Journey to the stars and worlds of imagination: #DragshiChronicles

Showing posts with label #DragshiChronicles. Show all posts

4/30/2025

2025 Z : Zealot #mfrwhooks

In the challenge, "Z" is for zealot. For the purposes of the post, the definition of a zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

A zealot has appeared in the fantasy worlds of the Windmaster Novels and of the dragshi. The brethren in Imprisoned in Stone was a fanatical cult determined to rule the world by any means possible. Blood sacrifices, curses and dark magic were their primary tools. Anyone with even a hint of power was forced to submit the Brethren's rule or be killed. In Dylan's case, for healing without payment in disobedience of the brethren's rules, his soul was imprisoned in stone.

The dragshi had their own zealotry to deal with for not everyone appreciated the rule of the dragon lords. Those without a dragon soul twin hated those who did. Not just because the dragshi had power, wealth, and respect, but because they were different. One such group was Groslom and his descendants. The tale of one descendent, Pyrell, is told in the novella "Forever Bound" in First Change.

In Windmaster, a cult of clerics determined to rid the world of magic were not going to stop with the deaths of anyone who had even a hint of magic. It didn't matter if they were innocent and had no magic themselves, the friends and families of a wizard were also marked for death. The clerics planned to raze any place associated with a mage.

The following excerpt from Windmaster illustrates the depth of their hatred. To set the scene, Ellspeth arrives on horseback at her ship to find her way blocked and stopped her horse in the shadows of the alley’s entrance. From her height she could see a squad of mercenaries gathered at the water’s edge. Craning her neck, she saw a row of armed men in the guild colors of the House of Cszabo filling the dock. Several squads of mercenaries stood at ease in the patches of shade around the edges of the square. Nearest to her, a dozen unaffiliated sailors blocked the entrance to the alley. Even worse, a ranking member of her house council stood on the dock. And his companion? A cleric of the Oracle of Givneh.

Captain Ellspeth,” her kinsman dismissed her with a wave of his hand, “by order of the House of Cszabo I am taking command of Sea Falcon.”
“Falcon is my ship. If it goes anywhere, I will be at the helm.”
“Enough of this.” Another’s imperious voice broke in.
Ellspeth shifted her focus to locate the speaker and settled her gaze on the face beneath the brown cowl.
“That ship needs to be purified. It is tainted by magic.”
“You want to take my ship because I gave passage to a wizard?”
“It is tainted. It will be purified... as will the crew.” Each word spit out, the tone demanded immediate, unconditional obedience.
Without looking Ellspeth could sense her crew preparing for battle behind her. Her own sword’s weight felt comforting across her thighs.

Read Windmaster to see if Sea Falcon sets sail and who would be at her helm.

I hope you enjoyed the challenge posts. ~till next time, Helen

To find buy links, click on the covers in the banner or use the pull down menus, or find me on Amazon.

The posts from the Marketing for Romance Writers group are listed below.

If you're following other blogs in the #AtoZchallenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

4/26/2025

2025 W : Wall

In the challenge, "W" is for the wall, the setting for the short story, "Between Swords and Sickness," in the collection First Change: Tales From the Eyrie.

To set the stage, the fever called the demon fire ravaged the city leaving only a handful of oldsters and teens to care for the sick and man the wall. Defending the sick and the dying, one man stood alone against an invading army. He had no hope but for dragon fire and talons. But Geelneach is only a man.

From "Between Swords and Sickness - The Undefended Wall" from First Change: Legends From The Eyrie.

Geelneach stood on the rampart above the city gate. The decision, whether to fight or surrender, was his to make. An option, one he had not dared consider, refused to be quashed. He sent Silat and the others to man the barricade at the Great Hall. Jaoth and Silat had argued, but Geelneach prevailed. “You are my lieutenants. It is your duty to obey. Now go.” He laid a gentle hand on both the youth’s shoulders. “No matter what happens this day, you have done your city and kin proud.”

He waited until their shadows disappeared into the mist which still blanketed the city. Despite the fog, the black pillar of the funeral smoke stood out. Each day he had prayed the column would still be seen and word sent to the dragshi of Alcari’s troubles. Or the local men recalled from their hunt. But time had run out, no reinforcements had come. Only one more thing remained to be done—to challenge the leader of the invaders.

Ignoring the danger, Geelneach stood up, silhouetted by the rising sun. Battle energy surged through him and he pulled his sword. His voice pitched to be heard by those standing at the foot of the wall he issued a simple challenge. “Drust, I challenge you, fight me one-on-one.”

“And if I refuse?” came an answer from the throng below.

“Then you are a coward,” Geelneach taunted. He let his disgust show on his features.

A tall, broad-shouldered man in well-worn armor pushed his way through the group of soldiers standing in front of a tent decorated with a captain’s banner. “Bold words for the lone defender of a city,” Drust laughed. “Did your troop desert you? If you can call that handful of gray-haired oldsters and unbearded youths a troop.”

The mercenary waved, his gesture encompassing those around him. “My ‘men,’ are all veterans of a dozen campaigns.”

~till next time, Helen

To read "Between Swords and Sickness," get First Change: Legends From The Eyrie at Amazon and These Sites

If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

3/30/2024

On The Shore, Hatchling's Mate #wewriwa #SundaySnippit

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

Gathering strength, Talann pushed back the redness still clouding his consciousness. One by one, other sensations penetrated his awareness. An iron grip suspended him above the waves, high enough to breathe, although spray stung his eyes. Movement replaced the feeling of weightlessness. Mud sucked at his hands. Pebbles scraped his knuckles and snatched at his feet. Huffs of breath in his ear let Talann know the price of the effort being made to shift his not insubstantial frame up the bank. ...

Muirea laid Talann on the ground beneath a tree with the effortlessness of a woman placing a babe in a cradle.

* * * *

Although safe for now, it is not the end of Talann's experiences with the river. He is still trapped on a hill that is rapidly being flooded by the rising waters. Be sure to read Hatchling's Mate for the next chapters.

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

I hope you like the snippet I shared for Talann / Glynnes this week. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads.

~till next time, Helen

3/23/2024

5Crossing Continues, Hatchling's Mate, #wewriwa

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their posts. And don't forget to visit the Sunday Snippet group for their teasers.

The crossing continues with unexpected help from dragonkind.

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

A glow, like that of thousands of fireflies enveloped his body. Confusion did not affect his eager grasp of the potential savior. No human, not even the dragshi had that kind of magic. The ancient ones, the true dragons, controlled such power, but they did not usually help un-bonded humans, only their own kind—and the dragshi.

Dragon-sent energy warmed—and healed—Talann’s body and soul. Could he be a dragshi after all? His pulse sped and frozen muscles thawed. Where before the surface appeared unreachable, within two heartbeats he breached into life-giving air.

Long gasps drew breath deep into his lungs. The burn lessened to be replaced by anger. He could not move. A wave washed over his head, then another.

* * * *

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

2/10/2024

Dive Deep, Hatchling's Mate #WeWriWa, #SnippitSunday

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Today's excerpt is from the fantasy romance Hatchling's Mate. To set, the scene, To set the scene, against all orders, Talann attempts to swim across a flooded river to save women and children stranded on a hill. (Crossing Halted). His ribs are broken by debris. (A Question Answered) Some help arrives (Unexpected Help), but it isn't enough.

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

Handhold by handhold, he moved along the muck. His lungs burned until the need to suck down anything, even water, overwhelmed. Only his steel-tight grip on his will prevented giving in and he blindly fought toward the next purchase. The filtered daylight did not reach the black object in front of him enough for a clear identification. He couldn’t tell if what blocked his path was the bank he sought, or he feared, a boulder with raging water on the other side.

* * * *

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

2/02/2024

Unexpected Help, Hatchling's Mate #WeWriWa, #SnippitSunday

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Today's excerpt is from the fantasy romance Hatchling's Mate. To set, the scene, To set the scene, against all orders, Talann attempts to swim across a flooded river to save women and children stranded on a hill. (Crossing Halted). His ribs are broken by debris. (A Question Answered)

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

Strength from a source other than his own will surged through Talann’s body. Within a heartbeat, the pain receded to a more manageable level and he pushed away from his floating sanctuary. Where before he had fought a losing battle, now he cleaved through the choppy waves. Each stroke brought him closer to the shadowy figure frantically beckoning him on.

<Dive, Tal. Deep!> Glyn’s command rang in Talann’s head. <Debris will reach you in four... three... two...one.>

The countdown echoing in his head, Talann bent at the waist and, ignoring the pain in his chest, dove until he touched the rocky bottom.

* * * *

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

1/28/2024

A Question Answered, Hatchling's Mate #WeWriWa, #SnippitSunday

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Today's excerpt is from the fantasy romance Hatchling's Mate. To set, the scene, To set the scene, against all orders, Talann attempts to swim across a flooded river to save women and children stranded on a hill. Waves knock him against rocks, doing more than knock the breath out of him. On the shore, Glyn sends out a mental question. "How bad are the ribs?"

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

Talann groaned and tightened his grip on the log. Any thought of fabricating disappeared in the instant of its creation. You can’t lie with your mind, Talann’s honesty whispered.

And I never could dissemble with Glyn. With a resigned sigh at the inevitable, he answered the query. <Broken>

* * * *

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

1/21/2024

A Crossing Halted, Hatchling's Mate #WeWriWa

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Visit the other participants on the list and read, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Today's excerpt is from the fantasy romance Hatchling's Mate. To set, the scene, To set the scene, against all orders, Talann attempts to swim across a flooded river to save women and children stranded on a hill. Waves knock him against rocks, doing more than knock the breath out of him. On the shore, Glyn sends out a mental question. "How bad are the ribs?"

And now the Sunday Snippet.

* * * *

Excerpt

The lack of response from Talann raised questions as to his true condition. Did he have the reserves necessary to complete the mission? More than his life was at stake. A decision had to be made whether to allow Talann to continue on, or to use the ropes intended to save others to save him. Finally, Glyn cast a silent prayer to her ancestors—and his—to guide her choice, and pressed for a reply.

* * * *

Buy Links: / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / More Sales Sites

Visit the Dragshi's page for more on the Dragshi Chronicles.

4/27/2022

2022 W : Working Dogs

"W" is for Working Dog. A working dog is a dog used to perform practical tasks, rather than being just for companionship. Their breed heritage or physical characteristics lend itself to working. The tasks they perform can also determine what they are called such as herding dog or livestock guardian. Introducing Kir from Fire and Amulet and Faoth from MAGIC AND STEEL, a novella in the collection titled, First Change: Legends From The Eyrie.

From my childhood, the inspiration for Kir and Faoth.
Even without formal training, the collie
became quite adept at herding sheep and children.

Kir is massive, black-faced dog. When responding to danger, his hackles stand up in a golden crown around his face. The lead dog of the pack, Kir not only has to obey his master's commands, but to ensure that the other dogs do as well. They help herd the sheep from pasture to pasture and stop any sheep from wandering off. Even more important is their job as livestock guardian. Kir and his pack protects the flock of sheep from wolves and other predators.

Idwal is the official master of the flock and Kir's master. However, that is only part of the reality. The flock is the property -- and intended to be the meal -- of a dragon.

Karst opened his eyelids a mere slit. Instead of a night-filled sky or the first silvering of dawn, his gaze met the glowing green eyes of the head sheepdog. The animal clamped its teeth on the blanket and with a tug robbed Karst of the slender protection the fabric offered.
“Now, Kir,” Idwal’s voice came from the darkness on the other side of the ashes. “That’s no way to greet such a distinguished guest as Slayer Karst.” He gave a harsh laugh. “My apologies. Kir doesn’t always have the best of manners. I just told him to wake you, Slayer, ‘cause we be leaving. You can stay as long as you wish. I drew the landmarks and directions to get to the upper trail in the firepit ashes.”
Karst felt more than saw the massive dog pad away in response to Idwal’s whistle.

Faoth from MAGIC and STEEL is a puppy. Several things make her a useful addition to the pack. Her tawny hide helps her hide from predators until she is ready to attack and she has a special instinct as to what sheep will wander off. More importantly, she is not afraid of dragons. Something the guardians of this particular flock need as they are kept in tribute as the intended meal for the true dragons.

To set the stage for the excerpt. Faoth is now almost full grown and was as large as her sire. The earlier instinct for safeguarding the sheep had matured along with her body. Her talent not only alerts her master to danger, it made her indispensable as a scout. She also served a more unusual function. Her size enabled her master to use her as a focus for the illusion capability of his enspelled sword, Mt’wan Comraich. Kedar has been summoned to the office of the leader of the dragshi to be given a new assignment and he takes the opportunity to use his swords magic.

With a flick of his fingers, Kedar signaled Faoth to bow to Lilese. A single step shifted him to the side. Pleased that he could maintain two ruses at the same time, he projected his voice to where Faoth stood. “You summoned me, mistress? How may I serve?”

Lilese gestured at the younger woman. “Kedar, I want you to meet Lady Mairin Aledriwyr. And, Mairin, this is Kedar, friend and valuable ally of the dragshi.”

Before Kedar could switch places with Faoth, Mairin stood and offered a hand to where she thought Kedar stood. Keeping her part of the illusion, Faoth balanced on his hind feet and held out a paw.

“What?” Mairin shrieked at the touch of fur rather than skin.

To read the rest of Kedar and Mairin's story, click on the First Change cover in the banner.

Fire and Amulet Sales Sites at Books2Read.

To make following my posts in 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

If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants

7/07/2021

Time and Turns, Seasons and Candlemarks #mfrwhooks

Time waits for no one. The topic began to percolate as a possible post while watching a beautiful June sunset. And thinking that the sun was going down earlier than I remembered as a child. And that outside activities are less and less. Of course, the heat index for most of the day was over 100 degrees, which precluded leaving comfort of air conditioning.

Time passes not only in the real world, but also in the worlds we create. A few examples follow where the word "Time" appears in a tale. First, from Hatchling's Mate, a volume in the Dragshi Chronicles. To set the scene, water is literally lapping at Talann's feet and there is a group of women and children stranded on a rapidly disappearing hillock on the other side of the river.

Talann pulled off his boots and tossed them aside. He let enough air escape to give the order. “Let’s do this.” His teeth chattering from the cold, he waded out into the rough waves and in a lithe move, dove into the dark depths. Currents countered his every stroke. Despite throwing every ounce of his will and muscle into the task he made slow progress. Each time he surfaced for a breath of air, the opposite shore seemed more distant.

Next, a few lines from Windmaster Golem, from the Windmaster Novels, of how time can change people.

Kia felt the strength of the Oracle in her brother’s gaze. Unlike the other times she had seen him in his official role, for the first time she saw him in the full splendor of this position. He seemed a pillar of lambent energy. Before she could react, he was once again the brother of her childhood.

Finally, a scene from yesteryear and today from the short story, The Introduction, which is part of the collection, Hearth and Sand: Stories From The Front Lines and the Homefront.

The flickering streaks of day’s end penetrated the deepening shadows. Barely visible was the shape of a man, a rifle held by his side. A closer view revealed a statue, frozen in time in a uniform of long ago.