Fablegate (ePub)

Welcome to the North Pole, north of everything, south of nowhere in particular. Population: 1,500.

That's 1,485 Elves, 1 Human, 1 Elemental Dragon, 1 Mutant Human Enchanted By A Sea Witch To Be A Reindeer, and 12 Sleigh-pulling Reindeer of the talking, flying variety that enjoy lichen pellets and really juicy gossip.

Of the 1,485 Elves, one is a quiet inventor named Reisse Grey. Just trying to go about his business while King Kringle is on holiday, Reisse is soon hounded by an amorous princess hoping to woo and wile him away from his tower workshop. Having none of it, and seeking a cozy place to hide from the royal entourage, Reisse sneaks into the home of the reindeer, and the home of the Pole's reclusive factotum Max Drowther. Unfortunately, Reisse's plan only leads him right to Max, with a lot of help from the Grange's animals. Not interested in running away from Drowther's potential wrath all at once, Reisse is persuaded to believe that staying at the Grange was all Max's idea. Until, of course, he learns he was conned by the 1 Mutant Human Enchanted By A Sea Witch To Be A Reindeer, otherwise known as Dreng the Phlegm. Dreng has motives of his own to get Reisse to hang around the Grange. He thinks Max's life could do with a little excitement, a slight overhaul, and that definitely includes some loving from a big-eyed, adorable half-elf like Reisse.

Once Max finds out what Dreng's been up to, it isn't all snowflakes hitting the fan as long-eared reindeer suppose. But Max has a reputation for being helpful, even if it's usually through a wrench or a well-timed appearance via the Pole's secret passages. Not wanting to disappoint the few friends he has, and aware that hell tends to unfurl while the King's away, Max allows Reisse to tag along on some of his handyman assignments.

An enormous anomaly is visually captured by the Pole Observers way off in the distance of the grounds. Max is told he has to investigate. The Pole Delegates, the Pole Observers, and even some of the reindeer, believe that the anomaly beyond the Fablegate is related to the attempts on Reisse Grey's life, Max's unwillingness to hand Reisse over to the Delegates without a strongly-worded argument, and, exhaustibly, the nonsensical nightmares plaguing both Max and Reisse.

Max is the lone human at the Pole, and the only one with the special privilege of all previous Pole Factotums: To travel beyond the Fablegate. This giant iron gate was a gift of the fairy gods to maintain the secrecy, magic and presence of the North Pole in an ever-present sphere of energy.

And so begins a whole array of intrigue, magic, poison, swordplay and romance. The more Max involves himself in Reisse's problems, the more he wonders what he's capable of. Finally letting go of his past, of course, since no good anti-hero is worth his salt if he doesn't have an enigmatic past. He'd like to try living up to the shadowy, vague expectations of his future self, but, mostly, he'd like to settle back into the factotum routine with his Grange friends, and Reisse by his side. If, that is, he can keep Reisse, and himself, alive long enough for even a taste of that elusive happily-ever-after.