Evening Excerpt: Hexborn, Chapter 4

For your enjoyment, an excerpt from Hexborn, available for pre-order on Amazon.

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A carriage met them at the king’s private dock. As Silas exchanged words with the driver, Shiloh looked up to see the palace looming above the City, the complex completely covering the tallest hill. She could see the concentric sets of walls and the green of the enormous gardens. The irregular towers jutted up, fingers reaching for the sky. It was the law, she knew, that no building in the City could be constructed that rose higher than the shortest tower of the palace.

Silas helped her into the velvet interior of the carriage, and before she knew it, they were rattling over cobblestoned streets. Hustle and bustle closed in on all sides as soon as they departed the royal wharf. The noise was overwhelming: the clatter of wheels and horses, the cries of vendors, the angry yells of drivers trying to force their way through the traffic, the clanging of the Temples calling people to morning prayers. Shiloh could feel her chest tightening. Another buggy swiped against their own, setting it to rocking on its springs, and she could not stifle her cry of alarm.

Hatch looked up from his letter and set it aside. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” she lied, voice cracking. She saw his eyes land upon her lap and looked down to see that she was clutching her skirts hard enough to turn her knuckles bone white. To her surprise, Hatch reached across and took her hand, carefully opened her fingers, and set them back down on her knee.

“I’d forgotten how strange it is the first time,” he said apologetically. “It seems so crowded and dangerous. When I arrived, I had not once been out of the Vine. I was convinced I would never arrive at Greenhill alive. When we travel with the whole court, they clear the street. It is much calmer that way. But I don’t rate that treatment by myself, I’m afraid.”

“Thank you,” Shiloh replied self-consciously. “It’s just so noisy. I’ve never been anywhere so crowded. Obviously.”

“Take deep breaths,” Hatch advised. “Soon we’ll arrive. I’ll hand you off to the Matron and to your maid. She will show you your room and help you get your bearings. This afternoon, you will meet with the headmaster and the armorer. Tomorrow, your studies shall begin. Simple.”

All Shiloh could do was nod and watch the palace grow ever closer.

Simple.

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New November Snow Trailers

As you may have noticed, I recently updated the covers for my November Snow novels.  For the sake of consistency, I wanted to update my trailers to match.  Check out the spiffy new trailers for She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark, and She Marches Through Fire.

An Action-Packed Excerpt

Today I'm sharing a peek at one of the most exciting sections of my YA high fantasy novel, Hexborn.  This was my first time writing about a magical battle at sea.  I think this is an under-explored possiblity in epic fantasy, and I hope you enjoy it.  You'll have to read the book to see how it turns out!

The sky lurked dark gray above them.

“Clear weather the whole way, eh?” Shiloh asked Hatch, looking at him askance.

“In Kiven’s defense, it may not be a natural storm,” he replied, face grim.

Magenta lightning lit up the sky.

“You don't say?” Shiloh snorted, equally grim.  She pulled out her wand.  Hatch’s was already in his hand, glowing with white fire.

“They must be close, right?  Weather spells don't travel far,” Shiloh observed.

“Aye.  And they must be close enough to board before we sink, if they hope to take Lady Esta alive,” Hatch added.

Around them, sailors ran frantically, preparing the ship for the oncoming storm.  The captain emerged on deck, and Hatch waved him over.

“Call battle stations,” Hatch told him.

“Are you mad?” the captain sputtered, until the red lightening made another appearance.  He swallowed.  “Battle stations it is, sir.”

The first drops of rain splattered onto Shiloh’s face.  The swells grew higher, and the ship began to rock.  Shiloh’s stomach lurched in time with it.

“You know Kirkland’s Spell of Revelation?” Hatch asked.

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

“I'll calm the seas.  You find their vessel,” Hatch ordered.

She looked up to the crow’s nest.  She knew it would take her an age to climb up there, but it would give her the best view in all directions.  She sighed, hating to reveal one of her new tricks so soon, but there was nothing for it.

Holding her wand aloft, she bent her knees deeply and called out a spell in Estan as she leapt.  A moment later, she landed lightly in the crow’s nest.  Looking down, she saw Hatch throw back his head and laugh, then turned her attention to her task.  

She began on the starboard side, aiming her magic in a line that began just off the deck rail and extended into the distance several hundred yards.  When nothing appeared, she turned about ten degrees and repeated the process.  It was exhausting work, sustaining the magic for so long.  At least Hatch had been successful at calming the water, so her precarious perch ceased its terrifying lurching.

Luck was with her, and a small, swift vessel appeared out of thin air.  Quickly, she bound it, lest it disappear anew.  The ship shuddered as cannons began firing beneath her, now that they had a target.  

She pulled up the hood of her cloak, but her hair had already been soaked by the pelting rain.  She turned her mind to setting a ward over the ship, assuming the fire would be returned.  

The water between the dueling vessels glowed bright with the light of the curses now flying back and forth, as every sorcerer on board took aim at their attacker.  She could make out Lord Mosspeak himself throwing curses off the starboard bow, his maroon hat perched atop his head.

Remembering her riding instructor's advice, she cast the ward she had modified to dissipate energy. The ship barely rocked when her shield lit up with the impact of incoming curses and cannonballs.

Whoever was casting wards for their opposition had not been so skillful.  She watched the smaller vessel tip so far over on its side that its mast nearly touched the waves.  She felt a twinge of pity as she spotted men tumbling helplessly into the water.  The shield around the ship flickered and disappeared.  Its caster must be among the drowning, Shiloh realized. 

Those who managed to cling to wood or rope resumed their attack when the ship righted itself.  No one spared a moment’s attention to the men in the drink.  Shiloh realized she had been spotted when a volley of sickly yellow hexes traced an arc high in the sky and began to fall upon her nest.

Clingfire.  

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I'm afraid you'll have to read the book if you want to know what happens next.  Luckily, it is now available.