Alexander and Catherine

By P.J. Flynn

The follow-up to 'Lady Catherine', Alex and Catherine, recently married, have returned to 16th Century England where they upset the local witches and are in and out of favour with Queen Elizabeth I, who while in favour knighted Alex. A 'Sir' and father to Kate and Elizabeth, Alex has to supervise and defend his estate while accompanied by a talking horse, two protective eagles, and Rochele and her pet dragon, to whom Catherine takes an instant dislike. Homesick, will Alex ever return to the time and place he calls home, and be reunited with his twenty-first century family - his parents and sister. Which will he choose in the end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: P.J. Flynn
• Release date: Jun 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310622267

P.J. Flynn

Until 10 years ago the author, from Northamptonshire, England, worked as a plasterer but two serious operations gave him the opportunity to pursue a challenge he never thought possible.With the help of numerous friends and family members the dream of writing a book became a reality.The author takes you on 4 different adventures about Vicky and her magic horse, where Red the magical horse learnt his magical ways.P J Flynn's last book was again about animals only this time about cats, called "Tales of a Wild Cat". His new book is called "In the Land of the Unicorn".These books are now in 20 different countries across the world and if you go to www.animal-magic-tales.com and also onto Facebook under "The Magic Horse and Tales of A Wild Cat" you will find out more about the magical tales.Books are also available in printed format on the webpage.

Book preview

Alexander and Catherine

Alexander and Catherine

by

P.J. Flynn

and introducing

Siana Rochele Holmes

This Book Is Dedicated

To My Good Friend

Miriam Solomon

First Published 2016

P. J. Flynn

All Rights Reserved

ISBN No.

www.animal-magic-tales.com

E/Mail: [e-mail]

Facebook: Pete J. Flynn

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/animalmagic

Featuring poetry by

Siana Rochele Holmes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks to Miriam Solomon for her input while I wrote this book.

To Mark Neale for always being there when I was in need of his help.

To Leon Bunker and Lee Parrish at Computer Repair Shop for continually helping me.

To my editor Morgen Bailey whose expertise I could not do without.

Illustrations

by

Peter Panayis

Original artwork and printing

by

Mark Neale

Déjà vu settling inside,

He contemplates the first apparition,

Of how she came to stand before him,

The beautiful hooded temptation.

*

Enrolled into a reality of dragons and dungeons,

Witches, enchanted wildlife and bright light explosions.

Beautiful women tormenting his emotions,

Who will be the one who holds his true devotion?

*

Will Rochana return upon her dragon’s back,

Bring forth Pazima to scratch and roar,

Send him forth with all his might,

Accompanied white light and fireballs?

ALEXANDER AND CATHERINE

A NEW START – 1570s

The sun shone through the windows of our new home, a mansion on the outskirts of London, set in a thousand acres of woodland and rambling fields. All in all, it was a wonderful wedding present from Elizabeth, our great friend and monarch.

I looked at my watch. It was nearly nine o’clock, and then it dawned on me that, through habit I was still wearing my watch. I would have to be more careful with the technical things I had brought from the twenty-first century; they are all very nice, but to get caught with anything from that era would be a disaster.

Of course, Elizabeth had picked our home especially so that my Catherine was close to her. Their friendship was hard to explain. In Elizabeth’s case, I felt she was besotted with Catherine, and Catherine felt she had to go along with whatever Elizabeth wanted.

Elizabeth was a very dangerous individual, being the powerful person she was, and she had been known to turn quickly and that was always dangerous, not knowing when she would turn into a red-headed monster, capable of any atrocities she cared to think up.

After my morning mug of milk, we made our way to the stables which, to be truthful, were as good as many homes the ‘common’ people were living in.

The groom had saddled Pandoer and Sapphire, and we were ready to stroll around our magnificent estate like the Lord and Lady of the manor, surveying the wealth and lands we had acquired. This was new to me, and not in my make-up, but I supposed I would grow into it.

We rode for what seemed like ages, but in fact was only about fifteen minutes. I was dreaming most of the time – what I had in this lifetime was far removed from my existence when I had worked in the offices in madcap twenty-first century London.

This was so peaceful. Here I was, riding on this magnificent animal in the company of one of the most beautiful and desirable women of the sixteenth century who also just happened to be my wife.

What on earth could be better? Looking across at her, I had to smile. In turn, she was grinning. She knew everything I was thinking. I was sure she must have had a talking mirror like the wicked witch in Snow White – you know, ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall.’

A shot rang out and spooked both horses. The gamekeeper had just bagged our dinner, in the shape of a wild boar, some hundred metres away. Taking a closer look at the kill made me realize how lucky our horses were. The boar’s wicked tusks were still twitching, and many times when hunting boar, horses have been ripped open from underneath by those tusks and finished up having to be shot. I would rather starve than lose Pandoer in that way. I bent down and whispered sweet nothings into his large brown ear. He bent his head round and blinked one of his big brown eyes, and I said, Love you, fella. He gave a soft neigh. I think the feeling was mutual.

After a prolonged breakfast, I was feeling right at home; freshly made egg on toast with warm bread and with it, another mug of milk. I was now ready to find some sort of excitement.

The gentry are a lazy lot with shoes polished for them, clothes laid out, and Catherine had her own chambermaid to bathe and dress her.

This was how the other half lived. I don’t think so! I could wash my own bits, thank you! How embarrassing!

We had decided to have an extensive look at the estate. It was getting towards my dinnertime, but I assumed I would adjust in time, after all, we had only just had breakfast.

Back at the stables there were six more horses beside Pandoer and Sapphire. The rest had been brought from Ireland by Robert Dudley, a friend of the Queen, and came with the estate. I particularly liked a stallion they called Billy, and decided to give Pandoer a rest and ride Billy for the afternoon.

When Catherine turned up, she looked as if she was going to a party, not horse riding. Most women rode side-saddle but she had a split skirt and sat astride, unconventional for the time, but that was Catherine all over; she had to be different. When I was with Catherine, as usual, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. At last I think I know the meaning of love and how it feels, but love only stimulates the heart, the rest of my body has got to have adrenalin rushing around it, or else my life would be as boring as going to work in London.

Mounting the black and white piebald stallion was exciting to say the least. He had a spirit all his own, exactly what every male of any species wished to be. Rearing up onto his back legs, I laughed. If only I had a mask I would be saying, Hi ho, Silver, away, thinking I was the Lone Ranger!

Soon I had the adrenaline rushing through my blood-filled veins, intermingling to bring the excitement I was looking for. I felt alive and before I knew it, I was a dot in the distance. Coming to a halt, I could see Catherine waving and, I presumed, laughing at the predicament of my riding this flying machine of a horse.

A couple of minutes later, she pulled up alongside us, still grinning but taking her time so she looked as if she were the one in command. That was fine. I was in no hurry, soaking up the happiness of having an attractive woman, property and grounds to die for at my disposal.

We found ourselves near a woodland area, of course alien to us like everything else. From the wood we could see a whisper of smoke making its way through the trees. It was possible some poor devil was trying to make a living off the land for himself and his family.

Sure enough I was right. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be a good owner as I am far too soft. Huddled around a pathetic excuse of a fire were a couple with two small children. They looked fed up and as if they needed a decent meal inside them.

Catherine was quick to react, and mumbled about getting them off our land. I snapped back, telling her not to be so cold-hearted.

She pulled a face, implying ‘how dare you talk to me like that’, but my face must have looked black. I hate bullies, and she had the trappings of the spoilt upper class, who think they