Snippet #4

So this might be the last snippet from the original novel I worked on over the month of November as part of NaNoWriMo (which, yay, I won!). It’s the introduction of another main character who will come to play a large part in the overall plot. She is a warrior woman – human – and a mercenary for hire. I wanted to include a strong female character, who happens to be asexual. My goal is for representation with this story, and I hope to portray her as faithful as possible.

I am pretty sure she will be fun to write, as the other three have been for me. I managed a good 28,000 words of this story and have only scratched the surface. I am happy with the rough draft so far. Unfortunately, much of what I wrote does happen later in the plot and I’m reluctant to share snippets, as it will give too much away. For now, enjoy meeting Serafin.

Snippet #4

“She looks like a good candidate,” Jianbe said, nodding to the end of the bar where a woman was casually punching a rough looking man in the face repeatedly.

“Strong,” Lark agreed.  “Doesn’t look like she takes much shite from anyone.”

“Apparently blood doesn’t bother her,” Jianbe observed, pointing to the blood oozing from the now-broken nose of the man.

“How can you watch this?” Tram asked, his tone sounding sickened.

Jianbe shrugged. “We’re looking for a muscle for hire.  There’s no time for squeamishness.”

After the woman bodily lifted the unconscious man from the floor, she tossed him out of the door to a round of applause from the drunken crowd who witnessed the one-sided fight.  Turning, she gracefully bowed to them, one arm folded over her stomach, one arm lifted behind her as she bent.  Amid the sound of clapping, she returned to the bar to calmly return to her drink, accepting first the hug of a young tavern girl, who slipped away back to her duties.

“What do you think, old man?” Lark asked.

“Let’s introduce ourselves,” Jianbe decided.

The pair approached the woman with Tram reluctantly trailing behind them.  They seated themselves on the open stools next to her, Jianbe closest, while Lark and Tram sat on the other side of him.  The woman eyed them over the rim of her tankard.  She was dressed like a man, in trousers and tunic, though Lark’s sharp hearing detected the thin clinking of chain mail underneath her clothing.  A belt held a short sword at one hip and a dagger at the other.  Lark also noted the hilts of two more daggers in her boots.

Her eyes were dark as she watched them settle in, under thick eyebrows.  She was pretty in a rough way.  Her black hair was pulled back severely into a single braid in the back and she wore no jewelry.  High cheekbones and almond shaped eyes spoke of an north eastern origin of the human woman.  Her clothing was bulky, and hid the potential of her strength. 

“What do you want, oldster?” she asked,  her voice a high alto and quite musical.  Lark wished suddenly that she would sing for them.

“To buy you a drink, my lady,” Jianbe replied.

She snorted.  “A drink?  Aren’t you a little old to be trying to get in my trousers?”

“I wouldn’t dare, my dear.  Not if I didn’t want one of those daggers in my vitals.”

“Very wise, oldster.  I wouldn’t hesitate if you tried to touch me.”

“Women are not one of my appetites, I’m afraid, my lady.  You have nothing to fear from me.”

“Good to know.  I don’t like to disembowel old men, generally.”

“May I ask what that gentleman you dispersed of did?  What sort of infraction caused his summary dismissal?”

“Fancy talk,” she grunted, laying her crossed arms atop the bar.  “He hit on Talia, the barmaid.  Got a little handsy with her when she said to back off.  Men who don’t listen need a reminder that women are not merely there for their pleasure.  So I had to pound that lesson home.”

“Looks like your lesson was effective.”

“I don’t do things by halves,” she commented after a long draw on her tankard.  When she thumped it down on the table, it was empty.

Jianbe motioned to the barmaid to refill the drink.

“I didn’t accept your offer, old man,” the woman said.

“But you will.  It’s proper etiquette, after all, when discussing business.”

She snorted, nodding to the girl who put a fresh tankard in front of her.  “Business, he says,” she said to the girl, who gave her a smile and little wink.  “What sort of business would you have with me, old man?”

“First of all, let’s get on a first name basis,” he suggested, exchanging his own tankard with a  few coins.  He ignored Lark’s protest that he didn’t provide drinks for him or Tram.  Tram had to pay for a round for the two of them.  Jianbe continued with the woman.  “Call me Jianbe.”

“You’re one of those Plansier, aren’t you?  The ears,” she said.  “You and the little runt at the end.”

“Mhm.  Yes, we are.”

“You’re a little far north for a Plansier,” she mentioned.  She leaned forward to peer around Jianbe and stare at Lark.  “And a Dynar?”  For the first time, she showed an emotion.  She looked awed and stared openly.  “I’ve never seen a Dynar before.”

“Lark and Tram,” Jianbe said, by way of introduction.

“How’d a Dynar get here?  You bring your slave around with you when you travel?”

“I’m not a slave!” Lark exclaimed, his anger flaring.

“Hush, boy,” Jianbe growled at him.  Years of conditioning shut Lark up, but he seethed in his seat, his face red.  Jianbe turned back to the woman.  “You have a name?”

“I do.  Buy me another drink and you might get it.  What’s your business?”

“I need to hire a guide.  A guard.  Someone strong and good with a sword to protect us on our quest.”

“Easy enough job?” she asked.

Jianbe shrugged.  “It might be.  It might not be.”

“Where you headed?”

“South.  The Druid lands.”

Her eyebrows raised.  “That’s a dangerous trip, old man.  I don’t think you could afford me.”

“You’d be surprised what I can afford.”

“What takes you to the lands of the Druids?  Something important.  Those beings would kill you as soon as look at you.”

“Things not pertinent to discuss in mixed company,” he replied, gesturing to the other rough looking characters in the tavern.

“Understood.”  She ignored him for a few minutes, concentrating instead on her ale.  Lark and Tram waited silently on the other side of Jianbe.  Lark still stewed over the slave comment.  “It’ll cost you, old one.”

“That’s fine.  We’ll give you anything you deem fair now.  More when we finish the job.”

“You’re paying for my food and lodging, too.  And I’m not some frail little girl that eats dainty, you know.”

“Not with that muscle,” Jianbe said.  “Deal then?”

“Deal.”