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I didn't want to post anything until I was certain I was ready, but I have completed the next chapter of "The Rat and the Dragon" on time! There were a lot more changes needed than I originally thought, so I sort of had to start over and I didn't know if I could. For once, the two spoke in harmony and *poof* there were words. Channels like that are nice. If only I could get that from Kupper. Friend, where have you gone? Probably busy blowing shit up.... Anyway, that's right, there's a chapter for tomorrow!
Remember how I said their hate is the most important statement of the story?
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Stepping back once more, Cylthan could feel the heat of Roan’s body behind her. She didn’t want to admit it felt like a relief. If anything, it infuriated her that he was the safest one to have at her back right now. Glaring over her shoulder, she bared a sharp tooth at him. “I hate you.”
She definitely saw the grin that came and went while he tried to hold his concentration. “Prove it. I’ll believe it if I’m dead by the end of this.”
****
They say that a lot.
As for next week on Dragon Tamers. Is it finally the show down between the young and old? Or perhaps Roscrow can talk his way out of a fight? No, of course not. The Q'Hu wouldn't know civility if it came up and shook their hand... right?
I'm afraid civility will have to slap Roan with both hands before he comes around....
You would think a small log cabin surrounded by pastures, trees and snow capped mountains with no internet or cell signal would be so relaxing that you could get some writing done... but add in kids, dogs, and broken plumbing, and let's just say, I've had to take a long walk through a field of yellow grass and lingering patches of snow to find some peace and quiet, and just one bar on my phone to send this, with both of my dogs faithfully following. Man, I love dogs. What I don't love is my ADHD brain that forgot to set up my next chapter like I should have. But, I did save it on Inkitt so I can copy/paste into SOL's text box. I do try to keep my word, but like I tell my kids, unless I promise, it's only a plan and plans can change. You know, like having that next chapter for The Rat and the dragon completed....
As for Dragon Tamers, just know, every time Roscrow's Glimmer detectors break, that's me. YOU SHALL LOOK UPON THE LIGHT OF GODS, WANNABE! He will begin making comments about some god being after him, and everyone will tell him he's crazy. He talks in my head, I talk in his head, so we're both nuts in our respective worlds! Also, this chapter was going to be longer, but I decided to move that conversation to the train ride so they have something to talk about that's more dynamic and seminal rather than the bit of bickering between S're and Roscrow over Jasper's involvement that was already written. The two men will have their moment to settle the score soon enough. So, it's a short chapter.
I hope you all enjoy. I'm going to disappear back into the wilds of Utah before I have to return the concrete hellscape.
Just to reassure (and for any who missed it), Chapter 12 of "The Rat and the Dragon" will be posted tomorrow! I hope you guys like it. If, by chance, you don't see it up on the wall by end of day (never know how long the processing takes), definitely check directly with the story. It has happened once before that the chapter was posted, but I did not receive an email to confirm it, nor did it show up on the homepage or anywhere other than directly in story that the chapter had been posted. I heard that was an issue some other authors had experienced, as well. Hopefully, that won't be an issue, and it'll all be up and ready for you folks.
It will be officially spring break in just a few more hours, and I will not be anywhere near my computer for the rest of the week. I'll figure out the automated posting feature and have the next chapter of "The Dragon Tamers" ready to be queued for Friday in case I'm not back in time. Guess I'll go to alternating weeks for the time being.
Every time my editor gets to another chapter of "In the Enemy's Territory," the elves all vanish, and Roscrow is aggressively cursing in the corner trying to fend off the werewolves with a stick. (Saipaki, you're supposed to throw the stick!) Also, the editing process takes up what little time I have for writing. I had a real strong run there, everything was going so smoothly, all the elves were sharing so nice, and then I got blindsided by a drama llama, and there's genuinely nothing I hate more than drama. I get enough of it inside my own skull, thanks. I'm pretty good at managing my own mental illnesses, but mix in someone else's much less multiples, and my grip is not that strong. At least those few months of quiet I did have got me as far as it did, so now it's just "fill in the blanks." You'd think that would be easy... but that's the whole reason there were any blanks to begin with. What does go there? The tug-o-war in my head between the two species is exhausting and time-consuming, but I'm slowly getting better at... well, I guess compartmentalizing the wolves when they are not in use. Like throwing treats into their kennels and closing them in while they're distracted. If my editor takes more than a couple of days, that's usually a big enough window to air things out and at least get Cylthan to talk. Roscrow just... does what he wants. (I wonder what they call it when your mental illness is aware of you? Personally, I call it Roscrow, but I'm sure there's a more scientific name.)
If, by chance, I get another good chunk of chapters ready to go, I'll return to weekly posting. If not, I will stick with this alternating thing for a bit. Real life is not as much fun as fantasy life. Although, I dunno if I'd want to be in Cylthan and Roan's spot right now....
I did it! I finished the next chapter of "The Rat and the Dragon!" I will be posting it on Saturday.
The biggest delay on this was that it started out how Roan wanted. Roan wanted to have his way with his prize. Well, he's not back yet from wherever my voices go when they aren't talking to me, and Cylthan didn't like that direction. Huh, I wonder why. So, I had to scrap the scene as it was going and return to the original path it had been on in the previous rough draft. In fact, Cylthan was so intent with getting on with the story that we've shortened the fluff from previous just to get straight to the action.
--“I don’t know who they are,” Cylthan whispered shakily, “but I don’t think they’re friends.”
Roan shook his head a little in agreement. “No. Definitely not.”--
They might be in a little bit of trouble....
Since I changed directions, Chapter 13 just needs a rearranging of sequences and some details adjusted, but it should be ready before my kids go on spring break. Hope you guys are excited.
If anyone out there is worried I will lose my way on this novel, please be at ease. It's already done. Not in a readable form, obviously, but I have the two climaxes written out, and the entire outline with all the major plot points along the way. It all fits, it all works, and I haven't noticed any plot holes, but I have to get to the details to really know for sure. I'm not even this clear with Dragon Tamers. There's still a few spots I'm uncertain about and am hoping work themselves out as I get closer to them.
Having finished chapters so far in advance but part of chapters in between is torture! Truly. It kills me because I just stare at them wistfully, wishing all the words in between could just magic onto the screen. If I could just, I dunno, sneeze and all the droplets were the words instead of the plague! I have this character in Dragon Tamers that I can't wait to introduce to you guys. He is messed up on every level. I hope you hate his guts. He has no redemption arc. He is forever fucked in the head. But, boy, is he fun to write. Not all heroes wear capes, and not all allies are friends. He does what he does for his own entertainment and benefit and no one else. When the other Q'Hu say "touched by the Q'Ra," they mean him. Just so happens, he wants the same thing as our good guys. That's good for them. Enjoy this little slice about one of the most dangerous men on the planet.
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“What’s going… on…? Oh my god,” she breathed the last part in horror at the sight before her.
An enormous Q’Hu did indeed stand there, towering over the guards with the most sinister grin that made every hair stand on her body. There really wasn’t much about him that made him any different than a Q’Ra, down the dull yellow glow as his dark gaze swept the growing crowd. His ghastly face was marred by centuries of fights for dominance and countless victims.
Besides being an utterly terrifying sight to behold, it was the young female Spindle clutched in his vicelike grip around her head, exhausted and barely moving, that made S’re gasp. The oozing darkness of the broken Bond coiled about them both, but the dragon had no strength left to fight. Its claws had proven useless; many oozing marks already etched into his forearm with innumerable more puckered scars beneath them like a written history of this same deed over the centuries. The Q’Hu, however, seemed entirely unfazed by any of it.
His manic gaze snapped to her like lasers. Knowing that they would, she had kept her eyes on the Spindle with an aching sadness. The Q’Hu’s grin grew devilishly, showing yellowed teeth, dulled only a little over his extensive lifetime, a few missing entirely.
Holding up the nearly limp dragon, his dark, deep, seductive drawl carried over the discord of the guards and made her skin crawl. “Why hello there, dovlin. I have need of your services.”
Feeling the blood drain from her face when he stepped towards her, she gulped and quickly retreated a few steps. The guards rushed at him to keep them separate, shouting more and pointing their weapons at him, but none of them wanted to get close. Stopping, his grin fell into a cold scowl at the gathered men.
“Like a bunch of Rattlers,” he drawled low and slow before suddenly feinting at the group. “Boo!” It made him giggle in wicked glee when the soldiers nearly tripped on each other trying to back away.
“Jack Jackal!” called Captain Jonathan with a steadiness that belied his unease. “By order of the Speakers, you have hereby been banned from entering the mountain main of Academy. You are not permitted use of the Tamer.”
His intense gaze crushed her despite the distance. She did not need to look into his mad eyes to know he was well aware she was drawn to them like Drawgs are drawn to gunshots.
“Why don’t you let her make that choice?” Again, he held up the defeated dragon, pouting sweetly with a tone like dark honey. “Just a moment alone, dovlin. I promise I can be a good boy. Just– for– you.”
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