Lucky 7 Meme: WIP Excerpt

I was tagged by Anna Meade of Yearning for Wonderland for the Lucky 7 WIP meme. Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP

2. Go to line 7

3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they’re written.

4. Tag 7 authors, and let them know.

And here’s the requisite excerpt from my current work-in-progress, a fantasy heist novel set in a city ruled by scheming sorcerers.

“And you don’t approve of this freedom?” Dunnac asked.

Jal smiled. “It breeds lawlessness and larceny,” he said. “Khazo-Doroun was founded by greed, tatoval. Greed, corruption, and deceit. From Encona’s tribe to the Hand themselves, they are all corrupt. The Hand play their games from  behind fortress walls, and let the rest of the city live in squalor. Leave the people without a higher purpose, and they will become little more than animals.”

Wrynn made a disapproving grunt, his nose still buried in the notebook, as they passed beneath the sweeping arch of a footbridge and down a narrow, winding street.

“Mind the steps,” Dunnac said as they reached a cramped stair, and Wrynn put the notebook away long enough to pick his way down.

“So what would you have the people of this city do?” Dunnac asked. “A man must survive, make his living.”

Jal turned back at the base of the stair, still walking. “Is this what you call living, outlander? Cutting throats, picking the bones of corpses for the gain of your betters?”

Dunnac frowned. “That’s not who we are.”

Thanks, Anna, for the tag! Unfortunately, Anna stole most of the authors I was going to tag myself, so there will be some duplicates. Nothing personal if you don’t feel like participating, of course!

1) @emmiemears

2) @backthatelfup

3) @Angela_Goff

4) @write_me_happy

5) @Vignirsson

6) @startyournovel

7) @bullishink