I enjoy writing medieval historical romances, in part because of the interesting research that I’m able to slip into fabric of the stories.

In A Knight for Kallen, one of the topics I investigated was customs surrounding All Hallow’s Eve because my hero and heroine stop at a castle celebrating the holiday. From peeling apples and bobbing for them to using snails to determine a true love, I was fascinated by what I discovered.

Another part of my research led me in an entirely different direction. I decided to have my heroine, Kallen de Mangeron, see auras surrounding people. It was a lot of fun finding out what different colors meant and weaving these colors into the personalities in my tale.

You will see that Kallen is totally confused by the auras wrapped about hero Griffith Sommersby in this excerpt below.

Blurb:

Kallen de Mangeron grew up in a convent, her noble family never knowing of her birth. When a new Mother Superior informs them of her existence, they send trusted knight Griffith Sommersby to escort her home.

Griffith’s heart broke when he lost his wife and infant son during childbirth, and he’s kept his feelings locked away from the world””until he meets Kallen. He soon learns her dark secret””that she sees auras around people””which allows her insight into their actions and personalities.

Now Quentin, bastard brother to the king, decides to harness Kallen’s gift in a plot to win the throne. Will Quentin successfully use a kidnapped Kallen as his political pawn, or will Griffith be able to stop him before Kallen changes the course of England’s history?

Excerpt:

“Crispin wants you to be happy,” Griffith said.

Kallen mulled over that thought before she spoke. “Why does he wish me to be happy?”

Surprise shone on her escort’s face. “You are niece to him, my lady. Your mother Bevia was his older sister. She cared for him and played with him when they were children. He missed her a great deal once she was gone.”

Kallen stared into his eyes. “But why would he care about me? He has never seen me.”

“You are family, Lady Kallen. Crispin would do anything for you. He regrets not knowing you existed and is eager to reunite you with your family. Deva, too, longs for a sister. We have none, only each other. Deva always wished I were a sister and not a pesky, older brother. Lady Alita, your grandmother, has been in poor health of late, but the news of your return to Mangeron has her sprung from her sickbed and dancing upon air.”

She eyed him warily. “Surely you jest?”

“Well, mayhap about the dancing part, but the lady is up and moving about. All are ready to welcome you with open arms.”

He laughed, an easy laugh that made her tingle in a funny way.

“You are most delightful, my lady. You speak bluntly and do not have the manner of most noblewomen in society.”

Kallen grimaced. “I was afraid of that. I grew up so isolated, I won’t be sure if I am breaking society’s rules with my frankness, for I have never mixed in it. Mayhap you can give me a signal when I fall astray. Scratch your head or blink your eyes rapidly. Or you could tug on your earlobe or snap your fingers. No, snapping might draw attention. Hmm. Now that could be a good thing, because attention would fall from me to you, but if you snapped often enough, there might be those that would figure out our game. Why don’t you”””

“Why don’t I let you be? You are charming as is. The de Mangerons will fall in love with you and do your bidding after having only known you a day.” His dark blue eyes twinkled at her as he added, “Or mayhap “twill take two.”

Kallen smiled. She liked this Lord Griffith.

Even if his aura confused her to no end.

She watched Griffith as he checked on the men, issuing instructions, checking supplies, discussing the weather. He was unique in her experience. No one’s aura had been that of Griffith Sommersby. She frowned slightly and then tried to relax and concentrate. She could always see more if she remained calm. As he went and treated his coal black horse to an apple, the colors exploded, taking her aback.

Blue and red always were brightest of all the colors she saw. They were easily recognizable in others. Most people had one dominant color that surrounded their person, especially around their head. These became the easiest to read. Others had not only the aura about their head but a main aura banded about their body. With some, the hoops of light were thick, usually with varying shades of one color, perhaps two.

Kallen knew various colors could indicate a range of personality traits, but if she were around a person long enough, she could begin to guess at what their aura told of them. Blue could mean someone was spiritual and sensitive, contemplative and empathetic, generous and honest, sad or wistful, or several other characteristics. By getting to know someone, Kallen usually could predict what traits that person possessed and many times how he or she might react in certain situations, simply due to their overall aura.

Over the years, she found that auras reflected health, character, mental activity, and the emotional state of others. Especially in the case of her mother, Bevia’s aura showed disease long before the onset of her symptoms.

Griffith Sommersby possessed the most complicated auras she’d witnessed. Kallen found that a person’s aura rarely changed, only doing so over a long period of time. Lord Griffith’s changed not only from yesterday, when she’d first laid eyes upon him in Savina’s study, but while he engaged others in conversation. She realized each individual had many facets to his personality, but her aura reading had taught her most people’s personalities were dominated by a handful of traits.

Lord Sommersby was a contrast from yesterday to today, and minute to minute. He’d had flashes of red and blue, brown and green, turquoise and yellow, even purple and gold. The colors swirled about him, first one prevailing and then another, in such a multitude of shades that it caused Kallen to go dizzy.

How was she to know what her protector was like? She wondered if all the people at Mangeron were as complicated as this man.

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*One reader who comments on either posted excerpt today will be randomly selected to win an ebook copy of A Knight for Kallen.