Shortly after Texas becomes a Republic, a tortured outsider and his forsaken gang are determined to make their fortunes bootlegging whiskey… but newfound powers and restless spirits soon divert their journey.
Shortly after Texas becomes a Republic, a tortured outsider and his forsaken gang are determined to make their fortunes bootlegging whiskey… but newfound powers and restless spirits soon divert their journey.
We meet the protagonist, Jack, who sets out on a journey with his gang of friends to bootleg whiskey out West. Instead, newfound powers take him on a path he never imagined.
Jack and company decide to make their way North. They end up with an additional passenger and find themselves in the middle of another skirmish at Horsehead Crossing. Jack is forced to use his powers once again.
Following the Texian skirmish, the gang continues down their planned route with Carmen in tow. They inadvertently befriend a bartender in their attempt to acquire another delivery. Their rush out of town leads them off the beaten path, and to a place with seductive lodging.
Mortimar is the energy that resides in the fold between the mortal and spirit planes. To see him is to glimpse beyond the pale. This shapeshifter is drawn to spirits seeking exit from the mortal plane, whether they are aware of it or not. Mortimar is not male or female. Mortimar uses birds manipulate matter to shape-shift into what is necessary as the transition to and from the spirit world.
We start to understand Mortimar's role in the Disputed Universe, this time taking shape as Mictecacihuatl, goddess of the dead in Aztec lore. These short stories provide clues to Jack's powers, as well as some other easter eggs to the supernatural elements and characters.