Eclectic writer

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Escape - into the caves #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Fantasy #young adult #all ages Affinities #earth, water, fire, air

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks for some great excerpts. Mine is found at https://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is from Escape first book of the Affinities series

BLURB:
Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Excerpt:

Doma Calanda rose. “Ashlea, to you is the mastery of Air. The flute and this stone are yours.” Over Ash’s head, the Doma slipped a silver chain with a crystal so clear it seemed nearly invisible. “To you the things of the mind, the reading of thoughts carried in the air, the knowing of aromas, the calling of the wind, music to stir the air into patterns to influence others and to open hidden doors.”

Dom Jonden stood behind Bran. “Brandien, to you is the mastery of Water. The scrying cup and this crystal are yours.” He fastened a blue-white chain holding a clear blue stone around Bran’s neck. “To you are matters of the heart, the reading of emotions and the balancing of fluids within and without. In the scrying cup, you will see images of what occurs in the land. Potions brewed in the cup will gain strength. To you, the ability to balance unstable minds and bodies, to take and feel the emotions of others. You will be able to find sweet water, no matter how deep.”

The Doma moved to Jay. “Jaydren, to you is the mastery of Earth. The staff of living wood and this crystal are yours.” A green stone dangled on a gold chain. “From beneath the earth and above, you will know when things are right. To you, the feeding of men’s bodies. With the staff, you can enhance the growth of all plants. You can unearth the riches of the earth. Stone, metal, crystals are yours to use for the wellbeing of others.”

The Dom placed a crystal on a red-gold chain around Ky’s neck. “Kylandra, to you is the mastery of fire. The flame sword is yours to bear. Fire is light and light brings courage. You are action and will know how to fire the spirits of others. You will mesh with all manner of beasts. Fire brings both life and death. This sword can be used for war or for peace. To have one, you must face the other.”

“Now, children, the time grows short,” Doma Calanda said.

Ash watched her parents’ faces change from Dom and Doma to the visages of the ones who had loved and raised her and her siblings. Grief showed in their eyes and subtly altered their scents.

A cup appeared in her mother’s hands. “Come, share this cup. Then you must go.”

“Mama, Papa, come with us,” Ky cried.

Dom Jonden held Ky in his arms. “The henge will fall. Your mother and I must remain to see the ending causes as little harm as possible to the land and the people.”

Ash drank from the cup. Warmth infused her. She kissed her mother’s cheek and was enfolded for a moment.

“Be brave. Be wary. Trust not the ones whose thoughts are completely shielded. Trust the crystals for should you meet those who mean you harm, the stones will grow warm against your skin.”

She left her mother and went to her father. He kissed her forehead. “Go. Know you are loved now and forever. Make haste on your journey through the passage for we don’t know how long we can hold.”

Ash donned her cloak, took a bundle of torches, a packet of journey food and a flask of water from one of the shelves. She lifted her flute and played the notes her mother had taught her. The wall of stone at the rear of the chamber parted. The torch she’d freed from the bundle flared. Though she wanted to remain, at the head of her siblings, Ash stepped into the darkness.

My Places

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Friday, April 12, 2024

Books by Janet Lane Walters are featured on Friday's Blurbs #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Paranormal #fantasy #for all ages #earth #water #air #fire

Escape

Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities.During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule.Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Searches

My Places

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Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Wednesday - Escape - Book 1 Affinities #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Fantasy for all ages #affinities #earth #air #fire #water

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is from Escape at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com A fantasy for all ages.

wo sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Excerpt:

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Havens #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #fantasy #affinities #Earth #Air #Fire #Water

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is from Havens Affinities Book 2

BLURB:

Excerpt:

Alizand prowled about his bed chamber. He paused beside the window and pushed the heavy draperies aside. Another day of confinement. Since the day his step-brothers had invaded the suite, forcing Alizand to reveal his affinity for Fire, he’d been a prisoner.

At least the guards at the door believed he couldn’t leave. They didn’t know about the hidden sections and the secret rooms and passages to be found beyond the walls. Though Alizand could slip away, he should wait until night lest his room be checked. Dom Senet often made random visits during the day. Only when Alizand’s personal guard appeared could he escape these chambers. The corridors and places he could go had to be kept secret.

He was bored. He even missed the tedious lessons he’d been given by the clan elders during the short time he’d been acknowledged as his father’s heir. Having his affinity exposed had ended the dream of being deemed fit to become a prince. No one who could use one or all of the elements could rule the princedom of Wesren.

He stared at the tray on the table. A maidservant had delivered the food a short time before. Though he had eaten nothing since yesterday’s midday meal, he had no desire to break his fast.

The back of Alizand’s neck prickled. Trouble approached. Which of the many enemies he’d collected in his fourteen years of life came to upset his day?

The door opened. Before the guard could announce the visitor, a tall man entered. His ash blond hair hung in a single braid. Black leather riding clothes gleamed in the light from candles set in glass-shielded sconces on the wall. His dark green eyes sought and held Alizand’s gaze.

A smile appeared on Dom Senet’s face. Alizand felt like a tabby surrounded by a pack of ratis. He forced himself to breathe. How could one man raise such a high degree of terror? Though Alizand’s legs felt unsteady, he forced himself to remain on his feet.

“Dom Senet.” A sense of pride filled Alizand’s thoughts. His voice hadn’t cracked or risen to a high pitch to reveal his inner quaking.

The dom stroked the multi-colored gem he wore about his neck. The gold chain glinted. “I have questions for you to answer.”

Questions, Alizand thought. What kind of trick was this? He couldn’t relax his barriers or forget his suspicions of the dom. Was this a new way to fool him into becoming the dom’s puppet? Alizand needed to respond. To remain silent would expose his fear. “What do you want to know?”

“About your kin, the children of your father’s step-brother. I have a great need to find them. Poor lost children who need a home and a guardian.”

Alizand’s hands clenched. His friends had saved his life when he’d been injured in the aftermath of the destruction of the henge. With them, he’d been Zand, a person and not a creature to be used. “I don’t know where they are. I told my father I didn’t and I say the same to you.”

“I think otherwise.” The dom moved closer.

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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Meet a 2nd with a Fire Affinity #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #fantasy #earth #fire #water #air #Affinities

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is Meet Another with Fire Affinity from Escape

BLURB:

Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities.

During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule.

Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Excerpt:

When the first summoning bell sounded, Alizand left his chamber. He’d donned the silk tunic and breeches he’d found on the bed. As he walked along the corridor, he heard footsteps behind him. His spine prickled and the scarlet crystal flared.

Mandir grabbed his arm. “Happy name day, halfling.”

“Where’d you get this?” Lodar reached for the stone. He yelped. “You dare hit me when you have no armed guard at your back?”

“I did nothing.” Alizand struggled to keep fear from his voice.

Mandir’s ebony eyes glittered with menace. “Where’d you get the bauble?”

“A gift from my mother.”

Both boys laughed. “Do they dead walk?” Mandir asked.

Lodar dug his fingers into Alizand’s arm. “Give me the crystal.”

“No.”

Mandir whirled Alizand around. “You dare deny us?” He reached for the stone and stumbled backward. He rubbed his hand.

The second bell rang. Lodar twisted Alizand’s arm behind his back. “Give me the pretty or I’ll break your arm.”

A door closed with a bang. A tall man with flowing fair hair emerged. When Lodar released Alizand, he nearly fell. He heard the thud of boots as the bullies retreated. “My thanks, Dom Senet.” Alizand stared at the crystal on the man’s chest. The colors swirled red, blue, green and clear.

“Name day greetings, Alizand, son of Zedron, son of the House Wesren.”

Alizand kept his gaze on the Dom’s stone. He sidled away.

“Where did you get the crystal?” The man’s sonorous voice bristled with curiosity and veiled threat.

“’Twas my mother’s.” Alizand looked up to see the man’s pale blue eyes narrow.

“So the tales are true. Though you haven’t the startling coloring of most halflings, you have the eyes. Perhaps we share a kinship. Something to think on, Prince Heir.” Dom Senet stroked Alizand’s crystal.

Alizand swallowed. “The feast … I’ll be late.”

“Then let us hurry,” the Dom said. “Hide the stone beneath your tunic or that greedy pair will pry it away. ‘Twill protect you from all but me. I’ve keyed it to mine.” He smiled. “No matter where you go, I can find you.”

My Places

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My Places

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Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Meet One with an Earth Affinity #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Fantasy #air #water #earth #fire #twins

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Meet one with an Earth Affinity at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com from Escape is mine

Blurb:

Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities.

During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule.

Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Excerpt:

Jay waited until Ash had Ky on her back before he rose and began to tap the way along the path. His thoughts drifted to his parents. Surely by working together, they were stronger than the Dom who walked the road to darkness. What was happening at the henge? Bran had seen the first wall fall. Had the other walls been breached? Would they see Mama and Papa again? They’d said so and he would hold onto that promise.

Just beyond him, there seemed to be a wall. He tapped the tip of the staff against the blockage. Inch by inch, he moved through the dense fog. Suddenly, the light of the sun blinded him.

“Jay, where are you,” Ash and Bran called.

“I’m out of the illusion.” He turned and thrust his staff into the mist. “Grab the end.” He felt a tug on the staff. He walked backwards. Like corks being drawn from a bottle, his siblings appeared. He slumped against the stones.

Ash moved past him. “Up, Jay. ‘Tis not far now.” She paused. “I smell smoke, men and beasts.”

“Where?”

“On the grasslands beyond the mesa wall.”

“Can they see us?” Bran pulled Jay to his feet. “Have they found the ponies and the supplies?”

“Let’s find out.” After letting Bran and Jay take her sister, she picked her way around the rocks to an opening in the palisade.

They emerged into a box canyon. Jay looked around with interest. A group of ponies grazed on the browning grass. At the far end, water tumbled over rocks into a stone basin. He noticed a fire circle. Where were the promised supplies? He lowered Ky to the ground.

“Where are the things they said would be here?” Jay asked. “Ky’s like ice.”

Ash turned. “This way.”

Bran caught her hand. “Let’s fetch them. You can scent which packs we should open.”

Jay reached for the twin bond. Ky wandered in a nightmare of being lost in the dark. He sent her images of the bright meadow. Slowly, her dreams changed and she slipped into normal sleep patterns.

Bran turned. “We’ll need a fire. Sure wish Ky could start one.”

“There should be a starter in one of the packs,” Ash said. “Jay, fill our water flasks.”

Though he didn’t want to leave Ky, he rose and carried the four flasks to the pool. Then he gathered wood. Once Bran and Ash returned with two packs, one containing a fire started, Bran set the wood ablaze.

Bran heated water in a pan. He poured it into the scrying cup and mixed an assortment of herbs in the water. “Ash, let me try this on your hand.”

The mark on the back of her hand had remained scarlet and hadn’t shrunk. Bran applied some of the solution.

“Hey, it’s gone,” Jay said. “Will it work like that for Ky?”

“Hope so, but hers is larger and I think deeper.”

Jay unwound the cloth. Bran dipped it in the solution and wrapped the bandage

My Places

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Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Meet One with a Fire Affinity #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #fantasy #earth #air #water #fire

Join the authors at MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts Mine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com Meet One with a Fire Affinity from Escape

Blurb:

Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities.

During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule.

Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Excerpt:

“How can we pass it?” Ash said.

Ky rose. “This task is mine.” “I could move the rocks,” Jay said. “But that would take a long time. I’m just learning.”

“How?” Bran asked.

“With fire.”

Ash shook her head. “Fire did destroy some of the fibers, but look what happened to me.”

“I’ll use the flame sword. That’s different than a torch.” She handed her cloak to Bran and unsheathed the sword. As she thought about sending fire through the blade, she hoped she could master the flame. The only time she’d used the lessons her parents had given her had been when she’d set her fear, anger and grief free. “Fire can help and fire can harm.” The web was a thing of evil. Could she call forth anger without triggering other emotions?

Jay touched her arm. “Will the twin bond help?”

She shook her head. “Don’t think so, and you’d better all stay here. I don’t want to burn anyone by mistake.”

“Be careful,” Ash said.

Ky walked around the bend and for the second time confronted the web. She jammed the torch in a crack in the rocks and studied the intricate pattern. She wished she’d asked Bran and Ash if a living creature had spun the web and if it lingered. She had no desire to face something from a bad dream.

Ash had tried to burn away the strands that clung to the rocks and had been burned. The center, Ky thought. That’s where she’d start.

She raised the sword and called fire. Tiny flames danced along the blade. She drove them together until a line of fire extended from the sword’s tip. As she glided toward the web, the strands seemed to quiver. Was the web a living thing? If so, ‘twas evil.

The tongue of flame touched the circle in the center of the weaving. A puff of dark smoke stained the air. Then with a rapidity she could scarcely believe, the center blackened. The darkness spread along the web lines. The smoke grew heavier, billowed and flowed toward her. She coughed. Her eyes watered and the sword wavered.

Back, she thought. The smoke stole the air she needed to breathe. Help!

A gust of wind came from behind her. The smoke cleared. Ash, thanks, she thought.

The fire had gutted a large part of the web. A few strands still formed a barrier near the ground. Though exhaustion threatened to swamp her, she gathered the flames and moved to clear the rest away.

The flame touched the red line. One end of it whipped toward her. The end touched and wound around her wrist. Ky screamed. The flame from the sword moved in a blinding pattern of light.

An exquisite pain shot from her wrist to her shoulder. The sword fell from her hand. Ky felt dizzy and she wanted to lose the contents of her stomach. Blackness engulfed her.

“Ky.”

My Places

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Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Escape Meet the Air Affinity 1 #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #fantasy #for all ages #Air #Fire #Water #Earth

Join the writers at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. <ine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is from Escape Book 1 of Affinities a fantasy adventure

BLURB:

Two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities.

During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule.

Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

EXCERPT:

Ash saw a silver flute, not the wooden one she used in practice, but one whose notes would stir the air. Were the ones before her siblings’ gifts to activate their powers?

The Dom and Doma sat at either end of the oval table. Doma Calanda took Ash’s and Ky’s hands. Dom Jonden held Bran’s and Jay’s hands. Ash felt the energy pulse between them.

“We have been betrayed and you, the hope of the future, must leave the henge,” the Doma said. “Remember the things we have taught you. Ashlea will lead you on a road she has traveled before. In Cedris, you will find a place of safety. There, you will wait until a person comes for each of you and takes you to where you can learn and master your elements.”

Ash swallowed against the lump in her throat. The idea of being separated from her siblings brought tears to her eyes. There’d been no other children in the henge. The four had become more than siblings. They were friends. She saw the tear-glistened eyes of the two across the table. Bran’s hold on her hand tightened.

“The separation will not be for all time,” Dom Jonden said. “You will find each other and others of your kind. For in you and the ones you discover is a uniting of high and low lands.”

My Places

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