Monday means an excerpt here on the blog! Today I’m excited to share the first excerpt from an action scene, showing magic and civil war at play. This is from Kora’s first raid as a member of the Crimson League, the organized resistance against sorcerer-dictator Zalski Forzythe.
Three veteran members of the league, all men, join her on the mission: Ranler, Menikas, and Lanokas. (Menikas and Lanokas are brothers). What happens, and what they discover, sets the the tone for the rest of the story.
Noon had nearly arrived when Kora, Menikas, Lanokas, and Ranler drew within sight of the makeshift base. The elite guard had requisitioned a derelict farmhouse past the hills. The roof was missing shingles and the walls’ brown paint was flaking. “We shouldn’t meet much resistance,” Menikas whispered. “Most of Zalski’s men are out looking for Kora. Which is why,” he tossed out as an afterthought, “she probably shouldn’t be here.”
Lanokas crossed his arms. “She is here, so let it be.”
Kora adjusted the crossbow slung across her back. “I didn’t ask to come. Laskenay—”
Menikas replied, “I spoke with Laskenay. The guards will want nothing more than for you to pay them a call. Do you know what they think you are?”
Kora adjusted her bandanna. Lanokas put a calming hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Let it be. She’s been no liability thus far, has she?” Ranler, meanwhile, his attention on the job, whispered for the others to follow.
They crept low, moving through overgrown weeds to take what cover was available. Theirs wasn’t the most direct route but would be safe, assuming they met no snakes in the growth—Kora tried not to think about snakes. When they reached the last stretch of land, they were facing the back of the house Zalski’s men had commandeered. The closest wall had a barred door and square windows, one of which held broken panes.
“That’s our in,” said Ranler.
They had one last stretch of grass to cross, grass tall enough to hide them if they crawled. Kora went last. She felt awkward but exhilarated forcing herself onward with her elbows. No panic gripped her heart; she was alert and thinking clearly.
The going was slow. Ranler led the group, but when they neared the house he let the brothers overtake him, and after what felt like hours the four leaguesmen reached the broken window. Soundlessly, Lanokas and Menikas took stations on either side of it. Kora was far enough off that, glancing up, she could see two men in black uniform. They sat at a table with books, stray pieces of parchment, and two iron candlesticks. Lanokas mouthed at her, “How many?” Kora held up two fingers.
Menikas dared a glance inside. The guardsmen kept to their work, flipping pages, taking the occasional note. Then the chief signaled Lanokas, and, at Kora’s nod, both nobles peered in and waved their hands. The candlesticks rose from the table and collided with the soldiers’ skulls; one man slumped forward on the tabletop, while the other toppled sideways. The candlesticks dropped with a clang.
Lanokas jumped through the window. His companions followed. Kora noticed, with mixed emotion, that the guardsmen’s chests were rising and falling. Would the League finish them off? Would Menikas order Kora to? She couldn’t, she wouldn’t . . .
Ranler barked, “Tie them up.” Lanokas had ten feet of rope coiled at his side and cut off stretches for Kora, who tied the man still seated in his chair. She bound his wrists, assuming Ranler’s order meant no one would kill him. Why trouble with knots if they meant to slit his throat?
Kora moved on to his ankles. One was missing. An elite guardsman with a wooden leg? No wonder he was here and not part of the hunt. She tied his ankle to the false limb and then his upper body to the chair back. To look at him made her nauseated, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away.
He had thick gray hair matted with blood where the candlestick had struck him above the temple. His silver goatee looked dull against his uniform’s fresh dye. Scars peppered his right cheek and arm.
In the meantime, Menikas had helped Ranler hoist the other man to his seat for Lanokas to bind. They had just finished when another guardsman entered, attracted by the noise. Kora could tell at once why he belonged to the elite guard. He held his sword ready and reacted swiftly when Ranler shot an arrow. He dodged the projectile by flying diagonally upward. There he hovered, taking in the scene.
The excerpt will continue next Monday! In the meantime, feel free to check out another excerpt about the ancient sorcerers or a character spotlight on Lanokas, one of my favorite characters, who features in this scene.
Creative Writing with the Crimson League 
Leave a comment