This has been on here before, in January, but I am submitting to Hodderscape's Open Submission Window this week, which closes on Sunday, so I don't have much time. I might live to regret it (feel free to tell me so - it's not too late to change my mind!), but I have at least the first 15 k words fairly knocked into shape, so I thought it was worth a shot.
Any and all comments/criticisms will be gratefully received, but please try not to suggest any major changes after Sunday, because all I'll be able to do is cry by then!
Synopsis – The Blacksmith’s Apprentice
One moment, archaeologist, NIAMHÍN CASSIDY is running for her life in a rainy woodland, the next she is in a cave, her injuries being tended to by an old man with secrets in his eyes. His name is IMRYS, and under his guidance Niamhín takes on the role of his nephew, hiding her true identity. She has landed in the fifth century, in Sub-Roman Britain.
Niamhín is determined to find a way back to her own time, where her twin brother, DYLAN, had gone missing under suspicious circumstances. He is a historian, who has a fascination with the Dark Ages. Niamhín discovers that Dylan may have travelled through the cave portal ahead of her, but definitely not to this time. She begins to suspect that Imrys is not as simple as he first appears: he has the gift of foresight. He is also from a future time, having travelled back to the fifth century many years before.
Imrys tells her she has a role to play -- to keep the path of history on track; another time-traveller, the witch, MORAG, wants to change history to her own advantage. She sees Niamhín as a threat, not only to her plans, but also to the royal son her own powers tell her she will bear.
When the witch sends men to kill Niamhín, she flees the cave with Imrys. They are joined on the run by GARETH, the village blacksmith, whose slow smile causes Niamhín to find her life as a boy increasingly irksome. A little later she gets her wish when Imrys tells her to put on a dress again, but it isn't the release she hoped for. It seems Gareth still believes she is a boy, disguised as a young woman - a hard act to maintain.
Whilst fighting to escape one of Morag’s traps, Niamhín begins to discover her own gift. Before she can learn to control it, her wild, untamed power steals the sight of a minstrel. Later she has no memory of killing her enemies, or of bringing the wounded Gareth back from the brink of death. The minstrel, JACK A’WHIST, stays with them in the hope that Niamhín will, in time, be able to heal his blindness.
When AMBROSIUS’ brother, UTHER, arrests Niamhín’s party it appears all is lost. Despite this setback, she succeeds in warning Ambrosius about the witch, but not before Morag has seduced Uther and poisoned his mind. Under her influence, Uther swears he will kill Niamhín. Ambrosius takes the blind minstrel under his wing, but it soon becomes clear to Niamhín that there is more to their relationship than just protection.
An arranged marriage between Ambrosius and Niamhín’s friend, the beautiful YGRAINE, has repercussions that rock the land when Uther and Ygraine fall in love. Guided by a vision, Niamhín knows she has to help Imrys bring Uther and Ygraine together, because their son will grow up to be the king of kings, healing the land and routing the invading Saxons.
Their acts lead to war and bloodshed outside the walls of Tintagel Castle, but they succeed in bringing about the union. Niamhín reassures Ambrosius that the result of this night’s lust will be peace in their troubled land for years to come, even though she questions her own actions. Her fragile understanding with the quiet blacksmith is shattered – he cannot believe any king will be worth all the death and betrayal. She cannot bring herself to tell him that she carries his child.
Gareth is making a sword, trying to create a weapon he dreams of most nights. His efforts never live up to his expectations, so eventually he asks Niamhín, who he had been training as an apprentice, to help him out. Together, combining their magic and rediscovering the love they share, and accompanied by Jack a'Whist's music, they forge a weapon unlike any seen in that age before.
Morag spreads false rumours about who fathered the child Ygraine bears. A distressed Ygraine begs Niamhín and Gareth to take the child and rear him as their own, keeping him safe from Morag and her plans. Since this is just what Niamhín's vision told her to do, she accepts the charge.
Morgan’s poison is not just verbal. Ambrosius dies at her hand, leaving Uther as High King and Ygraine as his queen. Worse still, Niamhín finds out Morag also carries Uther’s child and that her baby will be the first-born. Morag disappears into hiding.
When ARTOS is born, Niamhín and Gareth carry him in secret to the wild north where no one will be able to find him. The trust they had lost slowly rebuilds as Gareth trains Artos in the use of arms and strategy, Imrys teaches him science and history and Niamhín tries to keep up with the reckless boy's mischief.
Between them Imrys, Gareth and Niamhín embed the sword in a boulder, deep in the Wild Forest. They place wards around it, so only the true-born son of Uther and Ygraine, the man who the sword recognises, can draw the sword.
One day, young Artos turns up with Jack a’Whist in tow, having found the blind minstrel living rough in the Wild Forest. Niamhín is shocked to see that Jack has Morag’s young son, MEDRAUT, in his keeping and the two boys have made friends. Is it coincidence, or has the witch outwitted Niamhín at the last? In either case, Niamhín’s careful planning for Artos’ safety has been for nought.
Artos has brought the seeds of his own destruction into their lives, but despite all her arguments, he will not hear of harm coming to a boy he considers under his protection. Niamhín recognises, with regret, that he is no longer a child. From now on, he has to live by his own decisions. Her role in his life is drawing to a close.
The book ends with Artos being left behind when his foster-father, Coel, heads to war with all his men, including Medraut. The boy takes the grey war-stallion he has been given as a consolation gift and gallops off into the Wild Forest, blinded by tears.
*****
This is the end of The Blacksmith's Apprentice. Although it is a stand-alone novel, I have two sequels written in first draft, forming a trilogy.
In the first, A Plain Sword (working title), we follow young Artos through his life, his love-hate relationship with his adopted brother, attempts by Morag to subvert the course of history to his betrayal and apparent death at thirty two years of age.
In the third part of the trilogy, Desert and Dragons (definitely a working title!), we finally catch up with Niamhín's twin brother, Dylan, who has travelled to a future Britain, a war-torn land, invaded and dying. With the help of the twins, Artos helps the survivors rally to defeat the invaders, once again saving Britain, as Imrys's prophesies foretold.
Any and all comments/criticisms will be gratefully received, but please try not to suggest any major changes after Sunday, because all I'll be able to do is cry by then!
Synopsis – The Blacksmith’s Apprentice
One moment, archaeologist, NIAMHÍN CASSIDY is running for her life in a rainy woodland, the next she is in a cave, her injuries being tended to by an old man with secrets in his eyes. His name is IMRYS, and under his guidance Niamhín takes on the role of his nephew, hiding her true identity. She has landed in the fifth century, in Sub-Roman Britain.
Niamhín is determined to find a way back to her own time, where her twin brother, DYLAN, had gone missing under suspicious circumstances. He is a historian, who has a fascination with the Dark Ages. Niamhín discovers that Dylan may have travelled through the cave portal ahead of her, but definitely not to this time. She begins to suspect that Imrys is not as simple as he first appears: he has the gift of foresight. He is also from a future time, having travelled back to the fifth century many years before.
Imrys tells her she has a role to play -- to keep the path of history on track; another time-traveller, the witch, MORAG, wants to change history to her own advantage. She sees Niamhín as a threat, not only to her plans, but also to the royal son her own powers tell her she will bear.
When the witch sends men to kill Niamhín, she flees the cave with Imrys. They are joined on the run by GARETH, the village blacksmith, whose slow smile causes Niamhín to find her life as a boy increasingly irksome. A little later she gets her wish when Imrys tells her to put on a dress again, but it isn't the release she hoped for. It seems Gareth still believes she is a boy, disguised as a young woman - a hard act to maintain.
Whilst fighting to escape one of Morag’s traps, Niamhín begins to discover her own gift. Before she can learn to control it, her wild, untamed power steals the sight of a minstrel. Later she has no memory of killing her enemies, or of bringing the wounded Gareth back from the brink of death. The minstrel, JACK A’WHIST, stays with them in the hope that Niamhín will, in time, be able to heal his blindness.
When AMBROSIUS’ brother, UTHER, arrests Niamhín’s party it appears all is lost. Despite this setback, she succeeds in warning Ambrosius about the witch, but not before Morag has seduced Uther and poisoned his mind. Under her influence, Uther swears he will kill Niamhín. Ambrosius takes the blind minstrel under his wing, but it soon becomes clear to Niamhín that there is more to their relationship than just protection.
An arranged marriage between Ambrosius and Niamhín’s friend, the beautiful YGRAINE, has repercussions that rock the land when Uther and Ygraine fall in love. Guided by a vision, Niamhín knows she has to help Imrys bring Uther and Ygraine together, because their son will grow up to be the king of kings, healing the land and routing the invading Saxons.
Their acts lead to war and bloodshed outside the walls of Tintagel Castle, but they succeed in bringing about the union. Niamhín reassures Ambrosius that the result of this night’s lust will be peace in their troubled land for years to come, even though she questions her own actions. Her fragile understanding with the quiet blacksmith is shattered – he cannot believe any king will be worth all the death and betrayal. She cannot bring herself to tell him that she carries his child.
Gareth is making a sword, trying to create a weapon he dreams of most nights. His efforts never live up to his expectations, so eventually he asks Niamhín, who he had been training as an apprentice, to help him out. Together, combining their magic and rediscovering the love they share, and accompanied by Jack a'Whist's music, they forge a weapon unlike any seen in that age before.
Morag spreads false rumours about who fathered the child Ygraine bears. A distressed Ygraine begs Niamhín and Gareth to take the child and rear him as their own, keeping him safe from Morag and her plans. Since this is just what Niamhín's vision told her to do, she accepts the charge.
Morgan’s poison is not just verbal. Ambrosius dies at her hand, leaving Uther as High King and Ygraine as his queen. Worse still, Niamhín finds out Morag also carries Uther’s child and that her baby will be the first-born. Morag disappears into hiding.
When ARTOS is born, Niamhín and Gareth carry him in secret to the wild north where no one will be able to find him. The trust they had lost slowly rebuilds as Gareth trains Artos in the use of arms and strategy, Imrys teaches him science and history and Niamhín tries to keep up with the reckless boy's mischief.
Between them Imrys, Gareth and Niamhín embed the sword in a boulder, deep in the Wild Forest. They place wards around it, so only the true-born son of Uther and Ygraine, the man who the sword recognises, can draw the sword.
One day, young Artos turns up with Jack a’Whist in tow, having found the blind minstrel living rough in the Wild Forest. Niamhín is shocked to see that Jack has Morag’s young son, MEDRAUT, in his keeping and the two boys have made friends. Is it coincidence, or has the witch outwitted Niamhín at the last? In either case, Niamhín’s careful planning for Artos’ safety has been for nought.
Artos has brought the seeds of his own destruction into their lives, but despite all her arguments, he will not hear of harm coming to a boy he considers under his protection. Niamhín recognises, with regret, that he is no longer a child. From now on, he has to live by his own decisions. Her role in his life is drawing to a close.
The book ends with Artos being left behind when his foster-father, Coel, heads to war with all his men, including Medraut. The boy takes the grey war-stallion he has been given as a consolation gift and gallops off into the Wild Forest, blinded by tears.
*****
This is the end of The Blacksmith's Apprentice. Although it is a stand-alone novel, I have two sequels written in first draft, forming a trilogy.
In the first, A Plain Sword (working title), we follow young Artos through his life, his love-hate relationship with his adopted brother, attempts by Morag to subvert the course of history to his betrayal and apparent death at thirty two years of age.
In the third part of the trilogy, Desert and Dragons (definitely a working title!), we finally catch up with Niamhín's twin brother, Dylan, who has travelled to a future Britain, a war-torn land, invaded and dying. With the help of the twins, Artos helps the survivors rally to defeat the invaders, once again saving Britain, as Imrys's prophesies foretold.
