Please welcome my guest (and incredible editor) Marie Medina to my blog! She's sharing a bit from her most recent Valladora Tales book,
Owen and the Beast.
Valladora Tales is a series of stand-alone stories set in Valladora. My
latest tale, Owen and the Beast, is now available.
As the title suggests, this story is a retelling of the fairy tale of Beauty
and the Beast, but it has a few twists in it.
Seeking to ease his loneliness, Owen sets out to meet his last remaining
relative, someone he never knew because of an old family scandal. He’s trying
to find his way in life, his path uncertain and his heart having been broken
more than once.
Suffering under a demonic curse that can never be lifted, Edmund hides away
in Erimooor Lodge so he doesn’t have to deal with the pity and fear his
appearance inspires. Though many in the nearby village accept him as he is, he
knows not everyone will have that ability to tolerate his animal-like
appearance.
Owen makes his living as a storyteller, enthralling others with fantastical
tales. Little does he know that the gods have something amazing planned for him
when he meets the real “Beast of Erimoor Lodge” and finds out how wrong all the
old legends are.
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Excerpt:
Owen hoisted himself up onto the boulder and pulled
his boot off, crying out at the unexpectedly sharp pain. He stared down at his
rapidly swelling ankle. Cursing, he fumbled for his bag, which had gone flying
when he’d caught his foot in a rut in the road and been thrown forward. He’d
actually done more damage pulling his foot out of the rut, and that pissed him
off. He looked down the road and tried to guess how far away he was from his
aunt’s village. He thought it had to be at least five or six more miles, but he
didn’t really know. There was supposed to be an inn coming up soon, but he
didn’t know its exact location either. What he did know, however, was that he
didn’t see anyone coming from either direction on the road.
He barely managed to drag his bag over without
falling off the boulder. He dug around in the deep, overstuffed bag, hoping to
find something to wrap his ankle with, perhaps even brace it. Even though he’d
known he didn’t have anything, he still felt dejected when he cinched up the
drawstring and dropped his bag back to the ground. Dirt flew up, making him
cough, and he looked up to the sky. It had been so dry lately he’d been praying
for rain, but now he hoped it held off since he might get stuck in it. Fluffy
clouds floated to his left, but the clouds to his right were darker. He looked
around to find some shelter, but he couldn’t see any. Only open fields lined
this part of the highway.
Owen sighed and wiggled his ankle, cringing at the
pain. He could always rip the hem off one of his shirts to bind it, but walking
any distance would only make things worse. His aunt would know just what to do,
but she was miles away. Should he keep it still or move it? Should he elevate
it? Questions raced through his mind as he heard hooves beating in the
distance. He jerked his head up and began waving frantically as soon as the
horse became visible over the ridge.
A man about his age rode up on an enormous black
stallion. He made the horse stop and jumped down right away. The enormous
animal seemed formidable, but it stood calmly and looked on as its master
rushed over to Owen. The man actually appeared much younger up close, a huge
grin on his face as he pushed his messy brown hair out of his eyes.
“Hi! You look like you need some help!” the man
said, still grinning.
Owen had never seen anyone express concern so
happily. He shifted on the boulder and said, “Yeah. I sprained my ankle, and I’m
still miles from my destination.”
“Where are you heading?” he asked.
“The next village. The small one by the mountains
in Lady Christobel’s dominion. My aunt lives there.”
“Oh. That’s many miles away still. You’d never have
made it by dark even if you hadn’t hurt yourself. There is a little inn about
four miles up, but my home is much closer. I live in the lodge just over this
next hill, off in the woods.”
“I’d appreciate it, but I don’t want to impose.” He
straightened. “I’m Owen.”
The man laughed. “Sorry. My master would roll his
eyes at me and my thoughtlessness. I’m Lane. Nice to meet you, despite the
circumstances.”
“Your master? You’re a servant?”
“Yes, sort of.”
“You mentioned a lodge. A hunting lodge?”
“Well, it used to be.” Lane bent down and looked at
Owen’s ankle. “Hmmm. I need to see to this, but I don’t have anything for a
splint. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know on the way.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it. I was worried
about getting stuck out here in the rain,” Owen said as Lane picked up Owen’s
bag and hefted it over this shoulder. Glancing to the stallion, Owen sighed. “I
know I can’t walk, but I’m not sure I can get up on him. He’s enormous.” Lane
was also half Owen’s size, so he wasn’t sure how much help the man would be in
getting him up onto the horse. “Maybe if I can stand on one foot and put all my
weight on you, I can make it.”
“Oh, don’t worry. We can get you up there.” Lane
made a clicking sound with his tongue, and the stallion came right over to
them. Speaking to the horse as if it understood every word, Lane said, “This is
Owen. We’re going to take him home with us. He needs our help.” Then he pointed
at the ground.
To Owen’s shock, the horse actually lay down and
then turned to look at the two men. Lane held his hand out.
“Here. Just swing your injured leg over. I’ll
steady you.” He frowned. “No, wait, I’ll move to the other side.”
Lane moved to the other side of the stallion and
reached his hand over. Owen grasped his hand and threw his injured leg over,
pulling himself into position to sit properly in the saddle. Once Owen was
situated, Lane smiled at him and clicked at the horse again. Lane held to the
horse’s reins and urged him up slowly. The powerful animal got to its feet
easily, and Lane walked around to fetch Owen’s other boot.
As they began their journey, Owen asked, “Your
master won’t mind an unexpected visitor? I can pay, of course.”
“Nonsense. You’ll be our guest. It’s just me and
Lord Edmund day in and day out.” Lane grinned once more. “I’m so excited! I
already know exactly what to make for dinner. And I just aired some of the
ground floor rooms, so we can move you right in to one of those.”
The title gave Owen pause, as did Lane’s
excitement. “Your master’s a vampire?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t like to be addressed by his
title. I slip up now and then, and he forgives me. He’s very gracious. Kind and
gentle. Would not harm a fly. The best of masters. Good and generous and
understanding.” Lane smiled as he kicked at a few pebbles on the road. “I’ve
never been happier in my life.”
Owen wondered why Lane was trying so hard to
convince him this Edmund was a good man. “You think a lot of your master.”
“Yes, I do.” Lane beamed up at Owen. “I think
you’ll like him. I’m sure he’ll like you.”
“Well, once my ankle is bound, I won’t trouble you
too much. If I can just rest and then maybe borrow a horse. I promise to bring
it back as soon as I can. Or you can accompany me if you like.”
Lane waved his hand. “Nonsense. You should stay
until you’re healed. We’d love to have you.”
“I couldn’t impose like that. It will take days.
And even if your master is gracious, you haven’t exactly asked his permission.”
Worried he might sound condescending, Owen quickly said, “I mean, you know him
best, of course, but I hate to put him out in his own home.”
“It’s nothing! Please, I insist. It’s time we had a
bit of life and activity about the place.”
Owen
watched Lane for a long time, wondering how things could be lacking in life and
activity with Lane and his enthusiasm to contend with.
