Weekend Writing Warriors: Snippet 105- Maryna
It’s time for Weekend Writing Warriors! Every Sunday, a bunch of writers post 8-10-sentence snippets from their WIPs on their blogs. There’s a lot of reading, commenting and great writing. Click on the link to see the full list.
It’s just occurred to me that I will probably have Winter of the Wolf ready for publication sometime in November. That’s next month! So I’d better start teasing y’all a little more, right?
If you’ve read Hammer of the Gods, you know that at the very end, Natalya Maxima took 13-year-old Maryna-Kendryk and Gwynneth’s oldest child- to visit her Uncle Arryk in Norovaea. Natalya believes Teodora is trying to overthrow King Arryk, and hopes to use Maryna as bait to flush out those conspiring with the empress. Maryna sets the deception in motion:
When they reached the corridor outside the throne room, elaborately liveried royal guards gathered around Maryna and someone opened the door. “They’re ready, Your Grace,” one of them said to her.
Maryna took a deep breath and stepped inside, remembering to hold her head high and keep her shoulders back. The room was packed with all of the most important people in Norovaea, but she had to pretend they weren’t here if she didn’t want to start shaking from nerves. She walked over to her uncle with measured steps, and he rose to meet her, taking her by the hand.
“I’ve called all of you here today because I’ve received shocking news,” he said, his voice deep and solemn. “The Empress Teodora, bound to us in good faith and by treaty, has betrayed me. She has murdered my sister and heir, Princess Gwynneth.” His voice quivered, and Maryna did her best to look sad. “By the grace of the gods,” the king went on, “her eldest child, the Duchess Maryna managed to escape and has come to us for refuge.”
Unfortunately, Arryk and Maryna have bitten off more than they can chew, as is often the case when dealing with Teodora.
Previous snippets are here.
I’m looking for a few beta readers for my next project, since all my regular ones are tied up on Winter of the Wolf. It’ll be a 65k prequel to the Desolate Empire Series and I’m looking for a 2-3 week turnaround. Last week’s snippet provides a small sample. It’s especially helpful to me if you haven’t read the main series, since I want to make sure I’m describing the world clearly enough. I’m happy to do a swap, too!
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Yes Maryna certainly has a lot to deal with! It must have been painful to announce such sad news, because it was vivid in her voice. Great snippet, Christina!
Thanks, Frank!
Now that everything is set in motion, I hope it all goes as planned, though I have a feeling it won’t. Intriguing snippet!
Things never go the way they’re supposed to. That might be my number one writing rule!
The line that stood out to me was “Maryna did her best to look sad.” I really wondered about why she felt this way.
She doesn’t have any particular reason to BE sad in this case, but it’s helpful to her cause to appear grief-stricken. 🙂
Like Ed I wondered why she had to do her best to look sad. It seems that her reason for being there is more than merely seeking refuge.
Yes, she’s definitely not there for that, but it’s helpful for others to think she is.
Such intrigue! Great snippet.
Thank you!
I love political imbroglios. Brave girl!
Hmm, setting a trap for Teodora is not for the fainthearted or unprepared. I suspect things are going to get interesting! Nicely done, as always, Christina!
Thanks, Kim! Things are about to get crazy!
A tough job for a 13 year old, but she seems up to the task of deception.
She’s being mentored by someone who’s very good at it!
Maryna sounds more than capable of doing what needs to be done – of course, there’s still Teodora to consider, but I’m hopeful!
She’s young and a bit naive, but learning fast!
Never underestimate Teodora!
Deception. It’s part of their culture. Oh what a world! Nice writing, my friend.
Yes, you learn to play the game young. Thanks, Charmaine!
I was also struck by Maryna making an effort to look sad when her uncle announces her mother has been killed.
Wait, so she’s also deceiving her uncle? The line about her making an effort to look sad makes me think that and that she had little love for her mother.
She and her uncle are in cahoots, trying to deceive someone else. 😀
Why do I have the feeling things will not go as planned? 🙂 Did she not like her family? Just wondering about the comment where she made the effort to look sad. I see others are asking too. lol
Things never go as planned. And she isn’t sad because her mother isn’t dead. She and her uncle are hoping to flush out a conspiracy by pretending she is. 😀
There is so much intrigue embroiled in these few short sentences. A lot going on below the surface here, it seems. Tangled webs for sure.
So what’s up with that wonderful line – Maryna did her best to look sad. Intriguing.
Tweeted.
I can’t wait to find out what Theodora will do.
Maryna comes from a good family so she handles this responsibly, but I dread what Teodora will do. Can’t wait for the prequel and the next book!
😋
I hope Maryna isn’t biting off more than she can chew. Being bait is not a comfortable role. Once can get snapped up so easily!
Politics–and playing bait, especially–are dangerous waters to swim in. With so many predators in the water, things can get bloody pretty quickly!
very intriguing. can’t wait to see how this turns out.
Is this a good news/bad news situation? It will be interesting to see what happens next.