Sneak Peek Sunday 4/28
A sneak peek into UnderThese Restless Skies by Lissa Bryan
Summary:
Journey back in time to Tudor England with a tale ofromance, intrigue, and the Celtic legends of the selkies.
Will Somers has spent his life alone, thinking himself unlovable.Emma is a selkie, one of the immortal fae-folk of the sea. When Will finds hersleeping on the beach, he seizes this unexpected chance to have a wife andfamily of his own. He steals her pelt, binding her to him until the day hewillingly returns it.
Emma has never experienced life on land, and can barelycontain her excitement and curiosity. She has to learn to adapt quickly tohuman customs, for Will is headed to the glittering, dangerous court of HenryVIII to serve as the king’s royal fool. It’s a world where a careless word canlead to the scaffold, and the smallest of gestures is loaded with politicalimplications. Will’s intentions to keep Emma far from life at court are quicklydefeated when Anne Boleyn, charmed by Emma’s naiveté and soothing selkie magic,wants Emma for her own fool. It’s a vocation that provides them someprotection, but in Henry VIII’s court, no one is safe. Circa regna tonat: Aroundthe throne, the thunder rolls.
Excerpt:
“Yourmajesty, Lady Pembroke, Master Richard Fermor and Will Somers.”
“Rise,”the king said. Will glanced at him quickly. He saw a large, but still muscularman with thinning reddish-blond hair, dressed in a dark brown velvet doublet,ornamented with pearls and gold frogs. The king had gained weight in the lastfew years and to disguise it, he had widened the shoulders of his surcoats. Hiseyes were small, a piercing blue-gray. Will caught a glimpse of them before helowered his own eyes to stare at the floor.
“Aye,your majesty,” Fermor said. “If it pleases your grace.”
“Well,fool, what can you do?”
Willwas startled. He hadn’t expected the king to actually speak to him. “I – I canjuggle, your majesty,” he croaked. “I can make jests, tumble, and sing alittle.”
“Letus see it, then.”
Will’shands trembled as he withdrew the balls from his bag. “If it pleases yourmajesty,” he started. He straightened his shoulders as best he could and saidin his haughtiest tone: “I, Will Somers, am the best juggler in England.”
Theking snorted and Will hoped it was from amusement. He fell into his act,bragging about his abilities while seeming to lose track of his juggling andkeeping the balls in the air seemingly by accident alone. He was grateful thathe had performed this particular act so many times because he thought he’dcompletely forgotten his lines, but they slipped from his mouth of their ownaccord and his limbs seemed to move themselves. The king guffawed a couple oftimes and he thought her heard Anne laugh at one point. He ended with one ofthe balls balanced on the tip of his nose before dropping it into his hands andsweeping low into a bow.
“Welldone, Master Fool,” the king said, and he seemed a bit more jovial than he hadwhen Will first entered the room, or perhaps it was simply wishful thinking onWill’s part. “But tell me this: I have fools already who can juggle and makejests. Why would I wish to have you at my court? What have you to offer they donot?”
Theanswer popped from Will’s mouth as though he had rehearsed it. “Because I willdo something that none of your council, lords and ladies, ambassadors, servantsnor soothsayers will do.”
Theking lifted an eyebrow. “And what might that be?”
“Iwill tell you the truth, your majesty.”
Fermorgasped. Anne burst into laughter. “Oh, I do like him,” she said.
Theking cast an amused glance at her. “Is that so, Master Fool? Then perhaps youare worth it after all.”
“Butyou must make an oath to me,” Will said.
Theking flushed a little, but calmed when Anne giggled at Will’s audacity. “What?”
“Youmust swear it, as the word of a Christian king.” Will’s mouth was as dry aspaper and his heart thudded wildly in his chest, but he continued. “You mustswear to me, on your honor, that you will never hold it against me when I tellyou the truth.”
Theking stared at him, his mouth slightly agape, and then he burst into laughter.He slapped his knee and elbowed Anne, who laughed politely along with him,though she obviously didn’t find it as amusing as he did.
“Youhave my word,” the king said, as he accepted a perfumed handkerchief from oneof his serving lords to wipe away the tears that had seeped from his eyes. “Ormust I write it out and put my royal seal to it?”
“Yourword is sufficient for me,” Will replied.
“Iam flattered at your trust, Master Fool,” the king said solemnly, and burstinto guffaws once again. “Go and have my steward find you rooms. Have you awife?”
“Ido.” Will thought quickly. He had to find a way to keep Emma away from court,but refusing lodgings offered by the king would be a gross insult.
Theking waved a hand. “Bring her tomorrow. I wish to see what the wife of a foollooks like.”
“Muchlike every other wife in England,” Will said and that sent the king intolaughter once more.
“Go,and come back on the morrow,” the king said. He waved a hand at the steward.“Find him some decent garb, and some for Milady Fool as well.”
Willbowed deeply and followed the steward from the room. “And for you, Fermor,” heheard the king begin before the door was shut behind them. Will’s knees gaveout and he collapsed to the floor. His head swam in sick circles. He sat backon his heels and looked up at the steward. “Pray, pardon,” he rasped.
Thesteward smiled slightly. “You are not the first to react in such a manner.” Heheld out a hand and Will stared at it in surprise. The steward was a lord, andhere he was, offering a hand to a baseborn commoner. Will took it gingerly andthe steward helped him to his feet and drew him near.
“Ifever a man needed to hear the truth,” the steward whispered, “it is that man inthere.” He drew away again and his manner was once more brisk and officious.“Follow me.”
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Bio:
Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress,Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist whorecently discovered the cure for athlete's foot ... though only in her head.Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her timewriting.
Her first novel, Ghostwriter,is available through TheWriter's Coffee Shop (which is the least expensive option), Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. Her second novel, The End of All Things, was released on January 24,2013, and is available through TWCS, Amazon,and iTunes.She also has a short story in the RomanticInterludes anthology, available from TWCS, Amazonand iTunes.Her third novel, Under These Restless Skies, isscheduled for release in spring of 2014.
Links:
http://about.me/lissabryan
https://www.facebook.com/LissaBryan.Author
1 comments:
Hi there!
I was hoping to find out about having something regarding my upcoming novel featured on your site, but couldn't seem to find contact details!
If this is ok, perhaps you could email me at christine@horsecountrybook.com - cheers!
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