It’s been a while, so I decided to participate in Weekend Writing Warriors this week! This week’s eight comes from the first chapter of Olde School. Ippick, Uljah, and Paddlelump are at lunch at Trip Trap’s Diner, and Uljah and Paddlelump discuss the finer points and frustrations of owning a bridge…
The Eight:
“Ye get all the travelers, the idiots that lose their way in the forest, all the traffic from the ‘burbs, the shepherds, the flower and herb fanciers—”
“The blasted sheep and goats,” Paddlelump grumbled. He glanced up at Uljah’s amused chuckle. “They bite!”
“Oh, I feel so sorry for you, boyo. You can exploit any stragglers not accounted for by their shepherds for wool and meat and make a pretty profit. Out of all of us, you’re set for life.”
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Book One of The Kingdom City Chronicles
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Cross-Genre: Fantasy, Fairy/Folktale, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Horror
Kingdom City has moved into the modern era. Run by a lord mayor and city council (though still under the influence of the High King of The Land), it proudly embraces a blend of progress and tradition. Trolls, ogres, and other Folk walk the streets with humans, but are more likely to be entrepreneurs than cause trouble. Princesses still want to be rescued, but they now frequent online dating services to encourage lords, royals, and politicians to win their favor. The old stories are around, but everyone knows they’re just fodder for the next movie franchise. Everyone knows there’s no such thing as magic. It’s all old superstition and harmless tradition.
Bookish, timid, and more likely to carry a laptop than a weapon, Paddlelump Stonemonger is quickly coming to wish he’d never put a toll bridge over Crescent Ravine. While his success has brought him lots of gold, it’s also brought him unwanted attention from the Lord Mayor. Adding to his frustration, Padd’s oldest friends give him a hard time when his new maid seems inept at best and conniving at worst. When a shepherd warns Paddlelump of strange noises coming from Thadd Forest, he doesn’t think much of it. Unfortunately for him, the history of his land goes back further than anyone can imagine. Before long he’ll realize that he should have paid attention to the old tales and carried a club.
Darkness threatens to overwhelm not only Paddlelump, but the entire realm. With a little luck, a strange bird, a feisty waitress, and some sturdy friends, maybe, just maybe, Padd will survive to eat another meal at Trip Trap’s diner. It’s enough to make the troll want to crawl under his bridge, if he can manage to keep it out of the clutches of greedy politicians
Come Selahway With Me... 
Great snippet. The bit about the “herb fanciers” made me laugh.
Some very nice world building in your 8. I really enjoyed it!!
What a fun take on things! I loved their complaining….great excerpt!
Trolls?