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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Pirates Sighted, Windmaster #SnippetSunday

​ 
 

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 Windmaster, the first book of the fantasy, romance series, the Windmaster Novels. To set, the scene, Sea Falcon has been boarded.  And now the SundaySnippet.

Excerpt:
 
 “Masts ho, on the starboard bow.” Before she could act, another yell reached the already edgy crew. “Pirates! She flies a black banner crossed by white lightning.”

“Pirates! All hands to arms!” Ellspeth’s voice, pitched for battle, carried from one end of the ship to the other. “Prepare to repel boarders. No quarter!”

The Sea Falcon’s first officer spun the ship’s wheel in an attempt to avoid the unseen object. The screech of hull on hull pierced the air.


End of Excerpt

* * * *

Windmaster  - Available at these online bookstores

​I hope you like the snippet I shared for Ellspeth this week. 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 Golem Ear #mfrwhooks

An excerpt from Windmaster Golem using the #bookqw word, "Ear," of the first physical meeting between Lady Kiansel and Brodie the weaponsmith. To set the stage, Brodie is sent on a special assignment by Lord Dal.

Her back against one of the columns that surrounded the courtyard, Kia watched the line of pilgrims snake through the golden doors on their way into the temple. None of them matched the description Brantly provided of her escort. The urge to pace kept trying to take control of her feet. Time was short to get to the wizard’s isle and Brodie still hadn’t appeared. Once again, she exerted her will and remained where she was. 

Something drew her attention to a figure leaning against a pillar at the back of the courtyard. He was surrounded by pilgrims, but his clothing and attitude set him apart. In fact, Kia noted, he appeared to be patiently waiting for the pilgrims, allowing them into the temple first. 

The last of the pilgrims entered the doors and Kia hurried after them. The senior cleric on duty tolerated no tardiness and once he shut the doors allowed no one in. And, Kia thought, that includes me. I’d have to walk around the entire building to use the postern door. 

 “Excuse me, miss. I have a message for the Oracle. Could you please escort me to him?” 

Startlement at the voice near her ear halted her mid-step. The speaker was the man from the shadows. Yet she felt no fear, only a curiosity as to who he was. He stepped closer, bringing his face into the light. Warmth that nothing to do with the sun crept up Kia’s back, heating her neck. This is my escort. She scanned him with a new eye, noting his easy stance and the hilt of the sword peeking above his shoulder.  

He held out his hand. “My name is Brodie.” A smile lightened his previous expression. “And you are, Kiansel. In the name of the Archmage, Lord Dal, and his lady, the mage Ellspeth, you are welcome to attend the council fire on the Isle of Mages.”

As soon as her fingers touched his, a shock raced up her arm. It will be an interesting trip.

~ * ~

 

Magic animated the golem. Can someone without powers stop them?
 

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Changing Clocks at BWL

 

I'm visiting at the BooksWeLove Blog. Stop by and see some thoughts about changing clocks and changes at the end of a series.

~till next time, Helen

Hooked on Windmaster Golem, Morning After #MFRWhook

Magic animated the golem. Can someone without powers stop them?
 

A snippit from Windmaster Golem. To set the stage, this takes place the morning after Relliq tried to kill Brodie. Despite spending the night worrying about who broke his spell and whether the archmage would come to punish him, Relliq hasn't learned his lesson and tries another spell which results in another first meeting.

To see what started Relliq's angst, check out "Dark." 

Anger at his failure raised his pulse. His magic surged out of control. Across the room, tinder laid out on the hearth for the night’s fire burst into flames. Surprise at the strength of his power shocked Relliq. The fire in the hearth flickered into nothingness. Grasping control of the spell, he encouraged the glowing coals to relight. 

For a candlemark he sat and pondered the dancing flames. Contrasting thoughts danced with each spark that flared up the chimney. Ysbail always preached keeping emotions under control, he mused. The ease by which I brought fire to cold wood proves she is wrong. Anger boosted my abilities.

Now just learn how to control them, reality added. 

A snatch pulled a bowl from the shelf. He had bartered a love potion for the bowl from a caravan passing through town. “Which will have an unexpected surprise attached to it,” Relliq laughed. “The wielder of the potion may find achieving his desire is not the pleasure he expected.” 

The sound of his voice returned Relliq’s focus to why he wanted the bowl. Untouched by food or drink, it was perfect for casting a spell. A splash of water to form a mirror and to consecrate the vessel and he whispered an incantation. 

“Nothing happened,” he snarled. There is no anger, no surge of pleasure or lust, he realized. Once again he called forth the rage that he could not control the living fog. 

“Vision near, vision far,
Show me a caster of power.”

The water in the bowl shimmered. A solid wall of stone replaced the reflection of the room around him. Relliq leaned in closer. What had appeared as the mortar between stones now revealed itself as the outline of a door. The perspective shifted to the other side of the wall and the slender figure whose arm raised as if to knock on the hidden door. 

At first he thought his spell had centered on the man from the night before. “No,” he hissed. “It’s not the smith. The image isn’t the chamber room of the wizards’ council. It’s not any place I’ve seen in my scrying stone.” A ray of sunlight penetrated the gloom of what he realized had to be a narrow alley. Braids of brown hair formed a crown in which crystal pins danced. 

“A woman,” Relliq breathed. “Look up. I need to see your face.” As if in reply to the command, the woman looked skyward.

~ * ~

And don't miss the holiday special. The entire Windmaster Novels series is only $1.50 at Smashwords.

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Ebook: Amazon / Kobo / More ebook stores

Hooked on Windmaster Golem, Bookqw Dark #mfrwhooks

 Magic animated the golem. Can someone without powers stop them?
 

A snippit from Windmaster Golem using the Book Quote Word, DARK. To set the stage, Relliq is not happy with his assignment as apprentice to a village healer. While she is out on a mission of mercy, he experiments with magic.  The result is the first encounter between competitors for Kiansel's affection.

Relliq threw more magic into the spell. A man appeared. Tall and wide-shouldered, he strode with confidence along at steep trail. Gray ropes snatched at his legs. The air around the figure thickened and within a heartbeat became an impenetrable haze.

Now the liquid in the bowl once again showed its true nature. As he had just moments before, Relliq searched his memory for the means to use and control the spell. A pairing came to mind. “Night be dark, light be gone, mist turn into a living fog,” he hissed.

What had been a haze thickened and pulsed in a rhythm that mirrored a heartbeat.

Relliq’s lips parted. He leaned closer to the bowl. The shadowed man fell, rose to his feet, shambled a few paces, fell again, then on hands and feet crawled through the swirling mass. Movement ceased when the figure placed his back against a sheer rock face.

The liquid in the bowl shimmered, then exploded. Sparks flew around the room, landing on the table, the floor, and in Relliq’s hair. Slaps put out the embers that burned his skin and clothes. Remnants of the shattered spell danced along the bowl’s rim as glowing sprites. After a frenetic dance, they merged and flared into a solid flame. A shriek at the pain in his hands and Relliq threw the bowl against the wall. Fire flowed down the wall where the blood droplets touched the stone.

His hastily whispered dispersion spell touched the flames which flickered into nothingness to cast the room into darkness. A single moonbeam pierced the gloom and moved across the room to pin the doorway in a spectral glow.

~ * ~

And don't miss the holiday special. The entire Windmaster Novels series is only $1.50 at Smashwords.


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Ebook: Amazon / Kobo / More ebook stores

Eliminate and Execute #MFRWAuthor

Although I prefer to write tales that end happily, not every character written is so fortunate. I don't know if it is the result of the longer nights of winter or another reason such as dealing with family interactions during the holidays (I'm not saying which) but my characters particularly hate the months of November through January.  

And in a fantasy novel, especially a sword and sorcery, you cannot expect every character to escape unscathed. When you try to eliminate someone and fail, there is a price to be paid.

 

Sometimes combat is offered instead of a trial before the village elders, leaders of the trading house councils, or the dragshi. This option is often selected where the characters are not near civilization or when a warrior's mate is involved. Combat is not necessarily limited to the male characters. To see who this option is offered to, you'll have to read the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles. 

 

As a teaser, a duel from Windmaster Legacy. To set the scene, Ellspeth and Dal are travelling with a caravan. Shonky, one of the herdsmen had propositioned Ellspeth the first night out of Letralia. His advances grew stronger until finally she reported him, however the only punishment meted out was  reassignment to the back of the caravan. When the herdsman continued to raise trouble, including striking Dal's apprentice and insulting Ellspeth, the archmage takes action to eliminate the man's attitude. 

 

Metal clanged on metal. The sound of fast and intense blows and counter blows echoed across the grass. Dal blunted Shonky’s attack and stepped back. Sweat streamed down the teamster’s face and chest, yet only light moisture dampened Dal’s skin. As Shonky shook his head to clear the liquid running into his eyes, Dal waited for his opponent to resume to battle.

On the next round, Shonky’s thrusts slowed and reflected the clumsiness of exhaustion. Like a ship cat toying with its prey, Dal lured the teamster back and forth across the battleground formed by the encircling men. Where his opponent’s moves were meant to cut and maim, Dal used only the flat side of his blade to get his point across. With each stinging blow, the watching herdsmen grew quieter until the only sounds were Shonky’s labored breathing and harsh grunts when Dal’s sword connected in a “lesson.”

“Will you yield?” Dal asked with a light tone. “And apologize to my bride.”

“No,” the caravan worker grated. His sword waved in yet another attack.

Dal’s weapon responded. The edge caught the other man’s blade and rolled around it in a disarming move. Men scrambled out of the way as the weapon flew into the grass.

“Here, Murdo,” Dal called and threw his sword to his friend on the sideline.

The ex-mercenary caught Dal’s tossed weapon and shoved it into its scabbard. “Look out, Dal.”

Dal spun to face the enraged Shonky who, arms outstretched, ran across the trampled grass. Dal ducked beneath the swing. His clenched fist connected with his opponent’s chin with a solid thunk. Before Shonky could hit the ground, Dal threw a second blow into Shonky’s middle. His breath whooshed out in a single gasp and he collapsed to the ground. Dal entwined his fingers in the wide belt around the herdsman’s waist. A jerk pulled Shonky upright.

Open-handed slaps forced the man’s head to the left, and then the right until Shonky’s eyes rolled up in his head. The silence from those watching assured Dal his point had been made. Releasing his grip, he let the herdsman fall to the ground.

 ~ ~ 

~till next time, stay safe. Helen

 

Windmaster Legacy - one click to estores

The Dragshi Chronicles - one click to estores

Perfect Union #mfrwauthor

Welcome to the monthly topic from the MFRW challenge. The topic is "Describe the Perfect Wedding."

The first issue is whether to answer this as myself or someone else. I had a small, informal wedding during war years. As to a fantasy wedding? Mega weddings where the gown costs a decade worth of income and the wedding and reception costs more than many people make in their lifetime may set the bar for comparison purposes. Would I want that? First I have too much Scotch blood for that. And, after almost five decades I think it is a little late to go the fancy expansive route. A number of the people I'd want to be there would have to be watching from beyond the veil.

After reviewing the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles, I decided to showcase a wedding that was the dream wedding of one of my characters. Although this is a duplicate topic from 2019, I didn't quite take the easy way out and duplicate it. That wedding came from the Readers Bonus included with the Dragshi Chronicle, Hatchling's Vengeance.

From Windmaster Legacy, snippits from the wedding of Lady Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon and Lord Dal, archmage. Now, keep in mind, that the event is being put on by the head of a trading guild, one of the leaders of their world and not without funds. This first snippit is the walk to the ceremony. The event is being held outdoors in the king's gardens.

Excerpt:

With a deep breath, Ellspeth stood and followed her mother, and soon-to-be mother-in-law, out the door to her future … and Dal. One corridor led to another, each one brightly lit by scores of servants holding candles or colorful lanterns. The path of light ended at the fern-covered arch of the garden entrance. Ellspeth halted in surprise. Old sailors had told her about passageways of honor, but she’d never seen one. Yet, before her stood a double rank of men standing at attention. Her first glance identified everyone in the left-hand column. They were the crew of Sea Falcon with its new captain at their head. On the opposite side of the path, the crew of Windmaster stood at attention behind Ailean. Each held a sword whose polished blade caught the light and reflected it back as a golden beam.

Now that Ellspeth has been honored and her professional life recognized, another item is needed to make it the perfect wedding. Someone to walk her down the aisle. The problem is that Ellspeth's father, Owain, was lost at sea many seasons ago.

Excerpt:

“Lady Ellspeth,” Vika said as he stepped out from behind the arch and offered her his arm. “Since your father Owain was lost at sea on Dragon Wave and there are no other male relatives, I asked Mirrim for the honor of being your escort.” He gave a wry smile as he added, “Your father and I shared a deck once upon a time. I don’t think he’d mind me standing in for him.”
“Thank you, Vika,” Ellspeth murmured. “I thought I would have to break tradition and walk in alone. However, I would be most pleased to have you accompany me.” Although her voice was light, she darted a glare at her mother’s back for not being informed of the arrangement. She thought she felt a feather-light touch on her cheek as if an invisible person laid a chaste kiss on it. Thank you, water gods, for letting my father share this moment. The sensation of unseen forces surrounding her grew, and when she placed her hand on Vika’s arm, their gold bracelets seemed to sing.

The final, and perhaps most important item at a wedding is the groom. Here Ellspeth sees Dal at the ceremony.

Excerpt:

As long as the walk to the garden seemed to be, the journey to its center flashed by in mere heartbeats. Time halted between breaths at the sight of Dal within the fern-covered gazebo. The silk collar of his black tunic matched the green of his mother’s gown. Embroidered symbols of his clan on the hem caught the light to glow against the dark cloth.

Timmel and Fraunces stood on each side of the wizard. Two leather strings dangled from the king’s fist in such a way only the tops of the wooden promise tokens could be seen. The similarity in stance between the king and Dal struck Ellspeth. Dal looks like a chieftain’s son. The old style suits him well. Her gaze took in the open throat of his shirt which revealed the leather neckband she had noticed upon their first meeting; the meeting when she mistook him for a common dockworker. A smile twitched at her lips at the remembrance.

Two floral wreaths of purple trumpet flowers interwoven with orange blossom12pt from the southern isle hung around the bard’s neck. “Those flowers must have been hothouse raised,” Vika whispered as he guided Ellspeth the final few steps to the waiting trio. “The trumpet flowers are only found in the highest mountain meadow and should just now be breaking through the ground. They are almost as difficult to grow as the island blossoms. It is a tribute to you and Dal that Fraunces had them produced for this day.”

The hidden musicians stopped at some unseen signal just as Ellspeth and Vika reached the gazebo. Timmel’s trained voice carried to everyone and broke the spell that held Ellspeth in its thrall. “On behalf of the Ladies Eilidh and Mirrim, I welcome everyone to witness the handfasting between Lady Ellspeth of the House of Cszabo and Lord Dal of Clan Daimh of the Mtwan Mountains.”

Now that sounds like the description of a dream wedding. To read the actual ceremony and the adventures that follow, read Windmaster Legacy. Click on the cover in the banner for a complete list of buy links and more excerpts.

~till next time, Helen 

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