Land of Two Moons By D L Gardner – Silver Dagger Book Tours

     Pattin didn’t know what they were fighting for. All heknew was that when their commander yelled the order he was to let loose hisarrows toward another trench opposite theirs somewhere in the Red Sands desert.Rumor was they were fighting over mines, dukes, power, and money. Nothing he’dever be privy to. It didn’t matter. He was here because he’d been conscripted.

He’d been in this trench for nine days straight. Hot,drenched in sweat, sick to his stomach, and with little to eat or drink. Tiredof swatting flies and stepping over the bodies of his comrades, he was ready toleave. No one wanted to be here, especially not the lads from Bidsworth, andespecially not on the front lines.

He spat the dust out of his mouth and bit another pieceof jerky.

“When is she going to come for us?” he asked hisfriend.

“Tonight, they said. Maybe,” Ivan whispered.

“What do you mean, maybe? She promised.”

“She can only take five at a time.”

“Bloody Marks, she’s been here every night for a week.What’s she going to do, get everyone but us? The more people who leave, theless chance of survival for those who stay. I’m too young to die in this rathole.”

Ivan shrugged—a hint that he wasn’t happy about thesituation either.

“We could try and make a run for it on our own,” Pattinwhispered, his lips barely moving, glancing around the desolate countryside.

Over the sand, the heat waves danced, crafting a mirageof water, a deceptive illusion that only a fool would pursue. Bait for theenemy. Pattin licked his lips, wishing for a drink of cool water from thesprings in Bidsworth, his homeland, a wealthy duchy whose stone structuresmirrored the color of the red earth. Here in the wasteland, iron ore poisonedthe vegetation, and there was nothing but dust as far as the horizon. Thesoldiers hated this place, and rumors of desertion were burning the ears of theagents at base. The officers were watching the troops like hawks.

“Fool. We’d have bolts in our backs, dead. Is that whatyou want? If I’m going to desert, I’m doing it with Kezia.” Ivan wiped thesweat from his brow; his face caked with red earth. Even his eyelashes wereladen with dirt.

“What makes her so special that she can get us out withno one noticing?”

Ivan snickered and glared at him. “She’s the duke’sdaughter, remember? Plus, she’s smart, crafty, and wicked.”

“Duke sabotages his own army through his daughter!”Pattin mumbled.

“Stop complaining or she’ll never come and get you.”

Pattin wiped his brow, his mouth fixed in a frown. Shemight not come for him at all. It’s everyone else’s luck to be saved by aduchess.

“Heads up!” The dreaded warning arrived justas a flurry of bolts blotted out the sun.

Pattin covered his head with his shield. Ivan liftedhis own targe to cover his body while the plummeting projectiles thundered onit.

“Move!” came the command.

Like a terrified beetle, Pattin crouched on the groundand joined the others, locking his shield with Ivan’s as the company crawledthrough the trench, hands and knees bleeding, while avoiding the corpses offriends who didn’t survive. Away from the onslaught they moved, abandoningtheir supplies. Someone would be sent back for them when the sun settled on thehorizon and the two moons rose.

Soon everyone here would have to leave the trenches andcharge at the enemy. That was a standard maneuver, and it was just a matter oftime. Hand to hand combat would kill him, Pattin was certain. With practicedease, he could loose an arrow, always striking the mark. But his end would comeby the cold steel of a sword. He hoped it would be tomorrow. He wasn’t ready todie today.

Maybe Kezia would draw his name and come for himtonight. Maybe he would live through this bloody war, after all.

D.L. Gardner is anaward-winning author, artist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with over 28published works to her credit. Writing and painting are her passions andfantasy her forte. When she’s not pounding keys on the computer, she’s canningsalsa, picking apples, listening to the voices of critters in the woods, orwatching flowers grow. She loves visiting far-off lands through books by bothreading and writing.

 

Her genres include all fantasy,historical, and mystery.

 

Get to know D.L. through her websites and blogs or send her a message her on Kickstarter.

 

Currently a FINALIST (2025 March) inthe Cannes World Wide Film Festival for her screen adaption of her book AnUnconventional Mr. Peadlebody.

 

Other awards include WishingShelf book Award 2023 for audio, B.R.A.G. Award 2022 for the Cho Nisi series,Book Excellence Award 2019 and 2015 for Ian’s Realm and Cassandra’s Castle.Best Screenplay adaptation from her book Dylan at the Paris Screenplay Awards,Mile Hill International Screenplay Awards, L.A. Edge Awards, EuropeanCinematography Awards, and Moondance Film Festival. Best Screenplay Award foradaptation from her book An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody at Veers FilmFestival, Best Screenplay Award for adaptation of Ian’s Realm at the Twin FallsSandwiches Film Festival and many more.

  

Website * Newsletter * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!