NEW EXCERPTS FROM THE STONES OF MINDERLAND!
- Gideon S. Fields
- Jul 23, 2018
- 3 min read
Excerpt from Chapter One:
Christine
Sheyemere Port.
427 A.W.E.(After World Event)
As she made her way towards the docks, the sailors she had just spent weeks with aboard ship gave their polite farewells.
Even though it was unlucky to have a woman aboard a fishing vessel, she had been able to stay out of the way and avoided the more superstitious of the men. As the trip wore on without incident, some of the crew even took a liking to her and showed her some of the card and dice games they would play in the galley during mealtimes.
Still, the trip seemed to take unusually long. Honestly, is there always this much ice near the shores? She thought to herself as she took in her surroundings.
“Unusually cold winter ain’it?” a man to her immediate right said. The statement caught her quite off-guard and solicited a profanity she’d picked up from one of the sailors in her response. She regained herself and studied the man that had interrupted her reflections.
He was taller than her; about seventy inches she’d guess, though it was hard to tell because he was leaning on a cargo crate as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He had dark curls that flirted with his brow line and threatened to touch his eyes as he smiled. He looked as though he hadn’t shaved in a day or so, but had a face that didn’t mind, and neither did she. She caught herself blushing. He seemed to notice, and his grin only widened into a knowing smile that in her experience only the dangerous sort of men had. Men with ulterior motives.
Flustered, she stammered, “Indeed. And is it the business of a sailor to interrupt a lady while she contemplates? And what the devil are you doing in shorts and a T-top shirt in weather like this? You’ll be sure to catch your death, sir.”
It was true. She was wearing a full girdle, corset, chemise, slip, drawers, boots, mitts, a dress and a shawl to boot, yet she was still freezing. And here was this lunatic, half-dressed as he pleased, standing in the middle of a saltwater sprayed area of the docks in dead winter! Preposterous!
“I’m no sailor Miss. I am a man for hire, and it seems to me that you could use a man with my sort of talents in what you’re trying to do.” He smiled knowing he baited her. It irritated her even further. Yet she was enchanted by the very notion of this man’s mannerisms. Something her father would certainly not approve of.
She answered as casually as she could, “And what is it that you think I need from a man who doesn’t know how to dress properly in the most basic of weather. Not to mention properly address a lady of Chance Town Mister…?”
“Taylor’s the name Misses Tittle. And I wouldn’t worry much about how I’m dressed if I were you. Why don’t we go to the Fancy Dragon and discuss this over a pint of honey ale? I happen to have it on good authority that they offer the best ale in the docks for the price. It’s even free to sit near the inglenook.” There was that smile again. It was as if he already knew what she was going to say before she said it and was just enjoying going through the motions of this ridiculous conversation.
Then a thought came to her quite suddenly. How does this “Taylor” fellow know my name?
She took a cautious and calculated step back and looked both directions. She needed to find an ally to call to for help. This was no longer a fun game for her. She felt as though she had no control over what was about to happen next. Unfortunately, all the sailors she’d met on her journey had either returned to their ship or moved on to the nearby pubs to quench their thirsts. Whatever they may be. The second thought didn’t help her anxiety for the situation she’d found herself in.
She knew she was in trouble, but what was this man capable of? Would anyone get to her in time if she screamed? Could she fight him off? Certainly not, she concluded. He was obviously much stronger than her and clearly not right in the head. Even so there was more to this man. She could feel that on an instinctive level. She liked that even less. How do I know that actually? I have never met this man in my life. If he takes one more step towards me, I’ll kick him in the nether region and scream.
©2018 "The Stones of Minderland (Wielder and Stone)"
(all material is copyrighted and is protected by the full extent of the law. Use of this material in an unauthorized manner is prohibited)
Commentaires