Please remember that this is a work in progress and drafts have a habit of changing drastically from inception to finished book.
It's getting more challenging to find snippets that don't give away too much of the plot, but here's one I hope will tantalize.
From Thunderlord Chapter 16
After a few days of giving Shayla knitting lessons, much to
her mother’s relief, Alayna began attending the women’s musical gatherings.
They were fewer, for winter was fast approaching, and those who had come to
Castle Scathfell for the lord’s wedding must hurry to arrive home before snows
closed the passes. Much of the time, the gathering consisted of Alayna,
Marianna, and Shayla. Jerana sat in a
corner with her eyes closed, one hand over her chest, but did not sing or play.
Dimitra played the flute and rryl,
although she claimed to have no voice for song.
Shayla begged Alayna to teach them new songs. At first,
Alayna had not the heart to sing, or to sing anything but the saddest laments,
but after several requests, she made an effort for the sake of her new friend.
They sang rounds, and “A Summer’s Lass” and several versions of “Fra’ Domenic’s
Pockets,” which had them all laughing uproariously. Alayna wiped her eyes and
realized how long it had been since she’d laughed.
“Very good! So charming!” Dom Nevin applauded from where he stood inside the opened door. He
strode to Alayna, took up her hand, and brought it to his lips. “My dear, I had
no idea you were such a songbird.”
Alayna pulled her hand away in a manner that was, if not
outright rude, decidedly unencouraging. What ailed the man, to intrude upon a
women’s gathering without invitation. Or had someone asked him? She glanced in
Dimitra’s direction and caught the glimmer of a smile.
She told him I was
feeling better. She encouraged him!
“Pardon me for speaking frankly, but this is not a public
performance. We sing for one another
here, for our own amusement, nothing more.” The thought crossed her mind to
demand that he offer a song in penance for having eavesdropped, but he might
take that as a flirtation. “I beg you to leave us so that we may continue.”
“Oh!” He made a careless gesture. “It was never my intention
to embarrass anyone, if that’s what you mean. Although I hardly know why you
are so modest about your singing. It was a delight to hear your song.”
It was not meant for
you! With an effort, Alayna held her tongue.
“Why, your voice would grace any gathering, even that of
Lord Scathfell, if I do say so myself. Whatever man marries you will have no
cause to hire a singing-woman when his own wife is far superior.”
Alayna’s cheeks grew hot, for her own kinswoman, Aliciane
Rockraven, had first gone to Aldaran as singing-woman and later became that
lord’s barrangana, even while his
wife was alive.
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