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<\/a><\/center>Welcome to the Weekend Writing Warriors blog hop in which writers share 8-10 sentences from their work.<\/p>\nThis week’s excerpt from Warrior Priest picks up where last week’s left off. Jade and Selena are sharing their first meal together.<\/p>\n
Thank you for stopping by!<\/p>\n
Excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n Ari Brent proclaimed in his booming voice, \u201cOut of respect for our guests, we will speak our prayer in the common tongue. We give thanks for this food that gives us strength to perform our duty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe give thanks,\u201d the priests repeated.<\/p>\n Selena was quite aware of the rumble of Jade\u2019s voice beside her. \u201cWe give thanks.\u201d Selena joined the priests in their response.<\/p>\n \u201cWe give thanks to the land and sea for this bounty that won\u2019t be wasted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe give thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Again the gong sounded.<\/p>\n That’s 10, but if you’d like to continue, here’s a bit more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Priests stood and headed toward a counter at the back of Selena found herself toward the front of the long, relatively quiet line of hungry priests. Elspeth stood in front of her and Ari Jade directly behind. Though he didn\u2019t touch her, they were in such close proximity that she felt his body heat and couldn\u2019t help noticing how he loomed over her. At five feet seven inches, Selena wasn\u2019t a short woman, but he still towered over her. For that matter, so did Franklin, but he didn\u2019t make her feel like this.<\/p>\n At the serving counter, a priest handed her a plate with steaming vegetables, a piece of flatbread, and chunks of meat. Her heartbeat quickened and she wondered how to handle this situation. She should have prepared better for social settings\u2014in particular meals.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready?\u201d Ari Jade raised an eyebrow at Selena.<\/p>\n She and Elspeth were quite frozen and holding back the line. Selena forced a smile. \u201cYes. I\u2019m sorry. Elspeth, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n Back at the table, Selena and Elspeth stared at their plates.<\/p>\n \u201cSelena, what should we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Just start with the vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n Ari Jade settled his large frame into the chair beside Selena and picked up his fork. Instead of digging into his food, he leaned a bit closer to her. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to eat that meat if you don\u2019t want to,\u201d he said in a deep whisper.<\/p>\n She glanced at him, surprised by his comment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re vegetarians, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Warrior Priest<\/strong> What happens when a warrior priest from a strict religion meets a free-spirited priestess from a new age commune?<\/p>\n Jade and Selena are as different as two people can be, but to facilitate an alliance between their worlds, they engage in a cultural exchange. With their galaxy in danger from a planet that wants to conquer or destroy all others, they realize the importance of their assignment, but it is difficult for a warrior priest and a nonviolent priestess to understand each other.<\/p>\n Selena is both attracted and appalled by his old school masculinity, and Jade is tempted to break his vow of celibacy until marriage due to his powerful desire for her. Will this unlikely pair not only find common ground, but unconditional love?<\/p>\n Warrior Priest is on sale for $0.99 until June 30<\/strong>, 2022 at Amazon<\/a> and Smashwords<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe give thanks for companions to share it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nthe room. Several priests waited there, ready to serve the meal.<\/p>\n
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\nby Kate Hill<\/p>\n