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Carved
Carved
the Ceorfan gargoyle Series
Miki Ward & Garrett V Ward
Cover Design by Francesca Vance at Reaper Designs/Editing by Sarah Williams
Formatted by Zoe Parker
Copyright © 2018 Miki Ward & Garrett V Ward
Published by KDP
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced/transmitted/distributed in any form. No part of this publication shall be shared by any means including photocopying, recording, or any electronic/mechanical method, or the Internet, without prior written consent of the authors. Cases of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law are the exception. The unauthorized reproduction/transmitting of this work is illegal
Contents
Foreword
To Our Readers…
Prologue
1. Loss
2. Life
3. Work
4. Trouble
5. Asshat
6. Fight
7. Pistols
8. History
9. Knowing
10. Flying
11. Changes
12. Unsafe
13. Sanctuary
14. Queen
15. Hope
16. Ancestry
17. Scotland
18. Meeting
19. Numbers
20. Decisions
21. Betrayed
22. Friends
23. Fun
24. Captured
25. Battle
26. Plans
27. Sharing
28. Preparing
29. Honored
30. Caught
31. Skirmish
32. Traitor
33. Test
34. Fire
35. Terminus Debrief
A sneak peek…
Hewn, Chapter One
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Author FB Pages
I dedicate this book to my husband, children, grandchildren, my brothers and parents. There are no words for how much you mean to me. To Kit, who changed my world. To Kyle, whose memory will never leave my heart. Zoe, without you I would never have started.
-Miki
I would like to thank my sister Miki, who gave me the wonderful opportunity to co-author this book with her; my wife, Kathi, because without her love and support, so much of “my” accomplishments would have never been achieved; and my children and, grandchildren, who have inspired me to always push beyond any limitations.
-Garrett
Foreword
This work is a fictitious story. The names, places, occurrences, companies, organizations and such are products of the Author’s imaginations or have been used in a fictitious manner. They are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locations, companies, or organizations are purely coincidental. The authors do not assume the responsibility of the content on 3rd party websites. You can purchase a copy of this book at Amazon.com
To Our Readers…
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for purchasing this book and reading it! We hope you, as the readers, enjoy this book as much as we enjoyed writing it. We want to make sure you know that we feel this is a serious story about changing a world. It’s romantic, dramatic, funny, and sometimes a heart wrenching read. It’s full of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. We didn’t add a trigger warning in the blurb on the paperback. We added it here. Be warned: this book contains reverse harem relationships, graphic sex scenes, rape, violence, and language.
Sincerely Yours,
Miki Ward and Garrett Ward
Prologue
The Myth - The Fairytale - The History
From the Halls of History
Once long ago on a cold majestic mountain lived a young woman. She was beautiful with long orange-red locks, skin like velvet, and gentle eyes. Her parents had been beaten by greedy highwaymen. Beaten, abused, then left to die on a cold road where the short ones live. She had tried to help them, but to no avail they were bound for the heavens. Her father’s last words to her were to run up onto the mountain, find shelter, stay away from the others. I love you, little bird. Then his spirit fled his earthy shell. The tears ran from her eyes unrestrained.
She went to her mother to give her comfort. She hoped she might be able to help her. She could find a shelter for them both while her mother healed. Her father had taught her the ways of the mountain. She knew she could survive. “Mother, you must get up. I cannot carry you.” She lifts her mother into her lap, rocking her. “Oh, Mother, please don’t leave me,” she cries. “I have to be with Father, sweet girl. I cannot last. You must remember to always help others.” Do not be as the ones who have abused us. Always love first. It costs, but in the end it comes back to you bigger than your original gift, usually from an unlooked-for source. She promises her mother she will love first, all the while knowing there will be none for her to love. “I love you, my beauty. You have always been my greatest happiness.” Mother’s spirit then flees, flying to the heavens with Father.
She had lived on the mountain for a while when one day the girl was wandering abroad collecting herbs and bark. There was a cart coming, she hid behind one of the large trees. The short ones dumped a body on the frozen road. She was so close. She held her breath, so they would not chance upon her. Her heart was beating loudly in her head. She stilled herself, until she heard them no more. Peeking out from her hiding place, she looks at the still body in the road. She crept up to him. His bruised bleeding body was blue from the cold. They had left him with nothing to cover or protect himself. She hurts for him as she scans his damaged body. Taking off her cloak, she lays it on the ground beside him. Turning him over, she lays him on her cloak. She drags him up the mountain to the cave, that has become her home. She washes his wounds and puts on an ointment made from lavender and animal fat on much of his wounds, then covered them with broad leaves. She has a blanket, fashioned from scraps found discarded in the forest. Covering him gently, she sings a song over him, asking for the gods to heal his pain ridden body.
Her guest awakens early. In the days to come, they become fast friends. They do not agree about all things. He thinks the short ones are evil. She thinks they need help. As the years go by, they fall into a deep, abiding love for one another. They stay isolated from the short ones. On occasion, when the short ones rid themselves of their kind, they call the outcasts on the mountain demon spawn or devils. The girl and her love take them in. They care for them, teaching them the way of the mountain. How to survive.
One day, the short ones dump a baby to be rid of it, calling it evil. One of the mountain people take it up to the girl. They want to know if she will kill it. It is obviously one of the short ones. Not one of their kind at all. Of course, we will add the child to our number. Always walk in love. It is our way she would teach them. Love even when we are wronged greatly.
As the child grew into a strong man, he learned honor. He learned the way of the mountain people, the ways of the girl and the others who the short ones refused the common decency of living on the Earth.
One day, more short ones were in the forest. It was discovered he was to be a king of the short ones. The old king had tried to have all his brother’s family killed, including the baby who, as a man, was the spitting image of the king’s brother. Now the king is on his own death bed, with no heirs. The short ones have found him. They believe he is the next king. They take him home to live in a castle, where food, drink, and warm rooms abound.
The old king is dead. The baby who had be
en left to die on the mountain, now a grown man, is made the king. The king invites the orange-red-haired girl, who raised him with such great love, to live in the castle with him. She is the mother of his heart. She brings with her all of the foundlings who had been abused by the short ones. They now are part of a great country. Protected by the king, none of them lack in any way. They are no longer scorned, but included in all ways. The orange-red haired girl and all her loves lived happily ever after.
One
Loss
Kendra
I'm so numb. I can only stare at the casket in front of me. The dark polished wood is shining from the rain covering the surface.
My brothers, Jared and Dana, support me on each side, ensuring I don’t collapse onto the soaked ground. Jared pulls me closer, he’s here for me, they both are. Dana guarding my other side.
The drizzle is so quiet. Listening to it hit David's casket softly, ever so softly, it sounds like a sad song calling to me, playing on a loop. I keep staring at the rich wood, hoping he’s warm enough. Hoping against hope he isn't getting wet. Wondering if he knows I’m here. The cool wind blows my long dark hair away from my solemn, pain-filled face.
Oh, my heart! David, I ache without you!
My chest physically hurts. I have a stone sitting in the middle of it, with a monstrous void where the stone is apparently being torn from my body. The whole thing is killing me!
A memory is being etched.
Clutching what seems like an open wound in my chest, I wish I could squeeze it enough to supplant the terrible truth I’m facing.
Startled and dragged back to reality, my body jerks as the Veteran's Honor Guard fires the first three shots of the rifle volleys. I stiffen, steeling myself for the remaining shots. I wouldn’t change it, he served his country well in the US Army Special Forces. They remove the flag and fold it while Taps is playing. The lone trumpet is breaking my heart. I want to pull away from what’s happening. Tears are in my eyes. No, I tell myself, I won’t cry yet.
This is the closest I've come to losing it in public. I must be strong. For my brothers’ safety, I have to be strong. The Honor Guard’s commander crosses over to me and kneels; he tucks a few spent shells into the flag and presents it to me, but I can't concentrate on what he says. The rest of the funeral passes in a blur, the chaplain’s prayer and the condolences of close friends as unwelcome as the weather.
Jared and Dana are guiding me away now. They love me. They are taking good care of me, making sure I have their full support. I shouldn't leave David here. I’m not supposed to leave him, and it’s crushing me!
Jared tells me, "Come on, Kendra. It's time to go. We need to get you out of this downpour before it gets worse." Pain is in his blue-gray eyes. Sometimes the gray takes over and, they lose the blue. Today, they match the grayness all around us in the light rain.
Dana whispers to me, “Come on, Sis.”
Tilting my head puts my baby brother's handsome face before me. Tears in my eyes, ones I refuse to let fall, blur the world even more than the pain of losing David. I try to say something to Dana, but nothing comes out. My head aches from the attempt. All I can do is nod instead.
Using their bodies, they protect me from the shower and hurry me to Jared’s limo.
My pulse is thundering in my ears. I chance one last look back; they’re lowering the love of my life into his final resting place in the cold, wet ground. Should I be leaving him? I left him at the hospital after they pronounced him dead, oh my god, I will never forgive myself.
“I'll come back my love, my life, I promise. As soon as my boys decide I’m okay, I’ll come back. I’ll keep you company.” Thinking the thoughts to him, the way I used to, my shoulders relax. He could always tell what I was thinking. Many times, he would say the words before they spilled out of my mouth. Sure he hears me, I settle into Jared for the ride home.
I wish I could sleep, but if I close my eyes it might take me too long to wake. I need to get back here.
He and Dana walk me to the front door of my apartment at the La Caverna. They usually leave me in the secured main entrance. This time they walk me all the way up to the studio apartment David and I had shared.
They wait, like all the overprotective males in our family. So I unlock the door, step into the foyer, and turn back toward them to say goodbye. A cold empty room is at my back, the heater cycling on blows air across my shoulders, to my relief.
He protests again, “Please, let us stay for a bit.”
Needing them to leave so I can get back to David, I simply say, “No.”
He bends giving me his best bear hug and whispers, “I love you, Sissy,” before turning and letting Jared get his hug.
He says, “I love you more though, Sis. You can tell by the size of my car!” It was an inside joke we had thought was so funny, the first time he came up with it when we were out clubbing together. Right now, it isn’t funny. I give him my best smile anyway.
“Shut up, dickhead!” Dana retorts punching Jared’s arm on the way to the elevators. He never wastes time.
“Seriously, Sissy,” he faces me, “you call if you need anything! Twenty-four/seven. I don’t care what time. I mean it.” He waits for me to shut and lock the door before he jogs down the hall to catch Dana.
We live minutes apart in our little rural town of Cueva Hallow. After graduating college we moved here to be able to spend more time outdoors and there’s no big city pressures. I watch them crossing the parking lot through my seventh-floor window. Dana’s dark curls are blowing in the breeze. Jared’s short style is always groomed perfectly and stays put. The window steams lightly from my breath as I stand near it.
The Macbard family looks are prevalent with us. We’re all tall and dark haired, with pale eyes. My eyes are a green with gold and blue on the outer rim; sometimes the gold is more pronounced, making them seem almost amber. The boy’s eyes are blue, with Dana’s the palest blue and Jared’s darker, fading to gray.
I’m going to bake something for them soon. They don’t get homemade anything often. I wouldn’t want to go through this alone. It’d be torture. I can always count on them. I want to be that way for them too. It’s a family trait—taking care of others.
They were the first ones I called, when I got the news David had been shot in a burglary downtown. They were with me at the hospital, when the doctor came out to tell me David had died.
I continue to watch my brothers. It wouldn’t surprise me if they waited in the parking lot just to be closer to me. They have a protective streak in them. When it comes to me, they would charge an angry rhinoceros to protect me. It’s my job to protect them, not the other way around.
I watch them get into the limo, marveling at what wonderful young men they have grown to be. I’m proud of them both. I have always watched over them and protected them. Sometimes from things they’ll never know about.
The doors of the limo close. They’re grown men, but to me, they’re my boys.
The limo pulls away. Taking a deep breath, I sit on the sofa.
I reach over to the coffee table, picking up the pamphlets I had left there. Looking at the picture of the headstone I had purchased for David’s grave, my body shivers. I hope his headstone is as beautiful as the ones shown in the pictures.
The one I chose is black granite with gray and gold inlay and two grotesques on each side. I had insisted on one with two little gargoyles. I want him to be protected. Watched over always! Mama taught me that’s what gargoyles do: Protect. Silly, I know.
Dana told me since I had picked an available sculpture, it’d be ready to be placed right after the funeral. I can’t imagine him missing a deadline, even one with an impossible deadline like this one. It’s his construction company. He’s a stonemason of the highest caliber; I have no doubt, it’ll be beautiful.
So, what am I doing? I better get over there.
Running to my room I throw off my dress and put on some jeans, a hoodie, and tennis shoes instead. Grabbing t
he comforter off my bed, I wad it up, carrying it, then snatch up my keys and I’m out the door.
I’m focused as I reach my truck, Jasper. He’s a white F150, my white charger. I may not always be a knight in shining armor, but I try. Although I can hardly save myself right now, I’ll still do my best. If I see someone in need, my fighting spirit will rise! Anyway, protecting the public is in my job title as a Federal Park Ranger.
My skin crawls, and a tingle goes down my back. Out of the corner of my eye, something moves. I turn toward the motion. No one is behind me; the whole parking lot is empty. That’s saying something, because it’s a large open lot. That’s odd.
I shake off the creepy fear. I’m messed up today. I know that.
I jump into the driver’s seat. I press the button, start up my loyal steed, and lock the door out of habit. I sink into the plush seat; leaning my head back I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I haven’t cried hard yet. I’ll wait just a little longer. It gives me a headache holding back the flood of tears.
Blowing out my breath and sitting up straight, I say aloud, “Come on Jasper. Take Mama to the cemetery. We need to keep David company.”