Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 Contents Letter from the Editor 3 Story Prompt 3 Poetry 4 Story 9 Upcoming Books from Misty 19 List of Fairs and Conventions 20 Submission Instructions 25 2 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 Letter from the Editor Welcome to another issue of Golden Grove. Not much has happened to me in the last few months, mostly work and in the last few weeks yard work. I did sign my first part lease on a horse, which is exciting for me, and the start of one of my long time dreams, to own my own horse. I’ve also been reorganizing my craft room. Mostly this means I put up a bunch of shelves and moved bags off my table and onto the shelves. One thing that has been consuming some of my time recently is a drawing show on YouTube called Pub Draw. It’s as much fun to watch as it is to draw along. For those of you into comics it’s hosted by Babs Tarr and she is teaching a bunch of voice actors to draw, or she’s herding cats. I haven’t actually figured that part out yet. Usually they draw a specific character in each episode, but the skills can be used draw just about any sort of humanoid character –sadly no gryphons or other types yet. Anyway, if you’re interested in drawing maybe check it out and if you draw some of your own characters, send your drawings to one of the ezines out there. Until next quarter. Story Prompt I awoke to find my head pillowed on arms that were not my own. All submissions should be sent to [email protected] 3 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 Poetry Those Eyes By Herald Teacher Kit Katz (Weight of a Hundred Eyes by Dylan Birtolo in Choices Edited by Mercedes Lackey) How much more to take? It was a feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched. It was enough to drive her crazy. Saved a life with the magic Knowing not how it happened. One moment there was trouble The next there was none. Who was Paxia to know she was special? No one told her or treated her so. How much more to take? It was a feeling just a strange feeling Constantly watched. It was enough to drive her crazy. The feel of eyes at all times disturb Paxia. She cannot see what it is. 4 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 All she says is what she feels They disturb her to a point of no return. They follow Paxia everywhere. The numbers grew and they gathered more. How much more to take? It was a feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched It was enough to drive her crazy. Watched, studied, measured, judged Would this ever end? The magic loosed again to save more lives. The children were out of danger. It just brought more watchers. How much more to take? It was a feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched It was enough to drive her crazy. Annoyed and angry Paxia approached the dread Herald While the Companion stared. 5 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 It was just like the eyes She already felt upon her. Bravely she asked: How much more to take? It’s a feeling just a strange feeling Constantly watched It was enough to drive her crazy. The Herald recognized what Paxia told him about the eyes. He guided her out of town Across the border nearby. The eyes were gone, relief. No more strange feeling. How much more to take? It was a feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched. It was enough to drive her crazy. An explanation was shown Paxia should leave her hearth and home. He explained she used magic. The eyes gathered and stared 6 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 More and more each time To watch a mage at work. How much more to take? It was feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched It was enough to drive her crazy. All these years Heralds knew Came through town, saying nothing. Anger exploded, Paxia attacked the Herald and his Companion. It was not fair they knew all these years While she was driven so crazy. How much more to take? It was feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched It was enough to drive her crazy. She would find a way To live with the betrayal. Paxia could not forgive. She many lessons learn Before she returned home. 7 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 She would learn the ways of revenge. How much more to take? It was a feeling, just a strange feeling Constantly watched. It was enough to drive her crazy. 8 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 Stories and Advancement Requirements Companions This piece of Mercedes Lackey fan fiction is licensed under Creative Commons. Companions By Linda A. Malcor (Based on the Works of Mercedes Lackey) “Too much for one day?” Kaylan asked as he strolled with Yarik toward the dining hall. He had traded his Whites for a linen shirt, a blue tunic that he had cinched at his waist with a silver sash, black trews and soft black boots. Yarik wore a matching outfit, only his tunic was periwinkle blue and his sash was gold. “Well, you did warn me.” He heard the wave of noise ahead of them, louder than anything he’d heard in the Collegium Common Room. “Do the horses really eat with the family?” “Some of them. Grandfather’s premier stallion, Snow Dancer, is almost always there.” Kaylan bowed slightly, waving Yarik through the massive entrance to the dining hall. Yarik halted between the open doors that, given their size, could have graced a stable. Parallel columns of panels carved with scenes from tales of Valdemar, only some of which he recognized, covered the doors. A riot of color swirled around the room. Stained glass set in lead filled huge arched windows along both sides of the hall with a masterpiece taking up most of the wall behind the head table. The windows glowed in the light of the summer evening, each one featuring a white stallion in a different stance. Intricate tapestries depicting Heralds in Whites against jewel-toned settings hung between the windows. The main window displayed the shield of Valdemar with its winged white horse and broken chains. Or not. Yarik took a closer look. The white stallion lacked wings and chains and faced in the opposite direction from Valdemar’s. His pose was the same as the final leaps dancing stallions had performed in the practice ring, and the field behind him was “Elderwood blue”. :It’s the Elderwood coat of arms,: Illysha commented from wherever she’d gotten off to. :And I suppose all the stallions in the windows and the Heralds on the tapestries have names?: :Do you want to know them?: Illysha asked far too seriously. :“Cousin” will do for now.: Running the length of the room were four elongated wooden tables with benches on both sides. Elderwood after Elderwood sat shoulder to shoulder, with the youngest family members nearest the entrance. Here Yarik and not Kaylan was the one who stood out as did the Elderwood spouses. Servants, 9 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 who also didn’t look like Elderwoods either, carried platters of bread, cheese, meat, vegetables and fruit in season—all healthy fare and lots of it. Fruit juice, honey-wine, cool water and chilled tea flowed in abundance. Bins of delicacies fashioned for horses alternated with troughs of fresh, clear water around the edges of the room. Companions grazed from trough to trough like courtiers at a formal reception. “Where are the Heralds?” Yarik asked over the clamor. “Right in front of you,” Kaylan replied. “No one wears white in the Hall.” “Why not?” Kaylan shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s just the tradition.” “Where are we supposed to sit?” “All of the other family Heralds have Mindspeech,” Kaylan admitted a bit ruefully. “I, however, have to be sitting practically on top of Grandmother and Grandfather if I want to have a conversation with them.” Yarik’s lips formed a silent “O.” Kaylan nodded toward the two empty chairs beside Lady Elderwood. “Grandmother has saved seats for us. She knows I don’t like to spend the evening with Snow Dancer’s nose in my hair.” Adele and Illysha came up behind them, their silver hooves chiming on the flagstone floor. The Companions took up positions beside their Heralds like ladies being waiting to be escorted into dinner. Kaylan led Adele into the hall. Illysha nudged Yarik with her nose, urging him forward. Yarik awkwardly caught up with Kaylan, Illysha at his elbow. When they reached the head table, Illysha and Adele nodded at Lord and Lady Elderwood, then wandered off to join the other Companions. Kaylan held out the chair beside Lady Elderwood for Yarik. Yarik sat down nervously—and scooted his chair as close to Kaylan’s as he could as soon as the older Herald had taken his place. “Easy, little pirate,” Kaylan soothed. “I promise, she doesn’t bite.” “Much,” Lady Elderwood teased, snipping off the end of a carrot with her teeth. “So, young Yarik, what do you think of the cousins?” 10 Golden Grove Vol. 4 Issue 2 Yarik let his gaze wander over the horde. The Elderwoods reminded him of the Heralds at the Collegium. They weren’t exactly wearing uniforms, but there was a similarity in the style of their clothing, roughly matching the outfits he and Kaylan wore.