Lored | Dragonscale Clippings

Posted tagged ‘Lored’

Elkadanu

15 May, 2022

It’s here! You can now read Elkadanu at iTunes, Kobo and Nook as well as on Kindle!

Tari held the divining rod in her hands, feeling the peeled bark beneath her fingers. She walked slowly up and down on the short turf, all her senses open to the slightest quiver in her hands. Nothing.

As she walked, she imagined she was Undine, priestess of Aqua, who had been her protector, confidant and guide for nearly a year. Undine had been tall and slender and serene. Tari was not tall and was curvy, rather than slim and, until recently, hadn’t felt serene at all. However, the treu-priestess had learnt, that by just pretending to be Undine, she could feel calm and confident, and that, in turn, encouraged other people to think she was serene.

This was especially important in the Cathair on Kiros where everyone looked at Tari all the time. Her relationship with the Queen was secure but Tari couldn’t afford to let anyone else know how terrified she was of this role that Lored, the taku-kevir had thrust upon her.

Tari paused at the edge of the hill and set the forked hazel stick on the ground, releasing her fingers, flexing her wrists. She stared out over the land and sea, looking down at the Cathair below. From here, the castle looked small; the tops of grey walls and slate roofs were dull beneath the clouded sky. A pale road wound through the town below the Cathair, ending at the harbour with toy-size boats and ships at anchor. The ocean appeared flat and grey and stretched out in a large curve towards the far horizon. To the west, green, wooded hills cast shadows towards the castle, and, to the east, farmland gave way to a distant darkness that Tari assumed was the Wild Wood.

Above is a short extract from Elkadanu, which is being launched TODAY! It’s available at a multitude of book stores, including iTunes, Nook & Kobo and is also available on Kindle at ALL marketplaces.

Watch the Book Trailer HERE!

If you have a Spotify account you can listen to my playlist for Elkadanu HERE!

“This is a fantastic read. The characters are all well drawn and the landscape through which the characters move is just right – familiar and easily imaginable, yet quite magical as well.” W Thomas

Categories: the kaerling
Tags: elkadanu, fantasy, freya pickard, launch, Lored, magic, mystery, new book, Politics, published, quest, Tari, the kaerling

Comments: 16 Comments

Coming Soon!

1 May, 2022

Elkadanu, Volume 9 of The Kaerling, will be available to purchase on 15th May!

Above is my own interpretation of the book and below, is the book cover! What do you think?

“The character development is nicely handled. Tari is maturing into her role, but I like that she still has certain insecurities and doubts which she tries to hide behind the priestessy exterior she thinks she should have. This makes her a very real character and one we can easily identify with. We all put on a front to some degree, I think. Lored, too, comes across as a complex and sympathetic character. I’m looking forward to seeing how the relationship between him and Tari plays out in the future. Rue, too, is very well-drawn, as are the Queen and the cast of supporting characters.” W Thomas

What does Elkadanu mean? How will Tari cope with her doubts and insecurities? And will Lored be able to find enough evidence to free Rue, the herb woman, from prison?

Find out in ….

Categories: Published, the kaerling
Tags: coming soon, elkadanu, fantasy, freya pickard, Lored, new book, quest, Tari, the kaerling, volume 9, volume nine

Comments: Be the first to comment

Fair Wind

15 January, 2022

Fair Wind is officially launched today!

Otta heard wood squeaking against wood. Around her, beams contracted and groaned. Something outside thumped against the wooden wall at her head with regular monotony, making her skull ache. The darkness was red-black and flickered with fluctuating light.

The air she breathed stank of fish, sweat, vomit and excrement and her lips tasted of salt and bile. Her body was bruised as though she had been fighting a kaerling for an entire day; every muscle screamed with tightness and pain and her stomach felt empty. Empty was good, she told herself.

Across the room she heard a groan and someone retched. Not again! What did he have left to throw up? She thought about lifting her hands to her ears to block out the noise but her arms felt too heavy and for some reason, her body did not respond. The sounds of vomiting ceased and the sharp stink of bile made her gag convulsively.

Otta swallowed hard, feeling how rough and sore her mouth and throat were. For the first time in hours, she wasn’t feeling nauseous. Did that mean she was over the sickness that had suddenly assailed her?

Her narrow bunk lurched suddenly and she felt as though she might fall out. But the plank at the side kept her from tipping onto the floor. Her stomach curdled as the room righted itself and she concentrated on not feeling sick. Tentatively, she opened her eyes.

**********************************************************************

Above is an extract from my latest e-book, Fair Wind.

Can the companions conceal Otta’s kaerling heritage when they land on the Isle of Kiros? And, how will Lored find the herb woman who has the remedy he and Otta will need when they set sail again in pursuit of the kaerlings? Find out in Fair Wind!

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a beautifully written story and I find all of the characters interesting. The descriptions, particularly of the sea voyage, were fabulous. I can feel myself being present in the places described. There are lots of hints of problems to come and foreshadowing which all adds to a sense of mystery.” E Baxter

Fair Wind is discounted to just 99p / 99c until 21 January 2022 so grab it now before the price goes up at Amazon and Other Online Stores.

Watch the book trailer HERE!

And, if you enjoy listening to Author Playlists, you can access my playlist for Fair Wind at Patreon if you donate $1 or more per month. (If you sign up to donate before 31st January, you’ll be able to access the playlist on or soon after 1st February once your first payment has been received).

I wish you much joy and entertainment as you read Fair Wind!

Categories: the kaerling
Tags: castle, disguise, epic, Erl, Fair Wind, freya pickard, Kiros, Kirridians, launch, Lored, magic, otta, power, saga, sea, seasickness, Tari, the kaerling, Volume 8, Volume Eight, voyage

Comments: 11 Comments

Fire Daughter – it’s here!

15 May, 2021

Other figures issued from the western exit bearing torches. Lored caught sight of a green robe and his heart beat faster with expectation. Surely that was Antti the Kansler come to tell him the klanchiefs’ agreement.

As he hurried back down the path, the sun disappeared and darkness swooped across the island. With a murmured word, Lored caused a faint light to glow from the carved merlin’s head at the top of his staff. He drew near the main roadway and wondered why the Kansler had brought so many soldiers with him. He smiled in welcome at his friend. Antti did not smile back and unease stirred in Lored’s stomach.

“You have news for me?” Lored came to a halt before the Kansler and the soldiers.

There was genuine regret in Antti’s heavy-browed eyes. “I am placing you under arrest, Lored, taku-kevir of Falnaboldu. Until further notice, you will remain in the holding cells.”

The Kansler gestured with one large gnarled hand and the soldier nearest to Lored seized him by the shoulders. The man was so taken aback that speech failed him and another soldier snatched the staff from his hands. The glowing light from the merlin’s head vanished at once and the soldier shivered.

The above is an excerpt from Fire Daughter which is available now in Paperback form at Amazon!