age of consent is based primarily on mental maturity. Glad you enjoyed Orion's conversation! I understand African Grays are quite intelligent, but please don't get me started on the lack of intelligence of the electors in the USA. My politics are not, it seems, the politics of many of my readers.

Cannd, Thank you so much for reading and for your review. I don't check email often enough, so I missed these until today. Actually, there are several stories before this one, and I should have made that clear. The stories from "The Book of Heroes" actually begin with "George of Sedona" or "In the Prince's Secret Service" and continue with stories such as "Sword of the MacLachlan" and "Master of Fire." There is a timeline posted, and I'll try to update that. It might help! On the other hand, you may want to continue reading this story (the next chapter will be posted in less than a week). It would be interesting to see how you answer your questions and, to me, it would be interesting to know if you found this story "complete in itself" without having read others, first. I would welcome your thoughts.

Chapter 18: Haley’s Story—The Road to Herten The homing pigeons knew only to fly between the observation post and the mill; there was no way to warn Haley and his companions, descending the steep road from Alter Berg, that there were travelers moving eastward on the Great Mountain Road, and that their location and speed made it inevitable that the two groups would encounter one another. The boys at the observation post bit their fingernails in frustration, and then felt relief as they saw Ha

Chapter 8: Arrival in Barrone Arthur’s estimate of their travel time had been correct; the ship docked at Barrone only two ten-days after the boys had left Bowling Green. Rudy and Alexis walked back and forth on the quay to accustom themselves to ground that didn’t rise and fall with each swell of the sea. Then, “Where should we begin?” Alexis asked. “I must get a message to Sam. He will have learned by now that I am missing. He will be worried; but, first, we have to go to the college,” Rudy

Chapter 17: Haley’s Story—Alborg Spring The outpost from which the boys of Alborg watched the road to their village had been built using the same skills their ancestors had used to build the temples and palaces of Herten—chief city of Eblis—and after that, their own town, the Alter Berg or high fortress in the Iron Mountains. Even to a close observer, the outpost would appear only to be a random pile of stones. A boulder on the uphill side concealed the entrance. Smaller rocks camouflaged th

Chapter 7: Return to Barrone The boys’ trip to Bowling Green was uneventful. “Alexis. Look.” Rudy bit off the words. He pointed to the horses tied in front of the smithy. Alexis saw four horses. They were fine examples of the species, and almost certainly had at least some elven heritage. They were two stallions. There was also a filly, and a mare brown with white stockings on both nigh legs. “They look very much like the horses of Arthur and his companions. Do you think . . . ? Alexis said.

Good time of day, pDaisy, and welcome to The Realities. I hope you will find the rest of this particular story as fascinating.David

Daithi,Thank you for reading. The oath, teaching, and maybe leaving are (I hope) part of the "tension," and it's a rule that "tension is the heart of drama." Keep reading, and (perhaps) it all will be resolved. David

Chapter 16: Arthur’s Story—The River to Market After supper, eaten in shifts so that there was always a team of boys minding the fire, Ezra drew Arthur aside. They sat again on the bench by the dock. “Arthur, you believe your friend was taken by slavers, so you go to Hagen,” Ezra said. “I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m very much afraid it’s worse than that.” “I do not need to hear any more bad news,” Arthur said. “But I fear I must.” “The Red Robes, those whom Gonde and

Chapter 6: Castle MacLachlan Orion’s stamina brought them to the castle before nones. The drawbridge was down, but so was the portcullis. Alexis reined in Orion halfway across the drawbridge. He amplified his voice with magic, and called, “Hello the castle! Alexis of Arcadia and his companion, the boy Rudy of Barrone, ask the hospitality of The MacLachlan.” A head appeared on the battlements. Rudy felt no ping of a truth-spell, yet the boyish voice said, “Say again your name and where you’re f

Chapter 15: Robbie’s Story—A Witch A patch of crabgrass, grown up between the blocks of the cart path, was Edward’s undoing. He tripped on it, and fell forward. “Shit!” he exclaimed as he fell, catching himself at the last instant on both hands. “Shit,” he exclaimed again, as he felt his right wrist bend backwards and heard something snap. Unlike Casey’s fall, this one had seriously hurt Edward’s wrist. “There’s definitely a break,” Peter said. Walter cut strips from his shirt and wrapped

That's a fine compliment; thank you!

Chapter 5: Rudy Returns to World Alexis smelled pine and cedar and the damp loam of a forest floor. The upper limb of the sun was still a few degrees below the eastern horizon; three bright planets and the larger moon shone in the west. The Clydesdale grazed nearby. Alexis looked at the pool of water in the middle of the glade, and nodded. This was the right place. He rode into a copse that would screen him from view, loosened the horse’s girth, and prepared to wait. The gate delivered Rudy

Chapter 14: Haley’s Story—Winter in Alborg Tyler led Seth, Haley, Jason, and Troy back to the large, underground room where they’d taken their oaths. He gestured for them to sit on benches before he closed the doors. Haley saw the magic Tyler used to seal the door, and knew what Tyler was about to say would be important. “This is our lodge. It is part of the secret you swore not to reveal. I will tell you more, today. It took years before I understood all that my father told me. You won’t h

Chapter 13: Arthur’s Story—Ezra’s Family Gonde had taken a line and hook from the equipment box on the boat, and sat at the end of the dock, his line dangling in the water. A bit of bread was his bait. Golgi sat beside the boy, his arm protectively around him, and shared fishermen’s secrets. At the other end of the dock, Arthur and Ezra sat. “You’re still not sure you should trust me,” Ezra said, pleasantly. Arthur was startled at the man’s candor. “I just don’t know how Good can exist here,”

Scots-Irish, German (makes me a very meticulous drunk). I ran across the phrase when doing climate research, and it seemed to resonate...and, the story does take place in distant worlds and times. Thanks for reading and for your question.David

Chapter 4: Barrone—Second Meetup The five were first in the bath, but had barely finished their showers and gotten into the hot soak when others began arriving. The first were a boy and a tween, who washed one another as would very close companions, best friends, lovers. When they got into the tub, Petrus introduced them as Marty and Chandler. “Petrus, you’re dying to tell Marty and Chandler something, and it’s probably about us,” Kevin said. “Is it all right, Andy?” Andy nodded. “I see no r

Chapter 12: Haley’s Story—The Lodge at Alborg “How can you know that the Red-Robes won’t find us? Smell us out, or whatever it is they do?” Seth asked. “The stones of the mill guard one end of our Lodge; the stones of the village guard the other. They are both so full of craft magic that the Red-Robes couldn’t see Merlin, himself, if he were here!” Tyler exclaimed. “Lodge?” Seth asked. “Um, the village,” Tyler said. “But wouldn’t the Red Robes just take all the boys away from the village

Chapter 11: Robbie’s Story—Quest Walter and Edward had ceded leadership of the group to Peter and Robbie. Unconsciously, perhaps, but not from weakness, Walter and Edward sensed that Peter and Robbie were driven by something that gave them an energy and a purpose. Walter and Edward recognized, even though perhaps Peter and Robbie did not, that something called to Peter and Robbie to lead. Whatever that was, the same thing called Walter and Edward to follow. “They are taking twenty five of ou

Your thoughts are spot on, and I'm glad to know that this story managed to achieve its objective. Yes, it was the first, but George, Danny, Larry, Arthur, and the others have been my friends for years, in one way or another. I was happy to give them a sort of immortality by using their names, here. Thank you for your most kind words, which (I think I've said this before) are not only appreciated but are also a challenge. I hope I can live up to it.David