Dragon Island Legends, Book 2, Chapter 1

 Today, instead of a Writer's Week post, I thought that I would share the first chapter in my as yet untitled work in progress. It will be book 2 in my Dragon Island Legends series. The series consists of tales that illuminate the history of the Dragon Islands, the world Eric and the Deliverers visit in The Golden Dragon of Ang, the third book in the Deliverers series.

The goal of the series is to tell the story behind one event on each of the five Dragon Islands. The first book, Fire & Ice, takes place on Ang, the Head of the Islands, in the time before the Golden Dragon removes herself from the Islands and (slight spoiler) how that comes to be.

This book takes place even further in the past--500 or so years before Fire & Ice. It is about a teen named Shadra who lives with her clan on the steppes of Jongchin, the Heart of the Islands. So, here is chapter one. I'd love to know what you think. If folks like it, I'll post chapter two in the near future.

Chapter 1

The small, mounted hunting party rode over the grassy steppes of Jongchin. They had been out on the hunt for almost a week but had nothing to show for it. Game had been scarce this cycle, something unheard of among the clans for untold turnings. Shadra rode ahead of the others, looking for antelope sign. A girl of 16, she was unique among the clans of the western steppes. She was the only female to hunt, which made her strange. Moreover, she was highly skilled, which made her intimidating to the men of her clan, and, in some ways, a threat.

The rest of the hunting party laughed and joked among themselves as she rode ahead. One muttered, “When will the ‘Great Huntress’ mark a herd? Where’s she leading us? I think we’re going in circles.”

His companions chuckled. Shadra heard them but took no notice. “If they are getting antsy, why don’t they try tracking for a while?” she thought bitterly. “Instead, they allow themselves to be led across the steppes like a group of pack mules.”

Still, she shared their frustration. Winter was coming, and the clan’s food reserves were dwindling. The hunting had been unusually poor. Game was scarce. If their luck did not change soon, the clan faced starvation once the snows of winter set in.

In normal times, several clans would unite to conduct a nerge—a hunt where hundreds of horsemen would drive an antelope herd across the steppes to a strategic, predetermined spot such as a canyon or valley where archers waited to bring down large amounts of game. However, with the scarcity of game, the clans had to range farther than normal across the steppes in search of it, which prevented them from teaming up.

Shadra shifted the bow that was slung across her shoulders. It was her primary weapon and her pride and joy. The curved bows of the Jongchin steppe clans were legendary. Constructed of a composite of wood, horn, and sinew, they served the clans when hunting and fighting. The clansmen of the Jongchin steppes were skilled at shooting from horseback, and Shadra was better than most. This was grudgingly acknowledged by her clan, but because she was a woman, it was a cause of shame rather than pride. To be outhunted by a woman, much less outfought, was considered dishonorable.

A high-pitched screech from the air caught the hunters’ attention. They pulled up their horses and scanned the sky. Circling high above was the form of a great golden eagle. They watched as it circled lower in ever-shrinking circles until it alighted on Shadra’s outstretched arm.

The large bird dropped the body of a red fox onto the girl’s saddle. Shadra smiled. “Ah, Kreeva. Well done!” Shadra offered Kreeva a piece of dried meat, which the eagle greedily devoured.

Turning in her saddle, Shadra tossed the fox to the hunter who had mocked her. “Here you go, Shai-Phoo. Stow it with the others. It seems Kreeva is the only one having any luck this trip.”

Turning to face forward once more, she said, “All right, my dear. Let’s see if you can find any bigger game.” With a flick of her arm, she launched the giant eagle into the air.

Kreeva rose into the sky, circled once, and flew east. The small hunting party followed, with Shadra still leading.

Classic Interview: Alice in Wonderland

Happy Summer (almost), everybody! This time, I'm really pleased to be talking with the legendary Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She is the heroine of one of the first modern "fantasy" novels. Actually, her journey is a little like Eric's in my book, The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel. She finds a way into a different world by following a white rabbit, while Eric follows a white owl. Hmmm, you know, I never realized that until now! Of course, Alice's adventure was, in my opinion, much stranger than Eric's.

Anyway, let's get the show on the road. Here's Alice. 

Greg:  Welcome, Alice! Alice, that's a lovely name, but, uh, I don't know your full name, what exactly is it?

Alice:  Some people say that my full name is Alice Liddell, a young friend of Mr. Carroll's. Personally, I prefer to be called Alice. Just Alice. As for my true last name...I'm not telling!

Greg:  Oh, well, okay, Alice it is, then. How old are you, Alice?

Alice:  I'm seven and a half, if you please, but many people are surprised by that. They always think I'm older, although I can't understand why. 

Greg:  Yes, well, if I may say so, you seem very grown up for one so young. As I mentioned in the introduction, your first adventure began when you chased a little white rabbit down a hole. What about the rabbit attracted your attention, and why did you chase him down a hole? 

Alice:  First of all, I would like to make it perfectly plain that I was in no way looking to cause anyone any problems. in spite of what the Queen of Hearts might say. My growth spurt had nothing to do with the stolen tarts. It was also not my intention to knock over the jury box. Besides, not allowing people to grow a mile tall is such a silly law. I'll admit that it is out of the ordinary, but certainly nothing to lose one's head over. 

Greg:  I heartily agree with that, my dear, but you didn't really answer the question.

Alice:  Question? What question?

Greg:  What made you chase the rabbit down the hole?

Alice:  Rabbit? Oh, yes of course, the rabbit. As I recall, it was a dreadfully boring summer day. There was nothing to do except laze by the river. When the White Rabbit ran past, it was impossible not to notice him. For one thing, I was bored, for another, who wouldn't notice a rabbit dressed in a smart suit of clothes, looking at his pocket watch? It's just not the sort of thing one sees every day, or at least it wasn't then. so of course I had to follow him.

Greg:  When you put it that way, how could you not? Following the rabbit got you started on what would be a long, strange trip, so to speak. What stands out as the strangest encounter on your journey?

---

Alice:  Oh dear, how can I choose just one? So many strange things happened on my adventure. I suppose that if I had to pick just one, I should say the Hatter was truly a unique character. It was impossible to know if he meant what he said, or if he said what he meant.

Greg:  I beg your pardon? I don't think I quite followed that.

Alice:  Exactly. I tried to follow him, but I couldn't. Try as I might I could not follow him, although he was following me the whole time. That's not all. Every time I thought I had found him, he would open up his mouth and lose me again.

His poetry was simply hideous. It made no sense at all. And his riddles...I mean, really. Why is a raven like a writing desk? He didn't even have an answer. How backward! I don't think he knew what he was talking about at all.

It was very frustrating, and the March Hare was absolutely no help whatsoever. He was mad, completely loopy. All he wanted to do was to pour out the tea. There now, that's enough about that. it aggravates me no end just thinking about the entire affair!

Greg:  Fair enough. I can't say that I blame you. What can you tell me about the Queen of Hearts?

Alice:  Oh, she was another one. Completely unreasonable. I don't care if she is a queen, she'd no right to treat people the way that she did--accusing the Knave of Hearts of stealing her tarts, using flamingos as croquet mallets, and making silly laws. She's nothing but a bully. If I hear off with their head one more time, I shall simply scream!

Greg: Well, I guess you've made yourself perfectly clear on that score. I see the White Rabbit signaling me that our time is up. Thank you so much for spending some time to chat with us, Alice. It was a pleasure.

Alice:  You're perfectly welcome. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going. The Cheshire Cat's grin has misplaced the Cheshire Cat, and I promised that I would help him find himself. I'm late enough as it is!

A Writer's Week #153: Life...and All That Goes With It

 It has been a minute since I've posted here. I'm sorry for the gap, but there has been a lot going on and time kind of got away from me. First of all, work has been very busy and is fixing to get even busier in June.

Second, my daughter Abby graduated from the University of Georgia on May 8 and Stephanie, Christian and I drove down there to attend. We also spent a day in Charleston, SC exploring the street market on King Street and Rainbow Row before driving back up to Connecticut and moving Abby's stuff back. Soon she'll be off to the University of North Carolina as she pursues her Masters. Stephanie and I stopped off at Monticello in Virginia for a few hours. Truly an impressive place. Thomas Jefferson was amazing.

     

The day after graduation, Stephanie fell while running and broke her wrist, so we had to hustle down to urgent care for x-rays and a splint. Luckily, the day after we returned home, she was able to get an appointment with the orthopedist and the next day she had surgery. Thankfully, she is now in a soft cast and well on the way to recovery.

In spite of all this, I was able to get in a little bit of writing and selling. A couple of events were cancelled, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I set up shop at the bottom of my driveway. I live on a fairly busy state highway, and I'd been mulling over the idea for a couple of years, but did not have the nerve to give it a try. The move was a success. I sold 14 books and met some neighbors in town that I had never met. I will try it again soon.

On the writing front, book 2 of Dragon Island Legends (still untitled) is slowly taking shape. It currently sits at 6,200 words and I think I can write a bunch more and really move it forward if I could find a little chunk of time.

I have one event scheduled for June, and two more in the works, and I'll post those on my Appearances page when they're finalized. 

Peace