Sunday Snippet: Quiver Full of Arrows

February is going to be a wild month. It's already shorter than average and my project load is intense plus I have two birthdays hitting a week apart. A big one for the husband, which involves a super-secret aspect that's challenging to pull off.

Ohio is still deep into its cold spell, which I'm actually okay with. We're also still digging out of the huge snowfall we got last week. It's hilarious that I get stuck in my own driveway. But I do.

As mentioned, work projects are falling out of the sky right now and that's not a bad thing. But it is a bit of a hurdle to manage making sure they're all getting the attention they need. I'd love to have about five more hours each day.

Had a better than normal viewing week. Some of my projects involve tedious busywork, and it's nice to have something on in the background. I even got to one of my back-burner shows.

Started off with Midsommer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It also made me want to take up lawn bowling. I remember playing something like that, along with croquet, when little.

Caught another episode of Foyle's War and it's one I remembered well from the original watch. I have one more episode in the sixth season and I'm looking forward to watching it this week.

Watched the second half of Silent Witness and whew! So many twists and turns. And, of course, the obnoxious asshat is the actual target … yet somehow manages to come through partially unscathed. Really loved the team doing what they needed to do regardless of the consequences.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Loved how he got a chance to revisit a murder he wasn't allowed to solve the first time. Lots of twisty turns.

Elementary didn't disappoint with the opening of the fifth season. I love that Joan probably saved her former patient by offering a helping hand. Also love that Sherlock recognized she needed something more.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and kind of loved the teamwork with Gotham PD and taking down the poacher. I'd forgotten about this episode.

Watched the season two finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks and, wow, what a way to end the season. Looking forward to catching what happens next.

Also started another episode of Peak Practice. It's painful to watch Sam completely fall from grace. I might end up forwarded through some of it because it hurts to watch.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Quiver Full of Arrows, a novella that mashes up superpowers and fae magick.

Here's the miniblurb:

Frey Witter, codename Crossfire, is sent to bring in mercenary for hire, Solaris Polanski, aka Moon Shadow, for a covert mission. He's got one little problem. Solaris answers to no one—and she used to work for the other side.

And a preview snippet…

Solaris braced for seeing Norm Coleman again. Something she rarely, as in never, enjoyed. He'd recruited her at the tender age of sixteen—almost thirteen years ago. The only thing she'd credit him with is teaching her to take a beating. No, he'd never abused her with physical violence. Her parents took top prize there.

She waited for Crossfire to key in the access code and while he scanned his credentials, she trudged back to the beginning of her relationship with Coleman.

Norm's tactics were and still are much more sinister and slyly developed than a mere physical ambush. Cajolery, manipulation, emotional thievery, and gaslighting were his go-to favorites.

Being different—having her ability of extra sensory perception aka the sixth sense—and being able to hold her own from a young age got her into a lot of trouble. The very reason my parents decided I needed to have the evil beat out of me. When their brutalization didn't work, they cashed in and sold her to a program for gifted children when she turned twelve.

The program proved to be a sham—the people running if were training spies. Infiltration, seduction, all the tricks of the trade. Norm came in, took one look at her and bought out her contract. He wanted her young enough to train for agency purposes but old enough to handle the physical aspects. I learned the emotional toll on my own and finally escaped.

Only to be brought back. Dammit.

Crossfire led the way through the maze of corridors, and she followed at a slightly slower pace. Norm hadn't moved his cushy office, still residing at the top of the stairs in a space that overlooked the main hub of operations. A large concrete platform jutted out from the enclosed area, leaving plenty of room for a staging location … or in her case, a place to cool her heels whenever Norm wanted to make her wait.

Which she wouldn't do today.

Brushing past Crossfire, she strode into Norm's space and cleared her throat. He looked up, arching a brow. His silence a grudging acknowledgment of her presence; his lack of surprise an irritation she'd have to live with.

Solaris tossed the bag of diamonds on the desk. "My compliments. It better buy me some time and consideration." She kept her gaze on her former employer but appreciated Frey taking a post just inside the door.

Norm shook out the gems and flicked his gaze up to her. "Petty thievery is beneath you." His fingers trailed through the pile of sparkly bits.

Solaris snorted. "Half a billion in untraceable diamonds is a fucking wet dream for black-op budgets. The only thing petty about it is your inability to accept the windfall without being a raging dick." She folded her arms over her chest but winced and dropped them down again.

Her ribs still ached from her time with the trio of thugs in the railroad turnstile.

Norm leaned back and gave her a bland smile. "I see you're still using the old standby of letting yourself get caught and brutalized. Haven't you outgrown the need for pain?" He widened his eyes in his usual fashion.

Her fingers curled into her palms. "Considering I learned all the tricks of the pain trade from you, you're stating the obvious." She slowly straightened her hands. "Are you ready to give me what I need? Because I'm fresh out of patience and the desire to breathe the same air as you."

Coleman scooped up the diamonds and returned them to the bag. "You've got the time." He tucked the gems into his shirt pocket and leaned back again. "I'm listening."

She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "Pay attention then. These are my terms…"

I have so much love for this story! Solaris and Frey are such a great couple to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye