FREE Book - Phelice

On 1st December my free fantasy book Phelice will be released by Desert Breese Publishing.  This is the prequel to Zaeyen, book 4 of the Cloud Kingdoms series. You can find this book at  http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/cloud-kingdoms-free-…/

Cloud Kingdoms books are fantasy romances set in an alternate world. The castles of the nobles float in the air. Phelice and her new husband Jariss have an arranged marriage. Now they must learn how to make their union a success and also solve the problems of the spirit creatures who live downside on the planet.

Lise from Elisette - Cloud Kingdoms Book Two

Elisette

Today the heroine from Elisette, the second book of the Cloud Kingdom series, visits the blog. 

Hello Elisette.

Elisette:  Please call me Lise, Elisette is for people who don't know me. 

Very well Lise, thank you for visiting us today. Would you like to tell us a bit about your life?

Lise:  There's not much to tell. My mother, father and I lived in Lan until my father died in an accident when I was five years old. We had a happy life until then.

I'm sorry to hear about your father. Did you stay in Lan after his death?

Lise:  Mother and I managed for a while but then she got sick and couldn't work. A widowed farmer from Northside offered us a home if mother would marry him and look after his house and family. Unfortunately we had no other option.

You don't live there any longer do you?

Lise:  No. The men of my stepfamily began to take an interest in me when I started developing as a woman so mother sent me away.

What ever did you do?

Lise: I meant to try for a job in one of the big houses of Lan, but instead the Duchess of Lan engaged me as a nurserymaid to help her children's nanny. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

So what's it like living in a sky castle?

Lise: It's so different. The Duchess has put a proper bathroom in the nursery so I don't have to haul water up for the children's bath. They have dropchutes to move from floor to floor and the nobles travel downside by mattporters. I take the children to the castle gardens when the weather's nice, and did you know the weather is actually decided by the Duke?

Really? So what do you do when you're not working?

Lise: (blushes) I've made friends with a Capet. He's been very kind and shown me how to get downside, where to shop for personal needs. He's nice.

Nice? He's just a friend?

Lise: Well, we have kissed but we're trying to be discreet because it's not a good idea for a capet and an nurserymaid to become a couple. We go for walks in the gardens in the evening and have afternoon tea downside on my days off.

Do you think there's any future in the relationship?

Lise: I don't think so because his parents will want him to marry someone of a better social standing. I'm enjoying things while they last. Sorry I have to get back before the children wake up.

Thank you for talking to us, Lise. I hope everything works out for you and your Capet.


Excerpt

Outside, Lise pondered which way to take to the laundry. Guessing it would be on the same level as the kitchens, she headed for the staircase sack slung over her shoulders and her head bowed as she compensated for the extra weight.

"Watch out!"

Startled by the sudden appearance of a male body, Lise looked up quickly. Capet Sard stood in front of her, hands on hips and a big grin on his face.

"I'm so sorry, Capet. I didn't see you coming."

"Where are you off to?" Sard smiled at her.

"The laundry, sir."

"Here, let me help you. It's far too heavy for you to carry." He reached his hand toward the sack slung over her shoulder, but Lise quickly backed away.

"No, sir, really. I'm a lot stronger than I look. Besides, it wouldn't be right--a Capet like you helping me with my work. Excuse me, please."

Sard blocked her way as Lise tried to push past. He soon realized her determination and raising his hands in surrender took a step toward the wall.

"Thank you, Capet," Lise murmured and hurried toward the staircase.

"You're welcome, Lise."

His voice came from right behind her. He had followed her. How else would she have heard his words, especially when his voice had been low and soft?

"Please, Capet. I thank you for putting me forward for this job, but I really need to prove myself to the Duchess and Mesry Keva. The Mesry thinks you got me the job. I have to show her I can be trusted to do the work allotted to me."

"I understand, Lise." Sard's eyes bored deep into hers, and her head ducked to avoid his searching look. He lifted her chin with his finger and his gaze searched deep within her to find the real Lise. "You can't work all the time. I'll wait until you're on a break and we'll talk."

Lise fled. His touch stirred a wealth of emotions. Emotions her troubled mind had no idea how to deal with. Her thoughts tumbled in turmoil, but her survival instincts still worked and her feet came to an abrupt halt on the stairs as the familiar odors of washing soap and hot water drifted across her path. To her left a heavy wooden door barred her way and Lise tentatively pushed it open.

Buy Link

Sue Perkins books published by Desert Breeze Publishing

Webpage:  http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.co.nz

Facebook: Sue Perkins, Author

Twitter: Sue Perkins, Author

Other books by Sue Perkins can be found on her website.

Sard - Elisette by Sue Perkins

Capet Sard makes his appearance in a minor role in the first of the Cloud Kingdom series Caishel. 
Book 2 of the Cloud Kingdom series Elisette (due out 21st August) presents him as the hero. Here we find out a little about his life.

My dream Capet Sard
Copyright:
curaphotography / 123RF Stock Photo

Welcome Capet Sard, thank you for coming to visit my blog.

Sard: It's a pleasure. I'm finding this world very interesting.

Tell me what is a Capet?

Sard: It's a step in the hierarchy of my planet Hejmen. At the bottom are the merchants and townspeople. The next step up are pages, usually the sons of noblemen. Then come the Capets. We have finished our training but are not experienced enough to become Sires, which is the level above Capet. Then at the top are the Dukes of the Cloud Kingdoms.

What do you actually do?

Sard: I am a Capet in Duke Ailan of Lan's court. I attend to matters in his realm that he's too busy to see to. I also accompany him when he visits other castles.

Will you eventually become a Sire?

Sard: Yes, I will. But I won't make it to Duke. I'm the heir to my father's estate of Karn in the dukedom of Rak. We breed nahhars and have a fine stable.

And a nahhar is?

Sard: I think you call them unicorns although they're not exactly the same. Beautiful animals of all different colors.

What is the badge you wear on your tunic?

Sard: It's a Horak, the bird is the emblem of Rak. Lan has a dragon as its emblem.

Are there dragons on Hejmen?

Sard: I don't think so. Duchess Caishel dug through the archives in the castle of Lan and found the very first Duke remembered the tales his father told him of huge scaled creatures back on the home planet. The Duke decided to make this his emblem.

What do you see in your future life?

Sard: I'd like to find a wife and settle down to raise a family. My home life as a child was a happy one and I'd like to have the same for my own children.

Have you anyone specific in mind to take as your wife?

Sard: (blushes) Yes I have, but forgive me if I don't tell you who. She's rather special but quite shy. I must go now but thank you for inviting me to visit your world.

Blurb

Capet Sard helps Lise obtain a job as nursemaid in the floating Castle of Lan. Love blossoms between noble and servant, but Sard is called home to Rak. Shortly after his departure Lise discovers she is pregnant and travels to Rak. Lise is in danger and Sard is worried he hasn't heard from her. He sets out to discover her whereabouts and joins with the Eos to attempt to find his beloved. Failure to rescue Lise and find the true heir of Rak could mean disaster for the whole planet of Hejmen.

Excerpt

The girl's steps were brisk, each one taking her further from the life of drudgery on the farm. Life in the town would be no easier, but at least there'd be payment for working, and maybe a chance to meet girls her own age.

Her departure had been an hour after sunrise when the day moon Daith sat like a pink shadow in the sky. Two hours later, her footsteps took her past the mileage stone at the turning onto the main road to Landon. The town appeared in the distance and her eyes widened at the sight of the sky castle floating high above the ground. Ellie remembered their journey to the farm when her mother married Horgarth. The castle had looked unkempt, with a tilt slightly off its true level. Now the sunlight glinted off the surface making it a sparkling jewel in the bright blue sky.

Hearing the sound of hoofbeats behind her, the girl moved to one side of the road to allow the rider to pass. To her surprise, the nahhar stopped. The same young man who had asked directions the day before looked down at her.

"Are you heading for Landon?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes, Sire -- I mean Capet." Ellie ducked her head to hide her confusion.

"So am I. Can I offer you a ride on Vassar?"

Ellie glanced up, looking for Vassar, before realizing the Capet spoke about the golden nahhar.

"Thank you, but no. I haven't far to go now."

"I'll walk with you." He dismounted and, taking the reins in his hand, stepped out beside her.

        Ellie thought his offer had been a mere courtesy and expected the noble to ride on. Instead he walked beside her, smelling clean and fresh, not like her stepbrothers who always had a stale odour of sweat hanging off their bodies. Should Ellie speak or remain silent? The Capet solved the problem by chatting casually about all manner of things.

Buy Link

Sue Perkins books published by Desert Breeze Publishing

Webpage:  http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.co.nz

Facebook: Sue Perkins, Author

Twitter: Sue Perkins, Author

Other books by Sue Perkins can be found on her website.

Dragon Ice release

Dragon Ice, the third of my Dragon series is now available on Desert Breeze Publishing.

Neisha and her people are trapped in the frozen north by silver dragons. In her dreams she is contacted by Tane who vows to come and help her people escape. She tries to dissuade him and Neisha is scared he will become trapped with her people. Tane refuses to accept there is nothing he can do and he and his friend set out to find Neisha's home.

Excerpt

Dragon Ice - Dragon Series 3

One cold afternoon, Neisha lay outside the main entrance watching the dragons fly across the plateau. Her father could be right. They did appear to search for new accommodation. Every now and again one would fly lower and investigate an opening in the cliff face big enough for them to enter. She noticed none of the caves opened on ground level.

Her grandmother's diary recounted the ancestors' investigations of these caves for a way to the outside world. They found them roomy, but dead-ended, and too high for humans to use. The dragons might access these caves and use them as lairs, but they would directly face the entrance to the human underground community. No doubt the beasts would physically object to their presence, and restrict the humans' access to the surface.

The sky darkened to black with the stars the only source of light. Neisha thought of the warmer season arriving in a few months. The men would go topside to hunt for fresh meat among the variety of wild animals on the plateau. Last year, the dragons seldom ventured in from the pass, but now the beasts hunted the same animals. This meant big problems for the humans.

The cold began to penetrate her furs and Neisha stood to return inside. A screech behind her made her spin around. A huge silver dragon flew toward her, mouth open wide. Steamy breath exploded from its gaping maw and became ice arrows. Neisha threw herself to the ground and crawled around the corner to the entry door. Once safe behind the rocky wall, she peeked back to the outside, only allowing her head to show.

The dragon swooped by the opening, blocking the light for a moment, and with a deep beat of its wings soared into the sky again. Neisha vowed to watch more carefully next time she came up to the surface, and she made sure to shut the wooden door firmly behind her.