Bridge of Bones
Brodyr Alarch, Book #3
by Morgan Sheppard
In a high secluded tower, hidden away from the world, Delyth has spent her life under the enchantments of the sorceress Eirlys, her golden hair bound by ancient magic, but she longs to be free. Meanwhile, Macsen receives a vision from Cerridwen, guiding him away from the school where he has lived for so long, to the tower—and to the one who waits inside.
Macsen never expected to become entangled in a sorceress’ curse, nor to fall for the quietly dignified girl who refuses to be a damsel in distress. But as the power of Eirlys tightens its grip, both Delyth and Macsen must fight in their own way to break the spell—if they hope to claim their happily ever after.
Bridge of Bones presents a spellbinding reimagining of Rapunzel and is the third instalment in the Brodyr Alarch series, intertwining Brothers Grimm narratives with the rich mythology of the Welsh deities. Sealed with a Curse is the overarching narrative framework for the expansive Brodyr Alarch series.
Praise for Bridge of Bones:
"It's full of wonderful descriptions of every day things. Like getting up and having breakfast! Simple things made wonderful. People, places and things. The world building is fabulous and I loved reading about new places in the world."
~ Debbie Attenborough, Amazon 5* Review
~ Debbie Attenborough, Amazon 5* Review
“There are some who live in the mountains, even this range, that don’t know of the crescent moon of Cerridwen or the Awen banner under which we travel. Be careful and stay safe, Macsen. Cerridwen will look out for you, but even She can’t be with you constantly. Don’t look for trouble. I’m sure it will find you soon enough!”
Macsen grinned at her, acknowledging the lighter note she finished on. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Sure you don’t,” Canaid said mockingly, sharing a wicked smile with Eigra.
The three of them burst into laughter, the atmosphere between them comfortable.
“That’s what I like to hear, laughter on someone’s last night here. It’s a celebration, going out into the world at Cerridwen’s command, not something to be mourned.” Gwylan smiled approvingly at the three of them.
As the Head of the School, Gwylan was a solid presence appreciated by everyone. He didn’t stay in his office, away from everyone, but helped wherever needed every day, be it with keeping the groves weed-free or healing in the infirmary. Gwylan was nurturing to the apprentices, journeymen, and initiates, but there was also an edge of severity that came out when needed, as he believed in the transformative power of both light and shadow, creation and destruction, as part of Cerridwen’s teachings.
He looked at Macsen, his head tilted to one side. “You are ready for this, Macsen. She wouldn’t send you if you weren’t. In the years you’ve been here, you’ve worked your way through from novice to apprentice, then journeyman, and now initiate. Why the sadness you’re trying to hide?”
“I am happy to be going,” said Macsen. He spread his hands wide and gestured around him. “But look at what I’m missing.” He put his arms around Canaid and Eigra, pulling them towards him. “I’ve got people here I’m going to miss, including you, Gwylan.”
“Well of course you’re going to miss us,” Gwylan exclaimed, his broad face creasing into a beaming smile. “You’ve spent many a year here and have made friends. This has become your home, maybe even more so than Melthkior, because this is somewhere you chose, rather than just an accident of birth. That doesn’t mean it’s where you’ll always be though. The waters of a pond must flow elsewhere or they become stagnant. Is that what you want? To stagnate here?”
“Of course not, but don’t let the masters hear you say they’re stagnating.” Macsen grinned at the Head.
“They would know immediately what I’m trying to say,” scoffed Gwylan. “You’re just not understanding me because it feels painful to leave. Let me ask you this, did you lose contact with your friends and family when you first came here?”
“You know I didn’t,” Macsen mumbled.
Gwylan clapped a hand onto Macsen’s shoulder. “Then why should you lose contact with us when it is time for you to spread your wings for Cerridwen? We all know how to write, you know, and letters get delivered and taken from here on a regular basis. Canaid and Eigra will be here for a while yet, so don’t forget to write to them. And if you want any stuffy advice, you can always write to me. Good luck to you, Macsen, although I think you’ll be fine. You have Cerridwen and Her sister looking over you. Safe travels.”
Gwylan squeezed Macsen’s shoulder and walked away, chuckling under his breath. “Spread his wings for Cerridwen, indeed! Did you see what I did there? Because, you know, he was a swan for Arianrhod. Oh, dear, I do make myself laugh.”
Macsen grinned as he heard Gwylan talk to himself. “I’m going to miss him.”
Canaid was laughing quietly as he had also overheard Gwylan. Eigra was watching Macsen with a stern look.
“And what have I done to deserve that look, Eigra?” Macsen asked. “You’ve not looked at me like that since I was a novice and you didn’t think I was fully committed to the path.” He hugged her, knowing beneath her tough exterior lay deep compassion and a fierce sense of protection for her fellow initiates. Despite her power and confidence, there was an inner vulnerability she kept hidden, related to the secrets and sacrifices she had made to walk the path, not all of which he knew about, even after their years of friendship.
Eigra returned the hug fiercely, surprising Macsen with its strength. “You’d better write,” she said, fiercely. “Otherwise, I’ll hunt you down and make you regret not doing so.”
Macsen smiled and kissed her cheek. “You can hunt me down anytime, but it won’t be for not writing.” He looked over at Canaid, who nodded solemnly. “I’ll write to you both, as often as I can. You just do what you have to here. If you do leave, let me know where you’re going, so I can send my letters there.”
Morgan Sheppard
Originally from the United Kingdom, Morgan Sheppard now resides in Germany, although she freely admits to having left part of her heart in Wales. Whilst a writer mainly in the fantasy genre, Morgan is more than happy to share her love of reading amongst the many different genres out there, and can always be found with a book close by.
As well as reading and writing, Morgan spends her time looking after her family and trying to learn German. Unfortunately, a natural aptitude for languages doesn’t appear to be one of her strong points. However, stubbornness is, so she continues to persevere. So far, Morgan is confident enough to order a beer and a pretzel.
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