The Alarna Affair – Chapter Seven – Thieves in the Night

Hellin looked in on Jon later after he and Tam had washed up and dressed.  She insisted on re-applying wet towels to Jon’s head and neck, and giving them both a salve for sunburn.  “You’ll soon be healthy and brown … Continued

The Alarna Affair – Chapter Six – The Return of Doctor Blackfeather

“My word, Jon, I think you are correct,” the Professor said.  “It’s a sealed tomb passage, if I am not mistaken.”  The Professor pointed to a line of carved symbols.  “What do you think of this?” Jon peered up at … Continued

The Alarna Affair – Chapter Five – The Discovery of the Guardians’ Door

“Father’s gone on business for the moment,” Djaren said, opening the carriage door for his mother. “He’ll be home quite soon, I imagine.”  Hellin Blackfeather picked her small daughter up nimbly and set her in the carriage.  Ellea bore this … Continued

The Alarna Affair – Chapter Four – Introducing the Blackfeather Family

Jon told the Professor and Tam about seeing the pickpocket on the train but did not mention seeing the great black wing.  He didn’t want the Professor to think he was telling stories, and Jon was unsure himself of just … Continued

The Alarna Affair – Chapter Three – An Unexpected Passenger

The Professor and his charges boarded their new train without further incident.  It was bigger than the last train, painted green, with brown upholstered bench seats in little walled compartments. A hallway beside the compartments ran the length of the … Continued

The Alarna Affair – Chapter Two – A Daring Theft and a Most Mysterious Apparition

The grand terminal at Merigvon could be seen from some distance, gleaming amid the city’s spires. The great glass roof seemed to slide arching over them like a glittering clamshell as the train pulled slowly in. Other trains passed quite … Continued