2022 E : Escape #MFRWHooks

 

I have a problem. In most of my tales, the fantasy element fights with the romance. One book is classified as fantasy-romance and the next book in the series is romance-fantasy. In both cases, there has to be sufficient action to keep the hero and/or heroine in serious danger. Some authors don't kill any characters, especially ones they like. I do, with a caveat. No matter whether the story is truer to fantasy or to romance, I like happy endings. What good is escaping the worries of the real world if the imaginary one is just as depressing.

An excerpt of an escape in Fire and Amulet. To set the scene, a young girl running away from her kidnappers literally falls into Trelleir's arms. Before he and Deneas can return the girl to her village, those who took her block their way. 

Image by PoldyChromos from Pixabay

In the deepest part of his soul, Trelleir vowed if there was no other way than transforming, he would save Deneas, no matter the cost.

A tree balanced perilously on the edge offered a possible, albeit dangerous, plan. He leaned down and whispered into Leri’s ear. “When I say, ‘Go,’ you run to that log and climb into the hole in the middle where the branch is missing. I want you to scrunch down and hold on real tight.”

“Okay,” came back the wavering response.

“Ready ... Go.”

Leri hesitated, then raced towards the tree.

In the few heartbeats it had taken to give the instructions, the bandits coming up the trail had approached within a wagon length. The tableau of Deneas and the other group hadnt changed. Trelleir faced the newcomers. One side of his mouth twitched up in a rueful smile. This could be fun, he thought, if I took on my dragon form. I wonder how these footpads would fly without wings. All it would take would be a twitch of my tail to find out.

"Hey, old man, give us the girl and we might only break an arm."

With no way forward or to retreat, an unusual means of escape is needed.

Trelleir turned and raced to the tree. Deneas was already at the front, throwing her weight against a branch. He did the same, and the tree tipped over the edge. Running leaps had them astride the log. A sharp bump and the front part of their makeshift sled lifted, threatening to dump its passengers. It thumped back down when Deneas laid flat and threw her weight forward.

From within the log came a lilting, "Whee."

Faster and faster, their wooden steed slid down the muddy slope. The wind whistling past his ears brought another sound. Deneas sharp, Hold on. The sharp incline they had ridden down ended at a stone ledge jutting out of the mountainside. Beyond it lay nothing but open air. The log hit the flat spot, shuddered, and kept sliding. What seemed like wagon lengths below, white water rushed around jagged rocks. Unlike the earlier part of the ride, Leri didnt make a sound as the log went airborne.

Image by Photorama from Pixabay

 

Trelleir reached out and grabbed the child's flailing hand. His other hand clamped onto a branch in an iron vice.

The sense of flight ended. The front of the log hit the water, then dipped beneath the white foam. Trelleir didn't have time to warn Leri to hold her breath before a wall of water curled above them, submerging the log ... and its riders.

 

 Sales Sites for Fire and Amulet at Books2Read.

To make following the challenge easier, you can find all my posts at 2022 AtoZ Connections. Just remember, the next day's post isn't live until midnight.

~till next time, Helen 

 

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Since it's Wednesday, this post is doing double duty. The rest of the Book Hooks hop is at http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com