Celts and the Mad Goddess, chapter five

The Earth’s shadow obscured the moon completely, plunging the world into the dark. The moon turned crimson, like the sun on a hot summer evening, and painted the woods in gory hues. A small, thin cloud rushed over the moon’s angry face, turning red before disappearing into the sky’s blackness.

Garux had seen no signs of Rawena, and when the moon rose high above the eastern woods, he turned back to meet Arvasia and Seneusia by the gate. As he passed the deer trail, he felt tempted to go to the basin to see if Arvasia was still there. Then he realized she could already be home, and he kept walking straight.

Celts and the Mad Goddess, chapter four

As shadows grew and thickened in the town, Garux, Arvasia, and Seneusia set off to look for Rawena. On their way toward the gate, Garux realized they had never told Seneusia the news. Now it would have to wait until they found his future sister-in-law.

Garux wished he could ask the druidess where to look for Rawena. The druidess lived beyond the pastures, though, and only her acolyte could visit her. In any case, the druidess would have come to tell them if she’d had any more visions of Rawena.

Vitis was already closing the gate for the night.

Interview with Author of the Year (yes, it’s me :-) )

Published at Spillwords on Feb. 16, 2021.

1. What was an early experience where you learned that language and writing had power?

I remember that, as a kid, I hollered with laughter over funny stories, while I mourned the heroes of tragedies. That’s when I discovered the incredible power of the written word—and started writing.

2. Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing has long been my only addiction and part of my daily routine. Sometimes it’s hard, but I wouldn’t say it exhausts me.

Celts and the Mad Goddess, chapter three

Garux dashed after Arvasia up a deer trail. He spotted her as she emerged onto the path to their town.

“Arvasia, wait!”

She stopped but didn’t turn to face him.

“What’s the matter, my love?” he asked as he embraced her from behind and kissed the top of her head.

The sun lit her hair like black gold. Arvasia had weaved wildflowers into her locks, and she was as beautiful as the most precious of them. She turned toward him, but she didn’t say a word.

Celts and the Mad Goddess, chapter two

Rawena thought she had heard the name Pandemia before. It filled her with a vague alarm, like the memory of a nightmare.

“But—but what are you?” Rawena stammered.

“I’m the goddess of pestilence, the queen of rats and rodents.” Pandemia touched her golden hair as if it were a crown. She pressed the palms of her hands against the boulder and leaned closer to Rawena.

In horror, Rawena tried to get up, but her legs had gone numb.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” Pandemia asked.

Read the first chapter of Celts and the Mad Goddess.

“A mighty race of hunters once roamed our woods, but Pandemia wiped them out. Tired from her gruesome work, Pandemia is sleeping. If you ever rouse her, she won’t rest until she brings doom to mankind.”

A Celtic legend.

Rawena didn’t know about the invasion. She sang to the chirping of sparrows as she left her town to mine opals and amber.

Although she only wore a linen underdress like every common Celtic woman, the midday sun made her sweat, so she jumped off the stone path into the shade of the woods.