by T J Green
“Yes, they’re fine. I’ve been busy with certain duties in Aeriken, and Beansprout’s been helping me. Jack’s still with Fahey. But Vivian asked Arthur to do something for her and we thought we’d help. And we thought you’d like to come too?”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes! You’re not going back without me. What are we doing?”
“Vivian asked Arthur to search for one of the other priestesses from Avalon. She disappeared a short time ago. He’s already started the search with Woodsmoke, and we’re supposed to join them at Holloways Meet.”
Tom had no idea where Holloways Meet was, but he nodded enthusiastically. “So when do we go?”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Beansprout said.
“I’ve been ready ever since I got back here! But …” Tom thought awkwardly of his aunt and her anguish. “You should see your mum before we go.” He recounted the nightmare of his return without her.
“Crap. I had no idea it would be so bad. I’m sorry, Tom. But really, do I have to? It might make things worse.”
“Yes, you have to. You really have no idea. She looks at me like I’m a murderer.”
Guilt flickered across Beansprout’s face. “Now I feel terrible, I’ve just been having so much fun! I didn’t even think. All right. In the morning then. And until then you can tell us what you’ve been up to.”
The next morning the wild weather had passed and Tom and Beansprout started the walk back to the cottage at dawn. Brenna remained at the tower; she looked far too odd with her feathers to go with them.
Tom glared at her, “Don’t you dare leave without us.”
“Don’t worry, Tom. I’ll be here,” she said, full of her usual calm efficiency, and she stretched out in the entrance to the tower in the pale dawn light and closed her eyes.
They trudged back along the leafy paths, finally coming to the old yew and the stream. “I’ll stay here to pack a few more things; you go on and meet me back here when you’re done,” Tom said.
“I think you should come with me.”
“No chance. Call me if you need help.”
“But I feel so nervous! What if she doesn’t let me go?”
“Well, the good thing is that you look fine! Better than fine, actually.” And it was true, Tom thought. Beansprout looked healthy and happy, as if she carried a residual glow from the Other. “Good luck!”
He watched her walk along the path towards her house, her shoulders slumped and her head lowered. He wished he could help, but knew this was something she had to do alone. And if he was honest, he didn’t really like seeing his aunt any more.
He passed through the back garden into the kitchen. His dad and his girlfriend had already left for work, their breakfast things piled in the sink. Good. It would save awkward goodbyes. He put the kettle on and headed upstairs to his room, emptying his backpack onto the bed. He propped his folded tent in the corner of his room. He wouldn’t need that again. But first he needed a shower.
Refreshed, he packed some clean clothes and a few other things he thought would be useful, and then wandered around the house, checking to see if there was anything else he wanted to take. It was strange, but he already felt distanced from the cottage. If he was honest, it wasn’t a world he’d been fully engaged with for a long time.
In the kitchen he washed the pans he’d brought back from the folly, leaving them on the drainer. He even tidied his bedroom. He wanted to leave everything tidy, no loose ends. This was probably how his grandfather had felt. He laughed to himself. He’d been so mad at him, and here he was doing the same thing. Anyway, he had plenty of time, so he raided the fridge and cooked a huge breakfast while he waited for Beansprout.
An hour later Beansprout arrived, flushed and red-eyed with crying. “I never want to go through that again.”
“I did warn you.”
“No, you did not. That was awful. I’m on the missing persons list!”
“Are you sure you want to go?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding distractedly. “Are you ready?”
He nodded towards the note he’d left on the table. “Deja vu.”
He paused and took a long look round. He might never see this place again. Satisfied, he locked the door, pocketed the key and followed Beansprout up the path.
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Acknowledgements
This book has been a long time in the making. Thanks to Jason and my mother, Hazel, for their endless encouragement and support.
Thanks also to Jason, Mom, Terri and Jo, for their enthusiastic response to early drafts of the manuscript and their helpful suggestions as to plot and characterisation. Thanks to Jade for the proofread. Many other friends and family have been curious about and supportive of my endeavours, so thanks to all of you too. You were very patient.
I have been fortunate enough to be part of a writing group who have given time and thought to my work in progress. Their suggestions have been great, and I wish them luck with their projects.
Big thanks to Sue Copsey, my editor, for her great observations, suggestions and skilled editing, and lots of other great advice on everything else involved in publishing. Hopefully she’ll want to do this again.
And thanks also to all the writers who have gone before me in exploring and creating the myths and legends of King Arthur.
I must also thank the very real Tom, who gave me the inspiration for starting the short story that turned into Tom's Inheritance. He's a little too young to read it now, but I hope he enjoys it when he's older.
About the author
T J Green was born in England, but moved to New Zealand 10 years ago. She currently lives near Wellington with her partner and her cats Sacha and Leia. When not writing she does lots of reading, gardening and yoga.
In a previous life she's been a singer in a band, and has done some acting with a theatre company - both of which were lots of fun. On occasions she and a few friends make short films.
TJ Green is now working on a few short stories which further expand the world of Tom in the Other. Other projects include a paranormal/urban fantasy about a group of witches called White Haven Witches, set in a fictional town on the south coast of England.
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