It’s Friday and I have coffee again. How about that?
It’s overcast – again. I am tired – again.
I have to work again.
Oh wait, there is a vicious hellbeast outside my window. That’s new. The plan didn’t involve hellbeast ever going outside, but he had his own ideas.
He sits on the windows seal and surveys things. Miraculously even though he and Salem are in close proximity, they do not rip each other’s throats out. They are still not friends.
I had a freaky weird dream last night, which involved a couple of people who were manning a guard station or police station in some small town which was filled with a bunch of supernatural critters. For some reason the supernatural critters looked like they had jumped out of some 80′s cartoon. The woman was named Silver. The guy was named Svidanie. (Right now all of the Russians who read the blog are going WTF?!) Clearly I need to stay away from Russian forums. 
Gordon worked on the current chunk of the draft. He says that’s contrary to my expectations, it’s not awful. He said it was “quite good, actually.” I hope he is right because it feels like a mess.
The other day when I was trying to describe the Weird’s city of Kelena, I lamented that the only phrase that perfectly fit it was “a wretched hive of scum and villainy.” Which, of course, belongs to Obi-Wan Kenobi. I kept trying to find someway to work it in there without being sued, because I think giving nods to popular culture is fun, and I finally succeeded. Here is a snippet to prove it.
A shrill whistle made them turn. Jason had mounted a horse.
“Wretches, scum, and villains,” he called out. “Lend me your ears!” (:D!!!!)
A light laughter rippled through the crowd.
“Every single one of you is owed a debt by the slavers. Tonight we collect. We’ll board their ship. We’ll sack the Market. We’ll be legends.” He paused and smiled. “We’ll be rich.”
An enthusiastic riot of cat calls and guttural grunts answered him.
He tilted his head. “But we don’t do this just to get rich.”
“We don’t?” A woman asked with pretended shock.
More laughter followed.
“No, we don’t. Look around you.” Jason spread his arms. “Go ahead, look.”
Heads turned as people looked at the woods and the night sky.
“Tonight we’re the masters of all we see. Tonight we will triumph and grind those bastards under our boots. We’ll rip them open and see the color of their blood. We’ll take their money and their lives.” His voice gained a savage intensity. “We’ll listen as they scream and beg us for mercy. We’ll smell the gore we cut from their bodies. We’ll gouge the light out of their eyes. Tonight, when we taste their blood, we’ll truly live.”
Silence claimed the clearing.
“Hell yeah!” Richard barked in a deep voice.
“Yeah!” another male snarl echoed.
The crowd erupted in shouts, shaking their fists.
“He gets too elaborate sometimes,” Richard told her under his breath.
“You don’t say.” More violence. More murder. More joy from letting her magic devour others. Charlotte swallowed. She vividly remembered the rush of pleasure she derived from killing and experiencing it again terrified her to the very core. Her teeth chattered. She clenched them and her knees began to shake.
“We move!” Jason roared.
She wanted to turn around and run the other way.
Thank you for the snippet; I am really looking forward to this book.
I hope you have a restful and fun weekend.
I enjoy nerdy star wars, star trek, lotr, and doctor who pop culture references in books. I found out recently that I’m such a hypocrit though. I didn’t enjoy pop culture references to iPhones and TrueBlood. Does that make me a nerd, sci-fi, snob?
Thanks for the snippet!
Love it!
“Wretches, scum, and villains,” he called out. “Lend me your ears!” (:D!!!!)
What a perfect way to quickly and efficiently describe a crowd. Yippee!!!! I think I am really going to like learning more about Richard and Charlotte.
As for the fur monster. Nothing stares like a cat through a window. It’s like they know if they were 5 pounds bigger, they could eat you. And if they had thumbs, well, it would be on like Donkey Kong. One thumb to rule them all!
Star Wars and Men in Tights together! What a wonderful combo; I can’t wait for this book! Thanks for the snippet!
Oh, wow! I lovez your writing! Few days ago, there was a post on H&H about worst fictional UF locations to live (places to avoid at all cost) so I nominated Unicorn Lane,’cause it’s seriously creepy. But if there was a question who’s your fictional neighbor from hell, I get a feeling that “wretches, scum and villains” from the city oh Kelena would fit the bill just fine.
Steel’s Edge sounds better and better…
Thanks for the snippet. You do homage to a great line. The book is going to be great. k:))
Whoot! Thanks for the snippet!!! ‘”Hell yeah!’ Richard barked in a deep voice’ ,– that reminded me so much of the Knight’s Tale.
Wait… is Oliver on the outside looking in?
Love the snippet. Can’t wait for the book.
Can’t believe Andrea’s book is a whole 4 months away.
Happy Friday!
The Hellbeast at your window is an amazing looking beast! I love the colors and pious he has.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Melissa (My World…in words and pages) recently posted..Movie Review: The Myth
Great way to start the weekend, thank you! The hellbeast looks quite majestic sitting at the window. I almost except him to give the royal wave.
Star Wars and Shakespeare all wrapped up in one tidy little package. Does it get better than this?
I’m with Jenette! Genius.
Thanks for the fantastic snippet! Seriously looking forward to getting my hands on this book.
Oooh I thought it was quite ‘Spartacus’ – can’t wait!!!!
Chantal Halpin recently posted..Books and Bald Babies!
whooo, thank you!
Shakespeare and Star Wars together in one quote… *flutters hands and almost swoons* I swear my bosom almost heaved there… fan-fucking-tab-u-lous.
I want to read this. And your hellbeast looks to noble to be a hellbeast.
This snippet left me so giddy, my three year old demanded to know what I was so “happee ’bout.” Thank you so much, you helped to start my weekend off right!
Great snippet! Almost lost my drink all over my computer…again. I need to learn that your posts are almost always hysterical and I should not drink while reading!
Thanks for the snippet. I can’t wait to read the entire book! Hope the weather gets better for you guys.
I agree with Gordon – ’tis Quite Good. I’m so glad that Richard has his own book. And, for Lark, I’m mighty glad that the slavers are going to be gotten.
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Intriguing, very intriguing! Thanks for sharing.
Although I chuckled a bit at “Jason” for the name of an individual speaking
such violence. Jason seems like such a normal, suburban name!
Thanks for sharing — It makes for a happy Friday!
At least you have a HellBeast! Why, when I was a girl all we had were pitiful kitties. Actually, my cat Purrl has earned the title of Most Evil Creature in the House, and is an escape artist who, once she escapes and frolics a bit, just lets you pick her up and bring her inside. The escape’s the thing.
P.S. Look Richard isn’t a stiff stick! He can do humor too. Nice snippet.
Ooh! So excited! I don’t know why but Richard grabbed me from the start. He was always the character I most wanted to see more of – even more so than Kaldar. (:
I’m in awe that you did a literary mash-up between Obi-Wan and Marc Anthony! Julius Ceasar is my favorite Shakespeare play that I read in my youth, just As Star Wars is the iconic movie from my youth. I fee like I’m back in high school
Can’t wait, it sounds great.
I agree with Gordon. It is really very good. Thanks.