Tuesday Tales: Writing Year

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 year. My snippet is from Silver’s Angel, a standalone Wytchfae prequel to Lord of Fire. Enjoy the other authors of Tuesday Tales.

While Lucien was outside roughhousing with the younger boys, Angel made herself useful with domestic duties in the home of Fair Lily, sister of the warrior Eber Fearn. Although she had never enjoyed such activities, today her heart felt glad. In this small way she could show gratitude to Fair Lily for including the two of them in the winter festivities.

At midday, they had surely eaten their share of the winter feast. Sumptuous aromas filled the air. An abundance of savory and sweet dishes still graced the table, reminiscent of Christmas dinner back home with her clan. It was unreal how family, friends, and celebrations held much in common, despite different continents and over three thousand years between them. As it was, she found herself enjoying this time in the past. To meet members of her clan from so far back in time was a gift she would forever treasure.

Only the absence of Eber Fearn dimmed the gaiety. Fair Lily had cast hopeful eyes on the door throughout the day. As shadows lengthened and still no word, she approached Angel. “I had hoped my brother would arrive in time to claim First Foot. Since he has not, and I nae desire a stranger to do the knocking, I wonder if your man Lucien would partake.”

Intrigued, she inquired, “What is First Foot…and the knocking?”

Fair Lily laughed, silky black hair rippling across her shoulders, and clasped Angel’s fingers. “Ye are so much of us that at times I forget ye are not from here. Today is the shortest day. On the morrow the light returns. The first person to cross the threshold is deemed First Foot and considered an omen of the year to come.”

“You want Lucien to be First Foot?”

“Aye, he is tall and dark-haired, as preferred for good luck, and as handsome of face as our great Lugh of the old tales. He must approach from outside and knock on the door like this.” Fair Lily demonstrated a knocking rhythm in the air. “Then state glad tidings to the house and offer a token gift. Holly or mistletoe will do fine for that. Do ye think he will agree?”

“I’m sure he’ll be honored.”

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt year. Thanks for stopping by. Read the other winning excerpts at Tuesday Tales.

GLAD TIDINGS FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance

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