by Matt Heppe
“Should I leave mine as well?”
Hadde glanced at Maret and then back to the pool. “Keep it for your child.”
They camped in the Spiridus Glade that night and rode for Long Meadow in the morning. The day was bright and warm. Birds sang in the forest as everywhere life re-emerged. Hadde’s thoughts turned to Morin. During the night she had discovered another of his lies. He had told her that he could no longer love. That love had been taken from him. But what of Seremar? He was eternal, and yet he still loved Maret.
Maybe Morin still loved her. He just loved the Orb more. He had cast her off so he could pursue his true love. And he had freed her from a life of playing second to Helna’s gift. Maybe that was his kindest deed.
Hadde halted her horse. The setting sun cast long shadows through the trees. She knew this land. They were close. “Why have we—” Maret started, but Hadde raised her hand.
“Calen,” Hadde called out. “You can come out from behind that log.”
“Hadde?” Her apprentice appeared from his hiding place.
“It’s me.”
He ran to them. “I knew you’d return! The Wasting has ended!”
Hadde laughed for the first time in many days. “I know it.” She dismounted and embraced him.
“How did you know I was there?”
She smiled. “Because I’m a Huntress and you’re my apprentice.”
“We missed you.”
“My parents? Are they well?”
“They are.” He stared up at Maret. “Who is this?”
“This is Maret. She’s going to stay with us.”
He grinned up at the maiden. “Welcome to Long Meadow.”
Hadde smiled as she put her hand on his shoulder. “Calen, run for the village. Tell them I am home.”
Acknowledgments
This project never would have seen the light of day without the help of some wonderful people. First and foremost I’d like to thank the critique group of Ann Emery, Sally Stotter, Lena Pinto, and Lisa Hollis McCulley. They displayed incredible patience taking in a novice writer, tearing him down, and building him back up. It was sort of like boot camp, only with cookies.
I cannot thank enough my friend Mike Shultz for his help and advice. His chapter by chapter critique of the novel was invaluable. He is always willing to help, whether it is grammar questions, plot advice, or computer issues. This novel couldn’t have happened without him. Another friend, Kemp Brinson, came to the project late, but his advice truly added depth to the novel. Any writer would benefit from his wisdom.
Christian Cameron saved Eternal Knight very early in the process when he reminded me that bad guys see good guys when they look in the mirror. His example as an author has been an inspiration to me.
Joan Shal earns my praise for her copy-editing efforts. It was a lot of work and she accomplished it quickly and expertly. Don’t blame her if you find any errors, I had to go and fiddle with things even after her “final” copy edit. All errors are mine!
I’d also like to thank my beta readers: Dena Seki, Carol Hilty, Bob Sulentic, and Shanna Lowery. Your contributions were extremely valuable.
Ken Hendrix gets the credit for the wonderful cover he designed. Steve Sandford is responsible for the fantastic map. Both men are terrific artists.
I’d like to thank my mother for getting all of this rolling many years ago when she put that copy of The Hobbit into my hands. She never stopped feeding me novels and I credit her with giving me my love of reading. My father, who left teaching to become a businessman, devoured motivational, self-help, and goal-setting books. He passed each to me at a very impressionable age, and they made a lasting impact.
My thanks to Sensei Marchand and Joshu Billings of TSMMA for instilling in me the focus, attitude, and non-quitting spirit necessary to take this project to completion.
Finally, I’d like to thank my wife, Helen, for displaying incredible patience as I poured hundreds of hours into this project. I promise the next one won’t take as long.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
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