The Dog in the Dark - A Novel of the Noble Dead

In his youth, Loni never felt that he fit in anywhere, even among his family or his people, the Lhoin’na, or the elves of the central continent. As he dwells on tales told to him by a doting grandmother, he begins to believe he might have been born in the wrong time.

One scant tale of a past age hints that the legendary Sorhkafâré led some of Loni’s people to the east at the end of the great mythical war. Loni dreams of those forgotten Departed ones, wondering if their descendants still exist. The answer may be more and less than he hoped in his quest to find where he belongs. [Short story, ~14k words.]

About "Tales from the world of the Noble Dead Saga"...

No knowledge of the Noble Dead Saga or other related works by us is necessary to read and enjoy any of these stories. Any reader new to this world can step right into it through any one of these short works.

Tales are organized into “collections” where all stories therein share a theme and/or premise. Most tales are not sequential and can be read in any order. When one or more link together, subsequent stories will mention “sequel to…” on their covers to guide you.
These short works can be your first adventure into our world or something to tide you over in the wait for the next of our novels to be released.

—Barb & J.C.

Rashed, one of the Noble Dead and a vampire, has killed his maker and master, Lord Corische. Fleeing his master's keep in Stravina, he takes with him Teesha, Ratboy, and his brother, Parko. At first, all four relish freedom in their separate ways, but they soon learn that freedom has its dangers for their kind.

Without a master, Parko quickly loses himself to the Feral Path, that seductive sensuality of being unrestrained in the hunt and the kill. Ratboy feels this call as well but is caught between this desire and his need for companionship and safety. Teesha, reeling much more than she expected at being "homeless," wants only a new place in the world of their own making.

Rashed is tangled in all of this by his sense of responsibility for his companions. Most of all, he's determined that Teesha never feel lost again. He'll do anything to create a home for her -- anything.

Ratboy continues to struggle against his longing to be free of self-restraint, to hunt and kill at will. Sometimes he succeeds against his baser instincts, and sometimes he doesn't. Then one night, when he loses the battle, his actions threaten everything that Rashed has managed to achieve -- including Teesha's safety.

About "Tales from the world of the Noble Dead Saga"...

No knowledge of the Noble Dead Saga or other related works by us is necessary to read and enjoy any of these stories. Any reader new to this world can step right into it through any one of these short works.

Tales are organized into “collections” where all stories therein share a theme and/or premise. Most tales are not sequential and can be read in any order. When one or more link together, subsequent stories will mention “sequel to…” on their covers to guide you.
These short works can be your first adventure into our world or something to tide you over in the wait for the next of our novels to be released.

—Barb & J.C.