According to legend, Esperance was found by the Seekers, ancient people from old Earth with psychic abilities including remote-viewing. After millennia of abuse Earth was dying. Now her people sought new homes among the stars. With lush, rich vegetation, deep forests, and forbidding mountains this new world resembled a much younger Earth—an Earth before modern man had left his mark.
Seeking a simpler life on this unspoiled and bounteous land, they would tame this bold new world as their ancestors had tamed the rugged highlands on Earth. Learning from history, they would take from it only what they needed, preserving everything else as a pristine paradise.
Initially Esperance relied on Earth for items they couldn’t yet produce. Fabricated metals, manufactured machine parts, and advanced medicines would take years to perfect. Mining and smelting also took time to become profitable.
Once again, the abilities of the Seekers came to their aid, helping to locate mineral deposits, potable water sources and native foods to supplement their diet. They helped ease strife during the difficult times by exerting a calming effect toward those around them. Even as the colonists adapted to this new land, they grew more susceptible to its native bacteria and viruses, relying on medicines from Earth to overcome disease.
Without warning Earth’s ships stopped coming. They were then helpless when a new virus depleted their medical supplies. Thousands died in the first wave and in each subsequent wave. As equipment failed irreparably and skills were lost to the grave, society crumbled into vicious and bloody chaos.
Many decades later, the descendants of the Seekers gained enough strength to lead their people out of confusion. With skills tempered in the forges of hell, these warriors enforced their will on the remaining few, forming clans to preserve what little was left.
Refining their Talents, these First Lords passed those abilities down through the generations, down through nearly two centuries to the time of Jareth, First Lord of Clan Brannach.
So what has been going on since that time? Read the books from the series and find out about these wonderful and Talented people!
How is everyone this week? It has been a long week here, with several medical appointments and various other activities. So my writing is a little behind, as is my laundry.
Do you have a Goodreads account? I am just starting to get Goodreads figured out. I know. I’m slow. But there is a lot of good information on there, and it’s a great place to find new authors and books, or support your favorite authors.
So if you’re looking for something to read this weekend, go on over toMellie Miller on Amazon, (for Jareth), Sultonna Nadine (For Master of the Fleet), or Smashwords and check them out!
You can find me on Goodreads by clicking the link.
Yes,Jareth First Lordhas been out for quite a while, but it’s still one of my favorite stories. So I thought I’d share one of my favorite scenes with you.
For a little background, Jareth is the First Lord, or ruler, of Clan Brannach. His wife died in childbirth about three years before this story began. After meeting Viviane during negotiations with her father, First Lord of Clan Belfort, he includes her in the Choosing, taking her back to his clan hoping to win her heart. He hadn’t known she was a member of the ruling family.
She is a beautiful woman, with black hair and dazzling blue eyes. But temper? She was a feisty on. Oh yeah. She had temper to spare. But Jareth thought he had a chance at taming this wildcat named Viviane.
Viviane is the youngest daughter of the ruling house of Belfort. Her husband died about six months before this story begins. Though she would rather do nearly anything else, she may be forced to move back to her father’s house unless she can find someone to buy the shop and cottage she’d shared with her husband. But when Jareth chose her as part of the spoils, another option was thrust upon her.
She wasn’t ready for a relationship, though she was growing fond of Jareth. But he could get on her nerves when he pulled his high and mighty act. First Lords. Always thought they knew what was best for everyone.
Yeah, she’d see about that. It was about time he met someone who would stand their ground and give him a piece of her mind.
Here’s the excerpt.
“Annie, I’m so tired I want to sleep forever, or for at least a week, and it’s only the second day of the Gather. Jareth wants me to come with him but I’m not sure I can keep up the pace,” Viviane admitted, so tired she was almost in tears.
“Now, now, milady! Let’s get you upstairs and into a hot bath to begin with. No, now don’t argue with old Annie. She knows what’s best.”
A few minutes after she’d slipped into her bath, Annie insisted on some calming herbal tea, just enough sweetening in it to bring out the flavor. Then, pulling a stool up to the end of the tub, she began to brush Viviane’s hair for her like her nanny had done when she was a little girl.
“Annie,” she protested, “you don’t need to do this. Really, I’ll be fine with a bath and good night’s sleep.”
“Now, Viviane, you relax and drink your tea. A little pampering never hurt anyone. What you need is a bit of family here, which you don’t have. So you’ll have to accept me as a substitute. See? You’re feeling better already.”
She was, too. Something about the warm tea, the bath, and the rhythmic brushing pulled the tension out of her body. Finishing her tea, she relaxed for a while, nearly dozing off.
“There now, I’ll bet you can sleep and feel just like new in the morning,” she heard Annie say, as if from a great distance.
“Thank you so much Annie,” she told her, pulling herself out of her reverie. “You are a gem and I’m so glad you’re here. If there’s anything I can do to repay your kindness, let me know.”
Annie said goodnight and saw her tucked in before she left and turned out the lights. Viviane hadn’t slept so well in years.
The next morning Jareth was up early. Viviane, though, had had enough. Deciding to stay in bed and rest, she was happily on her way back to sleep when someone knocked at the door.
“Viviane? It’s Annie. Lord Jareth wants to know when you’ll be ready to leave.”
“I’m not going, Annie. I simply can’t. Give my apologies to the First Lord.”
A few minutes later there was another, stronger knock at the door. “Viviane, come on. We’re going to be late!”
“No, Jareth, I’m not going to be late. I’m not going. Please extend my apologies to your guests.”
“This is not acceptable, Viviane. You knew the requirements beforehand. You will be up and ready in ten minutes.”
Now she was fully awake and mad. How dare he give her orders?
“I beg your pardon, Lord Jareth, but exactly who do you think you are? I did not come here to be ordered about like a servant. I told you I might not manage the entire week and I can’t. Go away!”
“You will be ready in ten minutes or you will go to the Gather just the way you are. A bargain was struck and you will be held to it. Now get ready!”
Fearing he might carry out his threat, Viviane snarled and stormed out of bed. She dressed to an accompaniment of slamming doors and drawers before attacking her hair with the brush.
Jareth was pacing the hallway when she opened her door. “It’s about damned time! There will be no more of this nonsense. You will accompany me at the Gather each day and at least appear like you’re with me willingly. Is that clear?”
“Do stop, Jareth. Nobody’s impressed.”
“I beg your pardon,” he said in a dangerous tone of voice.
“Yes, okay, fine. You’ve made your point, now shut up. We’re late. Remember?”
If anyone noticed a bit of frost in the air they said nothing, but there did seem to be more space around them than usual. It was nearly halfway through the day before Viviane began to calm down. How had she gotten herself into this mess?
Another book of mine will be FREE this weekend over at Smashwords!
I know a lot of us don’t have a lot to spend on books right now, after the Covid outbreak. So during this month, I’ve decided to offer one of my books fro free each weekend.
I don’t know. There’s something about this story which makes it my favorite of all my published books. Inset into the story of Jareth and Viviane, this book tells about Morgan, a young lady who volunteered to come to Brannach during the Choosing in Belfort. (See Book 1–Jareth, First Lord)
After being molested during most of her life, she’s ready for a new start. But almost as soon as she gets settled into her new clan, she is attacked yet again.
Since then, she has sworn off men. Until she meets James with his devilish green eyes and dimples.
Can she open her heart to this man, who has secrets of his own?
Go over this weekend and get your FREE copy of MORGAN–The Pixie and the Green Man.
Yes, it’s that time of year again, when the wearing of the green, drinking green beer, and eating green food are all the rage.
But what if that isn’t your scene? Me? I just like to settle in with a nice book, maybe something with a Celtic theme to it, and a nice cup of something to drink..
Esperance. A highland world settled by people from the British Isles and then abandoned. And after centuries in this new place, some of them developed some rather unique abilities.
Or had they been there all along, hidden from the public in fear of persecution?
James Ferguson’s family has a way with wood, and a connection to the forest which would make most people nervous. But it was his family’s way to tell the women they were seriously interested in about their abilities. In James’ case, one woman ran into the street, was hit by a carriage, and nearly died.
He decided he wouldn’t try again–and then he met Morgan, with her dark hair and blue-gray eyes that drew him in. So tiny compared to him, he nicknamed her his Pixie.
Yes, it looks like it’s going to be another wet Friday. After last week’s eight inches of rain, I’m not feelin’ it. Know what I mean?
The sun has been playing hide and seek all day long and we’ve had a few small showers, but tomorrow should be wet.
A good day for reading.
What have you been reading lately? Anything to share?
I’ve been reading The Painted Lady Inn Mystery Books, by M.K. Scott and I thoroughly adore them. I like to write fantasy romance, but my reading preferences share the romance with mysteries.
So if there’s a book or series you just love, feel free to share it with us! I need something to read this upcoming rainy weekend…
It’s about that time this evening, but a good night meme I saw reminded me of a passage from Jareth, First Lord.
How about a little snippet from the first book in the Esperance Series?
Looking up into the sky through the branches, Viviane realized tonight wasn’t just another night. She called it to Jareth’s attention. As they watched, the two moons above were aligning. In a few moments, one would completely eclipse the other, and for a little while this evening, only one moon would grace the sky.
“‘In the heart of winter, the two become one, the past put to rest, the future begun,’” Jareth said, quoting the ancient legend. “Perhaps there is a reason we came here tonight,” he told her, his eyes staring intently into hers as if he could read her soul.
It looks like winter is having one last fling. At least, I hope it is the last one. But it’s a perfect time to dig into that “to-be-read” stack. Right?
I’ve been re-reading some of Vonnie Davis‘ books, which are some of my absolute favorites.
