To all my Canadian friends and family...Happy Thanksgiving!!! To everyone else, happy...ah...Monday I guess.
I'm really happy to be part of the blog tour for Jillian Watt's first novel, Become. Again, it's not what I usually post about, her book is Contemporary Fantasy - New Adult, but she's from my home tome...ok she moved to my home tome. The point is I'm happy and honoured to have Jillian here to give us a look at a scene that was cut out of her novel. (And check out the great contest) ((and for those in Thunder Bay a great opportunity to party))
I would like to express my gratitude to Lorne for hosting me today. It is truly an honour to be a part of your blog, sir. Thankee!
Today, I have a scene that was cut from Become. Why was it cut? Well, while I loved this and felt it contributed to Abbie's assumed heritage, it was kind of unnecessary. The olichon culture is a non-gifting one. So while a horse wouldn't totally be seen as out of line, Echovin has many horses in its stables and even I didn't understand why they would go to extra lengths to procure the "Caragee." Also, the Beloved were once called, for the longest time, the "High Guard." That lingo is still in play for this piece. I changed it because it seemed to be commonly used terminology throughout several fantasy books, and I wanted something new and different (while being incredibly similar!). Enjoy the unedited silliness!
“What’s taking them so long?” Kai had a way of bringing Abbie back to the present like no one else.
“Wait, I see them.”
By the time Sana had pointed out the two shapes emerging from the woods, it was apparent to everyone that Meren and Seth were approaching.
Seth was up on his chestnut palfrey, Idyll, a mount that Meren had pointed out during her lessons. Idyll, a mare, and Gild, Seth’s destrier, were good with experienced riders only. It was just as well; they were off-limits to everyone except the water guardian, as was the case with every other animal chosen by the High Guard. She had offered the chestnut an apple, but she was every bit as closed-off as her owner and refused to take the treat from Abbie’s hand.
Abbie had acquainted herself with most of the horses in the stable, giving nose rubs, apples, and a brush down whenever she could. It was soothing to take care of them, to just talk about silly things and get an appreciative whicker in response. Though sentries kept an eye on her from remote locations, this was one of the few things that Abbie didn’t need a babysitter for. She took advantage of the opportunity to leave the temple whenever she could. So, when Meren trotted ahead of Seth riding a horse she didn’t recognize, she was a little confused.
The horse was magnificent. At first, she thought it was a Clydesdale, but the more she looked at it, the surer Abbie became that she had never seen this breed before. It had many features of a Clydesdale, with the large feathered hooves and a similar build, but it was smaller, more refined, without losing height. Piebald in colour, that alone would have been enough to set it apart from every other horse in the stable, but it was the creature’s hair that gave it a whimsical appearance; the mane flowed down past the animal’s chest, nearly to the forelock, and the tail brushed the ground.
Meren came to a stop in front of her and slid down from the saddle. He gave the animal a pat. “What do you think?”
“I’ve never seen a horse like this.”
“It’s called an Ydaelin Caragee – they’re not common to this region, but are known for their calm and affectionate nature. This guy’s name is Ebonlae.” Meren brought the stallion closer, so that Abbie could touch him.
“He’s beautiful.” Abbie stretched out a hand to pet his velvety nose, and Ebonlae leaned into her touch. Seth had pulled up by then, holding something off to the side and away from view.
“He’s yours if it would please you.”
Abbie’s eyes widened. “Mine? Really?”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He handed her the reigns. “Go on, give him a try.”
Kai made a half-hearted attempt at derision, but Abbie didn’t hear him; she was so caught up with admiring Ebonlae, running her hands over his sleek coat and letting him nuzzle her hair, so amazed that she could call such a creature her own, that she didn’t care. She hoisted herself onto his back, something that had taken nearly two months for her to do by herself, and started him out at a walk around the main yard. She moved him up to a trot, and adjusted to his easy gait. Abbie couldn’t remember the last time she had been so irrationally, stupidly happy, and never wanted this feeling to go away
“If Abbie wants to survive, she must Become . . . .
After a near-death experience, Abbie Thomas finds herself at the mercy of the olichon–a human-like species that has, until recently, remained hidden from the rest of the world.
