Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine comes from the fantasy novel Confronting Erda's Wizards
BLURB:
Two of the Jewels have no Holders and they must be found. The Brotherhood of Wizards also seeks to find them. Jindera is one of the pair and she must escape her cruel uncle. She wishes to find her twin brother taken by the Wizards who will use him in their attempt to destroy the Jewels of Erda. As twins, they can speak via the Inner Path. The Wizards hope to use this. Mara, is a clanless desert dweller and faces life as the abused plaything of a future clan leader. She flees into an unknown future. On the winds, the jewels call this pair.
EXCERPT:
Jindera rose and looked outside. The fragrant scents of the garden brought a welcome calmness to her troubled spirit. 'Twas a false hope. If Mama dies, what will Lajin and I do? Having but sixteen years, they weren't old enough to hold the land.
She heard a rasping cough and turned back to the cot. Her mother's eyes were open. A wave of hope spread through Jindera. "Mama."
"Leave. You. Lajin. Soon. Danger comes."
"We can't leave you without saying the blessing."
"Must." Racking spasms shook her mother's body.
"Mama, don't talk."
"Must. Once. Three sisters."
Jindera listened to her mother's halting words. A grandsire who was a Master Mage. Mama born on the desert and leaving with her older sister for a Healers' House. How her two sisters wanted power and schemed to obtain control of others. One who had talent. One who had none. Mama who had talent and wanted love.
"Ralor. Comes. Hurt. You. Lajin. No Healers' House. Not good."
"Mama, be still." Jindera pressed her hands against her mother's shoulders.
"Starflowers. For Ralor. Make tea. He sleep. Then flee. Remember, danger from Healers."
Jindera chewed on her lower lip to keep from crying. The door opened and for an instant, she feared her father's brother had arrived. The garden, the guardianship, the cottage would pass to him and to the one the Healers sent to tend the garden. The door opened. She turned.
Lajin stood in the doorway. His flushed face and panting breaths told her he'd been running. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Black robes in the village. Taking boys. What will I do if they come here?"
Jindera shivered. The mages would learn about Lajin's talent for nurturing plants. They would take him. "You must flee to the forest and hide. Go now."
He knelt on the other side of the cot. "Not until we say the blessing."
"Son. Daughter. Go."
Jindera grasped her mother's hand. Lajin took the other. "Mama."
The heavy breathing slowed, then stopped. Had she willed her death?
Jindera's voice joined Lajin's. "Fare well, Mother. May the sun shine on your days and the moons light your nights. Let your shade depart and do not hover between this plane and the next."
Jindera met her brother's gaze. "You must go. I'll follow."
"The grave must be dug."
Lajin, why must you linger? You heard Mama. You must go."
The door of the cottage slammed against the wall. Jindera saw the man in the doorway and shivered.
6 comments:
Oh my. What a cliff hanger! Great job building suspense.
Has being a dutiful son done him in? That's a heck of a fatal flaw.
Oh, that's an intense scene! Now I want to know what happens next. :-)
Oh, no. no. no. You can't stop there. who is at the door.
Compelling and moody. Love it!
Excellent excerpt. Your post was also shared on #PMinc’s Excerpts and Promotions Facebook Page.
Dee
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