Kristen Britain
Kristen Britain grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where she started her first novel - an undersea fantasy featuring herself and her friends - at the age of nine. She published her first book, a cartoon collection called Horses and Horsepeople, at the age of thirteen. After completing her degree in film production at Ithaca College in 1987 she made the logical (?!) leap from cinema to the National Park Service. Her many years as a park ranger enabled her to work in a variety of natural and historical settings, from 300 feet below the surface of the Earth to 13,000 feet above sea level on the Continental Divide; and from the textile mills of the American Industrial Revolution to the homes of Americans who changed the course of history.
Currently she lives in a log cabin in Maine where she writes full time and pursues interests reading, guitar playing, and cartoon illustration, supervised by a cat and a dog. She enjoys exploring the magical places around her and can often be found paddling a canoe in stillwater, ambling through the woods to mountain summits, or sitting along the rocky shore listening, watching, and daydreaming. This is her fantasy, at least.
“Every moment of life mattered. Even the perfect snowflake that alighted on his palm and melted in seconds.”
“Human beings are naturally flawed when it comes to time and memory. The past is forgotten, or it is believed bad things will not recur, and people become bound in their current problems. That which afflicted the grandfathers of their grandfathers is a distant, dim thing, and not as important as present concerns, no matter how trivial.”
“Often, just as when they were children, it was four against one when some argument came up. At least they no longer sat on him to force him to submit to their wishes.”
“It's good to leave behind all that is comfortable and known every so often. It opens one's mind to the wide world.”
“You're a stubborn, ill-trained horse." she saidThe horse snorted and walked towards the North Road of his own volition. "Hey!" Karigan pulled back on the reins. "Whoa. Who do you think is in charge here?”
“I swear...I'll deliver the message for the love of my country.”
“Yes." His gaze grew distant. "If I'd have the chance, if my position permitted, I would have pleaded with her not to accept the mission because of the danger, and because I couldn't bear the thought of..." "Of losing her?”
“I'll do my best.”
“Do you love your country and your king?"Karigan paused. What a curious question. King Zachary was relatively new to the throneand she knew little of his policies or methods, but it wouldn't do to sound disloyal to adying servant of Sacoridia."Yes.""I'm a messenger...Green Rider." The young man's body spasmed with pain, and blooddribbled over his lip and down his chin. "The satchel on the saddle...important messagefor...king. Life or death. If you love Sacor...Sacoridia and its king, take it. Take it to him.”
“Identify you as messenger...to other Riders." The words were gasped as if hewere forcing air in and out of his lungs by sheer will to extend his life. "Fly...Rider, withgreat speed. Don't read m-message. Then they can't tor-torture...it from you. If captured,shred it and toss it to the winds." Then, because his voice had grown so faint, she had tolean very close to hear his final words. "Beware the shadow man."A cold tremor ran through Karigan's body. "I'll do my best," she told him.”
“You're a stubborn, ill-trained horse,”
“Reveal yourself, mage! Only a coward stays cloaked in invisibility.”
“They come in injured and mangled, we put them back together, then they stand in my halls making demands. A thankless lot to be sure.”
“But he's the king!”
“A hush of expectancy descended in the chamber as all waited to hear the request. What treasure could he want? Laren inventoried in her mind all the precious trappings of the castle she could think of -jewels, weapons, art-and she saw that the others must be doing the same. What did the Sacoridians possess that would be good enough for the Eletian prince?"My brother," Graelalea said, "requires many pounds of dark chocolate fudge and Dragon Droppings. We must visit the Master of Chocolate.”
“Not all is certainty in our world, Karigan. If it were there'd be no opportunity for faith; and then it would be a very dull existence.”
“You do not come to the thee-ator and it will wither your soul." (Madam Leadora Seamstress for the Royal Magnificent Theater)”
“Do whatever you must, Karigan," he told her, his voice so quiet it would not carry, "to come back. You must come back. To me." ~King Zachary”