After a few more hours, the forest gave way to the foothills that bordered the Northern Mountains. They paused to survey the landscape.
“Granite Hills…you did it, Riv. We’re here.” Alex paused to glance around. Gray stones jutted out of the ground with green moss growing out of cracks. Small trees and bushes struggled to find footholds. Even though it was spring, a brisk wind chilled her cheeks and snow coated the tops of the tallest peaks in the mountains to the north.
“My friend herds his goats right over there.” Riv kicked his heels into his horse’s flanks. “His family just moved the goats up here to the spring meadows. They’ll stay for the summer.”
Ahead of them, the goats were spread out through a shallow valley, perhaps as many as a hundred mature goats with many young kids. The goat herder appeared to be the same age as Riv, but shorter and thinner. He wore a tattered wool coat over a pair of worn britches and old boots, topped off with a goatskin worn like a cloak.
Riv waved to his friend and trotted over to him. He jumped off his horse and hugged him tightly. “Thicket, you’re not going to believe who this is. She’s the Keeper of the Keys for the Council of Elders. Really.” Then he turned to Alex. “Keeper, this is my friend, Thicket.”
Thicket’s eyes bulged. “You’re the real Keeper?” He looked at his friend and back again. “What are you doing here?”
Alex grinned. “Riv said that you saw Lady Opaline’s carriage nearby. Can you show it to me?”
Thicket glanced at his friend. “It’s just over the hill. Why did Lady Opaline come all the way out here?”
“Show me the carriage.”
“This way.” Thicket ran to the next hill.
“Are you out here alone?” Alex glanced around for his parents.
“My parents went to the market to get some food. I’m all right by myself. I like it.”
Alex and Riv tied their horses to a small tree and climbed up the side of the hill. Thicket hunkered down behind some rocks and pointed ahead.
“Down there.”
Title: Gossamer: The Chronicles of Eledon Book 3
Author: Joni Parker
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Lady Alexin, Eledon’s Keeper of the Keys must continue to prove her powers when her grandmother, Lady Lestin and her friend, Lady Opaline of the Gossamer Elves are kidnapped by rebels and held for ransom. Alex attempts a daring rescue, only to discover that there is far more to this plot that she immediately suspected and the betrayal extends to the highest levels of the High Council of Elders. Threatened by rebel factions, suspected by Council members and under attack by deadly spiders, the young warrior has only her wits, her fighting skills and the powers of the Keys to help her. But will they be enough to save them all?
When I was younger, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Part of my reason for dropping out of college was because I didn’t know what to major in. I was envious of my sister who knew from an early age, she was going to major in math. Good for her, but math was the last subject on my mind. I joined the Navy and found a track I liked. I became a photographer. I covered local news items, accidents, and even shot portraits. It was fun, but not a career path. When I got out of the Navy, I wanted to finish college but I was lost again. What to major in? I chose accounting because all businesses needed it and I went on to get my Bachelor’s and an MBA. After working in the field for a year, I went back in the Navy and asked for any assignment other than accounting. It worked. After 22 years in the Navy, I retired. My husband and I moved into our motorhome and hit the road. Unfortunately, he passed away and I went back to work at a government job. Then I found writing. I hadn’t written a thing since I was 14 but I was smitten by the bug and have been writing ever since. “Gossamer” is the sixth book I’ve had published and is the third book in a four book series, “The Chronicles of Eledon.” Hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing it.
Links
Website/blog: http://www.theblackelf.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoniParker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkerJoni
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JoniParker/posts
Amazon link for “Gossamer”: Amazon