Tuesday Tales: Writing Ruins

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 picture prompt is ruins. 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 of Tuesday Tales.

Reese gave a quick inhale of breath as the hairs on the back of his neck bristled in the chill breeze. Of one accord, both men conversed in whispers.

Father Michael nodded toward his palfrey. “North wind cuts tonight. There’s an extra cloak in my pack.”

A battle-hardened knight, Reese’s lips tightened at his unseemly reaction to the remote spot where three roads met. “The wind cuts me not, Father. Tis this unholy place breeds discontent in my blood.” His war horse Strife stirred restlessly in agreement. The twitching of his ears made the unease even clearer.

“Father, we’ll leave our mounts here. Something ahead catches my eye. Let us move up that rise.”

Father Michael crossed himself as they walked. “You do well in such an opinion of this place. The wicked alone thrive where deeds have been committed in tribute to the Grand Deceiver.” He shuddered. “Dark, unspeakable deeds I fear.”

“You said twas not merely country folk celebrating the turning of the seasons. What is your meaning, Father?”

“We have both seen enough of life to know the prevalence of old country traditions. Revel under the moon, dance round the Maypole—these customs do not adhere to Church strictures but are at the root harmless in that there is no ill intent.”

“But someone hereabouts has been using the old ways for evil?”

The cleric nodded. “Or using them to cover his foul deeds and malevolent purpose.”

Reese spread apart a tall splay of brambles and motioned his companion to step through. He lowered his voice even further. “The moon gleams on something.” After another minute, both men stopped in their tracks as the sight before them. A tableau of ancient ruins stood on the rise, stark and clear against the night sky. Some of the broken statues were of Christian saints, and some were of older and less recognizable beings or creatures. Some downright devilish in appearance. A fiendish hodgepodge, made into an altar of sorts. Was this the core spot where evil had been unleashed?

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

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance

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