Sneak Peek at Faeleahn - A Novella of the Otherworld - AVAILABLE SOON!

Hello Readers!  It's been so long since I've posted anything new here and I do apologize.  My author schedule has kept me quite busy this year, especially for the month of May (I have three big book events coming up at the end of the month, so I might be scarce in the coming weeks :P).  Anyway, I do have some good news!

Meghan and Cade are back in a BRAND NEW short story that will be published EXCLUSIVELY in the upcoming Faery Tales bundle - publication date May 18th, 2015!

As I often like to do, I am posting a preview of this newest addition to the Otherworld Series (the first chapter!).  Faeleahn is around 30,000 words (about the length of Ehriad, for those of you who have read that one).  Below I'll include the blurb, as well as the first chapter, for you to check out.  I hope you enjoy it and keep an eye on my Facebook page and, for those of you signed up for my newsletters, your inboxes as well.  I'll be sending out a special newsletter and posting the links when the ebook is up and running.  Until then, happy reading!

- JEJ

I blinked at my reflection, my Faelorehn eyes shifting from one color to the next.  I tried to get them to settle on a blue shade to go with my dress, but my nerves were too wired.  In less than an hour, I would be Mrs. Caedehn MacRoich, Lady of Castle Luathara.  During that hectic stretch of days, when Cade and I had traipsed about the countryside, spreading the word of our upcoming wedding, I didn’t have a nervous bone in my body.  Now that the day had finally arrived, I was ready to fall to pieces.

Caedehn MacRoich and Meghan Elam have been through more trials and tribulations than most young couples can imagine.  Despite the constant presence of a malevolent goddess bent on destroying them both, and the High Queen Danua doing her best to keep them apart, Meghan and Cade have persevered through it all.  Hardship, pain, mistrust and even death have hounded them nearly as mercilessly as the Morrigan's Cumorrig, yet they never lost sight of one another, or the love that kept them strong through it all.

Now Cade and Meghan are ready to make their relationship official, to pledge their souls to one another in a traditional bonding ceremony of Eile.  Before the wedding, however, they must inform everyone of their intentions.  A month after Cade's proposal, he and Meghan embark upon a two week journey to tell their family and friends of their plans.  Although the goal is to share the news of their upcoming wedding, the faelah bounty hunter and the princess of Erintara grow even closer as their love is reflected back to them by those they hold most dear.

AND NOW, A SNEAK PEEK AT FAELEAHN - A NOVELLA OF THE OTHERWORLD ...

AVAILABLE MAY 18TH, 2015 EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FAERY TALES COLLECTION!

FAELEAHN

Chapter One

Luathara

MEGHAN

I woke to the sound of spring birds chirping outside the window, their boisterous songs filling the air with joy and promise.  Although I was no longer asleep, I kept my eyes shut, not yet willing to let in the brightness of the morning sunshine.  I could feel it pouring in through the tall windows.  I knew instinctively, without even reaching across the wide mattress, that Cade was already up.  Ever since the ordeal with the Morrigan - his warmongering, glamour-hungry hag of a mother - came to its climactic closure, I had noticed a change in the both of us.  It wasn’t so much a physical change, or, more precisely, it wasn’t a physical change at all.  It was something different, an awareness just beneath my skin.  I imagined this alteration had a lot to do with our glamour.  Perhaps all the time we spent together had trained my magic to recognize his on a level far deeper than I had previously realized.  It was as if my magic could reach out and connect with Cade’s without my even being aware of it.  Then again, it could simply be a side effect of my being completely and unquestionably in love.

Grinning like a fool, I stretched and reached out across the mattress.  As I had expected, Cade wasn’t there.  I tried not to feel disappointed.  I knew he wasn’t far.  Probably out on the patio or walking through the garden.  He might have already dressed and gone down to his study, but he wouldn’t be riding the acreage with Speirling today or venturing into Kellston to address any concerns the townspeople might have.  Today, we were leaving Luathara for a time, and we planned on heading out long before noon.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I allowed my eyes to flutter open.  The room was indeed bathed in golden light, the rich color bringing life to the hues in the tapestries, rugs and drapes hanging around our four poster bed.  For a few moments, I simply lay there, cocooned in the soft sheets, tracing the embroidered design in the comforter.  Even after all I had been through in the past few years, I still woke sometimes, sucking in my breath at the absurdity of it all.  Three years ago, I had been one of the awkward nerds at my high school.  I had started out my junior year the same way I approached the previous two: keeping my head down and focusing on getting good grades, so I might get into a reputable college someday.  I had lived a typical teenage life, and other than my moments of insanity when I thought I saw monsters and imagined I heard weird voices, I thought I was pretty normal.  How wrong I had been.

Rolling over in bed, I crooked my elbow and rested my cheek against my hand.  I was facing the glass doors that opened out onto the terrace just outside the room Cade and I shared.  The doors were open, the cool breeze of early spring flowing in and making the gossamer drapes dance like cheerful specters.  The air smelled of lingering frost and the sweet flowers that dared to open this early in Eile.  And beneath it all, I could smell the faint, unique scent of wild glamour.  I breathed it all in as I stretched once again.

A small movement out of the corner of my eye distracted me for a second.  I shot my gaze toward the balcony once more, just making out the shape of a tall figure.  The corners of my mouth curved up, and I felt my body flush with joy.  Cade.  Even after having known him for three years, and having survived everything we’d been through since, I still got chills when I looked at him.  Well over six feet tall and built like a Celtic god, Caedehn MacRoich was the image of any young woman’s fantasies.  I thought back to the first time I had seen him, wondering how I had kept my cool long enough to string more than two coherent thoughts together.  Alright, if I was being honest with myself, I had fallen for his charms quite quickly.  In fact, the sensible Meghan Elam would have smacked the love-struck version of myself upside the head.  Before seeing Cade in all his Otherworldly glory, I would never have gone for a guy like him.  He was too beautiful, too large, too frightening.  Yet, I had kept going back for more.  I had agreed to meet him and listen as he slowly peeled back the wool from my eyes.  And I had fallen fast and hard.  Yet, I didn’t regret any of the decisions that had brought me to this point in my life.  True, Cade and I had been through trials and tribulations, many of them so horrifying I don’t wish to reminisce on them.  But because of those tests, we had grown closer than ever.

I bit my lip and glanced down at my wrist, admiring the beautifully woven and bejeweled bracelet secured there.  It wasn’t just any bracelet, though.  This was the piece of jewelry Cade had given to me over a month ago, when he had asked me to marry him.  Another flurry of chills coursed through me, and I sighed.  The day Cade proposed had been one of the happiest days of my life and I only imagined those days would grow happier.  After all, we were Faelorehn, and we were immortal.  And, we no longer had the Morrigan hunting us like wild game.

I smiled again as I rose from the bed, bringing a sheet with me in lieu of clothing.  As I headed for the open doors, I felt my powerful glamour well up and reach out toward Cade’s.  For so long, we had fought against our common enemy, and finally, finally, we were going to start our new life together.

CADE

The sun had been up for at least an hour, yet the stubborn frost of winter still coated the hills surrounding Luathara.  I had slipped out of bed only ten minutes ago, reluctant to leave Meghan alone, but my sleep had been restless again.  Ever since defeating the Morrigan’s army a few months ago, I hadn’t been able to relax.  One would think that destroying the goddess responsible for so many years of my misery and suffering would be enough to banish all the demons that haunted me, but for some reason or another, it wasn’t.  I had a terrible feeling that although my tormentor was now nothing more than a memory, her evil glamour and negative influence were still strong contenders for dominance in this world.  That would explain my lingering fear.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in through my nose, scenting the early spring air for danger.  It was pointless, really.  I couldn’t really smell danger on the wind, but one never knew.  I could most certainly smell faelah if they were near.  The very thought brought a sneer to my face.  Yes, my mother’s leftovers still plagued our world, but I could deal with those in time.  A sudden gust of light wind sent a chill through my blood.  I lifted my arms and crossed them over my chest.  I hadn’t dressed completely after rising from bed, and at the moment, I wore a pair of loose pants and one of my thin linen shirts, and neither was keeping off the cold.

Just as I was about to abandon my survey of Luathara’s landscape, a pair of familiar arms wrapped themselves around my torso, and I felt Meghan press her warm body up against mine.  I leaned my head back and to the side, allowing my eyelids to drift shut.

“Hello, my love,” I murmured, relishing Meghan’s body heat as it took the chill off my own skin.

“What are you doing standing out in the cold?” she wondered, in a sleepy voice.

I huffed a breath, trying to will my worry away.  “Just thinking,” I answered.

“About what?”

I smiled.  My ever curious Meghan.  Shrugging, I answered, “Many things, but right now I’m thinking about our upcoming journey.”

Meghan lit up at that.  I knew because I could sense the change in her glamour.  It had been snoozing quietly beside her heart, but now, it was pulsing with joyful curiosity.  She had become so much better at controlling her own power since the battle against the Morrigan, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

I turned to face her then, grinning rakishly when I noticed what she was wearing, or rather, what she wasn’t wearing.

As if she could read my thoughts, Meghan gave me her own impish smile and pulled the sheet more tightly about herself.

“What time is it?” she asked, dancing out of my reach.

Giving up on my attempts at seduction, I exhaled and answered her, “Between eight and nine in the morning.”

She gasped and dashed toward her chest of drawers.  “We had better get moving, then.  Good thing we packed last night!”

I chuckled and stepped fully into our bedroom, tugging my shirt over my head as I did so.  “Relax.  We have plenty of time.”

Despite my reassurance, both Meghan and I were dressed and hauling our travel packs down the stairs within half an hour.

Briant, my steward, greeted us in the entrance hall with a stack of documents he wanted me to look over one last time before we left.

“Briant,” I complained as I set my pack down, “we’ll be in the mortal world for no more than two days, then we’ll stop back here to get clean clothes before heading to the Weald.  I have taken care of everything, and you will do fine in my absence.  You have managed quite well before.”

The Faelorehn man gave me a stern look and huffed out a breath of air.  “Yes, I know, but it is still best when the signature and directions come from you.”

I took the papers and glanced over them quickly, added my signature to the ones that needed it, then handed them back to Briant.

Melvina, Briant’s wife, came bursting out of the kitchen carrying a dish cloth stuffed full of something giving off a savory scent.

“Scones,” she exclaimed, shoving them at Meghan.  “Since you insist on leaving so quickly.”

Meghan dug around in the cloth and pulled out a hot scone.  She took a bite out of it and closed her eyes in bliss.  “Thank you, Melvina,” she managed, around a mouthful.  “And can you blame me?  I’m going to see my family for the first time in weeks!”

In her state of excitement, she reached out and gave the woman a tight hug.  Melvina only chittered in feigned embarrassment while Meghan offered a scone to me.

“Thank you, both of you, for looking out for Luathara.  While we’re gone this time and for all the times before and those to come,” I said, giving them each a grateful look.

“Luathara is as much our home as it is yours, Cade,” Briant insisted.  “Now, go on.  Your friends and families have waited long enough to receive the news of your engagement.”

With a quick smile, I escorted Meghan outside where the horses and our spirit guides waited.  Both Speirling and Lasair had been led into the courtyard by Cormac, the new stable master.  They were completely free of the usual tack since they would return to the stable once they dropped Meghan and me off at the dolmarehn.

After helping Meghan onto Lasair, I mounted Speirling, casting Fergus a questioning glance.

Any new faelah I should know about?

Haven’t smelled, heard, or seen any, the white wolfhound responded.

Good.  Perhaps they’ve moved on.

Or, more likely, they are lying low for the time being.

I nodded grimly.  Fergus was right.  I couldn’t hope they had all simply disappeared from Luathara land.  Some of them had started developing a will and life force of their own over the years.  I feared there were even more of them out there, wreaking havoc and spreading their dark magic even though their mistress was no more.

Shoving my dismal thoughts aside, I turned Speirling toward the gate.  I could worry about my mother’s lingering black taint on Eile when Meghan and I returned from our trip.  We had the mortal world, the Weald, the Dagda’s abode and Erintara to visit before we returned home to make the final plans for the wedding, and we had only a couple of weeks to do it in.

Clicking my tongue at Speirling, I encouraged him into a quicker stride, checking to make sure Meghan and Lasair kept up.  Meridian swooped through the sky above us, and Fergus kept pace with the horses as we crossed the rolling fields of Luathara.  We made it to the dolmarehn an hour after leaving the castle and bid farewell to the horses.

Gathering up our packs, Meghan and I stepped into the cave together.  Fergus and Meridian had gone in already and would meet us in the mortal world.

“Are you ready, Meghan?” I asked quietly, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close.

She tilted her head back and looked up at me with her beautiful hazel eyes.  They darkened to honey gold for a split second before melting into green.

“Of course,” she smiled.

Stepping away, but keeping a firm grip on her hand, I winked back at her.  “Then let’s go tell your family the good news.”

Valentine's Day Interview with the Characters from Caelihn!

Hello Readers!  I have been insanely busy this past week getting ready for the launch of Caelihn - A Novel of the Otherworld!  It will soon be available in ebook format from most places where ebooks are sold, and you can now order the paperback edition from Amazon.com.  In order to celebrate the next chapter in the Otherworld Series, and since it is almost February 14th, I sat down with the characters from Caelihn and asked them some questions about what they would like to do with their significant other for Valentine's Day.  Here are the questions and their answers.  I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment and ask your own questions as well!
-J.E. Johnson

Special Valentine's Day Interview with the Characters from Caelihn - A Novel of the Otherworld

1.       What is your opinion on the Valentine’s Day holiday?

-     Meghan – It’s okay.  I really never was a big fan of Valentine’s Day, but it’s a little bit different when you have someone to celebrate it with.

-       Cade – I don’t know much about this holiday since it is a mortal world invention.  Meghan will have to fill me in. 

-       Robyn – I think it’s just another way to get people to buy stuff.  I mean, it was fun and all when I was a kid and we got to exchange cards in school, but not anymore.  If you’ve got someone to celebrate a relationship with, you don’t need one day out of the year to do it.  You can show your appreciation for your significant other in little ways throughout the year.

-      Devlin – I’m with Cade.  I don’t know much about it, only that it’s a day set aside to do something special with the person you love.

2.       If you were to take one of your readers on a Valentine’s Day date, where would you go and why?

-          Meghan – In the mortal world, I would treat them to a night out in the old Arroyo Grande Village.  There is a lot to do there and it’s nice just walking around and hanging out in the small park by the swinging bridge.

-          Cade – If it was possible to take them to the Otherworld, I would take them to Luathara Castle.  We would enjoy a candlelit dinner on the terrace (if it wasn’t raining) and then a walk through the gardens or through the woods nearby.

-       Robyn – I’d probably ask them where they’d like to go first, then decide from there.  Skydiving might be pretty awesome. 

-          Devlin – If we were in Eile, I would take them out in a small boat on Lake Ohll.  We’d paddle out to one of the islands and have dinner by a campfire and watch the stars come out.

3.       What do you look for in a partner?

-          Meghan – someone with a kind soul who appreciates the little things in life.  He would also have to be compassionate and fight for what he believes in.

-      Cade – Integrity, loyalty to loved ones, strength of spirit and mind, compassion and probably the most important: an open mind about many things.

-          Robyn – I look for a guy with an adventurous spirit and a passionate soul.  I’ve been told I can be somewhat prickly at times (though I don’t know why anyone would think such a thing), so someone who can look past my sarcasm and tough-girl attitude and see the real Robyn is a winner in my book.  Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt if he was hot.

-          Devlin – I look for a fierce heart and a passionate mind in my mate.  I admire people who continue to persevere even in the face of adversity.

4.       In your opinion, what is the best way to show someone you love them?

-     Meghan – With your actions.  People aren’t always honest with their words, and sometimes it’s hard to find the right thing to say, but if you pay attention, you can usually tell if someone loves you by how they treat you and act around you.

-       Cade – Do what you need to do to make them happy and safe.  Sometimes that means sacrifice on your part, but that’s what loving someone is about: being selfless for that one person you care for the most.

-          Robyn – Be there for them when it’s tough, even if that means something as easy as being a shoulder to cry on or knowing when to give them space to work things out on their own.

-       Devlin – Sometimes it’s the little things you do to let them know they are appreciated.  Leaving small gifts or laughing at their jokes (even if they aren’t all that funny).

5.       What would you like to do with your significant other this Valentine’s Day?

-          Meghan – I would just love to spend time with Cade without being interrupted by some crazy evil thing wreaking havoc in Luathara or anywhere else in Eile.  One day of not having to deal with the Morrigan’s aftermath.

-          Cade – I’m with Meghan on this one.  Maybe even take a day trip into the mortal world and do some normal, mortal world thing humans do on Valentine’s Day.  Go out to dinner in a restaurant or go see a movie or walk on the beach.  Some peace and quiet with the one I love would be much appreciated.

-         Robyn – I like Cade’s idea of going back to the mortal world for the day.  Devlin and I could go for a hike in the hills surrounding San Luis Obispo and then maybe get something to eat at one of my favorite restaurants or visit the Green Tea Leaf and see how everyone is doing.  Then, we could go see another movie (maybe I’ll let Devlin pick this time).

-          Devlin – I don’t care, as long as I get to spend time with Robyn.

6.       Stay in or go out?

-          Meghan – I’m a stay in kind of girl.

-          Cade – This all depends on what we’d be doing, but I’m leaning towards staying in.

-          Robyn – I think a double date with Meghan and Cade back in the mortal world would be a blast.

-          Devlin – Maybe go camp out in one of the hidden corners of the Weald for the night. 

7.       Flowers or chocolate?

-          Meghan – I would appreciate either.

-       Cade – You mean what I would get for Meghan?  Probably both, and maybe something else from Kellston, like some artwork for her small study in Luathara Castle.

-          Robyn – Both!  Duh!

-          Devlin – Would it be unmanly of me to admit I wouldn’t mind getting some flowers from Robyn?  And maybe some chocolate for the two of us to share after dinner.

8.       Finally, if you could get anything for your Valentine, what would it be?

-         Meghan – Cade has already given me so much, I couldn’t possibly think of what I could give him that would make up for everything.  Well, there is ONE thing, but it’s going to take more than just me to make that happen …

-         Cade – I would like to find Meghan’s father, if he is still alive in Fomor.  I know that she regrets not knowing him, even though she doesn’t speak about it.  Of course, this would mean convincing Danua to tell me more about him, but I feel it is a sore subject with her as well.

-       Robyn – If it was in my power, I would talk Danua into giving Devlin Diarnan Castle.  Since I don’t think that will be happening, I’d like to find some bitterberry bushes to plant in our garden in the Weald since they are his favorite.

-         Devlin – I would find Robyn’s family in Eile and do everything in my power to make sure they do not shun her the way her family in the mortal world did.  I would also like to find the Daramorr and his sister and make it so they can never hurt Robyn again. 

  *****

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this interview!  You can still pre-order the ebook edition of Caelihn - A Novel of the Otherworld from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, iTunes.com and Smashwords.com.  It will be released on February 14th, 2015.

Exclusive Interview with Cade MacRoich by Katrina Curry of Paranormal Romance Trance!

Greetings readers and Happy New Year!  I am more than ready to welcome a fresh, and hopefully less stressful, shiny new year.  I'd like to start that year out with an EXCLUSIVE interview with my main male protagonist from the Otherworld Series, Caedehn MacRoich.  Several weeks ago, Cade agreed to sit down with the fabulous Katrina Curry of Paranormal Romance Trance to answer some questions.  Don't worry if you haven't read the books yet; Cade was very careful not to give too much away ;).  Anyways, I hope you will enjoy this conversation and don't be afraid to add your own questions or comments below!  I also want to thank Katrina for the interview.  Be sure to check out her Facebook page where she hosts giveaways and author spotlights for many paranormal romance writers.
-J.E. Johnson

Katrina Curry with Paranormal Romance Trance Interviews Caedehn MacRoich of the Otherworld Trilogy

KC: First, if you could please state your name:
CM: Caedehn MacRoich, but most who know me call me Cade.

KC: Your place of birth?
CM: Eile, the Otherworld.

KC: Can you tell us a little bit about your heritage?
CM: For the sake of new readers, I won’t go into detail here.  Let’s just say I have some interesting relatives and that fact has gotten me into trouble more often than not.  By the end of Dolmarehn you’ll find out more about my bloodlines.

KC: What is your eye color?
CM: They’re changeable, but most often green.

KC: How about your hair color?
CM: Dark chestnut red.

KC: Where are some of the places you’ve lived?
CM: All over Eile.  I’ve lived in the Morrigan’s realm, the Dagda’s abode, the Weald.  Currently I live in my ruined castle, Luathara, in the low hills of southwestern Eile.  I also maintain a small apartment in the mortal world where the Morrigan’s faelah like to frequent the most.

KC: Do you have any friends?
CM: Fergus, my spirit guide, is my closest friend.  Enorah, my half-sister, is also dear to me.  I’d also like to say that Meghan Elam is a friend, but she’s far more to me than that.

KC: How about enemies?
CM: Mostly the Morrigan, and all those who offer their allegiance to her.

KC: How about your dating history?
CM: Being the Morrigan’s puppet, I never got the chance to date much.  The first woman I ever had any interest in turned out to be just as selfish and manipulative as the war goddess who controls me.  For a long time, I avoided romance altogether.  It wasn’t difficult, and by the time I grew interested in dating once again, somehow or another, the women I pursued found out about my past (and heritage) and quickly lost interest.  I had been unattached for a very long time before finding Meghan.

KC: Who do you admire most?
CM: I mostly admire my foster father, the Dagda.  He has never given up on me, despite the things I’ve done in my past.  Enorah, my sister, is someone else who has always been my rock.  She and the Dagda have been my only family throughout the years.  And Meghan, of course.  Despite the fear and confusion she must be experiencing from all the information she’s gathered of late, she has yet to back down from any of it.

KC: What is your overall outlook on life?
CM: I’ve had a very long time to dwell on this question.  Before meeting Meghan, I would have to admit my outlook on life was very dismal.  Being the Morrigan’s slave and being forced to bend to her will had me considering immortality a curse.  After Meghan came along, however, I found something worth fighting and living for.

KC: Are you lying to yourself about anything?
CM: It is a general habit of mine to lie to myself about many things, the biggest being that I wasn’t falling for Meghan.  My sister and the Dagda would tell you of the many other things I might be keeping to myself, so you would have to ask them.

KC: How would you say you are viewed by others?
CM: I know, from experience, that those in Eile see me as someone to avoid.  I am Ehriad, a wandering warrior with no clan or family connections.  I have those few who care about me (Enorah, the Dagda, and Fergus), but those who do not know me either fear me or look at me with mild revulsion.  I think this is one of the reasons I so easily fell under Meghan’s spell: she didn’t know any of this when we first met and she looked at me with fresh eyes, not ones with years upon years of terrible tales and rumors to consider.

KC: Do you have any pets?
CM: Fergus isn’t really a pet, but he is my spirit guide wolf hound.  And of course there is Speirling, my horse.  But in all honesty, all horses belong to Epona and only wander away from the herd if they wish to stay with a Faelorehn master.  I’ve been blessed to have Speirling stay by my side for many years.

KC: What do you most dislike about yourself?
CM: I most dislike the Morrigan’s hold over me.  It makes me feel weak, although it is a geis that could only be broken if I was willing to forfeit my life.  The things the Morrigan has made me do have tempted me on many occasions to break my geis just to end the torment, but it was only when … well, maybe I should stop there.  Don’t want to give too much of the story away.

KC: Do you get along well with others?
CM: I do my best to get along with others.  When I was sent on a mission to aid the Amsihria women with their draghan, I got along well with my travel companions.  Normally, I avoid other Faelorehn men and women.  I know what they believe of me, and there is no reason for me to try and prove myself otherwise.  I prefer to be alone on the most part.

KC: Do you have any tattoos/piercings/scars?
CM: Tattoos, yes.  A knot work sun pattern over one pectoral denoting my ties to the Morrigan, and a few others.  No piercings, but too many scars to count.

KC: What do people notice first about you?
CM: This would be a good question for Meghan to answer.  Probably my height.  I’m well over six feet tall.

KC: What about your sense of style.  Do you have a trademark look?
CM: I wear the typical clothing of the Otherworld: deerskin pants, a plain tunic.  Sometimes I wear a vest if the occasion calls for it, and I might even change into something nicer than my travel and battle clothes if I’m in the mood.  In the mortal world, I prefer jeans, T-shirt and jacket.  Often times my trench coat.

KC: What would you say are your strongest and weakest character traits?
CM: My strongest character trait would be my patience.  Despite the aggression I often have to keep a tight hold on, I am also capable of patience.  Perhaps this is from years of practice.  My weakest character trait would be my self-doubt.  Years of receiving emotional and physical abuse from the Morrigan has left quite a mark and I sometimes find it hard to acknowledge that I’m not what she has painted me to be.

KC: How much self-control and discipline would you say you have?
CM: More than the average Faelorehn, but there is always the chance I might lose control of my glamour.  That only ever happens in battle and when I am fiercely angry or terrified.

KC: What are some of your fears?
CM: Being trapped in the Morrigan’s employ for all eternity; losing Meghan or my sister.

KC: Do you collect anything?
CM: Not really.  I’m too often wandering the wilds of Eile that I’d lose whatever I managed to accumulate.  Once I’m more fully established in Luathara that might change.

KC: What are some of your talents?
CM: I am quite good with a bow and a sword.

KC: What would you say people like best about you?
CM: According to those who love me the most, I have a good heart.

KC: Do you have a favorite food or drink?
CM: I prefer mead during a celebration, tea in the mornings or afternoons, and clear, clean water from the rushing streams of Eile.  I’m not too picky when it comes to food, and I enjoy preparing it myself.  The best meals are those gathered and prepared in Eile, especially at one of the Dagda’s parties.

KC: What is your favorite music?
CM: I don’t care so much for the music of the mortal world.  I much prefer the natural sounds of Eile and the wind and pipe instruments the Faelorehn have invented over the ages.

KC: Your favorite color?
CM: Brown and green.

KC: Do you have a vehicle?
CM: I own a classic Trans Am that resides in the mortal world.  I hardly ever get to drive it, but it’s there in case I need to travel somewhere quickly.  When in the Otherworld, I’m either walking where I need to go, using the many dolmarehns, or riding Speirling, my black stallion.

KC: When would you say you are most happy?
CM: I’m happiest when in the Otherworld, watching the seasons color the land with their changing.  I enjoy roaming across Eile’s vastness with Fergus, my spirit guide, and breathing in her beauty and wonders.  I prefer to be alone, and was happy that way for many years.  Since meeting Meghan, however, I’m quickly changing my opinion on that.  Being alone with Meghan is now my idea of happiness.

KC: When are you most sad?
CM: I tend to retreat into myself when I am sad.  This happens when I spend too much time in my own head, or when the Morrigan reminds me of some of the things I’ve been forced to do under her rule.

KC: What’s it like when you get angry?
CM: If I get too angry, my glamour flares and my riastrad takes over.  I get angry when my friends and family are in danger, and when innocent people are being hurt or exploited.

KC: What do you laugh or jeer at?
CM: I enjoy laughing, but up until recently, I found little occasion to take part in it.  I don’t really jeer, but if I did, it would be at something the Morrigan said, most likely.  She may be a powerful goddess with a hold over me, but I’m not afraid to let her know how I feel about her.

KC: What’s a way someone could cheer you up?
CM: A good, old-fashioned bonfire with lively music and pleasant company would probably put me in a good mood. 

KC: What are some ways someone might annoy you?
CM: Rub my mistakes in my face, or my weaknesses.  Or try to make my compassion appear wake.  The Morrigan is very good at this.

KC: What are some of your hopes and dreams?
CM: I dream to one day restore Luathara to its former glory and to raise a family.  For too many years I’ve simply existed under the Morrigan’s tyrannical reign.  It would be good to live once again.

KC: What is the worst thing you’ve ever done to someone and why?
CM: I’m not ready to talk about this.  It will crack open a dark past I have worked hard to bury.

KC:  What has been your greatest success?
CM: Again, telling you would be giving too much of the story away.  Let’s just say it involves sacrifice and hard work, but it was all worth it in the end.

KC: Your biggest trauma?
CM: My biggest trauma to date happened at the end of Dolmarehn.  But I can’t go into too many details because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. 

KC: What do you care about most in the world?
CM: Meghan’s happiness.  Also, my sister’s happiness as well.  Enorah’s past is even more haunted than my own.  I would love to see her shake the shadows that plague her and find someone to love as much as I love Meghan.

KC: Do you have any secrets?
CM: I still have many secrets, though not as big as the two I finally revealed to Meghan.

KC: Most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you:
CM: The most embarrassing things happened to me when I was in my youth.  The Morrigan was pretty good about bleeding that particular emotion out of you.

KC: Most amazing thing to ever happen to you:
CM: Meeting Meghan and then the realization that, even after learning who and what I was, she wanted to remain by my side.

KC: If you could be anything or anyone else:
CM: rowing up, I had wanted to be anyone but myself.  I would have given anything to be a simple Faelorehn boy who didn’t have unruly glamour and who wasn’t geis-bound to the Morrigan.  Now, although I know there is still much room for growth and improvement, I am happy with where I am in my life.

KC: You are the kind of person who:
CM: I tend to run head-on into danger to prevent others from getting hurt, even when it is almost guaranteed that I will injure myself.

KC: Why might the reader sympathize with you right away?
CM: If you asked Enorah, or the Dagda, this question, they would tell you that although I’m a bit rough around the edges, my heart, and intentions, are well-placed.  I think I present a mystery to most people.  I try hard to keep my darkest secrets to myself (and I have many), and somehow I think that fact gets picked up by people.  People tend to gravitate towards those they find intriguing or shocking, and I think I contain a little bit of both those aspects.  I am also fiercely loyal to the ones I love, and that, too, is something people find appealing in others.

KC: What, if anything, keeps you from pursuing your passion?
CM: My many fears, mostly fears about how my negative associations and terrible past might affect others.

KC: What are your views on having children?
CM: I would love to be a father.  Before that can happen, however, I need to make Eile as safe as possible.  That means I have a lot of work to do in cleaning up the mess the Morrigan left behind before I can start a family.

KC: What are your views on marriage?
CM: In Eile, we have a binding ceremony.  I never thought I’d ever be the type of person to take part in a binding ceremony, but that was before I met Meghan.  Marriage to me is not about the ceremony, but the commitment between the two people who decide to share a life together.  I am looking forward to sharing my immortal life with Meghan.

KC: Plans for the future?
CM: Although I have successfully put my unsavory past behind me, I know there will be more trials and tribulations ahead.  The difference, this time, is that I have Meghan by my side to help me through them, as well as my sister and my other friends, old and new.  The Morrigan is gone, for now, but her dark magic still lingers.  I expect many challenges for the future, but I have a much stronger purpose now.

*****

Thank you Cade and Katrina for the interview!  If you'd like to read more about Cade's story, check out my Otherworld Trilogy page where you can read the first chapter in each book, and my Reading Guide and Where to Buy page for the series order and links to where you can purchase and download my books.

Special Interview with Michael Ferraiuolo, the Voice of Cade MacRoich

As some of you already know, I have finally decided to venture into the world of audio books.  With the release of the audio edition of Ehriad, I wanted to introduce you to the narrator, Michael Ferraiuolo.  He has done such a wonderful job bringing Cade (and Fergus!) to life so I invited him to answer some questions about his work.  I hope you enjoy this interview and that you'll check out Ehriad on Audible, Amazon, or iTunes. 

1.  What got you started in the audio book production business?

As a singer and a voice actor I find myself constantly finding new ways to utilize my voice. During a recording session I met a gentleman who narrates audio books and he suggested that I might be good at. Let’s hope he was right!

2.  You work for Iron Works Studios.  Tell us a little bit about what goes on there.

I am proud to say that I am the owner of Iron Works Studios. We specialize in the audio production of music and audio books. We also coach singers, songwriters and voice artists in their craft. It is our mission to advocate for the artist in everyone!

3.  Do you enjoy reading outside of narrating books?  If so, what genres do you like the best and do you have an all-time favorite novel?

I am a voracious reader! I enjoy all fiction though I do have a particular love of fantasy, sci-fi, and mythology.

4.  Are there any other narrators or book producers who have inspired you?

Yes! Voice actors and narrators alike have inspired me with their work.  Namely, the great Michael Bell, Jim Dale, Simon Templeman, the late Tony Jay, and Mark Bramhall. 

5.  Do you do anything else besides produce audio books?

I do indeed! I am a professional singer, songwriter, producer, and vocal coach.

6.  Have you produced any other audio books besides Ehriad?  If so, which ones?

I have had the pleasure of narrating the trilogy “The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight”

7.  You use an Irish accent for the character Cade in Ehriad, but do you have a favorite accent you enjoy using while narrating?

Accents are always fun and challenging (especially Cade’s)! One’s natural voice is always the easiest but I can’t truly say I have a favorite. 

8.  In your opinion, what’s the best part about being an audio book producer?

The best part of this job is being able to collaborate with authors and help bring their characters to a new kind of life. As artists we can live in our own creative vacuums and being able to work together to create something new is always exciting.

*****

Thank you so much Michael for taking the time to speak a little bit about your work!  If you would like to learn more about Michael and Iron Works Studios, you can visit the website here: http://www.ironworkstudios.com/home.html

Ehriad is now available as an audio book from Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.  You can listen to a sample on each of those sites.  Be sure to check out my NEW Audio Books page here on this website too!
Audio Books

Ghalien Cover Reveal and Teaser Chapter!

Hello Otherworld fans!
 
I hope you are all having a marvelous summer and that you are able to enjoy what's left of it.  I know many of you are impatiently awaiting the release of Ghalien, the second novella told from Cade's point of view, and believe me, I'm just as eager as you are to be done with it.  Well, I'm pleased to announce that the rough draft is complete and I'll be spending the next several days reading through it and making edits.  Once I have it where I want it, I'll be sending it off to my editor and beta readers.  I'm not promising any release dates yet because I'm not sure when it will be live.
 
What I can give you, however, is the cover.  A few months ago I posted two options here on my site and asked for you to tell me your favorite.  And the cover that received the most votes was the red one!  I don't have an exact count for you since so many of the votes were spread out over several weeks, but you seemed to like the red cover the most (and I must confess, I'm a bit partial to it myself ;)).

Also, I am including the first chapter of Ghalien for you to read.  Ghalien will be a little different than Ehriad in that it is composed of one longer short story and two extra scenes (I wanted to fit more scenes in, but it would have made the book far too long.  I'll have to set those aside for another novella in the future).  The first part, Ghalien, focuses on Cade's activities during the summer between Faelorehn and Dolmarehn.  The two scenes that follow are shorter but they are some of the scenes my readers requested.  The first one tells of the time Cade takes Meghan to the Otherworld to help her awaken her magic, and the second scene describes the events of the Beltane party at the end of Dolmarehn.  As of right now, the entire book comes in around 64,000 words, which is only 6,000 words less than Faelorehn.
 
Now, without further delay, I give you a sneak peek at Ghalien - A Novella of the Otherworld!
 
 -J.E. Johnson

Chapter One

Recollection

I was dreaming of Meghan when the harsh wave of dark magic tore me from my much-needed sleep.  The moment the shock of waking up to such a horror wore off, my anger grew hot and fierce.  My dreams were never reminiscent of pleasant memories from the past, for most memories I dared to recall were anything but pleasant.  But this one had been joyful and whatever unnatural faelah awaited me outside in the courtyard had ruined it.

Often when I slept I didn't dream at all, or the dreams would reflect the darkness I spent my time shying away from.  Simple, charcoal on paper landscapes that held no light or joy.  Lately, however, my dreams had stretched and contorted themselves into nightmares, horrific scenes of my mother's monsters tearing people to pieces.  No, not people, only one person: Meghan Elam.

Groaning, I scrubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands and tried to shake the horrors away.  How many days had passed since I last saw Meghan?  Oh right, just the one.  I had left her to heal from the wounds my mother had inflicted upon her.  I grimaced.  My mother . . .  Even thinking of the Morrigan in those terms turned my stomach.  She was no more a mother to me than an oak tree was to one of its acorns.  As soon as I was born, she cast me aside to fend for myself.  That is until she realized I could be of some use to her.  I had, after all, inherited my father's gift of battle fury, something that the Morrigan could use to her advantage.  So she had returned for me in the end.  And if it wasn't for my sister, I never would have succumbed to her wishes . . .

Enough Cade.  Those thoughts do you no good, I reminded myself as I rolled over, throwing my legs over the side of the bed in order to sit up.

"Fergus?" I called out, my throat dry enough to make me choke.  Once the coughing fit was over I remembered that Fergus wasn't with me.  He was in the mortal world guarding Meghan.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and drew on my magic.  It hadn't completely returned to me after undergoing my riastrad, but enough of it was there to accomplish my next task.

Fergus, I sent, the effort of reaching out to my spirit guide across the boundary between our worlds demanding my utmost attention.

Yes, he responded.  Meghan is well.  Her injuries are healing and she will rest a few days more before returning to school.  Only a small number of faelah linger on this side and I have been vigilant in my night hunts.  None shall harm her.

Thank you my friend, I sent back, breathing a sigh of relief and letting my magic return to where it resided next to my heart.

Before I could take much comfort in Fergus's news, however, a wave of cold, evil glamour trickled over my skin.  I clenched my teeth as the intrusive feeling left, hissing as the circular tattoo just above my heart burned like a poisonous brand.  Almost involuntarily, my arm snaked out and I pressed my hand to my skin, trying to rub the ache away.  It was no use.  The tattoo had been placed with the Morrigan's magic.  All of those she had enslaved bore the same mark and it was her way of keeping track of us as well as keeping us under control.  If the tattoo started to hurt then she was getting impatient.  I squinted through the darkness of my room and peered out the far window.  Sunrise was probably an hour or two away, judging by the deep, inky blue of the sky.  Guess I wasn't sleeping in this morning.  Once I set my mind to answering the Morrigan's call, the pain abruptly vanished.  I was tempted lie back down just to see if her magic would do anything to me, but I didn't really feel like playing games with my mother, not this soon after my expending my battle fury.

It took me longer than usual to get dressed.  Perhaps it had to do with my weakened state, but I think it had mostly to do with the fact that despite my misgivings, a part of me was always willing to irritate the Morrigan.  Bracing myself, I took a deep breath and looked into the mirror hanging over my bathroom sink, the flicker of candle light banishing some of the early morning darkness.  The mirrors of the Otherworld were clearer, somehow more revealing than those in the mortal world, and this one was no exception.  It had been a gift from my sister, one of the few fine things I kept in this ruined castle I called home.  That little detail would be changing soon, however.  Someday I was going to bring Luathara back to its former glory, but right now I had the consequences of a broken geis to deal with.

Sighing, I glanced once again at the figure staring back at me and winced.  Oh yes, warping into one's battle fury sure did a number on one's appearance.  The first thing I noticed were my eyes, their normal changeable green now a dull, pond-scum hue underlined by dark circles.  My skin was pale and my face thin and drawn taught.  I looked centuries older than I truly was.  Not that age ever really showed on the Faelorehn, but then not all of us had the gift of transforming into a berserker warrior bent on using every last physical resource to do the most damage possible.  Turning away, I shook those thoughts from my mind.  I never considered myself a vain person, but there was a difference between vanity and being horrified at what a fierce fight could do to my appearance.

Grabbing my heavy cloak, I blew out the candles and strode across the room.  I didn't bother making my bed or closing the door behind me.  No one ever came here, except for me, and if I delayed the war goddess any longer she might drive that painful magic deeper than the surface of my skin.

The morning greeted me with thick fog, wisps of it shredding away from the treetops and raining down in streamers of damp gray.  I guess it had taken me longer than I thought to get ready, because I could tell from the dim light that the sun had begun to rise somewhere in the east.  Bracing myself, I descended the stone steps and headed toward the opposite end of the courtyard.  About halfway to my destination a low, demanding cackle split the air, forcing my heart up into my throat.  I spun around, my eyes darting around the crumbling courtyard walls.  I expected to find a large black raven watching me from somewhere, so when my eyes fell upon a huge white bird a slight prick of surprise stabbed at me.

The bird tilted its head and regarded me with one eye, the eye that hadn't been damaged in some battle long ago.  It gave another one of those blood-chilling caws and then ruffled its feathers and shook, waiting for my next move.

"Tell your mistress I'm on my way," I growled as my hands balled into fists.

The white raven gave another croak before flapping its wings and disappearing into the mist.  As it headed east, I could have sworn it was laughing at me.

Speirling was waiting for me in the field, his dark ears pricked forward as he sensed my approach.  Letting out a deep whinny, he tossed his head and dug at the damp earth.  My misgivings melted away as my mouth curved into a smile.  As my fingers found Speirling's velvet nose, I was further comforted by his positive thoughts.

"You're always looking on the bright side, aren't you?" I murmured, pressing my forehead to his.

I didn't bother saddling him, since I was running late already and since I didn't really need a saddle.  A swift pace and five dolmarehn crossings later, Speirling and I found ourselves at the foot of the eastern mountains and on the threshold of the Morrigan's underground fortress.  Taking a deep breath that coated my lungs with ice, I slid from Speirling's back and ordered him to take refuge where he could.  No horse should ever have to cross into the Morrigan's territory, let alone follow me down the haunted crevasse that waited several yards ahead.  Wrapping my wool-lined cloak tightly around me, I took the first step down a path that would surely lead to pain.  Every instinct I possessed, and believe me, I possessed more than the average Faelorehn, bit and clawed and chewed at me to turn around and flee.  I could have, in fact I would have been smart to turn and forget the Morrigan and her evil demands.  My geis was broken and she had decided not to kill me, not yet at least.  But if I disobeyed her now, the first thing she'd do wouldn't involve coming after me.  No, she'd aim straight for Meghan and kill her, or worse.

Calling on my glamour to help fight my anxiety, I trudged on, kicking aside broken skulls and fighting the shivering chill that coursed through me.  Forever, it seemed, I walked, the walls growing steeper, the skeletons and mummified flesh of long dead animals becoming more frequent.  Fortunately the air was so cold it kept most of the stench at bay, but every so often a small breeze would stir up the scent of death and rot and I'd have to pause and swallow several times in order to keep from getting sick.

Finally, after what felt like hours, I reached the end of the narrow valley.  A great stone doorway complete with a skull-studded border, loomed before me.  On the branches of two dead, bleached oak trees perched three or four dozen ravens, all hunkered down against the cold, their stark blackness contrasting greatly against their bleak white and pale gray surroundings.  Not one of them uttered a sound or ruffled a feather.  Then, just as I reached up to touch the ogham letters adorning the stone doorway, one of the ravens let out a grumbling caw, setting all the others off.  I shot a glance upward, narrowing my gaze at the raven I hadn't seen before.  He was so pale that he'd blended in with the ashy rock behind him.

"Alahníl," I said, remembering the name of my mother's spirit guide.

Just then a deep rumbling sound rolled up from the earth and the door cracked open, exhaling a frozen breath of fear and death.  I got my panic and the overwhelming urge to shiver under control before I looked back up at the white raven.

"I take it you told the Morrigan of my arrival," I stated more than asked.

All I got in return was a self-satisfied grumble.  Forgetting the birds, I turned and faced the yawning darkness before me.  I had no idea how long the tunnel was, or if there was a tunnel at all.  Like many of the caves found in Eile, this one was a dolmarehn.  But instead of leading to another part of Eile or even to the mortal world or some other realm beyond our own, this one led directly into the Morrigan's cavern.  Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and stepped into the darkness, wondering if I was making the right choice and wondering what horrible, unconscionable thing my mother would have me do for her next.

* * * * *

Readers: Help me Choose a Cover for Cade's Next Novella!

       The time is drawing near, once again, for a new perspective on the Otherworld to be released into the wide world . . .  Okay, okay, I guess the time isn't drawing TOO near, but I'm starting to get that urge to write again.  As some of you might already know, for the past few months I've been spending a large part of my free time getting ready for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, so my Muse has been remaining scarce with regards to the Otherworld and Oescienne books (instead she's been sending me tons of material for a completely different series . . . but that is another story entirely).
       This week, however, I am lucky enough to have oodles of time on my hands, so I'm doing my darndest to make good use of that time by getting some writing done.  Now, as much as I'd like to finish the first draft of this next Otherworldly novella by the end of the week, I think that's a bit ambitious even for me.  I will, however, do my best to keep at it and get this story to you as soon as possible because I know there are many of you eager to hear more from Cade and he still has much to tell you (though he'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Meghan all of his secrets . . . ;)).  I'm about 15,000 words in and I'm aiming for 30,000-40,000 in the end, so please be patient and keep your eyes peeled for updates and possible tidbits on my facebook page.  Ah, and perhaps you'd like to know the title of this next Otherworldly installment?  The next novella told from Cade's POV will be called Ghalien, and you'll have to wait and read it to find out what exactly Ghalien means :).
       Now that I've shared the news, I'd like to ask you all a favor.  I've been playing around with cover designs for Ghalien and I've narrowed it down to two, but I like both of them and I can't choose.  So I was hoping that you guys might be able to lend me a hand.  Which of these covers do you prefer?  The RED cover on the left or the YELLOW cover on the right?  Since many of you wrote to me with suggestions for the scenes for this novella, I thought it only fitting that you help me out with the cover design as well.  All you have to do is decide which one you like best and tell me either by leaving a comment here, emailing me or making a comment on my facebook page.  When I'm ready to release Ghalien, I'll tally up the 'votes' and let you know which cover was most favored.  Again, be sure to look for updates on my facebook page and once again, thanks so much for reading!
-J.E. Johnson

 

Luathara News and an Extra Scene from Cade's POV!

Hello everyone and I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

 

This post is brought to you with the goal of giving you a quick update on the progress with Luathara and to share a little treat (well, I hope you'll consider it a treat and not a rare form of torture ;)).  But first, here's the news . . . I have finally finished writing Luathara (woohoo!) but I must read through it once more before sending it off to the editors.  The final word count (and this may change a little depending on editing) is around 120,000 words (or about 500 pages long), so I hope you all like long novels . . .  Some people have asked for possible release dates, and I'm afraid I can't give you anything sturdy.  I would like to finish my own editing in the next week or so (hopefully this week if I have the time and energy), and then it will be in the hands of others, and I can't tell you when they'll be able to get it back to me (and of course, that all depends on how many typos and flimsy plot points that still need removal/polishing ;)).

 

In the mean time I'd like to share a little something with you all since you've been so patient.  For the past several weeks/months I've been working on and off on a scene from Cade's POV (I'll probably be including this in the second short story collection that will feature scenes from Dolmarehn from Cade's POV, though it might have a little more added to it or may evolve a little by then).  This one happens to take place between Dolmarehn and Luathara, so I really hope you'll enjoy it while you wait for the final installment.  Again, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of your kind comments and enthusiastic questions.  Without such awesome readers, I don't know if writing the story would be nearly as fun :).  With that said, I'm handing this off to Cade - happy reading!

 

  -J.E. Johnson

* * * * *

I dreamed.  No, not a dream.  A nightmare.  I was in my other form, barely aware of anything but the hungry instinct to kill and destroy the enemy around me.  My legs and arms were weak, all my resources nearly drained, and I could sense the blood trickling from the wounds I'd taken in the fight.  I was so tired and I could tell I was dying, so why didn't I just succumb?  The roar of my enemy, a creature similar to me, snapped my attention forward.  That's right.  I still had monsters to kill and I couldn't die until they were gone.  But why?

The harsh cry of a female voice stole my attention.  I glanced beyond my adversary and caught sight of her.  Dark, curling hair and a pair of flashing hazel eyes tracked my every move.  She was tall and lean, her skin pale and smooth, the black and white garment she wore ruined from the mud and her cloak soaking wet.  My lip curled and I took a deep breath, drawing in her unique scent along with it.  Immediately my instincts told me that this young woman was mine to protect.  She was the reason I fought these monsters, the reason I could not die until they were all destroyed.  I would not survive the fight, but I had to make sure these beasts couldn't harm her once I was gone.  My rage returned like a wildfire, consuming me and driving me on.  I fought, my violence tearing into my enemies as much as my hands did.  Finally, there was only one demon left, but I was too slow.  The creature lashed out and drove its claws into my abdomen.  The young woman screamed and then everything fell into a swirling whirlwind of pain and blood and death.

The screaming continued, forcing the agony and anguish into a great cyclone.  I felt a heavy weight pressing down on me, and I knew the screaming was coming from my own mouth.

"Caedehn!" a great voice boomed over me.  "Caedehn, my son, I've got you!"

I thrashed around, the vivid trauma of the dream still clinging to me as I gasped for breath.  I blinked my eyes, unaware that I still possessed them, and the darkness lifted to reveal the blurry shadows and brilliant orange flickering of firelight.  Where was I?  I blinked some more and reached out, clinging to the person who was holding on to me.  I groaned and coughed, dragging air into my lungs as if I had been without it for days; until they hurt.  Something cold and hard pressed against me, so I threw out an arm to brace myself, falling free of my savior's grip.  My bare skin scraped against icy, damp stone.

"Easy," that deep, familiar voice murmured, "easy now."

The arms loosened a little and let me come to rest on the floor.  I glanced down, my eyes finally clearing, to find that I was completely naked and covered in cuts and bruises.  As my eyes lingered on the several deep gashes in my side, the memories came flooding back.  An open plain, a stormy sky, the Morrigan's Cumorrig transformed into something horrifying, going through my riastrad, Meghan . . . Meghan!

I must have tried to shout her name because a hoarse, panicked sound left my throat.  I attempted to speak again, fighting against the other person's hold on me.

"Meghan!" I rasped as my heart pounded against my ribs.

"Shhhh, Cade, hush!  Meghan is safe!  You need to calm down.  You've just come out of the Cauldron and you're still very weak.  Collin, Riley!  Quick, fetch some blankets now!"

A large warm hand pressed against my forehead and that strong voice, the Dagda I suddenly remembered, crooned to me in the language of Eile.  He rocked me like a small child as he sat on the damp floor with me.  The scent of mold, ancient earth and the metallic odor of the great Cauldron's magic teased my nose, and despite my incessant shivering, my foster father's attempt at comforting me eased my nerves.

"What happened?" I whispered, my eyes closed.

"The Morrigan finally did you in son," he answered, his voice sounding sad, "but that lovely young woman of yours dragged your carcass all the way back here so that we could revive you."

I had been killed by the Morrigan.  My mother had finally murdered me.  My emotions were still swirling around like that whirlwind of my nightmare; still trying to find the body they had thought they'd left behind.  Several things remained unclear to me, but one idea, one thought, one overwhelming truth rang true through it all and a name floated to the surface of my mind: Meghan.  I had done it all to save Meghan.  What had the Dagda said about her?

"Meghan," I breathed.

"Safe Cade.  She's safe upstairs, asleep in one of the rooms."

Minutes later, something dry and heavy was draped over me and I realized that one of the Dagda's servants had returned with the blanket he'd ordered.  Several hands shifted me, wrapping me up in the fabric to ease my cold.

I did not fight them as the Dagda and his household lifted me and carried me away from that deep, dark place.  As we climbed higher out of the dungeon where the Cauldron was kept, I couldn't help but feel that although my body was once again alive, my spirit would remain lost until I could see Meghan again.

* * *

Pain.  I swam in a dark world of pain.  I was certain I was dead, because despite all the agony I'd been through before, nothing ever felt this terrible.  Yet, if my soul had departed and I was on my way to the afterlife, then how could I feel anything?  Perhaps it was only the memory of the suffering that haunted me because a strange weightlessness enveloped me as well.  Then something shifted, the lighting or the temperature of the place where I was, because suddenly the darkness wasn't so black anymore and a new sense came to me.  I heard something, but it was so muffled I couldn't understand it.  My soul strained to comprehend; to listen.  Words, it was the sound of words that flowed over me and for some reason, those words made the pain go away.  Maybe it was the voice itself that soothed me, the voice of a young woman.  I knew that voice so well but it wasn't my sister who spoke to me, nor was it my mother, the Morrigan.

A black shard of pain struck my heart and I tried to cry out, but nothing seemed to work for me.  The pain faded into a dull ache as my conscience realized the Morrigan was nowhere near me.  No.  It wasn't my mother speaking to me.  She had done something terrible; had tried to hurt someone I couldn't bear living without.  Perhaps this voice belonged to her, the one I had been trying to protect . . .  Yes, now I knew that voice.  Meghan.  I tried to reach out to her with my mind, but then I remembered I hadn't taught her how to do that yet.  Frustrated, I simply lay there, soaking in her soothing presence.  Before long, I began to slip away into that dark place again, but before I was totally lost, something warm and soft touched my mouth.  Slowly, the black void overtook me, but this time I knew the horrors of my own death would visit me no more.

* * *

The faint whisper and crackle of a fire woke me, or perhaps that was merely the first thing I heard when I regained consciousness.  I blinked a few times and stared up into the canopy of a large bed, confused and feeling nauseous.  My head pounded as if someone were driving a sword through it and every nerve and muscle ached.  I opened my mouth to take a deep breath, but a moan escaped instead.

Something creaked.  A chair?  A door?  And then a familiar feminine face stood over me.

"Oh!  You're finally awake!  I'll get his lordship."

Before I could so much as ask the time of day, Alannah disappeared through a door and left me to try and figure everything out on my own.  Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long.  My foster father arrived moments later, wearing his kingly robe and looking haggard.  I furrowed a brow at him, then winced.  Even doing that hurt.

"Ah, Cade, you are back with us.  Finally."

"Wha-what happened?"  I gritted my teeth.  My voice sounded as if someone had scraped my throat raw with sandpaper.

"Do you remember nothing?" my foster father inquired, his voice softer as he moved closer to the bed.

I tried to sit up but cried out in pain when my actions sent a bolt of fire through my abdomen.  My nausea only increased after that.

"Steady," the Dagda scolded, leaning in to help me resettle.  "You have a bad wound on that side."

So I couldn't even sit up.  Wonderful.  I sighed, trying to ignore my watering eyes and wounded pride.  I searched my memories, wincing when the Morrigan and her warped faelah surfaced in my mind.  Meghan had been there as well, and after that I couldn't recall much.  Which was typical when my riastrad took over.  And let's face it, if the Morrigan had us surrounded by her Cumorrig, then there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I'd made good use of my battle fury.

"All I remember is fighting the Morrigan's hounds," I murmured, "and an unquenchable urge to protect Meghan."

I turned my head on the pillow and looked over at the Dagda, who had taken a seat in the chair beside the window.

My next words came reluctantly, not because it was hard to speak, but because I feared the answer.  "Where is Meghan?"

The Dagda's bright eyes landed on me, but I could not read his face.  It was hidden under too much hair.

"She is safe in the mortal world Cade, with her family."

Thank Eile.  "And the Morrigan?"

"Will not be able to bother her for quite some time, if I can believe everything young Meghan said."

"Tell me," I insisted, fighting the urge to sit up once again.

And so he told me everything Meghan had regaled to him.  How her glamour had burst free, engulfing the faelah and driving the Morrigan away.  How she had managed to drag me up onto Speirling afterwards so that she could bring me to my foster father and his Cauldron of regeneration.  I listened as if my very life depended on it, and sighed in wonder when the Dagda came to the end of his story.

"So," I murmured, "her magic finally woke up."

The Dagda nodded.  "Apparently.  She should be safe from your mother's reach for now, but eventually the Morrigan is going to recover from her shock and the first thing she'll want to do is get her hands on Meghan."

I nodded, then regretted the action as the pounding in my head worsened.  Gritting my teeth, I struggled to sit up again.

"Hold it, what are you doing?" the Dagda asked, moving forward and placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Meghan," I panted against the pain.  "Needs . . . to be here . . . magic needs to refuel . . ."

Spirits of Eile, it was hard to think, let alone move my arms and legs.

"Oh no you don't," my foster father growled.  "You are in absolutely no condition to do anything but sleep, eat and heal.  Meghan is safe for now.  When you are better you can go and fetch her."

I would have fought him if I could, but it was as if every muscle in my body had atrophied and I had to wait for them to grow back.  Grunting in frustration, I let my head fall onto the pillow.  It wasn't a long trip; I'd only managed to lift it an inch or so.  Sadly, that small effort had been enough to drain whatever tiny amount of energy I possessed.  As I began drifting off again, the Dagda got up and left me to rest, chuckling as he closed the door softly behind him.

I spent the rest of the day trading off between sleeping and eating what the Dagda's household brought to me.  The next morning I felt slightly more energized, but not enough to get out of bed.  Testing my strength, I managed to push myself up on my elbows and lean against the mountain of pillows piled against the headboard.  I had just made myself comfortable when the Dagda came into my room carrying something huge and white in his arms.  Straining against the lingering ache in my bones and muscles, I turned my head to get a better look.

"Fergus!" I breathed.

He looked as bad as I felt, slumped against the Dagda's chest, his long legs sticking out like the bare branches of trees in winter.

"I thought you might like some constant company," my foster father said, kneeling down and placing my spirit guide gently onto a giant cushion in front of the fireplace.

Fergus whimpered slightly as the Dagda got him settled.

Fergus?  I sent, my thoughts gentle.

Tired.  Hurt.  Need healing, he returned before drifting off.

"When did he arrive?"  My voice sounded raw and I had to clear my throat to fix it.

The Dagda heaved a great sigh and sank into the huge chair in front of the window.  He regarded the white wolfhound for a few moments, as if checking to make sure he kept breathing, before facing me.

"The soldiers who saw Meghan to the dolmarehn scoured the hills for him after she crossed safely into the mortal world.  They just arrived an hour ago, carrying him in with them."

I nodded and leaned back into the pillows.  I still felt like death warmed over, and technically I was, but I was determined to mend, just like my spirit guide.

"Well then," the Dagda planted his hands on his knees and stood, "I'll leave you two alone to get some more rest."

I grumbled, but didn't say anything more.  Despite having slept the entire night away, I was too tired to argue.  When the Dagda left, I cracked an eye open to check on Fergus.  I tried reaching him with my mind, but he was exhausted and already fast asleep.  Although I didn't want to, I stopped fighting my own fatigue and followed Fergus's lead.  The sooner I could get out of bed, the sooner I could bring Meghan back to Eile.

* * *

The next several days passed by with little excitement as I slowly regained my magic and the use of my limbs.  I would wake in the morning to find the Dagda or a member of his household in my room, stoking the fire or offering me and Fergus food.  Most of the time between I slept, and when I slept, I dreamed of Meghan.  Memories I had let slip my mind would come back to me, simple things really, like how her hair often smelled slightly of lavender, or how she always wrinkled her nose when concentrating on something, or how the sunlight and her own laughter brightened the hazel of her eyes.

Eventually I grew strong enough to get out of bed.  When I was feeling particularly adventurous, I'd go outside to visit Speirling in the stables, bringing him carrots and apples and other treats.  Fergus would accompany me, always the loyal spirit guide no matter how feeble he felt.  Often I regretted the pain it caused me to make the small journey, that is until the open, clean air and the comforting scents of hay and horses revitalized my spirits.  Breathing in deeply and closing my eyes, I'd listen to the birds in the trees and the breeze filtering through the branches above.  The cool wind would draw out a shiver across my still overly-sensitive skin and the sun's brightness hurt my eyes, but I craved it nonetheless.  It was as if the earth herself was taking a deep breath and I was joining in with her.  It meant I was alive and beneath every other raw feeling I sensed the warm presence of Eile's magic, working to repair both my physical and emotional wounds.

With each passing day I felt stronger and healthier and went to bed each night feeling less exhausted.  I continued to dream about Meghan, but after the first couple of weeks, the dream changed.  No longer did I receive snippets of the memories I'd stored away in my mind.  Instead the dream would begin with Meghan standing on one of the hills overlooking Luathara's wide valley.  The trees were green with fresh leaves and the fragrance of wildflowers drifted past us on the wind.  Eile was in the midst of early summer, and I was with Meghan, happy and content.  Just as I'd reach out to her, however, Meghan would turn to face me and everything would shift.  No longer was she dressed in the casual style of the mortal world, knee-deep in wild grasses and heather.  Instead her jeans and sweater vanished, replaced by a royal gown.  Her beautiful dark hair no longer free, but pulled up and pinned back with combs encrusted with diamonds.  The colors of summer blurred and transformed into the simple stone walls of Danua's palace, and Meghan would regard me with the cool indifference so well-practiced by her mother's courtiers.

After the transformation, she would raise her arm and point, her hazel eyes flashing to a cold grey color, her face absolutely devoid of any emotion.  For a heart-rending second she reminded me of my own mother.  This was not the Meghan I knew; the Meghan I loved.

"Remove him, please," she'd say, her tone frosty and distant.  "I am Meghan, daughter of the high queen."

Despite her coldness, I tried to reach through to her.

"Meghan!  Have you forgotten me so easily?  I'm Caedehn MacRoich.  After I destroyed the Morrigan's Cumorrig, you saved me.  Remember?"

A knowing look would come into her eyes then, but it was soon replaced with unrepentant disgust.

"Monster," she hissed, still pointing at me.  "Monster!"

"No Meghan, that was only my riastrad.  You know me!  I love you!" I would cry out as the soldiers dragged me away even as I kicked and thrashed.

About a month after arriving at the Dagda's I woke me from a dead sleep, fighting the sheets on my bed as if they were the soldiers in my dream.  My chest hurt but I heaved in one great breath after another.  Gradually my heart slowed and I rubbed my hands over my face, the rough skin rasping against several days worth of beard growth.  Sighing, I climbed out of bed and stepped into the small bathroom adjoining my room to take a shower.  The steaming water refreshed me, warming my chilled spirit even as the memory of the dream continued to haunt me.  After pulling on a clean set of clothes and shaving, I returned to my room to find Fergus sitting up by the fire.

Better? he asked.

Yes, just the dream again.

My spirit guide cocked his head to the side.  Dreams may teach, but they are also the mind's way of purging itself of the worries that build up during the day.  It is only at night that the conscience has no defenses, no way of creating distractions to keep its thoughts occupied elsewhere.

Huh.  Philosophical wisdom from a wolfhound.  Fergus didn't often share much of the inner workings of his mind with me, but every now and again he managed to come up with something worth holding onto.  Though I understood what he was trying to say to me, and I appreciated the value of his advice, it didn't detract from the underlying truth in the dream and I couldn't help but feel my subconscious was trying to tell me something.  As much as I longed to see Meghan again, I wondered if it wasn't for the best that I keep my distance.  After all, if I had stepped aside like I should have done the moment I discovered who Meghan really was, then Danua would have taken her in without question.  And right now the high queen's protection might just be enough to make the Morrigan think twice.  Only one quandary remained: was I strong enough to let her go?

Taking a deep breath, I made my way down the long hallway and stepped into the kitchen.  I inhaled in the wonderful scent of home cooking, dried spices and fresh wood smoke.  Of all the rooms in the Dagda's abode, the kitchen was the most welcoming, at least in my opinion.  With its long, worn wooden table, great open brick oven and the collection of windows letting in plenty of morning light, one felt comfortable and at ease amid its rustic simplicity.

I took a seat on one of the long benches and watched the kitchen staff prepare the morning meal.  As I waited, one of the women brought me a pot of fresh tea and a mug.

"You're looking well this morning," the Dagda said, sliding onto the bench next to me.

I started, so absorbed in my own troubled thoughts that I hadn't heard him come in.

He regarded my posture, then took one good look at my face.  "What is amiss?"

I waited for him to pour his tea and stir in the cream and honey before I continued.

"I've been having a recurring dream.  About Meghan."

The Dagda arched an eyebrow.  "Oh?" he said in a voice full of feigned innocence.  "And is this dream something you should be sharing with your foster father?"

I smiled, his good humor chasing away the last remnants of the dark dream.

"No.  It's nothing like that."  I heaved a great sigh and ran a hand through my hair.  "It starts out with the two of us standing on one of the hilltops above Luathara, but then the scene changes and we are in the castle of Erintara and Meghan looks at me like I'm one of my mother's faelah.  Then she orders Danua's guard to drag me away."

I didn't mention the word Meghan used to describe me.  Monster.  It hurt too much and hit far too close to home.  When I was under the influence of my battle fury, I was a monster; a wild animal running on pure fury and instinct.

The Dagda regarded me for a moment.  "Perhaps this dream is just the lingering trauma of your fight with the Cumorrig."

No, it was more than that.  I suspected it was my conscience or the spirits of Eile fanning the flames of my fears.

The Dagda must have sensed my mood because he sat up straight, furrowed his brow, and gave me a long, hard look.  "Now don't you go thinking this dream means you're not good enough for our Meghan."

Well, what else could it mean?  I knew my foster father wasn't going to let this conversation go, so I took a small breath and said quietly, "What do I have to offer her?"

The Dagda turned so that he faced me, scratched at his chin with one hand and then smoothed his fingers down his beard.  I expected him to argue with me, but when he did speak his voice was soft and kind and nothing more than a whisper.

"I see what you're saying and yes, you have inherited your father's riastrad and your mother is an evil bitch."

I looked up at him, wondering where his logic was heading.

He gave a sad smile and continued on, "You've been emotionally abused by that same mother for years, and you have never had a lasting relationship."

I dropped my eyes and clenched my hands into fists, just as a fresh wave of shame and self-loathing coursed through me.  None of these things had ever really mattered to me before.  I had learned to bear them as my own personal burden years ago, but that had been before Meghan.  Living on my own, with only my sister and the Dagda to worry about my well-being had been enough.  The Dagda was a Celtic god and my sister was lethal in her own right, even without having the Weald to protect her, so I never worried about hurting them in any way or causing them any sort of misery.  But Meghan . . .  Meghan wasn't entirely helpless, or weak.  She just didn't know the dangers of our world and all the trouble she could bring upon herself by associating with me.  Yes, I cared about her more than I'd cared about any young woman before, but that made it even more imperative that I keep my distance, no matter how much it hurt.

A light touch to my shoulder made me jump.  I looked up to find the Dagda gazing down at me, his bright blue eyes sharp and clear.

"But there is absolutely nothing wrong with your heart Caedehn," he murmured, "and that is what Meghan wants the most.  Your heart."

A feeling of peace descended upon me and I wondered if perhaps my foster father was right; maybe this dream of mine was merely the residue of my mother's evil working itself out of my system.  I loved Meghan, so much so that I'd given my life for hers.  And she had brought me back here to the Cauldron so that I might live again.  I had to stop letting my assumptions make my decisions for me and pay closer attention to what was happening in front of my very eyes.

"That girl is in love with you, my boy," the Dagda continued.  "I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you, hear it in her voice when she speaks of you.  And if that still isn't enough to prove her love, don't forget the hell she went through in order to bring you back from death.  So, are you going to let some silly dream convince you otherwise?  Are you just going to throw that gift away because you're afraid you're not good enough?  You died for her Caedehn, and if I know you at all, you'd do it all over again.  If that doesn't prove your worth, I don't know what will."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I sat up straight and allowed the corner of my mouth to curve into a small smile.  I could only hope that what he said was true, but whether Meghan shared my feelings or not, when I was fully healed I would be returning to the mortal world to see her again.  My foster father was right.  I needed to let go of the self-doubt that had accumulated over the years.  Only problem was, I wasn't sure how to go about doing it.  Somehow, I knew my troubled past would always be there, lingering in the shadows and never quite going away.  But if I had someone to stand by my side, someone who shone a light in those dark corners, then I would have nothing to fear.  And that someone was Meghan.  I had to fight to keep her safe.  The Morrigan had made it abundantly clear that she would stop at nothing to steal Meghan's power.  In order to prevent that from happening, that very glamour had to be stoked and trained here in the Otherworld.  And the only way to do that was to bring Meghan back to Eile where her power could grow in strength and abundance.

"No," I finally said, returning my thoughts to the present, "of course you are right.  I fear that my mother's foul magic has addled my brain.  When I am recovered, I'll return to the mortal world to bring Meghan back here.  The sooner she's in Eile, learning how to use her magic properly, the better."

The Dagda nodded.  "I sent her a note this morning, telling her about your progress.  Perhaps a week or two more, I think, before you can go fetch our girl back."

I smiled brightly this time, warmed by the thought of Meghan's return and the way the Dagda so easily accepted her as one of his own.

"Now, do you feel strong enough to take a short stroll with me?"

The Dagda stood and held out a giant hand.  I eyed it dubiously before pushing myself up.  The simple task proved harder than I'd anticipated, but I refused to let my foster father see my weakness.

"Why would the son of Cuchulainn and the Morrigan need help from a god best known for his hospitality?" I joked.

"Do not forget, you ungrateful pup, that I also have a reputation for outwitting mine enemies."

Despite my show of bravado, the Dagda surreptitiously managed to get his shoulder under my elbow, and I just as furtively pretended not to notice.  As the two of us hobbled down the hallway, I wondered what had been written on that note to Meghan.

Two weeks Caedehn.  In two weeks, if you are better, you will be seeing her again, I reminded myself.

Forcing an extra spring to my step, I stood as tall as my broken body would allow me and set my jaw in determination.  I'd be whole and healthy in two weeks' time, even if it meant letting Allanah and the other women of the Dagda's abode treat me like a new born baby.  Of course, that meant taking it easy and accepting the Dagda's fussing, despite what it might do to my pride.  Yet if I was being completely honest with myself, the prospect of seeing Meghan again would be the only medicine I'd need to make a speedy recovery.