First Excerpt from Gay Epic Fantasy Mate

I’m about one quarter to a third through editing my gay Epic Fantasy Mate, the seventh book in the Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse series, and the fourth and last part of The Invisible Hands.

The action plays in far flung regions, from the Wild Territories between Naodyma and Trachia, over the satrapies of Lorsanthia where Anaxantis is maneuvering his small army between the far larger ones of both his ally and his adversary, to the Highlands of Great Renuvia where Ehandar, together with Tomar, tries to keep on top of all the problems, partly caused by the absence of his brother, the warlord.
As far as I can tell, and barring major catastrophes, I’m still on track for a release by the last week of October.

What’s next?

Since I put First Excerpt in the title, obviously there will be at least one other excerpt.

A week or so before publication there will be a cover reveal post.

Further down you will find that first excerpt, part of a scene of Chapter 5: Lines of Communication.

In a few days the subscribers to my New Releases Newsletter will receive the complete scene.

If you want to know why I am nudging you — gently, I hope — to subscribe to my new releases newsletter, please, read this post.

Choosing an excerpt is always a challenge, because I don’t want to give away too many spoilers. A scene with Merw seemed the best choice.

Merw has set himself a task, which he needs to do by himself. So he needs to get rid of Rullio…

Rullio quietly entered their bedroom. A bulge at the foot of the bed betrayed Merw wasn’t awake yet.
“Still asleep, kitten?” the count whispered.
“Not anymore,” a muffled, but obviously disgruntled voice came from under the bed clothes. Two sleepy eyes peeked through a fold in the sheets. “Who could stay asleep when you come stomping into the room, yelling at the top of your lungs? Really, Rullio, sometimes I think you don’t care about my health at all. I really do.”
“I’m sorry, kitten. I’ll try to be less noisy in future.” Rullio chuckled softly. He became serious again. “Are you feeling under the weather? Should we send for a doctor? There are some excellent ones in Mezyrna.”
“I don’t need no fucking doctor, Rullio. I’m just a bit tired. That’s all.” The fold in the sheets closed. “You know very well who tired me out.”
“So, you won’t be joining me?” Rullio asked.
“I told you I’m tired, Rullio. Do you ever listen to me? No, you don’t. I’m tired. I would fall off Horsey. You’d have to carry my corpse back to Aldemon Castle. Do you really need the grief?”
“No, kitten, I don’t. That would be a most unpleasant experience, so I won’t insist.”

The moment he was sure the count had left their quarters, Merw rose. He walked naked and yawning to the little balcony that gave out onto the garden. He scratched his left butt cheek and stretched, letting his skin soak up the morning sun. He peed over the balustrade and let out a drawn-out grunt of relief. Feeling lighter, he proceeded to the iron bath craftsmen from Mezyrna had installed. The servants had filled it with water earlier. It was still warm, and although Rullio had used it before him, Merw lay down and started washing himself.
He looked at the sponge.
“A fucking animal. Who’d ever have thought you were a fucking animal once?”
Contrary to his usual ritual, which consisted of yelling for Rullio to bring more warm water and soaking in the tub for more than an hour, he came out of the bath after fifteen minutes and toweled himself reasonably dry. Still naked he went to the large, man-high mirror he had insisted the count buy during one of their trips to Mezyrna. He stuck out his tongue at his image and raked his hand through his long, light brown hair. He grinned, satisfied.