Hooked on Fire and Redemption, Proper Respect, #mfrwhooks

  Dragon tears give humans special powers. If they can handle them.

A few lines from Fire and Redemption following Medraut's attempt to capture the a pair of magical wild stallions that ends with the dragon Medraut in human for on the ground. This snippit shows Karst's revenge for Medraut's blatant attempt on his life.

Movement in the corner of Karst's eye changed his attention from the man on the ground.

The tan horses trotted toward him. Each of the stallions held the reins of a riderless horse in their mouths. The slightly taller of the pair stared at the scowling Gault, while his companion glared at Medraut.

“Sorry, Medraut, Gault, I think your horses are spoken for.” Addressing the newcomers, Karst added, “My apologies, spirited stallions. Those two on the ground will not bother you again.” He waved at the backtrail. “If you will come with me, your masters await you at the camp.”

Despite the reins held in its mouth, Karst swore the horse’s snort was a mirthful laugh.

He gave a respectful nod to the watching stallions and turned his mount’s head to the trail leading to the caravan. “Spirited stallions, please follow me.” As the impromptu caravan moved out, Karst looked over his shoulder. “Gault, Medraut, don’t worry. I will send a trundle cart back for you.”

~ * ~

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Hooked on FIre and Redemption, Frustrated, #mfrwhooks

 

Dragon tears give humans special powers. If they can handle them.

A few lines from Fire and Redemption following Medraut's attempt to capture the a pair of magical wild stallions
To set the stage, in human form, the dragon Medraut tries to capture what appears to be normal horses. Karst's intervention not only thwarted the attempt, it left Medraut sprawled in the ground.

Deft movements freed the end of Gault’s now limp rope from Karst’s saddlehorn. A toss sent it flying to land beyond the other man’s reach.

Karst shifted his focus to Medraut. “Well, what are you going to do now?”

Anger mingled with disappointment on the other man’s face. Curses filled the air.

I shouldn’t enjoy this, Karst thought. But I am. He fought down a smile.

Medraut pushed himself to his knees, then wincing rose to his feet. “Karst, bring me my horse.”

“Or what?”

Where before there had been mixed emotions on Medraut’s face, now Karst saw nothing but pure hatred. “That pretty little nurse of yours will serve me.” Lips that had been tight from pain spread in a leer.

Fear froze Karst’s throat. He didn’t dare retaliate. Brial and I are not yet handfasted. She is free to choose who she will. Resolve grew in his heart. Brial will not be alone with Medraut. I will see to it.

~ * ~

Available in Ebook at BooksWeLove
Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

 

 

Hooked on Fire and Redemption, Attempt #mfrwhooks

Dragon tears give humans special powers. If they can handle them.

A few lines from Fire and Redemption using the #bookqw, "Attempt."

To set the stage, in human form, the dragon Medraut tries to capture a pair of magical wild stallions. And, if Karst is "accidentally" hurt, so much the better.

A strident bugle rolled across the meadow. Although it was a single sound, Karst had the feeling that it was much more. That it was a command.  

In response. Medraut’s mount kicked out. Its rider off balance from the maneuver, the animal jumped, all four hooves leaving the ground. Before it landed it twisted in a desperate attempt to unseat Medraut. 

         “Behave yourself, you stupid animal.” 

The horse ignored its rider and repeated its frantic maneuvers. The third time around, the horse spun in a tight circle, then reversed direction in a tight corkscrew.

His arms flailing, Medraut left the saddle and landed on his back with a thud. His breath gushed out in a moan.

~ * ~

Available in Ebook at BooksWeLove
Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

 
 

 

Hooked on Windmaster, A Treacherous Trail, #mfrwhooks

Freezing temperatures, storms of a generation, and inches of snow on Bourbon Street inspire a reprise of bad weather captured in one of my worlds of fantasy. In sympathy with those suffering from winter's rage, a snippit from Ellspeth and Dal on a rainy trail.

Excerpt from Windmaster:

Ellspeth’s world reduced to the shifting gray shadow that was Tairneach. Her eyes hurt from straining to see through the curtain of snow and rain that almost obscured the stallion. She rode with one foot scraping the rocks on the side of the narrow trail while her other hung over a thousand-foot precipice. One misstep and both rider and mount would plummet to the valley floor. The driving rain stung every spot of unprotected skin like a thousand cuts. Icy rivulets ran off her wide-brimmed hat. They sneaked beneath the collar of the lake seal cloak and ran down her neck. Waterlogged, her clothes sucked every ounce of heat from her body. Only where her legs lay against Cadno’s coat did she have vague feeling. Hours of riding in the howling maelstrom of cold and wet had dulled her mind to anything beyond the need to stay in the saddle.

Dal’s bellow penetrated Ellspeth’s consciousness. “This storm isn’t going to stop. Taer can’t take much more of this, and neither can we. There’s shelter not far up the trail.”

Chattering teeth made a reply impossible, so she just nodded. Even that slight movement threw her numbed body off balance. Fighting not to fall into the abyss, Ellspeth dropped the reins onto Cadno’s neck and wrapped nerveless fingers around the saddle horn to let the colt pick his way across a stream of water rushing over the rock-strewn path. The crunch of ice beneath his hooves reminded Ellspeth of the snap of the Sea Falcon’s canvas in a stiff wind. If I can stand on the Falcon’s deck, I can stay in this saddle. She clenched the leather horn tighter with a renewed sense of determination.

~ * ~

Hooked On Fire and Amulet, Submerged, #mfrwhooks

A few lines from Fire and Amulet using the BookQW "Melt."

To set the stage, Deneas and Trelleir, with their small charge in tow, escape a band of footpads by riding a tree trunk down the steep slope. However, they were not able to stop before being launched airborne. Their improvised ride lands not on the shore of the river, but in the water.

Excerpt:

Rage that he was an air dragon and not a water one surged through his body. While the fire did nothing to warm his body or melt the wall of glacial ice around his soul, it broke the paralysis caused by the repeated traumas. His mind cleared. Dragon senses showed not only the lighter color of the life-giving air far above, but the dark line of the log ... and a chance for survival. The need to reach the surface overwhelmed Trelleir. He struggled against the current to be dragged across an outcropping’s sharp edges.

Agony replaced all thought. Instinct took over. Like bark peeling off a branch, a layer of his spine rolled down to form a tail. His feet lengthened and pushed off his boots.

The scream of abject fear that pierced his mind shattered his control over his transformation. It could only have come from the white-faced Leri who struggled in his grip. Bubbles escaped from between her lips. One last wiggle and she went limp. I will not lose this one, Trelleir vowed.

~ * ~

Having a slayer as a friend is dangerous when you’re a dragon.

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

AND DON'T MISS, Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the Tear Stone Collectors.

The rest of the hop is at http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com

Hooked on Fire and Amulet, Wild Ride #mfrwhooks

 A few lines from Fire and Amulet. To set the stage, Deneas and Trelleir, have just rescued a kidnapped child from a band of footpads and are trying to escape. They can't go forward ... or backward. The only option is over the down the mountainside.

Excerpt:

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 didn’t make a sound as the log went airborne. 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..

~ * ~

Having a slayer as a friend is dangerous when you’re a dragon.

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

AND DON'T MISS, Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the Tear Stone Collectors.

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Second, #MFRWhooks

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft. Can love survive?

A snippit from Windmaster Legend using the Bookqw "Second." To set the stage, Iol arrives at his first command. However, Loch Bird isn't at her berth.

Excerpt:

A pinprick of light flickered in the darkness. Iol stared at the void beyond the dock. His intense watch resulted in capturing a second and a third flash, but he was unable to see the source.

The moon rose above the trees, limning the clouds with a dull glow. Its light showed a distant shadow that solidified into the recognizable shape of a hull. A breeze caressed Iol’s skin. Any stronger and the waves would push Loch Bird shoreward, smashing into the docks. Looking at the sky, Iol estimated he had only two candlemarks until the winds shifted towards Berife. And with the change, they would shove the vessel farther away from the shore.

Iol envisioned an even worse scenario. His ship caught in one of the north-south currents until she went aground against the rocks at the far end of the lake. Each wave would crash the ship again and again until nothing was left but splinters. I won’t lose my first command. Not before I even get aboard her.
He stripped and dove off the end of the pier. The shock of water still cold despite the summer heat stole his breath. He stripped and dove off the end of the pier. The shock of water still cold despite the summer heat stole his breath. 

~  ***  ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

 

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Detail, #MFRWhooks

 

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft. Can love survive?

A snippit from Windmaster Legend using the Bookqw "Detail."

To set the stage, when Pelra takes a friend shopping for a pair of promise tokens, she is overcome with the desire to purchase a set herself. But there are many problems with her her dream of a wedding.

Excerpt:

Pelra casually flipped through the sketches to see if one matched her vision, but none had a ship worked into the leaves. The only trees in the book ended in a leaf, not a stylized ship. If she wanted a tree, it would have to be custom made. Fighting back her disappointment, she looked at the gold rings, but her gaze kept returning to the wooden tokens on the wall. One ear tuned to Analese’s final arrangements, she gently turned over one of the wood pieces. To her surprise, the other side was not blank, but held a detailed carving of a horse. I don’t know why he hides the designs, but now that I know…

Three pegs down she turned over a pair of bone squares. Her breath caught. Her action revealed an engraved tree, with the carving highlighted by a dark blue ink. And like the tree in her vision, the leaf on the end of both branches was a stylized ship.

Why do you need a promise token? reality argued. Now the tone became strident. Let alone one with a ship instead of a leaf.

Pelra refused to acknowledge the nagging worry. She hadn’t picked out a mate, let alone asked him. What if he refused?

Propriety brought up another problem. How could she go against the custom of the man making the proposal? But in her heart, Pelra knew that any man she chose would not allow an out-dated tradition to prevent their handfasting.

~  ***  ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

 

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Strong, #MFRWhooks

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft. Can love survive?

A snippit from Windmaster Legend using the Bookqw "Strong."

To set the stage, Iol stands before the ruling council of the House of Pirri to present proof of his completed task.

Excerpt:

“Objection.”

Iol watched red darken Faeld’s neck. He had never seen anyone silence the councilman before.

“I object to this man’s testimony,” Faeld yelled. “By point of order, this man is not of Cszabo. He has a known history of bearing false witness, even under oath. Not only that, he is suspected of multiple attacks against our house including one in which I personally witnessed.”

Despite the murmurs supporting the request, the oldster sat stone-faced, then gestured Leod to continue. “Honored councilmen of the House of Cszabo, my ship, Cluaran Lèana, sank because it was sabotaged by Iol so it wouldn’t survive the storm that Pelra brought up. The charge of murder should be upgraded to kinslayer. Pelra was involved, I am her kin. Since Iol is a co-conspirator, that makes him a kinslayer.

The urge to scream, “Liar,” was so strong, Iol had to fight to keep his face impassive. I will have a time to rebut the accusations. Whirlwind thoughts of how to counter the lies swirled before disappearing into a black void. There was no defense he could raise. Not even the fact he was on the other side of the continent didn’t matter when magic was accused. He tried to read the council’s reactions. Why are they even listening to Leod?

Leod’s smirk and the corresponding looks of guilt on two of the councilman’s faces provided the answer. He’s bribed them. The hatred on one of the other councilmen gave another reason. Word of the petition for a handfasting must have leaked out. And the councilman was known for his hatred of Pirri. 

~  ***  ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

 

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Bright #mfrwhooks

 

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft.
Can love survive?

A snippit from Windmaster Legend using the bookqw "BRIGHT."

To set the stage, Leod was told his next berth would be a captaincy. It turned out to be a garbage scow. He disregarded the old-timers sea wisdom. The result was the Cluaran Leana sank.

Twenty-one marks on the small piece of driftwood propped against the side of the lean-to counted the days since Cluaran Lèana’s wreck. As he had every day since being washed ashore, Leod climbed the rocky spit at the end of the island. Hour after hour, he watched the blue expanse. The sun burnished his skin a deep brown. Even with the hat he made from woven tree fronds, the bright light of mid-day blinded and made distinguishing between surf and sky difficult.

Movement caught his eye. Leod held his breath. The small spot of yellow grew larger. Still, he didn’t move until the shape resolved into a sail. “Wahoo,” he yelled. Joy at discovery mingled with fear added speed to his footsteps. As he raced past the cooking fire, he snatched up a pair of burning brands. Skidding to a stop at the signal pyre, sand showered the prepared wood. A glance over his shoulder showed the vessel had not come closer. In fact, it seemed to turn away.

~ * ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

 

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Race, #mfrwhooks

 

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft. Can love survive?

For the next few weeks, posts showcasing snippits from Windmaster Legend. This week's uses the bookqw "RACE."

To set the stage, Pelra and Connal are heading to their next assignment, spending the winter at a remote mountain complex. 

The gelding whinnied and snatched at his bit. The actions pulled Pelra’s attention not to the trail ahead, but to black clouds at the other end of the valley.

“It will be a race to see which arrives first,” Eirik called over his shoulder. “Us at the village or the winter storm.” His voice reflected a calmness Pelra didn’t feel. “The storm is moving fast—and now so do we. Drop the reins and wrap your arms around the horse’s neck. The horses are sure-footed, they’ll get us off the mountain.”

His gaze raked her and he gave a nod. “Everyone’s ready, so let’s go!”

A curtain of wind-driven ice rolled towards them. 

~ * ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

Hooked on Windmaster Legend, #bookqw Pirates, #mfrwhooks

A forbidden love. An impossible quest. The accusation of witchcraft.
Can love survive?

A snippit from Windmaster Legend using the bookqw "Pirates."

To set the stage, Iol is out on the lake and awakes from an unusual sensation.
 

The ship shifted as if a wave rocked her. But the water was calm. Any movement came from another source. A shadow crossed the open hatch. The intruder hesitated a heartbeat, then glided forward a step… then another. Still Iol waited. The clouds that had been hiding the moon shifted. He suppressed the urge to curse. Although minimal, the light would reveal his position. He tightened his hold on the knife. A moonbeam showed a dark blob against the lighter doorway.

Iol leaped. A flick of his wrist whipped the wooden belaying pin out. The soft sigh as wood connected with bone and the thud of a body hitting the deck proclaimed the accuracy of his blow.

One down. Creaks overhead announced the danger was not over. Worry clenched at Iol’s heart. At least, two more trespassers remained. And they headed towards the bow where Bolte slept. Two splashes in quick succession provided no clue as to whether his apprentice or intruders had gone overboard.

Despite the shortness of his training, Bolte has become quite an experienced swimmer, pride whispered. He could tread water until the pirates were dealt with. A muffled curse from the stern followed by a hissed “stupid” provided the clues to place the remaining invaders. Two quick steps took Iol out of the hatch. Keeping the cabin between himself and the stern, he climbed atop the low roof.

The clouds shifted. The increased light revealed two shapes that didn’t belong.

~ * ~

Purchase Windmaster Legend at Amazon or these sellers. And don't miss the rest of the Windmaster Novels. Find more on the entire series from the pull-down menu above.

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Hooked on Imprisoned In Stone, Hope Lost #mfrwhooks

 Showcasing magic of a darker kind, Imprisoned in Stone.

To set the stage, Colwynn continues to search for a means to escape the inescapable cell. He had thought he had found a faint hope, but now it is lost.

Excerpt:

Colwynn called up his powers. The blue globe shimmered in his hand, warming it. He peeled the ball, then took the threads and wove them into a narrow rope. With infinite care, he threaded it along the purple marks on the wall that bore Nemor’s unique signature. The blocking spell fought Colwynn. His magic faded, then brightened as he fed more strength into it. Finally, his message slipped past the confines of the cell. He cast it outward to the cosmos. “Gareth, save Maerva.”

However, each time he repeated the sequence, he had less to fight with. The cell drained his strength and his powers. Yet, he continued to send. “Power bound. Dungeon in Sleuchdair. Save Maerva.”

The blue threads dimmed again one last time, then flickered into nothingness.

**  END OF EXCERPT *** 

Purchase Imprisoned in Stone at  these sellers  

 

~till next time, Helen

 

Hooked on Imprisoned In Stone, Hope #mfrwhooks

 Showcasing magic of a darker kind, Imprisoned in Stone.

To set the stage, Colwynn continues to search for a means to escape the inescapable cell. 

Excerpt:

A light touch, as if someone laid a hand on his shoulder, sent comforting warmth through his body. It was the same feeling as a benison—Tralin’s benison. The one she bestowed upon him and Gareth the morning of their parting. At first he discarded Gareth as a focus. The weaponsmith was not a full mage and probably would not receive the message. However, since Maerva could not be involved, Gareth was the only choice.

I feel Tralin’s blessing–the blessing will tie Gareth and me together.

The hope was faint, but hope still the same.

Pushing off the wall to his feet, he paced the featureless cell. Physical movement cleared his mind and he started examining the runes. One by one, he again parsed the restrictions and bindings to see if he could find a weak link among the interwoven enchantments. This time he could not even use his own spell to send a message. It was gone. Maybe if he tried the call through one written by a friendly member of the Brethren. Even as he thought it, he knew there was no such creature, only enemies and fanatics. However, there were two he had worked magic with–his father and Nemor.

“I don’t dare touch my father’s magic,” Colwynn muttered. “He would have a trap on it, but Nemor?” 

**  END OF EXCERPT *** 

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~till next time, Helen

 

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, An Inescapable Cell #mfrwauthor

For the next several weeks, the posts will showcase magic of a darker kind, Imprisoned in Stone.

To set the stage, last week Maerva searched for a means to find the missing Colwynn. This week brings some insights into what happened. Colwynn is a prisoner of the Brethren. And his tormentor is Nemor, second in command of the Brethren.

Excerpt:

The grace by which the older mage faced her death awakened Colwynn’s own inner strength. He pushed himself to a sitting position and then slowly to his feet. Even though the blocking spells absorbed most of the light emitted from the single candle high on the wall, he used the wan glow to examine the room. Stone by stone, he searched for a way out, either through magic or physical force. His questing fingers found only walls worked smooth by those of countless prisoners. Each time he found a hint of magic and tried to summon his own powers, the prison absorbed them, eating away his strength. Although he spotted his own spell interwoven among those who over the years had placed the restraint on the cell, the faint hope it provided quickly vanished. As he watched in hopeless frustration, his spell faded, dispersed by those of the Brethren members.

His back against the wall, Colwynn slid to the floor. He considered one approach after another, then discarded it. Who could he call upon for help? Gareth’s powers were too weak. And the only other wizards he knew were confirmed members of the Brethren. Only one person had the possibility of reaching him—Maerva.

Gathering his magic, he pictured her in his mind. A prayer on his lips, he cast out a desperate call.

Dead silence greeted his effort.

**  END OF EXCERPT *** 

Purchase Imprisoned in Stone at these sellers  

 ~till next time, Helen

 

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, Encounter #mfrwauthor #BookQW

 Magic of a darker kind. Imprisoned in Stone.

For the crime of healing without payment, the Brethren imprisoned Dylan’s soul in stone. Every full moon, they awakened him and renewed the bonds. When the blood dried on the stone, his awareness faded, but during those few brief moments, he had one thought--revenge. He embraces the pain of an awakening to reach out into the world beyond his stone prison. When a mind touches his and hope for escape from his eternal prison soars. However, his possible savior is unaware of her latent magic, the power needed to free him.

A snippit using the BookQW, "Encounter." To set the stage, Colwyn has disappeared and Maerva searches for him. All is not what it seems, there is magic involved.

Excerpt:

Maerva halted in mid-step. She glanced around the kitchen to see if she could find the cause of her unease, but nothing seemed out of place. The canines lashed to the spit yelped as they ran in circles. For a second time, the faint tickle whispered at the edge of her mind. Something or someone summoned her. The sensation felt different than any mental contact she had ever encountered. The caress of a lover’s touch mingled with the sharp edge of a blade. After making sure no one paid attention to her, she strode from the kitchen. Once out of sight of the workers, she raced in response to the irresistible summons.

The closer she approached the rooms the headmistress of Sleuchdair said were being used by special visitors from Bleve Aibheis, the surer her belief became that danger was nearby—and Colwynn was at the heart of it.

**  END OF EXCERPT *** 

Buy Imprisoned In Stone Here 

~till next time, Helen