First Things First: a Little Information about Book 1:
The story is set in a world very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Any slave attempting to escape faces the dilemma of how and where to illegally get their collar removed (a crime punishable by enslavement for the remover).
Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
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Excerpt:
Bensin slumped over the handlebars of the exercise bike, trying to catch his breath. He grinned at the little screen flashing green in front of him. I made my goal! Now Ian wouldn’t lash him.
Seeing that Bensin was done, an arena worker came by with a cup. Bensin drained the protein shake, which tasted mostly of pineapple and orange today, and handed the empty cup back. He looked around to see where his trainer was, wondering how long a break he would get before his next assignment.
Ian was busy chewing out Fifty-Five for not meeting his goal on the leg press, and Tim was keeping an eye on Fifty-One and Fifty-Four as they took turns lifting weights and spotting each other. But Riddior strolled over to the Fifties’ training zone and took a look at Bensin’s screen. “Hey, good job! You’re getting better!”
“Thanks.” Riddior was Skeyvian, and seemed to be the only really nice person who worked at Red Arena. Broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, probably in his forties, Bensin had learned that he was Red Arena’s training manager. He supervised all the trainers and oversaw the workout plans they created for their glads. Sometimes he pulled glads aside for special training sessions in certain martial arts.
Riddior was also the only person in charge who didn’t carry a shockwhip or dartblower. Of course, he was always flanked by a guard or two who did, but Bensin couldn’t imagine any glads wanting to hurt Riddior. He handed out compliments and encouragement, never punishing or even scolding.
“I was watching yesterday as you practiced cavvara shil,” Riddior told Bensin. “You’ve got real talent. You’re better than some of the guys who’ve been training here for years.”
“Thanks,” Bensin repeated, grinning once again. Riddior’s compliment made him think of Coach Steene, who had also been generous with the encouragement — and who had gotten him this good in the first place. The thought of Coach made him angry, but he pushed aside the bitter thoughts since Riddior was still talking.
“A couple more weeks and I think you’ll be ready to represent us out on the sand against another arena. I know you’re still recovering from some injuries at the moment, but those don’t seem to be holding you back much, and from what Doc tells me, you’re recovering nicely.”
Something tightened in Bensin’s gut. His cheek and nose still hurt, and he sported some colorful bruises from the duel that should have ended in his death, but he knew he really was doing pretty well. Yet the thought of fighting out there again ….
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for $2.99 a discounted price of just 99 cents through April 30th!
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later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her
husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at
Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since
her childhood, and to date has published twelve books (two YA action and
adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, and five anthologies of her
students’ poetry). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially
fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Connect with the Author Online:
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
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Thanks for stopping!
Barbara
Annie Douglass Lima says
Thanks for featuring The Gladiator and the Guard! I hope your readers enjoy it!