John Horne

Welcome! For many years I've enjoyed spending time with a few characters, and over those years a story grew up around them. Over the coming weeks and months, we'll see if you enjoy spending time with them as well. A new chapter will likely be posted each week, so feel free to stop by regularly.

If you'd like to start at the beginning of the book, you'll find all the chapters listed in order on the main page for Another Way Home.

The time flew by and no one was more surprised than Garyth when Samir announced one day at breakfast that he and Al-tir would start out the following morning for the mountain city. He said the lame horse was cured and he was naming him Meeta, after a brave horse in one of the clan’s […]

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“How do you think Kalon and Sinril will manage on their own?” Steven asked, addressing his question to Samir. They had left the city just before sunrise and were making very good time. The downhill trek was far easier than the uphill climb.
“I worry about them,” Samir admitted, “but it helps to know they spent […]

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The next morning there was plenty of light in the rooms with east-facing windows, so Kalon, Sinril, and Al-tir began exploring that side of the building. Steven and Garyth rode down the hill to gather dead wood from among the stunted trees and bushes that grew on the hillside. The sun was hot but their […]

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That night they carefully looked over the map. “The trail appears to bend northward just a little farther,” Kalon pointed. “It seems to climb toward the wall of northern peaks. I checked the view in that direction from the lookout and spotted an isolated peak this side of the northern range. It could be this […]

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While they were roasting their supper over the fire, Garyth noticed that Al‑tir and Sinril were huddled together examining an object. Walking over to them Garyth asked what was so interesting. Al‑tir held out a smooth disc of transparent glass.
“Sinril found this in the cave room last night.” Garyth could see that the circle of […]

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By the end of the week, the Wyelanders were packing up documents, gifts, and clothes for their return journey. The days were still cool, but spring was in the air. Xond and Samir planned to accompany the group as far as the winter encampment of Xond’s clan, where the delegates were invited to spend a […]

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The second week after the Golian confrontation, the ragged edge of a winter storm overtook the travelers with cold winds and snow. The weather slowed their progress but did not stop them. Carlten and Garyth were used to cold winters and thought the snow was refreshing rather than hindering.
The worst of it was over in […]

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After a strong embrace, Carlten stepped back to look Garyth over from head to toe. “I thought you were finished growing, but look at you. Your mother will hardly know you. She and the rest are fine and in good health. They all send their love, along with a few remembrances that are in my […]

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The first week in Xandar Tahn passed very quickly; each day had its own wonder of fresh discovery. Garyth saw a huge library with countless volumes. He and Al-tir attended a concert given on the plaza in front of the Councilhouse with strangely beautiful music played on instruments he had never seen before. He watched […]

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Garyth and Xond rode to a building made of hewn plank, the largest structure in the settlement. Leaving the horses tied outside, they entered a wide room with a stone fireplace at one end. There was a long table near the fireplace with wooden benches on either side. Three men sat at the end of […]

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