“Kinsmen:
He greets them gladly
Scans them eagerly,
A man’s companions.”
The Wanderer, Old English Poem
Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their WIPs based on word and picture prompts. Today our prompt is a picture of a meat pie. The snippet is from my historical romance featuring a heroine named Audrissa. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Savory aromas from the hearth filled the air, guiding Audrissa toward the gathering in the hall. Her stomach gurgled, reminding her of the long hours since she broke her morning fast. A longing to be back at Old Tildy’s cozy hut swept over her, despite the feast awaiting ahead. Nothing good could come of being summoned to the lord’s table. She tugged at the borrowed gown, tucking a length of the fine fabric beneath the outlying girdle. Too long for her petite height and too rich a garment for a servant, it had to belong to a member of the lord’s family. Either that or a giantess.
The cacophony grew louder, male voices in raucous camaraderie. The smell of ale competed with the succulent feast offerings. Stiffening her backbone, she swept into the great hall and stood immobile.
The old lord must have been on the lookout. He rose, banging a cup on the table. “Quiet, ye blithering churls.” His large frame stooped more than it had when he rode by on one of his noble steeds last Michaelmas, leading the revelers, and his features were ruddy with the effects of ale. He gestured for her to approach, impatience evident in his mannerism. “Ranulf! Where the devil is that nephew of mine?”
She wrinkled her brow. Ranulf. Where had she heard that name before?
The din quietened. An imposing figure emerged from a shadowed corner. “I’m here, old man.”
“Get to the table, ye chancy rascal. Yer to share a trencher with the lass.” He shouted for the serving girl. “Fetch another rabbit pasty for my ne’er do well nephew and his betrothed.”
I hope you enjoyed Audrissa’s visit to the lord’s home and the tasty meat pie. Thanks so much for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Romance
I love how you incorpororate sights and smells so well. I could smell that meat pie and felt like I was there with them.
Cathy, that’s how I feel when I read your food blogs!
Great description! I felt like I was right there. And perhaps her betrothed isn’t such a bad guy after all. Maybe he’s a hunky catch! Can’t wait to find out.
Let’s hope the betrothed has something to recommend him, Jean;)
Love it, especially the language and the vivid descriptions. You whisked me away to another time and place. 🙂
I so like to be whisked away. Thanks, Mae.
Oh, how I love the use of language!
I’m tickled you liked the language, Carmen!
Love the way you made it seem so real. Well done.
I am glad you think it came across as real, Susanne. Thank you!
Now THAT’S a hook! Meat pies and an unexpected betrothal, what more could you ask for?
Haha, Linda, what about a mug of glogg?
Great descriptions!
I’m pleased you like the descriptions, Joselyn. Thank you~
Such wonderful descriptions!
Thanks, Vicki!
I wanted to get back to this story & it had quite a twist. 🙂
I’m glad you like the surprise, Morgan, thanks!
Great scene to go with the picture prompt. You paint a vivid picture of the feasting hall.
It’s kind of you to mention the prompt and feasting hall, Trisha– thank you!