Chapter 1 The shantak circled lazily around the fort, wings barely moving as it drifted downward. There was a crash as the scorpion a few meters away let loose, sending a bolt into the air. Jake watched it rise ever so slowly to impact neatly on the shantak’s chest. It would have been a kill […]

Chapter 1 “Jake!” Nadeen dropped to her knees next to him and clasped his head in her hands, staring into his face. His eyes were closed, a grimace of pain frozen on his face as blood dripped down his chin. “Mintran!” Mintran ran over and squatted down next to her, one hand prying open Jake’s […]

Chapter 1 The cloud of birds erupted into the sky again at the sound of the explosion, and even the horses in the corral, who should have been used to it by now, whinnied their displeasure. Jake waved his hand to disperse the smoke. “Well, it’s got plenty of umph, but it’s still too damn […]

Chapter 1 Jake pulled out the hard case and slipped on his sunglasses, relieved to see the harsh sunlight of the dunes reduced to a cooler shade. He carefully put the hard case back into the leather pouch on his belt. He didn’t wear his shades much these days because they attracted so much attention—they […]

Jake was a side character in the Book of Richard, and I had always intended to use him somehow. I had a lot of ideas about tying in various Australian (and maybe other) agencies and groups interested in the Dreamlands for one reason or another. As it turned out he totally ignored my wishes and […]