Flame Singer is LIVE!

Today's the day, my friends! My newest book is available for purchase on Amazon. Please help me to spread the word, and be sure to let me know what you think of this next step in Idris's journey!

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-Singer-Fire-Sower-Book-ebook/dp/B078P9VR7X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Flame Singer Preview: Chapter Two

My newest book is scheduled to be published on December 30th! Are you excited? Are you telling everyone you know about how excited you are? Are you offering to buy copies of "Fire Sower" for all your friends so they can get excited for the sequel with you? :) I hope the answer to all those questions is 'yes!'

Here's another preview chapter to help get all of you excited with me. If you haven't read the other previews, click here to begin. Otherwise, enjoy!

Chapter Two: Favorable Tides

Few people were out and about so early in the day. The small group crossed the grounds of the military compound without incident.

Idris’s glance slid across a pair of soldiers standing guard near the outer wall. He recognized one of them as a young man who had come from the same village as Idris. Meic’s expression was a mixture of curiosity and resentment as he watched Idris walk by. Idris gave him a wide grin as they passed.

Meic’s eyes narrowed and he determinedly turned away, as if indicating to Idris that he didn’t care what the other was doing. Idris knew it was childish to goad Meic, but he enjoyed doing it anyway.

I hope that boy does not get into trouble while we are away, Iona commented.

Idris was taken aback by her concern. Do you think it likely?

Iona considered her words carefully. I think that youth are eager to prove their worth, and they do not often count the cost.

Idris waited for her to go on, but she fell silent. Her statement left Idris feeling unsettled, but he pushed the sensation away. He knew he needed to focus on his present situation instead of what Meic might do in the future.

Cowan led them down the path that stretched through the city of Marath and down to the harbor. Idris felt his stomach clench as he realized where they were heading. He had only been on a boat once before in his life. It had not left a favorable impression.

Idris cleared his throat, addressing his leader. “Do we have to travel by ship?”

Cowan’s sharp eyes rested on the young man and a flicker of amusement passed over them. “Afraid of the ocean, young farmer?”

Idris’s face flushed. “No,” he answered quickly. “But the motion of the water makes me… ill.”

Cowan nodded in understanding. “I have some herbs you can chew to help with that. A ship will get us to our destination in half the time it would take traveling by land.”

Idris said no more, but the sinking feeling didn’t go away. He knew that they were in a hurry, but it was almost worth it to him to take the extra time and avoid the ocean.

Unlike the sleeping city, the harbor was a bustle of activity. Fishermen were bringing their boats into the docks, their nets filled with the day’s catch. Merchants were setting up their booths for the day. Impoverished men and women hurried forward to offer their services—doing any work that needed to be done in exchange for a fish or two.

“Which ship are we seeking?” asked Aherin, glancing down the long row of docks.

To Idris’s surprise, Hildar was the one that answered.

“That one,” she pointed.

Most of the ships in the harbor looked sturdy and purely functional, made of weathered wood blackened with pitch. The vessel that Hildar pointed out looked as different from the others as a horse did from a pig.

The design was sleek and beautiful, clearly made for speed. The wood was lacquered to look red, with dark green accents painted along the railing and masts. The name of the ship was painted in gold on the side. The letters were elaborate, and it took Idris—who had only recently learned how to read—several seconds to figure out what it said.

Dagmar

“Is that one of your family’s ships?” Aherin asked Hildar.

Her expression was rather rigid as she replied, “It is mine.”

“You own a ship?” Idris was unable to keep the disbelief from his voice.

A faint flush colored Hildar’s cheeks. “It was a gift from my grandmother when I came of age.”

Two footmen in livery stood at the bottom of the gangplank, their backs straight as nails. They gave elaborate bows as Hildar approached; she nodded absently in acknowledgement.

“Who is Dagmar?” Idris asked, staring at the gleaming letters.

Hildar stiffened, but didn’t turn as she muttered, “She was my younger sister.”

The young woman hurriedly marched up the gangplank, avoiding any further questions. Idris could have kicked himself for his thoughtless question. His face burned with shame at the inadvertent pain he had caused Hildar. Aherin shot Idris a sympathetic glance before following Captain Cowan onto the ship.

Idris was reluctant to leave solid ground, but he knew that he would be scolded if he delayed them needlessly. He clenched his eyes shut and took a deep breath, walking forward as if to his own execution.

Hildar was standing just at the top of the gangplank, waiting for the approach of a stocky man in a tidy uniform of green and red. His black hair was streaked with grey, falling loosely around his shoulders. His brown eyes crinkled around the edges, as if he habitually squinted.

“My Lady Hildar, welcome to your vessel,” he said in a brusque tone.

“Thank you, Captain Morn,” Hildar responded carelessly. “I trust all is in order.”

“The tides are with us, m’lady,” the ship captain answered. “We can depart at your command.”

“Have the horses been brought aboard?” Cowan inquired.

“Yes, sir,” answered Morn.

“Prepare to set sail immediately,” Hildar ordered.

“Very good, m’lady,” Morn acknowledged with a bow. “Shall I have Lennon show you to your quarters?”

The sea captain gestured to a young man standing just behind him. The youth had curly brown hair and liquid brown eyes, with his intense gaze fixed on Hildar’s face.

Hildar waved her hand as she brushed the suggestion aside. “I know my way,” she said, walking away without looking at the young man.

Lennon’s lips tightened and anger flashed through his eyes. The emotion quickly passed, leaving his expression calm. “I doubt any of you know where to go,” he said with a small smile. “Follow me.”

As they walked, he introduced himself. “I am Lennon, the second-in-command on this fine vessel. If there is anything you need during your journey, please feel free to ask for my assistance.”

“You are quite young to have such a post,” Cowan observed shrewdly.

Lennon nodded amiably. “Yes, it was quite an honor to have Lady Hildar ask for my service.”

“She requested you for the position?” Aherin asked with a sly smile creeping across his face.

“She did,” confirmed Lennon. “I have known Lady Hildar since we were children. I suppose she wanted to help an old friend begin his career.”

“That probably did not put you in the favor of other sailors,” growled the captain of the Royal Guard.

Lennon shrugged. “If there were any hard feelings in the beginning, I have since proved my worth.”

The young man led them to the aft of the ship where a cabin sat on the deck. A set of stairs led to the top of the cabin, and Idris could see the ship’s wheel located at the far end. The nearest door of the cabin had gold letters painted on the red door that read Captain. Lennon led the small group around the side to another red door, which he opened without ceremony.

“Lady Hildar’s room is around the back,” Lennon explained. “These will be your quarters during the journey.”

Idris stepped through the door and looked around the room. It wasn’t spacious, but it was comfortably furnished. A pair of bunk beds were attached to the wall in the far right corner of the room, and a hammock had been strung up in the opposite corner. Drawers had been built into the base of the bottom bed, where they could place their belongings. A small looking glass was mounted on the wall, a pair of padded chairs were bolted to the floor, and an enclosed case held four books—a clear sign of the luxury of the vessel. The one window in the room looked out to the foredeck, where Idris could see the sailors preparing to cast off.

“Is there anything I can get for you?” asked Lennon politely.

Cowan shook his grizzled head. “No, this should be just fine.”

Lennon gave a brisk nod. “Then, I will leave you to get settled.” He exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Captain Cowan sat down on the bottom bunk, pulling out one of the drawers to put his things away. That left the two young men to decide between them who would get the other bed.

“I do not mind sleeping in the hammock,” Idris said quickly.

Aherin shrugged. “I do not mind either.”

Idris gave a small laugh. “What I mean is that I would be happy to take the hammock. I slept in one for most of my childhood, so it is quite comfortable to me.”

Aherin smiled. “Very well.”

The ship gave a sudden lurch and Idris went down on one knee. He felt the blood drain from his face as the motion sickness set in.

We have not yet left the dock and already you are ready to lose your stomach, Iona said with a tangible chuckle in her voice.

“I think I need some fresh air,” Idris blurted as he rushed for the door.

He didn’t stop until he ran into the railing, clutching it with both hands and clenching his jaw shut. He took several deep breaths through his nose and closed his eyes, willing his head to stop spinning.

Marlais loved the sea, Iona said softly. He said reminded him of his home.

The partisan rarely spoke of her former master—the pain of his loss was still too recent for her—so it caught Idris off guard to have her volunteer such information. He was always eager to learn more about the legendary Marlais Dragonspear, even in the midst of feeling ill.

“His home?” Idris asked, his eyes still closed tight against the waves of sickness that rolled over his body.

Marlais was born in a small village along the coast. Whenever he could not sleep at night, he would think of the sound of ocean waves and it would soothe him.

Idris found himself focusing on the sound of the water below. “It is a nice sound,” he admitted.

His father was a ship captain and Marlais rarely saw him as a child. As a result, Marlais developed an irrational resentment of all boats. But he always loved the sea.

Idris couldn’t help but smile. Iona made Marlais seem so ordinary, in spite of the amazing stories that were told about him.

“I thought he was the son of a banished warlord,” the young man commented.

Iona snorted. Hardly, she said in an irritated tone. His mother was part of the local gentry, but she was cut off from her family when she decided to marry a sailor. She lived a life of poverty and rarely saw her husband after they wed.

Idris’s brow contracted. “That is sad,” he said quietly.

Yes, it is, agreed Iona.

“Why are you telling me this?” Idris asked.

To prove a point.

“What point?” he urged.

That you are only as sick on water as you choose to be, farmer.

Idris was startled by her blunt words. “What?”

Open your eyes.

Idris complied and saw that the ship had pulled away from the harbor without him noticing. The Dagmar was sailing smoothly into the open water.

He laughed. “You told me about Marlais to distract me.”

Yes, and it worked, Iona said smugly.

The motion of the ship began to grow with their increasing speed, causing Idris’s stomach to rebel.

Stop thinking about it, Iona ordered sharply.

“I cannot help it,” Idris moaned.

You are a weak and foolish farm boy, Iona reprimanded.

Idris didn’t dispute her statement. “Exactly,” he said through clenched teeth, “and farm boys belong on land.”

Perhaps you should go lay in your hammock and pretend the rocking has nothing to do with the ocean. Iona’s voice was laden with disgust.

Idris was quite willing to follow her suggestion. But not before he emptied his stomach into the rushing water below.

Flame Singer Book Cover

I always get so excited when I see the final product of my book cover! I've worked with such talented artists for all of my books, and I'm grateful that they're still willing to work with me. Haha! So, here is the cover for "Flame Singer" which is my newest book coming out at the end of this month. The artist is the amazing Dustin Foran, who did the art for "Fire Sower" too. Enjoy!