Dark Child
by Miriam
Newman
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GENRE: Romance
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BLURB:
Born at a royal banquet for King Conor MacNessa of Ulster, Deirdre is
predicted by Conor’s own druid to be blessed and cursed with a beauty that will
make kingdoms contest over her. He names
her “Deirdre of the Sorrows” and urges the king to slay her. But Conor, unwilling to murder a babe, takes
her under his protection only to fall prey to the curse when she is nearly
grown. Captivated by her youth and
beauty, the aging king will go to any extreme to possess her.
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EXCERPT:
Once inside, the king and his guests found beef and
mutton and pork…fowl and venison and
fine, firm pink salmon borne on ice across the sea from Alba where ice
was often to be found. Curds and whey
they had, and all else that a dairy might supply. There were breads and cakes, pies and pasties
of every sort and great quantities of wine, honey mead and ale both light and
dark. Yet so deep went Conor’s unease
that he had no appetite for them. Singers, dancers and musicians both foreign
and native performed, male and female alike, but the crash and roar of the
storm drowned out the sounds of their merry-making. Men marked that never had such a storm
visited Ulster. Irishmen all they were
and accustomed to the rains and gales of their island, but even Conor agreed it
seemed no natural storm and that he, too, had a feeling of doom.
“Nonsense,” Felim insisted stoutly as the king
merely nibbled at his food, for he saw all his plans dashed to destruction and
the favor he wished of Conor turned to stone.
“’Tis but a storm!”
Hardly had the words left the storyteller’s mouth
than a terrifying scream split the air, a sound to raise the bristle hair on a
hound’s back.
“’Tis only my wife, who labors,” Felim insisted,
but the king took not a bite further of his food and sat with a pale and ashen
face.
“’Bring her here,” Conor ordered, “that I may see
if that is the scream of any mortal woman, for I much doubt it.”
And so the unfortunate woman was required to
present herself to the king.
“Tell me true,” Conor demanded, “was it you who
screamed?”
Felim’s haggard and trembling wife, fearing for her
life, nonetheless shook her head, for she knew her maidservants would give her
away if she lied to the great king.
“Nay, my lord,” she replied. “’Tis the child that screamed from inside my
womb.”
“This is a thing I have never known!” Conor
exclaimed, while beside him his druid Catha stood abruptly to lay a hand upon the mother’s
belly, his expression dire.
“’Tis the scream of a girl child,” he predicted,
“and her name will be Deirdre, the call of alarm, for she will bring war.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been
my passion for as long as I can remember. I was published in poetry before
catching the romance writing bug. I bring that background to my writing along
with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of
psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where I nurture my muse.
My published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy
historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently I
live in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. You can see
my books at www.miriamnewman.com.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073C4KSZW
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-child-miriam-newman/1126646912
www.thecelticroseblog.blogspot.com
Miriam
Newman Author
twitter@miriam
newman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and
RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Miriam will be awarding a
$10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the
tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting me on your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks 4 hosting this on your blog.
ReplyDeleteVery gothic cover.
ReplyDelete