Meena Mason’s Podcast

Chapter 4 - The Thief's Tale Teaser

Chapter 4 Teaser for Meena Mason's, The Thief's Tale, audiobook. 

Chapter 5 - The Thief's Tale

Who struck Kessa Decora over the head? When consciousness finally returns, what new predicament will the fugitive find herself in this time? And will it widen the rift forming between her and Aquestria? 
Chapter 5 of the audiobook version of Meena Mason's, The Thief's Tale.
Chapter 5 Excerpt:
The merry chirping of birds, usually a cheerful sound to regain consciousness to, ravaged Kessa’s ears and split her aching head into fragments. Her eyes became painfully aware of sunlight beyond their lids. Vocally, Kessa wished for someone to hit her over the head again just to stop the pain.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I had a sneaking suspicion you might try to run off and asked Rake to prevent that from happening. I didn’t realize he’d take me so literally.”
Immediate recognition of the voice relaxed Kessa’s fears but did nothing to ease her discomfort (to the contrary, knowing who was in the room with her only increased it). If Kessa could’ve rolled her eyes she would’ve, but instead she had to content herself with merely squinting at her captor.
“Your Rake is aptly named,” she grated.
He smiled impishly. “Good to see your sense of humour hasn’t been affected by your headache.”
“I’m surprised it wasn’t knocked out of me.”
 

Chapter 6 - The Thief's Tale

Kessa Decora is no stranger to letting her feelings show; unless those feelings happened to be her deepest and most secret feelings. Feelings so secret even she is unaware she has them. Feelings that could toss her into a moat of insecurity, swirl her in a whirlpool of doubt, and leave her for the pragmatism piranhas to devour. The stars have aligned subjugating Kessa to one of her toughest challenges yet – coming to terms with her feelings. And, great Athalos, founder of Acara, even sharing them! 
Chapter 6 of the audiobook version of Meena Mason's, The Thief's Tale.
Chapter 6 Excerpt:
Dripping with sweat, face beet-red, breathing rapid, Kessa, hands on her hips, walked around the moat resisting the temptation to jump in. The lengthy run had helped calm her nerves, but physically, she felt hot, sticky, and she smelt like her sweat had been competing for a best stench award. Glancing at the moat again, she rationalized that a quick dip wouldn’t do her any harm. True, she didn’t know what, if anything, lurked beneath the surface, or how deep the water was, but if she was quick nothing would notice. Done with hesitation, she jumped in, clothes and all.

Teaser for Chapter 5 of The Thief's Tale

Teaser for Chapter 5 of Meena Mason's The Thief's Tale. Read by the author.

Chapter 7 - The Thief's Tale

The cat is out of the bag. The love birds united at last, but, alas, revealing your affection for the love of your life does not supplant the warrant for your arrest nor will it prevent a determined dungeon keeper from stretching your neck at the end of a well-tied noose. Only preparation, craftiness and a lot of luck will do that. While Kessa heals from a disastrous fish bite... ahem... monster bite, Aquestria, Rake, and Pantheus formulate their escape. Will they manage it or will Malieous Fayne, the formidable dungeon keeper of Cyrene, thwart their best laid plans?
Chapter 7 of the audiobook version of Meena Mason's, The Thief's Tale.
Chapter 7 Excerpt:
Pantheus felt like he was among a throng of nervous sheep, and on more than one occasion, had to grab Aquestria’s hand to keep from being parted.
“This is madness!” he hollered, his voice almost obliterated by the wind.
Casually surveying the area, as was her habit, Aquestria smirked, acknowledging that Pantheus obviously didn’t shop very often. True, the imminent storm had riled the crowd more than usual, but this frenzy wasn’t all that different from the average market day.
“This way!” she called, seizing his cloak in case he didn’t hear and yanking him toward a leather working stall. “Four water flasks, please.”
After bargaining, Aquestria placed two silver coins on the counter and said thank you as the merchant produced their purchase. Handing the flasks to Pantheus, she watched thoughtfully while he put them in his pack.
“What else do we need?”
Suddenly, she stepped back, abruptly slamming her arm into Pantheus’ chest forcing him backward. A wooden arrow pierced the beam of the market stall where he’d been standing, its shaft still quivering from the intensity of the impact. Aquestria was gone before the shaft was motionless, intent on pursuing the shooter. Diving for cover, Pantheus scanned the vicinity for signs of suspicious activity.
Apparently, the leather worker was the only other person to have noticed the arrow because he was cowering behind his stall.
“He’s come for me!” he cried, peering over top his stall and ducking just as another arrow thumped into the counter directly above where his head had been.
“Who?” Pantheus asked, clambering closer to the merchant.
Swallowing hard, the merchant clasped his hands together. His eyes directed to where the arrow had come from, his lips moved in a plea for whoever was after him to spare him.
Pantheus seized his arm impatiently. “Who is after you, man?”
Before the man could answer, Pantheus saw the crowd systematically clear a large circle around two people. Aquestria, holding a discharged crossbow, stood over a man lying face down in the dirt. Seconds later, the man rolled away from her and got to his feet.
“Kale,” the merchant announced shakily.
Thunder clapped accentuating the merchant’s dread. Hesitantly, he left his hiding place, his eyes darting around warily.
“It must be Kale. He’s Dredan’s most feared collector. He rips people apart. I owe Dredan money. I missed two payments, and Dredan said if it happened again, he’d send Kale. I should’ve paid him yesterday, but I didn’t have the money. I was hoping to make enough today; I didn’t think he’d send Kale so quickly. Help your lady, if you can, friend. I’m sure glad you paid up front.”

Chapter 8 of The Thief's Tale

Snagged by the ever competent dungeon keeper and thrown in Acara's jail, Kessa awaits her pending execution.
Chapter 8 of Meena Mason's The Thief's Tale read by the author.
Excerpt:
She’d awoken in what she could only assume was Aquina’s prison, without a clue how she’d gotten there. Her cell was the last one in a string of stone cubicles, fronted by impenetrable, cylindrical, iron bars. Filthy, soggy straw was piled against the back wall in the form of a bed, adding its own distinct stench to the foul smell of the place. A grimy bucket was filled with a liquid that only faintly resembled water, and pieces of the previous occupant’s discarded, rock-hard bread were scattered around the floor for the rats to nibble. Horrible coughing, sneezing, and teeth chattering echoed throughout the prison — courtesy of the icy temperatures and lack of blankets. Tiny holes in the walls, serving as windows, provided inadequate light to do anything other than shiver in the cold. The prison was dark, damp, dirty, utterly miserable, and with the anchored chain securing her ankle, completely inescapable.

Chapter 9 The Thief's Tale

The rooster has crowed ushering in Kessa Decora's final dawn. The dawn that will see her slippery, little neck either stretch or snap... if King Casyius has his way. Although Kessa usually has a knack for foiling the best laid plans, she's in over her head this time. 
Meena Mason reads the 9th Chapter of her book The Thief's Tale.
Chapter 9 excerpt (spoliers ahead):
Rampant, bright orange and yellow flames were engulfing the curtains as people struggled to escape unmarred. Within seconds the entire scene went from quiet observation to complete chaos. Onlookers darted about, some trying to help, some trying to get away, and some trying to encourage the pandemonium.
Scootching her legs through her arms, Kessa brought her wrists, still manacled, to the front of her and snatched the bag from her head. Next, she tore the noose off and stood up, looking around anxiously. The guards surrounding the gallows were preoccupied with the rioting crowd, and she realized it would be easy to slip into the commotion and disappear. Her only concern was the dungeon keeper. She couldn’t see him, and one wrong move could ruin her chance of escape. 

Chapter 10 - The Thief's Tale

A band of skilled allies, just what the girls needed. Red Talon, the only rebels that have managed to thwart and frustrate King Casyius are on their side, though the whys and hows of this unexpected, albeit welcome, alliance are as murky as a swamp at midnight. Regardless, the flood of worry and trepidation stemming from being hunted by the dungeon keeper for so long has been temporarily quelled. The group has a much needed respite, while they attempt to figure out what is going on and what, exactly, to do next. 
 
Chapter 10 of Meena Mason's The Thief's Tale, read by the author.
 
Excerpt of Chapter 10:
“Great Ash, Kessa! What did he do to you?” Aquestria asked with severity, recognizing the startling alteration in her sister’s view and description of Malieous. Usually, when Kessa referred to Malieous, it was with intolerance or sarcasm. She’d never spoken about him with such pronounced trepidation. The many cuts and bruises covering her sister were now more apparent, and Aquestria felt a molten anger bubbling within.
            Understanding the motivation behind her sister’s sudden wrath, Kessa shook her head, exclaiming, “No. No. No. He didn’t do any of this; his methods are much more cunning and disturbing than physical assault. I don’t know how to explain it; I’ve never seen him as a true enemy before. I mean, we’ve always been at odds, but… this was different. Yesterday, I saw a side of him…” she trembled, and her voice dropped off. Swallowing, she continued firmly, “Trust me; you don’t want to be on his target list. And we are!”

Chapter 11 - The Thief's Tale

Malieous gathers intelligence from an unwilling source.
 
Chapter 11 of The Thief's Tale, read by the author.
 
Excerpt:
Glaring up at him, Odette hissed, “I won’t answer any more of your questions. You can torture me as much as you like.”
A bright flash of lightning lit up the tool in his hand. Slowly, a malignant smile crept across his face. “Oh, Odette, my dear girl, how could I refuse such a generous offer?”

Chapter 12 - The Thief's Tale by Meena Mason

After their wearying ventures, and, in Kessa's case, a close call with the noose, Kessa and Aquestria are not only in need of some respite, but also some trustworthy allies, some good advice, and somewhere to lay low. Nestled within Red Talon's base with Artex, Rake, and Pantheus, they seem to have found that. Unfortunately, it will not last. Not with the dungeon keeper on their tails. And, although, Aquestria has settled confidently, Kessa knows she faces yet another difficulty; her companions will start sniffing around for answers before long. Why does this trouble her? Why can't she tell them about the king's reasons for wanting her dead? Something elusive lurks beneath Kessa's casual facade; something unnerving compels her secrecy - a circumstance that only Kessa and her past can reveal.
 
Audio version of Meena Mason's, The Thief's Tale, read to you by the author.
 
Chapter 12 Exerpt:
“What’s going on?” Kessa asked guardedly – already guessing what was going on. They were going to ask her the question she could not answer. They were going to ask her why Casyius really wanted her dead.
A vivid flashback careened through her mind, reeling her back to that fateful day when the events that would inevitably lead her here started.