Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…A 
fun way to sample new books and find new writers!
We’re onto a new story of mine, a WIP that still needs a lot of work. Mark, an ex-Special Forces soldier in the Sectors, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue a kidnap victim who’s been taken to the border planet Freemarket, where anything goes and the authorities are usually hands off. Kind of like Las Vegas…he’s broken into the house of Barent Kliin, the kidnapper, persuaded Alessandra to go with him and fled in a stolen car, pursued by the bad guys and the planetary police. They collided with a cargo hauler…Mark knocked the driver out and assisted Alessandra from their wrecked vehicle, after which the couple flee into the crowded marketplace but are now trapped…until a strange little being showed up, offering to help…having no choice, Mark and Sandy flee with the creature and fall into a tent. The owner of the tent is an extremely mysterious being, who prevented him from shooting at their pursuers. She’s offering them the opportunity to Travel…not in a groundcar or a spaceship…Lajollae is speaking:
“Behold the Globes of Amarkana.” She yanked at a corner of what Mark had thought was the tent’s back wall. The shimmering panel fell away, revealing a tree fashioned entirely from crystal, taller than Mark. Jagged, sharp branches of clear glass, patterned with leaves incised deep into the surface, jutted from a thick trunk at odd angles. At the tip of each branch hung a perfect golden ball, ethereal bubbles yet made of solid material. The globes were translucent, empty at first glance, but then Mark saw faint spirals of white smoke in some, flickering lightning in others, flames in a few. Several appeared to contain misty rain droplets floating suspended as if captured in mid air…the branches stirred, with a faint chiming sound.
Note from me: I think it’s only seven sentences but there you have the description. Next week Lajollae will explain how one Travels…my daughter’s wedding is today (Sunday) so I won’t get around to comment until Monday – sorry!
Gorgeous imagery! The tree sounds amazing!
Wow! Your imagery, breathtaking. Have fun at the wedding!
Oh, beautiful! Even if the tree doesn’t do anything cool- though I’m sure it does- it sounds lovely to look at.
Congrats to your daughter and enjoy the wedding!
Awesome description and here comes the bride. Happiness in the family. Have a wonderful joyous day.
You set a beautiful scene, Veronica.
And congratulations to your daughter and best wishes for a happy future!
Fabulous. I could visual that – would love to see it. Now curious as to what they are all about.
Amazing description and imagery! This was beautiful– excellent work!
Wonderful snippet. The description is just incredible.
I hope your daughter has an amazing day. Congratulations!
Good descriptions of the globe. Enjoy your daughter’s wedding.
Lovely! Are those the Pleiades in the picture?
I’m still nervous about them traveling with her portal tree but I’m darn curious.
have fun at the wedding as your baby transitions to another phase in her life 🙂
Visual and Fascinating! Have a lovely time at the wedding!
Gorgeous description. Though it’s so exotic, I can really see it.
Great description! The chiming was a particularly nice touch:)
The crystal tree sounds lovely. I enjoyed your ‘Madonna interview’ as well. In fact, I’ll think I’ll do the same thing on my blog sometime next week.
I love your imagery and the way you paint with words. It really creates a vivid picture.
Congrats to your daughter. The imagery here is fabulous.
Stunning description! I can’t wait to see how its used to travel. Amazing 8!
“Behold the Globes of Amarkana.” Even the name has a visual appeal. What creativity, Veronica! I love the description of that tree. 🙂
Hope your daughter’s day was just amazing! Mazel Tov on the celebration.
I guess I am chicken, I would be weighing my odds about being found by my pursuers and jumping into such a strange world. Great snippet.
I like a world that has cool globes. I actually have something similar-yet-not in my story world, Aletris.
The description is beautiful. I’m sure there’s still trouble ahead, but at least it’ll be beautiful!
I wish the new couple more happiness than they can imagine! =)
Breath taking! I love your descriptions, Veronica. I hope the wedding was wonderful! Looking forward to tomorrow’s snippet!
I can clearly picture the tree and it’s gorgeous, mysterious and a bit ominous all at once. Nicely done!