Just a little Memorial Day gift teaser, in the form of the Prologue from the first Maldene novel.  Nothing that’s not on the first-chapter sample to be found elsewhere on Maldene.com, but this being as a post it gets to be spread around a bit more.  Just the Prologue, mind you, not including the Preface or Introduction; just enough to suggest, to entice, to stir the imagination.

So, without further adieu…

PROLOGUE

The wizard walked into the velvet-walled room, his blue robe with its gold trim swishing around him as he moves, occasional silver sparks trying to leap off the folds in the magical cloth. He walked across the pastel-carpeted floor to the only chair in the small, luxuriated room. The plush richly decorated chair faced away from the only door and out towards a stone-carved window, looking out over pearly white walls, golden spires, and green fields under a bright purple sky. The person sitting down was only visible by an arm resting on the side of the chair.

“I’ve just confirmed it all, Sire,” the wizard began, “all signs point to it; the optimum time will be as predicted. He must make his move by the time of the Donjflou, and we can do almost nothing about it,” he shrugged and sighed.

“And the plan?” came the authoritative but gentle voice from behind the chair.

“Chancy at best, Sire!  It’s a million to one shot and full of risks. But,” he paused, “it does have a chance of working. But only if we choose them very carefully.”

“Very good, Mystigir,” came the voice looking out the window.

“But, Sire,” Mystigir exasperated, “even if we do find . . . How can we even be sure they’ll survive?”

“Don’t worry my friend,” it said amiably, “I’ve consulted with a few . . . Fates . . . myself. While nothing is guaranteed, we do have a chance.”

“Sire, how do we even go about finding some that-“

“That part’s already been done,” came the now distant-sounding voice, “I’ve already chosen them . . .”