Kyle the captive shifter is having a hard time recovering from the most recent spell casting, where the Witch Queen pulled even more of his magic to fuel her spells. The palace physician (who is also a witch) has ordered a bland diet suitable for an invalid. Caitlyn goes to the kitchen to ask for a proper meal for predator in need of strength. Nadelma the Cook is speaking.
“Strange times we’re in, with the poor shifter caught in the middle. He carved me a special wooden spoon last year for the winter festival, you know – all my favorite flowers and fruits on the handle. It’s far too beautiful to cook with and so I told him.”
Caitlyn felt the kitchen cat rubbing against her ankles. Bending down, she stroked the soft gray fur, thinking sadly how dull and matted the leopard’s fur had been. “So you’ll allow me to make something proper for Kyle to eat?”
Nadelma hoisted herself from her chair with an alarming amount of effort and said, “I’ll fix him a breakfast suitable for a warrior with my own hands and we’ll just see if that doesn’t do him more good that what the high and mighty ordered. They do their magic, I do mine.”
THE CAPTIVE SHIFTER
Concealing her own considerable magical powers, Caitlyn enters the service of the northern Witch Queen masquerading as a simple healer. Under order from her goddess, she’s searching for a magical gem stolen long ago from her own people, believed to be hidden in the massive castle. The task is daunting but Caitlyn is sure she can locate the gem and escape, bringing the prize back to the temple where it belongs. Until she meets the captive shifter and her loyalties become dangerously divided.
In payment for her past services to his people, Kyler the leopard shifter has entered into a life of servitude far from his forest home, allowing the Witch Queen to tap his magic to power her ever darker spells. Factions at Court are threatening to turn the Queen to the Shadow. Her increasing demands for magic will cut short his nearly immortal lifespan. Kyler’s resigned to his fate until the day he crosses paths with the new arrival, whose secrets and magic entice and attract both man and leopard. Has he met his mate at last?
The Queen will never willingly release him from captivity. Caitlyn’s goddess refuses to grant her any delay in accomplishing her own task. Can they locate the magical gem, fight the Shadow and win free of the Witch Queen to earn the right to be together?
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VS Note: Nadelma gets her own love story in WINTER SOLSTICE DREAM and appears as a supportng character in SWAN PRINCESS REIMAGINED.
Great snippet, Veronica! I was reminded of that saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, LOL. Let the cook do her magic 😉
Lovely detail. And a good meal does work its magic on a man.
I’m exasperated by the arrogant assumptions of the witches (in a good way). It’s going to be fun watching them lose! 😀
Bravo, Veronica. Love the last line, it’s so true. I also enjoyed the little bits you put in to give me the true feel of the scene. Happy Mother’s Day.
I enjoyed this snippet very much, Veronica. I like that the magic in your world needs to be fueled by energy – calories. 🙂 Plus there is something wise and true about the role of nourishment in Nadelma’s words. 🙂 P.S. That kitty pic is stunning.
You know what they say about the way to a man’s heart… Lovely detail.
Loved this snippet it flowed so well and was full of character! I like the sound of that spoon and the effort to get up from the chair!
love love love this. I adore the cook’s attitude and I love that Caitlyn is helping. Fantastic snippet.
Wonderful Job Veronica! I love how you drop me straight in the world you’ve created so seamlessly and made me feel for your characters!
Happy Mother’s Day! Absolutely loved this excerpt. Nadelma is such an awesome character and her dialogue is fab! Well done!
*laff* That’s a fantastic last line! Nice to see another character. You get across their personalities in every short snippet.
I like Nadelma! Great cooks do have a sort of magic touch with food, don’t they?
Nadelma knows what to do! Great excerpt. 🙂
MEOW!
Wonder if the witches would just as soon Kyle doesn’t get too much strength back. Loved the cook.
Awesome excerpt – love the cook – great character development in a very short bit. Good #8Sentence.
ok where do I start? The carving – shows thought and affection on his part. She can’t use it of course not. It’s too special. The use of the cat to compare to what he feels like now when he’s ill. My writing instructor would give you an A And now the cook will repay him for the gifted spoon. It weaves a perfect circle
Aww, thank you very much!
I know the feeling of being afraid to use something that’s too beautiful for cooking or another ordinary use. Servants can be such fun characters.
Nothing says love like a hand carved wooden spoon! Great snippet!
I love that last line…perfect!
Nice detail, and food does help!
Such imagery and detail. I am now hungry..x
Oo, nice! Loved this line: “They do their magic, I do mine.” Great details here 🙂
Charming and fun, Veronica. Thanks.
I love the image of the cat.
Excellent: “They do their magic, I do mine.” Very intriguing excerpt, Veronica! 🙂
I appreciate everyone’s comments and input, glad my cook was a hit. I wanted so badly to just keep going and include the entire scene (I’m kinda fond of Nadelma too LOL). Even the Witch Queen herself doesn’t venture into the kitchen… Seems to me I have to go ahead and finish this novel in the not too distant future. (It does have a beginning, middle and end but needs a LOT of work – pretty much first draft still.)
Aww, very nice that they are both so concerned. Poor shifter leopard with his matted fur. Nice way to introduce that thought with the kitchen kitty rubbing her ankles.
The cook is very cool, Veronica. Lovely snippet.
great snippet, with lovely detail 🙂
Nice snippet! There’s a lot packed in here. I felt there was something intentional in how they prescribed a diet insufficient for Kyle’s needs, as if they wanted to keep him weak. Nice implications of further tensions and conflict. And then you add some nice characterization with the detail of the spoon. Tells us so much with so little! Love it!
How strong of her to defy them. And I love the cook’s attitude! Great last line!
Cooks certainly can do magic in the kitchen, a skill I sorely lack y the way. I too think the physician is purposely trying to keep him weak–but why? Good snippet!
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Enjoyed the snippet. Love Cook’s attitude, and the last like is great.
This is nice, I believe that cooking is also magic, the cook can mix the ingredient like in a potion. And it also sounds tasty.
Gotta love the cockiness of the cook! I can picture her struggling against gravity to get out the chair with unyielding determination to do what she does best. The smallest of scenes is brought to life in my mind and I thank you for that. Great snippet!
Such rich details here — I love this snippet. 🙂
What a great character she is. Made me want to know more about her. Great job!
Love the last line. And I also loved the lines about the spoon – I could see it and feel it 🙂
I like Nadelma’s practicality. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
I am loving Nedelma. She seems to have a very no-nonsense attitude that is very fun.