Here is a tiny snippet from the book. As always, all writing is copyright Susan McCaskill. I know that should go without saying, but still...
Prologue
The howling winds and screaming
voices were taking their toll on Penelope, even though Prudence was valiantly
trying to support her.
“Penelope, you have to try and
hold on just a little bit longer. We are almost there.”
“I’m so tired; I can’t fight
anymore.”
“Nonsense, girl,” came the gruff
voice of Hecate. “You weren’t raised to be a quitter! Prudence is right. We are
almost there,”
Penelope
struggled to keep control of her safe place, even though her body was failing
and she was slowly losing touch with reality.
“Paddy,” said Prudence. “We have
to hurry! She is starting to lose her mind and her body can’t take much more.”
“We’re almost there,” assured
Paddy. “Just a few more minutes.”
Prudence bit her lip, knowing
Paddy was going as fast as he possibly could, and soon she saw the burning
shores of the Black Isle. She and Paddy arrived at almost the same time as Hec,
Morna, and Jacob.
“Alright.” Hec said briskly. “No
time to waste. Paddy, hold on to me, and Prudence and Morna, hold onto me and
Jacob. Jacob, hold on to Paddy’s harness. Here goes nothing.”
For a moment, nothing happened,
then Prudence felt her stomach sink towards her feet, a flash, and a feeling of
dizziness, and they were on the top of the Black Isle.
“We only have a few minutes before
the voices and winds affect us. We must hurry.”
Off in the distance, they could
see the pillars and the tiny figure of Penelope slumped in the chains that were
attached to them.
“Hold on! Another short jump,”
said Hec, and in a trice, they were beside Penelope.
Prudence ran to her, tears
streaming down her face. “Penelope! We’re here! We’re here! Wake up!”
Sluggishly Penelope forced her
eyes open, and through cracked lips whispered hoarsely, “You came,”
“Of course we did, silly girl”
huffed Hec, sounding suspiciously close to tears herself. “Now, let’s get you
home. Jacob, can you get her out of those blasted chains and carry her?”
No sooner said, Jacob had her out
of the chains and tenderly wrapped in his coat, and snuggled against his broad
chest.
“Good. Now let’s get home
before...”
“Hecate!” Gwyddion’s voice
roared. “What in blazes is going on?”
“Oh, drat,” muttered Hecate.
~Penelope Parker: Chaos and Light-copyright Susan McCaskill
