Lottery for Life #MFRWauthor

 

Welcome to the MFRW challenge. This month's topic is "An event where Luck played a part."

The tale of Mirabeesh, Empress of Eruichin, immediately came to mind when I read the topic. Before the rule of dragon law, the head daxa, the one who spoke for the god Tagachim, was second in power to the emperor. And he was the one who controlled what female would be chosen to marry the mountain god either by being thrown into a volcano or sealed in an ice cave.

A woman between the ages of seventeen and fourty was chosen by lottery, which is where luck comes in. Tiles bearing the names of unwed females or those who have failed to produce a child in five years of marriage were mixed and a random pick made.  Or at least it was supposed to be random. However, the head daxa had a specific woman in mind to be selected diovi.
 

Excerpt from Fire and Ice:

Xelme pulled a jade cube from the bowl and held it aloft. “Tagachim’s demands must be obeyed or fire will flow from the mountain. The ice will melt and rivers of burning rock shall submerge the city.” He spun to show the token to the crowd and returned his attention back onto Mirabeesh. “There is one here who meets the age—and is childless.”  

Mirabeesh wanted to run, but couldn’t move. The urge to plunge her blade into the daxa’s heart ballooned into life. Anything to silence Xelme, to stop him from saying the name associated with the token. In the end, she remained still.

Xelme radiated satisfaction as he announced his selection, “Mirabeesh, come forth.”

Roars ripped from the throats of the palace guards and the assembled townspeople prevented Kai’s low growl from being heard by any but her. She lay her hand over the fingers tight on her arm. “My lord, it is the law.” 

Tendons bulged, his grip turned into bands of iron. He let out his breath in a gush, releasing his grip.  

“It is all right, my love,” Mirabeesh whispered. “I understand.” She walked to stand at the end of the line of white. The embroidery and light blue color of her gown stood out, a flare against other diovi. 

Two red-robed men grabbed for her.  

Her glare stopped them in mid-action. They dropped their arms and stood in attentive silence. Instead of presenting the image of captive and captor, they became humbled servants.

Xelme grunted his displeasure, but kept any other response he wanted to make to himself. He dropped the green token into the tube. Making a show of his movements, he tied the lid in place with gold wire and held the container above his head. Despite the crowd of thousands, except for the pounding of her heart, Mirabeesh only heard the clatter of the diovi markers. Instead of reflecting the sun, the wood absorbed it. No longer a tube it became a black arrow, the symbol of destiny—and death.  

A drumbeat and two acolytes stepped from the shadows. The youths carried a metal globe mounted in a wooden frame. Light flashed on the polished bands. Xelme adopted a solemn demeanor. “No hand of man will decide who will be diovi. Tagachim will select his own bride.” After the prelate’s gaze raked each of the women before him, he slid the container of tokens into a slot in the middle of the wire cage and secured it with more gold wire. Deft movements slid a long handle into an open slot in the frame. One by one, first the acolytes, then their masters took three turns at the handle. Rattles accompanied each spin of the globe.

 Mirabeesh closed her eyes and wanted to cover her ears. Each clash of token against wood sounded like a death knell. An eerie silence forced her to open her eyes. Xelme held the tube in one hand, the lid in the other. Smiling, he tossed the lid back into the selecting globe. His tongue licked his lips. “Let those presented for sacrifice prepare to meet their god Tagachim.” 

 Slowly, inch by inch, the temple leader tilted the container until a single cube dropped into his hand. He raised his hand above his head, but kept the marker hidden. A cat with a trapped mouse he toyed with the crowed. Although his expression reflected the solemn occasion, Xelme’s eyes sparkled with pleasure. “Tagachim has selected his new bride,” the daxa intoned. 

 Inevitability darkened Mirabeesh’s soul. Even before the ruler of the temple revealed the cube, she knew the color—and whose name it bore.

  ~ ~ ~ 

 

First Change: Legends From The Eyrie
Print and ebook  - Amazon
More ebook  sites


~till next time, Helen

Be sure to see how the other authors answered the question. https://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/

Hooked on Dragon Destiny, Saving a Caravan #MFRWHooks

Welcome to the first book hook of the new year. BookHooks is a blog hop created by Marketing For Romance Authors where authors share a small snippet from one of their favorite books. To start off the New Year, an excerpt from the first story I ever wrote.

Excerpt:  

A flashing evaluation later, Branin decided the best way to support the trader caravan. The trail was too narrow for him to maneuver along the road. However the steep drop-off provided the necessary space. And if some of the attackers happened to fall over the edge, so be it.

Screaming his defiance, Branin folded his wings and plummeted earthward. His tail lashed out as he fell past the wagon. It ripped the sword from a burly man about to stab Yunka. Back the tail whipped and wrapped around the attacker’s waist. A tug sent the man, arms flailing, out over the chasm. With great sweeps of his wings, Branin soared upward toward the next group of fighters.

Loud cries of “For Clan Miller” reached his ears as the traders rallied, turning the tide of battle. Above the bedlam, Branin heard Broch screeching, urging her men to turn and fight. Then a male voice cut above her orders with a stentorian “retreat.” Those actively engaged in a fight broke off. In a panicked rout, they scrambled up the hillside, dragging wounded comrades with them. Although every instinct called for him to follow, Branin hovered above a wagon and initiated the change to human form. His great sword, Mt’wan Comraich, filled his hand before he even dropped onto the wagon’s roof. He searched the battlefield for Anastasia. A cold chill rippled through his nerves at the sight of Anastasia on her knees.

If you're hooked, and want to know what happens next, you'll have to get Dragon Destiny. Buy links are below. Or if you're not quite ready, more excerpts and a free read of the first chapter is here. 

Buy Links: Links to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon Barnes&Noble

~till next time, hope you'll visit the other authors sharing their Wednesday snippits.

Disaster? Not Really #mfrwauthor

We're at week 52. Where has the year gone? The year is now over and this is the final post of the 2018 challenge. We are supposed to write about "my wedding disaster." Now that is hard to do.

My wedding (lo those 40-plus years ago) was what might be called a non-existent affair. The bridal store didn't go out-of-business so I had my gown. The plane taking me south was on time. I was married on a holiday weekend because that was when my future hubby could get a three-day pass. After the ceremony in the chapel, the two of us went to dinner at the roof-top restaurant of the local hotel. (Since I was still in my gown and he his dress blues, we had great service.) Then while transferring from one post to another we had a reception on my family homestead.

So how to write about a "disaster." Maybe out the person who ran a finger along the back of the cake before we cut it? That didn't constitute a disaster because a little work with a knife removed the evidence so I'll have to write about the handfasting ceremonies I've written.

Besides difficulties in getting the bride-to-be or the groom to the wedding, or the tension during the formal proposal to the bride's ruling council (which could have scuttled the wedding), what one bride thought was a disaster was an interruption during her ceremony. As Broch walked down the aisle, people turned their attention from her to dragons a'wing. But the dragons flew on and the event continued so not really a disaster.

After reviewing the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles, here's a snippit from the reader's bonus of the handfasting of Glynnes and Talann. She has come into the room after the last of the meetings to plan their upcoming nuptials.

Excerpt from the Reader Bonus from Hatchling's Vengeance

Talann could feel her anger directed at him. “Glyn, my love, aren’t you pleased with the plans?”

She hesitated. “Yes."

He enfolded her in his arms. “The ceremony is for you, darling. My job is to do what I’m told, to look handsome. And…” A corner of his lips lifted in a smile and laughter danced in his eyes. “Not to disappoint you on our wedding night.” 

An innocence at odds with the earlier mischievousness smoothed his features. “I’m doing the best I can.” He held the disarming pose until some of the tension left her body. 

“Who told you that?” Glynnes growled.

Talann waited a heartbeat, then started holding up fingers. “Ranald, my father, Liam, Kynan, and that is just a few of the men from Cloud Eyrie.” He held up a second hand. “Vivel, every married master of the Ceoltier Guild who ever lectured me on protocol, my Uncle Eroh of Clan Weiss, Uncle Elem of Clan Miller.” He waited and added, “Uaine threatened me with dismemberment if I make you unhappy.”

Before his mate could react, he flicked up another finger. “Our illustrious lady ruler, my mother, Lady Dealan, Lexii.” He paused as if taking a breath before continuing.

“All right, I yield,” Glynnes said, holding up a hand. “No one can fight that horde of relatives and friends.”

~ ~ ~

You'll have to read the readers bonus included with Hatchling's Vengeance for the actual ceremony. Start here for buy links to Amazon, Kobo, and others. 

 
And don't miss the other posts in this final week of the challenge. Thanks for hanging out with me for the year.  Helen

Hooked on Dragon Destiny, Performance #MFRWHooks

Last month, Windmaster was showcased in the weekly Wednesday post. May is a month of birthdays and anniversaries, so for the next five weeks, I'll be celebrating a special event of my own--the releases of the Dragshi Chronicles. Each week a different book will be featured. For a human, a dragon form comes with more than just the freedom of the sky.

And since Mother's Day is just around the corner, in honor of the strong women in my lineage, a snippit from Dragon Destiny. Although she is not far removed from being a young girl, Anastasia shows her inner strength by performing in front of strangers--and her kin.

Excerpt:

With Uaine’s “good luck” still echoing in her ears, Anastasia climbed the two steps and walked to the center of the stage. Nerves she thought long conquered rose once again and grew stronger when she looked out over the sea of faces turned towards her.

She focused to shift the unease. They are just friends and kinsmen. This is no different than teaching the little ones their letters and numbers. Sucking a breath deep into her lungs, she held it for a mere second then released it as a single, clear note.

Once she started, her tension dropped away and she slipped into the familiar words. The broad smile on Uaine’s face and the surprised look on those around him removed the last of Anastasia’s uncertainty and she threw herself into the song. All too soon the last chorus filled the hall... and she realized, Nilbar and the other town musicians had been playing along with her. A flick of her fingers silenced the others, leaving only the sound of her voice. When the story told of the heartbroken Mirianth flying to the moon, Anastasia let her voice trail off until a profound silence filled the room.
 
A single clap shattered the thrall left by the music. The sound drew Anastasia’s gaze to the front row—Uaine. Trust him to support me and to show approval when no one else does.

~ * ~

If you're hooked, and want to know whether Uaine was the only one to show approval of the performance or just the vanguard, you'll have to get Dragon Destiny. Buy links are below. Or if you're not quite ready, more excerpts and a free read of the first chapter is here.

Buy Links: Links to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon Barnes&Noble

~till next time, hope you'll visit the other authors sharing their Wednesday snippits.