I’m a bit distracted at the moment, dears. Last Saturday my beloved dog was taken ill and the poor lad died on Wednesday. I’m heartbroken, as is the rest of the family. We’ll miss his silly big black face. He was a PROPER dog – big and furry – and the kindest, most joyous, tolerant and caring soul one could wish to meet. ;_;
Nevertheless, it’s Six Sentence Sunday time again – you can join up on the site here.
Simplicity itself – register, then, on the following Sunday, post six sentences from a WIP or published work to the blog corresponding to the URL you registered.
As usual my excerpt is from A Fierce Reaping, my story set in Scotland and Northumbria in the 6th/7th century AD. Cynon has dismissed Cynfal, telling him to return to his friends while Cynon has a ‘word’ with his cousin, Gwion. Once back with Aeddan, Cynfal asks what’s going on.
Aeddan stretched a bit to look across to the dark corner where Cynon was standing over the harper, his hand on the thin shoulder, giving Gwion a little shake for emphasis as he spoke. Gwion seemed to be trying to distract himself from what Cynon was saying, looking firstly towards Aneurin and then along the hall.
“I’m not sure,” Aeddan admitted, “but, at a guess, Cynon is trying to get him to go back to Aeron and it would be better for all if he did – having someone like that in the hall can only be bad luck.”
As if sensing he was being discussed Gwion stared at Cynfal and again Cynfal felt the heat of lust arise, but gentler this time. The harper’s face was open and easily read. He wanted Cynfal, but there was a tension about his mouth that suggested he did not intend to give in to his desires.
Elin Gregory 
Mmm, nice. Will they or won’t they? Oh I do hope so. 🙂 Nice six again Elin. Thank you.
Thanks, swee’pea!
I’m sorry to hear about your dog. It’s never easy when they leave us.
Nice six. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Jessica.
I say give in to those desires!
🙂 I’ll make them wait. I’ve never been a one for instant gratification.
I’m really sorry to hear about your dog. He sounds just wonderful.
Your six is great. I always love stolen glances between would-be lovers, but where you’ve placed it made it all the more significant.
Thanks for commenting. Six sentences doesn’t give a lot of space for backstory. I think I might have to skip along a bit to some action. 🙂
Welcome! I was just thinking the same thing about my Six Sentences. But I think it’s nice to have a variety, too. 🙂
Elin, condolences on the loss of your dog. When friends leave us, we have a certain emptiness in our lives. Hugs.
Interesting six and I agree that you have that glance in just the right place. I like that spooky air you’ve given Gwion.
thanks for commenting. Gwion is spooky, poor lad. I’m puzzling over how to get that across though. I might have to put up a page for dramatis personae or something.
(((hugs)))
I’m hoping they given in. Intriguing 6.
Eventually they will 🙂 but at six sentences at a time I doubt if it will be before next January :).
Thanks for commenting.
Very nice six. *Hugs* So sorry to hear about your dog.
He was a sweetheart. Thanks for commenting.
First off, I am SO sorry for the recent loss in your family. Your dog sounds like he was lovely and sweet. It’s heartbreaking when we lose our beloved pets and the void they leave in our family is very real. I hope you can feel better soon….
Regarding your snippet this week: This is so intriguing to me. It’s interesting (as I understand it) that Aeddan thinks Gwion is dangerous to the ranks or the mission in some way (is it because of his attractiveness or lusty nature? Or is it something much more nefarious?), yet this is clearly NOT the reaction that Cynfal is having toward the guy. Great six, Elin!
Thanks for commenting. Yes, dog was a sweetheart and the sunniest natured soul imaginable. Even the postman liked him!
Gwion has a considerable backstory [as has Cynfal] and I’m not sure how to get that across. I might have to do a dramatis personae post to try and make it easier to keep track of who is who.
Thanks for commenting.
My condolences. It’s like a best friend dying
Thanks. I’m glad there are so many people who understand.
Nice snippet. Sorry to hear about your dog.
Thanks for commenting, Sandra. Yes, he’s much missed but now we’re thinking of the happy stuff.
Very sorry to hear about your dog. That has to be one of the hardest things, to lose a beloved pet. My condolences. Great six. I can feel the tension between them.
“There are certain animals that, perhaps because of what we put into them, become more than animals. They are a part of ourselves, and their death diminishes us.” (from a different part of War’s End.)
Six sentences is too short to keep track of the characters.
Never was a truer word spoken. Or written. 🙂
Also, yes, I have too many characters for SSS to be effective. I either need to do a dramatis personae post to fill in the gaps or excerpt something more straightforward. Thanks for your comments, they are always insightful.
I am so sorry to hear about your dog, they are family! Is Cynfal unaware of the harper’s desire, or just playing it cool? It sounds like many may be jealous of stares and lusts for Cynfal.
Thanks for commenting.
It’s just Moried and Gwion appsrently after Cynfal but Moried has an agenda!
Oh, Elin. I’m so sorry about your “good boy.” My two Newfoundlands are my constant companions. I know how heart-broken you are. Thank you for soldiering on and sharing the snippet. I so enjoy revisiting Cynfal and his lads each week. Another excellent snippet.
Aww Newfoundlands! such lovely big beasts. Mine was a flat coated retriever, a breed bred in the 19th century by crossing Newfoundlands with English setters to try and get a dog with all the best attributes. Mine was floppy, soppy and was scared of the water – not sure how far he’d bred true. 🙂
I’m so glad you’re still enjoying Cynfal etc. Thanks for commenting.
Very nice six. The character’s names set an atmosphere, and assign an age to the story. 🙂
I’m so sorry for your loss. Gosh, dogs get to be like children. A couple of years ago, we lost our 12 yr old, Gus, to diabetes, and then 8 months later, our 15 yr old Pokey –he just couldn’t get his old hips to move any more.
We have a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old now. Rottweiler mixes, both rescues. Poor dogs. They come with so much baggage.
I hope your memories of your dear lad help you through this. 🙂
We are very much thinking of the good stuff – like how when we got kittens, he picked which was ‘his’ and allowed her to share his food and bed and take turns in chasing. Watching a massive black dog ‘run away’ from a tiny bouncing tabby cat is a very happy memory. Rottweilers have a bad rep in the UK but I know that they can be amazingly gentle beasts if treated properly. I hope you have years of fun with yours.
Thanks for commenting.
Many blessings for you and your family with the loss of a loved one.
Good six, Elin. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Siobhan. 🙂
Hugs, Elen. Sorry about your sweet dog. Great six.
Thanks Ute. *hugs back*
I’m so sorry for your loss, Elin. 😦 They truly are family members. -hugs-
He was a lovely funny Peter Pan of a dog who chose which of our cats would be ‘his’ and allowed HER to chase HIM. 😀 good memories. thanks so much for commenting.
I’m so sorry about your dog, Elin! *hugs* I loved your description of him….
Loved your 6, it was dripping with sexual tension!
Thanks Angela. We’re at the stage now of chatting about all the funny things he did. bless him.
Glad you liked the six. Thanks for commenting.
Great six! You have a terrific sense of motion and some terrific detail here — nice work!
And VERY sorry about your dog. 😦
Thanks for commenting, Steven. It’s much appreciated.
Oh, what a tough thing to bear — I would be heartbroken at losing such a treasure like he was.
Definitely lots of intrigue and tension here. Nice six. 🙂
thanks for commenting Doona. He was a big fuzzy gem. 🙂 Glad you liked the 6.
OMG what AWFUL typing. sorry about that.
Much sympathy about your dog.
Thanks Stevie 😦 even the cats miss him.
So heartbreaking to lose a pet …
Great 6, as always!
Thanks for commenting CC.
Oh Elin, I’m so sorry you lost him. He sounds wonderful.
(I was hoping Cynfal and Gwion would get together!)
😦 we’re still very sad but are talking about the fun and silly things he did. He’s cheering us up even though he’s no longer with us.
Cynfal and Gwion have a way to go yet. Poor souls – i doubt they’ll get any action in SSS before January.:)
I’m so sorry for your lost. He sounds like he was everything a dog should be and than some. As for your six, I love this weeks snippet, particularly your last line. Great job and I hope this week brings you a great deal of happiness.
We’re remembering happy dog times, like his toy duck and how he’d let the tabby cat chase him.
Glad you’re still liking the sixes and thanks for commenting.
This is beautifully written. I am so terribly sorry about your pup. I hope the happy memories are flooding your heart, mind, and household right now!