Eric Flint's Blog, page 12

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 19

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 19 In a day that had been difficult for gunnery to begin with, and with marginally substandard accuracy, the gun crews of Resolve‘s naval rifles redeemed themselves in that moment: one round went in amidships, the other into the starboard quarter. The explosions were akin to flame […]

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 18

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 18 Chapter 10 East of Dominica Maarten Tromp empathized with the Spanish, even if he felt less than an iota of sympathy for them. If they had had a balloon of their own, they could have foreseen each step of the disaster that had unfolded in the […]

Heart Of The World – Snippet 16

Heart Of The World – Snippet 16 CHAPTER THREE Caravanserai The merchant Gilbert d’Baalbeck, with five camels and four servants and a chest full of money, left the Il-Khan’s summer camp and went south and west, toward the Euphrates. The road was poor, but Gilbert saw no need to ride in company; the Mongols took […]

Marked Territory – Snippet 16

Marked Territory – Snippet 16 “You’re fine, kid,” Bear said. “Get yourself a drink, then hustle back to your spot.” She was off as soon as Bear finished talking, heading down the street at something that was nearly a run. She crossed against the light, heading back toward the park. I looked at Bear. “Your […]

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 16

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 16 # Charlie Donelsen spat tobacco juice through one of the many gaps in his teeth. His aim was true and his shot was long, as they sang of the Lion of Missouri, and he launched the brown gob across the wooden trestle table and hit the roots of an azalea […]

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 17

1637 No Peace Beyond The Line – Snippet 17 Touman nodded soberly, stood, and faced back where his invisible entourage was waiting. After a moment, they rose. He pointed at Eddie and started speaking loudly in French. Gallagher whispered the translation over Eddie’s shoulder. “This pale man from over the sea has come with words […]

Heart Of The World – Snippet 15

Heart Of The World – Snippet 15 Dokaz was sitting in the back, behind the painted screen, drinking chah. When Dinah came in and bowed, the Khatun said, “Sit down, please. I saw you, that was daring, I thought, and I hope useful. What did you find out?” “Just what you heard, Khatun. The Prince […]

Marked Territory – Snippet 15

Marked Territory – Snippet 15 Chapter Five The crew inside the old church gave me a hero’s welcome. Banny did a speed run all around the main room, as if all the nervous energy he’d been holding onto had finally snapped like a rubber band. He ended giving me something that was half a hug […]

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 15

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 15 Ferpa took special care of the boy, and Kort watched over Ferpa. Chigozie noticed the large bison-headed beastman watching the cow-headed beastwife who was his counterpart whenever she was in the child’s presence. Worried he might harm her? The child needed a name. At eight days of age, which seemed […]

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 14

Serpent Daughter – Snippet 14 “What does this ritual entail?” Cathy asked. If there truly was some ritual that she, or the king, or the seven Ladies, could perform, then she was in favor. “It is an ancient practice.” The king knit his fingers together and stared into them. “Not done in this century, or […]