Aldrea Alien's Blog, page 18

Rainbow Snippets: Retaliation? Or something more?

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with the spellster asking “So what if a few guards disappear? Happens all the time.”

Tracker frowned. It was possible the man had merely retaliated when it came to the missing guards, but they hadn’t found any of their bodies to be certain. That in itself was suspicious.

And it still didn’t explain the civilians who, after vanishing for days, turned up dead with their spines and limbs twisted in ways no body should go. The man must’ve known he had already sealed his fate.

A change in the air at Tracker’s back tingled along the tips of his ears. Was there a fifth would-be assailant? Keeping the spellster and the thugs in his periphery, Tracker glanced over his shoulder to catch the muted shine of a blade bearing down on him.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: The same questions…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with the spellster asking “What harm would it do to let me leave?”

Tracker had heard the same questions from so many. He had only ever met one man he considered as safe in the society the spellster had chosen. And that man, along with the mercenary company protecting him, had long since left Demarn. For many, there was no way for spellsters to remain amongst ordinary people without risking lives. Whereas others… “You know what harm your presence has already caused.”

The spellster spread his hands wide. His fingers seemed oddly curled, like a street puppeteer. “So what if a few guards disappear? Happens all the time.”

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: What harm?

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker having found himself surrounded by armed people who mean him ill…

Something about their movements stayed his hand. There was a wrongness to them. A fumbling he had come across in only the drunkest of those who dared to ambush him. Were his attackers limping? Were they perhaps wounded victims of this rogue spellster? He had read the reports of what this man had done. The piles of broken bodies he was responsible for.

“I only wanted safe passage aboard a ship,” the spellster said, pulling Tracker’s attention from the encroaching thugs. The man strode along the beam as effortlessly as if he walked upon the ground. “To leave this land and go where they would appreciate my abilities. How can you deny me this? What harm would it do to let me leave?”

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Surrounded…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker having found the rogue spellster he is hunting…

Without taking his eyes off the spellster, Tracker tried to pinpoint the direction of the noise. No. Noises. There was more than one pair of feet shambling through the dark. Surrounding him.

There! A shadow moved just at the edge of his vision. Followed by another, then a third. Five in all. Whoever they were, they wore no chain mail or plate armour. That suggested common thugs.

Tracker eased a throwing knife from its sheath, quietly rotating it between his fingers. If these men thought him easy prey, they would soon learn their error.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: A disaster…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker having found the rogue spellster he is hunting…

The man laughed. “Your promises mean nothing.” He spat, the glob of saliva making an impressively wet slap as it hit the dirt floor near Tracker’s feet. “I know my options, just as I know why you’re here.”

Tracker tensed, expecting some form of retaliation.

The spellster didn’t bother with the usual attacks of fire or lightning—he must’ve learnt they were ineffective against hounds. That only meant he couldn’t let the man escape. A deadly spellster was merely dangerous. One who knew how to thwart the King’s Hounds was a disaster.

Another sound reached his ears; the dusty shuffle of a foot dragging across the ground. Someone else shared this space. It could be anything from a frightened urchin to hired muscle. Maybe even one of the missing city guards.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: No going back…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker having found the rogue spellster he is hunting…

“I’m not going back there,” the spellster snarled. “You can’t expect me to roll over and accept that prison.” He all but spat the final word.

The man had come from the spellster tower? That might’ve explained how he had outwitted Chaser. They taught those within the tower about the King’s Hounds, even if it was in the most ridiculous manner, using tales of them as a parent might about sprites and ghosts.

“I promise, my dear spellster.” Tracker fingered his dagger hilt. “You need not fear such an outcome.” Anyone who had managed to escape the tower was far too dangerous to let return.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Close and personal…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

I’m also having a little celebration of the story reaching 100 pre-orders by giving away a US$10 Am,. Check out this Facebook post to see how to enter.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker having found the rogue spellster he is hunting…

Gritting his teeth, Tracker shoved a second throwing knife back into its sheath with more force than was necessary. Magical barriers were troublesome, but it was a defence he had dealt with many times. Close and personal it is. Few spellsters recovered quickly enough after a hound breached their shields to react further.

But how to reach his target? He eyed their surroundings. How had the man gotten up there? Spellsters couldn’t fly. There had to be a ladder or a ramp. Maybe a rope. “You must find all this running tiresome, yes?” Tracker casually queried, keeping the man engaged whilst he searched the gloom. “The hiding and constant looking over your shoulder… It cannot be much of a life.”

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Not so easy prey…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker entering an abandoned warehouse in the search for the rogue spellster and finding a decaying stench…

He breathed through his mouth, trying to ignore the smell even as he searched for the source. Maybe there’d be a clue. Hopefully, leading to fresher air.

“So,” a low voice echoed from somewhere deep within the darkness of the ceiling. “The king sends another of his cur to hunt me down.”

Tracker spun, spying a figure crouching in the rafters to his left. He flung a knife at them, cursing under his breath as it bounced back.

The shield surrounding the spellster shivered, revealing its shimmering purple sheen before vanishing again. “Did you really think you’d find easy prey here, hound?” The longer he talked, the more certain Tracker became that the being he hunted was a man. Human and, judging by the accent, from the south-western part of Demarn.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: A hint of shadows in the gloom…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, we’re continuing the snippets from Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week’s with Tracker entering an abandoned warehouse in the search for the rogue spellster…

Grey light filtered through the gaps in the boarded windows, leaving only a hint of shadows in the gloom. It was more than enough for Tracker to see by. Had Chaser met his end here? Fighting in the dark would’ve definitely put the human at a disadvantage. Did that mean the spellster he hunted was an elf like him?

He placed each footstep softly, watching and listening for any sign of movement.

A stench hit his nose the deeper he went, the pungent odour of decaying flesh and rotting eggs. Nowhere near as bad as the Wintervale fish markets, but something was definitely dead in here and had been for at least a few days. Several possibilities there.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Trail found…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

This month, the snippets will be from my current work-in-progress, Tracking Trouble. It’s a prequel to In Pain and Blood starring Tracker, a King’s Hound from Demarn, who is also the elf responsible for the massive rewriting haul that has become the Spellster and the Hound series. Unlike a lot of my other stories, this isn’t a romance.

This week’s snippet continues from last week with Tracker entering an alleyway in the search for the rogue spellster…

He peered over a lower section into the abandoned storage yard beyond. The gate leading in hung from a single hinge and looked to have been in that state for some time. What windows the place claimed were mostly boarded over and half of the wide door admitting entrance to the storehouse was broken. The latter looked more recent.

The trail led there.

Sighing, he vaulted over the wall, pausing as he landed to re-evaluate the space before creeping up to the door. At least the building promised to be dry. Although, that comfort ran the risk of creating other hazards. Fire was often a problem during the initial confrontation. It didn’t affect him when the source was pure magic, but other things caught far easier.

Uncertain what he would find within, Tracker stepped through the doorway.

Tracker will be back next week, and sticking around for a while after. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!