An A to Z of Creepy Hollow Fae

Introduction

Copyright © 2012 Rachel Morgan

Cover Design by Morgan Media

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For more information please visit www.rachel-morgan.com

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AUTHOR'S NOTES

The twenty six short pieces in this ebook were written for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge in April 2012. This challenge, which involves writing a different alphabetically-themed blog post every day in April except Sundays, had over a thousand participants signed up. That’s a lot of blogs to visit and read! As a result, these stories are just long enough to provide a glimpse into some of Violet’s previous assignments, giving the reader a taste of the Creepy Hollow world and the life of a guardian trainee.

A NOTE ON GUILD TRAINING

Between the ages of six and thirteen, faeries would typically attend a junior school to learn basic skills such as how to use their own magic and how to open and direct faerie paths. Upon completion of junior school, a faerie could go in any number of directions: potions study, structural design, clothes casting, spell design, and many more. Those choosing the noble path of a guardian would enter a Guild to begin lessons, training and assignments.

Lessons provide background on the subject, while training includes physical strengthening, becoming skilled in different types of fighting, and learning how to access and use the invisible guardian weapons.

After first year, each trainee is allocated a mentor. Mentors guide their trainees through assignments in both the human and fae realm, and are also available for counseling and private training. Assignments are initially conducted in groups with a mentor supervising the situation. Later on, mentors will accompany trainees on paired and solo assignments, until the mentor is satisfied that his or her trainee can handle a solo assignment without supervision. In most cases, a trainee will remain with the same mentor for the duration of their time at the Guild.

 

Assignment Types

Group (with mentor)

Paired (with mentor)

Paired (without mentor)

Solo (with mentor observing)

Solo

 

Training

A guardian’s training is divided into five years:

First year: training and lessons only; no assignments

Second year: training, lessons, group assignments

Third year: training, lessons, paired assignments with a mentor

Fourth year: training, lessons, paired assignments without a mentor, solo assignments with a mentor observing.

Fifth year: training, paired and solo assignments

When training is complete and a guardian has graduated, he or she might be employed at any one of the Guilds in the fae realm. There is also the option of going into the service of the Seelie Queen, as well as offering private security services.