The Albion Chronicles book 1 – The Girl of Two Worlds
Author
Nelly Harper
Author Bio
Nelly lives with her son and one of her daughters in the stunning Blackdown Hills on the Devon/Somerset border. They share the house with their cats and a wonderful array of magical creatures she has lovingly crafted.
For the last twelve years she has been a regular at medieval and mutli-period events around the country. The last two years she has also added a well known LARP event to her hobbies. Here she can often be seen playing her customised harp.
She holds a Scottish degree (with distinction) in Business Administration, specialising in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. It is no surprise then that she wanted to have full control of her work when she decided to self publish and so set up her own publishing company.
Though she currently lives in Devon her favourite part of Britain has to be the Highlands of Scotland and this area features heavily in her writing.
Diagnosed with a B12 deficiency in 2012 which has led to her suffering with ME/CFS, Nelly has had to reshape her life to fit around her condition. The conditions are not well understood by the general medical profession and often misunderstood by doctors. If she had not taken matters into her own hands and contacted the B12 deficiency charity she would still be bed ridden and her life would be ruined.
It was this illness that gave her the opportunity to start writing. Always holding a secret wish to become an author but never having the time or dedication to actually do anything about it. With her love of history and all things mystical she naturally chose the field of historical fantasy to base most of her work.
When she is not busy with her writing work she works with her wood carving business.
Description
Moving through time causes the same kind of ripples that moving through water does. A body can be traced but a mind cannot.
Kariss must not get caught, she is Albion’s only hope and there is so much to be done. The Romans are looking to return. They must not get the chance to defeat the tribes and bring back their foreign deities.
When you are the gods only hope you must learn to trust them beyond doubt. Even when all appears lost.
Book excerpt
PROLOGUE.
As the newborn babe took its first breath and screamed to the world, a desperate plan was also born. The exact positions of the sun, earth and moon at that time were noted. Before they came around to these positions again everything must be in place or the gods would never succeed.
Her presence announced, she settled to suckle at her exhausted mother’s breast. The mother took one of the child’s tiny fists in her hand and smiled down at her. All the waiting in the world could not have prepared her for the overpowering rush of love she felt.
‘She is here,’ the old woman announced to the druid sitting cross-legged on the bare earth in front of her. His attention drawn from his meditative state, he opened his eyes and bowed his head in respect.
They were deep in the ancient elm forest surrounding the hill fort. The air was peaceful. Although not much of the sun’s rays reached down to the forest floor, here and there bright shafts of light broke through the thick, leafy canopy and reached like outstretched fingers to nourish the waiting greenery which had been struggling to survive.
‘Not before time,’ he answered.
‘She is here exactly when I wanted her to be. This girl has much to achieve in her life. She will have a few years only to be an innocent child. I hope to leave her one as long as possible but I fear it will not be as long as I would like.’
The druid allowed a frown to briefly cloud his brow. ‘It is a huge burden to place on a single being, are you sure there is to be no other way?’
The crone shook her head. ‘We have thought long and hard over this, it is the kindest route to take given the circumstances. She will be manipulated and used to our own ends, but should she succeed with our plan then the rewards will be truly great. Not only for us but for her as well.’
She took a step forward and placed her hands on the druid’s head, as if to reassure him. ‘There will always be ones to guide her when she needs them, I will make sure of it. You will ready your faithful for their part, but the full plan cannot be known by anyone, not even me. We can only set the stone rolling and hope to guide it along the path we need it to take. No matter what our plans for her, she will always retain her free will; she may yet choose to turn from our intended path.’ She paused and let out a sigh that was almost human. ‘We could still fail, we could still lose everything.’
The druid gave a grave smile. ‘I am unsure why she has to be hidden so far away through time? Surely it would be easier and safer to keep her here?’
