Join me at Bookstock 24. Meet and greet 60 local authors. Enjoy author talks and book signings, live music, choir performances, food trucks, face painting, and more. It promises to be a special time for the whole family, so we hope to see you all there!

Saturday, April 6, 2024 11a.m. – 3 p.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Memphis TN)
For more information - https://buff.ly/3v1shPt

2/13/2024

Duty, Honor, Loyalty #mfrwhooks



The challenge topic is "What is the most important value to teach children?" I considered the times when nieces, grandnieces, or grand-nephews were small. Then I thought about the characters whose tales I've been fortunate to chronicle.

Captain Ellspeth grew up adhering to the guild mottos carved in old script on the wood doors of the guildmasters office. On the left panel the way to do business, "Fair Trade – Fair Profit." And on the right panel, guidance for living the right life, "Kin Above All – But Honor."


Although it doesn't exactly match the qualification of "most important value," the following excerpt shows the Archmage Dal teaching a lesson, not in the classroom but on the battlefield. Dal demonstrates mercy to the vanquished... if they deserve it. To set the scene, now that his enemy's army has been routed, he advances of his previous captor who hides behind another man.

Dal closed the distance to Ruaridh’s fragile protection. He lunged forward and knocked the sword from the soldier’s hand. Beneath the askewed helmet, Dal saw frightened eyes within a pale face.
He could not be more than sixteen turns, Dal realized. “Unless you want to join him, I suggest you leave.” The hope that flickered across the youth’s face brought a memory of another boy who stood disarmed before a superior warrior. He heard Telarim the Red’s words again, as if for the first time.
I might as well use Telarim’s technique. “Return to your home,” Dal ordered the youth. “If in two turns you still want to soldier, find Telarim the Red. Tell him Lieutenant Dal sent you. Telarim will teach you well if you’re willing to learn.”  
The boy stepped aside, careful to keep his hands away from his sides. His throat convulsed several times before he was able to speak. “My lord, my life is now yours. I have no home to return to. For your mercy, command me and I am yours.”
Dal stared down into brown eyes young with life. “Take that black gelding. Go to Stratven and present yourself to the King’s Guard. The toiseach of the guard will assign you work until I get there.”
In honor of the nation's founding a bit of self-promotion about the book that inspired the title of "Duty, Honor, Loyalty." Hearth and Sand: Stories From The Front Lines and the Homefront is a collection of twelve tales of those who served on the battle front, and the stories of the loved ones left behind who preserved the homefront. How it relates to the title? The tales represent a continuity of service from the past to the present and into the world of tomorrow.

If the books referenced in the post, the fantasy Windmaster or the multi-genre Hearth and Sand, intrigue, click on the cover for excerpts and the first chapter. Or go straight to the buy links to paperback and ebook formats below.

Windmaster books2read  /  Amazon
Hearth and Sand books2readAmazon

~ till next time, Helen

5 comments:

  1. Real history inspires many of my historical novels as well. Sinful Seduction is set during the American Revolution. Since my home state, NJ, was the cockpit of the Revolution, I've spent a good deal of my time reading up on it. My novel is a tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Having someone so young throw themselves on your mercy must be a humbling experience. But it seems Dal is up to the task.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful excerpt. I love how you captured the boy's fear.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enjoy your stories and the lessons learned from them

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's great when you can weave real history into a story like this.

    ReplyDelete

By posting a comment on this site, you agree with the site's Privacy Policy on how your data is stored and handled.