Tuesday Tales 2022-1-11 Sticky

Greetings from my little corner of the globe. I hope you are keeping well. I follow Irish country singer Eddie Carey and like how he says that phrase. We’re having a touch of winter down here in Florida. It’s 61 degrees early this evening and set to dip into the 40s later this week. I see that it’s 37 degrees in Wick, Scotland, my touchstone place for this current work in progress.

Come with me now to enjoy Tuesday Tales, where a small group of authors write excerpts based on word or picture prompts. The word prompt this week is sticky. This snippet is from a Highlander Romance. Its title has only changed a gazillion times so far. When done reading here, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

When Tor had moved away to the crest of the hill, Lana faced the east toward the sea. The sun was almost overhead now, its feeble warmth trickling into the top of her head. She unclasped the locket and removed the tiny scrap of runic fabric her grandmother had given into her care.

She unfolded the cloth to view the symbols threaded onto it. They were from an ancient language, according to Gran, with power to open a door between worlds. She had to get the door open in order to reach and communicate with the Guardian to whose summons she responded. She stared at the markings and felt their power as they heated her palms. The symbols vibrated within her. She tasted their essence on her tongue. The marks imprinted on her palms in sticky droplets of honey and became part of her. When they revolved behind her eyes like a golden carousel, she returned the scrap of fabric to the locket.

Before opening the door, she must prepare a ritual circle. Lifting her arms, Lana slowly turned clockwise to face north. Standing strong with feet apart in the midst of the vast area of stones, she set about creating a sacred space apart from earthly concerns. Instead of physically walking around the large area, she visualized what was needed. In the air she drew an energy circle to set apart and enclose the space. It shimmered a clear emerald green. She felt the immense strength of it. Seeking out and feeling Tor on the hill behind her, she scratched a line of energy to him and back to her to tether and protect him.

Three times she moved her essence around the circle, gathering and settling the power in clockwise rotation. Three times she drew in deep, calming breaths. The flow began. Primal earth energy rose up through the soles of her feet to merge with the sun’s rays entering her crown. The two came together in her heart and flowered in her throat to enhance the power of sacred truth.

She braced and centered herself, briskly rubbing her palms together to heighten the flow. Chanting greetings to mother earth, she felt stirrings deep underground. She swayed from side to side in rhythm with the heartbeat of the earth below. A bass drum thrummed within her. Her pulse slowed to match.

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt sticky. Thanks for stopping by. Check out the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories

All rights reserved, copyright @ 2022 Flossie Benton Rogers