Child of Ash and Flame by Maureen Flynn

Author:Maureen Flynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young female protagonist, fantasy epic quest, elemental magic, teenager saving the world, friendship, long journey of survival
Publisher: Maureen Flynn
Published: 2021-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

Kiera held up the plain clay pot filled with dark sludge. It was the afternoon of their departure. Claire sat on the ground at Kiera’s feet with her hair trailing down her back against an old blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Kiera’s long fingers brushed through Claire’s hair to distribute the dye evenly, and Claire relaxed, pushing the problem of the Beast aside. The brown dye applied in Autun had started to fade and needed touching up before her long journey.

“I’ll miss you,” Kiera said quietly. “Keep your wits about you and when this is over, we’ll have a huge party before I have to say goodbye.”

As Kiera massaged more of the dye into Claire’s scalp, Claire cleared her throat against the lump forming in her throat. Something had bothered her ever since she’d met Kiera. “What did you really think of my dad, of James?”

“He was charming and funny, and he told the most brilliant tales. I remember when he first arrived, he’d tell Suranne and I stories every day. He’d tell us about little folk who stole milk and fruit in the night, or about the gods of the well and of the lake who never asked for anything but a memory. He told us of wars between gods and goddesses and of men lost in the hills, following fae lights into the otherworld, never to be seen again.”

Claire laughed imagining her dad keeping two young teenagers transfixed with tales of Irish folklore.

“Did he remain a storyteller in your world? I’ve often wondered,” Kiera asked.

“He became a journalist.”

“A journalist? What’s that?”

“A journalist writes news articles for the paper.”

Kiera still looked lost.

“Never mind,” Claire said. “Yes, he remained a storyteller.”

“I wished for the longest time they’d stayed,” Kiera went on, as though Claire hadn’t answered. She gathered the last of the dye and spread it through Claire’s hair in foamy scoops, then piled her curls over the top of each other to let the dye take. “There was a part of Suranne that never did quite fit in. I didn’t ever want to admit it, but a part of me always knew she would go someplace far away on a grand adventure. When you get home, tell Suranne I forgive her and that I love her.”

Before Claire could find the right words to answer Kiera, a loud thump on the door interrupted.

“Who is it?” Claire called.

“It’s Jemroth, Lady Claire. The cart is prepared. When you are ready, get your things together. We leave before the light fades.”

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