Author:
Alex McGilvery has been reading since before he can remember, and writing almost that long. He has published 18 books and is author and editor at his imprint Celticfrog Publishing. He lives in Kamloops with his dog and the stories clawing their way out of his head.

They’re chasing a myth in the name of science.

Calliope works for her explorer father as an artist, recording what he brings back from his journeys in her sketchbooks. When she’s given a chance to go along on a trip to capture a sea serpent she doesn’t hesitate.

Life at sea isn't what she expected, and she ends up fascinated by the engine room of the steamship HMRV Peregrine. A tragedy makes her assistant engineer, but Pentam, her father’s protégé, is even more determined than her father to make Cal a fine lady. That means protecting her from danger, even if it drives her crazy.
When science and legend collide, Cal is the one who must take up the challenge of survival, even if it means risking her new-found feelings for Pentam.

Calliope

Cal slowed her mount and swung to the left and followed a smaller road to another which ran straight past the gate. Setting her mount into a gallop again Cal raced toward the gate.


As soon as she was close enough to see the Anglian guards who stood outside the gate to the embassy, Cal shouted to them to stop the coach.


They finally heard and formed up on the road pointing their weapons toward the coach. One of them fired a shot and the sound of the coach changed as the driver hauled on the reins. Cal slowed and stopped her horse and jumped off, blessing the rides she'd taken in the mornings going to climb the wall.


"Commander Shillingsworth." she introduced herself to the honour guard. "The man in the coach has secret plans he intends to sell to the Kershians."


"She's the real thing," one of the guards shouted. "I climbed with her."


On the other side of the gate to the embassy, Kershian soldiers stood at alert with their own weapons.


Chapter 53: Turncoat Part 5