I’m back with the start of a scene from my first book, Ghosts of Innocence.
Shayla has stolen the identity of a newly-appointed senior public servant, and infiltrated the Palace in disguise. She has already fallen foul of her new boss, Mabbwendig ap Terlion, Master of the Emperor’s Domestic Household, but has since kept out of Mabb’s way while she establishes herself in her new position.
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Shayla joined a flood of people streaming into the cavernous staff dining room. A wall of sound, the voices of hundreds of people, seemed to squeeze her chest. The air was heavy with the remnants of the day's heat and the scent of cooked meats steeped in pungent sauces. The senses combined to form a suffocating blanket around Shayla's head.
Am I doing the right thing? Her eyes burned from fatigue, but there was no turning back. After Shayla's brush with Mabbwendig yesterday, she knew she could no longer put off this moment.
Three rows of long tables stretched away left and right, broken by an aisle ahead of her which led to the center of the room. Three more rows of tables filled the far side. To her right, a more lavishly appointed table sat apart, under the frowning portrait of Emperor Julian Skamensis.
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Note - both Ghosts of Innocence and Tiamat’s Nest ebooks are still on sale at $0.99 for a few more days.
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16 comments:
Wonderful description in this snippet! And it's intriguing as well. Welcome back, Ian!
Excellent use of the senses in this scene. We can feel her suffocating from the sensory overload. Great snippet!
Wonderful setup, Ian. Heavy with dreaded anticipation weighted down by the senses. Can't wait for more! Good to have you back!
Great snippet.
Hi Ian - I wonder what's going to her - her senses will hold up just ... interesting to see what happens next - cheers Hilary
Good to be back, Jessica!
Jenna, glad the sensory overload is coming across.
Nancy, she knows this could make or break her mission.
Kimberly, thanks.
Hilary, stick around over the next few weeks to find out!
Welcome back! Loved the snippet, such good description, and of course now I'm really wondering what she's up to.
Your description of the feast, especially the smells, made me hungry. I think I'll have lunch.
Oh, the power of words!
What an interesting and exciting snippet. The Welsh woman in me wonders if Mabb could have Welsh ancestry - the name Mabbwendig ap Terlion almost sounds liek an ancient Welsh Prince!
Veronica, she's not really "up to" anything other than showing she's not afraid to show her face, but of course with Shayla things always get more complicated ...
Ed, yes, food! I had to go and make myself bacon butties after that :)
Hywela, certainly Welsh influences. Another character in the same story is called Brynwyn which I'm sure also has Welsh roots.
Great sentence choices! You do know how to lure people in, don't ya?
Luring is good, Susan :) I'll be posting more from this scene over the coming weeks if you want to stick around.
I always love details that include scents...and senses. ;) Nice snippet!
I bought your book after reading this post, so I'll be reading ALL of the scenes. :)
LOL - many thanks Susan. I hope you enjoy it.
Chrys, the sense of smell is often overlooked in writing.
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