I was actually about a day ahead, but I’ve been having to use up those words to make up for my lack of words over the last few days. We’re deep into a kitchen renovation, and reno is not conducive to writing. It’s noisy and it’s messy and it’s really, really annoying.
Anyway, more about that on Sunday. This is Friday which means it’s time for another excerpt from my NaNo novel Firestorm.
So . . . Rankin and Sharina got married and lived happily in his castle in Varellia until Sharina died giving birth to their son Brand. When he was 11, Brand lost his father too, and Rankin’s man at arms, Nairn, and his mother’s former maid/lady in waiting, Therza, decided to take him back to his relatives in Witch Hills because his half brothers didn’t like him. They hung around until he was settled, then left to get married and live their own life.
Everything went fine until Brand’s lecherous Uncle Orin started showing an unhealthy interest in him and Brand’s squire, a slave named Kel, overheard his plans to drug Brand during a private dinner. At this point Brand decided discretion was the better point of valour and came up with a plan to escape Witch Hills (and his uncle).
One last thing. Please bear in mind these excerpts are unedited, so bad grammar, typos, and just plain bad writing are to be expected. :-D
It was a plan he did not even share with Kel, for fear something would go wrong at the last minute and the boy would be the one to pay the price. While Brand had no friends, Orin had many. And many of those still grumbled about the Witcher half blood living like a lord. They would like nothing better than to see Brand brought down.
Deciding the sooner his plan was begun the better he left the palace and went to the market square where he sought out the horse trader. Even the ordinary livestock of the Witchers was better than most and he walked the picket lines slowly, stopping occasionally for a better look.
“Why nephew, whatever are you doing here?”
Brand was not surprised to hear Orin behind him. He’d long suspected he was being watched and this only confirmed it.
“Hello, Uncle. Fancy running into you here.”
“Looking to replace your mount are you?”
“Never! Raven is the finest mount in the land, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for him.” The horse had been a gift for his eighteenth birthday. “No, I am looking for a mount for my squire.”
“Your squire!” Orin said in astonishment. “Whatever for?”
“I have it in my mind to try out that new bow from the north,” Brand said easily. “I plan on hunting the wild cat that’s been after the sheep.”
“By yourself?” Orin’s brows drew together in a frown.
“I’m told it is the best way to catch the cat.”
“But why take your squire then?”
“Surely you do not expect me to dress the kill myself?” he asked, with just the right amount of Witcher arrogance. “And he can hardly ride pillion behind me.”
“No, I suppose not,” Orin said, satisfied in his nephew’s reasoning.
“I wish to leave at first light tomorrow, hence the need for a mount for the boy today.”
“Why not just borrow one from the stable?”
“A squire upon a Witcher horse? I would not have thought it of you Uncle.”
“Well then, I wish you luck, little wolf. It will give us something to celebrate at dinner.”
“I am looking forward most eagerly to it,” Brand told him.
“As am I, nephew. As am I.”
Orin wandered off again and Brand looked after him thoughtfully. Nairn had tried to persuade him to leave with him and Therza but to Brand there had been no reason to at the time. He was among family, and he was honing the fighting skills Nairn had started teaching him. Now he knew why Nairn had tried to be so persuasive but he did not know why he couldn’t have just come out and told him of his suspicions. Perhaps he had been afraid Brand wouldn’t believe him. Or worse, would have gone to Orin with the tale, although Brand never would have betrayed him like that.
He continued his perusal of the horses being offered up for sale. Deciding he was putting far too much thought into it, He chose a three-year-old bay mare. She was sound and even tempered. and he persuaded the seller to throw in a saddle.
Pleased with his purchase, he led her back to the palace stable himself. There he had her ensconced in the stall next to Raven’s, with instructions that both horses were to be saddled and waiting for him at daybreak.
Hunting was actually a common pastime amongst the guardsmen and soldiers of Alandria. And while the more noble warriors often hunted in groups, the less titled were known to make forays on their own. No one would think it unusual for Brand, being a prince but a half-breed one, to hunt solo. The presence of his squire was no more remarkable than if he was taking a favourite hound with him.
Wearing a pleased expression, he returned to his quarters. Kel appeared to be out running errands, which was just as well. He did not care to have to answer too many questions as he went through his things, deciding what to take with him and what to leave behind.
No comments:
Post a Comment