Saturday, July 9, 2022

A dubious omen - excerpt from Cobra for #wewriwa and #snippetsunday

 


Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Sample the work of a new author. Read snippets of stories in different genres.

I’ve been posting from my latest novel, Stung by the Cobra. It’s a scifi/fantasy adventure and romance with sprinkle of Hindu mythology.

For the last few weeks, I’ve introduced the unhappy hero, Nagari. You can read last week’s excerpt at https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-wild-look-excerpt-from-stung-by-cobra.html

Zennia is walking to the library to search their archives for Commander Nagari’s history when she encounters a portent of her future. The festival of Vashali begins in two days and some of the entertainers have already set up their acts. Zennia is sitting on a mat and watching a snake charmer or sapera. Note: she is unaware that Nagari acquired the nickname of the Cobra for his accuracy in striking enemy spaceships. 

The sapera blew into the flute, playing a haunting sinuous melody, while he removed the lid of the basket.

The cobra’s head slowly emerged. Its round black eyes glinted in the sunlight, a sharp contrast to its ivory white scales.

Sighs of awe came from the audience.

Zennia watched, as fascinated as the others.

As the music grew louder, the snake rose higher, unrolling its coils and swiveling around. Its pale hood flared out. It rotated its neck, glaring at the enthralled watchers as if seeking a victim. In the middle of the performance, the cobra halted its gyrations and stretched its head toward her. Its thin tongue flicked out.

Ten lines and I’m sure you’d like a few more:

Sliding out of the basket, it slithered to her. It rose erect, facing her from a distance of an arm’s length, well within striking range.

She froze in a burst of terror.

The sapera flung a loop of rope around the snake’s neck and tugged it away. “Very sorry, honored Shri. Naga is too frisky today.”

Submitting to the restraint, the cobra wrapped its coils around its trainer’s wiry arm.

Zennia jerked onto her knees, panting in relief.

The snake’s forked tongue scented the air, and it stared at her.

The skinny man held the cobra toward her. “Will you touch him? Naga cannot harm you. We have milked his venom and his sacs are dry.”

Laughing at her mistaken fear, she stroked a coil of the snake. “He is a fine white cobra.”

Its tongue brushed her bare arm in a pleasant light tickle.

Its handler chuckled. “You are truly honored. Naga likes your scent.”


 
SciFi mystery. Interstellar spy befriends enemy commander in a tragic tale with a happy ending.

Shan Zennia, Senior Curator of the Archives of Galactic Culture on Lumos, plays a dangerous double role as a researcher and a spy for Solarian Intelligence. She embarks on a new mission to observe the spring festival on Harappi, a planet recently conquered by the ambitious Emperor and now governed by his niece, Domina Allia.

Zennia finds myths and mysteries on the planet, including the enigmatic Nagari. Once a victorious commander in the Emperor’s space fleet and nicknamed the Cobra, he was forced to abandon his military career when Allia claimed him as her consort. Her abusive treatment has driven him to the brink of madness.

Intrigued by the ex-commander and aware of his value as a source of information on the enemy, Zennia agrees to meet him during the festival of rebirth. Opposing forces clash at the height of the celebrations, catalyzing deadly violence. Can Nagari and Zennia survive the chaos and win a new and happier life?

The ebook is $2.49 at PayHip

Or $2.99 at  Amazon   Apple   B&N   Kobo   GooglePlay   Other 

I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.

The first book in this new series is free for the next month. 


Captured by the Hawk Spaceships crash across the galaxy when thief Grey Kay tangles with notorious pirate Black Hawk.

FREE at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay  PayHip

 


The Lady is Blue, Book 1 of Atrapako on Eden, is also free. 

Scaly aliens crash on the remote planet of Eden. They mean to dominate the humans. Can Dr. Lucy Stannis save the colony and reignite her dubious friendship with the alien captain?

FREE at: Direct  Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay  Other 

 

Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com/ to sample the works of the other writers.

Listen to me reading snippets from my stories on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@auroraspringer_author

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.

All my books are discounted at my new Webstore: https://payhip.com/AuroraSpringerNovels.

 

 

18 comments:

  1. Oy! I'd be terrified too. There's something about the snake, like it recognizes her or something? Good snippet. :-)

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    1. Yes - that's the idea. People across the world are either terrified of snakes or revere them.

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  2. Venom or no venom, no WAY that bad boy would be tongue kissing me!! But I sense there's more to this scene than meets those beady black eyes.

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  3. Having a cobra pursue me would likely cause me to wet my pants, emit a decidedly unsexy squeak, and faint fast away. It wouldn't be pretty!

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  4. Ooh what a fascinating incident and I like the way the emotions turn on a dime more than once here. Great snippet!

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  5. I'm with Nancy. No way would I let that snake "kiss" me. Shudder.

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  6. I'd be scared too. Not sure I'd want a snake to kiss me. lol Great snippet.

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  7. I don't know if I'd want a cobra to like my scent or not! Scary.

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    1. Zennia encounters all sorts of strange things during her travels as a Curator

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  8. interesting snippet. I wonder what makes her special for the snake to like her.

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  9. Great snippet, but I squirmed while reading it! I like snakes, but deadly ones scare the heck out of me.

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