Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.
Here's another excerpt from The Protector (An Outer Rim Novel: Book 3). I skipped ahead a little from last week's snippet. The townspeople have gathered in Rissa's tavern for an emergency meeting.
Apologies for the misuse of commas.
Merchant Graeson climbed up on a chair
and whistled shrilly—that got everyone’s attention, “We had a dangerous
incident last night, here’s Rissa to tell you about it.”
With a grimace she forced herself to
hide, Rissa came around from behind the bar. She’d hoped Graeson would explain
about the incident—no such luck.
“Four tendays ago I warned you about—”
“This better not be about slave traders
again,” A short, round man from one of the farms stood, “that ain’t gonna
happen here.”
As murmurs of agreement began, Sophira’s
spouse stood, “Shut up, Ramus—it can and it did, last night.” Murmurs stopped, and when silence met his announcement, he said, “Traffickers took our baby.”
The audience responded with gasps.
Another man stood, “And they tried to
take my boy.”
And then another, “Mine, too—if it
weren’t for Miz Rissa and her friends, our boys would be sold for slaves, and
that baby sold to rich people in the Central District.”
“We should have listened to Miz Rissa
last time,” Sophira said.
Who knew rescuing two girls from traffickers would bring down a world of hurt?
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from returning. Mining heir Dillan Rusteran has loved her for years. Little do they know that by rescuing more children they're tangling with a galactic trafficking ring.
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Sounds like that farmer might be in denial, but others clearly know better!
ReplyDeleteThere's trouble ahead and oh the stolen children. Good, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThere is always someone trying to deny the truth. They obviously need to take action now to prevent it from happening again. Great snippet to show the situation! :)
ReplyDeleteNice tense scene, Di! Let them try to deny they're in trouble now!
ReplyDeleteLooks like they should have listened, yes! :)
ReplyDeleteGood to have the community on her side though. An effective snippet!
ReplyDeleteTogether, I'm sure they'll fare better than individaully.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they're coming to an agreement.
ReplyDeleteAh, but what are they going to do about it? Great building of tension here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys. There will always be those who deny a crisis. Good thing some of the townsfolk will be on the alert.
ReplyDeleteUndeniably, they have a growing problem, and they need to act.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would take many reports of stolen children to turn the mood of the town around.
ReplyDeleteSounds like they are beginning to realise Rissa knows what she's talking about - but there's 'always one' isn't there!
ReplyDeleteWill they truly take action now they know the threat is real? Some communities can't admit to a problem sometimes, no matter how baldly it stares them in the face. I hope the tide is turning!
ReplyDeletePeople often say "it can't happen here." But the tragic thing is--it can happen anywhere! Hopefully this is a wake up call for them! Because it can happen again...
ReplyDelete