Tuesday Tales: Writing Suddenly

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 so pleased you can join me today. This week’s word prompt is suddenly. My snippet is from a medieval historical romance I am working on for NaNoWriMo. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

Faint noises came from one of the western chambers. Moving with haste, Alis donned a dark colored cloak over her equally dark kirtle. The cloak served to cover her wimple as well. To her waist she had already secured a pouch containing emergency items, including her sharpest dagger. Pray God she did not need it to protect herself. She froze as the scope of what she undertook suddenly struck her, but in a moment she shook off the feeling of dread. The truth of the matter must come to light.

A familiar squeak sounded. One she had often made herself when exploring the keep as a child. His lordship was using the hidden door leading to the postern gate. Obviously whatever wicked actions he intended must begin before the moon rose to its full zenith.

Someone was with him, but she couldn’t tell the identity or even if it were male or female. Nearly half a league was covered before the party she was following halted. She stopped as well and edged behind a tree. Through the branches she saw a group of dark cloaked figures looming ahead, holding candles. The two from the keep joined and blended in. One of the figures wore the head of a goat, its large curving horns protruding against the moon brightened sky. While the others began to move rhythmically like snakes in a half circle, this one stood completely still, as if above it all. He was obviously in charge. Alis’ heart thumped. This was not the carefree celebrations of the villagers rejoicing in the harvest or the wax and wane of the year. This was something dark and evil. She clutched the cross hanging from her throat.

The horned man made some slight movement, and the others halted, turning toward him. He beckoned, and one of the group knelt at his feet. He raised an arm, and she saw something in his hand. Spluttering candlelight illumined the blade. He slashed downward and raised it again. Red dripped from the piercing edge.

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

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance