by Sharon Hinck
He kissed the top of my head and gave me a quick hug. “It’s time to go home. My life is there now.”
We quickened our pace and soon found the place deep between the trees where a slim invisible space drew us with the pull of static electricity.
The others gathered close. Kieran and Mark clasped forearms. Linette and I hugged.
Jake fought back emotion as he said his good-byes, then he slipped effortlessly between two trees and disappeared.
I knelt to say good-bye to Caralad, staring deep into his eyes, wondering if I would find answers to all the mysteries his presence had raised. He didn’t speak, but his steady gaze gave me comfort. Then Mark squeezed my hand and took a step toward the portal.
Just before I followed him, Caralad pressed something into my other hand.
Clinging to Mark, I followed him between the trees.
The grove, the fields, and Lyric in the distance all disappeared. The transition this time was smooth, and after a gust of wind that came from all directions at once, we found ourselves in Jake’s basement bedroom.
After a deep breath of relief, I looked down to see what Caralad had given me just before we left.
Smooth and grey and unassuming, a portal stone rested in my hand.
The End
Glossary
caradoc: Docile herd animal with soft, shedding coat that is used for weaving and creating textiles.
clavo: Spicy tea with a rich flavor and near-healing properties; favorite hot beverage of the clans; usually brewed in a wide wooden bowl over a heat trivet and ladled into mugs; Hazorite version is much stronger and bitter.
Council: Governing body of the People of the Verses, comprised of chosen representatives from each clan; meets in Lyric and makes decisions that affect all the clans.
cover-and-ambush: A children’s game similar to hide-and-seek.
darnite: Blue mineral that produces light, embedded in the walls of Kahlarean caves.
guardian: Member of any clan who trains for military/protector role, which includes serving the Council and the people, training for and engaging in battle, and patrolling the borders.
grenlow: A Kahlarean fish, similar in size to a sardine, that swarm once each season in the fast-flowing streams near the River Borders.
Hazor: Nation across the mountain border of the People’s clans. Hazorites worship the hill-gods and sacrifice their children to those gods. Zarek is the current king and rules from the capitol, Sidian.
heat trivet: Flat panels or tiles that glow with heat or light. Various sizes are used to provide surfaces for cooking and illumination. They are a smaller version of the technology used to create the light walls common in homes.
Kahlarea: Nation across the river that borders one side of the People’s lands. Kahlareans are pale, with bulbous eyes, and their assassins are feared everywhere for their stealth and ability to hide and appear from nowhere.
lehkan: Animals used for riding. They look similar to elk, with fierce antlers and soft llama-like fur. They are ridden under saddle and guided by leg commands.
Lyric: Central city of the tribes. The Lyric tower is the place where the One meets with the People in an especially tangible way. Lyric’s walls are white and form a scalloped pattern as they encircle the city.
light rod: Used by Kahlareans in caves – a staff about five feet in length that emits a soft glow when activated.
long-whistle: A thin metal musical instrument popular among messengers.
mesana vine: Dark maroon, parasitic plant that grows in harsh terrain. The pith is fibrous, salty, and edible, though far from tasty.
orberry juice: A tart juice made from small orange berries that grow on low-lying shrubs along the edge of Morsal Plains.
orberry wine: Fermented, intoxicating version of orberry juice that is especially popular in Hazor.
Perish: A table game of strategy, played with two sets of small stones, usually black and white.
Rammelite fever: Progressive, fatal illness that causes joint pain and ongoing bouts of high fever, thought to be caused by a small parasite found on plants in low-lying swamplands.
redbud: A wildflower that grows on the plateaus near Braide Wood
Restorer: A leader sent by the One to save His people, traditionally a guardian. Once called by the One for this role, the Restorer develops heightened senses and strengths of various kinds, and heals rapidly from most injuries.
Rhusican: A person from Rhus, a nearby nation; usually attractive, with reddish-gold hair and vibrant aqua or green eyes. Rhusicans have the ability to read and affect minds and to plant poison in people’s thoughts that can influence their behavior and even cause death.
rizzid: Lizard-shaped creature about the size of a squirrel, red-furred and poisonous.
rondalin: Stringed instrument similar to a Celtic harp, but round in shape.
scolopendra: Huge centipede-type creature with poisonous talons, hunted and harvested by Kahlareans to distill for their venblades. Killing one is a rite of passage for an assassin trainee.
songkeeper: A person who leads worship, composes songs, encourages people, and promotes the faith life of the People.
stinging beetles: Nonpoisonous but prone to inflicting uncomfortable stings, these flying scarabs are common along the River Borders near Rendor. They are the size of large dragonflies, and the yellow and orange beetles are more likely to attack humans than the blue and green varieties.
syncbeam: Long-range, focused energy beam used as a weapon.
three-peg: A weaving technique where yarn is wrapped in patterns around a small three-pegged loom to create a variety of textiles, including sweaters and bed-covers
venblade: Small dagger used by Kahlarean assassins; a reservoir in the handle injects poison into the blade to cause paralysis in the victim.
waterweed: A dangerous plant found along river banks, its tendrils entangle moving creatures and can cause drowning.
Acknowledgments
My precious family – Ted, Joel, Kaeti, Josh, Jenni, Jennelle, Kyrie, Mom and Carl – you each inspire me daily. Your love and support make my writing possible.
I’m deeply grateful to the prayer team members who have joined this project with their intercessions over the years (Patti, Joyce, Amy, Chawna, Rosemary, Cheryl, Kathy, Sue, Stacy, Nancy, Ginny, Michelle, Nina Ruth, Ruth, and Becky); to the Book Buddies; to critique partners (especially Amy and Chawna for in-depth feedback on the full manuscript); to early readers (Mom, Jenni, Ted, Liz, Hannah, and Joyce); to various writing buddies (such as Brenda, Chawna, Michelle, Carol, Jonathan, John, Erica, Beth, and Stacy) for awesome insights on select chapters; to the Church Ladies; and to my other patient and encouraging extended family and friends. I also want to thank Cameron Banks for generously sharing his musical talent.
Huge appreciation goes to my agent Steve Laube, who has always been a champion for these stories, and to my editor Reagen Reed who made them better. Thank you to everyone at the marvelous Enclave Publishing who made this new story possible.
Most of all, thank you to the One who has loved me enough to pursue me.
About the Author
Sharon Hinck is a wife and mom who has enjoyed many adventures on her road with God, although none have involved an alternate universe (thus far). She writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction as well as fantasy and have been recognized with three Carol awards and a Christy finalist medal. She has also contributed non-fiction articles to dozens of books and magazines and has written devotions for Mornings with Jesus for many years.
With an undergrad degree in education, she earned an M.A. in Communication from Regent University. She spent ten years as the artistic dire
ctor of a Christian performing arts group, has been a church youth worker, a ballet teacher, an organist, a freelance editor as well as a writer. When she isn’t wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys speaking to conferences, retreats, and church groups. She and her family make their home in the Midwest, and she welcomes visitors to her online home at sharonhinck.com.