Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
Today I’ve gone back to Healer of the Nile for one last excerpt since it’s now available in he HERE BE MAGIC box set.
Tadenhut, elder son of a noble house and heir to the Hunting Cat estate, has been gravely injured in a battle against Pharaoh’s enemies and brought home to die. Mehyta, a woman from the estate’s village who has skills as a healer, has been ordered to assist the physicians in his care.
Having used her magic to assess his injuries, she finds herself dreaming of Tadenhut, who remains in a coma in the real world. Her dream and their conversation takes place on a battlefield, after the combat has ended. I’ve skipped a bit of dialog that comes after last week’s excerpt, but now he’s asked Mehyta to cast the omens for him.
Omen stones fell like a glittering rain, bouncing and rolling where the magic shoved them, and as the last pebble settled into place, she realized the pattern matched the one she’d thrown in the garden exactly. The odds against repeating a complex pattern, barring magic, were astronomical.
Tadenhut joined her, standing shoulder to shoulder, as if going into battle. What did he see, what was he thinking? The pattern told her many things, but he didn’t have the gift of interpreting omens. Glancing at his face, she reconsidered. Maybe in this place, he did have a touch of the power?
“Do it, change the medicines, bring me back, in whatever state my body now lies. I’ve chosen.” Tadenhut walked away from her, heading for his customary spot on the chariot next to Pharaoh’s standard without even an over the shoulder glance for her.
Healer of the Nile is included in the best selling HERE BE MAGIC box set with seven novellas from other authors, only $.99!
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I’d listen to whatever such a powerful omen told me! They’ll probably all regret it if she doesn’t obey.
Tadenhut is much more than he seems. What did he see,? I”ll bet its not what we expect.
His choice feels like a powerful turning point, filled with possibilities for the future. I love this.
The world you create is just so vivid and real. You have a wonderful imagination.
I agree with Ed. Here comes the turning point and something outstanding will happen. Yippee for my good pal.
A big moment in the story, beautifully drawn.
What a beautiful moment, so simple but so filled with grave importance. Lovely snippet! 🙂
Wow, quite an impact! This is a great snippet, thank you for sharing!
I love the image of the omen stones, so beautiful and powerful. Okay, off to buy the box set!
Thanks, Alexis! I hope you’ll enjoy the entire story 🙂
I’m glad he decided to try for a new life.
Thanks for all the comments and compliments, much appreciated! I really enjoyed writing this story for the box set so I have a feeling I’ll be revisiting the Hunting Cat estate to tell more tales in the future.
99 cents for writing this great? Heck yes, I’ll buy it! Wonderful snippet, Veronica! Off to grab myself a copy! 🙂
I appreciate the compliment, Evelyn! Thank you and I hope you’ll enjoy the novella 🙂
Fantastic world building, Veronica. This scene was a wonderfully sweeping epic feel to it!
Ooh, what did he see in the stones? Or did he, perhaps, read her face, I wonder…
Oh wow, I loved this! I was captivated by the depiction of her throwing the stones. And can he really read them? Could he all along, or is it something unique to him being in the dream state? This is such a great tale, and a superb snippet this week. 🙂
Never ignore an omen. Great scene. Always enjoy your snippets. 🙂
The visual from the opening line is fabulous.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that making up his mind will give him strength to overcome his wounds. Those omens could be good or bad, though.
This seems to be a powerful pivotal moment.
This makes me really wish I could interpret omens! Great snippet.
Hope this means he’ll make it back to the physical world! Congrats and best wishes on the Here Be Magic collection!!
What a powerful scene. Loving this snippet.
Great scene. I’m intrigued with that omen.
I absolutely love your description of the omen stones. You always make things so vivid and pretty!
A great snippet! Very vivid and I love the imagery.
Wow! Very decisive. I wonder if he’ll recognize her when he’s conscious?
The repeating pattern of the omen stones is both beautiful and intriguing. What do they mean? Just what can Tadenhut read into them? And where will his determination lead him? Really fantastic snippet.
Your descriptions are so vivid and (no pun intended) spellbinding. I would love to know what HE saw in the stones… (so curious, I just bought it)
I wonder if they saw something different in the Omens.
“Omens fell like glittering rain…” That’s beautiful. Great snippet!