Christa Kinde's Blog, page 39
December 3, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 277: Tasting Danger
Chapter 277: Tasting Danger
���But we are Guardians. We defend life.��� Tamaes couldn���t keep his gaze from straying to the dead rats piled in the corner.
���Defend, yes. But against what? We are warned that the enemy is vicious, blasphemous, and relentless, yet we tap spears with comrades in lofty encampments.��� A sneer twisted Adin���s lips. ���I never tasted danger during Valerian���s sparring matches.���
Tamaes���s confusion deepened. How could his brother have wandered so far from what was truly important? Gripping Adin���s arms, he gave him a shake. ���But you were Sent. Should you not be with your charge?���
Adin���s face slowly went blank.
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Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Tried and True, Chapter 276: Self-Appointed
Chapter 276: Self-Appointed
Adin complied, but with a mocking smile. ���I���ve always hunted this way,��� he revealed. ���Stealth is impossible when this stuff���s radiance warns away my prey.���
���I do not understand.���
Orange light glinted in topaz eyes. ���You knew I slipped away.���
���Away,��� Tamaes acknowledged as uneasiness trembled through his shielding wings. ���Into the fringes and enclaves. To train in other encampments.���
���Into the lower places,��� Adin corrected. ���To hunt down our enemy. To teach the Fallen fear.���
Every part of Tamaes���s soul rebelled against his twin���s words. ���We are hadarim. We were not made for such things.���
���And yet I excel!���
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
November 28, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 275: Covering
Chapter 275: Covering
Amusement drenched Adin���s tones. ���I was naked, so I hid.���
Tamaes glanced at the bunched raiment in his hand and reasoned, ���You could cover yourself with your wings.���
���Mine ache.��� He uncoiled from the shadows. ���Will you hide me in the shelter of yours?���
���Of course.��� Tamaes propped his sword against the wall and beckoned with both hands. ���But what of your mentor? Valerian���s wings should be your shelter.���
���But you���re here.��� Adin leaned into his brother and whispered, ���Of course it would be you.���
���Dress,��� Tamaes ordered.
Adin laughed hollowly. ���Extinguish your light, and darkness will cover me anew.���
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Tried and True, Chapter 274: In the Dark
Chapter 274: In the Dark
Strained creaks. Breathy keening. They were faint as the whisper of wings, barely audible above the gurgle and drip of water. But it was enough. With a soft click of his tongue, Tamaes warned Omri to stay put. He drew his wings around his shoulders and straightened. ���I have been calling. Did you not hear me?���
���I always hear you.���
Tamaes���s heart leapt at the teasing lilt of his brother���s voice. There were so many things he wanted to say, but he had been given a question. So Tamaes reached into the darkness and asked, ���Adin, why are you hiding?���
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Tried and True, Chapter 273: Close Quarters
Chapter 273: Close Quarters
Tamaes hunched, trailing a hand along the curved ceiling as he shouldered past pipes. Light from his wings reflected off litter-clogged water and glinted in the eyes of skittering rats. He slowed as the tunnel emptied into a chamber where tunnels branched in several directions.
Stepping into the open, he waited for God to make clear which of the connecting passages he should follow. But no prompting came. ���Adin?���
A faint shimmer caught Tamaes���s eye, and he slowly crossed to the only other source of light. Cast-off raiment lay crumpled against the wall, half-hidden by the bodies of dead rats.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
November 26, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 272: Descent
Chapter 272: Descent
Ever since he was a boy, Tamaes had been leaping from heaven���s threshold through a ring set in stone, but this hole ���.
Why underground?
The possibilities only ranged from bad to worse. Hiding from the consequences of injuring Valerian. Injured and on the run. Snatched by the enemy. Tamaes refused to believe the worst. Hadn���t Taweel gone rogue for a while? And he was the truest of angels.
���Are you crying because he���s sad, too?��� Tamaes asked.
Omri���s uncertain chirrup wasn���t very reassuring.
Jaw set, heart pounding, Tamaes leapt ��� and hoped his brother���s path didn���t lead to hell.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
November 25, 2014
BYWAYS: New Art!
Birches, Bittersweet, and Brothers
Just a little nudge to encourage my readers here to go and see the beautiful new art I posted over on my other blog. I publish the Byways books under my maiden name. This family-friendly fantasy series follows the adventures of three half-brothers who take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland. One of the storyline’s magical twists is that the brothers are Changers, able to shift into an animal form. That’s why this new art features an elk, a wolf, and a raccoon!
Winter Trio by Katie Hofgard >>
Tried and True, Chapter 271: Companion
Chapter 271: Companion
Tamaes plunged back into the storm, wings arched against the cold slap of rain. Sword bared. Senses straining. But a series of shrill squeaks snagged his attention, and his tension shifted into disbelief as Omri smacked into his cheek and scrambled for a foothold.
���This is no place for you!���
Tamaes helped the little angel to his shoulder, where he lapsed into anxious whimpers. Slower now, but just as sure, Tamaes followed his Sending until his boot clipped a rusted grate that had once covered a vertical shaft. Chipped rim. Trickling filth. And dread.
���This is no place for any of us.���
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
November 24, 2014
This Week���s Accumulation cix
My weekly wrap-up post usually happens on Fridays, but here we are at Monday. (Better a smidge late than not at all, right?) Is everyone else gearing up for Thanksgiving? Today’s a boiling and mashing sort of day in the Kinde household, and I’ll start in on baking tomorrow. Since some of the ladies at church requested pictures, I’ll keep a camera handy while I’m in the kitchen this week. Watch for Facebook posts … or tweets (which show up on this blog’s sidebar). But now for this past week’s clutter. Come and see!
This week’s accumulation:
��� This is a few weeks old, but I hadn’t realized there was a picture from the SDCWG Fall Conference sitting on my camera. Here’s me…
��� Yesterday was a good day for pre-holiday cleaning and organizing. After church, I rolled up my sleeves and tackled dusting, sorting, and tidying. I pulled out my collection of Christmas stationary and updated my bulletin board. Several pictures on my walls have been shuffled, so I have a fresh view. I even moved some furniture … including this little glass-topped table.
What kinds of things would you have put on display?
What makes them special to you?
��� I turned in the final chapter of Angel on High for the December issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Ever since then, I’ve been coaxing an epilogue into existence. It’s called “The Girl in the Orchard.” This final portion of Koji’s story will be an exclusive addition to the Angel on High e-book. To celebrate this story finale & book birthday, I’ll host a giveaway. Watch for a post on Monday, December 1, which will explain how you can reach for these cute stars!
[sticky notes & kitchen scrubbies]
��� Last week, I shared a peek at the sketch of Byways art. I’ll be posting the full piece later this week over on my CJMilbrandt.com blog, but here’s a preview!
Byways. In this fun, family-friendly fantasy series, three brothers take sibling rivalry to new lengths by racing each other across their homeland. Since there’s a bit of magic in their bloodline, the boys can transform into an animal form. Ewan the Eldest can become an elk. Zane the Rebel’s a wolf. And Ganix the Scamp transforms into a raccoon. ���
Find out more about the Byways books here >>
��� Are you on my mailing list? Great! I’ll be sending out Christmas greetings soon. Not signed up? This is the perfect time to join! Email your mailing address to me at christa [dot] kinde [at] gmail [dot] com, and I’ll put something nice in your mailbox! : )
So what���s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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November 21, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 270: Same Old Story
Chapter 270: Same Old Story
Bronze wingtips trailed, and hooves clattered against pavement. Taweel���s heart sank, but Tamaes brightened. ���Nock! Why are you here?���
���More to the point, why are you still here?��� The silver-haired Caretaker eyed Tamaes. ���Are you Sent?���
���I am.���
���Then go.���
Tamaes waited for Taweel���s nod before rushing away, Omri darting after him.
Once he was out of earshot, Valerian stirred weakly. ���He doesn���t know.���
���How could he? He rarely leaves the encampment.���
The Caretaker interrupted again. ���Make it quick, Guardian. Before he dims out.���
Taweel gruffly asked, ���What happened with Adin?���
���Same old story.��� Valerian���s words slurred. ���She died young.���
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER�� |�� NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author���s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde���s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don���t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, �� Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
