Here’s a little bit from my newly published science fantasy, THE WOLVES OF PORT NOVO. The “scaletail” the warden is talking about is Loach, one of the merfolk.

Kill the Scaletail?

excerpt from THE WOLVES OF PORT NOVO
by Marian Allen

So we set off again — led, followed, and flanked by Aunt Isabella’s and Uncle Gregory’s churchwardens. We came to the road and turned east.

“I’d say you just had a narrow escape,” one of the wardens said.

“Would you?” said Muriel, as if she disagreed.

“I wouldn’t want to be off in the woods with Uncle Phineas.”

“Would you rather cross the Crescent Desert with supplies packed by his order?”

Loach jerked as if he’d been slapped. “The desert?”

I stretched over and patted his arm. “Don’t worry, dear. I’ve crossed deserts before. We can do it.”

“We could kill the scaletail for you before you start across,” the first warden said kindly. “Then you’ll each have a pony.”

“You are speaking to a true priest of Micah,” I said sharply. “A true priest isn’t as discriminating about who ‘deserves’ to live as some I’ve met recently.”

“All right, Auntie. Sorry.”

The wardens began giving me sideways looks. They were thinking. I hoped it didn’t do them any harm.

~*~

Buy THE WOLVES OF PORT NOVO

in print or for Kindle from Amazon, or from your friendly neighborhood indie bookstore using the ISBN #1942166605.

A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Someone says something appalling, meaning it kindly.

MA