Saturday, April 14, 2018

Weekend Writing Warriors April 15

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly blog hop where participants post eight to ten sentences of their writing. You can find out more about it by clicking on the image below.
http://www.wewriwa.com/

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. Shayla rescued one of them from humiliation but in turn is expected to provide entertainment. She has chosen to perform a knife dance to music from a popular opera.

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All grace and perfect balance, her raised leg extended behind while her arms closed in again, drawing the points of the weapons down her body.

Shayla had chosen one of the more dance-like routines in her martial repertoire. It would not do to advertise her full mastery of the Shohan Calinda, but she hoped this would not arouse comment. The Palm Tree...lean forward into the Hawk, then the Cobra, back to the Hawk... She recited the set poses, letting the sequence unfold from years of training as the lyrics sang of the poison coursing through the doomed Serpent's veins, and the agony of his awakening.

And hold ... ready for the acrobatics ...

Three forward flips and Shayla planted her feet in a wide fighting stance. The languid grace of the stylized poses gone, she was now the hunter, circling the room. Her blades were fangs seeking their prey.


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13 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Ian - absolutely fascinating ... Shayla is one special character ... excellent - cheers Hilary

Jessica E. Subject said...

I hope she doesn't give away her skills until she's ready to. Great snippet!

Botanist said...

Hilary, glad you enjoy Shayla. She was fun to write, too.

Jessica, this display will come back to haunt her later on.

Anonymous said...

Hah! I hope this dance gives Mabb second thoughts about trying to bully her. I'm imagining Khachaturian's Saber Dance in the background.

Teresa Cypher said...

The visual here is incredible, Ian. I can almost hear the music!

Botanist said...

Ed, she will definitely give Mabb pause for thought by the end of the dance.

Teresa, glad you like it. This was an intense scene to write.

Veronica Scott said...

Quite the performance - I bet this audience is riveted, just as the readers will be. A wow moment - so well done, great snippet!

Julie said...

You're doing a great job describing every detail of this scene and painting such a vivid picture. Well done!

Unknown said...

This is beautifully described- I can just picture it!

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

Just loved the imagery! I could see it all so vividly. Great snippet.

Diane Burton said...

Terrific scene. I hope no one sees her "dance". No giving away her skills.

Botanist said...

Thanks for your encouragement, everyone. The dance concludes in next week's snippet.

Stella Telleria said...

Can’t wait to read more. Great scene!

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