~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, hello. I just
came by to feed Lucy, and put my feet up for a little while. I dinnae realize I had company. Oh, please
dinnae give me that look. I’m only jestin’.
Of course I know YOU are always there, even when you’re being so quiet I
think you’ve abandoned me.
No, I’m not going to be more careful! Not because I’m being
careless, but because I am already being as careful as I can be. Elinor worries far too much. If she would
only listen for a moment, she’d know that I am fully ready, willing, and
capable of teaching Will some of more. . . mystical
lessons. After all, she is the one who
taught them to me, isn’t she? So why is it not right that I teach Will? She trusts him as well as she trusts me, or
she would not have started the lessons to begin with.
There, now, Lucy.
Some nice turnip shoots for you.
My goodness, you certainly eat a lot for a wee mouse.
Aye, I’m paying attention. I told you, I came in to feed
Lucy. She cannae very well feed herself.
What did you want to tell me?
Me?
But I’m simply Laurel. I’m not anyone’s savior, especially
his! He’s a nobleman, and I’m . . . just Laurel May McCary, maid servant to the
house of Stonehaven. I dinnae have the power to put anyone onto their proper
journey. You must be daft.
Nio forgive me. Of
course I didn’t mean. . . I know you are not. . .but me? I know we share
lessons but. . . could you mean that I should
be teaching him the mystical lessons?
Elinor will never approve.
You have?
She already knows?
Which charm would you have me cast then? And what shall you
ask me to give in tribute for your blessing?
Lucy? My little. . .
So mote it be, Mother.
If you’d like to know what the task that was given to Laurel
by “Mother”, you’ll need to read By Right
of Blood. Check it out in the
Amazon's Kindle store, and on Smashwords.com.
Thank you for reading,
Lorrieann
By
Right of Blood
By Lorrieann
Russell
Ebook ISBN:
9781452421841
Paperback
ISBN: 9780615645704
Editor:
Jesse V Coffey
Cover
and artwork: Lorrieann Russell
Cover
Synopsis:
William
Fylbrigge is ill prepared to claim what is his, by right of blood, and his
place among the powerful clan he has been born into. His older brother Thomas
doesn’t want to share what he thinks is rightfully his, secretly arranging to
have the young lad killed in a convenient “accident.” William could lose
everything, including his life.
Sean Wilbrun, the son of a common groomsman, transcends the barriers of his class and station when he is elevated to the esteemed ranks of guard for Lord Edward, Duke of Stonehaven. His first assignment, however, is not to wield a sword to protect his duke, but instead to attend to the newly arrived foster son.
William and Sean soon form an unlikely duo and a lasting bond as together they face Thomas’ accusations of murder and treason.
Sean Wilbrun, the son of a common groomsman, transcends the barriers of his class and station when he is elevated to the esteemed ranks of guard for Lord Edward, Duke of Stonehaven. His first assignment, however, is not to wield a sword to protect his duke, but instead to attend to the newly arrived foster son.
William and Sean soon form an unlikely duo and a lasting bond as together they face Thomas’ accusations of murder and treason.
Short
Synopsis
William
Fylbrigge is ill prepared to claim what is his by right of blood, and his place
among the powerful clan he has been born into. His older brother Thomas doesn't
want to share what he thinks is rightfully his, secretly arranging to have the
young lad killed in a convenient "accident." William could lose
everything, including his life.
Author
photo:
Author
Bio:
Lorrieann
Russell has written three books (so far) chronicling the life and times of
William Fylbrigge: By Right of Blood,
My Brother’s Keeper, and In the Wake of Ashes. She has also published several short stories,
and has been a featured guest on Edin Road Radio. She is an accomplished artist, illustrator,
photographer and designer. A native New
Englander, she spends much of her time in the mountains of New Hampshire, hiking
and taking pictures of the landscape.
Author Contact and Websites
Home
page: http://lorrieannrussell.wordpress.com/
Excerpt:
He leaned against the stall, scooping up
a piece of hay to chew on, noticing a slight movement near the wall. He dropped
down, sitting cross-legged with his back to the pile.
“Must have been some ride you had. I
know the Causey Mounth road
from Aberdoir can be quite a fright along the cliffs,” he said casually and
paused to listen. The rustling stopped. “The ruts are so close to the edge, if
the horse makes one bad step, och! ‘Tis fearsome. Is that what’s frightened
you, lad? The road?” He risked a glance over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t blame
you if it did. I surely don’t like riding Causey Mounth – especially after it’s
rained like it has.”
Still no reply.
Frustrated, Sean idly scanned the barn
until he spied a basket of early apples not far from where he was sitting. “You
don’t mind if I do m’ chores? I need t’ feed the horses, you see.” He stood and
scooped up a couple of apples and headed to the first stall occupied by an
animal. “This is Hawk. He’s a yearling. Not quite broken yet but he’ll be a
fine mount one day.” He pulled a sharp dirk from his belt and sliced one apple
in half, holding one half flat-palmed for the horse. “I’m hoping he’ll be mine.
He suits me.” Another glance over his shoulder and he caught sight of a pair of
wide green eyes peeking through the straw. There
you are. Papa’s right, you do have big eyes. He moved to the next stall.
“This one is Ceres. No one has ridden
him yet. He’s full of fire, this one.” He stroked the horse’s nose, then
offered the other half of the apple. “Do you like horses?”
The straw moved slightly and Sean could
see an entire face now. Small and staring, the boy looked no more than eight
years old. I thought Edward said he was
twelve?
Sean gave him a smile in greeting, then
turned his attention back to the horse. “There’re more to feed; would you like
to help?”
The boy did not answer but Sean saw him
peek out a little more, looking toward the other stalls. He sliced another
apple and moved down. “Hello, Gallant, are you hungry? Aye, I see you are.
There’s plenty … there you are.”
A moment later, Sean felt someone
standing close behind him. He did not turn but kept to his task of feeding the
horses. When he’d run out of apples with two horses left to feed, he turned to
reach into the basket for more. Instead, he found the lad holding out an apple
with one hand. Sean smiled and took it from him, slicing it in half. “Thank
you.”
The boy nodded, then stood back, half
concealing himself behind a post. Sean fed one half of the apple to the horse
in the stall, then held out the other half toward William. “Star may like this
one.”
William stared at the apple, then up to
Sean, then back to the apple.
“Go on, she won’t hurt you. Just hold it
like this, with your palm flat.”
William took it and held it to the filly
in the stall he stood next to. She nickered and chomped it down, shaking her
mane in gratitude. Sean saw William’s eyes widen and the trace of a smile cross
his face. He also noticed something else – ghastly purple marks encircling his
fragile looking wrists. He quickly averted his sight, so as not to startle the
lad. He’s been bound! Good God. What am I
dealing with here?
“She likes it,” William whispered.
Sean forced a smile, somewhat shaken by
the dark hollows under William’s eyes when the lad turned to look at him.
“Would you like to give her another one?” he asked, making an effort to keep
his tone as gentle as possible.
Just as William was about to answer,
there came voices from outside. It was Laurel speaking to Arthur. William spun
on his heel and, without warning, dove back into the hay.
“Lad … wait, there’s nothing to …” Sean
stopped and gasped at the sight before him. He hadn’t seen the boy’s back
before now and he stopped, astonished. The shirt was flayed open in
crimson-stained shreds, the flesh beneath caked in dried blood. He stood for a
moment, not finding anything to say to the boy but knowing something needed to
be done. Sean turned and headed toward the door. He’d have to let Edward know
what he’d seen, and to let him know that he’d have to wait a while longer to
meet his new foster son.
Reviews
Author Lorrieann Russell has used great imagination and artistic creativity
in By Right of Blood. Her talent
shines through the characters she has so lovingly created and this talent
spills over into the world of the reader, allowing them to walk with the
characters through the streets of the market, to the cliffs above the ocean.
Feel their fear as they run through the woods, and into the meadows escaping
hunters and those that would do them harm, only to prevail in the end.
Experience their happiness and their sorrows, as they fight to make their mark
in the world surrounding them.
I
give By Right of Blood five stars
*****
* *
*
A real page turner, this novel captures you
from beginning to end. You seem to become part of the adventure as you join the
characters on their journey. Russell's descriptions of places and characters
make it easy to picture these things as you read. I absolutely loved this novel
and look forward to anymore work by this wonderful and talented author. If you
have not read By Right of Blood by
Lorrieann Russell, I strongly suggest you pick up a copy. This book is full of
drama, action, romance. All the things that are needed to make a wonderful work
of Fiction for readers to enjoy. An excellent novel. I won't hesitate to read
anything with Lorrieann Russell on the cover.
J. M. Barfield
Reader review
***
There
is one essential element that stories must have in order for me to be
fascinated. They must have a conflict. I can honestly say that Lorrieann has
succeeded here. The conflict was immediate. Right from the beginning in
the first two pages I knew I was going to read all the way to the end. By the
time 10 pages had passed, I was emotionally bonded to the characters. When you
can step into a story and consider someone your brother or sister, the author
has done their job. I would recommend this book to anyone high school and
above.
Linda Horne
, edited by Barbara Cardy. This sizzling brand-new short was inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's available on Amazon.co.uk, too, but here in the U.S. the Kindle price is only $1.38! 
