Harpy Havoc

I hope you enjoy this scene from my WIP, tentatively entitled Zelera's Revenge. It gives you a glimpse into the types of characters that make up the world of Aigerach.

Medina loved flying. Nothing in the world felt so good. The wind caressed her, held her in its embrace, lifting her up to soar in the heavens. She had risen above the fog, and off in the distance she could see the lightening of the sky to a soft dusky blue. The sounds of gulls rose up to her through the mist, their screeching cries as they fought for whatever they found in the detritus of the sinking ships. She glanced out to the horizon once more, the sky glowing orange rimmed in gold. The sun glimmered on the horizon, peeking up its head for the dawn of a new day.

Medina dropped down into the fog, following the clamor of angry voices, frightened voices. She slid along the currents of air, to land on a ship's yard. The crow's nest appeared empty, so she lifted off to land on the lip of the barrel shaped enclosure that perched atop the mast.

"Ah, what manner of monster are you?"

Medina peered into the barrel. A small lad cowered down, arms over his head. He peeked out over his arm, squealed, then ducked his head back under.
"I'm not a monster," she clucked, "I'm a harpy." She chuckled and tossed her head, flipping her auburn hair. They boy kept his head down, his whole body shaking. Medina dropped into the nest.

"Ah," he cried. "Kill me quick. I don't want to be alive when you eat me."

"Eat you," she sneered, "you are nothing but skin and bones, why would I eat you?" She reached out a gentle hand and patted his back.

He lifted his eyes, peering at her freckled face. "You aren't going to eat me?" he breathed.

"Of course not, I never eat skinny humans, I prefer the fat ones," she leered at him.

He pushed to his feet, his hands groping for the pull cord to the alarm bell. Medina cackled, "Joke, boy. It was a joke. Apparently, it wasn't very funny." She smirked as the boy collapsed back down into the nest, the wind out of his sails.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Checking to see what my enemies are up to," she said, raising an eyebrow. "And I find them running amok, plum wild out of their wits."

The boys eyes widened. "We were attacked in the middle of the night. The ships just started exploding, no one saw how it happened. It was...magic," he breathed. "Aigerach is filled with magic and monsters. None of us wanted to come here, but the King..."

"Ah yes, your King. How did Zelera manage to capture your King's heart?"

The boy looked down, "I don't know. Who's to say what makes a person fall in love. But, we're here to get her back, or die trying."

"Do you feel that strongly about her, willing to risk your life for her?"

He glared at her. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

Medina fluffed her feathers and pulled back, reading anger and distrust written across the boy's face. "I thought we were just talking."

"You're a spy. You're gathering our secrets." He jumped to his feet, yanking hard on the alarm bell cord. A sharp clanging rent the air.

Medina spread her wings, leaping to the edge of the crow's nest. She flapped her wings, blasting air into the boy's face. He covered his head under his arms. "You are an ignorant little cuss," she cried. "I had thought at first I would be able to call you friend, but I can see you cling blindly to your prejudiced notions. I hope you make it through this war my boy, you have no idea what you fight for."

She leaped into the sky just as a harpoon sliced through the air to her side. Old harpy tendencies popped to the surface, and she began a torrential stream of cursing that rained down over the ship, causing even the most veteran of sailors' cheeks to burn.

She hovered in the air, the open sea at her back, "You are all ignorant fools, fighting against magic to save one who is the greatest perversion of it!"

Dragon Flight and Healing Light

Day Three - Magic! And Religion?

Thought I'd share an excerpt from my WIP, hope you enjoy.

"Beware," shrieked Ena.

Violent purple lightning burst from the ground sweeping up into the sky. Fingers of electricity danced out from a main line of electric malevolence, stabbing out at them. Ardan banked sharp as a bolt of Darkness exploded in front of his nose. Ravyn slipped off his back, the wind whistling in her ears as she fell toward the hard ground below.

Groggy from sleep, she tried to make sense of her free fall through a pitch-black sky. She felt the wind rushing past her, her black hair smacking her in the face. She fumbled for skeins of the Light, pulling the colored threads about her body, willing the threads to coil and spring. Arcs of Darkness sliced through the sky looking for prey, a tendril of electricity cracked near her head and her hair stood on end. Her downward spiral continued and she hoped the Light would cushion her fall. A streak of red burst through the darkness and she landed hard on Ardan's back, only to bounce off because of the woven coils of Light she'd wrapped about herself. She snatched at his tail, clutching it with her right hand. Ardan lashed his tail forward, flinging her head over foot to deposit her on his back once more.

An unearthly wail pierced the night, "Ena," she screamed. Ardan dove and swerved as streaks of violet electricity sparked all about them. He banked away from the foul Darkness, making a steep dive down toward the ground. Ravyn felt the skin on her cheeks pulling backwards against the tremendous pressure. Little stars danced in her vision, and she felt blackness pulling her down. Ardan slammed into the ground, sending dirt and rocks flying. Ravyn breathed in a deep breaht, her eyes bright with clarity once more. Ardan leaped forward, his huge legs propelling him across the ground.

Ena lay on her back, her wing stretched out to the side, a large smoking hole burned through the leathery skin. Lareina stood over the tattered wing, her hands raised, threads of Light dancing at her fingertips. She wove the threads into a complicated pattern, looping some and weaving new ones through.

Rayvn noticed threads of Light pinning Ena down. The dragon thrashed her head back and forth. "Let me up, I'll tear out her throat!"

Ardan stuck his face up under his mother's chin, mewling and nuzzling her. A great rumbling sound emerged from his chest as he bumped her head, nudging her over and over.

Ravyn put a calm hand on Ardan. "Shh, she'll be alright." She rubbed his heaving sides. He craned his neck round, a lost sad look in his golden eyes. "Ardan, step back," she urged. "Mother needs space to work. It'll be okay." She glanced at Lareina, her brows furrowed in concentration, lost deep in the working of healing magic. She has to be okay.

So, sorry. I know it's a bit rough. This is part of what got whipped out during NaNoWriMo, and I haven't done any editing yet. As you can tell, in Aigerach there's really only one magic, but it can be worked through the Light or the Darkness. As for Religion, in Aigerach people will greet each other with Blessing of the Light, and they will pray to the Light, when they are hoping for a good outcome. But there is no formal God or Goddess.

World Building Day Two, Ugh, Politics...

Day two - Recent Politics in Aigerach

Aigerach has always been ruled by a King. Rule is passed from father to eldest son, and has been such for all ages. Until King Alric has no sons. The right of rule is passed his youngest daughter Lareina, who has married a young royal named Bryant.

Aigerach remains a monarchy, for a time. King Alric's daughter Zelera falls prey to the Darkness, allowing it to find root in her heart. Jealous of her sister and angry that she has been passed over for rule, she takes things into her own hands.

Zelera seals her sister and King Bryant into a magic mirror and usurps the throne, becoming the first female ruler of Aigerach, and its first despot! She retains power for a period of nine long years, throwing the land into chaos and Darkness. That is, until the Princess Ravyn is able to return from exile and take back the crown, bringing back the Light.

Zelera, exiled for her crimes against the country (execution should have been her fate), finds love in Rasport. She finds herself betrothed to the King of that country.
Will being the Queen of Rasport fill the hole in her soul? Will it be enough to satisfy her lust for power? What would happen if it should appear that she has been kidnapped?

Busy writing...

I've been a lil' neglectful of this humble blog. Not that I have intended to, but my excuse is rather good.

I've been writing! It's so much fun to plot and plan new adventures for Ravyn and the whole gang from Return of the Crown. I've spent some time researching a few new characters who can't wait for their turn on the printed page.

I can't say my domestic goddess duties have been getting much attention either. So, sorry house. Sorry laundry. Sorry messy desk. You'll all just have to wait for your turn!

And so, I know, this is very short. But...Zelera's up to her nasty tricks again, and the pull of the story is calling. Adieu for now, I must return to Aigerach!