I hate to say it but we really do have to leave Nadelma’s kitchen this week and move forward in the unedited Shifter & Girl-With-A- Secret paranormal story I’ve been excerpting…but thank you again to everyone for the kind words about the Cook! Caitlyn has left the kitchen herself and is going about her assigned duties when…
She felt a shift in the air, a perturbation in the currents of magic swirling around the Witch Queen’s palace. Seized by a compulsion to hurry, she followed the invisible thread to the throne room. Standing on the threshold of the deserted chamber, Caitlyn furrowed her brow – why had her instincts brought her here? But the otherness of the magic that had called to her echoed in the room.
“The audience is done, girl,” said a gruff voice behind her. “If you wanted to see them, they’re already gone. A fine sight they were though, I must say.”
Turning, she bumped into Quarl, sergeant of the guards. “See who? Who was here?”
Leaning on his spear, he whispered, “Shapeshifters, from the north.”
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Oh, how intriguing. I like the way you’re describing the magic, Veronica. (Probably for the best we left the kitchen. Those one’s made my hungry.)
Wow Shapeshifters, they were really quick to appear and disappear.
I agree with Kylie, the kitchen made me hungry, I’m happy to see some novelty.
They were taken by shape shifters! Doesn’t bode well. Super eight.
Can’t wait to read more:)
Fantastic job Veronica! I love the way you’ve set this up and made me feel the gravity of the situation. I can’t wait to read more!
Great 8. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Very interesting and fun! I love this story. Can’t wait for more.
This is getting interesting. Can’t wait til next week.
I’m so sucked into this one. More please.
Oooh, no wonder she came running. I would, too. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
I’ve looked forward to your snippet all week. And more enamoured than ever. Really how many could use the word perturbation and followed the invisible thread – yes magic is seen as threads. But I want to know–why were the shapeshifters, from the north no less, visiting??
Thank you very much for the kind words!
The “otherness” of the magic. I really like that description. “The audience is done.” Makes me wonder what they were talking about. Intriguing eight.
I love the hint of mystery in this eight.
I enjoyed this 8. I loved the flow of the words. Perturbation was used with gravitas and it seemed like such-the-perfect word.
Definitely an intriguing #8Sentence making me want to know more. Well done.
Intriguing indeed.
I love the mystery in this. Nothing is really made clear, but so much is hinted at. Well done!
Caitlyn must have my timing. I always seem to miss the good stuff. But if she can still feel it, I bet something or someone is still there. Perhaps shifted into the shape of a chair and biding his or her time.
I appreciate everyone’s remarks…we do see Nadelma again in the course of the novel but not in the kitchen….posting these excerpts and getting the positive feedback is making me really impatient now to have time to pick this novel up again and finish it!
Oh, wow! I’m not sure which group I’m rotting for (if either), but at this point I kind of hope the witches try to pull an arrogant, bonehead move and get swatted for it!
Please finish this, Veronica—it’s terrific!
Ooo, loved that shapeshifters might cause a problem! Intriguing story! Enjoyed your 8! 😀
I love the way this plays out with the differing magical sources and the excitement Quarl displays, and especially her tentative approach in the scene. Great excerpt!
I love the magic you described in this snippet, and her urgency to follow it. Well done!
Shapeshifters from the north. Hmmm. I wonder what kind of shifty people are from the south then. 😉 Another fantastic excerpt from you! Can’t wait for more!
Good question, Evelyn! As it happens, Caitlyn is from the south….but she doesn’t shift LOL.
Lovely descriptive, as always. Had to laugh at Evelynjules comment, though. 🙂
Ooo… shapeshifters, huh? And how are they related to the leopard-man that Nedelma was fussing about, earlier?
I’m wondering who these Shapeshifters are and what they did that demanded an audience.
Love the invisible threads and the cliff-hanger…can’t wait to find out more about the shapeshifters from the north!
Excellent hook! Great way to ramp up the tension and leave us wanting much more. Just the word “shapeshifter” conjures a sort of magic. Great 8!
Oh shapeshifters. I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I like it. And I love this line, “But the otherness of the magic that had called to her echoed in the room.” Otherness–very cool word.
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She seems to be mystical – perhaps magical, herself. This is the 1st time for me to be part of the Weekend Warrior Writers, so I’m picking your story up in the middle… but it does draw me in, and I wonder who and what the shape-shifters are!
I really liked your use of the word “otherness” – it fit, Nice job!
Oh, I love where this is headed!
“Otherness” was the perfect word to use there. Intriguing story and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
What a great description of her following the trail of magic. So much said in so few words… excellent. Thanks for sharing.
I love this snippet! So much going on, and obviously so much more to come.
Looking forward to more.
Great snippet! Loved it in the kitchen, but this promises big things to come that I’m sure won’t disappoint!
Shapeshifters from the north aren’t so bad, really. It’s the were-gators from the south you really have to keep an eye on.
This drew me in. I want to know more about these northern shapesifters.
Oooh! Now I’m intrigued. I want to know the differences between our heroine and the shifters from the north. Great work!