Chapter 18 Excerpt From Book III Of The Alban Saga: THE VORTEX

 

In this passage, Erin the Prophet is sleeping in the Cave of Dreams and has a vision. 

Chapter 18 Excerpt

It wasn’t until the fire waned and was reduced to embers that Erin the Prophet finally collapsed from exhaustion. He’d been thrashing from side to side most of the night - his subconscious awash in despair and guilt at being the one responsible for bringing Bea into his realm. He had brought her to help stop Una and Obsidian from altering Grandma Rose’s fate and had promised her his guidance and support. But he had failed, not only in that task, but in his promise to find Aran and bring him back to her. 

As Erin looked back on all that had happened, he did his best to understand his failures, but it was difficult for him. After all, he was the High Priest of his people and the ultimate Druid Prophet of his time. His connection with Earth’s magic had always been prodigious, and he could never recall a time when he felt helpless or unable to act on someone’s need. But now, not only had he failed Bea, he had become consumed with confusion and feelings of inadequacy. Something that had never happened before.

However, despite all of the upheaval within him, Erin never awakened. In fact, he sensed himself sinking deeper and deeper into a troubled slumber, even as other questions seethed up and pounded hard against his skull: How was he to reach out to Bea and help her with her current dilemma? How could he fulfill his promise to find and bring Aran back to her? How was he going to stop Una and Obsidian now?

His remorse grew and expanded into the early morning hours until he arrived at what he knew to be a significant juncture of this dreamscape. He felt his mind quiet somewhat, and he sensed that he would either be ushered back towards reality and find himself once again gazing into the soft embers of the fire inside the Cave of Dreams, or…he would sink ever-deeper into this hellish nightmare, caught between slumber and the plethora of difficulties boiling up within his subconscious.

 

 He did not have to wait long for an answer. He remained asleep, still carried along by dreams, but no longer fraught with anxiety and confusion. He was now enveloped in an all-embracing calm. His body eased its flailing movement, and the myriad questions firing within his mind fell away. It was as if he now lay upon a cushion of air, floating lazily on the soft waters of tranquility. Then, in whatever state this was, he was able to open his eyes. The sky above was ink-black and filled with bright pin-pricks of light - a billion stars set against the vastness of space. Whatever remained of his anxiety and guilt melted away, and without actually making a conscious decision to do so, he rolled over and gazed downward. Directly below, he saw on a massive orb. It hung, seemingly unsupported, against the backdrop of the night sky – a blue ball with various shades of colour brushed across its surface. He had never seen such a magnificent sight. It humbled him and took his breath away! Then he noticed a second smaller orb, hovering farther in the distance, awash in an effervescent, white light with patches of grey scattered across its surface. This he recognized. It was the moon – the same moon that he had gazed upon all of his life as it crossed the skies of Alba. Then it hit him: Could the other more massive orb be mother Earth?

With that astonishing thought, Erin then began to feel his body more concretely. He became heavier and no longer floated easily above the huge ball in the sky. He began moving downwards towards it. At first, his descent was imperceptibly slow, but as he progressed, his momentum increased. He began to panic. His arms and legs flailed for purchase where there was none, in an effort to somehow slow his progress, as his plunge downwards towards the huge orb persisted at an even wilder, mind-numbing pace. His heart pounded uncontrollably, and he gasped at the horror flying up towards him. Then he did the only thing left to him. He screamed and yelled over and over, venting his wide-eyed terror at the gargantuan sphere rising up to meet him!

Erin’s mind fought against the inevitability of his fate. He closed his eyes, knowing that only seconds remained before he would meet a horrible and violent end, but…the seconds passed, and he was still alive.

Erin opened his eyes. He lay, still frightened and trembling but unharmed, in the damp, tall grass of a meadow on a cold, cloudy day. He sat up, doing his best to grasp what had just happened. Was he still asleep in the same traumatic dreamscape, or was he now actually and truly awake? The truth…he simply had no idea.

He checked to make sure that he was still in one piece. It seemed he was, so he studied the area around where he’d landed. It seemed familiar, like he’d been there before. A small hill lay in front of him only a short distance away. He felt a need to see what was on the other side, so he stood and walked towards its crest.

  Once there, he looked down. The feeling he’d had of somehow knowing this place was confirmed. Sprawling out in front of him lay the city of Edinburgh. It was the Edinburgh, not of his time, when it had only been a small village, but of a time in the future when he had traveled there by Vortex, when it was a much larger, walled city with a castle at its center. He walked down the hill, weaving his way along its streets and narrow alleyways, as if he knew his destination. He ended up in front of an old inn. He read its name. It was called the Sheep’s Heid Inn. Walking through the front doors, he saw people sitting at rough-hewn tables eating, drinking, and talking. No one looked in his direction or paid him any mind. It was as if he was invisible. He ignored them as well and moved in the direction of a narrow stairway. Looking upwards, he felt the need to see what was at the top of the stairs. Reaching the landing, he walked straight ahead down a hallway, staring at several doors as he passed, wondering who might be within. Then he turned and looked back in the direction he had come. As he did, one of the doors opened. Voices could be heard emanating from inside the room. 

The Alban Saga Trilogy: Making progress on Book III

 

Book III "The Vortex"

The Alban Saga is a fantasy trilogy made up of BEATRICE, BLACK GROTTO, and the new book that I’m writing entitled THE VORTEX. All three books take place in current-day Scotland at real locations, but they also include actual Scottish history woven into their plot lines. 

Because of several factors, Book III, THE VORTEX, has taken quite awhile to write, but I can now say, for all of you who've been patiently waiting, that THE VORTEX is moving forward at a consistent clip. I just finished Chapter 16 and am confident that it will be completed and published sometime during the spring of 2024. Possibly even a bit earlier if everything goes well. I'll keep you updated!

Also, I have been publishing excerpts from some of the chapters that you can search for on my blog to get a feeling for the book.

For this trilogy and for all of my books, you can purchase them on Amazon all over the world in paperback or e-book editions for your Kindle. The easiest way to locate them, and all of my books, is to search Amazon by using my author name on the Amazon website for your country.

Chapter 15 Excerpt From Book III Of The Alban Saga: THE VORTEX

In this passage, Aran is just awakening from something "The Keeper" has done to him. 

Chapter 15 Excerpt

The water of a small stream bubbled up and swirled its way over rocks and dark soil, separating and bending clumps of grass as it slid downwards off a sloping hill. Birds chirped and sang in the cool, early morning dew that clung to rocks and earth blanketed the emerald meadow and dampened the breeze that moved and eddied gently over the land.

Aran lay in the grass nearby, limp and unconscious. A tiny ember of awareness awakening within him. He remained as inert as a rock or lump of soil, but there was life there, too. The firing of just enough neurons had allowed a simple awareness of body and surroundings to ensue.

Then the need and desire to move sparked within him, and the tip of his swollen and dry tongue was the first part of him to do so. He gradually slipped it between his lips, immediately sensing how parched and dry his mouth had become as well as a dreadful stiffness in his jaw.

His first actual thought: ‘Bloody hell, what’s happened to me?’

Chapter 13 Excerpt From Book III Of The Alban Saga: THE VORTEX

In this passage, Bea is in a coma. Her mother, Fiona Bauman, and her Druid teacher, Anu Gren, have joined forces in order to enter Bea's mind. Once inside, they attempt to help her by communicating with her Earth-Mother, Beatrice Darrow.

Chapter 13 Excerpt

A heavy, velvet curtain of shadow, almost tangible in its breadth and width, surrounded Fiona and Anu. Yearning for light, they both felt themselves reach out for protection and balance, as any person would in the dark. Then Anu, using their combined magical energy, extended their minds into the gloom. Far away in the distance, they suddenly saw lightning-like flashes, arcing from one long tendril of neural matter to another. Anu moved the two of them towards the jagged shards, only halting when they were close enough to be repulsed by their heat and intensity. They were now at the epicenter of Bea’s subconscious. It was a good sign that, at least in this part of her mind, the neurons continued to be active. If her Earth-Mother was to be found anywhere, it would be here.

 

Anu reached out and said, “Beatrice, my name is Anu Gren, are you here? Bea needs your help.”

 

With Anu’s words, the flickering bolts surrounding her and Fiona increased in intensity and volume, for a time. Then, almost as abruptly as they had begun, they lessened, and a voice, slow and measured, said, “I am drowsy and weak…but…I am here.”

 

With Beatrice’s response, Fiona and Anu were relieved, then Anu asked, “Do you know what happened to Bea? Can you help her?”

 

“…I do…but I’m afraid my ability to talk with her is limited…not only…by how I, too, have been affected…but because…Bea’s conscious mind is dark.”

 

“Is it dark all the time? What about when she’s having those horrible dreams?”

 

“…is the only time that I have…a sense of her.”

 

“So…can you bring her out of this darkness?”

 

“I cannae…too deep…”

 

Sensing that Fiona was pushing her to ask more, Anu said, “If you can’t help her out of her coma, can you stop the nightmares? They're taking an awful toll on her.”

 

“…can do that…can stop them…when happen…I think…”

 

Anu could tell that Beatrice was becoming even more weary and less coherent, so she said, “I can tell this is difficult for you, but please help Bea as much as you can. Fiona and I will leave now. Tha sinn a’ toirt taing dhut bho ar cridheachan…”

 

“…aye…”

 

And with Beatrice’s final response, Fiona and Anu floated away from the fierce glimmering lights of Bea’s subconscious and back into the limitless night of her conscious thought. They remained there a moment, then opened their eyes.

 

Book Summaries: Book I, II, and III of the Alban Saga

Book I, II, & III of The Alban Saga

The Alban Saga is a current-day fantasy trilogy made up of BEATRICE, BLACK GROTTO, and the new book that I’m writing entitled, THE VORTEX. All three books take place at real locations in Scotland, with actual Scottish history woven into their plot lines. Below, I've included a summary of each of the books. You can purchase all of them in paperback or e-book editions on Amazon. The easiest way to locate them, and all of my books, is to search Amazon by using my author name on Amazon.

BEATRICE

Description

 

The book, Beatrice, takes place in Scotland. It is unique in that it references events in Scottish history, Druid legends and important ancient sites in Scotland while telling the modern day story of a family’s pursuit of their lost memories. It has a realistic feel from the setting and characters, but evolves into a fantasy-mystery-thriller as suspense and magic begin to bubble to the surface during the Bauman family’s determined search to discover what happened to them.

The title, Beatrice, comes from the person who was the Bauman’s housekeeper. Beatrice Darrow assumed that position after their original housekeeper, Mary McClellan, was killed in an auto accident on Christmas night in 1981. Mary had been a very important part of the Bauman family and had been deeply loved. Beatrice was nothing like Mary. She did her job but never allowed herself to become close to the family as Mary had, and as the Baumans’ looked to re-discover their past, Beatrice’s name started popping up throughout their investigations. 

The time frame for the story ranges from the 1980s up to 2008, and the plot centers around Elizabeth, Ewan and Fiona Bauman and their historic estate outside Edinburgh. Ewan, who at the beginning of the book is thirty-six, becomes determined to unearth the memories that had vanished for he and his mother and sister almost twenty years earlier on the night of his eighteenth birthday. He convinces Elizabeth and Fiona to join him, as the emptiness of losing that part of their lives had consumed them for far too long.

Sifting through the past brings them closer together as a family and begins to unravel the mystery, but it also uncovers a side of their life that they never knew existed. They travel back to their estate, learn about their unknown connections to Scottish history and Druid legend and lore, and they discover the significance of the ancient oak grove that sits on their estate near their mansion. However, they also become part of a dark and evil prophesy that could not only end their lives but could change the balance of good and evil on the earth forever. It’s a collision course that accelerates towards the unforeseen conclusion of Beatrice.

BLACK GROTTO

Description

 

Black Grotto takes place in Scotland and begins in the year AD 500 when a great Druid prophet named Erin travels with his scribe to a primordial and sacred cave high up in the Three Sisters. At the age of eighty, he is guided there by his dreams in order to finally reach the zenith of his prophecies.

The story then moves forward in time to AD 2022 where a young Druid named Bea Bauman is coming of age. It is a very special day and one where her mother and father finally share with her the true story of her birth.

What she learns that day completely changes her life, and she sets out alone on a long journey across the width and breadth of Scotland. Her wanderings are filled with danger, magic, and overpowering discoveries. They take her to ancient Druid places of power, places of raw and natural beauty, of history and lore, and she is introduced to Anu Grenn and Willam Brodie - her unexpected mentors.

But as all of this is happening, a Druid priestess named Brenna is secretly observing Bea. She is biding her time and preparing to connect with the earth’s darkest magic at just the right moment in order to bring the world to its knees. She pursues Bea and her own destiny without mercy as these two “black-haired beauties” edge the world ever closer to the precipice of a very dark and treacherous abyss - a place where the forces of light and darkness hang in the balance.

THE VORTEX

Description

 

The Vortex begins just as Black Grotto ends. Bea Bauman, a young Druid Priestess, is brought into the future by an ancient prophet named Erin. She cannot resist his call. He reaches for her from the center of the Vortex inside the Black Grotto, and she takes his hand, leaving her family and friends behind as she travels with him through time and space.

 

Just as Bea enters the Vortex, Aran Brodie, who has become a close and dear companion, cannot let Bea go alone into the void. He jumps in after her. For a time, they travel together inside the violent maelstrom, but they cannot maintain their grip on one another. They become separated and lose consciousness. When Bea finally awakens, she finds herself at the Stones of Calanais in the year 2026 - three years in the future - staring into the eyes of Erin the prophet. In the meantime, Aran Brodie is expelled from the Vortex at the same location as Bea, but his exit casts him over 4500 years into the past, where he finds himself surrounded by primordial Druids in search of a human sacrifice.

 

As all of this is going on, another character from the previous books also finds herself at the Stones of Calanais in the year 2026. Her name is Obsidian. For years now, she has been an acolyte in the grove of an extraordinarily powerful Druid Priestess named Brenna. Brenna brought Obsidian with her to this time and place to help her battle her nemesis, but Brenna is overcome and vanishes. Saddened and distraught, Obsidian is left alone without any way to return to her own time. She wanders aimlessly for days, but then remembers something that Brenna once shared with her. A Druid, even more powerful than Brenna, lives somewhere near the Stones of Calanais. She is called The Keeper. Obsidian sets out to find her in the hope that she can bring Brenna back and restore her to her former greatness and power.

 

The Vortex carries forth the story of the Alban Saga, weaving the plot lines into a surprising and volatile romp through time, space, and Scottish history. This dangerous and risky journey will either end in the past being completely reshaped, leading to a malevolent and dire future, or… the current timeline will remain untouched and safe for the development of humankind. Bea Bauman will be at the center of this struggle. She will attempt to unravel and countermand whomever or whatever is trying to alter history, while also dealing with her feelings for Aran, her fear for his survival, and having to navigate the treacherous intricacies of traveling through The Vortex.

Dream Writing!

"Dream" by Melody Campbell is licensed under CC by 2.0. To View a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

 Writing definitely has its up and downs. As I mentioned recently, I'm finally on the "up" side and am moving forward with my latest book. It is Book III of the Alban Saga, titled The Vortex. When I'm on a role and things are flowing well, dreaming is something that often takes hold and helps me move a book forward.

My latest dream about this book ended up taking it in a completely new direction, which I'm extremely excited about!

I hope to complete the book in 2023 or early 2024. I think the new direction is going to add a lot to the story!

Finally Back On Track - Writing In An Old Library

While writing my first five sci-fi and fantasy books, I wrote 6-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. It took me about eight years to write those. I finished the last one, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, in May of 2020. Since then, I've been working on the third and final book of the Alban Saga, The Vortex, but I've found it difficult to stay on schedule and work consistently. I think that I was simply burned out. However, I'm finally back on track, writing more consistently again, and enjoying it!

One of the things that really turned the tide for me is when I began writing outside my home in an old library in my area. I've always liked writing in libraries when I was out traveling, so I decided that I would try it near my home to help me get back on track. It worked! I've included a couple of pictures of the library above.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to finally complete The Vortex during 2023. I'm very excited about the story and think it will make a great ending to the Alban Saga trilogy! I'll let you know how it goes!

 

Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening - A New Review

  

A new review for

Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening

Have just enjoyed another epic story from Bob Stegner: Merlin & Arthur, The Awakening. Loved the way it jumped between the different characters and timeline. I am not keen on blood and gore, so this simple trick, kept me on board and enthralled. Having experienced tears towards the end of Black Grotto, I did not expect to have more with this story. How wrong could I have been. The last couple of chapters, had me tissues in hand, and struggling to read through the tears. Thank you for weeks of happy reading. On a final note, considering that this story was written pre 2020, and published early 2020, is it just coincidental that it is about a pandemic? Or is Mr Stegner actually a Seer?

The third and final book of the Alban Saga is being written!

An Excerpt from Chapter 3 of THE VORTEX: Book III of the Alban Saga

"Vortex bw" by ahisgett is licensed under CC by 2.0

I promised to give you an excerpt from my new book, The Vortex: Book III of the Alban Saga. The section below comes from the beginning of the third chapter and contains two of the most important characters from book two of the saga. Enjoy!

As Aran watched Bea enter the Vortex of the Black Pool, his only thought was of not wanting her to be alone. The two of them had been through so much together, including the deaths of his father, her grandmother, and others. He had watched over Bea for so long now, protecting her from Priestess Brenna’s peering eyes and had even saved her life more than once. They had bonded deeply, and he cared for her. Following her into that swirling maelstrom was as natural for him as breathing.

He ran towards the pool, took a deep, gasping breath, and by the time he entered the water, all of Bea had disappeared, except for the ancient staff that she held in one hand. Reaching out, his fingers missed the staff but wrapped around her wrist. He held on desperately. Bea felt his firm grip, and their eyes met for only the briefest of moments, as they were both caught up in the chaotic violence of the Vortex. It carried the two of them down and down, farther and farther into its dark emptiness, and it was at that moment that Aran’s tenuous grasp began to weaken. He fought to hold on with every inch of his being, but he simply couldn’t. His hand slipped, and the centrifugal force of the water ripped him away from her.

His arms and legs flailed in search of purchase. Dread and adrenaline took hold, and at the very last possible instant, he brushed up against something solid. His fingers clamped down in desperation, and this time it was Bea’s staff. There was little chance he could maintain control as it thrashed about wildly, so with what leverage he could muster, he pulled as hard as he could. It cost him, as the staff flew out of his hand, but the effort brought him close enough to reach for it again. This time both hands clutched its slippery surface. He clamped down as hard as he could. His grip held, and as it did, Bea felt a strong tug at the other end of the staff. It was almost ripped away from her, but its bulging jewel caught in the crook of her arm, enabling her to wrestle it closer to her chest and maintain control.

Swirling around and around within the relentless speed and momentum of the whirlpool, the two somehow managed to sustain their precarious connection - their bodies plastered against the powerful wall of moving water. Their lungs ached and yearned for oxygen. Their limbs throbbed, and their craving for light became an obsession in the total and absolute gloom that surrounded them. All this lasted longer than their ability to hold their breath. Each of them prepared to give into their body’s overpowering need until a single point of white light appeared far, far below. For a fleeting moment, its attraction overcame everything else. They longed to reach it, to touch it, but its pull on them waned, and their bodies took back control. Closing their eyes, the point of light vanished from view. In unison, they inhaled deeply and took in the dark waters of the churning Vortex, giving into its emptiness.

Working on Book III of the Alban Saga: THE VORTEX

"Vortex bw" by ahisgett is licensed under CC by 2.0

Time to get back to work on Book III of the Alban Saga. For now, its working title is The Vortex.

I'm still promoting my new book, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, but it was time to revisit the third and final book of the Alban Saga. I began writing it while I was recently in Scotland. It's taken a lot of thought to put the plot together, but I think I have it now and want to move forward. The day before yesterday, I completed the second chapter, and once I do a bit more editing, I'll include a short excerpt for you to read in a blog entry.

I'm really looking forward to completing this fantasy trilogy. The first two books were Beatrice and Black Grotto, and many of the same characters, as well as some new ones, will be included in The Vortex . The final book of the saga will sadly bring a story that I've loved writing to a close, but it will also give me a chance to work with some of my favorite characters again and weave an ending to the trilogy that should be exciting to read!

Stay tuned!

Third and Final Book of the Alban Saga

While I've been waiting on the return of of my latest SciFi/Fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, from the editors, I've begun working on the third and final book of the Alban Saga. I'm not sure what the title will be yet, but I've already done quite a bit of research and just finished the first chapter.

The final book of the saga will take the reader on quite an adventure and will begin right where the second book, Black Grotto, left off. I've included a small portion of the beginning of the first chapter below. Enjoy!

Una Murray lived in a thatch-roofed, white stucco cottage on several acres of land northwest of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Her ancestors had worked the croft for generations, and her mother and father had purchased it shortly after their marriage. The cottage was small, only three rooms, but Una had modernized it with the help of one of her neighbors, Angus MacAulay. It had an indoor bathroom and an up to date kitchen, but the bedroom and living area next to the kitchen were much the same as they’d been for years.

Una never had been one to keep her home tidy. The rooms were clean but cluttered with a jumble of knickknacks and books of all kinds lying about. The main room contained wooden furniture stacked with woolen blankets and shawls, a small table and chair for eating and working on various projects, and a cooking area with a days worth of dishes stacked in the sink. She had electricity, but she’d always preferred candles and the light from her fire to keep her company in the evening.

Outside her home, Una had a small garden, some chickens, a few sheep, and two goats that wandered her property. The land was bounded by ancient dry stone walls, and she had lived all of her eighty-two years there. She was a part of the history and fiber of Stornoway and was well known to everyone as a loaner whose only communal ties lay with her closest neighbors and a few select members of the Druid and Wiccan community.

On this early November eve, Una had completed her chores for the day and was sitting down to a meal of tattie scones, hotch potch stew, and tea. The simmering bowl of lamb and vegetables was hearty enough to warm her insides while the peat fire in the fireplace calmed and soothed her shivers without. The weather had finally turned from sunny and clear to the usual damp and cold autumn drizzle that she knew would be with her for months.

As Una lifted the last spoonful of liquid to her lips and swallowed what was left of her scones, she added her dirty dishes to the others in the sink and wiped the table clean. Pulling her chair closer to the fire, she placed another brick of peat on the flames, and gathered her worn and tattered woolen blanket around her shoulders. Then she sat down and scooted up closer to the burning embers and placed her tired and achy feet on an old wooden stool. Clasping her blanket close, she stared into the flickering red, blue, and yellow flames that arose from the dense, black logs of peat and breathed out a deep sigh.

It wasn’t long before her eyelids felt heavy, and she could feel herself needing to go to bed. But, as was her usual custom, she fought off sleep for the moment and reached for her favourite single malt and snifter. She poured a wee dram into the glass to sleep by and breathed it in. It smelled of Scotland - peaty, rich, and earthy. Cupping the glass between her palms, she took her time with it until the last sip lay upon her palate and melted down her throat.

Another long sigh accompanied the completion of her nightly ritual. Then she laid the glass to one side and was about to get up to go to the bathroom when she was shaken out of her reverie. There was a loud pounding on her door. Una seldom had company, and hardly ever after dark. The pounding came again, weaker this time, but just as insistent. Then again, silence.

Keeping the blanket around her, she came to her feet, grabbed the iron poker that lay against the stones of the fireplace, and walked warily towards the four-paned window near the door. She glanced outside but couldn’t see anyone. She didn’t want to open the door, but she knew there was no getting round it.

Grasping the handle with one hand and holding the poker above her head with the other, she opened it just a crack. Peering out, she couldn’t see anyone until she glanced down. In front of her was a person bent over and kneeling on the ground. They were wearing a thick, brown woolen robe that was rain-soaked and hanging heavy over their frame. They had sandals on that were caked in mud, and their head was bowed and shielded by the hood of their robe. In the absence of a sash, the person’s left hand was clutching the front of the robe to keep it closed, and in their right was a long, wooden staff with a blood red jewel at one end.

Una instantly recognized the staff as that of a Druid priestess. It gave her pause, but then she opened the door a bit more and abruptly asked, “Who are ye? Why are ye at my door at this time o’ the night?”

 The person glanced up, and Una could now see that it was a woman. Her long red hair was wet and matted against her forehead and face; her lips were blue and quivering. She spoke unsteadily and asked, “Can I come in? I’m soaked through, and…I’m weak and freezing…please!”

Sensing her desperation, Una laid the poker to one side, helped the woman to her feet, and said, “Come with me.” As soon as she touched her, it was clear that the woman had been speaking the truth. She was trembling uncontrollably underneath the wet robe and was so weak and frail that Una had to use all of her strength just to help her get up and walk over to the chair by the fire.

Once there, Una said, “Here, give me yer staff, and I’ll help ye out of yer sandals and robe before ye catch yer death!” In response, the woman only nodded. Una laid the staff to one side and knelt down in front of her. She took her sandals off and wiped the mud from her feet. She laid the leather sandals by the fire and removed the wet, heavy garment, which took some doing. Then Una wrapped her own blanket around the woman’s upper body.

There was some stew left on the stove so Una put it in a bowl and poured a healthy dram of whisky into a second snifter. She had to help the woman eat and drink because her hands were shaking uncontrollably. Then Una poured another dram for her and got some scones for her to eat. The woman’s trembling had eased just enough at that point that she could manage on her own, so Una put another brick of peat on the fire and placed an additional blanket around the woman’s legs. She studied her for a time and then asked, “So lass, do ye have a name?”

“Aye.”

Her answer made Una chuckle. She said, “Well, what is it then? I cannae just call ye, woman.”

That brought a slight smile to the woman’s lips. She sipped once more on the whisky, swallowed, and replied, “My name’s…Obsidian…Obsidian Ualas.”

“Ualas…ye don’t hear that name very often. I reckon it’s old Gaelic, eh?”

“’Tis.” Then Obsidian had a question of her own. “Can…can I ask you something?”

“Aye.”

“This’ll sound strange, but what year is it?”

Una tilted her head, confused by the request. “Ye want t’ know what year ‘tis?”

Obsidian merely answered, “Aye, I’m a bit muddled right now.”

It was clear that she’d been through a lot, so Una merely answered her question. “Well, ‘tis two thousand twenty six, lass. Ye dinnae know that?”
    With the answer, Obisidian’s eyes widened and carried a flash of anger. The look quickly vanished and was replaced by one of complete despair. Then tears started to gather and glisten in the corners of her eyes. She glanced away, hoping that the old woman hadn’t noticed and whispered to herself, “So it’s true…”  

Waiting On The Editors & Plans For My Next Book!

The manuscript of my latest SciFi/Fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening is still at the editors. Once it is complete and in its final form, I'll send it off to as many agents as I can, and while I'm in Europe, I'll attempt to meet with some agents and publishers there and enter it in some writing competitions. If I can find a publisher or an agent, I will go that route this time to publish the book. If not, I'll publish it independently as I have my others.


I've been enjoying some time off in Scotland, but I've also been thinking hard about my next project. In my last blog post, I mentioned that I might start a book of poetry, but I've decided against that for now. 

For those of you that have read the first two books of the Alban Saga, Beatrice & Black Grotto, I've made the decision to finally write the third and final book of that series. While I was in the Orkney Isles, an idea came to me about a possible plot, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. I don't have an idea for the title yet and just started doing some initial work on the plot, the characters, and the setting. I'm very excited about it, though, and will let you know more as I can.

So...keep watching my blog. I'll let you know what's going on with this new project as well as what's happening with Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening.

As always, thanks for joining me on this wonderful journey!

Bob