She’s the One Who Doesn’t Say Much

(Book Four of the War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters)

by S.R. Cronin

GENRE: Historical Fantasy

BLURB:

Do you know what your problem is?

Olivine knows hers. This quiet thirteenth-century artist has been hiding a secret as she travels to K'ba to meet her friends. Others assume she's fallen in love with another artist, but it's much worse than that. For on the way to K'ba is the dirt poor nichna of Scrud, a place scorned by other Ilarians. And in Scrud is the one man who understands her.

However, Bohdan recognizes the dangers posed by an impending Mongol invasion. When he learns of Olivine's unusual visual powers, he convinces her to pick up her bow and start practicing.

She does, though she's more concerned with moving to K'ba where she can paint all day and see Bohdan whenever she wants. If only her sister hadn't decided Olivine and her fellow long eyes held one key to defending the realm.

Then, as if life wasn't complicated enough, Olivine learns the artist community she yearns to be part of has developed a different take on the invasion. They're sure the only way to survive is to capitulate completely to the Mongols’ demands. Artists who feel otherwise are no longer welcome.

Where does her future lie? The invasion is coming soon and Olivine doesn't have much time to decide.

EXCERPT:

Bohdan surprised me by being more upset than I expected after I failed to spend some of the holiday with him.

“We agreed to be a proper couple. Does this mean we are one only when you don’t have anything better to do?”

“Don’t say things like that. You know it’s not true.”

“Do I?”

Perhaps I’d taken his understanding nature for granted. I didn’t know how to respond. Would I always be having to prove to him he mattered? I hoped not.

Once I explained my reasons for staying in the forest, however, he surprised me again. After learning how Ryalgar wanted to ensure Ilari’s safety, he went from frustrated to delighted.

“It’s exactly what we need,” he said. “Those Svadlu, so full of themselves, they think they can do anything. We’ve heard how these Mongols have overrun realms far larger and fiercer.”

“Well, her plan is for both the Velka and the Svadlu to play a role in our defense, as well as any Ilarians who are willing.”

“It’s brilliant.”

“Complicated would be a better word. Her ideas will take a lot of people, a ridiculous amount of coordination, and a giant helping of luck. And yet, I agree. It’s better than waiting to get slaughtered. So, I’ll be part of her initial wave of defense, the piece that peels off the first part of their army.”

“What else does this initial wave need?”

“Well, mostly long eyes who’ve become capable archers. I don’t know how many of those we can find. And oomrushers, of course, but the Velka will provide those. I think that’s it.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You need bows, which you have. And you need arrows, but not just any arrows. You need the best my people can make for you.”

“We have plenty of arrows. I don’t think they can be made better.”

“Of course they can. We’ll make arrows with wood that understands the need for a longer flight.”

Understands? I thought maybe I hadn’t heard him right, but I didn’t want to say anything to dampen his enthusiasm.

Sherrie Cronin is the author of a collection of six speculative fiction novels known as 46. Ascending and is now in the process of publishing a historical fantasy series called The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters. A quick look at the synopses of her books makes it obvious she is fascinated by people achieving the astonishing by developing abilities they barely knew they had.

She’s made a lot of stops along the way to writing these novels. She’s lived in seven cities, visited forty-six countries, and worked as a waitress, technical writer, and geophysicist. Now she answers a hot-line. Along the way, she’s lost several cats but acquired a husband who still loves her and three kids who’ve grown up just fine, both despite how odd she is.

All her life she has wanted to either tell these kinds of stories or be Chief Science Officer on the Starship Enterprise. She now lives and writes in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she admits to occasionally checking her phone for a message from Captain Picard, just in case.

Author Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinnabar01

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Amazon: www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Cronin/e/B007FRMO9Q

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-r-cronin

Author Blog: https://sherriecronin.xyz/

Book Series Blog: https://troublesome7sisters.xyz/

Buy Link:

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Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shes-the-one-who-doesnt-say-much-s-r-cronin/1139107112