The feasting the next day was more subdued, as the dancers had been up all night. The children were bright-eyed, as were the apprentices not yet of age. It was their turn to bring out the food, and to supervise the washing. A reversal, as all festivals had a mirror-moment as the future stepped into the present. Some day they would be the grownups. Yasmin did not quite believe that, but she watched serious-faced Akiko Miss-Naught pour out a measure of Sarronny beer for Mavra Two-Eyes — oh yes, and Mavra lifted it in toast to the Dome and to the children in particular, announcing her new epithet to one and all. 

The elders nodded, and asked who had so named her.

“Yasmin Sure-Hand of Sarronny Dome,” Mavra replied.

***

POV Yasmin Sure-Hand, age four-going-on-five, the Sarronny Dome vortex dance in honor of the yearly arrival of the supply ships. From novel-in-progress, Ship’s Heart. 

Weekend Writing Warriors offers eight-sentence excerpts from a variety of writers; see the other excerpts here.

***

Cover reveal for Tales from the Inhabited Worlds 

This short story collection was created from character interviews for Inside the Jump and Ship’s Heart, some of which have been excerpted on this blog. The collection will be published this week, and the individual stories will be available as as e-books in following weeks.

Cover design by Glass Knife Press Technical Services.