Greetings and welcome to another round of Weekend Writing Warriors. This week, since I’m up to my eyeballs in it, I’ve decided to share from my current WIP, a reimagined fairy tale currently titled Gryffon Hall. Our hero, Wryler Glimmerveen, is reluctantly attending a fancy feast hosted by his father, lord of Glimmerveen castle. Wyler, the fourth son, expects to soon be married off to Lennox, a wealthy merchant’s son, but a mysterious visitor may throw his carefully planned future into disarray.
***
A commotion at the wide doors served as a welcome distraction. Three rather large men had entered, shouting greetings and apologies for their lateness. The crowd parted and a footman cleared his throat.
“Lord Aeric Rouchet, Earl of Gryffon Hall!” he announced. The gasp and murmur that rippled through the room would have amused Wryler, if not for the fact that Wryler couldn’t help gasping and murmuring along with the rest of them.
“What is he doing here? Shall we alert the guards?” he whispered into his father’s ear.
The music came to a squeaky halt as Aeric Rouchet stepped forward. Everyone gaped at the notorious barbarian from the west. The footman, who was no slight fellow, appeared diminutive next to the visitor; Rouchet could have picked him up with one hand and used him to clean the gristle from his teeth.
***
Gryffon Hall, known in the real world as Eltz Castle, Germany.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or perhaps their current work in progress. Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! I heartily invite you to participate as a reader, writer, or both. It’s a great way to discover your next favorite book. Click here or use the address: http://www.wewriwa.com
Alexis Duran 
I like the final line – says a great deal about Aeric in just a few words. Very effective!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Peter, your last line does an excellent job. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Wryler seems quite taken with the barbarian from the west. 😀 (As am I already.)
LikeLike
I just love all of the names in this. And I’ve been known to use Eltz Castle as a setting or two. Some castles are just askin’ for it. 🙂
LikeLike
I loved the description of the earl’s size, cleaning gristle off his teeth.
LikeLike
What a great last line!!! And a tantalizing premise. Looking forward to more about this Aeric…
LikeLike
Love that description! Though it makes me wonder if appearances are deceptive here…
LikeLike
Awesome snippet. I sense chaos will be following in the wake of these barbarians 🙂
LikeLike
Love the castle! Also.. “Wryler couldn’t help gasping and murmuring along with the rest of them.” tells us a lot about this new guest. Great snippet.
LikeLike
I love this sentence, Alexis: “The gasp and murmur that rippled through the room would have amused Wryler, if not for the fact that Wryler couldn’t help gasping and murmuring along with the rest of them.” Actually, I liked the whole thing. I’m always in awe of how fluid your writing is.
LikeLike