Selina Burkenshaw
Human, herbalist, first appeared in chapter 10 of Shadows in the Stone
Selina Burkenshaw slowly poured the steaming tea into the mug. The mug full, she returned the pot to the stove top. Scooping a dollop of honey from the jar, she stirred it gently into the hot liquid. Once sufficiently mixed, she drew the warm spoon over her tongue to taste the sweetness. She picked up the mug and turned to her mate.
Farlan remained in the same position since he entered their dwelling. He rested in the chair near the stove watching their first-born sleep. Their daughter—barely one year old—brought him much joy, but even she could not break the spell he appeared to be under since his return from patrol two days earlier. The outing was supposed to be five days, but it lasted ten. As usual, he couldn’t share details of the excursion, but the permanent grimace and the solemn mood spoke volumes. His lack of chatter also hinted at the worry teasing his mind. She hadn’t seen him this distraught since the inquest into Lady Glynn Dasia’s murder.
Selina had enquired at Moon Meadow, but Beathas of Ailsa and the apprentices had not heard word of a commotion that would cause alarm. Although she should have been studying the herb manual, she felt compelled to remain by her mate’s side. She placed a gentle hand on her abdomen. There were other important events in need of discussing before they revealed themselves.
Farlan looked up at her, a tortured expression colouring his face. He wet his lips as his gaze swept over her body, giving her a chill. When he spoke, his gentle voice was laced with determination. “I will never abandon you.”
An ache awakened in her chest. The idea had never inhabited her thoughts, so why did he feel the need to say this?
Castle Keepers Vignette: Almost five years has passed since Isla was kidnapped and Bronwyn left Maskil in search of her. In many ways, not much has happened; the inhabitants of the Land of Ath-o’Lea have continued their daily routine. But if you look deeper into the individual lives you’ll see much has changed in little ways.
The Castle Keeper vignettes provide a glimpse into the time betweenShadows in the Stone and Scattered Stones. You’ll have already met many of the characters, but some you will meet inScattered Stones.
These vignettes won’t be complete stories, only 300 words of a moment. I consider them exercises in writing and editing. I hope to write two a week and post them on Mondays and Thursdays as we lead up to the release of Scattered Stones, the second fantasy novel of the Castle Keepers series, on May 6, 2016.
The collection of vignettes will be organised on the Castle Keepers Vignettespage. On the first of each month, I will post the schedule of the characters I will write about that month.
Diane McGyver 