Tuesday Tales: Writing Race

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is race. My snippet is from a medieval romance featuring a knight and a lady caught in times of turmoil and war. I’m excited to work in my favorite reading genre. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

Agnes emitted a croaking wail, “Milady, whatever are we to do?”

Although an urge to collapse swept over her, Alis forced her limbs to move. With trembling hands she took up the smaller traveling satchel and bundled inside one item after another. “Use the leather case. Gather what you think will be most needed, essentials we cannot do without.  Nothing frivolous. Word could come any moment. We must be ready. Hasten now, Agnes.” When that good soul did not move, Alis took the plump, work-worn hands in her own. “All shall be well, dear. Father has taken precautions, and we shall be safely away.”

Blinking and swallowing heavily, Agnes moved to follow her lady’s lead. “My heart doth race as if the devil himself is behind me.”

“As does mine,” Alis assured her, refusing to give in to tears and panic. She would maintain a stoic countenance or die trying. “That is to be expected. It matters not, so long as we keep our heads about us.”

Methodically she packed as much as she could into the rucksack, focusing on daily necessities and items of value she was loath to leave behind. Her mother’s jewels went into a pouch that she secured beneath the billows of her skirt. “Oh, Agnes, the coin that Father bade me keep well hidden for times of emergency. Fetch it from the hiding place under the lining of the chest while I prepare a hollow beneath this bodice.”

Once the coin pouch was secured, she hung a fresh lavender pomander to distract from any suspicious bulges.

She had set aside two coins and a ring with rather inconsequential stones and now placed them into a fine leather purse, along with a swatch of silk. The purse went into the lining of the leather case.

Agnes eyed her with curiosity. “What is the purpose, milady?”

“A small bit of cunning, to throw off would be thieves.” At her servant’s look of horror, she hurried to waylay her concern. “Not that it shall happen. Tis merely a precaution.”

She trusted that her father’s men would protect them, but the roads and forests were known to be thick with brigands. If the train was set upon and robbed, she expected the thieves would search the baggage for valuables. A violent shudder wracked her body. Unless they were after her person. If that were the case, then all hope was lost anyway.

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt race. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance

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