Every week we post six lines from a work of ours, a work-in-progress or published or a recommendation of someone else’s work with at least one LGBT character. Posted at Rainbow Snippets here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963484217054974

Wearing my Green as I type this up this weekend. For this week, a little more from J. Scott Coatsworth’s new book “The Hencha Queen.” https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com/book/the-hencha-queen/ Here we see some of Silya’s coronation to the rank of queen of the Hencha hive-mind, the human point of contact for them.

Silya shifted uncomfortably on the hard seat of the throne. Her cobalt-blue robes itched and her muscles ached from the hours she’d spent on the training field with Hesen. The Temple’s swordmaster had pushed her as hard as when she’d been an initiate and she had the bruises to show it.

“And why shouldn’t I?” Even the Queen needed to stay in fighting form. Still, her aches and pains argued for a little relief.

The ceremony goes on, but not quite according to plan…

“By the power vested in me as First Aide, I hereby name you the Hencha Queen. Seventh in the Royal Line. Sister Tela, the staff please…”

She stood, took the black staff and lifted it into the air, her various aches and bruises vanishing in an instant. It was lighter than she expected yet filled with the weight of years. It felt alien to her touch, setting up a strange buzzing in her arm and yet it felt comfortable as if it had always been a part of her.

Just a little more…

Someone gasped again. She opened her eyes. She had grown. Or the room had shrunk.

The Sisters drew back in fright, their faces washed in blue by the light that emanated from her.

She held out her arms and they were black as the staff, gnarled like wood.

A flight of wisps appeared from the doorway, dancing toward her like embers from a fire. They encircled her, spinning around her like bright blue sparks. She felt alive and electric.

Scott can describe magic and magical objects in a way that brings back the wonder that has been deadened by dozens of bad knockoffs of bad movies. “Hencha Queen” is good.

Next week, something unexpected. Meaning I’m not sure what I’ll put up! —-jeff