The
author of "Tales of Frewyn" is here to share a excerpt of her book with
us on her Blog Tour today. I recently reviewed her other book
"The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu", and enjoyed it.
Excerpt:
The Party Straw
While the chief of the keep was in raptures over their new prince, Kai
Linaa was searching for a manner in which to express her artist
prowess in the way of a celebration commemorating the birth of a new
Brennin. She was sensible of Alasdair’s moderate taste with regard to
ceremony and would therefore contrive to keep any commemoration on his
family’s account a small one, but in her questioning Martje on the use
of the large kitchen, she had discovered that this very day was
Shayne’s birthday.
“Aye, I’m doin’ well by my man,” Martje proudly professed. “Makin’ him a cake and a nice dinner and all.”
A birthday party was a prospect Kai Linaa could not look upon with
ill-favour, for there was everything to be enjoyed in celebrating a
birthday: gifts must be procured and wrapped in fine paper, a theme must
be chosen for the celebration itself, accoutrements and ornaments must
be made, and there was everything to give Kai Linaa delight in the
business. Employing her abilities to titivate the kitchen and make it a
haven for festivity became her first object.
She requested that she be permitted to make the celebration on both a
accounts a joint one, and Martje enjoying the office of baker wherever
she had opportunity to do so thought the scheme more than advisable.
She set to work on creating something for everyone to eat while Kai
Linaa fluttered away in search of gold paper and fasteners. Party hats
must be constructed, decorations must be strewn, and while everyone was
otherwise engaged with cooing over the newborn child, she became busy
with putting her craftsmanship to use. In a short while, she had made
enough curled ribbons and hats for everyone expected at the party,
fashioned streamers and animal-shaped garnishings on Dorrin’s account,
and brought every item to the kitchen to begin the room’s decoration.
She had just left the kitchen, however, in quest of string with which
to tie up the paper patterns along the windows when the Den Asaan
entered the oven room to inspect his cake in the larder. He went to the
storeroom, ogled his prize for a moment in rapacious reflection, and
was to enter the training yard when the site of a strange article he
had never before seen stopped him: a violet straw fashioned in the
shape of a butterfly lay aside on the table. There was a small pile of
similar items beside the object, but this one, larger and better made
than the rest, seemed to be beckoning his attention. He regarded it
with circumspection at first, remarking its pleasant shape and
obnoxious colours, and was inclined to leave it alone but something in
the craftsmen ship drew him to scrutinize it further. The likeness of
the butterfly was well-contrived, the straw did not lose its use from
being bent in various directions, and upon the whole there seemed to be
great care taken in the item’s creation. He could not wonder at who
had made it, as no one else in the world but Kai Linaa would think to
make everything adorable and vibrant, but as he examined it, he found
himself drawing closer to it quite against his will. It was there on
the table mocking his sensibilities with its disgusting shape and
offensive colour, lying still as though it were begging to be taken up
and coddled for its attractiveness. A hand unconsciously reached out to
touch it but was instantly retracted. He must not venture to hold
something so charming. A ruthless Den Asaan should never be mistaken as
one who is easily charmed, but beauty in any form would have its way
and must be admired. It lay there, its colourful and motionless
existence paining him; such a well-crafted item going unnoticed but by
him. This was not to be endured; attention must be paid. Lift me, it called to him, lift me and caress me.
And lift it he did.
“That one was made for you, Den Asaan,” said Kai Linaa as she entered
the kitchen from the main hall. She had seen the entire performance of
feigning neglect from her place at the doorway and had waited until the
giant had succumbed to catch the end of the spectacle.
Rautu instantly denied all claim to the object. He thought to toss it
onto the pile of decorations but soon found himself unable to part with
it. He twirled momentarily between his fingers to observe the full
shape it made in the bending of the light. It was exceptionally
made, and he now considered it a shame to use it and waste its
magnificence when it could otherwise remain untouched.
“I know you like your party straw, Den Asaan,” Kai Linaa giggled into
her hands, watching the giant marvel at so small a thing.
He ignored her laughter and went to the commons to place the artwork
in the commons where it should be otherwise safe from others and he
would be spared the derision of his admiration when the commander
entered the kitchen in time to see the sense of wonderment prevailing
Kai Linaa’s countenance.
“I am aware that many consider him to be a ruthless beast incapable of
deep considerations or profound feelings,” the commander said to Kai
Linaa, “but any who should accuse him of such could not be more
mistaken. He is a great admirer of ability in any form it might take,
should it express itself on the battlefield or in the intricacies of a
well-made straw. It is all art to him, and he must appreciate it
wherever it is to be found.” The commander smiled at her mate’s
thoughtful consideration of the item, watching him hold it up to the
sunlight and twirling it about as he walked through the yard with a slow
gait and mesmerized expression.
Kai Linaa said nothing of the event but accepted it as the highest
compliment accorded: that something she had made to be a trivial
travesty of the Den Asaan’s harsh sensibilities should have impressed
him so much.
An amazing story! Definitely a keeper.
A must read. A good page turner.
A enjoyable read. An average book.
A book that has flaws and is hard to finish.
Terrible and couldn't finish it.
