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Weekend Writing Warrior 11/15/20 #8Sunday

Brave Little Thrall coverThis week is another excerpt from “The Brave Little Thrall,” a Heartsbane Saga short stor. I had it on my calendar to get it out this week – but then I got COVID. I’m mostly okay, just tired with an annoying dry cough, but it’s wiped me out for several days.

The story is a retelling of the fairy tale “The Brave Little Tailor.” It’s a more obscure story than other fairy tales, so here’s the basic plot: a tailor kills seven flies with one strike (“seven in one blow”) and brags about it, but “forgets” to mention he killed flies so everyone assumes he’s a fierce warrior even though he’s a scrawny little tailor. He goes on adventures using trickery and eventually tricks his way into his own kingdom.

This week’s excerpt is skipping ahead just a bit. Our hero Fahim is traveling with some barbarians across the sea back to their country. He sees it as a big adventure, whereas they consider him one of their slaves. A big storm has come up and knocked him overboard. He and one of the barbarians made it to shore. In this scene, they’re discussing their next steps.

* * * * * * *

“Won’t they come ashore for us?” Fahim interrupted.

Gudrodar laughed, a short bark of contemptible amusement. “And why would they do that? Tueronians are no allies to Karjalanders, and on top of that they carry a small fortune. I certainly wouldn’t stop for two men fallen into the sea.”

“But….” Fahim frowned in confusion. “Aren’t you their leader?”

Gudrodar spun around with a glare so fierce that Fahim shrank back. “Don’t dare speak that aloud!”

Fahim sputtered a meaningless response that seemed to pacify the Karjalander, who continued walking at an even more grueling pace.

* * * * * * *

And the rest of this scene:

Fahim followed in silence. Karjalanders were an odd people, he decided. Aghlabidis were proud of their lineage; nearly everyone who could claimed to be a relative of their caliphs, and anyone who could prove that the Messenger was his ancestor was revered. And while his countrymen had their share of infighting, he’d never heard of men purposefully allowing their leader to die. No wonder these northern men were regarded as barbarians by so many around the world.

* * * * * * *

About “The Brave Little Thrall:”

Fahim Al Rasheed has spent his life studying foreign cultures, but he never thought he’d actually have the chance to visit them. When his journey of a lifetime leaves him and a young barbarian king marooned in a hostile country, he’ll have to rely on more than book learning to make it back home alive.

* * * * * * *

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8 Comments

  1. His attitude does sound strange, but I wonder if it’s more to do with what would happen if they were captured and the captors realized who they had?

  2. More twists and turns this week – enjoyed the snippet! Best wishes on your rapid recovery!

  3. Love the idea of the story. Good snippet.
    Get healthy quickly.

  4. Thouroghly enjoying this story. I do want to read this.

    I hope your symptoms don’t worsen!

  5. Really have me wondering why Fahim cannot speak it aloud. Intriguing snippet.

  6. Gudrodar’s anger makes me think he must feel he’s in a lot of danger without his men around to protect him.

  7. You’ve go me wondering why Gudrodar shouted at him ” “Don’t dare speak that aloud!”

  8. With them being on an inhabited island unfreindly to Gudrodars race, I would think the reason he couldn’s speak it aloud was out of fear of capure for some sort of ransom.

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