This month Chicks author LINDA ULLESEIT is having a Back to School Blog Hop. For Chicks, she's posting an excerpt from her ebook novella, WINGS OVER TREMEIRCHSON.
Download this book for free here:
Wings Over Tremeirchson:
The
early spring air, still chilled by the remnant of winter, rushed past Neste’s
cheeks and teased her chestnut hair out from under her leather helmet. She took
a deep breath, but her hands trembled on the reins. A shiver of tension ran
through the muscles of the winged horse beneath her, and Neste murmured, “Easy,
Llawen, just like we practiced now. Easy, del,” masking her own anxiety
as best she could with the Welsh endearment.
The
mare was not fooled. She tossed her head and her silver wings missed a beat.
Neste clenched her lips and focused on Llawen’s gray ears. They swiveled, alert
to the other four horses in formation nearby. Hoel, aboard his glossy brown
stallion, led with confidence that bordered on recklessness. Neste suspected
that some depth of his mind believed only he could master this dance, rendering
all others irrelevant and beneath him. Still, he led the team. Of course he
wanted them to perform well.
The
swish of Llawen’s powerful wings added to the breeze, and the usual delight of
soaring aboard such a beautiful creature filled Neste’s heart. Below them,
people locked to the ground scurried about their business to the apothecary or
the tanner or the tavern. Nonwinged horses pulled wagons and carriages. Neste
wondered if Llawen felt superior to them.
The
mare’s charcoal-colored mane rippled. The occasional silver strands caught the
sunlight and sparkled. The mare’s dappled gray neck gleamed with sweat as the
most difficult part of the routine came upon them and Neste’s pleasure
evaporated in concentration.
“Hover
like a hummingbird.” She muttered Hoel’s ridiculous words as she signaled the
mare. The great silver wings angled slightly so that the downstrokes would not
carry horse and rider forward. Neste patted the damp gray neck. “Best
hummingbird in Tremeirchson.”
