Jennifer Allis Provost's Blog, page 14
May 1, 2014
COPPER RAVENS teaser - Beltane Celebration!
I know, it's normally Teaser Tuesday, but since today is Beltane (don't know what Beltane is? Learn about it here.), I thought I'd share a portion of the Beltane scene from COPPER RAVENS. Enjoy!
Who knew that there were holidays in the Otherworld?Well, I sure hadn’t known about any holidays, mainly because I had grown up in a place where one day was as banal as all the others. This was largely due to the fact that, once we Elementals had lost the Magic Wars, the new government had banned Every. Single. Holiday. Even the bank holidays! Although we did have one mandatory day off, each and every month—Tax Day. What did we do, you ask? Well, we hauled on down to our local government kiosk, and paid our taxes. I know. Hogmanay, it was not.Since I was still pretty young when the wars ended, I hardly remembered those special days devoted to large meals and recreational activities; the government was constantly reminding us that a good work ethic would do more for our health and happiness than any sort of observances, religious or otherwise, and that a hard day’s labor was better than any day spent lolling about. So we worked, and worked and worked until minor events like Happy Hour at The Room seemed like Christmas morning.Therefore, Micah could hardly understand my elation when he informed me that he and I would be hosting the Whispering Dell’s Beltane celebration, right here at the manor. What’s more, we were going to play the parts of the May King and Queen.“A real holiday?” I’d asked for the hundredth—maybe thousandth—time. “With cakes, and presents, and things?”“There will be cakes, yes,” Micah answered, again. So far, my incessant questions hadn’t worn the bemused smile off his lips. “And those attending will bring offerings. As for these other thingsyou desire…” Instead of continuing, Micah grabbed me about the waist and pulled me against him. We were hiding out in the kitchens, seated on the bench beside the vast oven where the silverkin baked their breads and pies. If I could have spent every day surrounded by the aroma of baking desserts and wrapped in Micah’s arms, it would have been my version of heaven.“Micah.” I swatted his shoulder, not that I wanted him to stop. Not that he had any intention of stopping, anyway. “By thingsI didn’t mean this.”“Oh?” he murmured, while his lips caressed my neck. “I wonder if you truly understand the meaning of Beltane.”After a bit more, um, education, we managed to get the manor outfitted for a Beltane celebration. Long tables had been erected in the field that stretched between the Clear Pool and the Great Wood, and a massive pile of wood, which would be the first of many bonfires, was neatly stacked in the center. Garlands of flowers decorated the tables and surrounding trees, along with swags of ribbon and streamers. Platters of oatcakes and jugs of sweet May wine filled every available flat surface. Besides all the decorations and a truly enormous amount of food, there would be dancing and games and, perhaps most importantly, Micah and me dressed up as the May King and Queen.I’d had a hard time explaining to Micah why dressing up in a costume was way more fun than wearing dresses on a regular basis. It wasn’t his fault; since he was a boy, he saw a dress as a dress, no matter what day it was worn. Except for the time he’d worn a skirt, but he still didn’t want to talk about that.In the end he just shook his head and pulled on his own costume. It consisted of buff-colored trousers topped by a white linen tunic, which was heavily edged with embroidered silver flowers. Over the tunic was a forest-green vest decorated with leaves just a shade or two lighter, cinched with a brown belt. My costume wasn’t as heavily decorated as Micah’s, but it was still beautiful. It was a sleeveless white dress made up of many gauzy layers that floated and shimmered whenever I moved. The back was low, so low that a good portion of my mark was exposed, a first for me. Since I’d wanted to incorporate my metal in some way, now that I knew that that was what Metal Elementals did, swirling copper bands decorated my upper arms and ankles. Based on Micah’s expression, my first attempt had been a success.The celebration began around noon, but Micah and I waited to make our grand entrance until shortly after the food had been laid out. As we stepped onto the field a hush rolled across the gathering, as the people of the Whispering Dell took in the sight of us, the May King and Queen. Wow. That’s a lot of people. I looked down and distracted myself by wiggling my toes in the cool grass. I grabbed Micah’s hand, and murmured how glad I was that we had both chosen to go barefoot. “Micah. Sara.”I looked up, and saw my mother standing before us, bearing a silver tray with two flower crowns upon it, along with two wineglasses. “For the May King, and his Queen,” she intoned, her voice rolling across the field. As Micah and I solemnly crowned each other, a dull roar replaced the respectful hush, with those around us claiming that the Seelie Queen offering the May King and Queen their wine was most auspicious, indeed.Well, we knew she’d be recognized eventually. I glanced at Micah, but he only shrugged and reached for a wineglass; if he had any qualms about the fact that the Seelie Queen was now known to be bunking in his guestroom, he was content to let them be until tomorrow. Then the crowd parted, and I realized that my queenly mother was far from the most interesting thing in the field that day.In the center of the field was a maypole.I vaguely remembered dancing around a maypole when I was very young, during the Beltane celebrations held at the Raven Compound. Back then, Mom and Dad had dressed up as the May Queen and King, overseeing the bonfires and collecting dew, ensuring that all were happy and content. I remember lying under the fairy tree, exhausted, and wondering how my parents could keep up with the endless revelry. Now that Micah and I were filling the roles of the May King and Queen, I understood. The flower crown upon my head filled me with an elated energy, so much so that I wanted to dance and leap around the field. Micah had laughed, and we danced for a time, but he stayed me when I tried to grab one of the long ribbons dangling from the maypole.“That dance is for those seeking to find a mate,” Micah murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “You, love, are well and truly attached.”I looked longingly at the pole. “We don’t get to dance?”“Ours will be later,” he promised.I smiled at that, and leaned against Micah, his arms sliding around my waist as we oversaw the revelers. My eyes could hardly track all the multicolored ribbons as they were plaited together by the unattached, skipping in circles but somehow never knotting the ribbons. Sadie clutched a blue ribbon, and as the dance ended found herself blushing, face-to-face with an equally embarrassed faun. I watched as the two of them wandered off for refreshments. After they’d disappeared, I saw Max skulking around the edge of the festivities.“Why didn’t he dance at the maypole?” I wondered. It was like he hadn’t even noticed that the area around the maypole was teeming with available females, most of whom were looking for mates, if only for the evening.“Perhaps his heart lives elsewhere,” Micah offered. “I know that, when you are nearby, I see no other woman.”Before I had time to blush at the compliment, Micah and I were called to take our places at the head table. We were seated in two enormous wooden chairs, reminiscent of thrones, bedecked with so many swags of flowers that you could hardly see the high backs. No sooner were we settled than the other revelers lined up before us, each of them bearing packages.“What are they holding?” I whispered to Micah.“They bring offerings for the May King and his Queen,” Micah replied.“I like presents,” I murmured. “Will there be more copper gifts?”Micah shrugged. “We shall soon learn.”I watched, somewhat amused, as the revelers went about organizing themselves into an orderly mess; the fact that Micah's wine had flowed freely for the better part of the day made this look like an Otherworldly slapstick routine. In the midst of the semi-drunken chaos, a woman stepped forward.She was tall, with flowering vines twisted throughout her long hair, their softness in stark contrast to her clothing of bark bound with straw. Her limbs were long and spindly, like dried-up twigs, as was her nose. She looked to be very old, yet her face and hands bore no wrinkles, and her hair was a vibrant blonde underneath the lush vines. Micah leaned toward me, probably to make an introduction, but I already knew who she was.She was the Lady of the Great Wood. “For the May King,” she said, her voice as clear as a bell. She reached forward, graceful despite her gawky limbs, and placed a single perfect lily before Micah. It was a deep orange, tipped with red, the perfect complement to his silvery hair. Micah affixed the lily to his shirt with a bit of silver, and murmured his thanks.“And for his Queen,” the Lady continued, now placing a spray of yellow orchids before me. Following Micah's lead, I pinned the spray to my bodice, though my pins were copper.“Your gifts are as lovely as your Wood,” I said, “Thank you for joining us today.”With that, the Lady of the Wood gracefully bowed her head and melted away into the crowd. “I thought you two didn't get along,” I whispered to Micah.“It seems that things have changed for the better,” Micah replied. He squeezed my fingers, and we looked toward the next person in line, who happened to be one of Micah’s magistrates from the village. He carried a crystal decanter filled with golden wine, a sprig of fresh woodruff poking out of it. It was a lovely gift, and Micah and I both said as much.The next gift involved a basket containing a few bundles of herbs, namely ginseng, sarsaparilla, and something I didn’t recognize.“What’s this?” I asked the giver, a youthful man who would pass as human if not for his glowing yellow eyes.“Horny goat weed,” he replied, his knowing glance explaining exactly what the herbs were used for. Hot blood spilled up my neck as I murmured my thanks, and turned my attention to those behind him.Thankfully, no one else was carrying a basket of weeds, horny goat or otherwise. The next few offerings were mostly benign, ranging from loaves of still-warm bread to a lovely tapestry that rivaled anything on the manor’s walls. Then there was a carved bone decanter of powdered rhino horn, then a basket of melons, which was followed by a platter of chocolate and the reddest strawberries I’d ever seen. When a bucket of raw oysters was presented to us, I finally asked Micah what the heck was going on.“Like, half of these offerings are aphrodisiacs,” I explained, when he’d responded by peaking those silver brows of his. As if he was in any way innocent. “You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”“Of course I did,” he replied, reaching so his long fingers could graze my belly. “The purpose of Beltane is fertility.”Babies. Do we really need to talk about babies during a holiday? I mean, come on. “That’s all?”“Well,” Micah added, scooping me from my chair and settling me on his knee, “there is also the bit that comes before.”Micah’s blatant affection for me was a hit with the crowd of onlookers, and a great whoop issued forth. I laughed, since a crowd of partiers cheering while Micah nibbled my neck was about as hilarious as you can get, and tried to wriggle free from his grasp. My May King was undeterred. Instead, he drew me tightly against him, his nibbling giving way to unabashed nuzzling.“Silverstrand,” boomed a voice. I tore my eyes away from Micah, and found that Old Stoney was at the head of the offering line. Just when I thought baby talk was the true buzzkill, the rocky king of buzzkills stepped up.“Greymalkin,” Micah returned, with a polite nod. “Have you come to join our celebration?”“And further disturb the queen? Not I,” he said with a sneer.“Pray tell, Farthing, how is this gathering disturbing Oriana?”“Look.” Old Stoney spread his palms, gesturing to encompass the whole of the field. “You’ve set up a silver court, bright enough to cast hers in shadow.”I followed Old Stoney’s gaze across the field. Was this a court? I suppose it was, what with the food and drink, and that gifts were being offered to the king and queen. But Micah and I were only ruling for this one day, and only in this one field. Besides that, didn’t the Lord of Silver deserve a court of his own?“Farthing.” Micah nudged me off his lap as he stood, but he kept his arm around my waist. “If you have come here only to make trouble for me and mine, I will remove you without a second thought.” Old Stoney opened his mouth, but Micah didn’t miss a beat. “You know as well as I that I harbor no desire for the throne,” Micah continued, stepping around to the front of the table. I followed him, taking my place at his side. “But don’t take my word for it. Stay, mingle amongst my people, and when you return to Oriana’s side you can tell her beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lord Silverstrand remains true to his queen.” With an ease that belied the tension crackling around him, Micah selected a loaf of bread from among the offerings. He tore off a generous portion, and held it out to Stoney. “What will it be, friend?”The field had gone deathly quiet, and every set of eyes and ears were trained on Micah and the rock. Old Stoney was so incensed that it looked like lava would leak out his ears, but Micah had well and truly trapped him. The Otherworld didn’t have many enforceable rules, but hospitality was one of them. Once an invitation was given it must be accepted, or at the very least acknowledged. In short, as Micah stood there, smiling at Old Stoney, exuding nothing but good faith as he offered him a hunk of fresh bread, he had the rock over a barrel.Gods, how I loved him.Old Stoney grumbled as he accepted the bread, then he turned and stalked away. It seemed that he didn’t enjoy our company any more than we enjoyed his. Good. Things settled down after that, and the offerings resumed; things settled down even further when a few attendees produced instruments. Nearly everyone was softly swaying to the music, but even though I’d been so eager to dance earlier, I made no move to join them. I’d resumed my place on Micah’s knee, and was perfectly content to watch the rest spin and twirl about the still-unlit bonfire. Micah was murmuring about how he couldn’t wait to see the flames against the night sky, when suddenly the crone from the apothecary was standing in front of us. I was so shocked I nearly fell off Micah’s lap, but he was as composed as ever.“Good woman, why have you come before us?” Micah asked. His tone was respectful, but I saw a muscle twitch in his jaw.“To present my offering, of course,” she replied, spreading her hands wide. “Is an old woman like me not welcome at your feast?”“All of my people are welcome,” Micah said, in such a way that had me wondering if he counted her as his. “An offering, you say?”“I regret, my lord, that I have only a gift for the May Queen.” With that, the crone reached into her colorless robes and set before me the reddest, shiniest apple I’d ever seen. It was beautiful, as tempting as the first fruit itself, and I coughed to hide my annoyance. What, did she think I was stupid? Like I would fall for that? My mother was the Seelie frickin’ Queen, and she’d warned me off of spelled fruit before she had taught me to read.“Thank you,” I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “Your offering does much to ensure the land’s fecundity for the coming year,” I added, a bit more forcefully. Well, I was louder, anyway.The crone said nothing, but bowed respectfully, her gray eyes never leaving mine. After she’d shuffled away, Micah grabbed my hands.“You mustn’t touch it,” Micah warned.“Don’t worry. I won’t.” After staring at the apple for another heartbeat, I looked at his hands, his long fingers that were tightly wrapped around my wrists. “Is she dangerous?”“She is powerful,” Micah replied, “and arrogant. She swears allegiance to no one. While she is not what I’d call evil, she certainly isn’t trustworthy.”I shuddered, remembering the tiny blue vial that sat on my dressing table, and the dubious bargain I’d struck with her. Misinterpreting my quivering shoulders, Micah called for a silverkin to take the apple and toss it into the center of the firewood.“Worry not, love,” he said, rubbing my arms as if he could rub away the crone’s visit.“I’m—I know you wouldn’t let anything hurt me,” I amended, mid-speak. I would never outright lie to Micah, not even to tell him I wasn’t worried. My omissions about the birth control didn’t count; yeah, I was still trying to convince myself of that one.Micah smiled at that, and leaned forward to kiss my hair. “The sun goes to rest,” he said, gently turning my chin toward the west. “Come, let us light the bonfire.”We watched the sun paint the sky in oranges and purples for another moment, then we rose and wound our way around the tables and revelers toward the massive pyramid of wood. As we stood before the intimidatingly large heap, I suddenly found myself wishing for a pair of flip-flops. A splinter in the May Queen’s toe would certainly not bode well for the coming harvest. Micah had somehow obtained a candle, and we both held it as we guided its tiny flame toward the kindling. “This won’t work,” I whispered. “The flame’s too small.”“Is it?” Micah had no sooner said the words than the firewood caught, and the entire mound was ablaze. We stepped back as others stepped forward, lighting their own sticks so they could create their own fire.While there had been no shortage of libations earlier in the evening, once the bonfire raged, Micah’s wine flowed like a river after the spring thaw. Revelers wandered off among the orchards, either to dance or sing, or maybe begin more private celebrations. Throughout it all Micah and I walked among his people, ensuring that all had eaten and drunk their fill. Eventually, we happened upon our least-liked guest.“Farthing,” Micah said, with a polite nod. As Old Stoney turned to reply, the pixie he’d been talking to took the opportunity to flee. I was beginning to think that pixies were the smartest creatures in the Otherworld. “Enjoying yourself, I trust?”“Always, Silverstrand.” He turned back to the pixie, found that she was gone, and settled his gaze on me instead. “I could ask the same of you. I’d have given the lady a green dress by now.”I looked down at my dress, wondering what was wrong with white. Was I supposed to change after the bonfire was lit? Then, I heard a breathy moan from beyond the trees, and my toes twitched in the grass.“Watch yourself, Farthing,” Micah said, pausing to take a sip from his wine. “And watch your mouth around my consort. You may be my guest, but I’ve no qualms about tipping you into the Clear Pool and leaving you there to be taken over by so much pond scum.” Old Stoney’s eyes flamed and his neck bulged, but Micah ignored him as he took my arm and led me away from him.“I hate him,” I grumbled. “Why does he have to be here, today of all days? He’s going to ruin—”Micah silenced me the best way he knew how, by grabbing my shoulders and kissing me hard. When he came up for air, he said, “Only if you let him.”I opened my mouth to protest the many ways Old Stoney’s presence had me less than pleased, when I caught sight of a line of dancers. In the Mundane world they would have been called a conga line, but here they were just happy. Carefree. Enjoying themselves. Micah was right. Who cared if that stupid rock wanted to be a jerk? I kissed Micah’s chin, and asked, “Are we done being the May King and Queen?”
“Almost,” he murmured, drawing me into the darkness beyond the firelight. “There is but one more matter to see to.” And see to it we did.
Want to win a copy of COPPER RAVENS? Click here.
Who knew that there were holidays in the Otherworld?Well, I sure hadn’t known about any holidays, mainly because I had grown up in a place where one day was as banal as all the others. This was largely due to the fact that, once we Elementals had lost the Magic Wars, the new government had banned Every. Single. Holiday. Even the bank holidays! Although we did have one mandatory day off, each and every month—Tax Day. What did we do, you ask? Well, we hauled on down to our local government kiosk, and paid our taxes. I know. Hogmanay, it was not.Since I was still pretty young when the wars ended, I hardly remembered those special days devoted to large meals and recreational activities; the government was constantly reminding us that a good work ethic would do more for our health and happiness than any sort of observances, religious or otherwise, and that a hard day’s labor was better than any day spent lolling about. So we worked, and worked and worked until minor events like Happy Hour at The Room seemed like Christmas morning.Therefore, Micah could hardly understand my elation when he informed me that he and I would be hosting the Whispering Dell’s Beltane celebration, right here at the manor. What’s more, we were going to play the parts of the May King and Queen.“A real holiday?” I’d asked for the hundredth—maybe thousandth—time. “With cakes, and presents, and things?”“There will be cakes, yes,” Micah answered, again. So far, my incessant questions hadn’t worn the bemused smile off his lips. “And those attending will bring offerings. As for these other thingsyou desire…” Instead of continuing, Micah grabbed me about the waist and pulled me against him. We were hiding out in the kitchens, seated on the bench beside the vast oven where the silverkin baked their breads and pies. If I could have spent every day surrounded by the aroma of baking desserts and wrapped in Micah’s arms, it would have been my version of heaven.“Micah.” I swatted his shoulder, not that I wanted him to stop. Not that he had any intention of stopping, anyway. “By thingsI didn’t mean this.”“Oh?” he murmured, while his lips caressed my neck. “I wonder if you truly understand the meaning of Beltane.”After a bit more, um, education, we managed to get the manor outfitted for a Beltane celebration. Long tables had been erected in the field that stretched between the Clear Pool and the Great Wood, and a massive pile of wood, which would be the first of many bonfires, was neatly stacked in the center. Garlands of flowers decorated the tables and surrounding trees, along with swags of ribbon and streamers. Platters of oatcakes and jugs of sweet May wine filled every available flat surface. Besides all the decorations and a truly enormous amount of food, there would be dancing and games and, perhaps most importantly, Micah and me dressed up as the May King and Queen.I’d had a hard time explaining to Micah why dressing up in a costume was way more fun than wearing dresses on a regular basis. It wasn’t his fault; since he was a boy, he saw a dress as a dress, no matter what day it was worn. Except for the time he’d worn a skirt, but he still didn’t want to talk about that.In the end he just shook his head and pulled on his own costume. It consisted of buff-colored trousers topped by a white linen tunic, which was heavily edged with embroidered silver flowers. Over the tunic was a forest-green vest decorated with leaves just a shade or two lighter, cinched with a brown belt. My costume wasn’t as heavily decorated as Micah’s, but it was still beautiful. It was a sleeveless white dress made up of many gauzy layers that floated and shimmered whenever I moved. The back was low, so low that a good portion of my mark was exposed, a first for me. Since I’d wanted to incorporate my metal in some way, now that I knew that that was what Metal Elementals did, swirling copper bands decorated my upper arms and ankles. Based on Micah’s expression, my first attempt had been a success.The celebration began around noon, but Micah and I waited to make our grand entrance until shortly after the food had been laid out. As we stepped onto the field a hush rolled across the gathering, as the people of the Whispering Dell took in the sight of us, the May King and Queen. Wow. That’s a lot of people. I looked down and distracted myself by wiggling my toes in the cool grass. I grabbed Micah’s hand, and murmured how glad I was that we had both chosen to go barefoot. “Micah. Sara.”I looked up, and saw my mother standing before us, bearing a silver tray with two flower crowns upon it, along with two wineglasses. “For the May King, and his Queen,” she intoned, her voice rolling across the field. As Micah and I solemnly crowned each other, a dull roar replaced the respectful hush, with those around us claiming that the Seelie Queen offering the May King and Queen their wine was most auspicious, indeed.Well, we knew she’d be recognized eventually. I glanced at Micah, but he only shrugged and reached for a wineglass; if he had any qualms about the fact that the Seelie Queen was now known to be bunking in his guestroom, he was content to let them be until tomorrow. Then the crowd parted, and I realized that my queenly mother was far from the most interesting thing in the field that day.In the center of the field was a maypole.I vaguely remembered dancing around a maypole when I was very young, during the Beltane celebrations held at the Raven Compound. Back then, Mom and Dad had dressed up as the May Queen and King, overseeing the bonfires and collecting dew, ensuring that all were happy and content. I remember lying under the fairy tree, exhausted, and wondering how my parents could keep up with the endless revelry. Now that Micah and I were filling the roles of the May King and Queen, I understood. The flower crown upon my head filled me with an elated energy, so much so that I wanted to dance and leap around the field. Micah had laughed, and we danced for a time, but he stayed me when I tried to grab one of the long ribbons dangling from the maypole.“That dance is for those seeking to find a mate,” Micah murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “You, love, are well and truly attached.”I looked longingly at the pole. “We don’t get to dance?”“Ours will be later,” he promised.I smiled at that, and leaned against Micah, his arms sliding around my waist as we oversaw the revelers. My eyes could hardly track all the multicolored ribbons as they were plaited together by the unattached, skipping in circles but somehow never knotting the ribbons. Sadie clutched a blue ribbon, and as the dance ended found herself blushing, face-to-face with an equally embarrassed faun. I watched as the two of them wandered off for refreshments. After they’d disappeared, I saw Max skulking around the edge of the festivities.“Why didn’t he dance at the maypole?” I wondered. It was like he hadn’t even noticed that the area around the maypole was teeming with available females, most of whom were looking for mates, if only for the evening.“Perhaps his heart lives elsewhere,” Micah offered. “I know that, when you are nearby, I see no other woman.”Before I had time to blush at the compliment, Micah and I were called to take our places at the head table. We were seated in two enormous wooden chairs, reminiscent of thrones, bedecked with so many swags of flowers that you could hardly see the high backs. No sooner were we settled than the other revelers lined up before us, each of them bearing packages.“What are they holding?” I whispered to Micah.“They bring offerings for the May King and his Queen,” Micah replied.“I like presents,” I murmured. “Will there be more copper gifts?”Micah shrugged. “We shall soon learn.”I watched, somewhat amused, as the revelers went about organizing themselves into an orderly mess; the fact that Micah's wine had flowed freely for the better part of the day made this look like an Otherworldly slapstick routine. In the midst of the semi-drunken chaos, a woman stepped forward.She was tall, with flowering vines twisted throughout her long hair, their softness in stark contrast to her clothing of bark bound with straw. Her limbs were long and spindly, like dried-up twigs, as was her nose. She looked to be very old, yet her face and hands bore no wrinkles, and her hair was a vibrant blonde underneath the lush vines. Micah leaned toward me, probably to make an introduction, but I already knew who she was.She was the Lady of the Great Wood. “For the May King,” she said, her voice as clear as a bell. She reached forward, graceful despite her gawky limbs, and placed a single perfect lily before Micah. It was a deep orange, tipped with red, the perfect complement to his silvery hair. Micah affixed the lily to his shirt with a bit of silver, and murmured his thanks.“And for his Queen,” the Lady continued, now placing a spray of yellow orchids before me. Following Micah's lead, I pinned the spray to my bodice, though my pins were copper.“Your gifts are as lovely as your Wood,” I said, “Thank you for joining us today.”With that, the Lady of the Wood gracefully bowed her head and melted away into the crowd. “I thought you two didn't get along,” I whispered to Micah.“It seems that things have changed for the better,” Micah replied. He squeezed my fingers, and we looked toward the next person in line, who happened to be one of Micah’s magistrates from the village. He carried a crystal decanter filled with golden wine, a sprig of fresh woodruff poking out of it. It was a lovely gift, and Micah and I both said as much.The next gift involved a basket containing a few bundles of herbs, namely ginseng, sarsaparilla, and something I didn’t recognize.“What’s this?” I asked the giver, a youthful man who would pass as human if not for his glowing yellow eyes.“Horny goat weed,” he replied, his knowing glance explaining exactly what the herbs were used for. Hot blood spilled up my neck as I murmured my thanks, and turned my attention to those behind him.Thankfully, no one else was carrying a basket of weeds, horny goat or otherwise. The next few offerings were mostly benign, ranging from loaves of still-warm bread to a lovely tapestry that rivaled anything on the manor’s walls. Then there was a carved bone decanter of powdered rhino horn, then a basket of melons, which was followed by a platter of chocolate and the reddest strawberries I’d ever seen. When a bucket of raw oysters was presented to us, I finally asked Micah what the heck was going on.“Like, half of these offerings are aphrodisiacs,” I explained, when he’d responded by peaking those silver brows of his. As if he was in any way innocent. “You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”“Of course I did,” he replied, reaching so his long fingers could graze my belly. “The purpose of Beltane is fertility.”Babies. Do we really need to talk about babies during a holiday? I mean, come on. “That’s all?”“Well,” Micah added, scooping me from my chair and settling me on his knee, “there is also the bit that comes before.”Micah’s blatant affection for me was a hit with the crowd of onlookers, and a great whoop issued forth. I laughed, since a crowd of partiers cheering while Micah nibbled my neck was about as hilarious as you can get, and tried to wriggle free from his grasp. My May King was undeterred. Instead, he drew me tightly against him, his nibbling giving way to unabashed nuzzling.“Silverstrand,” boomed a voice. I tore my eyes away from Micah, and found that Old Stoney was at the head of the offering line. Just when I thought baby talk was the true buzzkill, the rocky king of buzzkills stepped up.“Greymalkin,” Micah returned, with a polite nod. “Have you come to join our celebration?”“And further disturb the queen? Not I,” he said with a sneer.“Pray tell, Farthing, how is this gathering disturbing Oriana?”“Look.” Old Stoney spread his palms, gesturing to encompass the whole of the field. “You’ve set up a silver court, bright enough to cast hers in shadow.”I followed Old Stoney’s gaze across the field. Was this a court? I suppose it was, what with the food and drink, and that gifts were being offered to the king and queen. But Micah and I were only ruling for this one day, and only in this one field. Besides that, didn’t the Lord of Silver deserve a court of his own?“Farthing.” Micah nudged me off his lap as he stood, but he kept his arm around my waist. “If you have come here only to make trouble for me and mine, I will remove you without a second thought.” Old Stoney opened his mouth, but Micah didn’t miss a beat. “You know as well as I that I harbor no desire for the throne,” Micah continued, stepping around to the front of the table. I followed him, taking my place at his side. “But don’t take my word for it. Stay, mingle amongst my people, and when you return to Oriana’s side you can tell her beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lord Silverstrand remains true to his queen.” With an ease that belied the tension crackling around him, Micah selected a loaf of bread from among the offerings. He tore off a generous portion, and held it out to Stoney. “What will it be, friend?”The field had gone deathly quiet, and every set of eyes and ears were trained on Micah and the rock. Old Stoney was so incensed that it looked like lava would leak out his ears, but Micah had well and truly trapped him. The Otherworld didn’t have many enforceable rules, but hospitality was one of them. Once an invitation was given it must be accepted, or at the very least acknowledged. In short, as Micah stood there, smiling at Old Stoney, exuding nothing but good faith as he offered him a hunk of fresh bread, he had the rock over a barrel.Gods, how I loved him.Old Stoney grumbled as he accepted the bread, then he turned and stalked away. It seemed that he didn’t enjoy our company any more than we enjoyed his. Good. Things settled down after that, and the offerings resumed; things settled down even further when a few attendees produced instruments. Nearly everyone was softly swaying to the music, but even though I’d been so eager to dance earlier, I made no move to join them. I’d resumed my place on Micah’s knee, and was perfectly content to watch the rest spin and twirl about the still-unlit bonfire. Micah was murmuring about how he couldn’t wait to see the flames against the night sky, when suddenly the crone from the apothecary was standing in front of us. I was so shocked I nearly fell off Micah’s lap, but he was as composed as ever.“Good woman, why have you come before us?” Micah asked. His tone was respectful, but I saw a muscle twitch in his jaw.“To present my offering, of course,” she replied, spreading her hands wide. “Is an old woman like me not welcome at your feast?”“All of my people are welcome,” Micah said, in such a way that had me wondering if he counted her as his. “An offering, you say?”“I regret, my lord, that I have only a gift for the May Queen.” With that, the crone reached into her colorless robes and set before me the reddest, shiniest apple I’d ever seen. It was beautiful, as tempting as the first fruit itself, and I coughed to hide my annoyance. What, did she think I was stupid? Like I would fall for that? My mother was the Seelie frickin’ Queen, and she’d warned me off of spelled fruit before she had taught me to read.“Thank you,” I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “Your offering does much to ensure the land’s fecundity for the coming year,” I added, a bit more forcefully. Well, I was louder, anyway.The crone said nothing, but bowed respectfully, her gray eyes never leaving mine. After she’d shuffled away, Micah grabbed my hands.“You mustn’t touch it,” Micah warned.“Don’t worry. I won’t.” After staring at the apple for another heartbeat, I looked at his hands, his long fingers that were tightly wrapped around my wrists. “Is she dangerous?”“She is powerful,” Micah replied, “and arrogant. She swears allegiance to no one. While she is not what I’d call evil, she certainly isn’t trustworthy.”I shuddered, remembering the tiny blue vial that sat on my dressing table, and the dubious bargain I’d struck with her. Misinterpreting my quivering shoulders, Micah called for a silverkin to take the apple and toss it into the center of the firewood.“Worry not, love,” he said, rubbing my arms as if he could rub away the crone’s visit.“I’m—I know you wouldn’t let anything hurt me,” I amended, mid-speak. I would never outright lie to Micah, not even to tell him I wasn’t worried. My omissions about the birth control didn’t count; yeah, I was still trying to convince myself of that one.Micah smiled at that, and leaned forward to kiss my hair. “The sun goes to rest,” he said, gently turning my chin toward the west. “Come, let us light the bonfire.”We watched the sun paint the sky in oranges and purples for another moment, then we rose and wound our way around the tables and revelers toward the massive pyramid of wood. As we stood before the intimidatingly large heap, I suddenly found myself wishing for a pair of flip-flops. A splinter in the May Queen’s toe would certainly not bode well for the coming harvest. Micah had somehow obtained a candle, and we both held it as we guided its tiny flame toward the kindling. “This won’t work,” I whispered. “The flame’s too small.”“Is it?” Micah had no sooner said the words than the firewood caught, and the entire mound was ablaze. We stepped back as others stepped forward, lighting their own sticks so they could create their own fire.While there had been no shortage of libations earlier in the evening, once the bonfire raged, Micah’s wine flowed like a river after the spring thaw. Revelers wandered off among the orchards, either to dance or sing, or maybe begin more private celebrations. Throughout it all Micah and I walked among his people, ensuring that all had eaten and drunk their fill. Eventually, we happened upon our least-liked guest.“Farthing,” Micah said, with a polite nod. As Old Stoney turned to reply, the pixie he’d been talking to took the opportunity to flee. I was beginning to think that pixies were the smartest creatures in the Otherworld. “Enjoying yourself, I trust?”“Always, Silverstrand.” He turned back to the pixie, found that she was gone, and settled his gaze on me instead. “I could ask the same of you. I’d have given the lady a green dress by now.”I looked down at my dress, wondering what was wrong with white. Was I supposed to change after the bonfire was lit? Then, I heard a breathy moan from beyond the trees, and my toes twitched in the grass.“Watch yourself, Farthing,” Micah said, pausing to take a sip from his wine. “And watch your mouth around my consort. You may be my guest, but I’ve no qualms about tipping you into the Clear Pool and leaving you there to be taken over by so much pond scum.” Old Stoney’s eyes flamed and his neck bulged, but Micah ignored him as he took my arm and led me away from him.“I hate him,” I grumbled. “Why does he have to be here, today of all days? He’s going to ruin—”Micah silenced me the best way he knew how, by grabbing my shoulders and kissing me hard. When he came up for air, he said, “Only if you let him.”I opened my mouth to protest the many ways Old Stoney’s presence had me less than pleased, when I caught sight of a line of dancers. In the Mundane world they would have been called a conga line, but here they were just happy. Carefree. Enjoying themselves. Micah was right. Who cared if that stupid rock wanted to be a jerk? I kissed Micah’s chin, and asked, “Are we done being the May King and Queen?”
“Almost,” he murmured, drawing me into the darkness beyond the firelight. “There is but one more matter to see to.” And see to it we did.
Want to win a copy of COPPER RAVENS? Click here.
April 20, 2014
How The Dinosaurs Really Went Extinct
Over the years, scientist have proposed several theories about the sudden, mass extinction of dinosaurs. These theories range from an asteroid impact, to extreme climate change, to global volcanic activity. They're all wrong.
Dogs did it.
You heard me. Dogs.
Ferocious, huh?I bet you're wondering how I came to this radical conclusion. As any good scientist does, I collected and analyzed evidence to form my theory, and I will present my findings below.
The first victim I uncovered was this troodon, which lived during the Cretaceous period. Notice the killing blow delivered to the spine, the hind leg that has been all but gnawed off. Sadly, this troodon suffered least of all the victims.
This hadrosaurus lost his limbs and tail in a dog attack.
This sad carcass was once that of a dimetrodon, which thrived during the Early Permian period, about 60 million years before the first true dinosaur appeared during the Triassic. This early example proves that dogs had been a longtime scourge of the terrible lizards.
As evidenced by the image above, even the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex was no match for a teething puppy.
Okay, maybe dogs didn't destroy all the dinosaurs. But what I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the dinosaur population in my own house was decimated after we brought home our new puppy, Magpie Belinda. We call her Maggie, for short.
The dinosaur hunter herselfDo you have any theories about dinosaur extinction? Or, more importantly, how I can convince this puppy to chew only her chew toys? She's got a thing for shoes, too.March 31, 2014
Cover Reveal - NILES WORMWART, ACCIDENTAL VILLAIN by D.M. Cunningham
NILES WORMWART, ACCIDENTAL VILLAINBy D.M. Cunningham
In the science fair world of ketchup-spewing volcanoes and potato clocks, one boy, Niles Wormwart, plans to alter the history of science fairs with his time travel wristwatch based on Nicola Tesla's work. Unfortunately, history has different plans for Niles.
After Niles blows up his school's science wing with his project, his father, deciding his son needs to man up, make some friends, and take a break from his constant experiments, sends unsuspecting Niles off to the mysterious Camp Mayhem.
The only problem is that Niles' father thinks it's a role-playing camp. Well, it's not.
Headed up by the ominous Red Czechmark, Camp Mayhem is ground zero for training the future villains of today. A place for real kids to realize the real villain inside them. Niles sharpens his focus on escaping the camp while everyone inside wants him to sharpen his focus on discovering his own dark powers. There's a sinister plot brewing, and Niles is dead in the middle of it.
Thrust into a world he only thought existed in comic books. Niles discovers his true potential inside the walls of Camp Mayhem-the potential to become the darkest of evils or stay true to his good-hearted roots.
Title: Niles Wormwart, Accidental VillainAuthor: D.M. CunninghamPublisher: Spencer Hill Middle GradePrint ISBN: 978-1-939392-37-4Ebook ISBN: 978-1-939392-38-1Release Date: 11/25/2014Formats: Paper, e-book
In the science fair world of ketchup-spewing volcanoes and potato clocks, one boy, Niles Wormwart, plans to alter the history of science fairs with his time travel wristwatch based on Nicola Tesla's work. Unfortunately, history has different plans for Niles.
After Niles blows up his school's science wing with his project, his father, deciding his son needs to man up, make some friends, and take a break from his constant experiments, sends unsuspecting Niles off to the mysterious Camp Mayhem.
The only problem is that Niles' father thinks it's a role-playing camp. Well, it's not.
Headed up by the ominous Red Czechmark, Camp Mayhem is ground zero for training the future villains of today. A place for real kids to realize the real villain inside them. Niles sharpens his focus on escaping the camp while everyone inside wants him to sharpen his focus on discovering his own dark powers. There's a sinister plot brewing, and Niles is dead in the middle of it.
Thrust into a world he only thought existed in comic books. Niles discovers his true potential inside the walls of Camp Mayhem-the potential to become the darkest of evils or stay true to his good-hearted roots.
Title: Niles Wormwart, Accidental VillainAuthor: D.M. CunninghamPublisher: Spencer Hill Middle GradePrint ISBN: 978-1-939392-37-4Ebook ISBN: 978-1-939392-38-1Release Date: 11/25/2014Formats: Paper, e-book
March 25, 2014
Cover Reveal - COLLIDE by Christine Fonseca
Time for another cover reveal! This time, it's for COLLIDE by Christine Fonseca! And WOW is it gorgeous!
BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:
Collide by Christine Fonseca
Publication date: April 29th 2014
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
Synopsis:
The most dangerous secrets are the ones that kill.
When a surprising mental breakdown draws too much attention from a secret government group call the Order, 17-year-old Dakota discovers that her so-called boring life isn’t so boring after all. Between the lies, secrets and assassins out to kill her family, Dakota discovers there’s more to paranormal activity than ghosts and cheap mind tricks. Now she must uncover the truth before a new breed of terrorism takes everything away – including her life.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20879566-collide?ac=1
----
AUTHOR BIOCritically acclaimed nonfiction and YA author Christine Fonseca is dedicated to helping children of all ages find their voice in the world. Drawing on her expertise as an educational psychologist, her nonfiction titles address issues of emotional intensity, resiliency and giftedness. In fiction, she explores the darker aspects of humanity and delivers gothic thrillers that take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. In life, she teaches her own children to embrace their unique talents and find their voice by being a force of positive change in the world.
When she’s not writing or developing programs to support children with exceptional needs, she can be found spending time with her family, sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Christine Fonseca or her books, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.
Author links: http://www.christinefonseca.com/https://twitter.com/chrstinefhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4077598.Christine_Fonseca
BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:
Collide by Christine Fonseca
Publication date: April 29th 2014
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult
Synopsis:
The most dangerous secrets are the ones that kill.
When a surprising mental breakdown draws too much attention from a secret government group call the Order, 17-year-old Dakota discovers that her so-called boring life isn’t so boring after all. Between the lies, secrets and assassins out to kill her family, Dakota discovers there’s more to paranormal activity than ghosts and cheap mind tricks. Now she must uncover the truth before a new breed of terrorism takes everything away – including her life.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20879566-collide?ac=1
----
AUTHOR BIOCritically acclaimed nonfiction and YA author Christine Fonseca is dedicated to helping children of all ages find their voice in the world. Drawing on her expertise as an educational psychologist, her nonfiction titles address issues of emotional intensity, resiliency and giftedness. In fiction, she explores the darker aspects of humanity and delivers gothic thrillers that take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. In life, she teaches her own children to embrace their unique talents and find their voice by being a force of positive change in the world.
When she’s not writing or developing programs to support children with exceptional needs, she can be found spending time with her family, sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Christine Fonseca or her books, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.
Author links: http://www.christinefonseca.com/https://twitter.com/chrstinefhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4077598.Christine_Fonseca
March 23, 2014
Newsletter Signup Form
Don't miss out on release dates or giveaways - sign up for my newsletter below. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Subscribe to The Copper Legacy mailing list* indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name Email Format
htmltext
'+msg+'
Subscribe to The Copper Legacy mailing list* indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name Email Format
htmltext
'+msg+'
March 19, 2014
Cover reveal - BEN FOX, ZOMBIE SQUIRREL DETECTIVE by Daisy Whitney
BEN FOX: SQUIRREL ZOMBIE SPECIALIST AT YOUR SERVICEBy Daisy Whitney
Ten-year-old Ben Fox has good friends, a great dog, and a lightning-fast little sister who drives him a bit batty. The only thing in the fifth grader’s life that’s truly annoying–well, besides having to wear braces on his feet every day–is the family’s wily Siamese cat, Percy. Ben has always suspected something was off about Percy...But now he’s sure of it—Percy has raised an army of squirrel zombies in the backyard and they’re ready to take on Ben's beloved dog, Captain Sparkles.Now Ben must figure out how to stop the dastardly cat, especially since Percy and his newly reanimated squirrel friends are gunning for nothing less than a full-scale Animal Zombie Apocalypse—when all the dogs start to behave like cats!The battle won’t be easy though, because squirrel zombies are the most dangerous animal zombies of all…
Title: Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist At Your ServiceAuthor: Daisy WhitneyPublisher: Spencer Hill Middle GradeISBN: print: 9781939392190, ebook: 9781939392206Release Date: 10/14/2014Formats: Paper, e-bookGoodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20630483-ben-fox?from_search=true
Ten-year-old Ben Fox has good friends, a great dog, and a lightning-fast little sister who drives him a bit batty. The only thing in the fifth grader’s life that’s truly annoying–well, besides having to wear braces on his feet every day–is the family’s wily Siamese cat, Percy. Ben has always suspected something was off about Percy...But now he’s sure of it—Percy has raised an army of squirrel zombies in the backyard and they’re ready to take on Ben's beloved dog, Captain Sparkles.Now Ben must figure out how to stop the dastardly cat, especially since Percy and his newly reanimated squirrel friends are gunning for nothing less than a full-scale Animal Zombie Apocalypse—when all the dogs start to behave like cats!The battle won’t be easy though, because squirrel zombies are the most dangerous animal zombies of all…
Title: Ben Fox: Squirrel Zombie Specialist At Your ServiceAuthor: Daisy WhitneyPublisher: Spencer Hill Middle GradeISBN: print: 9781939392190, ebook: 9781939392206Release Date: 10/14/2014Formats: Paper, e-bookGoodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20630483-ben-fox?from_search=true
March 17, 2014
Cover Re-reveal ZODIAC COLLECTOR by Laurie Diamond
For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means
three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom
doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her
and her twin sister, Mary.
This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do
things her way.
On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures
up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event.
Little do they know that it's a literal request.
After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize
they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux.
That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention
of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under
each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and
Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.
Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could
throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire
would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new
Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena,
they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.
Title: The Zodiac Collector
Author: Laura Diamond
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) Please feel
free to use any images, text. Links, etc. from our website.
ISBN: 978-1-937053-63-5
Release Date: July 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book
three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom
doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her
and her twin sister, Mary.
This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do
things her way.
On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures
up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event.
Little do they know that it's a literal request.
After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize
they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux.
That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention
of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under
each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and
Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.
Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could
throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire
would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new
Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena,
they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.
Title: The Zodiac Collector
Author: Laura Diamond
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com) Please feel
free to use any images, text. Links, etc. from our website.
ISBN: 978-1-937053-63-5
Release Date: July 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book
March 12, 2014
Review - LANGUAGE OF SOULS by Lena Goldfinch
Hi all!
I'm just thrilled to be part of Lena Goldfinch's blog tour, where I review not one but THREE of her awesome titles! First up: The Language of Souls. And guess what, this one was my favorite.
To save her sick grandfather, Solena does the unthinkable: she enters the inhospitable land of Oden, where those of Torrani descent are punished just for being themselves, all to find a certain herb. After walking for many cold days, and colder nights, Solena happens upon and orchard and picks a few plums. She is spotted by a soldier, who captures her and hauls her back to his camp.
That soldier is Rundan, son of the commander and a man most ill-suited for life in the army. He longed for the life of a scholar, but that would have meant disappointing his father. When his father orders him to take Solena to the palace for punishment, he makes the only choice he can, and decides to see her to safety.
THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS is a wonderful, heartwarming read, and proves yet again that love blossoms where is may, not necessarily where it's convenient.
To learn more about Lena, or to purchase her work, go here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Review - HAUNTING JOY by Lena Goldfinch
Hi all!
I'm just thrilled to be part of Lena Goldfinch's blog tour, where I review not one but THREE of her awesome titles! Next, we have HAUNTING JOY.
When I picked up HAUNTING JOY by Lena Goldfinch, I was expecting a ghost story. HAUNTING JOY is so, so much more than that.
Joy is something of a tomboy, and no one is more surprise than she when her grandmother brings her a white dress, her latest thrift store find. Still, Joy finds herself drawn to the dress, so much so that she wears it almost every day. Joy quickly realizes that there is more to the dress than meets the eye, namely that it belonged to a girl named Beth that dies a few weeks prior. Joy then embarks on a journey to find out who the girl was, how she dies, and how she can help her move on, HAUNTING JOY is equal parts spooky, sweet, and coming-of-age, and we get to watch Joy solve the mystery of the dress, and herself. Highly recommended!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 10, 2014
Teaser Tuesday - Excerpt from COPPER RAVENS
Hey all! COPPER RAVENS, sequel to COPPER GIRL, will be released in just over three months. To celebrate, here's the first chapter. Enjoy!
My name is Sara Elizabeth Corbeau, and I’m an Elemental. I’m also a fugitive.For most of my life, I did everything I could to appear ordinary. I avoided magic like I avoided large spiders and stepping on cracks, and not just so I wouldn’t break my m other’s back. After the Magic Wars had ended, in which magic had been the definitive loser, it was just too dangerous to be caught using. That was how my brother, Max, got arrested and turned into a science
Preorder COPPER RAVENS here.
My name is Sara Elizabeth Corbeau, and I’m an Elemental. I’m also a fugitive.For most of my life, I did everything I could to appear ordinary. I avoided magic like I avoided large spiders and stepping on cracks, and not just so I wouldn’t break my m other’s back. After the Magic Wars had ended, in which magic had been the definitive loser, it was just too dangerous to be caught using. That was how my brother, Max, got arrested and turned into a science
Preorder COPPER RAVENS here.
