Adam Gaylord and Darci Cole BOTH tagged me in the Luck 7 Writing Challenge, which originated at the Fiction and Film writing blog, by Kate Larkindale.

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 authors.
5. Let them know.

Here are seven paragraphs from "The Mark of Flight", which takes place at a back-country inn Arianna finds herself at after being kidnapped by her foreign tutor, Markmaster Tashda.

"I require a bath," she snapped, but the tremor in her voice belied the haughty tone.

"I require a word," he said, "and then I’ll call for a basin."

Arianna breathed in raggedly and kept her mouth shut. A basin indeed. Her body screamed for a full tub of hot water to soak away the soreness, but she had already dared too much today to push him further. She would hear what he had to say, and then make her need clearer. "Very well."

Tashda gestured for her to sit on the edge of the bed. She watched him a moment, distrust thick in her mouth, but despite wanting to keep as much distance between herself, Tashda, and the bed as possible, she crossed stiffly to the uneven mattress. It gave an unexpected crunch under her, but she put the question of what the dirty muslin contained out of her mind as Tashda drew nearer. Promise or not, if he so much as touched her, she would scream.

"Before the evening is through," he said, "twenty seven of my men will return to this very inn."

It was so far from what she had expected him to say. Twenty seven men. Arianna became suddenly, violently dizzy. What did that mean--soldiers, retainers? Was he Centoreinian Nobility? Arianna's fingers clenched in the mattress, her heart pounding in her throat as the prospect of his forcing her into bed became exponentially more plausible. But it didn't make total sense, for even if he did drag her back to Centoren and marry her, Rizellen would never acknowledge the ceremony. And the likelihood of Arianna producing a child when her own mother had struggled through so many miscarriages was low enough to preclude his gaining power that way. But if he meant soldiers...

Arianna swallowed, trying to calm her pounding heart. Tashda, with his charisma and fine words, could easily lead hundreds of men. And would have, she realized, if he'd intended to kidnap the Princess of Rizellen. She forced the pace of her breathing to slow and looked into his eyes with all the distaste she felt.

"Am I to be impressed?"

*****

I'm pleased with how the seven paragraphs contained a single beat. I wonder if I couldn't make all of this tighter. Then again, I always wonder that.

I'm tagging:
1. Michelle Ristuccia
2. Adryn Henard
3. Bryan Lincoln
4. Tee Morris
5. Justin Macumber
6. Rebecca Niles
7. Cat Rambo