Here’s a teaser from Book
two Zenobia – Challenging a Legend, which
will be released later this year. The scene takes place with Zenobia and
Longinus. Cassius Dionysius Longinus is known in history as a living
encyclopedia. Besides Zenobia, Longinus is another historical figure that
intrigued me when I was writing Zenobia’s life story. I have Longinus instructing Zenobia’s favorite
class, Critical Thinking, in book one, but this may not have actually happened.
What is certain is that he became her top advisor when she became queen and de
facto ruler of Tadmor. He joined her campaign to overthrow Rome, lending his
formidable analytical powers to her political and strategic skills. Most
readers will enjoy the intellectual interplay between them, which really takes
off in book two. He is intrigued by the toughness and brilliance of his
beautiful pupil, while at the same time he fears her reckless daring puts her
at risk. After Zenobia herself, Longinus was my favorite character to develop
and
work with.
The two horses pounded along the
trail. Saturn wanted to overtake Bethy, but Longinus held him back. He watched
intently the girl in front of him. He detected the subtle shifts of her body as
her mare flew up and down the hills and around the curves. She could have been born on a horse, he told himself. What a beautiful rider! And somewhere
deep inside he realized that he meant it in more ways than one, but he did not
allow himself to dwell on that. After a while, he gave Saturn his head and the
big stallion overtook the mare.
Zenobia knew that her instructor
had studied her ride, and she responded. He sat tall in his saddle, and he was
a proficient rider. She could tell, however, that he was not a natural at it
like Salim or Cam . He had evidently learned
intellectually, and for some reason that disappointed her a bit.
They arrived at the connected rise
and dune, but Zenobia noted that the formations had changed in the last few
weeks. She explained how some of the riders and grooms had shadowed her that
day, and how she had circled the dune twice to sneak up on them.
“Hmm. A bit provocative. What
happened next?” he queried.
“One of them told me they did not
like girls ‘invading’ their territory. I asked, ‘Do I look like I care?’ So he
bumped Bethy with his stallion.”
“That was a mistake.”
“I warned him, but he did it again.
So I cut his reins and swatted his stallion on the rump. The groom was hanging
on to the mane as they sped over the rise.” She smiled at the memory.
“No one can believe you are so deadly,” he
observed, “because you are too pretty.”
Zenobia felt her face grow warm as
she tried unsuccessfully to hold back the blush. “You did that deliberately,”
she accused.
“Of course,” he admitted readily,
“and it was gratifying to see the response I had anticipated. A vain woman
would not have blushed.” She looked displeased, so he shrugged his shoulders
and added, “I am merely gathering facts, as I told you I would.”
“Very well,” she acquiesced. “You
can tell me about yourself as we head back. First, though, I would like to
switch mounts.”
