Sneakpeek Sunday - rough snippet from ECHO RISING

ECHO RISING is the sequel to ESTELAN and is in progress but I thought I'd drop a little snippet from it because I am rather fond of the sequel thus far:

“Show yourself Yandi.”

The voice that met his Master’s command was unlike anything Cord had heard before, melodic and childlike, pleasant but with an edge of contempt. 

“Morden, you lovely creature, I am wounded.  You invade my Wood with that child thing and dare to command me?” 

“Yandi, you knew we were here, you made peace with Lady Kitin.  We are passing through to treat with the Nymphs.  Leave us and we will trouble you no further.”

The response carried through from another angle, and then it seemed to surround them, “You wound me Morden, once we were friends, once something more, why do you bear such hatred toward me?”

“You know the reason.  Leave us be Yandi.  For all the reasons you gave and more.  Leave.”

A strong gale rushed over them and was gone, followed by an eerie laughter that faded into nothing.  Cord looked to Morden, careful to mask his questions.

Sneak Peek Sunday

A small excerpt from ESTELAN......quite early in the novel.

Crossing through the wooden gate, Pallia noted blooming lilac bushes trimming the pathway to the tidy, white laurelwood home.  Halfway up the walk, Pallia paused, forcing herself to hyperventilate and projecting panic in all directions.  She banged on the heavy door until it gave way suddenly enough that she fell inward.  A pair of strong, rough hands caught her, lifted her as easily as if she’d been a small babe, and carried her into the house.  Overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion, Pallia lost consciousness.

Sunday Sneak Peek

My Sunday snippet from ESTELAN.... Elnor and Pallia followed the Mage through a series of corridors, completely bare except for the magically lit torches equally spaced along each hallway. The nameless Mage came to a stop before a pair of dark walnut doors. He bowed and walked off in the opposite direction. Elnor nodded to Pallia, pushed the heavy iron handles before them and allowed the doors to swing inward to expose an atrium. Pallia followed him in and withdrew her hood to get a better look at their surroundings. Cobblestone paths led from several entrances to a basic stone fountain in the center. The rest of the atrium was devoted curtains of hanging vines, several native herbs and florals commonly used in potions. The lofty hexagonal ceiling above was comprised of glass panes allowing a completely unobstructed view of Moon. “Welcome Lord Elnor and Lady Pallia.” A chill ran down Pallia’s spine as the higher than usual pitch reverberated through the atrium. She turned toward the unfamiliar voice and from the shadows emerged Master Ikaine wearing long robes of deep navy intricately embroidered and beaded silver around the belled sleeves and hemline. His eyes seemed to glow as he stepped further into the moonlight. Lord Ikaine’s face was marked by harsh features and a closely cropped gray beard that did little to soften his appearance. A wicked smile broke across his thin blue lips, “Come, we have a new regime to plan.”

New project woes....

So, I am collaborating with my daughter on a middle grade book called WeatherGirl. It is a great idea for a seven year old - believe me - and I am so proud of her. The issue arising is creative differences. Yes, I said it. Creative differences between myself and my seven year old child who apparently has a firm idea in her head of what WeatherGirl should sound like. Apparently I made the mistake of thinking my thirty-eh-hem years and already published books meant something to my child. Fortunately, it means a little more now that I made her sit down and start some character development and scene-setting. I mean, we have been kicking this idea around for weeks before I started her in on the writing process. She had no idea how much work went into a story, let alone a book. This is all good for her to learn, I mean, she is very bright and needs a new challenge which this will give her. So, the real challenge here? I think her idea is so brilliant that I am incredibly eager to work on it. I just started hashing out a general synopsis, a potential beginning, nothing serious because as I said, I am putting her through the real process. Anyway, she hated it. Tears, frustration, the whole thing. The little bit she read upset her so much. I'm hoping it is just a combination of her being tired and me going too fast, but we are definitely off to a rocky start with WeatherGirl. *sigh* Incidentally, what do you all think? Autumn Lavender lived in a large white house with fading black shutters and the best kept lawn in Kempsville. She had two loving parents who reminded her every day that they loved her. Autumn also had three younger brothers who reminded her every day that they didn’t love her. She walked to Briarwood Middle School with her best friend, Amelia. Her family believed in Sunday dinners together (though her brothers tended to kick her under the table and try to steal her dessert). Autumn played sports, especially soccer and basketball, but she loved to read. In short, Autumn Lavender was just like every other twelve year old girl in the great, big world. Except, she wasn’t.

Sneakpeek Sunday

Please enjoy this bit from ESTELAN.....

Elnor awoke in a strange place, disoriented and certainly not alone.  He opened his eyes to three strange creatures peering at him with dark, almond eyes.  No taller than his babes at birth with skin the color of oakenwood bark but somehow smoother, shimmering as one of Pallia's gowns in the moonlight.  Their slight frames and pointed noses were overpowered by the thick, earth colored locks curling wildly in every direction.

He is awake.

Certainly he will choose now.

She will want to see him first.

Elnor could hear the voices in his head, three very distinct sounds but higher pitched than a normal man.  “You are very curious, what are you if I may ask?”

What are we?

What are we he says?

What are thee?

Sneakpeak Sunday

Perhaps you noticed the Sneakpeak Sunday graphic on the side of my blog, perhaps not.  Either way, check it out and support some fabulous authors!

My contribution to the hop - an excerpt from ESTELAN

Tyla felt her breath catch in her throat, the Nymph at her bedside was beautiful.  His face angled in somewhat effeminate lines, clear gray eyes fringed in silvery lashes, and skin of the deepest blue.  Long white locks fell in waves about his shoulders.  He was certainly slighter than Kriton and the Twins but stood nearly as tall.  “My lady, we are Nydin of the Water Nymphs and we feel pleasure at your wakened state.  How does your arm fare?”

“Many thanks, My Lord.  I owe you a great debt for your aid in saving me.”  Tyla gave a nod of her head in lieu of the customary bow, hoping he would forgive her weakened state.

“Certainly, we understand you are unwell and would not expect such formality from you.  Though we would not ask for such trite customs if you were completely well, Lady Tyla.” Nydin tilted his head to the right, a smile played about his lips as he registered Tyla’s surprise, “You knew of course that most Nymphs are telepathic?  We have a connection now, as if you were of our kind.” Nydin seated himself upon the edge of her cot, across from Kriton, and took her hand in his, “We feel pleasure at arriving in time to aide you.  Of course, Lady Kitin was adamant you be saved, and whole.  There will be more to discuss of course, we merely wanted to see for ourself that you were recovering.  We will retire to our quarters now.  Please be well, Lady Tyla, we look forward to speaking with you again this eve.”  Nydin stood and left with little more than a nod to Kriton.  Tyla looked up to Kriton, puzzled and slightly embarrassed at the exchange he just witnessed.  She could not read his expression.

The Struggles of a 2nd Generation Tomboy

I wrote this a while back and have posted different versions/snippets in some other places but I am thinking of making it into a novel at some point.  It has a strong female protaganist based on my daughter in hopes of helping her to find her identity, to merge her tomboyish tendencies with the young lady she is.  It is a difficult thing to learn, hard to explain as a parent and one who went down the same road.  While I am confident in who I am now, it was not always so.  I see her going through the same challenges, the same conflicts.  At least clothes are a bit more forgiving than they used to be (I recall hideous pale pink and bubblegum colored sweaters with bows and ribbons and hearts).   The playground?  Not so much.  My daughter doesn't understand the draw of Justin Bieber, doesn't think boys are "cute" (not yet and I am so glad!), prefers basketballs and light sabers to dolls and playing dress up.  She asked for a Houston Texans Andre Johnson jersey for Christmas (*proud!!*) and cringed at the idea of "girly gifts" (though she handled those she received with grace beyond her years).  Anyway, I wrote this short story for my Peanut because I know how much she loves fantasy stories (again, *proud*) and I wanted to create somebody like her, somebody strong and beautiful and full of grace. 

A snippet from Atya

The silk nightshirt clung to her like a slimy second skin.  Atya willed her breathing to match the gentle rhythm of the dancing leaves outside her window.  Once her heart stopped racing she exhaled and wiped the sweat beads from her brow.   The herbs did not work.  Still the nightmare came with a vengeance.  An owl screeched somewhere in the distance, another bad omen.  Atya forced herself up on one elbow to feel the cool breeze on her face. 

            Pulling off the soaked shirt she shuffled to the wash basin.  Vara snored softly on her pallet, oblivious to Atya’s sleeplessness.  Slipping into a pair of trousers and training shirt, Atya crept out the door and down the hall, careful to avoid the creaky boards as she had every night for many years.  Sticking to the shadows, Atya made her way to the clearing beyond the forge. 
            “Pa-pa?”  She listened for the electric ripple through the trees.  It did not take long for the diaphanous image of her father to sweep into the clearing.
            “Atya, at the ready!”  Though lacking its volume, her father’s ghostly voice retained its severity.
             A broken branch flew across the clearing.  Atya leapt gracefully into a back flip but the thicker end caught her knee hard enough to alter her trajectory.  Recovering as best she could, Atya fell into a crouch and withdrew a scrap of metal from the junk pile to cut down the next bits of debris.
            “Faster!”
            “Yes, Pa-pa.” Atya grabbed a larger piece of scrap from the pile, shrinking behind it as a shower of stones battered the faux shield.  She waited for the barrage to cease before peeking around the edge of the metal plate.  A massive tree branch hurled toward her, Atya flung her makeshift shield at it and rolled to the side, cutting her hand on the smaller piece of metal she would not yield.  Ignoring the sting, the young woman rebounded in time to stave off the next onslaught of pebbles directed toward the spot she quickly vacated.
            “Again. This time do not speak.  An attacker will not seek your acknowledgement.”  Before her father’s ghost finished speaking, the crackle of a tree trunk warned her of its imminent fall.  Atya sprang to safety as the dead tree landed with a thud.  They continued in such a matter until the first rays of dawn colored the snow-covered peaks of Morine range. 
            Bruised and weary from training, Atya settled on a fallen tree trunk, watching her father’s ghost float to and fro as he was wont to do.  “Pa-pa?”
            “You are improving, Atya.” The ghost paused to look toward the house.  “How is your mother?  And your sisters?”
            “They are well.  Ma-ma stills sobs for you when she thinks we are sleeping.”  Atya and Vara kept that knowledge to themselves.  “Are you certain I cannot tell her?”
            “No, daughter, our arrangement does not work that way.  You and you alone witnessed the truth and made the oath.”  The specter looked to the east.  “I must go, Atya.” 
            “I know, Pa-Pa, I know.”  Atya closed her eyes to fight the tears.  He did not need to carry more guilt to the other realm. 
            “You could not have saved me, Atya.  Do not carry my death as your burden.”  His words, spoken a hundred times before, echoed through her head. As the first sunbeams warmed her face, Atya opened her eyes, tears flowed free and the memories came unbidden.

Seven years before

           “Pa-pa, how about using rubies?”  Atya watched as her father dipped the blade in water to cool it.  “They would match Commander Coulyon’s red cloak and –“
            “Atya, Commander Coulyon does not wish his sword to be jeweled.”  Castor had no sons but his second eldest daughter could pass for one given her crudely cropped hair and masculine attire.  “It is early, daughter, why are you awake?” 
             “I came to learn, Pa-pa.  I can do this.”  Atya sat upon a work bench toying with a small dagger and swinging her legs casually, eyes trained on Castor’s every move. 
             “Atya, they will never permit you to run the forge alone.  For all the games you play at being a boy it cannot change the truth.”  Castor crossed the room and laid his finished work beside her.  Firelight reflected off the blade and for a moment Atya swore she saw a shadow in the reflection.  “You are young, Atya, this will not be enough when you are grown.”
             “Yes it will, Pa-pa.  I am not like Vara.  Mother destroys all I cook, my weaving is pathetic, and I cannot sit still for lessons.”  Atya frowned.  There was more but it would not do to mention them now.  “I know the metals and the stones.  If you would let me work the fires I know I could –“
             “Enough, Atya.”  Castor laughed, a deep belly laugh that shook his large frame.  “Indeed you should have been a boy.  Very well, we begin your training by fire on the morrow.  I will speak with your mother tonight.”  He tousled her hair, still smiling broadly.  “Run along, wash up and help with dinner.”
             “Yes, Pa-pa.”  Atya leaned up and pecked her father on the cheek.  Before she could slip out the side door, the front entrance swung inward in a flourish.  Atya leapt behind her father as three guards burst through the door followed by Commander Coulyon.  Father and daughter knelt before him.  Atya studied the polished boots of the troops, waiting for the Commander’s release.
             “Rise.” 
              Atya waited for her father’s weight to shift before she stood and slipped behind him.  Peeking beneath her father’s elbow she studied the Commander.  Not much taller than her father, Commander Coulyon appeared far more menacing. Atya could not remember a time before this Commander.  Though she was but a toddler when Coulyon relieved the prior Commander of his duties, Atya knew the tale as well as any citizen of Leavai.  After winning a victory in the west, Coulyon walked into the former Commander’s war tent and slit his throat before the council.  After slaying three more men he was chained and delivered to Emperor Attan.  Most men would have faced a week in the stacks followed by a slow, extremely painful death, but not Coulyon.  In a surprise move, Emperor Attan promoted Coulyon.  Since then, the people of Leavei knew prosperity but at a great price.   Though always skilled in the ways of war, since Coulyon’s advancement the people of Leavei no longer knew the feel of peacetime.  Now the ruthless Commander stood before Castor with a menacing look in his eye and his lip curled in a sneer.
            “Is it ready?”
             Castor pushed Atya back further, “Go on, help your mother with breakfast, I will be in shortly.”  Atya nodded and slipped out the side entrance.  Ignoring her father’s instruction, Atya hopped on a crate and peeked in the window.
             “Commander Coulyon, I did not expect you this early.”  Castor shifted to the table where the finished blade lay.  “The blade will be ready this afternoon.  I can have my eldest deliver it to your camp –“
              “That does not work for me, blacksmith.  I requested it today, I am here and I wish my sword.”  Coulyon shifted.  “I am very disappointed.”
              “Apologies, Commander.  I misunderstood.   It will be done within the hour.” 
              “You do not understand.  I want my sword now.”  Coulyon flicked his wrist and before Castor could react, the three soldiers fell on him.  When they withdrew, Castor fell against the table.  Atya suppressed her scream, shock and fear cementing her in place.  One of the soldiers took the blade, handed it to Coulyon and led the way out of the shop. 
               Atya stumbled off her perch and flew into the shop.  “Pa-pa?”  Blood saturated his shirt in three places.  A sick feeling filled Atya’s stomach as she crept around to see his face.  His eyes were wide open and blood trickled from his mouth.