The Tales of Barnley Forest: The Golden Child

By Jem McCusker

Oliver Clawfoot holds the esteemed title of Border Crosser – He is the last of his kind.

What begins as a short trip across the border, quickly turns into disaster when he is discovered by one of the Tall Folk. When the curious Penny Poppet starts asking questions, Oliver discovers the Tall Folk aren’t his only worry.

A panicked Oliver flees and damages the precious parcel he had been sent to collect. Can he get back across the border? Can he save Penny from her destiny?

Oliver will need to reach into a power he buried long ago and acknowledge the possibility of a future without Penny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jem McCusker
• Release date: Dec 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9780987632920

Jem McCusker

I’m Jem McCusker, author of the Stone Guardians and the Rise of Eden. Book one of the Stone Guardians Fantasy Series. This will be my debut novel and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share it, with it’s release scheduled for December 2018, followed by book two, Stone Guardians and the Sons of the Master in June 2019. I live in Brisbane, Australia with my husband and our two children. My eldest son, Sean asked me to tell him a story instead of reading one. I didn’t know where to start so I asked him what it should be about. He said he wanted it to be in Ireland because that’s where daddy is from and granny and granda too. Right, I thought, no pressure here. I’d half thrown something together in my head when he then requested it be about a frog. As it goes, I managed to craft up a little something that has a taste of Ireland and a quirky frog with long legs and personality to spare. I enjoyed the story so much that I created a cast of accompanying characters, a dash of humour, a lot of adventure and a large dose of imagination.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Oliver Clawfoot walked quickly through Mr McKade’s field. He skipped over stones and bent to the sway of the tall flowers in the breeze, all the while keeping his tweed cap firmly on his head. The shine from the crescent moon provided a gentle light overhead, giving the field a soft, luminous glow. He’d reached the halfway point and risked a quick look over his shoulder. He saw the house lights flicker moments before he heard the thud of Mr McKade on the front porch.

You thieving little squirrels! I’m coming for you! Grabbing his jacket and cap, Mr McKade reached for the shovel resting at the door before leaping down the steps two at a time and taking off at a sprint.

With no time to spare Oliver put his head down and ran for his life, and the lives of his people. He’d nearly reached the border when a stray tree root snagged his old leather boot and he found himself crashing to the earth beneath his feet. Desperately, he tugged on his leg, trying to free his foot from the clutches of the devilish root. He panicked as he heard the slow steps of Mr McKade as he walked between the flowers with a flashlight, shooting streaks of light to aid him in his search.

Left with no choice, Oliver pulled his pocket knife out and began to cut away at the root. It pained him to destroy the life that flowed through it. He whispered his apologies as his foot finally broke free. Using his gifts as a dwarf of Barnley Forest, he gently placed his hands over the damaged root and a soft shimmer of silver and blue flowed from his hand into it, fusing it back together.

Oliver was so close to the border; all he needed to do was stretch out his hand and he’d make it. Leaning forward to rest on his knees, he slowly began to stretch out his arm, being careful not to make a sound. Just when he was about to reach it, a beam of light from the torch shone directly down on him. He looked up to find Mr McKade looming overhead, his face a picture of bewilderment.

What are you? Mr McKade whispered as he peered down to examine Oliver.

With no time to waste, Oliver stuck his hand out, hitting the border with force. It lit up brightly in pure gold from the ground to the skies before Oliver disappeared into the light as quickly as it appeared.

Mr McKade stepped back quickly, shielding his eyes before falling to his knees where he stood. He felt something click in his memory and he was thrown back to a hospital room from almost a year prior, where he had his final conversation with his grandmother before she passed.

He saw the familiar gait of Huckles as he approached and automatically stretched out his arm for his pooch to snuggle in.

Well Huckles, it looks like our friends from Barnley Forest have returned. Mr McKade locked eyes with Huckles as they shared a knowing look.

Mr McKade picked up the torch he had dropped and made his way back to the house, scouring the flowers as he went. If someone had crossed the border from Barnley Forest, they had to have been quite desperate. He stood amongst the rows of tulips in the east field and saw three young, new bulbs that should have been in full bloom.

Took the time to heal it then, little friend, Mr McKade muttered to himself as he touched the bulb gently. He felt it—the small trace of healing energy—as it tingled on his skin and his face lit up with a grin. He turned and sprinted back toward the house.

He bounded up the porch steps and through the front door without stopping to take off his muddy boots or coat. Rushing up the stairs, his hand skimmed along the aged wooden railing and his boots trailed mud behind him. He raced into the bedroom and dragged out the corner chair before chucking his boots and climbing onto it to pull the ladder down for the attic. He scaled it quickly before pulling the small chain to his left, turning on the dim attic light.

In the far corner, near the glass arched windows, it sat just where he had left