Welcome to our stop on the Dark Triumph Blog tour! We are so happy to be a part of this blog tour!
We bring you "OUTTAKE #4"
When we wake in the morning, Sybella is gone.
I am still blinking the wine from my head when Annith says, “Where is she?”
I turn and look at Sybella’s bed. It is empty. “Maybe she couldn’t sleep?”
“But she wouldn’t take the time to make her bed before pacing the halls with sleeplessness.”
Annith is right. Not only has the bed been made, but when I get up to feel them, the sheets are as cold as the stone floor against my feet. “Where would she have gone?” I ask. “Or perhaps she was sent somewhere.”
That thought has us both dressing as quickly as we can. We leave our room and head for the refectory, Annith accosting the first nun she sees. “Where is she?” Annith demands of Sister Widona, who is just returning from the stables.
“That is between Sybella and the reverend mother. Now, if you’ve finished breaking your fast, get to the weapon room. Sister Arnette is waiting.”
Annith stares at the nun a moment longer, then storms from the room. With a backwards glance that I pray appears apologetic, I follow. With growing alarm, I realize Annith is heading for the reverend mother’s office. “Are you sure this is wise?” I ask, but she ignores me and raps smartly on the door.
“Come in,” the reverend mother calls out. Annith strides into the room. I am close on her heels, unsure what she is planning and hoping it will not get us in trouble.
“Where is she?” Annith demands. My heart falters at her tone. I could never speak thus to the abbess, but then I have not been raised here since birth.
The reverend mother puts down her quill and looks up from her work, her eyes chillier than the winter sea. “Where is who?”
“Sybella.” Annith’s voice does not falter under that gaze and I wonder if it is her very innocence that makes her so bold. “She wasn’t in her bed this morning and we are worried about “While I admire your concern for your fellow novitiates, I cannot help but feel your methods are severely lacing in the proper respect.”
Annith looks down at her feet, but her eyes still burn with outrage.
“Sybella has been sent out on an assignment—”
Annith’s head jerks up. “But I have been here longer! I have had much more train—”
“Sybella has many skills she acquired in her life before the convent that have prepared her for this task. However, that is none of your concern and your questions are unseemly.”
“But—”
“There are no buts, Annith. If you cannot accept the conditions of your service to Mortain, then perhaps it is time we reassessed your desire to serve Him.”
Annith is shocked into silence. Clearly in all her years here and with all her small transgressions, no one has ever spoken to her this way.
“Assignments are between Mortain and those involved. It is not for you to know, not now, and not later. You are forbidden from questioning Sybella on her service to the god when she returns. Do you understand?”
When Annith says nothing, the reverend mother continues. “If you can not comply with this rule, then Sister Vereda will surely See that it is so and inform me. If she does, you will be removed from the convent, is that clear?”
Annith nods, then the reverend mother’s eyes turned to me, demanding my promise as well. “Yes, Holy Mother.”
“Excellent. Now, for this unseemly behavior, you shall both spend the day scrubbing the floor of the rookery. And I warn you, I will not tolerate such an outburst again.”
I am still blinking the wine from my head when Annith says, “Where is she?”
I turn and look at Sybella’s bed. It is empty. “Maybe she couldn’t sleep?”
“But she wouldn’t take the time to make her bed before pacing the halls with sleeplessness.”
Annith is right. Not only has the bed been made, but when I get up to feel them, the sheets are as cold as the stone floor against my feet. “Where would she have gone?” I ask. “Or perhaps she was sent somewhere.”
That thought has us both dressing as quickly as we can. We leave our room and head for the refectory, Annith accosting the first nun she sees. “Where is she?” Annith demands of Sister Widona, who is just returning from the stables.
“That is between Sybella and the reverend mother. Now, if you’ve finished breaking your fast, get to the weapon room. Sister Arnette is waiting.”
Annith stares at the nun a moment longer, then storms from the room. With a backwards glance that I pray appears apologetic, I follow. With growing alarm, I realize Annith is heading for the reverend mother’s office. “Are you sure this is wise?” I ask, but she ignores me and raps smartly on the door.
“Come in,” the reverend mother calls out. Annith strides into the room. I am close on her heels, unsure what she is planning and hoping it will not get us in trouble.
“Where is she?” Annith demands. My heart falters at her tone. I could never speak thus to the abbess, but then I have not been raised here since birth.
The reverend mother puts down her quill and looks up from her work, her eyes chillier than the winter sea. “Where is who?”
“Sybella.” Annith’s voice does not falter under that gaze and I wonder if it is her very innocence that makes her so bold. “She wasn’t in her bed this morning and we are worried about “While I admire your concern for your fellow novitiates, I cannot help but feel your methods are severely lacing in the proper respect.”
Annith looks down at her feet, but her eyes still burn with outrage.
“Sybella has been sent out on an assignment—”
Annith’s head jerks up. “But I have been here longer! I have had much more train—”
“Sybella has many skills she acquired in her life before the convent that have prepared her for this task. However, that is none of your concern and your questions are unseemly.”
“But—”
“There are no buts, Annith. If you cannot accept the conditions of your service to Mortain, then perhaps it is time we reassessed your desire to serve Him.”
Annith is shocked into silence. Clearly in all her years here and with all her small transgressions, no one has ever spoken to her this way.
“Assignments are between Mortain and those involved. It is not for you to know, not now, and not later. You are forbidden from questioning Sybella on her service to the god when she returns. Do you understand?”
When Annith says nothing, the reverend mother continues. “If you can not comply with this rule, then Sister Vereda will surely See that it is so and inform me. If she does, you will be removed from the convent, is that clear?”
Annith nods, then the reverend mother’s eyes turned to me, demanding my promise as well. “Yes, Holy Mother.”
“Excellent. Now, for this unseemly behavior, you shall both spend the day scrubbing the floor of the rookery. And I warn you, I will not tolerate such an outburst again.”
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
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R.L. LaFevers (Robin Lorraine when she’s in really big trouble) grew up surrounded by shelves of old dusty books and a passel of brothers. She has also spent a large portion of her life being told she was making up things that weren’t there, which only proves she was destined to write fiction. She is the author of over fourteen books for young readers, including THEODOSIA AND THE SERPENTS OF CHAOS, (Houghton Mifflin, 2007) which received starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Booksense Summer Pick, and nominated for the Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award, and the NATHANIEL FLUDD, BEASTOLOGIST series. Her first young adult novel, GRAVE MERCY, will be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Spring of 2012. She currently lives with her husband and a demonic cat in Southern California and spends her days gazing longingly at ancient artifacts or wallowing in old forgotten texts.
For more information on Robin and her series you can follow her on: her website | blog |twitter | facebook.
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Awesome giveaway. I so can't wait to read this. So excited for Robin's success.
ReplyDeleteMy students and I loved the first book. We can't wait for the next installment!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this sequel! I just stumbled upon Grave Mercy and loved how different it was from anything else I've read lately. Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is quite a prize! Thanks so much for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat outtake! I miss Ismae's POV. . .
ReplyDeleteAnother fabulous outtake. You're absolutely killing me here!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting outtake! I loved Grave Mercy and I thought Sybella was an intriguing character! Can't wait to read her story!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Leanne
Nice outtake
ReplyDeleteLove outtakes! More more! I can't wait to read on Sybella's POV and what's next in the story.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, poor Annith! I always felt so bad for her. I hope she gets her own place! I believe that's what Book Three, Mortal Heart, will be about? Either way, YAY for Annith! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome giveaway. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeletethanks for the great post! Congrats to Robin on her newest release!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Dark Triumph!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for participating in this tour. Grave Mercy is an all time favorite, and I have no doubt that Dark Triumph will join it shortly!
ReplyDeleteI so loved Grave Mercy. Cannot wait to now read Sybella's story
ReplyDeleteLoved reading all of the outtakes! Can't wait for Dark Triumph!!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me more excited! Love love Grave Mercy. Can't wait for Dark Triumph!
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is a great tease for Annith's story to come-loved the first two books and excited to read hers too!
ReplyDelete