Sunday, July 31, 2011

Query #30: "Honor" by Mary_J_59

This query is from Mary_J_59 for the novel Honor. Thank you, Mary_J_59, for the honour of allowing me to work on and post this!

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ORIGINAL QUERY

When he was alive, and had a name, he was Kiril Tesurik. He will be the last in his family to bear that name. No one will want it after him.

Kiril grew up knowing he would be head of his family. At sixteen, he is old enough to plan crop rotations, to buy and sell land, and to defend his clan's honor. He has fought duels, and won them. He has always welcomed responsibility, and never feared any of his duties. But now he is afraid. He doesn’t fear robbing the powerful lord who robbed his family; he doesn’t even fear death. He is terrified of hurting the people he loves.

Kiril becomes a thief in order to right a great wrong. His little half-brother, the son of an alien slave, has vanished. There is no solid proof that their elders could bring before the court, but Kiril knows that Lord Marakis has stolen the little boy. Marakis uses children to carry explosives in his mines, and many are maimed for life. Many more die. Kiril cannot let that happen to his brother. He intends to steal him back, stow away aboard a alien ship, and bring the little boy to his mother's people.

But, if he robs Marakis, the man will have the right to punish Kiril's family. In order to protect them, Kiril has renounced his name and declared himself dead. Now he hopes for only two mercies from the gods. He hopes his brother will find a home with the Terrans, and that the rest of his family will be safe. He expects no mercy for himself. He is dead.

HONOR is speculative fiction for young adults, complete at approximately 84,000 words.

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GOBLIN-EDIT

At sixteen, Kiril is old enough to plan crop rotations, buy and sell land, and defend his clan's honor, but although he would make a good head of his family, Kiril has just declared himself dead.

There was never any proof their elders could bring before court to show Lord Marakis stole Kiril's half-brother, the son of an alien slave, to carry explosives into Lord Marakis' mine. Regardless, if Kiril steals the boy back, Marakis will have the right to punish his family. Hence, Kiril renounces his name and future to save one small boy.

[Kiril tries to get the boy] [Complication arises, increasing the danger and forcing Kiril to change plans] [Kiril tries to stow away on alien vessel to take boy to the Terrans] [Complication arises, increasing the danger and leading to the biggest crisis yet]

HONOR is speculative fiction for young adults, complete at approximately 84,000 words.


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