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Just released by Mystic Books, Sorrowlands is the tale of Flora, a dryad, wrongly accused by Hades of her husband's murder. Condemned to death, her sentence is commuted to exile and she is sold as a concubine to one of Hades sons, Ragnold. While the God of the Underworld plots to seize Olympus, Flora steals a sacred chalice, the source of his power. Aided only by a reluctant soldier and an over-sexed satyr, she escapes her bondage and must cross the deadly Sorrowlands to return what she has stolen. The only question is, will she able to complete her mission in time?
Link to buy the book: Sorrowlands
FREE EXCERPT
There were no plush furnishings in Maljandra’s apartment.
Flora was left unguarded and unchained and she wondered why they hadn’t made
her more secure. The moment they left, she walked cautiously to the terrace. As
she drew close, her vision faded. She shook her head and stepped back. The
moment she retreated, her vision returned. How
strange, she thought. She turned and made a dash for the door. She put her
hand on it and her sight left her completely. She turned too quickly, and lost
her balance. Fear engulfed her and her heart pounded in her ears. She spread
her hands out blindly and sought a solid surface to latch onto. A gasp escaped
her when she brushed against the silken tunic of a man.
“There’s no use to trying to escape,” said a cold, clear
voice. “My apartments are enchanted.”
“I cannot see,” Flora cried. “Give me back my eyes or I
shall go mad.”
“The enchantment will lift when I tell it to and not a
moment before. Clearly you tried to do something you should not.”
She flinched as Maljandra’s hand touched her shoulder.
The wizard let it linger there, and then turned her body toward him. She
recoiled at his touch but he only sighed pleasantly. With one quick maneuver he
pushed the tattered silk garment off her shoulders and let it fall to the
floor. “Such a pity,” he said. “You’re quite a beauty. Still, you’re to be
marked for Hades, so I cannot touch you now.”
“I heard you were a great wizard, prove your goodness and
set me free.”
Maljandra laughed a low, hollow laugh. “If you’ve heard
anything at all, I’ll wager you’ve heard of my indifference to the pleas of
desperate women.”
He took her hand and jerked her arm. “Follow me.” She
stumbled, but quickly got her feet under her for fear he would drag her across
the floor. She reached out to keep herself from running into anything and her
hand connected with a doorway as they passed through into another chamber. The
sound of trickling water reached her ears. “You must be prepared for the
ritual. Wait here.”
Perhaps he left for only a few seconds, but to Flora,
blind and naked in a strange place, it felt like an eternity. She stood
vulnerable and trembling, and felt more fear than she’d ever known before. Her
empty stomach roared for attention, and if she did not eat soon, she would
faint. She had need of Dero’s courage, and she turned the ring still on her
finger. A warm sensation crept through her tired limbs and her hunger faded at
once, but not even Dero’s magic was enough to erase her fear of pain. What will he do to me? What form will the
sacrifice take? How much will I suffer?
She did not have to wonder long for the mage soon
returned.
“Come,” Maljandra said. He took her hand and led her
forward. Slowly, they walked down a couple of steps and then water rose over
her foot. As they descended the steps, the water rose up her legs and she
realized they were in a pool. This must
be his bathing chamber. The water was warm and soothed her blood-stained
skin. Nevertheless she advanced cautiously, and her legs locked, afraid she
might slip and fall. As he brushed by her, Flora felt the wizard’s bare skin
and knew he’d undressed to bathe her.
The slightly rough surface of a sponge rubbed across her
body as the mage wiped away the stench of stale blood and the dungeon. He
washed her slowly and carefully, and left no part of her body untouched. She
trembled with every stroke, and she sensed her fear pleased him. As his hands
washed her hair, he was close up against her, and Flora felt both his desire
and frustration.
“Do you always do as you’re told?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Ragnold is your master, is he not? You are in his service
and do his dirty work.” She put her hand on his bare chest. “Set me free and I
could reward you. Return my sight to me and help me escape.”
Maljandra’s hand cupped her right breast and he caressed
it gently. “You want me to set you free?” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes, I beg you, let me go.”
He squeezed, but the pain she felt in her breast was
nothing to the pain she felt throughout her body. It twisted within her, eating
into every part of her, leaving nothing unscathed by its sharp teeth. A scream
tore from her, leaving her throat raw, followed by another. She screamed more
than she’d ever done before.
“And who would free me from the wrath of Hades?” he
asked. His breath was hot against her ear. “You think me as weak as any mortal
man? Do you think the temptation of a little dryad would easily turn me? Know
this, foolish woman. You’ll remain blind till I take you to the temple. I’ll
restore your sight long enough for you to see Ragnold’s gauntlet rip out your
heart.”
In spite of the pain wrenching through her, Flora spat,
praying she spat in the mage’s face, but he didn’t strike or hurt her again.
The pain stopped as instantaneously as it began and Maljandra put his hand on
Melinoe’s necklace. His hand hesitated against the dark circle, as if he sensed
some power within it. A low growl emanated from him and she winced as he
wrenched it from her neck.
Once her body was prepared, he led her from the pool and
left her alone. From the other chamber the sound of fabric on skin reached her
and she guessed he was drying his body and dressing. He soon returned.
“Kneel,” Maljandra commanded. The urge to run gripped her,
but some invisible force pushed her to her knees. She couldn’t sense where in
the room they were, but she smelled smoke and heard the crackling of a fire.
“You were supposed to be branded this morning as a concubine, but now the brand
will be the mark of Hades.”
Again, the urge to run overwhelmed her, but Maljandra’s
magic was tighter than any bond. A hiss filled the room, followed by the roar
of flames. Flora recognized the sound from the slave market in Bartom. It was
the sound of a branding iron being turned in the fire. She closed her eyes
tightly and her throat clicked when she tried to swallow. Gods, my throat is so dry!
“They say to be branded is one of the most intense pains
known to man.”
Flora began to shake violently. She wanted to turn Dero’s
ring again but she couldn’t move her arms. The heat of the iron warmed her skin
as it passed by her face. Maljandra was teasing her, letting her feel its heat
before the dreadful moment.
Her heart seemed frozen in her chest and tears of anguish
fell down her face.
“Very good,” said Maljandra. “You are tamed at last. But
that will not save you now.”
When the branding iron was pressed into her skin, a
searing pain such as she’d never known before washed over her. The smell of
scorched flesh filled the air and her scream echoed off the walls. Her anguish
died in her throat, as she fell, mercifully, unconscious to the floor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Iris Woodbury is an English author born in London, England who was later thrust into the bosom of the United States. She lives very happily in the beautiful state of Maryland where she hopes to stay forever. Follow her on FB at https://www.facebook.com/iris.woodbury
or tweet away to your heart’s content to @IrisWoodbury. Feed her chocolate. She likes that.
Thanks you for reading!
Jill
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