2025 S : Sailing

     

Since R was for rivers, following the theme, S is for sailing. As I have said before, I really do not like being in the water. That said, more than a few vacations or special events have included some aspect of a ship and sailing.

The following excerpt from Imprisoned in Stone describes a ship board problem. It is not written from personal experience. All of my sailing has been enjoyable with good weather. The one exception was a planned sail on a wind-powered ship in San Diego. Although they always said it doesn't rain in southern California, except for the day we arrived, the day we left, and the day before, it rained the entire time we were there. When we booked the cruise, being from the northeast, we of course asked about inclement weather to be told the cruise has never been cancelled. Well, that day it was. We showed up at the dock to be told the captain said he wasn't going back out. But out tickets could be used the following day on a different vessel. Instead of a sailing ship, we toured San Diego harbor on a large, party boat in a beautifully sunny day. All said, that was probably more comfortable than the pitching open deck in a thunderstorm.

Bad weather is always a hazard.
Superstorm Sandy put many a boat miles inland,
docked them inside buildings, or stacked the boats atop each other.

Cruising the Mississippi out of Memphis TN

The issue with on Wayward Bound is that a fanatical group of clerics put a curse on the vessel. Maerva has to use her limited training to save the ship, its crew, and her brother the vessel's captain. The inspiration for the clearing spell came from an episode of the television series, Sea Quest, where a grizzled sailor used an old sea chanty to rally the crew after the submarine is struck by lightning and is dead in the water.

Taking a deep breath, Maerva released it and cast her spell. Her voice rang with the full force of her will. “Clear our decks, we’re a sailin’. Curse be gone, our sails a fillin’. Crew be well, that we’re orderin’. Command, it shall be.”

Arcil carried the chorus in a rich bass. “Away ho, darkness leavin’. Away ho, Dawn be rising’. Away ho, curse be leavin’. Command, it shall be.”

Off key or out of tune, one by one the rest of the ship’s complement joined in. Even though the words were different, the tune of an old sailor’s chanty made it easy for the crew to lend their voices—and determination.

She kept everyone singing until raggedness entered their voices. Her grasp tight on Gareth’s fingers, she gathered the will of the crew, added her and Gareth’s magic, and threw it in a final thrust against the squirming mess. It vanished, leaving behind only the spray-covered boards. Maerva turned to Gareth to tell him, but the ship’s bow dipped into a trough sending her into his arms.

No motors, just the whistle of wind through the rigging.

I hope you enjoyed this insight into a trouble of sailing in a fantasy world. ~till next time, Helen

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Hints of the Future, Imprisoned in Stone #mfrwhooks

Writers are often asked what they were thinking off when a scene written. To tell a secret, sometimes we don't know. When the Year's End dance of Imprisoned in Stone was being written, the muse and the characters controlled the pen.  I was totally surprised when the sprites appeared and danced with Rascal and Kai, magical equines called the seisag.

Winged flecks of gold appeared, first one then another, until a dazzling curtain of light soared over the meadow. “The sprites,” Tralin whispered. “It has been many years since they appeared.”

The thunder of hooves shattered the silence of the meadow. In a flash of white, Rascal galloped out into the center of the sprites. Kai moved like a dark shadow at the stallion’s side. Instead of a solid glowing sphere, the sprites broke apart into four balls that each mirrored the full moon. Clusters of the golden creatures settled on Rascal and Kai, limning them with a ghostly radiance. The remainder formed ethereal versions of the horse and seisag. Real and sprite-created horses cavorted around the meadow to an ancient tune that floated through the night.

However, that is not the end of the confession. The other day I was scanning the story, looking for posts to include in the MFRWAuthor Book Hooks.  Whether it was the passage of years since the book's release or viewing it with a different eye, but I uncovered a foreshadowing I had been unaware of when writing the book.

Neither man, seisag, or horse moved until a solitary moonbeam penetrated the darkness to pin Tralin in a pool of white.

Now that I've revealed a spoiler as to Tralin's fate, I hope you're intrigued enough to check out Imprisoned in Stone. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and elsewhere. Excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and buy links available here.

~till next time, Helen

An Intruder, Imprisoned in Stone #WeWriWa

​Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write ... and read!
Today's excerpt is from the opening scene of the dark fantasy Imprisoned in Stone.

* * * *

Maerva opened eyes to a darkness, not only of her room, but of the soul. The sense of a presence held her motionless, even though she knew no entry was possible through the closed door or shuttered window. Air whispered over her skin as if someone touched her cheek. A breath later, the impression of an intruder vanished.

 The roar of waves crashing against the cliff, something she had heard since birth, comforted Maerva and pushed away the residual fear. Deep breaths removed more of the tension from her body, even though her skin remained clammy from perspiration. The moon reappeared from behind its filtering curtains of haze. No longer obscured, the low-hanging globe sent a shaft of white light streaming through the window. The beam moved up the wall beyond her bed, turning the darkness into a shadowed frame. Glimmering letters written by a ghostly hand resolved into words.

* * * *

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

~til next time. Helen

Hooked on Imprisoned in Stone, A Friend Lost, A New Friend Gained #mfrwhook

 
In celebration of next month's release of Windmaster Golem, for the next several weeks, content will focus on it and the rest of the Windmaster Novels. First however, due to requests, one final post from Imprisoned in Stone.

The excerpt continues the attack on Colywnn, Gareth, and Maerva. In previous excerpts, Gareth and the trapped mage, Dylan, combine their powers to fight off the Brethren. Colwynn defeats his opponent, but in a final act of revenge, a magical attack is launched at Colwynn's two friends. To set the scene, Gareth has been fatally wounded. Because of their joined powers, Dylan has control of Gareth's body. His magic is weakened and he is lying on the ground with Maerva and Colwynn kneeling alongside.  However, the blending of Dylan and Gareth's  magic also means when the body dies, both will be trapped forever. Their souls imprisoned in stone.

SPOILER ALERT - Only one can be saved.

Excerpt:

Dylan arched in sympathy with Gareth. The shock of full awareness sent nerve endings into overload. For the first time in centuries, air filled Dylan’s lungs. He was alive, yet not. His state blurred when the shimmering bridge formed over the black abyss. He refused to die, not before Cuhlwch or if necessary, one his descendants met their deserved end.

But he could not live and sentence Gareth to a lifetime tethered to the earth, away from his ancestors and kin. There had to be some other way.

Gareth’s ghostly figure materialized. “I can see the veil thinning,” the apparition said. “The rainbow bridge is for me, not you, Dylan.” The weaponsmith hesitated a moment then offered a hand. “Dylan, use what time is allotted my body to replace what was taken from yours.”

Dylan clasped the almost transparent forearm in the bond of brothers. “Give my love to Ethne for me. Tell her the time of waiting will soon be over.

“Hurry, Dylan,” Gareth gasped. “You must be in control before I pass through the veil. I can’t maintain the link for long.”

The pull of the black abyss threatened to pull Dylan into it. He cried out for mercy from Colwynn, a mercy not granted him by Beven or Cuhlwch. The darkness thickened and a second glimmering figure appeared on the bridge. “Gareth, watch out,” Dylan yelled.

A shadow version of Nemor grabbed Gareth and attempted to throw him off the bridge. Lightning flickered from one to the other as they struggled.

Despite the risk of an eternity in the void, Dylan bonded his soul, his will, to Gareth to help the weaponsmith pass through the veil.

“No, we will not fail after all these eons.” He reached up and grasped Colwynn’s robe. “Nemor’s spirit is on the bridge, trying to force Gareth off. If he succeeds, Gareth—and I—are doomed to the final death. He can’t hold Nemor off while he is tethered to this body.” His voice roughed with despair. “If you won’t free me, put me back into the stone. At least give Gareth a chance.”

Sadness filled the faces of those leaning over him. Dylan urged them to hurry. He did not know how much longer he could support Gareth. The power of the earth drained what little strength he had.

“I’m sorry, old friend,” Colwynn whispered. Though tears filled his eyes, his voice was strong as he called out the incantation to separate the souls and release Gareth.

Dylan felt the words break the ties that trapped his soul as well as that of Gareth. With a ragged gasp, he took control of Gareth’s body. Now released from putting his energy into keeping the body alive, Gareth had the full power of his being for the fight. Dylan looked at the weaponsmith’s faint aura and the black core of Nemor’s. Would there be enough time for Gareth to defeat his enemy and cross through the veil before the bridge vanished? Guilt added to Dylan’s knowledge that if Gareth failed, he was responsible.

The now almost translucent ghost that was Gareth grinned in anticipation. No longer hampered, he dropped on his back. With a yell, he flipped Nemor over his head.

Nemor teetered on the edge of the abyss. His arms windmilling, he fell backward. His mouth opened in a soundless scream that followed him down into the darkness.

“My wife has been avenged,” Dylan whispered. What little pleasure he felt was overwhelmed by the sadness when Gareth reached the veil, turned and waved a final farewell.

~ ~ End of Excerpt ~ ~  

I should mention, that this is not the final battle in the book. There is a lot more action and suspense to come.

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Hooked on Imprisoned, Maerva Saved #mfrhooks

A teaser of magic of a darker kind from 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. 

For this weeks teaser, Dylan's search for revenge continues. Last excerpt, Maerva was threatened. Now the blending of Gareth's and Dylan's powers save here. But the question remains. At what cost will it be achieved?

Excerpt:

“Dylan, help me,” Gareth yelled. “Our link is fading.” Using the last vestige of their combined powers, he gestured. The man who threatened Maerva turned into a pillar of ash. A heartbeat later, the dagger clattered to the ground. Gareth moved toward Maerva. He only took a single stride before light blinded him.

Every nerve in his body reacted to the pain. With a groan, he dropped to his knees, then fell forward. Hard rocks ground into his face. “No!” Maerva’s voice pierced the throbbing. Her hands beat out the sparks smoldering on his clothes. She mumbled a spell and a blue mist left her fingers to flow over Gareth’s body, forming a living cocoon. 

Gareth sucked down a long breath at the brief respite from pain. Labored breathing punctuated his speech. “Nemor was right. I didn’t have enough powers.” His back arched as fire raced along already tortured nerves. The runes flickered out.

* * End of Excerpt * *

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Paperback at Amazon / Barnes&Noble

Introducing Imprisoned in Stone

It is always exciting when two little words, "The End" are typed in a manuscript. Then the worries begin--and a shift. As authors we have to quiet the voices of our characters. Sometimes they refuse to leave and we promise to bring them back. More on that later as I have a dragon circling overhead.
But while Hatchling's Mate and Legends of the Dragshi wait for times and tides to change, another story demands to be told. Here's the opening to Imprisoned in Stone, coming autumn 2013.

The story begins:


Maerva opened eyes to a darkness, not only of her room, but of the soul. The sense of a presence held her motionless, even though she knew no entry was possible through the closed door or shuttered window. Air whispered over her skin as if someone touched her cheek. A breath later, the impression of an intruder vanished.

The roar of waves crashing against the cliff, something she had heard since birth, comforted Maerva and pushed away the residual fear. Deep breaths removed more of the tension from her body, even though her skin remained clammy from perspiration. The moon reappeared from behind its filtering curtains of haze. No longer obscured, the low-hanging globe sent a shaft of white light streaming through the window. The beam moved up the wall beyond her bed, turning the darkness into a shadowed frame. Glimmering letters written by a ghostly hand resolved into words.

They are coming.

I can sense the presence of the Brethren.

They murdered my son...my wife.

They are coming--the ones who killed me!

The message marks Maerva’s entry into the world of magic.
Thanks for joining me.

~Until next time. Helen