Gustatus Similis Pullus: Second Breakfast

Feb 20, 2011

Second Breakfast

A head broke the surface and large brown eyes studied them. The seal wiggled his whiskers at Agnes.

“Hello, luv. How are you this fine morning? Who’re your friends?” The seal asked in a rough, gravelly voice.

“This is Jack and Eleanor Driscoll. They moved into Black Ledge a few weeks ago. They are aware,” Agnes told him.

“Gathered that. Not very often I see you sailing.” He nodded. “Hullo. Pleased to meet ya,” he gruffed.

“Hi,” Eleanor and Jack said at the same time.

“Hold that thought...,” he disappeared with a splash.

Jack and Eleanor looked at Agnes, questioning, but before she could answer, Seaton’s head popped back up. He gulped, smacking his lips around a mackerel tail.

“Mackerel are in,” he told them.

“Yeah, I saw fireflies last night,” Jack agreed.

“Well, there ya go. When you see fireflies you know the mackerel are in.” Seaton nodded his head with approval. Jack had just passed some sort of test.

“What are you doing this morning, Seaton?” Agnes asked.

“Well, seeing you this morning is what you might call a fort-tu-it-tuss circumstance. I need to speak with Camedon,” the seal told her.

“I’m not a messenger,” Agnes said.

“Aw, come on, Aggie. You know I can’t very well go find him.” He waggled his whiskers at her again, trying to gain her good favor.

Eleanor turned her head to hide her smile.

“If I see him, I will let him know,” the crow informed him, promising nothing. “And don’t call me Aggie.”

“Righto, luv. Well, best be off. Haven’t had second breakfast, yet. Nice to meet you.” He bobbed his head at the kids, and submerged.

“Luv doesn’t really work for me, either,” Agnes muttered.

“This is a drag, Jack. Why don’t we bag it until there’s some wind?” Eleanor asked.

“Might as well. Of course, it will still take us an hour to get back to the mooring,” he sighed. Then he brightened. “You know, I think that Seaton is right on with this second breakfast stuff.”

The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice

The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice (Kindle)
The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice (Nook)
The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice (iTunes)

Book II of The Black Ledge Series

The Black Ledge Series, Book II

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The Black Ledge Series:

The Keeper and the Rune Stone

An unholy ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover that there are things that go bump in the night...

Centuries ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagae - the beings we know as vampires.

Striving to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an accord, which they've renewed every year on the summer solstice. The ceremony depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.

Four children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into the fantastical excitement when they happen across a wise being who inhabits a nearby cave. He is the Keeper of the Realm. He befriends the children and enlists their help.

The adventure that follows is based on my suspicion that Elves and Dwarves came to Maine with the ancient Norse in the time of the Red Paint People. The story is filled with suspense, magic, adventure, and charming supporting characters. It’s both heart-warming and heart-pounding.

The Alabaster Chalice

Book II of The Black Ledge Series ...

.... finds the Driscolls settling into their new home and exploring the Realm's Magyk with wonder and delight.

The charm of the Realm turns to alarm when they meet Doris, the Acadian Water Witch, who's removed the Alabaster Chalice from its watery grave. The Noctivagae, drawn by the artifact's Water magic, seek the Chalice for their own nefarious purposes, and havoc ensues.

Eleanor, Rob, Jack, and Flora must return the Alabaster Chalice to the Undine Prince, Newlin, before it falls into the wrong hands.

About The Black Ledge Series and Paige W. Pendleton

Growing up, I discovered the natural world from my pony's saddle. The fields, woods, and rambling stone walls of Southern New England were my world to explore, and a better one could not be found.

Later, my education in the dental field took me into the laboratory, and I was captivated by microbiological microcosms -- entire realms of inhabitants of which most of us are unaware.

All of these worlds collide in The Black Ledge adventures, as well as my love of spooky stuff, and all things old.

I hope this work will encourage more kids to read under the covers with a flashlight.