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

 
 

 

The Fallen, Fire and Redemption, #wewriwa

 

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write ... and read. From Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the  fantasy series, The Tear Stone Collectors. This week's snippet continues the scene begun in Help Summoned and Danger. Sickness has struck the caravan. Karst has been watching Brial, who has been exposed more than anyone else. Not only is she driving a wagon where nursing is going on within it, but she has helped nursed all her kin. The fear is that by the exposure, Brial has caught the sickness.

Excerpt: 

Feldt reached out and wrapped his large hands around Brial’s waist. Only her grandfather’s strong grasp kept her from falling underneath the wagon wheels. A single tug lifted her from the ground. He stepped into the saddle and with Brial cradled in his arms returned to Karst in a trail of dust.

Feldt’s hand on his shoulder pulled Karst from his vision. “You know what to do?”  

Unsure of his voice, Karst merely nodded.

“Do what you can for Brial. Food will be sent over.”

* * * *

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

​I hope you like the snippet. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads.

~till next time, Helen

Danger, Fire and Redemption #wewriwa

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write ... and read. From Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the  fantasy series, The Tear Stone Collectors. This week's snippet continues, Help Summoned. To set the scene, sickness has struck the caravan. Karst has been watching Brial, who has been exposed more than anyone else. Not only is she driving a wagon where nursing is going on within it, but she has helped nursed all her kin. And now the SundaySnippet.

Excerpt: 

A kick sent Feldt's mount galloping past one slow-moving wagon after another to wheel beside Brial. The horse walked slowly, keeping pace with the wagon. The words Feldt spoke were unintelligible, but the shake of Brial’s head told of her rejection of whatever her grandfather had said.

The argument carried on for several minutes before Feldt stepped down from the saddle. No sooner had his feet touched the ground than Brial stumbled, falling to her knees. Dragged along, the force of the movement tore her hands from the harness.

“No!” Throat muscles spasmed with the force of the scream. Even though Karst knew he could not reach her in time, he had to try to save her. His body refused demands to race to Brial. He couldn’t move. 

* * * *

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

​I hope you like the snippet. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads.

~till next time, Helen

Help Summoned, Fire and Redemption #wewriwa

 

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write ... and read. From Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the  fantasy series, The Tear Stone Collectors. This week's snippet continues, Sickness In The Camp. To set the scene, sickness has struck the caravan. Karst has been watching Brial, who has been exposed more than anyone else. Not only is she driving a wagon where nursing is going on within it, but she has helped nursed all her kin. And now the SundaySnippet.

Excerpt: 

Different responses raced through Karst’s mind. He didn’t want to raise a false alarm but needed Feldt’s help. “I have not kissed her forehead like the gray-haired ones do to test the heat, but Brial has stumbled several times. She is shuffling and leans on the hauler beasts to stay upright.” He paused to control his growing terror. “Tywyll and I are afraid she will fall under the hauler’s hooves or be run over by the wagons.”

Feldt stayed silent so long Karst thought he had overplayed his hand. “The evening air has a chill to it. My granddaughter does seem more flushed than called for. You were right to call me, Karst. She will not leave her post unless I order her to. Wait here. I will talk to her.”

* * * *

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

​I hope you like the snippet. Be sure to read the other #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads.

~till next time, Helen

Sickness in the Camp, Fire and Redemption #wewriwa

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write ... and read. From Fire and Redemption, Book 2 of the  fantasy series, The Tear Stone Collectors. To set the scene, sickness has struck the caravan. Karst has been watching Brial, who has been exposed more than anyone else. Not only is she driving a wagon where nursing is going on within it, but she has helped nursed all her kin. And now the SundaySnippet.

Excerpt: 

Terse commands sent the helwr to bring back Brial’s grandfather. Hopefully, Feldt can convince Brial what is best for her.

Hoofbeats announced the caravan leader’s arrival. “Tywyll said you wanted me?” Before Karst could answer the older man scanned the drivers of the following wagons. A worried expression on his face, he raised his eyebrows in question. “Brial?”

Karst forced out the words through his tight throat. “She has the fever.” 

* * * *

Available in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon
Additional sites at Books2Read

​I hope you like the snippet. Be sure to read the other Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and the #SnippetSunday authors for more great reads.

~till next time, Helen

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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