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SFF Saturday is a group of authors who post snippets of SFF prose and poetry for comment. You can check out other SFF Saturday posts, too.
My snippet is another few lines from a work in progress called Herald (at the moment). Eventually, the project be a fantasy loosely based on the Hundred Years War, but itβs in the very early draft stages.
Previous Snippets:
When we last saw Denis, the enemy King of Angth had just asked him to speak the name of a fallen Angth soldier.
Fear inched toward terror. Denis had left the golden mask, the tabard, and the white rod of his office behind and donned the clothes of an ordinary pursuivant to walk the field without show, just another man doing his duty for king and country. Hidden by anonymity.
Only two from all those who walked the field could set the names of an enemy to rest–The Rampant Dragon Herald of Angth and the Soleil d’Or Herald of Revena. Only they could record names in each other’s book and in war, both could be held for ransom.
This king had never seen the Soleil d’Or Herald unmasked, yet he knew Denis.
The furrows above the king’s brow deepened, as did his voice. “Herald.”
Denisβs ransom was too high for his prince to pay. He’d be dead by morning.
Ann Laurel Kopchik 
Oh no!! And then what? Great snippet with lots descriptions to set the mood.
Thanks. π Poor Denis… he’s not having a good day. But then, so many others had a much worse one…
I agree this is a very descriptive snippet literally bringing the vision to life in my head. Definitely doesn’t sound good for Denis, but I suspect there may be a change in his situation.
Thank you! Well, a herald is part diplomat… let’s hope those skills kick in soon…
Oh, no, indeed! A very descriptive passage. Well done!
Thanks!
OK, situation went from bad to worse, but hope isn’t lost yet, right? Great details and I’m still loving the description of the king. How deliciously sinister.
The king is… an interesting man. π Thanks for stopping by!
I’m wondering where this is going–several possibilities.
π We shall see!
Thanks for reading!
Well, Denis. It was nice knowing you. ;P Great descriptions in this snippet.
Thanks very much. π
Yeah, things don’t look too good for Denis, do they?
Nice! Great hook. Let’s go rescue poor Denis!
Well, he really shouldn’t have been running around the battlefield without escort. But Denis has always been one to push the rules. Seems it’s gotten him into a spot of trouble…
Thanks for stopping by!
Perfect! You nailed every detail and point of tension here, Ann, then gave us that hook ending.
Yes!
π Heidi
Thanks Heidi! π
There is so much going on here, so many details we are learning, hinting at more of the background – and alongside that the sudden, startling shock of the King’s identification of Denis, and his immediate assumption of impending doom. Very effective snippet – thanks!
Thank you!
I’m glad the worldbuilding is working. π
Ack! I’m sure I left a post on Saturday!?! I know I read (and enjoyed) your great snippet. Looking forward to more (must see what happens to Denis).
Your comments got trapped in the spam-trap. Not sure why… I’ve freed them. π
Very tense!
A sticky situation, but I suspect not all is lost for Denis.
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