Across the Veil

Cosy slowburn fantasy / historical fantasy / portal fantasy Rosa, a woman of mixed background – her father, a lighthouse keeper from Scotland, her mother a descendent of the long-lost, dark-haired Epiddi tribe. Rosa inherits certain abilities, (that some might call magic), and extreme long life from her mother’s side, but her mass of fair locks, inherited from her father, leads a shaman to call her ‘the golden-crowned child of two worlds’ – a woman with a destiny written long before she was born. These two worlds are separated by a Veil that few can cross, but Rosa leads a double-life on both sides of this invisible barrier.

Chapter 1 – Willow Cross “Up in the cart quickly.” Seven-year old Rosa hurried to do her Ma’s bidding, stumbling in her haste. It was a clear night and the moon was almost full, its eerie light washing the colour out of Rosa’s world. Hunching her shoulders, a shiver ran down her spine. She watched dumbfounded from the back of the cart as her uncles and Great Grand Da, Gormal, hurriedly loaded the few belongings and supplies she and Ma would need for their journey south. Rosa pulled her knees up to her chest to get out of the way of the packs being thrown up alongside her, tucking herself into the corner. Ignoring Gormal’s curses, Hound jumped up beside her, responding to her distress as he always did. Rosa could feel the coarse hair of his flank against her face and arm as he sidled protectively up against her, his tongue lolling, and his familiar warm doggy breath her only comfort. Ma climbed up onto the driver’s seat of the cart. If only Da were here, he would be driving. But then if Da were here, we wouldn’t have to leave at all. Great Grand Da thrust some folded papers into Ma’s hand. “There are very few settlements I’m afraid Heather, but here are brief letters of introduction to the elders at Bronwyn’s Glen and Penbran Tor. And this is a map that shows the main landmarks. I’m sorry it’s so rudimentary, but it’s been a long time since I travelled that way. Just remember your lessons on reading the stars and the passage of the sun. And keep our precious wee gal safe.” Ma looked back at him, then nodded briefly as her tears welled. Then to both of us he said “Farewell dear hearts,” his voice breaking like a wave against the words. Rosa, already feeling lost, exchanged a look with her Great Grand Da and instinctively knew she would never see him again. Her tears weren’t ready to come yet. She was numb and couldn’t seem to form words right now, so she remained silent. Hound sensed Rosa’s mood and laid a paw on her arm. Heather took up the reins and the cart began to roll out of Willow Cross, slowly gaining momentum as it followed the rough track. Rosa solemnly viewed her surroundings as the early dawn light crept up from the horizon. The peak of Moon Mountain got smaller with every turn of the creaking cartwheels. She pictured in her mind, cousin Ash’s disbelieving face when he heard they had to leave – she and Ash had been like twins in all but appearance for all of her life. She sat in the cart cuddled up to Hound surrounded by their belongings, such as they were. They could only take their basic needs for survival on the road, and one or two personal items. As she fingered the woven bracelet Ash had hurriedly made for her, she thought about her drawing things and the little wooden animals her Da had carved for her when she was a baby. These were all she could fit into her little rucksack, and all she had of the life they’d had to leave behind so abruptly. ***** As the cart gently rocked her half to sleep, Rosa thought back to the day they left – had it only been six days? They had been sorrowful partings, as the grown-ups clearly didn’t expect to see each other again. Ash though, was adamant he would come to Curnow one day to find them. The tears that finally came dampened her cheeks. She missed Da terribly, None of this should ever have happened, she thought, then wondered again, for the umpteenth time, how Florrie had pulled-off such a startling feat to save them. And where did she go? She would be in danger too. She should have come with them. That night as they sat at their cook fire, Rosa took out the carved pig her Da had made her from her pack. As she turned it over in her hand a few times, a question that had been tugging at Rosa’s mind for quite some time rose to the surface. “Ma, how did Da come to be in our world?” Heather gazed at her. Rosa could see the pain her question caused and almost wished she could take it back. Nevertheless, Heather began the story: “Well, it all started about nine years ago…”