SFFSat: will Yarrow survive?

Welcome to Science-Fiction Fantasy Saturday!

Here we have the final snippet of Yarrow's fate on the slopes of Mt. Impri. Read snippet one here and snippet two here.

The shape came closer, and she saw six legs – no, wait, now two legs and four arms as it moved to trot upright, large iridescent wings behind it for balance. It was covered in a thick white fur, but that was all she noticed for in the next instant a blur of white and black collided with the creature from the side, knocking it down and rolling away with it, locked in fierce battle. 

The screaming stopped abruptly, and Yarrow, suddenly free, collapsed and started rolling down the mountain. She flung out her arms to stop herself but it was too late, and she rolled until she landed in a crevice, her head landing hard on a rock. For a second she struggled to rise, but then darkness consumed her in a wave. 

That's it for this collection of snippets. Yes, I am that evil.

Make sure to check out the other talented participants of SFFSat HERE!

 

SFFSat: wherein AHH ANIMAL ATTACK

To read the first part of this snippet click HERE.

The thought was half-formed in her mind when the sound became a high-pitched keening scream. She tried to clamp her hands over her ears but stood paralysed, rooted to the spot.

Out of the darkness came a lumbering white shape, galloping towards her with deadly purpose. It continued to scream and Yarrow felt her blood freeze in her veins as she realised what it was.

Flesh Screamer.

She stood, unable to move, desperately trying to draw her sword. Her body wouldn't obey. Her skin felt tight and hard, all suppleness lost, as if it had turned to stone around her and locked her in place. 

Be sure to read the other talented SFFSat authors HERE! 

And tune in next week for the conclusion of this snippet-set. ;)

 

SFFSat: wherein Yarrow walks up Mt. Impri

In this snippet from Bellica Yarrow is walking back up the mountain after her hunting trip.

True to her pessimistic prediction, the sun had set by the time she reached the treeline, and she laboured up the rocky, snow-sprinkled slope in the dark. Soon the moons rose and cast their silver light, giving an eerie shine to the rust-coloured rock of the rest of the Blood Mountains that stretched away in a long range, far to the north, and the river with the same name that ran through them.

Yarrow stopped to look at the view behind her several times, and wondered what lay further north, beyond the mountain range that spanned the earth from her spot to the horizon. Did anything lie beyond it or was it just mountains and forest forever, as far as the earth went?

Maybe in summer, if Jules and I still live, we'll journey north. See what there is to be seen.
She turned back and continued her zig-zag hike up, cursing the Moirae and Fortuna with every step. It was windy and cold and miserable again, and all she could think about was the warm bath that she knew awaited her in the mountain.

A sound like a song came over the wind, and Yarrow frowned and looked around. It came again, like a woman singing mournfully. Damn mountain gets creepier every day.

To discover the source of the song, come back next Saturday for the continuation of this scene!

Be sure to check out the other talented SFFSat authors HERE! 

SFFSat: Yarrow and Jules explore Mt. Impri further

Hello! I'm finally back for SFSat, and this week I have two snippets for you -- one today, one tomorrow.

I know, I know -- I'm awesome.

This week's Bellica snippet follows Yarrow and Jules' adventures on Mt. Impri -- after safely navigating past the first door, they explore what seems to be an ancient, long-abandoned city within the mountain.

Turned out it was the kitchens and the servants' quarters. After a quick search, they determined it was void of living things but, strangely, not food – the icebox was stocked full with unidentifiable meat, and there were even things like grains and such in the pantry. Yarrow felt that chill that had been her best friend since they'd arrived come back to say hello, and she tried to banish it by moving onto the next room. 

This room prompted a yell and throwing of her knife from Yarrow, and the steel blade hit the throne she'd aimed it at, clattering to the floor at the feet of the skeleton who sat and regarded them with empty eye sockets. There was a crown still on her head. 

"Congratulations," Jules said wryly as he walked around Yarrow, "you killed it."

That prompted a well-deserved smack on the shoulder.

Jules didn't respond as he walked to the throne and retrieved Yarrow's knife. Before he could walk back to her she'd joined him, staring at the long-dead Queen.

Join me tomorrow for the next bit of this scene!

Check out the other wonderful SFFSat participants HERE! 

SFFSat March 24th: a conversation between Agate and her major

Continuing on in the same scene as the last two weeks' snippets (1, 2), here we see a small conversation between Bellica Agate and her major, Damien. This is from The Jade Star of Athering, the sequel to Bellica.

“You didn’t mention why you were chosen for the mission,” he said gently when they were out of earshot. It was neither a reprimand nor a question. 

“Need to know basis, Damien. I’m assuming this ‘Gypsy Queen,’ whoever she is, speaks Athee, or at least enough of it for us to be able to communicate. She gave a message to Melena, after all, and that girl does not know a word of Ixil.”
   
He raised his eyebrows and looked down at her. “Ixil? Is that the language you barely remember?”
   
Agate mentally kicked herself for letting it slip. “Yes,” she said, and waited for the flood of questions to come.

Make sure you check out the other participants of SFFSat HERE!

 

SFFSat, March 17th 2012: continuing on from where we left off last week....

We have the rest of the conversation first shown in snippet form here, for last week's SFFSat.

Agate had already turned away to deal with the “I told you so” look on Damien’s face, but now she turned back. “Think hard about what you’re saying, soldier. I never make uninformed decisions.” Bethany stood her ground, but she looked abashed. She’d been in Agate’s regiment for twelve years. To think her bellica wouldn’t know her by now…. “Now sit down and shut up.”

Bethany saluted and sat back down beside Captain Shelley, who shook her head at her friend. Agate almost laughed, but it wouldn’t do – not in front of her women. 

For those curious about what their mission is, here's a brief explanation (I don't have a short enough snippet to explain it).

Their mission is half-diplomacy, half-war -- go to Southland and negotiate with the occupying army of invaders from the southern desert to get them to leave Athering. Not a job for a soft-skinned courtier, but not one for a hot-headed warrior -- which makes Bethany worried she'll jeopardize the mission. Agate has been chosen as the bellica for the job because she's from Southland originally and speaks the language of the invading army -- the "gypsy" tongue. She feels safer with her hot-headed Lieutenant in the mix than without.

And that's quite enough revealing for today! ;) Go read the other talented SFFSat authors HERE!

Tomorrow (Sunday), read a big spoileriffic snippet from JSOA and watch me fumble around trying to tag people without feeling like I'm intruding. Or something. *fumblefumble*

SFFSat, March 10th, 2012: a snippet from The Jade Star of Athering

During a break on the march to Southland, Agate takes an opportunity to tell her women about their mission -- and encounters some resistance.

While her women sat, scattered across the road in a rough semi-circle, chewing on their rations, she spoke clearly and quietly. No one said anything, for her women were loyal, and always showed the respect they knew she deserved.

 “As the Queen said, this is a delicate situation. If there are any of you who feel you are not up to the task, tell me now.”

There was a small pause while the women looked around at each other, an assessing gaze on each face, and then – Agate had been expecting it – Bethany stood. “Ma’am,” she started, but didn’t get a chance to say “I feel I would jeopardize the mission” because Agate cut her off.

“Shut up, Bethany. You’re coming and that’s final.”

Bethany gaped like a fish out of water, then shut her mouth with clunk sound. “Ma’am,” she said tightly, through her teeth, “with all due respect I think that’s an uninformed decision.”

The Jade Star of Athering is the sequel to Bellica.

Be sure to check out the other people participating in SFFSat HERE!

 

SFFSat: Drunken confessions continued

This week's snippet is a continuation of last week's, posted here.

It caught her completely off guard. She swallowed convulsively in the raw emotion crackling the air. She grasped at her old, Umbra-may-care mood, but her jesting tone fell flat. "What, you'd sacrifice your life for me?"  

His look didn't waver, but a small smile, almost as infinitesimal as his earlier shrug, curved his lips. "I swore as much when I became your major." 

"That's different," she said immediately, and broke her gaze away from his, unable to stand the intensity of it anymore. "And no, I won't. You had nothing to do with this, Caelum." 

Buy Bellica for Kindle.

Check out the other authors participating in SFFSat HERE!

 

SFFSat: Drunken confessions from Bellica

Today's entry is a conversation snippet between Bellica Yarrow and Major Caelum from Bellica. Yarrow is the Empress's best bellica, and yet she feels herself descending into madness: she committed a crime she has no memory of committing. After a night of drinking, she confesses her actions to her second, Caelum, and his reaction surprises her...

"What do you suggest I do, Caelum? I'll never run, I'll never throw myself upon the parsimonious mercy my sister may grant, and I'll never take my own life. I'm pretty much out of choices here." She raised her eyebrows at him.  

His shrug was infinitesimal. "You could give someone else up in your place." 

She almost laughed at his suggestion. "And what poor fool would I send to the gallows?" 

His look was direct, his eyes burning into hers. "Me." 

Be sure to check out other talented SFFSat participants HERE!


 

SFFSat Feb. 4th: a snippet from Bellica

In this snippet, Bellica Anala is attempting a daring escape from an enemy nation where she has been held captive in a drugged state. This is from my recently released novel Bellica, now available on Kindle.

Through some stroke of luck she made it to the stables, where a young groom got another sleeper hold from her. She found her horse easily, it being the shabbiest creature there.     

She pulled the docile mare about halfway out of the stall when she stopped. What am I doin'? She needed to escape, not go for a gentle city ride. She pushed the mare back into its stall and took a horse from a few stalls down.

This one was a huge, black stallion, who looked as if he normally had a terrible temper. Anala approached him cautiously and held out her hand. He sniffed it, then nickered softly and nuzzled her.

She'd always had a way with horses. 

Be sure to check out the other talented participants of SFFSat here! 

SFFSat January 28th: Bellica Agate prays at the temple

This is an excerpt from The Jade Star of Athering, a sequel to Dead Transgressions set 10,000 years later and right after the events in Bellica.

Bellica Agate has been ordered to travel to Southland to negotiate with the army of Gypsies and their Queen that have laid siege to the province.  She decides to pray at the temple before leaving.

Ixchel had no temples, no buildings of stone or wood; She did not even have a place in the services offered at the Temple. Agate doubted any of the priestesses even knew of Her.

In fact, no one in Athering knew of the Rainbow-Moon Goddess. Agate had learned that well as a child. So she’d kept her worship hidden, a secret – even let her wedding ceremony be a Paixemortienne one, as Damien had wished. It was best no one thought her crazy, or worse – a traitor.

At the end of her prayer she felt the faint flutter of butterfly wings against her forehead, and she looked up to see the insect that had greeted her. There was nothing but empty air. She smiled, knowing her Goddess spoke to her once again after many years of silence, and felt her spirits lifted slightly at the thought of going home.

Home, after all, was closer to Ixchel than Atherton or Harbourtown had ever been.

Be sure to check out the other SFFSat participants here!

SFFSat January 7th: Adra visits Harbourtown

From my Nanowrimo novel, Dead Transgressions.

Adrasteia, the half-Atherian, half-Ixilean hero, is currently visiting Harbourtown with Duke Leandros of Aeril, the brother of the woman she's sworn to protect from a plot by the Children of IxChel, intent on reclaiming their people's Jade Star. The Duke has taken Adra on a small tour of the countryside while she recovers from her wound. And by countryside, I mean various cities around Athering, as there are no wilds left.

Soon they reached Harbourtown, and Adra was glad for the chance to stretch her legs. The air smelled strongly of brine and seagulls rent the sky with their harsh cries. She and Leandros went down to the seawall, where they took a leisurely stroll, watching the waves come in and out. It was a sunny day but there was a chill in the air — each breath left Adra’s nostrils and lungs feeling awakened. She was glad she had her jacket with her; since her injury she found herself getting cold with more ease.  

Harbourtown was a slow city. More a town, really — the streets were cobblestone, a throwback to a simpler time, and the buildings were still made of wood. Really old wood, she supposed; at some point they’d no doubt have to rebuild in stronger synthetic materials. Until that time came, however, Harbourtown clung to the past. It was almost quaint.

SFFSat: Adrasteia practices her bad-ass Detective look.

This is a detective story, but it's in a fantasy setting. Magic and technology are sort of the same thing in this place.

She rummaged around in the top drawer for her gun holster. Something she hadn’t worn for a while now — she couldn’t afford ammo recharges, and she hadn’t been on any jobs that would require it.

If the Queen required her to start on her new job right away, well, she wanted to be prepared.

She slipped the leather straps over her shoulders and adjusted until the gun sat comfortably against her ribcage, under her right breast. A few times, for practice, she grabbed it quickly and aimed at an invisible assailant.

“Do you feel lucky? Do you, kid?” She grimaced. She may still have what it took to fire quickly, but she definitely needed to work on her one-liners.

This is from my 2011 Nanowrimo novel, currently untitled. Enjoy!

Make sure you check out the other awesome SFFSat posts here!

New cover for Bellica, among other things

I designed one cover for Bellica, and then realized it really need some green in it. I'd always imagined Bellica to be a green-covered book, so why I designed a cover without any green is anyone's guess. (I was super excited and rushed the process.)

So here is the new cover:

About the picture: my model, Dana Kagis, is playing Yarrow, the main character. She stands resolute, her hand on her sword. We can’t see her eyes, but we know they are looking off into the distance, fixed on a future she may not wish for. The light through the trees suggests twilight — a liminal space, where anything might happen. She is on the threshold — after this moment, everything changes.

As for what point that actually is in the book, well, that's up for the reader to decide.

As for SFFSat: I haven't been doing this lately. Reason being, Bellica will be out November 25th, and I want to save the rest of it for its release. The eBook will be $6.99, and the printed version should be around 26 dollars (subject to change based on printing costs). I suggest buying the eBook if you like reading on eBook readers, are hurting for cash, or just don't feel comfortable shelling out over 20 dollars for a book from an author you haven't read before.

If you have read my work, don't like reading books on screen, or just really want a "real" version of the book (with formatting as envisioned), then I suggest buying the hardcopy. (Mind you, not hard cover. The EBM doesn't do hard cover yet.)

And if you're feeling really generous, buy both! ;)

Regarding SFFSat: I'm starting NaNoWriMo on Tuesday, so future SFFSat entries will be snippets from my NaNo novel. It's a detective story set in the same country Bellica is set in, but several thousand years in the past. No title as of yet.

SFFSat: a glance at the life of an Aradian Priestess

(Crossposted here.)

In this chapter, High Priestess Sarai has just given her younger brother Jules a reading from the Deck of Aradia -- the Aradian Order's main divination tool. She is discussing the results of the reading, which trouble her deeply, with her spouse Kara.

The cards were hardly ever wrong. But my interpretation could be, her mental voice reminded her. Somehow, her heart doubted it. 

“The cards speak true — darkness has taken the Sceptre — but more so that Jules is central to Kore banishing Her dark twin again.

“And though it sounds as if I am giving myself airs, I believe strongly that Zameera herself is speaking through these cards.” At Kara’s sharp intake of breath, Sarai stopped.

“Underworld’s Queen in the fifth card position means only one thing, Sarai. That’s not giving yourself airs.” Kara’s face was earnest — as a Fire Priestess, her specialty was prophecy. Sarai could always count on her husband to give an honest critique of her readings.

Small note: in Athering, male spouses are called wives, and female spouses are called husbands. So Sarai and Kara are both husbands. And Zameera is the dead Queen, mother to both Yarrow and Zardria.


Remember to check out the other awesome writers participating here, and thanks for reading!

SFFSat: the Magi awakes

The beginning to Rosa's first chapter, in which she awakes after three hundred years of sleep.

The awakening from her dream-state had been brutal.

In 3721 of the Third Age, Atherian Calendar, when she had secluded herself in her tower and banished herself to a half-life – an unconscious state her kind could reach, in which there was no time, or space, but only darkness and dreams – she had set alarms that would penetrate the half-life to wake her. Alarms on a rockshield in the ground in the abandoned gardens under her abandoned tower in the north wing of the castle. Those alarms would tell her if anyone was disturbing the Naratus or his sister, the Magisphere – ancient weapons of Rosa’s people, dreaming in their own sleep states deep below the ground, hidden away until the next time they would be called.

Nearly ten days ago those alarms had been triggered by a furtive-looking blonde man in military dress burying a stained kettle. Rosa had reached out with her mental tendrils, through the blare in her mind from the alarms, and discovered something that had knocked her back on her root-feet.

Terrabane. It was unmistakable–she’d recognize the poison’s signature anywhere. She should, for she had been the one who’d developed it, millennia ago, during the Magi-Terran Wars. She doubted any Terran knew that part of history very well; they were so incredibly good at self-deception.

SFFSat: most of my characters live within serious danger of cirrhosis

 Yarrow makes fun of Jules for getting buzzed off noge** instead of ale, and some good-natured competition ensues...

“Sure. That, or you have nearly no tolerance.”

He raised his eyebrows at her, leaning back in his chair and looking as superior as Jules could. “I’ll have you know I could outdrink you with any beverage, Bellica,” he said, all seriousness.

“Oh,” she said, snickering. “Really. Let’s test that, shall we?”

They shook on it, and then Ghia, with her always impeccable timing, appeared with the food, asking if they needed any more drinks. Yarrow started a tab and told her to keep the noge coming, for she was going to prove to Jules which of them was more of a woman, once and for all.

Ghia’s face held some affectionate exasperation as she went to fill this next order, and then the Midwinter Yarrow-versus-Jules games truly began.

**egg nog, but with a cooler name because I'm pretentious. ;)

To read more great entries from participants in SFFSat, go here!