Murmur.Almost as though she was whispering it in his ear, Heath held his ground against the surge of memories.Murmur. His mind raced, trying to convince himself it wasn’t her, it couldn’t be her. But it made too much sense. Living in a disguise. Vanishing into the night without a trace. Murdering Miguel. Making sure Rodrigo wasContinue reading “Chapter 19: Undying Vengeance”
Author Archives: Caleb Johnstone
Chapter 18: What Happened at Casimir Manor
Heath rode for two days. The strange sense that came to him in the wilderness lingered at the back of his mind, mingling with the darkness that plagued his dreams, but was still somehow separate. Something had happened, or was on the cusp of happening, in Aleria. Nothing more than that was clear from theContinue reading “Chapter 18: What Happened at Casimir Manor”
Chapter 17: Echoes of War
The nightmares began two days after returning from Valenwood. The first night back in Aleria, Heath’s dreams were veiled with shadows. He was in darkness, deep and layered like shadows in water. Figures cloaked in darkness moved through the void, waiting and watching. Even as he couldn’t see them, he still saw them. Knew they wereContinue reading “Chapter 17: Echoes of War”
Chapter 16: The Bloodbeast
For a heartbeat, the battlefield stood still. Heath felt his breath freeze as a swirl of emotions tumbled in his chest. Nambu stood tall in his blackened armor, helmet discarded to the side, his hand still raised in the air. Looking down from the height of the sloping road, the ranger could see everything inContinue reading “Chapter 16: The Bloodbeast”
Chapter 15: The Defense of Valenwood
Heath woke with a headache and his mood was already dark. The morning light carved through the musty chamber, and he pulled himself upright with a groan. His knees still ached from dropping from the rooftop two nights past, and his ribs still hadn’t healed completely from the fight with the giants. He gathered hisContinue reading “Chapter 15: The Defense of Valenwood”
Chapter 14: The Warden
From the upper room of the Black Crow Tavern, Heath stared at the ceiling from his bed. Sleep would not be coming easily that night, and as his eyes studied the twisted patterns in the wood above him, his thoughts drifted to a memory he had hoped to have left in the past. Somewhere alongContinue reading “Chapter 14: The Warden”
Chapter 13: Memory
Mars closed the heavy double doors of the great hall with a resounding thud. Heath walked the length of the room, standing facing the fireplace. The others gathered around him, but Heath kept his face on the slowly dying embers. Kriv’s raspy voice cut through the silence. “You want to explain what just happened?” The hunchedContinue reading “Chapter 13: Memory”
Chapter 12: A Complicated Past
Heath reached Aleria long after dark. He guided the bay through the softly lit streets towards the Black Crow Tavern, the sound of horseshoes on cobblestone echoing down the nearly empty streets. Reaching the stables to the side of the weathered tavern, Heath set about removing the saddle along with the bit and bridle beforeContinue reading “Chapter 12: A Complicated Past”
The Wind
The wind is cold, but it leaves me warm Heat blossoms in my chest, deeper even than my heart For my hearts feels it, though it is not the source A fulfilled yearning, Something deep in my soul I stand, the gentle roll of the deck beneath my feet The lovely rock of the oceanTheContinue reading “The Wind”
Why I Climb Mountains
Originally written Jan. 2019 Mountains. Why climb them? Why make the preparations, travel the distance to the base, regard the climb, and then commit to the journey to the summit? Why indeed, when that only marks the halfway point? There are untold and uncountable lessons to be drawn from climbing mountains, more than I couldContinue reading “Why I Climb Mountains”
The Writer in White 