by Loren Rhoads
Raena paused, giving Ariel time to understand what that meant. “Eilif’s a survivor. She’s clever. She understands how things work. I know she’s not a cuddly orphan, but she needs help, Ari. Can you find her a place? Some decent work and a safe home? She . . . she makes me think a lot about how I might be, if it hadn’t been for you. You saved my life, Ari. More than once.” Raena smiled in apology. “I hope you can save her, too.”
She sat back and pressed send, unable to play the message back and endure the pain in her own voice again. Ariel would help. Raena knew she would.
She started to stretch, then thought better of it. Instead, she powered down the computer and wondered what there was to drink on this boat. Petting her hair up on end, she went out to join the party.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’ve been dreaming of seeing Raena’s story in the real world outside my head for so long that I have many people to thank for making it a reality. First off, thanks so much, Mom, for taking me to see Star Wars the summer it opened, long before it became A New Hope.
Thanks to Mart, who read every draft and published the first stories about Raena, Ariel, and Thallian in her zine Tales of a New Republic. Thanks to Brian, Paul, and Kelly, who contributed to the depth of the backstory. Thanks to the members of MediaWest, who wrote my first fan letters and let me know my story was connecting with people I didn’t know.
Thanks to everyone who helped me finish this book, especially Seth Lindberg, Claudius Reich, and Lilah Wild in their roles as the Paramental Appreciation Society. Thanks to Dale Bentson and the members of the Writing Salon’s Round Robins, under the direction of Jane Underwood, who encouraged me when I needed it. Thanks to Nanowrimo, which lit a fire under me to get it done.
Thanks to Mason and to Sorrell, who talked me down from ledges as I wrote and rewrote this novel.
Thanks especially to Jeremy Lassen, the best editor I have had the pleasure to work with. His clear eyes, probing questions, and imagination added so much to the final draft. Without his help, you would not now be holding this book in your hands. Thanks also to Jason Katzman and Cory Allyn for holding down the Skyhorse side of things and being very patient with my questions.
Photo courtesy of Ken Goudey
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Loren Rhoads is the co-author (with Brian Thomas) of As Above, So Below. She’s the author of a book of essays called Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel and editor of The Haunted Mansion Project: Year Two and Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues. Her science fiction short stories were collected into the chapbook Ashes & Rust. She remembers the Christmas there were men on the moon and looks forward to the New Year's Day there will be women on Mars.