Girl on Fire

The Eldritch live hundreds of years, which means Sediryl Nuera Galare isn't going to inherit the management of her family's noble house--and all its rich farmland--anytime soon. So when she discovers that her world is only one among many, she doesn't hesitate to kick off the dust of her provincial estate. That it gets her away from her oppressive mother and a smothering society is only a bonus.

But wonder isn't the only thing waiting for a young woman trying her wings for the first time. When Sediryl finds love among the aliens, she's faced with a difficult choice between duty and her heart's desire.

Girl on Fire introduces Sediryl, the woman who will go on to figure so powerfully in the future of the Peltedverse. But before she was a firebrand, she had to be set on fire....

Genre (setting): space opera (Pelted)
Tags: coming of age; space elves; multicultural; (head)strong female protagonist; young protagonist
Rating: PG for references to adult relations, difficult family relationships

Excerpt From Chapter 3

To say the Delen Galare servants were surprised to see her, dusty and unattended save for two horses, would have been understatement, but they handled it gracefully. They ushered her into a guest room, drew her a bath, and gave her a chance to change before being admitted to Lady Fassiana’s presence. No gown suitable for such an audience would have survived three days in a pack tossed over her saddle, so she’d made do with something simple and hoped her great-aunt would forgive her. Certainly being clean counted for a great deal. She knew it did with her, because after days of road dust she was deeply relieved to smell like something other than herself.

When she was ushered into Lady Fassiana’s impeccable sitting room, where a table with tea and small delicacies had been set out for her, she felt a moment’s apprehension. That feeling lasted all of one of her footsteps, which was how long it took for the woman to smile at her and say in the brightest of silvers, “Sediryl Nuera. This is a delightful surprise. Join me, please.”

Sediryl walked over the carpet—a very fine one, in pale green with ivory flowers edged in goldenrod—and joined her great-aunt, the head of the Northern Galares, at the table. The tea smelled of bergamot and honey, and it made her think of the apiaries, and home. Drawing in a breath, she said, “Thank you for seeing me, Lady Fassiana. I regret disturbing you—”

“Nonsense,” Fassiana said, still silvered with touches of gold. “Entertaining family is never a disturbance. And you must call me Great-aunt. We didn’t have much chance to talk at summer court, and I regretted that… but it’s not unusual when a woman is declared. Your mother kept you very busy.”

“Quite,” Sediryl said in an aggressively neutral gray, and her great-aunt laughed. Was it permissible then, to be critical of one’s mother? She let her own rueful smile show, but decided against saying anything more.

Fassiana used the tongs to serve herself one of the small pyramidal scones studded with terranberries. “Lili said much the same when I had her declared. ‘Hectic and unpleasant’ were the words she used, if I recall correctly. I pledge you, it becomes somewhat more manageable in your second year.”

“I am not certain I will be here next year to find out.” When Fassiana looked up at her, brow lifted, Sediryl finished, “My father tells me you know how to reach the outworld.”

Fassiana leaned back and folded her hands together over her breast.

“I’m sorry, Great-aunt.” Sediryl silvered the words, trying to make them convey her sincerity. “I know it’s abrupt, but… I just discovered that my mother has been keeping everything from me all of my life! When Father told me, I couldn’t stay a moment longer. He said it’s a Galare birthright, to meet the alien, and I never have.” She met Fassiana’s eyes. “I want to.”

“Do you,” Fassiana said, the words stripped of any of the mood modifiers.

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“Because I have to know!” Her hands were fluttering; she clasped them under the table to still them. “Because I haven’t known. Because I have all the time in the world, and no responsibilities to keep me here. Because I’m a Galare, and I’m not my mother. Because I’m curious. Because I can. Because I should.”

Fassiana tilted her head. “You should?”

“Because you can’t live well, live properly, by ignoring other people, and we are ignoring people we have a treaty with, important people, entire worlds full of people with things to teach us, and things to show us….” Sediryl trailed off as her great-aunt’s smile flickered over her mouth. Fassiana was stirring her tea now, head bowed. “I… I’ve said too much,” she said, faltering.

“Your father taught you well.”

“Taught me—” She stopped, realizing belatedly that at some point Fassiana had spoken in the alien’s tongue and she’d answered in it. Rather vehemently. In a fashion completely unladylike, because ladies did not become passionate… she covered her eyes with a hand.

Fassiana’s chuckle was kind. “Don’t fret, Great-niece. You’ve said nothing untoward, and a great many right things. In fact, I admit I’m rather envious.”

“Envious?” Sediryl asked, hesitant.

“Oh yes. I had hoped my daughter would be as interested in the Alliance as you are… but while she doesn’t have your mother’s horror of aliens, she owns no wanderlust. Nor is she very curious, I’m afraid. I would have liked her to be more like you seem to be.”

Sediryl blushed hard enough to embarrass herself; to hide it, she spooned some of the clotted cream onto her delicate plate and attempted one of the scones. “Maybe she will come into it later…?”

“Ah, no. I doubt it. One is born with a questing mind, or a complacent one. Some things truly are too deeply ingrained to be changed.” Fassiana sipped her tea with the effortless grace of a lady, and Sediryl admired it. Her mother had been forced to hammer deportment into her, and even now she doubted she would ever approach Fassiana’s regal bearing and easy demeanor. “So, tell me exactly what it is you want to do, Niece.”

What did she want to do? She remembered her reply to her father. Learn.

“I want to go see it myself,” she said. “I want to see the aliens.”