Tuesday Tales: Writing Tax

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 tax. My snippet is from a medieval romance featuring a knight and lady caught in times of turmoil and war. I’m excited to work in my favorite reading genre. This week we move back to a section near the beginning of the story. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

The scent of molten wax filled the air as she entered the sitting room. “You sent for me, Father?”

“Twas a stirring after-supper tune you favored us with, Alis.”

Her lips stretched into a smile at his praise.

He cleared his throat. “Now I have significant news with regard to my kin to the southeast of us. Ye are to travel there and settle in for the winter.”

Her face fell at her father’s startling pronouncement. She flew to him. “Nay, I shall not leave you, Father.”

He placed the sealing wax and the document he had been writing onto the table to clasp her outstretched hands. She looked down to see red wax on his thumb. “It must be, lass. Ye witnessed the report of King David bearing down from the north, at the behest of his niece, the Empress. He is on the march and the rightful king’s supporters will soon likely be under siege. In some quarters there is suspicion of Matilda hightailing it up here to squeeze Stephen between them.”

She grimaced. “But Harbottle…”

“Is my blood kin, out of harm’s way, and will fend well for you. Gather what you need for a prolonged stay. Agnes too of course. I have sent for the good Father Michael to accompany you and safeguard this letter to him. Run along now. Prepare to depart at first light. With matters as they are, a large retinue cannot be spared. However, two of my most trustworthy men will safeguard you.”

The softening expression meant to placate her served to steel her all the more. Surely she could reason with him. “Father, it would make sense to wait and see if the Scottish king drives further southward. Cannot I remain with you until we know for certain of his plans?”

His lips tightened. “By that time it may be too late. I shall not take a chance of you being caught in this trouble, girl. Not with your betrothal still unresolved.”

Heat suffused her cheeks at the suggestion of blame in his tone. Ignoring that touchy subject, she continued her entreaties. “I can prepare everything, be ready to flee at a moment’s notice, if you will but allow me to remain until your sources send further word.”

“And if my sources are captured and cannot send word? Nay!”

“But, Father, merely hear me…”

In a flash his face became as if graven. It assumed a hardness she had rarely glimpsed, that of ruthless lord and ruler of men. This face was wont to frighten her because it resembled not the father she knew and loved so well. She took a faltering step back as his voice boomed. “Enough! Ye shall not tax me further, daughter. Tis my bounden duty to see to your safety. Ye leave tonight, and that is the end of it.”

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

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance

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