I’m changing pace, leaving Ancient Egypt (temporarily) for science fiction romance. Here are six more from my current WIP PRINCESS OF SHADOWS (title subject to change!).
Princess Shalira is explaining the term “princess of shadows” to the hero, Major Mike Varone, Sectors Special Forces:
I have to get away from here, before the emperor dies,” she said with a bitter laugh, adding “Playing the princess of shadows won’t protect me after his death.”
“Princess of shadows?” Nothing about that in our briefing. Mike remembered the empress had also used the term to refer to Shalira.
“It’s an old folktale, a girl of royal blood who hid from her enemies in the shadows of the palace walls, disguised as a beggar, until her true love rescued her.” Touching one delicately tinted eyelid, Shalira said, “It’s meant as an insult to me, since I can’t see, not even shadows, and I’ve lived the past fifteen years on the fringes of the court, tolerated, protected only because my mother was the emperor’s Favorite till her death.”
Here’s the story blurb:
Blind since childhood due to an attempted assassination plot, Princess Shalira is resigned to an arranged marriage with a warrior chieftain… until she meets Sectors Special Forces Major Mike Varone, sent to the planet Majumdar to investigate a crashed spaceship, lost in the planet’s mountains. After Mike saves her from another assassination attempt, she persuades her father the Emperor to order him to join her caravan, going to meet her bridegroom.
Mike resists his growing attraction to her but the pair bond further as they work to retrieve sacred artifacts from her mother’s tomb, narrowly escaping another ambush. Mike offers Shalira the opportunity to go off planet with him, but she insists on carrying out her father’s wishes to create an important alliance by marrying the chieftain. Heartsore, Mike promises to deliver her safely to her bridegroom and walk away.
But when they reach the mountain camp, the chieftain is revealed to be a brutish thug, with no intention of honorably marrying Shalira. Can Mike rescue her, will they win the race against time to accomplish his mission, escape the hostile warriors hunting them and make it off the planet?
I LOVE and appreciate your comments….only a few more Sundays left of the official Six Sentence blog hop but I plan to keep posting excerpts…
Please go to http://sixsunday.com/ to find all the other great excerpts today.
Wonderful world building and what a way to establish a character! I plan to keep posting of a Sunday too, Veronica. You will not be alone. 🙂
Yay! I always enjoy your excerpts 🙂
Intriguing. I’ve got lots of questions. 🙂
Nice world building. Her life doesn’t sound like it’s been much fun and it also sounds like she’s now in a lot of danger. So much revealed in just a few lines.
I love this! What a wonderful set of issues you’ve created for them to overcome. Great job!
I love, love, LOVE the story behind princess of shadows.
Can’t wait. 🙂 This is going to be a great read.
Wonderful insight into her character. Like her more and more with every six.
I really appreciate the feedback, guys. This is such a WIP, lots of plot challenges for me, so the comments help keep me going….thanks!
Great world-building here!
Terrific story and excerpt. I really like the complicated plot, and the major characters are well-drawn and captivating. I’d love to read this!
Well hopefully I’ll find a publisher when it’s done…much work to go before then but thank you 🙂 !
Very clever twist for the term to be an insult for her. This story really impresses me with its depth! (And the writing. ALWAYS amazing writing!)
Wonderful story. Love the folktale, how it’s meant as an insult, her blindness. This whole world.
Very interesting. Has me intrigued
I love and appreciate this story! She’s such an interesting character and you give such tantalizing glimpses into Mike’s character. Can’t wait until this one is finished!
What conflict and tension you’ve set up. Good job.
Makes me wonder about the court’s attitude toward her. And why.
I love the folk tale and the parallel to her life is so sad. Thanks for sharing such a powerful snippet.
So interesting! I want to know all about her. 🙂
Such an intriguing six and blurb! I’m looking forward to more. 🙂
I’m in love with your world. Wonderful six.
Oooh, sounds like a great book!
Your 6 gave me a beautiful mix of excitement and curiosity, plus it tugged on my heart strings. Very well done.
How sad. 🙁 Maybe he’s her true love?
Love the glimpses into her world and character here. Very nice six, Veronica!
I love the term “princess of shadows” and the story behind it but hate that it has taken on negative connotations for her. She seems like a strong woman to have survived in such circumstances for such a long time. You have certainly captured my attention.
What a mean insult to give her. I think she’ll find a way to turn it around to her glory though.
You revealed quite a bit in these few lines. Sounds like her life is troubled and she may be in danger. Great six!
Great six! The danger and sense of urgency pulls the reader right in!
You’ve packed quite a bit in here. The folktale turned on its head is a very compelling way to develop her character.
“…until her true love rescued her.” I like where this is leading! Great six! 🙂
You’ve packed a lot of story into these six lines. I haven’t come across all that many lead characters in a romance with a physical disability, so that’s a really interesting angle.
Great six. Love her explanation, so emotional.
I love Sci Fi so this is great! Very interesting, I want to know more! 🙂 Love it!
Intriguing premise and six! Looks like your theme is in this week’s six! Fun.