Monday Musings: The Crow Maiden--Revenge themes in books and movies

Revenge is one of the oldest themes in literature. It’s a huge part of Beowulf when Grendel’s mother decides to seek vengeance against the Danes for killing her son. Then Beowulf kills her in revenge. Shakespeare’s Hamlet also has a revenge theme.

Nothing gets readers’ hearts pounding harder than a good revenge story, especially when a nasty villain is getting just what he deserves. I found a list of the 7 best revenge stories in literature:

1. The Iliad by Homer. This is one of my favorite reads, one that is filled with revenge. Menelaus raises the entire Greek army to get revenge on Paris for stealing his wife, Helen. Achilles gets revenge on Hector for killing his cousin. Even the gods are involved.

2. Carrie by Stephen King. I read this one a long time ago. What’s better than getting revenge on all those nasty kids at high school that tormented you?

3. Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

4. True Grit by Charles Portis. Gotta love the spunk of the teenage girl seeking vengeance for her father’s death.

5. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. “My name in Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Enough said.

6. Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller. I’m not familiar with this one, but it sounds like a great revenge story.

7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumos. This might be one of the best planned retaliations of all time. Edmund Dantes was so patient. Maybe this is where “the best things come to those who wait” came from?

To see the full list: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-7-best-revenge-stories-in-literature/

The Crow Maiden has a revenge theme with a twist. Nahla to Balin: “We are bound by revenge. What good can come of it?” 

Excerpt (PG-13)

She rummaged through the chest. “You have a comb in here and a mirror and a razor.”

Rolling her eyes, she set those items to the side and continued searching inside the chest. Nahla removed a wide belt made with gold plates as he put on the tunic then strapped on the belt. She stood in front of him holding the razor.

He eyed it with suspicion. “What are you planning to do with that?”

“Trim your beard.” She gestured for him to sit again.

He rubbed the thick hair that had sprouted on his usually clean-shaven face. “I am quite pleased with my beard.”

She put her hands on her hips. “I know how you Hellenes feel about your beards, but you look like the wild goat man who lived in the forest near the temple. He thought the goats talked back to him.”

He peered at her through slitted eyes.

“Sit.” She challenged him with a determined set to her mouth.

“Do not shave it all the way off.” He gave her a hard, warning scowl and sat on the edge of his bed. “I will have you know that I had adopted the Cretan custom of shaving.”

“It is not such a terrible custom. I prefer a man’s face clean and not hidden beneath thick, wiry hair.”

“Do you now? It is my face, and I have grown fond of my thick, wiry hair, but I will allow you to trim it.” He turned a wary glance on the razor. “Only trim it.”

She impatiently raised a delicate brow. “If you continue to halt me, I might decide the entire beard needs to be gone.” She reached down and pulled her dress up to gather the shavings. “Hold my dress like this.”

Sending her a defiant stare, he took hold of her dress. He sat still as she started the first cut. If she shaved off the whole beard, he could grow another, but he didn’t care for a woman telling him what to do.

She stood so close he smelled her flowery scent and felt the warmth emanating from her. His gaze rested on her bare calves, smooth and flawless. He averted his eyes only to discover her breasts close to his face while she worked on his beard. Unable to get the image of her bare, pert, brown-tipped breasts out of his mind, he closed his eyes so she wouldn’t know his carnal thoughts. She hovered in front of him, carefully clipping his beard. Her sweet, natural, womanly perfume was intoxicating.

“There, that should do it.” She lowered the razor.

He opened his eyes and ran his hand along his jawline. She had left a layer of stubble. She held on to her dress and stepped back to admire her work. He wished he could read her mind to know what she truly thought of him.

For a moment, the hardness in her eyes softened, and then she smiled. “I approve of the trimmed beard. Now you look like someone with noble blood.” She backed toward the opening to get rid of his hair shavings. “Shall we eat now? I am starving.”

Her smile brightened her green eyes. His heart thundered inside his chest. This strange woman who had come into his life had him spellbound. His gut tightened. How could a beautiful, passionate woman like Nahla ever desire a defeated, crippled king? The only reason she was here with him was to gain her freedom from Aramon.

Forcing away his unhappy thoughts, he stood and limped toward the food shelf to grab the bread basket. He’d have his revenge soon. Once he was free of her, he could finally move on with his life.

 *

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

Blurb

The Crow Maiden

Book 3: The Arcadia Series

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

 *

Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets.” Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, and romance. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

To sign up for my newsletter and receive special notices like new book releases and giveaways only for my subscribers: http://kelleyheckart.com/Contact_Kelley_Page.html

Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C 

Monday Musings: The Crow Maiden--The healing power of the mind

In The Crow Maiden, Nahla is tasked with helping the broken hero heal his terrible leg wound that lamed him. In order to do this she also has to help him heal his mental wounds, the guilt and shame he suffers from not being able to protect his family and his people, but Balin has to want to heal.

When she finds him, he is using wine to suppress his pain, and he is living alone in a cave, an angry, ruined man. Nahla has to push him to be strong, something that causes friction between them at first. I could have had her use magic to heal him, but that would have been way too easy. It had to be a challenge for both of them. Plus, Artemis wanted her to work hard to heal the champion as part of her penance or her wrongdoing.

The mind is very powerful. It can make you strong or it can destroy you. I can attest from personal experience that the mind plays a very important role in healing. Perhaps that’s why I wanted to write a story with a wounded character. I had to overcome my own medical scare that almost left me disabled. If I hadn’t pushed hard to get better, I doubt I would have. I still struggle daily with it. Staying positive is the best way to fight it.

Excerpt (PG-13)

Nahla refused to give in. She crossed her arms, her stance firm.

“No more wine and now you are forcing me to have a bath? What does a bath have to do with our alliance?” His scowl deepened.

“Have you smelled yourself lately? I cannot stand to be around you.” She waved her hand to push away the foul odors of stale wine and sweat coming from his body. Somewhere, she hoped, beneath his slovenly, unpleasant manner lurked a warrior and a champion.

He looked down at his rumpled, dirty clothes and wrinkled his nose. “A bath is, perhaps, an excellent idea.”

It was no surprise that his cave home lacked a bathtub. “Is there a river or lake nearby?”

“Yes. Having you bound to me has been highly unpleasant so far,” he grumbled. He grabbed a blanket from a long, flat ledge cut into the wall a few steps from the fire and seized his axe on the way out of the cave.

“I am not here for your pleasure.”

She followed him. A craggy hill greeted her. Yellow and purple orchids sprouted from the cracks of the frowning rock face, lending it beauty. Clusters of scrub grass, bushes, purple hyacinths, and red poppies filled the area in front of the cave.

She was uncertain how her bond to him worked. It seemed that being with Balin was her new waiting place until Aramon summoned her. This was an improvement from the Shadowlands, but this man had some unpleasant habits she hoped to break to turn him into a true champion, one worthy enough to wield Artemis’s great weapon.

He was the one chosen, but she had not seen Aramon’s death, not yet. His death would come at the hand of the one who wielded the goddess’s weapon and that person must be Balin, since she was bound to him.

He turned right and limped down a path lined with tall, sentry-like cypress and thick-needled pine trees that covered the steep-sided gorge in dark green colors that enhanced the bright colors of the orchids, hyacinths, and poppies and deepened the blue of the sky. Fragrant flowers and pine filled the air with wondrous perfume.

The beauty of her surroundings embraced her as she descended the path into the gorge, her step growing lighter. The tranquil greenery and the colorful flowers sparkled in the blend of shadows and light. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the forest and spread warmth through her body. She had the urge to remove her cloak and bask in the sun. Aramon kept her inside his bedchamber unless he sent her on some unpleasant task. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been outside, free to enjoy the sunshine and do as she pleased. Being trapped between the worlds in the Shadowlands was like looking through a doorway, one she longed to step through out into the vibrant world, but her magical bond to Aramon wouldn’t allow her to cross the threshold.

The sound of running water filled the air along with birdsong. She caught herself smiling, something she had rarely done since her captivity. Having this experience of freedom made her more determined to get what she wanted.

The path reached the bottom of the gorge and opened to a small waterfall cascading down the craggy wall into a blue-green pond surrounded by vivid layers of lush plants and poplar trees, sprinkled with vibrant-colored flowers that twinkled like yellow, purple, and blue starlight. Farther down, the pond flowed into a large river lined by white and black poplars. The pale trunks and white twigs gleamed among the dark brown trunks and brown twigs. In the slight breeze, the dark green-gray leaves of the white poplar with a woolly snowy underside flashed among the shiny green leaves of the black. She couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful sight.

“Are you going to watch me bathe or join me?”

She turned toward Balin. He sat on a rock, bare-chested, his impish grin revealing rows of even white teeth. The playful sparkle in his eyes was oddly appealing, much different from the anger she’d seen in them more than once since their meeting.

“Neither.” Though the pond did look inviting. His muscular chest and arms took her by surprise. Given his condition, she had expected him to be flabby.

“Perhaps next time then.” He struggled to remove his leggings.

“Perhaps.” She fought back the urge to assist him. She wouldn’t coddle him, and he wouldn’t want that either.

Naked, he limped toward the pond. She stared at him with her mouth open. Aramon had a firm, strong body, but Balin had the body of a god, tall and golden. His disheveled appearance hid a muscular warrior’s body. He would have been perfect if not for his damaged left leg. A large, ugly, jagged scar marred the back of his thigh and ended below his knee. It was the kind of injury made by a long iron sword, the terrible slashing weapon used by Aramon’s army.

*

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

Blurb

The Crow Maiden

Book 3: The Arcadia Series

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

 *

Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets.” Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, and romance. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

To sign up for my newsletter and receive special notices like new book releases and giveaways only for my subscribers: http://kelleyheckart.com/Contact_Kelley_Page.html

Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C

Monday Musings: The Crow Maiden--A broken hero

Balin isn’t the typical perfect hero. He is a broken man who has lost everything, including his physical perfection. When Nahla first meets him, she is appalled that Artemis would choose a lamed man for her champion. She thinks there must be some mistake, but no, they are bound together for one reason: to kill Aramon, the same man who also betrayed Nahla and destroyed Artemis’s temple.

Once a king and strong warrior, Balin is now an angry drunk living in a cave when he accidentally summons Nahla from the Shadowlands. He must work hard to heal his leg injury, but he also has mental wounds to heal. The memories of his family’s dying screams as his palace burnt to the ground haunt him. The massive defeat left the once-arrogant man crushed.

At first he doesn’t know what to make of the cold-eyed female nagging at him and pushing him to be strong. He isn’t used to a woman acting so brazenly toward him. A proud man, it is difficult for him to be viewed as a cripple. He struggles with this as Nahla uses her healing magic on him. With her help, he becomes a much better man, but not without a struggle.

Excerpt (PG-13)

Balin gaped at her and then pinched the bridge of his nose. Her startling declaration cleared his mind of the wine and rendered him clear-headed for a moment. How could he have summoned this woman, this Crow Maiden? A warrior paid no mind to such nonsense, but there were others who believed in magic and the power of the gods.

Emboldened by the wine spirits, he’d turned to Artemis for help. It was unwise to call on Poseidon, Zeus’s brother, to aid him in killing one of Zeus’s mortal allies.

He scowled at her. This female must be telling the truth. Why else would Artemis bring them together if they hadn’t asked for revenge and death to the same man?

“You want revenge on Aramon, and I need a champion,” she narrowed her eyes at his damaged leg, “a strong warrior to help free me.”

Anger rose inside. So this female with the cold bearing of one of Night’s daughters thought him weak?

“If you bring him here, I can easily take his head off.” In a quick, smooth motion, he picked up the bronze axe and swung it in a succession of swift, skilled movements he had been practicing in the hope that someday he might use it to kill his enemy. The brutal edge of an axe blade seemed a fitting end to the man who took everything from him.

“No. He cannot be killed by normal means.”

He stopped and faced her.

“It will take a magical weapon to kill him.” She watched him with raised eyebrows. Surprise or admiration? It caught him off guard.

“Why not?” According to some, Zeus’s priest-king had magical powers. Balin never believed the rumors. But then he never thought he would summon a strange female to his cave.

“Because he is a sorcerer-king, a very powerful one.”

“Of course he is.” He squeezed the axe handle so hard his knuckles cramped. Defeating Aramon seemed impossible.

“I know this is a shock to you.”

“Do you know where we can get a magical weapon?” He shrugged and twirled the heavy axe in his hand as if it were a light stick. Every day since he’d been able to move around after his injury, he’d swung the heavy axe to keep himself in fighting shape.

“You use that blade quite well despite your injury.” Her eyes glimmered with growing interest. “The weapon I speak of is a battle-axe, double-bladed, just like that one. It belongs to Artemis, but it has been lost.”

“If you are speaking of the axe Artemis lost to the centaurs, then it is hopeless. They are Aramon’s allies and a ferocious lot.”

She watched him with a mysterious glint in her eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You do not seem like a man that would be afraid of centaurs. Besides, not all centaurs are loyal to Aramon. One line is loyal to Artemis, the line from which the great King Arcas was born.”

“King Arcas was a centaur?” The remarkable Arcadian king had restored his lands after destructive battles and a terrible flood brought on by his grandfather’s recklessness, but none of the stories mentioned Arcas was a centaur.

“Yes and no. It was a secret well kept by the nymphs, but it matters not to us and what has to be done now.” One side of her mouth curved into a cold, mocking smile. “Does that make you less afraid of centaurs knowing that?”

He glowered at her. “I am not afraid of centaurs or anything else. The journey is a long one and through rough terrain.”

“You would give up so easily?” Her green eyes held a fierce, daring light.

His face grew hot beneath her unyielding gaze. No woman had ever challenged him. It was a bit unsettling…and exciting. “Never.”

In truth, he’d given up until this strange female appeared in his cave. And how much could he accomplish with a crippled leg? His mind was still muddled by too much strong, barely watered-down wine. He wasn’t even completely convinced this woman in his cave was real and not an imagined image from one of his many tormenting dreams.

“Then we have a lot of work to do.”

*

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

Blurb

The Crow Maiden

Book 3: The Arcadia Series

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C

Monday Musings: The Crow Maiden--Crows in Greek Mythology

Crows and ravens appear in myths from all different cultures, usually as harbingers of death because of their appearance on battlefields and their diet of carrion. They are also seen as messengers between humans and that of the supernatural realm.

In Greek mythology, the crow is associated with the god Apollo because of his role as a god of prophecy. Augury, divination using birds, was popular among Greeks and Romans. Augurs interpreted messages based on the color of the bird and the direction from which it flew. A crow flying in from the east or south was considered a favorable sign. Another myth involving the crow and Apollo reveals that the crow’s feathers were turned black because the god became enraged when the bird brought back news that Apollo’s lover Coronis had been unfaithful, and the god scorched the crow’s wings.

A French anthropologist named Claude Lévi-Strauss proposed a theory that suggests the raven (like the coyote) obtained mythic status because it was a mediator animal between life and death. As a carrion bird, ravens became associated with the dead and with lost souls. This is what I used as a basis for my heroine in The Crow Maiden. Nahla is cursed to be bound to her cruel master and to the Shadowlands, the place between life and death. She haunts battlefields and guides dying warriors’ souls to the afterlife. She can also see when someone is about to die. Despite being surrounded by death, she is also a healer and has a kind soul, not what one would expect from a female surrounded by such darkness.

Excerpt (PG-13)

She glanced around at the dim cave. Cobwebs glistened from the dark corners. With some cleaning, it could be a pleasant dwelling. It was the size of a small house with round corners and smaller alcoves. She compared the cave to the unfortunate places she called home—blood-spattered battlefields, places the dead and dying gathered, and her master’s bedchamber. “No, this is much improved over the usual places I call home.”

He regarded her with a curious glint in his eyes. “What did you ask for?”

“I also asked for revenge. I wished for a champion to kill the man I hate.” This tall man wore his blond shoulder-length hair in the fashion of warriors, with war braids twisted within his unruly locks framing each side of his face. She recalled the neglected-looking war shield and armor in the back area of the cave. Had he been a warrior before his injury?

“And I suppose I do not fit your standards?” He gave her a faint sneer, his eyes hard and grim.

“Not exactly.”

He let out a scornful laugh.

She bristled. Was he mocking her? She allowed him a slight, tight smile.

“This man. What did he do to you?” His expression darkened.

“He has imprisoned me.”

“But if you are here, then you are free.” He studied her with a furrowed brow.

“I wish that were so.” The accursed bond was still there, a loosely tethered rope that could tighten at any moment, pulling her back to her master. “I am free only until he summons me, but I suppose this place is much improved over the Shadowlands.” She wandered to the cave opening. Bright sunlight temporarily blinded her. Ah, yes, warm sun and sweet, flowery scents. She took a deep breath of the intoxicating air.

He stepped to her side and regarded her with caution. “Shadowlands? What are you?”

She pressed her lips together. Should she tell him something so unbelievable? She decided she didn’t care if he believed her or not. “I have many names, but I think everyone calls me the Crow Maiden.”

He measured her with eyes that reflected doubt. “The Crow Maiden is not human. She’s an apparition, seen only by dying warriors on the battlefield.”

Most mortals cowered in the presence of a being such as she who could move between the realms of the living and the dead. Some gripped weapons in trembling hands in feeble attempts to protect themselves. Not this man. The axe he’d held to her neck lay on the ground instead of clutched in his hand, and no part of his body trembled.

He had courage. Her champion would need to have the heart of a lion. A promising sign. A warm flame of hope stirred and rekindled within.

“I am human.” She spoke the words softly, more to herself than to the stranger. As the Crow Maiden, she hadn’t felt any different, and somewhere inside, Nahla still lived, though she had acquired some preternatural abilities that placed her beyond that of a human. “And I am not an apparition. Touch me and see for yourself.”

He touched her shoulder and then considered her with a pensive expression. “Why do you think I was able to summon you? Am I about to die?” Again he showed no fear, his tone indifferent, as though he asked her about something as mundane as the weather. Another favorable sign.

“Not in the immediate future.” She pursed her lips. “I’ve been wondering why you were able to summon me…” Before he called for her, she had made a wish. “Did you ask a god for this revenge you desire?”

“I did.” He rubbed his bearded chin. “I asked Artemis.”

That hopeful flame rose higher. “So did I.”

They had been brought together for a reason, but it didn’t make sense that a crippled man would be the one chosen to defeat a powerful man like her master.

He gave her a sidelong glance. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

“Perhaps not,” she muttered and then said in a clear voice, “Share your thoughts with me.”

“If we both asked Artemis for help, then perhaps she’s the one who brought us together.” He shook his head and frowned. “Though I do not understand why since you are not the man I want to destroy.”

Outside the cave, a crow called to her, its harsh, ominous caw repeating the one word already echoing inside her head. Revenge. They both sought revenge. There was only one name she associated with retribution. “Who is this man you seek to destroy?”

“Aramon,” he rasped through clenched teeth.

An icy shiver touched her spine. “I know why Artemis brought us together.” She lowered her gaze to the man’s damaged leg. “Though I am not certain if she is sincere or mocking us.”

His mouth curved up in a sneer. “And why is that?”

“Because Aramon is the man who holds me captive.”

*

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

The Crow Maiden

Book 3: The Arcadia Series

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C

Monday Musings: The Crow Maiden--A hero and heroine from very different worlds

The Crow Maiden is a story about revenge and overcoming adversity, but it is also about a romance between two very different people.

Nahla is an Arcadian priestess, and Balin is an Achaean lord. In her world, the Achaeans are the conquerors who forced their patriarchal views on her people. In Balin’s eyes, the Arcadians are barbarians who still practice human sacrifice. There are physical differences, too. She is smaller in stature than his people, with brown skin and black hair. He is tall, blonde, and fair skinned.

Sheltered in her forest temple, Nahla has only viewed the grand seaside Achaean cities from afar. To Balin, the priestesses of Artemis were a complete mystery. And now their very different worlds have collided.

Despite their cultural differences, they share a common enemy. In the ancient Greek world, the Dorians were much more of a threat than the Achaeans who at least allowed the native Arcadians to continue worshipping their own gods. The Dorians didn’t want to compromise with anyone. This unrest in the region began the downfall of the once-mighty Achaeans.

With nothing left to lose and only revenge in his thoughts, Balin forms an alliance with the mysterious priestess. Nahla’s only hope to be free of her cruel master is the champion chosen by Artemis—an Achaean. Gods work in strange ways, it seems.

Despite his dominate ways, Balin shows Nahla respect. She begins to trust him. Nahla’s boldness both enrages and excites Balin. He’s never known such a woman who would dare speak so impudently to him. They may be from very different worlds, but their attraction for one another grows.

It must be true that opposites attract.

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

Excerpt (PG-13)

“Now you know all you need to about me and about Aramon. He destroyed and captured your cities, killed and enslaved your people.” Her lovely mouth tightened into a grave smile. “Do we have an alliance or not?”

Could he trust her? “You can form an alliance with me, someone you know nothing about?”

“I know enough about you, Achaean.”

She offered him that same mysterious smile she’d given him earlier, one that enhanced her remarkable, unusual beauty, even if it was too serious. Aramon had mistreated and tormented her. Perhaps, that was all he needed to know. For now.

“Besides, what have either of us to lose? Arcadia is being destroyed.” Her tone turned bitter. “And everything and everyone we knew and loved is gone because of one man. What more is there to know or think about?”

Her words were so profound and filled with truth. He had his doubts about his ability to do what needed to be done, but he wanted revenge more than anything. Revenge was the only thing keeping him alive.

“We have an alliance.”

She nodded. “Then we must get to work. Aramon could summon me at any time.”

“What do I call you? Do you prefer the ‘Crow Maiden,’ or can I call you ‘Crow’?” He cast her a playful grin, wanting to change her rigid, cold nature. Playfulness was something he hadn’t felt since his crippling injury. He couldn’t explain it. Perhaps it was because she was a challenge, unlike any other woman he’d known.

She didn’t smile. Her eyes took on a reflective light. “Call me Nahla.”

Her name sounded soothing and fit her calm manner that lingered beneath the coldness.

“Nahla, you may call me Balin.” He reached for a clay pitcher of wine that sat on a natural shelf. Some wine might loosen the maiden up. He’d never met such a rigid and cold female. “We should celebrate our alliance.”

She put her hand on his arm to stop him from lifting the pitcher to his lips. “The first thing we must do is get you clearheaded.”

He looked down at the pitcher, his body filled with craving for the numbing drink. “But…”

She reached for the handle. “Give it to me.”

With reluctance, he handed her the pitcher. He watched with rising panic as she poured out the precious wine.

She turned toward him and pursed her lips. “The next thing is a bath, a very long one.”

Impertinent harpy! Bristling, he scowled at her. His changing emotions in regards to this female confused him. One moment, she made him want to smile, and the next, she raised his ire like no other.

Nahla may be the only one who could help him get revenge on Aramon, but Poseidon’s blasted balls! She was infuriating. He clenched his fist and glanced upward. Almighty Poseidon, please give me the strength to not strangle this insolent female.

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

Blurb:

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C

Monday Musings: New Release by Kelley Heckart--The Crow Maiden (Greek myths, shapeshifters, romance)

New book release! The Crow Maiden, Greek myths/fantasy/shapeshifters/romance

In Print and Kindle on amazon.com

Book Title: The Crow Maiden

Author: Kelley Heckart

Author website: http://www.kelleyheckart.com

Genre: Greek myths/fantasy/paranormal/shapeshifters/romance

Release date: 1/6/17

Page Count: 180

ISBN- 13:978-1541140615

ISBN- 10:1541140613

ASIN:  B01N1ZBAF1

Kindle Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1ZBAF1

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541140613/

Blurb

The Crow Maiden

Book 3: The Arcadia Series

(The Crow Maiden is a standalone story in the Arcadia Series)

She betrayed her goddess for him…

He betrayed her.

Plotting her revenge is her only solace. Until now.

Nahla is the Crow Maiden, an Arcadian, and once a priestess of Artemis. Now she is a captive, a being who lives in the shadows until her vile master the sorcerer-king Aramon summons her. Another releases her from the Shadowlands, and while he might be the champion she has waited for, the gods must be playing a cruel joke. Her champion is crippled.

An Achaean lord who once ruled a great city, Balin is a broken man. He has lost everything—his kingdom and his family. Revenge consumes him. Although wary of the mysterious, cold-eyed female who appears and claims he summoned her, she may be his only hope to exact vengeance on the king who ruined him, the same man Nahla seeks to destroy.

They are bound by revenge, and soon, both learn they are bound by much more, but the secrets she hides might tear them apart and ruin their only opportunity for vengeance—and their chance to love again.

“Ms. Heckart draws the reader into the pages and enchants them with her words.”

Karen McGill, Coffee Time Romance

Excerpt (PG):

Summoned from the Shadowlands, Nahla landed in a place of encircling darkness. Rays of light too weak to pierce the black shield glowed in the distance. Cold, damp air embraced her, penetrating her clothing and draping her body like a heavy winter cloak.

Footsteps echoed all around. She struggled to come to her senses, fighting disorientation. Seized by a wave of dizziness, she steadied herself on the hard, rough ground beneath her feet. The footsteps grew louder. They approached from the direction of the faint light.

He was coming.

She staggered backward and banged into a hard wall. Her arms extended, she moved to her right. Cold rock scraped her knuckles. She lunged left and grimaced as another firm, unforgiving surface stopped her other hand. Bound there by more than the walls, she waited in the stygian blackness.

Brandishing a torch, her summoner appeared and came toward her at a forceful pace. The fire blinded her, and she barely saw the glint of metal flashing in front of her.

Before she could evade the thrusting weapon, a cold, heavy blade touched her neck. The unfamiliar feel of a sharp blade against her skin made her freeze out of instinct, not because she was afraid of death. Nahla had already died once.

She waited for the weapon to slice through her flesh. A foreboding prickle raised the fine hairs of her nape. Something was different about this summoning. Her master would never kill her. He would never be that kind to her and set her free.

The one who wielded the blade dropped the torch in order to hold the weapon with both hands. The flaming light burned low and sputtered behind him or her, though she sensed whoever had brought her here was male by his leather, un-flowery scent and by the strength he possessed holding the heavy, brutal blade. Shadows concealing her summoner remained, and his deep, ragged breaths spoke of anger and despair.

“Who are you? How did you get in here?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“You summoned me.” She remained guarded, the cold metal still caressing her neck, but excitement fluttered in her stomach at the significance of this unusual summoning.

The silence was palpable, broken only by his now heavy and uneasy breathing. After a few moments, he growled, “If that is so, then you are not what I asked for.”

Desperation, frustration, and anguish filled his voice. She was in the true place. All she knew was death and misery and sorrow.

“I came because I was summoned.”

“Just go away.” He removed the blade from her neck, picked up the fallen, smoking torch, and retreated through the low, narrow opening toward the beckoning glimmers of light from a far away chamber.

She followed him and stepped forward toward the opening. Another dim chamber filled with dust and cobwebs greeted her. Glancing back at the black, unpleasantly cold space she’d landed in, she suppressed a shudder and then ducked into the other brighter, small chamber. Piles of dusty blankets, a war shield, and dull-looking bronze plate armor filled one corner. Nothing about the solemn room looked familiar to her. She walked past uneven rock walls like the ones found in caves. An earthy scent like that of dark, damp places permeated the air. Caves were for creatures like her that roamed in the shadows, the unseen realm between life and death, the place she called the Land of Sorrows, not for humans that had no need of darkness.

This summoning wasn’t true. Only one man could call her forth from the Shadowlands. Was she finally free of her tormentor? No, the bond to her master remained, lingering like a loose tether, but she also sensed she couldn’t travel too far from this stranger. Did this unusual event have anything to do with her constant yearning for the life that had been stolen from her? She could reclaim all she’d lost if she found a champion to kill her creator and master. It had seemed impossible.

Until now…

****

Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets.” Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, and romance. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

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Kelley Heckart

Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

https://www.facebook.com/kelleyheckartauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelley-Heckart/e/B002BMOQ3C