Hi there. How have you been? In Queensland, Australia, the weather is turning warm and dry. The fields are turning brown and our water tank is perilously low, making me very thankful for our water bore.
My writerly progress hit major hiccups with the demise of my faithful laptop. It sparked when I plugged the cord in one day and the next day there was a distinct burning smell…not healthy. It died a few days later.
There was another laptop in the house, one that I had to share with the kids :( and then that one starting having problems with the charger cord too! Over a few weeks, I had endless troubles getting it to charge up until it wouldn’t charge at all. It looked like this one was dead too. Thankfully, my wonderful husband found the problem, replaced a part and it is now working fine again. However, not much work on my second draft of Fierce got done and I am a day late with this newsletter.
I hope the tech is behaving at your house.
The Ravens of the Tower of London
Have you heard of the legend concerning the ravens living at the Tower of London?
King Charles II was an uneasy monarch. His father lost his head to Cromwell and it was many years before the son regained the crown. So when the issue of the ravens came up, King Charles was determined to be careful. Either he or his astronomer friend, John Flamsteed, wanted to be rid of the creatures but were strenuously warned not to have them removed.
According to legend, the fate of the kingdom and the Tower itself is intertwined with the presence of these majestic black birds. The story goes that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, disaster will befall the nation. This belief has led to a tradition that persists to this day, with at least six ravens being kept at the tower at all times. These ravens receive royal care, including regular feeding and comfortable accommodations.
The origin of this superstition is somewhat murky, but it likely dates back to the medieval period (read more here). Ravens have long been associated with death and the supernatural, and their presence at the tower may have been seen as a protective measure against evil spirits. Regardless of its origins, the legend has become an endearing part of the tower's history.
Visitors to the Tower of London can witness the majestic ravens in person, and their keepers ensure they are well cared for. The birds' powerful wings and haunting caws serve as a living reminder of the deep connection between folklore and history that continues to capture the hearts and minds of those who visit this iconic landmark.
Secrets of a Medieval Castle | Goodrich Castle
I watched a great video that really captured the essence of a medieval castle. Castles were large edifices, I knew that, but this tour really brought home just how massive these fortresses really were. Really valuable for an author of medieval fiction wanting to visualise castles and castle life and then put that into words. Watch here.
For Authors:
Sick of writing the whole ‘he said' ‘she said’ thing? Learn how to use action beats rather than dialogue tags:
The Benefits of Using Action Beats by Lisa Jordan - read here
Better Writing Through Stronger Narrative by Maxwell Alexander Drake - watch here
Book Promotions - Interesting vs Annoying
Do you like them?
Recently, I read a post by an author saying that, with regards to his newsletter, he had more interest and more engagement from readers once he stopped incorporating book group promotions. Personally, I find them interesting and browse through them, checking out covers and blurbs, buying ones that catch my eye and getting free review copies that help the author and keep my reading appetite from outrunning my book budget. However, I want to know what you think. Do you find them interesting or annoying? Let me know in the comments section below.
Books and More Books!
What I read last month:
Raised a warrior in the harsh winter country, Ryo inGara has always been willing to die for his family and his tribe. When war erupts against the summer country, the prospect of death in battle seems imminent. But when his war-leader leaves Ryo as a sacrifice -- a tuyo -- to die at the hands of their enemies, he faces a fate he never imagined.
Ryo's captor, a lord of the summer country, may be an enemy . . . but far worse enemies are moving, with the current war nothing but the opening moves in a hidden game Ryo barely glimpses, a game in which all his people may be merely pawns. Suddenly Ryo finds his convictions overturned and his loyalties uncertain. Should he support the man who holds him prisoner, the only man who may be able to defeat their greater enemy? And even if he does, can he persuade his people to do the same?
- I enjoyed this book and found it absorbing. Ryo has to sift between truth and lies within his own mind. False memories have been planted to pit him against his merciful benefactor. The fate of his people will be decided by his ability to determine what is real…and what is not.
Click on the image to find the book.
Fierce Chapter 9
KIRI
"He is gone."
Rayl looked as far down the river as she could and her face was sombre.
"I'm sorry," she said and placed a gentle hand on Kiri's shoulder, "he fulfilled his khan’s command by protecting you. Now we must go. We must make it to your tribe and your people and tell them of his sacrifice."
Kiri nodded and wiped her palms down her face, dashing away the dampness.
"I don't know how I will face his mother," she whispered, ""and what of him?"
She gestured to the warrior struggling to get to his feet.
"We take his weapons and we leave him...and Kiri," Rayl looked her full in the face, waiting for her attention.
"You wanted me to show him mercy."
Kiri nodded. She felt foolish and ashamed.
"You cannot pity the enemy. Don’t think of them as real people. They are merciless killers waiting to take your life and robbers waiting to rob you. Protect yourself. Protect your own people. Never hesitate."
She reached out a hand to grip Kiri's shoulder and her eyes bored into the young woman's. She held Kiri’s gaze until she nodded again.
"I won't," she replied in a husky whisper.
She made sure she didn't make eye contact with the enemy as Rayl took his sword from the ground and his knife from his belt, taking away almost every chance for survival that he had. One must not show mercy to the enemy, for the enemy would show none in return.
"What do we do now?" she tentatively asked Rayl.
The other woman didn't answer straight away. She stepped over to the edge of the river and looked it up and down once more.
"Surely, no one could survive that drop. I don't know if he could even swim," she muttered to herself then she spoke to Kiri softly so the enemy warrior could not hear, "we will return to the horses, find the entry point to the forest and keep going in the direction Kynan showed us."
"Do you know the way?" Kiri couldn't help the quaver in her voice.
Rayl gave a sharp nod, "I'm sure I can follow Kynan's description but I fear your slippery Boru. I would rather know that he was dead but unfortunately he escaped the bandits' attack."
"Surely he wouldn't risk coming any further into strange territory?"
Rayl shrugged. She said no more but stepped out into the forest, away from the scene of the attack, away from the injured warrior and away from Kynan.
They retraced their steps, climbing through the rough forest, down steep inclines and through thickets of gorse until they reach the foot of the hills. There they found the horses belonging to the bandits. They were good looking animals and Rayl decided it was worth taking them.
"This will raise your standing among your people," Rayl told her, "they would welcome you empty-handed but if you return with goods, they will give you respect."
It wasn't hard. Rayl quickly identified the lead mare. When she moved off with Rayl on her back, all the other horses instinctively followed.
Their own horses were still patiently cropping and resting when they returned.
Rayl bundled the enemy warrior's sword onto Kynan's horse.
"Won't this many horses slow us down and make it difficult to hide?" Kiri asked.
Rayl flashed her a quick, approving glance.
"Indeed, Kiri Hatun, you are thinking correctly. Once through this forest, we will be in your brother's territory. I don't think the bandits will attack. If we keep moving, we have a good chance to avoid Boru, should he pursue us further."
Kiri rejected Boru's grey with its grisly trophy and chose a fine, dark bay mare. She was not as big boned as the grey but she carried herself with a certain fire.
Again Rayl nodded approval of Kiri.
"That's a beautiful mare," she said, "too fine for a bandit's horse. Probably stolen."
She handed Kiri the reins of another horse. She herself elected to keep the massive dun horse and took the reins of the lead mare from among the bandits' horses. The group moved off without difficulty, all the horses were well trained and used to travel.
The forest was tranquil. Kiri felt a measure of peace for the first time since she and Rayl fled from her royal tent in the Lateri village. Small birds sang and a light breeze ruffled the tendrils of hair that spiralled around her face.
She sighed and closed her eyes, enjoying a ray of dappled sunlight on her face. She thought of Kynan. She saw his face as his arms flailed the air, trying to keep from falling over the cliff. Her peace vanished, replaced by deep sorrow. Kynan had given everything to keep her safe. A tear trickled down her cheek. She dashed it away angrily. She would honour Kynan by staying stern and brave.
She had no opportunity to speak to Rayl. There were three horses in front of her, pacing calmly. It wasn't worth spooking them. She wondered about Boru. That vile traitor! How many of the people were dead now because of his dreadful actions? Why had he done it?
She looked back over her shoulder. The forest was shadowy back there. Nothing moved except birds flitting through the branches overhead. She peered hard, straining to see but the only other movement was leaves fluttering to the ground. She was right to be on alert. This was a country occupied by leopards, wolves, cave lions and poisonous vipers. The big predators were always on the lookout for easy prey.
The weather stayed clear and cool. Kiri was comfortable. Only her fingers and toes were chilled. The mare was warm underneath her and Kiri found that she was adjusting to days on horseback. They moved at a steady trot, only slowing to walk the hills. The miles fell away.
Rayl called a halt long before darkness fell. Kiri was left to mind the horses while Rayl and the dun horse scoured the forest close by to find a safe place to camp.
Time stretched and Kiri began to feel terribly alone before Rayl finally returned.
"Come, I think I have found a place to camp."
The place lay in a sunken valley. The bottom of it was bare of shrubs and littered with river rocks. A small stream gurgled through the middle. The valley was deep enough that their firelight wouldn't be seen through the forest in the darkness of night but it was clear enough that an enemy or an animal predator couldn't sneak up unseen.
"We will take turns to keep watch and Kiri, you must not fall asleep," Rayl said. Her face was stern and Kiri could only nod and assure her that she wouldn't.
"Wake me the instant you feel sleepy," Rayl ordered.
Little did she know that Kiri was so sharp with fear, that her eyes had no chance to close in sleep. Boru's greedy face rose before her along with the enemy warrior wounded by Rayl. Lastly the clean, boyish face of Kynan kept her sorrowing heart company.
Rayl left her again, to hunt for meat. Kiri took out her sword and gazed at it. The horses cropped peacefully close by. The small fire was steady. She found a space clear of the round river boulders and swung her sword about, remembering the lessons of her girlhood. Her body remembered the rhythms before her mind did. She and the other girls of the tribe had practiced dances that mimicked battle moves. The dances were designed to train muscle memory for a time when real combat occurred.
Rusty at first, Kiri's moves became smoother and more fluid. She went through one dance until she'd remembered each part. Her blade flashed in the reflected firelight. On and on she went, spinning and slashing faster and faster until her breath gasped in her throat and sweat soaked between her shoulder blades. At last she collapsed in a heap on the ground.
"Well done, Kiri."
Rayl stood at the edge of the firelight, a hare dangled over one shoulder and a huge bundle of sticks and small branches hung off her back. Her face reflected approval but Kiri was filled with fright. She hadn't heard or seen Rayl approach. What if she'd been an enemy warrior or a leopard or--
"Don't fret about it," Rayl interrupted her frenzied thoughts, "Tabiti of the Fire watched over you while you were lost in the dance of war. It was a good thing to do."
She said nothing else to Kiri but left her standing quivering at her own heedlessness, to skin and clean the hares.
Soon she had them threaded on sticks over the fire. Never wasteful, she took the skins to the river and washed and soaked them thoroughly before stretching them over a smooth rock and pegged either side with wooden sticks.
"We will cure them properly when we reach your brother's people," she said.
Kiri wondered what her brother would say about Rayl. She’d been close to Galti but even when she was a girl, he'd disapproved of her idle ways. He wanted her to be out of the khan’s royal tent, managing the weaving tent, cooking food for the family and guests, riding her horse out to inspect the herds and practising her fighting skills but Kiri had been interested in none of these things.
She preferred to play with the babies, to feed the orphaned kids and lambs and to sit hand weaving at her mother's side or embroidering fine designs on her newest tunic or headdress. No, none of these things did Galti consider right for the daughter of a khan who would become a khan’s wife and leader of a tribe. Her older brother had merely grunted and told Galti that some khan’s and princes would only care for a pretty wife and Kiri was all that.
Still, Galti given her such a lecture on the eve of her marriage. With her father ill, he'd escorted her on the long journey to the new tribe. She'd been so filled with misery and anger that she'd paid no attention to the path taken and she had treated her brother with sullen silence. Sitting in the guest tent, sick with misery, she'd had no answers for his criticisms.
She looked at Rayl, now busy inspecting the horses' gear and wiping it clean and dry from dirt and sweat. Kiri's mood lightened. Galti would see that she was not so useless anymore, Rayl would be her guarantee for Rayl failed at nothing and Kiri was bringing her to Galti's tribe.
"My brother will reward you, Rayl," Kiri said suddenly, "and give you a fine warrior for a husband." She smiled with eagerness. Yes, Rayl needn't be alone any longer, now that her mind had returned.
Rayl's hands stilled. She gazed fixedly at the saddle on the ground in front of her.
"No," her voice was low and something in it trembled.
Rayl glanced at Kiri briefly and a cold hand clutched at Kiri's stomach. Such shadows lay in Rayl's eyes.
"I trod that path once and now I know it is no longer for me."
"But--" Kiri began. She wanted to assure Rayl that she was still young enough and beautiful in her own stern, savage way, but Rayl stood abruptly and the look on her face caused the words to die on Kiri's lips.
"We won't speak of it again, Kiri Hatun. Getting you home safe will be reward enough for me," she knelt back beside the saddle and continued her work, “then I shall go and find the people from which I sprang.”
Kiri felt a hollow space underneath her ribs. Surely Rayl wanted someone of her own to love? And to have children? Surely.
A coughing grunt sounded away in the darkness. It halted Rayl's busy fingers and brought Kiri sharply upright on her feet.
"Leopard," Rayl said.
She threw some extra wood on the fire. All of a sudden Kiri realised she should have collected firewood instead of practising swordplay while Rayl was gone. She gazed anxiously at the pile they had. Would it last until morning?
The coughing came again, carrying clearly on the quiet night air. The horses flung up their heads and shifted nervously.
"Bring the horses close to the fire," Rayl ordered and Kiri rushed to get them.
The scent of cooking meat reached Kiri's nose and her stomach growled.
"What will we do, Rayl?" she quavered.
"If we keep the fire bright, the leopard won't come," Rayl said placidly, "as long as the wood lasts, we'll be fine."
She removed the hares from the fire and handed a portion to Kiri. She sat on a large boulder and munched her own piece but her eyes were everywhere, darting to and fro, gazing deep into the gloom of the forest.
Once she'd eaten meal and drunk from the river, Rayl rolled herself up in a cloak belonging to one of the bandits.
"Wake me as soon as you get sleepy," she said and closed her eyes.
"Or if the leopard comes," Kiri said anxiously.
"Mmm."
It seemed to Kiri that Rayl fell asleep unreasonably quickly. She felt dreadfully alone. She leaned forward to toss more wood on the fire and watched her breath rise up and curl in with the wood smoke. Silence reigned, the horses were calm. Kiri wished for one of the village dogs. A dog would warn of an approaching predator. A dog would defend the camp.
A great rustle came from the trees across the clearing. Kiri let out a yelp. Rayl slept on. Two green orbs shone in the darkness.
"Rayl!" she hissed but Rayl was overcome with exhaustion.
The glowing eyes winked out and Kiri was left gazing about, wondering where the big cat had gone to. What could she do? She grasped the end of a branch in the fire. It had been in there a while but hadn't burnt along its length. She lifted it out. Coals glowed at its end.
The eyes were back. They swayed in the night like floating twin moons. Kiri took a deep breath and stepped forward in front of the fire. The leopard came leaping out of the blackness. Kiri tried to think of a strategy but her mind was blank and numb. Her arm lifted of its own volition and she swept the fiery branch in a graceful sweep. The leopard coughed and twisted away from the branch. Kiri whirled in a circle and faced the leopard again. It paused, watching her balefully. Kiri squared and stepped toward it swinging her firebrand in its face. The cat backed away until it was just outside the circle of firelight.
Kiri took a deep breath and glared at the leopard. Out of pure instinct, she bared her teeth and hissed. The leopard hesitated. It glanced away and back at Kiri again and then it turned and slipped away.
Kiri waited, listening and watching but nothing rustled in the night and no twin moons glowed eerily. She let the end of the branch thump on the ground. It sizzled as it came in contact with the damp earth. After a moment Kiri turned and tossed it back on the fire. She glanced at Rayl.
Her eyes were open. They glittered blackly at Kiri. The edges of her mouth curled faintly. Rayl pulled her cloak tighter and closed her eyes again.
"Wake me when you get sleepy," she murmured.
Silence reigned. Kiri returned to her stone seat. Moisture had covered it while she was absent. A new feeling filled Kiri's chest, one of satisfaction. She listened carefully to the night-time noises but now she was much less afraid.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Fierce. It is a rough draft and there will be changes made as I go through and work on it. One of the issues with it is the point of view. Is it from Rayl’s pov or Kiri’s? Another question is should I incorporate any fantasy elements from the period, such as myths/legends of winged griffins from the Scythian stories, or the werewolf legend about the Neuri people where they turned into werewolves once a year? Or should I just keep it historical?
I have to confess that the troubles with the laptops have left me feeling a bit deflated about editing and, for the first time since I published my first book, I haven’t sold a single copy so far this month! A girl could consider giving up…but I won’t. The thrill of writing is very real.
I hope your month is going well and that you are achieving your goals and dreams.
See you next month -
Emma
Hi Emma! Really cool tale about the ravens in the Tower of London. I visited in 2017 but don't remember seeing any... I may have been too busy taking care of my 8 month old and sleep deprived, lol!
I personally like to look through book promos but I won't be clicking on every promo banner, or course. It only gets annoying for me when the author sends NOTHING BUT BOOK PROMOS... unfortunately I have come across at least one such author... it's a very boring to open those emails after a while.
Your newsletter is not one of those! I also am glad your tech problems settled down for now... weird smelling laptops are never good!