Continuing 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 previously fallen foul of her new boss, Mabbwendig ap Terlion, Master of the Emperor’s Domestic Household, and is confronting her again in the cavernous staff dining hall. Mabb has been tormenting a series of unfortunate individuals among the hundreds of people crowding the hall.
=====
A waiter removed Shayla's barely-touched plate, and returned with a dish of mousse molded in the shape of a swan.
"Is it always like this?" Shayla asked Jojo.
He frowned. "She normally picks on more people, but her barbs cut unusually deep tonight."
Mabbwendig looked up from her plate. Her eyes roved across the sea of faces like a hawk surveying a meadow. "Time for music, I think." Her face creased into a smile. "Tanya."
Jojo groaned under his breath. "Poor Tanya, not again."
=====
Posts
12 comments:
Oh, I can feel the tension of all the staff in the room. I hope everyone makes it through dinner.
Yikes, another victim! Is Tanya unwilling, ungifted, or both?
That really does not sound good. Is Tanya a favorite victim? Is there anyway for them to fight back? Lots of great tension in this scene!
Hi Ian - Mabb sounds horrible ... cruelty at its worst. The fear is keeping them in check ... wonderful tension = cheers Hilary
Mabb--a tyrant. Yep. Poor Jojo.
Jessica, pretty sure everyone will make it through. Dinners are nasty, but not usually fatal :)
Christina, both. Definitely both!
Jenna, we'll see ...
Hilary, Teresa, yep, Mabb is a cruel tyrant.
I gather that being chosen to perform is NOT a sign of good favor.
Must be one of the worst dinners EVER, for the attendees being picked on! You really paint the scene well - fascinating excerpt!
Ed, you got that right!
Veronica, sadly this is normality in Mabb's world.
Oh dear, I'm guessing this isn't actually something Tanya isn't going to enjoy! Mabb sounds like a really nasty piece of work!
I wonder what is wrong with the food.
You're doing a great job picking out terrific scenes from your book. (Then again, you have so many good scenes to choose from...)
Post a Comment