Hooked on Windmaster, Break #mfrwhooks

 

From the sword and sorcery fantasy, Windmaster, an excerpt using the BookQW word "Break." Following the post RAIN, this excerpt shows the cost of magic.

Excerpt:

Ellspeth felt the sudden departure of Dal’s magic just before he collapsed to the hard wooden planks, his sword thudding alongside of him. Her fingers pressed against his neck in search of a pulse. There was none. Tears burned her eyes. Then she felt a faint beat...and another. An involuntary exclamation of relief escaped her lips, “Dal!”

The moans of wounded men pulled her attention from the wizard. Her crew needed her. “No...no...no,” she whispered. Men held arms broken into unnatural angles. Two sails hung in shreds from the beams. Three safety lines disappeared over the rails, taut with the weight of sailors. Live or dead, she didn’t know. The sight galvanized her into action.

“All hands to damage control. Secure the safety lines. I want those sailors aboard...now! Jon, get Cookie topside to help splint these broken limbs. Take Lord Dal below to his quarters. After Lord Voan and Lady Jesmen have attended him, please ask their help with the Falcon’s wounded.”

After three days, Ellspeth could no longer stay away from the wizard. She descended into the belly of her ship and entered the cabin where he lay. Despite the bright light streaming in through the windows, the room felt dark and cold. Voan and Jesmen were already crowded into the small space. “How is he?” Ellspeth asked.

“Our herb magic has kept him alive, mistress. But we cannot break the spell that controls him. It is too strong.”

~ ~ ~

For the next chapter and to see Dal's fate, find Windmaster at these Book Sellers

And be sure to check out the rest of the Windmaster Novels.

The rest of the hop follows. Hope you'll check them out.

Hooked on Windmaster, Rain #MFRWHooks

In anticipation of the weather coming this week, from the sword and sorcery fantasy, Windmaster, an excerpt using the BookQW word "Rain." Captain Ellspeth learns that one of the wizards on her ship is more than he seems.

Excerpt:

Heavy sheets of rain obscured the horizon. Crashing waves broke on the Falcon’s bow and flowed over the deck. Ellspeth’s summons brought the three passengers to the wheel. “This isn’t normal weather for the Aberden Sea,” Ellspeth shouted. Her voice barely rose above the roaring water. “The wind is chasing around in circles, widdershins. It’s not natural.”

“No, it’s magic,” Dal shouted back. “Voan and Jesmen are healers. Their powers can’t help.”

“Then, m’lord, m’lady, thank you for your attendance. Your quarters will be the safest place for you right now.” Ellspeth’s eyebrow arched in question as Dal made no attempt to leave.

“With your permission, Captain, I’d like to stay. I promise to keep out of the crew’s way. Unlike the others, I’m used to fighting.”

Too focused on saving her ship to wonder at the relief she felt at the wizard’s offer, Ellspeth merely nodded approval. She moved aside to make room for him at the rail, their shoulders almost touching.

A long silence started to grow. Wind-driven rain grabbed at their clothes and plastered wet hair to their heads.

~ ~ ~

Buy Links: Ebook Sellers
Paperback at Amazon / Barnes&Noble

And be sure to check out the rest of the Windmaster Novels .

The rest of the hop follows. Hope you'll check them out.

Q is for Queen

Q is for Queen

A scan of the character sheets in the novel notebooks for Imprisoned in Stone and Hearth and Sand yielded nothing to use as a post topic. The series notebooks for the Draghsi Chronicles and the Windmaster Novels provided a single name, Qaralzha. However, that is from the story Fire and Ice in the First Change anthology. Since references to Mirabeesh's tale were already done in this challenge in the posts Diovi and Daxa and Eruichin, I decided to try another approach.

So, I opened the dictionary to the letter "Q." Eyes closed I ran a finger down the pages and where it stopped the nearest word was "Queen." Although an occasional king has appeared in my two series, no story really featured royalty. A review of the various storylines provided a single item tangentially related to queen--Glacier Queen.

Glacier Queen is a lug-sailed ketch that sailed Botunn Loghes. At the time, priests from the Oracle of Givneh were confiscating property and services. As protection, Glacier Queen's captain took unusual precautions. Here is how the vessel appeared at first meeting.

Dal pointed to the derelict at the end of the dock. “You want me to go out on the lake in that?”

Ellspeth tried to see the Glacier Queen through Dal’s eyes. Usually a ship matched its berth. The dock was canted and several of the floorboards did not look able to support the weight of a child. “

Ellspeth and Dal were desperate for transport. Mercenaries working for the Oracle were in close pursuit. But a different obstacle presented itself, the ship's captain.

“I’m Captain Vika of Glacier Queen. Why should I take your fare?”

Ellspeth studied the grizzled beard and Vika’s gold bracelets. “I’m Captain Ellspeth of the Sea Falcon of the House of Cszabo. I’d like transport across the lake for myself, my escort, and our four horses.” She ignored Dal’s startled look at her honest identification. “The wind’s about to change. So that we don’t have to wait another day, I’ll pay twice the normal fare. And, I’d rather not travel with pilgrims.”

“Captain of Cszabo, huh? Got any proof? Those aren’t sailor’s clothes.”

Ellspeth smiled. She unwrapped the small bundle Dal slipped her. Her fingers trembled as they dropped her own mark of rank in Vika’s hand. “Will these do?”

The bracelets glittered in the noonday sun as he tilted them for a closer look. His expression changed when he noted the engraved symbols that identified ship and trading house. “Prove to me they’re yours.”

Ellspeth searched for an answer. She straightened her back and put the full force of authority into her voice. “I am Ellspeth of the Clan Cszabo, daughter of Mirrim, granddaughter of Rima. I captain the Sea Falcon.”

The old man’s laugh took her by surprise. “Yup, you’re related to Rima.”

Windmaster - one click to estores


Tomorrow’s post is the letter "R" and that means it's time for "Redemption." If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

~ till next time, Helen

Bragging #MFRWauthor

We're at week 47 and the official topic is "worth bragging about."

This is another topic which is reminiscent of 2017. There was the topic "Let me Brag For a Minute. The post, Stars and More Stars, which covered reviews of my published works filled that topic. Then there was the 2017 post, My Biggest Accomplishment which could be considered a brag as it talked about marriage and anniversaries achieved.


There is one thing I'd like to brag about. A manuscript I've been working on for longer than I want to admit was finally finished. In my two series, The Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles, each storyline included a reference to a legend from their particular world. Windmaster Legend is the tale of the star-crossed lovers, Iol and Pelra.

Since I don't have the cover yet, I'll satisfy the need of a graphic by including the covers from the first two books in the series. Excerpts and buy links can be found at the series page.

 

And the lastest news on Windmaster?  I received a notice that it received a four-star review and a recommendation on BookBub.

There's just a few more posts in the challenge. Hope I make it. ~till next time, Helen

Windmaster Legacy - Casting Off Into Adventure and Love

Chose between magic, survival, or the life of a loved one.

Windmaster Legacy is a romance-filled, action-packed fantasy described by readers as a fascinating story that will keep you up all night turning the pages. 


Buy Links:  Amazon  

With her newfound magic, a ship to sail the far seas, and the dark-haired mage Lord Dal standing at her side Ellspeth thought her future secure. However, danger looms on the horizon and threatens not only her happiness, but the future of magic itself.

Dal's mother is fatally wounded in a mercenary attack during which Ellspeth is captured. Betrayed by a kinsman, she is imprisoned, her magic bound and preparations underway to enslave her mind, her sole hope for escape is Nobyn, an untrained wizard going through the throes of awakening magic. However, Nobyn is Bashim's apprentice and under the mage's total control.

Dal must make an impossible decision whether to rescue Ellspeth, save his mother, or thwart Bashim's plans. As archmage, Dal might be able to survive killing the future of magic, but as a man could he live with the knowledge he caused the death of a loved one.

Click here for an excerpt.

Windmaster - An autumn selection

The heat of summer is gone. Autumn teases us with cool temperatures. Time to cuddle up on the porch swing with a good book. How about the book reviewers said will keep you up all night turning the pages - Windmaster. 

Find Windmaster at:

Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IU973HA

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IU973HA

Not decided?  

Click here for an excerpt.

I'm off to rock and read. 
Helen 

Out and About with Garland and Gould

I'm doing what has to be the most unique interview I've ever taken part in. Come see me at Garland and Gould. What great fun! I'm still laughing as I send this. The dynamic pair (or is it crazy ladies?) of L. J. Garland and Debbie Gould joined me for a cruise on the deck of Sea Falcon as I answered their questions and we discussed the adventures of the ship’s captain in the novel Windmaster.

As proof that not only writers put their characters into trouble, Debbie and L.J. wrote me into a corner and asked what I would do in the following situation.

You walk into a saloon and order a drink. Someone behind you says, "You ain't from around here." When you turn around, you find everyone in the bar is pointing a gun at you. All you have is a ballpoint pen and a Bic lighter. What do you do?

Hope you can take a few minutes to pop in, say hello, and see how I escaped. The URL is http://garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/2012/04/guest-interview-with-helen-henderson.html . Helen