This is an excerpt from this year’s NaNoWriMo novel, which is still a WiP. It doesn’t have a real title yet (the Word doc is called “T&A” for Ta’elsin and Arrek, the main characters) but I gave it a working title of Betrayal for NaNo and Wattpad purposes. This excerpt follows from last week, although I’ve skipped a couple lines of dialogue. (The prologue is available on Wattpad if you’d like some background information.)
(This is a very rough first draft and may or may not have been creatively edited to fit the 10 sentence limit.)
Berrebren is the first speaker.
“What has gotten into you? You were more than eager to come along on this trip when we started out.”
“I don’t know, I just…” Ta’elsin looked at the walls again and shuddered, plagued by something that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Berrebren watched him for a moment, frowning slightly. “You don’t remember this place, do you?”
“I don’t… I don’t know. I think I should but…”
“It’s been thirteen years – I’m sure it looked different to you then.”
Thirteen years. Ta’elsin’s mind shied away from the events of thirteen years ago but he nodded: thirteen years ago Sagyl had carried him away from a place of pain and terror. It had taken over a year for the nightmares to end and Ta’elsin did not want them to start again.
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looks like he’s about to open a can of worms 😦
It’s going to get worse (for Ta’elsin) before it gets better…
This doesn’t sound as if it is going to be pleasant. I’m betting he suppressed those memories for a reason. Great snippet.
Thanks! And, yes… things were… unpleasant for him as a child.
I don’t think it was such a good idea to come back.
Ta’elsin didn’t know what he was getting into. (Ta’elsin spends a lot of time not knowing what he’s getting into, but he didn’t know this was the city that he was rescued from as a child.)
dun dun dun…great snippet this week, can’t wait to read more.
Thanks! I’m glad it’s catching your interest.
Oh, poor guy. Paula, you create the most sympathetic characters! I just want to give him a hug and a beer. 🙂
Thanks, Sarah! I think that characters are my favorite part of writing.
He suppressed those memories, didn’t he? This can’t be good.
It’s not good. Of course, this being a rough draft, it’ll get worse in the rewrite.
Very intriguing! Can’t wait for more!
Thanks!
Oh, that sounds bad. Great snippet. P.T. 🙂
Thanks, Siobhan!
(And I’m not sure why it made me moderate your comment. That’s weird. Usually it lets regular posters through.)
So curious! Something bad must have happened here.
The answer is in the prologue…
Sounds ominous. I like the way you give just a hint of his background.
Thanks, Gem! The background is in the prologue.
Nice teaser … I’m hooked and want to know more about the “events”, the terror and his nightmares. Great snippet!
Thanks! Glad I’ve hooked you!
Wow–nice snippet–I can feel his terror.
Thanks!