Hide and Seek: Matriarchies of Muirin, #4

By Meyari McFarland

Aravel hummed happily as he carefully picked up the white yarn, working it into the blue ribbing for Mother's new socks. Then Anwyn wailed.

Her fury at being bedridden made knitting impossible so Aravel went hunting for something better to do.

Hide and seek for all the kids beaconed. So did a secret romance, a trade deal and the possibility of fresh baked cookies.

If he could just seal the deal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meyari McFarland
• Release date: Feb 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386054061

Meyari McFarland

Meyari McFarland has been telling stories since she was a small child. Her stories range from SF and Fantasy adventures to Romances but they always feature strong characters who do what they think is right no matter what gets in their way. Her series range from Space Opera Romance in the Drath series to Epic Fantasy in the Mages of Tindiere world. Other series include Matriarchies of Muirin, the Clockwork Rift Steampunk mysteries, and the Tales of Unification urban fantasy stories, plus many more. You can find all of her work on MDR Publishing's website at www.MDR-Publishing.com.

Book preview

Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

A Matriarchies of Muirin Short Story

Meyari McFarland

MDR Publishing

Contents

Other Matriarchies of Muirin Stories

Hide and Seek

Also by Meyari McFarland

Excerpt: Storm Over Archaelaos

1. Letter

2. Packing

Afterword

Author Bio

Other Matriarchies of Muirin Stories

In Reading Order:

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The City of the Ladies

Fight Smarter

Hide and Seek

Stormy Arrival

Repair and Rebuild

Storm Over Archaelaos

Facing the Storm

Tea and Knives

Luck of the Dana

Homecoming

Running From The Storm

Delicate Introduction

Following the Beacon

Coming Together

The Solace of Her Clan

Fitting In

You can find these and many other books at www.MDR-Publishing.com. We are a small independent publisher focusing on LGBT content. Please sign up for our mailing list to get regular updates on the latest preorders and new releases!

Copyright ©2017 by Mary Raichle

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Cover image

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ID 69548202 © Marina Pissarova | Dreamstime

ID 71182603 © Julenochek | Dreamstime

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be emailed to [e-mail].

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This book is also available in TPB format from all major retailers.

Created with Vellum Created with Vellum

This one is dedicated to MG Nemesi, for her beautiful art and for being such a lovely person to work with. You take my rambling descriptions and turn them into the most beautiful things, Neme!

Thank you so much!

Hide and Seek

Aravel hummed happily as he carefully picked up the white yarn and began working it into the blue ribbing he'd knit before going down into the offices for his daily lessons. It was lovely yarn, nice and thick for the socks he was knitting for Mother. The first sock had turned out very well, the leg and sole of the foot patterned with blue and white 'X' and 'O' shapes. If he managed to copy it properly, he should have a very nice gift for Mother to wear this winter .

The light coming through the window was wan and gray. His window seat was usually a lovely place to sunbathe at this time of day but it seemed like fall had come early. Instead of warmth, cold seeped through the window to chill Aravel's left arm and leg. He tucked a pillow between his body and the window, smiling as that fixed the problem. If he kept working he might be able to finish the leg of the sock before it was time to help Father make dinner. Maybe they could have honey buns; Aravel loved how they tasted and smelled. Honey buns always made the house smell wonderfully sweet for days.

I don't want to stay in bed!

Aravel winced and dropped a stitch on his knitting as Anwyn's wail of outrage carried out of the bedroom and through their entire suite of rooms. He carefully picked the stitch back up but got the yarn tangled as he tried to continue knitting. His efforts to untangle the yarn sent one ball rolling off his lap onto the floor, much to Aravel's dismay. Before it rolled too far, Aravel caught it so that he could rewind the ball before continuing to knit.

He couldn't blame Anwyn for being bored and frustrated, even if her response to the restrictions made him wince. She'd been stuck in bed for eleven days now, only allowed to get up for trips to the toilet and for meals. The meals had been a new thing in the last two days after Doctor Bernice had visited and pronounced Anwyn's stomach healed enough for sitting up and solid food. That was a lovely thing that they'd all celebrated with a special meal that Anwyn got to choose.

She still had the broken ribs and ankle though. Doctor Bernice had told Anwyn that it was going to be another month before the ribs healed fully and probably another month or two after that for her ankle. Anwyn hadn't like that at all. She'd pouted every day since, trying to get out of bed whenever an opportunity presented itself.

Annie, you'll stay in this bed or I'll call your mother up here to make you stay put, Father said sternly enough that Aravel winced from his spot on the window seat.

But I'm bored, Anwyn whined at the top of her lungs. "I've read all my books and my back is sore from lying in bed and I want to do something, Father!"

I know you're bored, dear, Father said almost as