#rq excerpt

[contes-de-rheio]

A Tale in the Fire

"Tell me a story."

Ezarel lifted his head to look at his twin brother. Lenandel was badly hiding the pain from his rising headache. It was a new recurrence since they had moved to the palace. Ezarel probably should’ve pushed his brother to go sleep, but instead he added a new log to the fire, before sitting on the side of the fireplace as to make sure Lenandel could fully see the flames.

He took a deep breath and lifted his hands, stretching his fingers as if invisible dolls hanged from them. He could feel the magic tense around his fingertips and as he exhaled a shape came out the fire.

A tower without door rose from the flames. Its only window became bigger and bigger. A woman stood at the top of a staircase before an open door. Suddenly she lifted her head and closed the door. She looked through the window. Down her tower, stood a man in shining armor on his stunning horse.

The dark tale unfolded. It wasn’t the story of a knight saving a princess. No. It told of a sorcerer entrapping young men to maintain her youth, feeding on their energy until they died a miserable death.

Ezarel didn’t really know why he loved the story of the Queen Phoenix. She was the worst kind of sorcerer. Maybe it was the ending which had grown on him. Maybe it was the satisfaction that she had been vanquished which gave him hope he could counter his grandmother’s dark plans just the same.

Ezarel put the last note to the tale. The Queen Phoenix disappeared in flames and never was reborn again. He turned back to his brother, hoping for quiet claps, but Lenandel had already fallen asleep. In silent, he stood up and put a cover over his brother.

He should have told his brother about his plan for his future, but he didn’t have the heart to wake him up, and tomorrow things would be changed without the chance to discuss them.  

Tag List: @elaynab-writing @cjjameswriting @leo-november @kainablue @the-ichor-of-ruination @justafriendlymonster @cawolters @paperprince @kittensartswriting @kuebiko-writes @wisedom-for-an-eye @purpleshadows1989 @quilloftheclouds @homesteadchronicles @realitefictive

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

tagged by @cawolters (I owed you one...)

In French

Feid se baissa et caressa du bout des doigts les sceaux qui ornaient ses bottes. Elle sentit les flux de magie se resserrer autour de ses pieds.

Après avoir vérifié que la bandoulière de sa besace était solidement serrée autour de son buste, elle fit un pas en avant et se retrouva vingt pieds plus loin. Elle sourit, ses chaussures de Voyageur fonctionnaient toujours. Elle se mit à courir. Le sol défilait à toute vitesse. Elle se sentait légère, comme prête à s’envoler. Elle aurait pu se laisser enivrer, mais freiner requerrait toute sa concentration. Elle s’était déjà pris un mur de plein fouet en pleine face. L’idée de recommencer ne la tentait guère.

In English

Feid bent down and brushed the seals on her boots. She felt the flow of magic tighten around her feet.

After checking the shoulder strap of her satchel was firmly tightened around her bust, she took a step forward and found herself twenty feet away. She smiled, her Traveler’s shoes were still working. She started running. The ground under her feet passed in a blur. She felt light, about to fly. She could have let herself be enthralled in the moment, but stopping would require all her focus. She had already taken a wall full speed in the face once. The idea of doing it again did not tempt her.

Tagging @somedeadmagic @zburatorii and @kittensartsbooks (feel free to ignore :) )

Tag List: @elaynab-writing @cjjameswriting @leo-november @kainablue @the-ichor-of-ruination @justafriendlymonster  @cawolters @paperprince @kuebiko-writes @wisedom-for-an-eye @purpleshadows1989 @quilloftheclouds @homesteadhorner

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

Tagged by @focusdumbass. Thank you!!!

And since the following scene will probably not make it in the book, here you get it in full!! (and directly in English)

“You're kidding.” Trélyse adjusted a fold in her dress before answering. “What do you mean? - We're not going to walk up, are we?” he asked while pointing a finger at the hundred steep steps that led to the highest terrace of the palace. “If you want, I can get you a sedan chair.” Her sarcastic tone did not escape her husband who glared at her. “Do you realize we will be out of breath once we get to the top? We still have a ball to attend to afterward.” She smiled. His offended tone amused her. Most Aqualians would have looked at him as if he was mad, but she had come to recognize the various expressions of his enthusiasm. “We do not have to run to the top, she said. - When I said we, I was being polite. I am not the one wearing a corset, in case you forgot. - I know, but this is not the first time, nor, hopefully, the last time I climb this staircase wearing a corset. Shall we?” Without waiting, she gathered her skirts in one hand and began to slowly climb the stairs. Septeria caught up with her and offered her his arm, walking at the same pace. “Are you sure you would not prefer a chair?” Trélyse teased him. “Propose it to me again in forty years, my joints will surely appreciate the suggestion given the shitty climate of your country.” She burst out laughing and tightened her grip on his arm so as not to fall. Not a month ago, she had said the very same thing about his country.

Tagging the Tag List: (yup, I want to read all your excerpts :p)

@elaynab-writing @cjjameswriting @kainablue @kittensartsbooks @cawolters @the-ichor-of-ruination @paperprince @justafriendlymonster @leo-november @wisedom-for-an-eye @kuebiko-writes

[contes-de-rheio]

Last Line Tag

Tagged by @cawolters. It feels like we’re always tagging each other, but is it out of spite or out of love? ;)

In French

- Wido Tout-Puissant... Feid frissonna. Sihl la regarda, mais ne prononça pas un mot. Elle aussi était choquée, mais sans doute pas parce que la tour était un des plus grands trésors des sorciers du monde. Elle devait en avoir assez de n'assister qu'à des scènes dignes de cauchemars. Feid ignorait si Sihl attirait les malheurs, ou si c'était les malheurs qui attiraient Sihl. Toujours est il qu'à chacune de leurs rencontres, Feid avait trouvé son apprentie au milieu d'une scène plus ou moins horrible, et à chaque fois, elle l'avait entraînée vers un endroit plus paisible.

In English

- Wido Almighty ... Feid shuddered. Sihl looked at her, but did not say a word. She too was shocked, but probably not because the tower was one of the greatest treasures of sorcerers of the world. She must have had enough of seeing only scenes of nightmares. Feid did not know if Sihl was attracting misfortune, or if it was the misfortunes that attracted Sihl. Still, at each of their meetings, Feid found her apprentice in the middle of a more or less horrible scene, and each time, she had dragged her to a more peaceful place.

Not sure who to tag... @citruschickadee @cirianne @katerinarevel and... @mvcreates (hopefully you like playing games :) )

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

tagged by @elaynab-writing thank you <3

In French

« Et un ancien mousse a les talents diplomatiques nécessaires à cette mission ? »

La question était purement rhétorique. Leon avait une facilité étonnante à nouer le contact avec n’importe qui, peu importait la classe sociale de son interlocuteur, il trouvait toujours les bons mots.

Trélyse poussa un soupir résigné et enjamba la distance qui la séparait de Leon. Elle le prit dans ses bras. L’étreinte le prit complètement par surprise et elle le sentit se tendre. Elle entendit le Général étouffer un hoquet. Une telle familiarité n’était probablement pas digne d’une reine. Mais après tout ces mois à pouvoir compter sur la loyauté indéfectible de Leon, elle trouvait cette étreinte un bien maigre paiement.

Elle relâcha son étreinte et recula d’un pas tout en gardant les mains posées sur ses épaules.

« Promets moi que nous nous reverrons.

— En ce monde ou par delà, Votre Majesté. »

In English

"And a former sailor has the diplomatic skills necessary for this mission? "

The question was purely rhetorical. Leon had an astonishing facility to make contact with anyone, no matter what their social background was, he always found the right words.

Trélyse gave a resigned sigh and stepped over the distance that separated her from Leon. She took him in her arms. The embrace took him completely by surprise and she felt him tense. She heard the General stifle a hiccup. Such familiarity was probably not worthy of a queen. But after all these months of being able to count on Leon's unwavering loyalty, she found that embrace a meager payment.

She released her grip and took a step back while keeping her hands resting on his shoulders.

"Promise me we'll meet again.

- In this world or beyond, Your Majesty. "

Tagging @cawolters @cirianne and @jynecca

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

Tagged by @cawolters Thanks !!!

In French

Lenandel ne savait pas toujours comment expliquer sa magie

In English

Lenandel didn’t always know how to explain his magic.

Tagging @writingwordsanddrawingpictures @zburatorii and  @eloquenceandemphasis

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

Tagged by @in--words Thank you!!!

In French

- Trouve Sihl, susurra la déesse. 

In English

- Find Sihl, whispered the goddess.

tagging @elaynab-writing @cjjameswriting and @katerinarevel

[contes-de-rheio]

7-7-7 tag

Thanks @chalilodimun for tagging me :)

For this game, go to the 7th page of your WIP, find the 7th line, and post the next 7 lines after that.

(Let's note I write on Scrivener so I had to extract to Word to have a page count, also I write in disorder, so page seven won’t be page seven when the book is done, but luckily enough, it’s still around the beginning of Harsha’s first chapter... a chapter which will be very different when I’m done with it, because it’s awful atm)

In French

A partir de maintenant, Harsha, prince de Niensheria disparaîtrait, pour laisser la place à Harsha, sorcier Guérisseur, Errant en pèlerinage vers Astralone.

Il avait deux tenues de rechange, une du noir royal, l’autre bleue nuit. Exceptionnellement Harsha portait une tunique orange et un pantalon jaune. Les couleurs du clan Alfanak, son clan. Jamais la famille royale ne portait les couleurs du clan, afin de signifier à tous qu’elle servait tous les clans niensherians sans exception. Ce n’était pas sans raison si Harsha s’était fait tatoué un fennec derrière l’oreille, là où personne ne pouvait le voir sous ses longs cheveux noirs.

En plus de ses vêtements, Harsha avait sélectionné trois livres parmi sa petite bibliothèque : Plantes d’Aqualos et d’au-delà, Anatomie humaine d’Evrard Cemillon — un Guérisseur aqualien — et un troisième qui couvrait de nombreuses opérations chirurgicales.

In English

From now on, Harsha, Prince of Niensheria would disappear, to make room for Harsha, Healer, Wanderer on a pilgrimage to Astralone. He had two outfits, one of royal black, the other night blue. Exceptionally, Harsha was wearing an orange tunic and yellow trousers. The colors of the clan Alfanak, his clan. The royal family never wore the colors of the clan, to signify to all, they served all the Niensherian clans without exception. There was a reason, Harsha had a fennec tattooed behind his ear where no one could see it under his long black hair. In addition to his clothes, Harsha had selected three books from his small library: Plants of Aqualos and Beyond, Human Anatomy by Evrard Cemillon - an Aqualian Healer - and a third which covered surgery.

So who do I tag... ok, let’s say @leo-november @cawolters @annaalexiswrites @kuebiko-writes @writingwordsanddrawingpictures @touchingmadness @kainablue (if by chance, I tag you often, please know it’s because I love you <3<3<3)