#Medieval Monday ~ Did You Miss a Snippet from First Encounter? #Giveaway
We've decided to extend Medieval Monday for one more week. We're giving you another opportunity to leave a comment on a blog that you might have missed. Remember, the goal is to reach all fourteen weeks. Therefore, I'm including all the excerpts (14 snippets) and their blog links. Winner will be announced next week.
In addition, Medieval Monday will return in the New Year with a brand new theme. I will be sharing excerpts from my upcoming medieval story,
"A Highland Moon Enchantment."
I was delighted to return to Scotland and the Dragon Knights.
"First Encounter with Hero and Heroine"
August 7
Excerpt 1 ~ Lane McFarland
Savior or demon…
At once, the crowd started to part.
Fiona thought her first captor was a giant. She was wrong.
The man striding forth in the middle of the mob was taller than everyone else. His fur-lined cloak whipped around him as he stormed down the hill. His long dark hair hung in waves past his shoulders, and she noticed he had braids on each side of his face.
The closer he came, the more Fiona began to tremble. His face bore a deep crescent scar from his left eyebrow down below his cheek. This giant was a demon, and some actually crossed themselves as he passed them.
August 14
Excerpt 2 ~ Nicole Locke
Slavery or freedom…
When he reached the platform, he narrowed his eyes and glared at the two men by her side. They instantly stepped away. As with everyone else, he was no different. He looked her up and down, though when he gazed into her eyes for a moment, Fiona saw confusion.
The demon spoke. “How much do ye want, Robert?”
“Ye cannot have her.” He spit onto the ground in front of the man.
The man’s voice remained deadly calm. “And why would that be?”
“Ye have nothing to offer.”
Fiona saw the shift of color in the demon’s green eyes. It was enough for the man called Robert to back away.
August 21
Excerpt 3 ~ Ceci Giltenan
A wager…
“I dinnae want any trouble.”
The giant leaned his head down. “Would ye take these?” He pulled out a small pouch and opened it.
Pulling out several stones, he held them aloft. “Amber from the Northmen’s homeland.”
Robert’s eyes went wide, but then he crossed his arms. “I will take the lot and a barrel of your whisky.”
The man arched a brow. “How do ye ken I have whisky?”
“Do ye take me for a fool, MacKay?”
“Nae, Robert, but only foolish if ye do not take my offer of ten stones and one barrel.”
The moments stretched out between the two men, and Fiona’s heart pounded in her chest. She was being traded for amber stones and a damn barrel of whisky.
August 28
Excerpt 4 ~ Laurel O'Donnell
A new captor…
“Done!” Robert spit into his hand and held it out.
Instead of shaking his hand, he dropped the ten stones onto his palm. He waved over his head and another man came forth. “Have Steiner bring me a barrel of my whisky.”
“The Kelly won’t be pleased.”
“Do not worry about him. I will send Steiner with another of my private stash.”
“Aye.”
Robert stepped aside. “I do not understand why ye would want this one.”
“I do not expect ye to,” replied her new captor.
Fiona’s eyes went wide when her demon took a hold of her rope and walked her away from the crowd.
As soon as they passed the hoard of people, he turned to face her. “What is your name, lass?”
Her tongue felt as if it were plastered to the roof of her mouth.
“Can ye not speak?” he asked.
“Fi…ona…Fiona O’Quinlan,” she stammered.
September 4
Excerpt 5 ~ Jenna Jaxon
Reality, dream, or nightmare…
“O’Quinlan?” MacKay growled.
Fiona refused to show fear to her new captor. Until this horrid nightmare ceased and she woke, she would pretend it wasn’t real.
“Isn’t that what I said?”
Green eyes glared back at her. “So your brother sold ye. Why?”
She frowned in confusion. “I don’t have a brother.”
“Are ye not kin to the O’Quinlan of Navan?”
She swallowed. Memories of working on the dig in Navan came rushing back. Rory told her to take a walk, which led her wandering into an ancient grove of oaks.
What did he tell her? Was it to rest? Her head throbbed trying to recall his words.
September 11
Excerpt 6 ~ Ashley York
Disbelief…
Instinctively, she reached up to rub her temples as best she could. “I have no one,” she muttered.
“Humph! Follow me.”
“Do I have a choice?”
The man kept on walking. “Aye. I can sell ye back.”
Would he do that? In truth, she would rather stay with this man than the other one. She felt safe, if you could call it that. And he wasn’t tugging her along like some sheep.
Gathering up the end of the rope, Fiona followed the man down the path, which curved along the water. Many smaller boats were docked at the edge, some with men, and others empty.
Where in God’s earth was she?
September 18
Excerpt 7 ~ Sherry Ewing
Fascination…
Tripping over a fallen log, Fiona fell flat on her face. “Ouch!”
At once, strong arms pulled her up. His face so close, she could see the dimple in his chin beneath the shadow of his beard. Yet, it was those lips that caught her attention—full and sensual. Lips that could devour a woman. A slight tremor ran down her spine.
Releasing her, he backed away.
“Thanks,” she mumbled. What is wrong with you, Fiona? Did you hit your head?
He drew forth his dirk. “Hold your arms out.”
Confused, Fiona complied. In one swift slice, he cut through her bonds. Rubbing at her wrists, she smiled up at him. “Thank you…again.”
September 25
Excerpt 8 ~ Elisabeth Hobbes
Vikings everywhere…
He didn’t respond but turned and walked away.
She quickly followed, keeping her focus more on her footing and not on the man in front of her. They passed several more boats, and then the path narrowed. She halted when the man waved to his crew on a ship alone by the dock.
A Viking ship with a dragon at its bow.
“I’m so not in my Ireland.” She watched as he tossed out orders. Then he turned to face her along with all the other men.
Her feet moved hesitantly forward. Where else could she go?
“Great Odin. What is it?” asked one of the men.
Fiona’s mouth gaped open.
MacKay snorted. “She claims her name is Fiona O’Quinlan.”
Now the man’s mouth fell open and quickly snapped shut. “What have they done to her?”
Her captor or savior shrugged. “Cannae say.”
“Look at her hair and clothes,” interjected another man. “Has she been cast out?”
October 2
Excerpt 9 ~ Cathy MacRae
An inspection…
Then a third man jumped down from the boat and circled around her. “’Tis clothing I have never seen. Perchance, she is one of them.”
Fiona backed away from the men. Good God, they were looking at her like some sort of specimen. She retreated right into the arms of a fourth man.
“Whoa, little elf, can I be of service?”
She stumbled away from him, but received a huge smile.
“Do not try and use your charms on her. It is Alastair’s slave,” grumbled the first man.
Alastair pointed at Fiona. “She is not my slave, Gunnar.”
Gunnar crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me, why did you buy her then?”
Placing his hands on his hips, he glared at all of them. “I will take her back to the O’Quinlan.”
Fiona flinched. What was he saying? Who was this other O’Quinlan? And why did her captor’s name sound familiar?
Something snapped inside of her. “Like hell you will.”
October 9
Excerpt 10 ~ Barbara Bettis
Reality comes to light…
All eyes turned toward her.
She was tired of being passed back and forth, and she was going to take control of this god-awful nightmare. “I’m not going anywhere until you explain where I am.” Pointing a finger at Alastair, she demanded, “And who are you?”
The man who’d flirted with her coughed into his fist. “The elf has balls.”
“Silence!” roared Alastair. “Get ready to depart. I will not remain any longer.”
A mixture of grumbling and smirks ensued, as they climbed up the ladder into the ship. Alastair directed his gaze back to Fiona and approached her.
Fiona willed herself to show no fear as he loomed dark and powerful, and she slowly lifted her head to meet his stare. In all of her life, she had never stood her ground. Until this moment.
“What is this place?” Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
“Dunnyneill. Trading post,” he replied.
October 16
Excerpt 11 ~ Bambi Lynn
An identity revealed…
Her mouth parted slightly. “And you? Who are you?”
He leaned toward her. “Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“I am called the Dubh Dragon, but ye can call me Alastair. Now, may we leave?”
No! Fiona’s mind screamed at her. He couldn’t be. Could he? She shook her head in confusion.
“Impossible.”
Alastair blinked. Then he threw back his head and laughed. Afterwards, he spread his arms wide. “Och, little bird, I am indeed the Dubh Dragon.”
October 23
Excerpt 12 ~ Ruth A. Casie
Impossibility…
Fiona’s heart pounded rapidly, fearing it would burst. “So you claim to be the Black Dragon. And your name is Alastair.”
He slowly placed his hands on his hips. “Aye. Have ye heard of another?”
“And your last…I mean your surname, it is MacKay?” Oh God, please don’t say it.
Alastair’s smile vanished. “Aye.”
Goosebumps broke out on Fiona’s body. “Impossible.”
“As ye have stated, but ’tis the truth.”
Fiona’s voice trembled when she spoke, “If you are Alastair MacKay of the Clan MacKay…”
“Aye.” His voice turning deadly.
“Then you are also one of the Dragon Knights.”
October 30
Excerpt 13 ~ Judith Sterling
Intriguing little bird…
Alastair’s fists were clenched by his sides. How did this mere wisp of a woman know his true name? Very few had heard of the Dragon Knights. What made her so special? She was nothing but a slave, possibly cast out by her own people. Or so he thought.
He would get the truth out of her. She was now his. Bought and paid for.
His anger simmered just below the surface, and he allowed his eyes to flash with the fire of the dragon. Hearing her gasp, he smiled. Good, little bird. Fear me.
Without giving her time to react, he swept her up and dumped her over his left shoulder, and strode toward the ship.
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and then she started to pound against his back. “Put…me down,” she demanded.
“Nae.”
November 6
Excerpt 14 ~ Mary
Respect a bird that has talons…
She started to kick, and he clenched his jaw in frustration. The little bird had talons. He responded with a smack to her bottom, but instead of removing his hand, he kept it against her soft curves. “I will put ye down when we are on my ship.”
She went completely still, and then she screamed.
Alastair dumped her onto the ground. “For the love of Brigid, did ye have to yell into my ear?”
Fiona rubbed at her bottom and then stood. “You beast,” she spat out at him. Jumping onto a nearby boulder, she looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again.”
Alastair yanked her to his chest by her arms, his face mere inches from hers. “And what are ye going to do?” He watched as her eyes widened in alarm. Blue eyes that reminded him of the sky on warm summer days. Then his gaze traveled down to her lips, red as berries.
Instantly, his beast roared to life. Claim one kiss, Alastair.
“I will slit your throat,” she whispered.
