A/N- Not to make excuses, but I'm having a hard time coming up with this part. I'm getting all the later parts now. ;) ....I just realized we haven't got Luvo yet.... (btw, "hedax" means roughly "lieutenant")
The hedax sized the travelers up at the gate. A young man, wearing leather working gloves, not uncommon. A girl, long black hair and a sullen expression. An older woman, less common with a pale face and teary red eyes. She sneezed and wiped her nose, quite deliberately, across her sleeve.
"What's your business traveling to Gyongxe?"
The boy answered. "My aunt's sick. We're taking her to the Temple mages."
"Why?"
"They don't charge. Can't afford anything else."
The hedax nodded. Plenty of people did the same thing. "Names?"
The girl spoke up now. "Since when does a border guard need to know peoples' names?"
"Since the Emperor decreed it so." He turned to the boy. "Have you got dirt in your ears? The decree came out last week."
"We've been traveling up from Zhen-Yan."
Zhen-Yan. It was a small city, known for raising goats, of all things. "A fair distance. Almost as far as Chammur."
The boy stiffened slightly. "Nearly. May we pass now?"
"Names first."
The boy frowned slightly, then gestured to the girl. "Laina." The woman, "My aunt Esperanza Atteneh. I'm. . . Roach."
"Roach?"
The boy grimaced. "It's bad, but not as bad as some of my mates got. Slowfoot. Worm."
The hedax smiled faintly. "My brother got 'Bug-nose.'"
"All the best have the worst names," the boy replied.
The hedax smiled again and waved them through the gate. However, after they were a ways away, he beckoned one of his scouts over from their camp by the roadside. "A young man and woman. You know the drill; follow them and report back tomorrow evening." Another imperial decree. Everyone who was potentially the mages from across the Endless Sea was tailed by a scout. The hedax wasn't told the reason for the decree, but it was obvious. Someone valuable had slipped through the emperor's fingers.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Smackdown 2011, LR R2: The Meaning of Dirty, PG
Rosethorn opened the door to find a white-robed novice standing cheerfully on the threshold.
"I have a package for. . ." the girl looked down at paper-wrapped bundle in her arms. "For Soladin Yannae. Is she here?"
"I'll take it," Rosethorn said shortly.
"Thanks!" The girl turned and raced back down the path.
Rosethorn stood in the doorway and carefully lifted the corner of the package. Al she could see inside was white fabric. What?
She smoothed the paper back down and stepped back into the kitchen. The package was dropped unceremoniously onto the table. Soladin glanced up.
"Oh! Is that for me?" She took the parcel, unwrapped it, and lifted its contents. A white novice's robe unfurled.
I knew it, Rosethorn thought. "Which temple?"
"What?"
"Which temple are you going to choose?"
"I can't believe I even need answer," Sol said jokingly. "Earth, of course."
Rosethorn smiled crookedly. "I have something for you then. Put your robes on and then come to the garden out back." She turned and slipped out the back door, as Sol began to redress with the robes.
A few minutes later, they were both standing in the mud of the garden. It had been a rainy spring and the plants were enjoying it. They stretched towards Rosethorn, who petted them gently.
She guided Soladin into one of the last bare spots of ground, behind the vegetable patch, and knelt in the mud. "Come on," she said, when the other woman hesitated. Once they were both on their knees, Rosethorn began to speak. "The only thing about Earth, is that it's dirty. Not clean and tidy like Water and Air. It's more like Fire, dirty and hands-on. If you're going to be a real Earth dedicate, you need to be dirty." With that, she shoved Sol into the mud and scooped up a huge glob of dirt, shaping into a ball.
But she was too late. Sol leaped up and plastered a fistful of mud across Rosethorn's face, before tackling her to the ground.
"I don't believe you know the meaning of dirty."
A/N- Dang it! I missed the cut-off for Arena 2 by two minutes. Oh well, I got two in already. :)
"I have a package for. . ." the girl looked down at paper-wrapped bundle in her arms. "For Soladin Yannae. Is she here?"
"I'll take it," Rosethorn said shortly.
"Thanks!" The girl turned and raced back down the path.
Rosethorn stood in the doorway and carefully lifted the corner of the package. Al she could see inside was white fabric. What?
She smoothed the paper back down and stepped back into the kitchen. The package was dropped unceremoniously onto the table. Soladin glanced up.
"Oh! Is that for me?" She took the parcel, unwrapped it, and lifted its contents. A white novice's robe unfurled.
I knew it, Rosethorn thought. "Which temple?"
"What?"
"Which temple are you going to choose?"
"I can't believe I even need answer," Sol said jokingly. "Earth, of course."
Rosethorn smiled crookedly. "I have something for you then. Put your robes on and then come to the garden out back." She turned and slipped out the back door, as Sol began to redress with the robes.
A few minutes later, they were both standing in the mud of the garden. It had been a rainy spring and the plants were enjoying it. They stretched towards Rosethorn, who petted them gently.
She guided Soladin into one of the last bare spots of ground, behind the vegetable patch, and knelt in the mud. "Come on," she said, when the other woman hesitated. Once they were both on their knees, Rosethorn began to speak. "The only thing about Earth, is that it's dirty. Not clean and tidy like Water and Air. It's more like Fire, dirty and hands-on. If you're going to be a real Earth dedicate, you need to be dirty." With that, she shoved Sol into the mud and scooped up a huge glob of dirt, shaping into a ball.
But she was too late. Sol leaped up and plastered a fistful of mud across Rosethorn's face, before tackling her to the ground.
"I don't believe you know the meaning of dirty."
A/N- Dang it! I missed the cut-off for Arena 2 by two minutes. Oh well, I got two in already. :)
Smackdown 2011, CM R2: Legs, PG
A/N- I'm on the LR team, so it wouldn't be right to publish this CM, but I wanted to, so here it is.
Clary sat on the high stool behindAhuda's her desk. She had a full view of the room. It was wrong, giving orders to muster out and not being the one mustering out.
She sighed and smoothed her uniform, tweaked her baton.
Suddenly, the door creaked open and Clary sat straight. Then she saw who it was and she relaxed.
"Mattes."
"Clary." He grinned and leaned against her desk. "It's good to see you. I was beginning to think I'd never be back." He hoisted himself onto the desktop and rolled his pants up, to just over his knees. "Look at that." He traced faint scars. "Barely a mark on me."
"There was a reason the healer wanted you in bed. Your legs heal better that way; even I know that."
Tunstall snorted. "Weeks it was. I swear, Sabine just wanted to torture me."
"She would," Clary laughed.
Tunstall turned to her suddenly. "Let's see your scars. I heard you got a few new ones."
At that, Clary turned pink. "Hardly anything. You should see the new one Cooper's got up her leg."
Tunstall raised his eyebrows.
"Fine." She drew her hair back from her face and tilted her head to the light. Tunstall could see the fine, blush-pink scar arcing across her cheek.
"That's all?" He tried not to sound disappointed.
She turned her head more and he saw that the tip of her ear was missing.
"Clary! Get a gold hoop."
"What?"
"Get your ear pierced and put a hoop through it. That would be-" he thought of something. "Wait. Pierce your ear and get a little gold hoop with a pearl on it!"
Clary grinned at his enthusiasm. "And why would I do that?"
Tunstall blinked. "Well. . . because it would just be the perfect thing to do. Embarrassing Pearl even more."
"I don't think so. I'm not much into wearing flash." Clary laughed quietly. "Ask Cooper to do it. If you paid, she probably would."
"But her scar is on her leg! You can't very well put an earring in a leg. Besides, no one could see it. Think of what she'd have to wear to show it off."
Clary bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "Cooper. . . oh gods." She snorted just as the door opened again.
"What's this about my legs?"
Clary sat on the high stool behind
She sighed and smoothed her uniform, tweaked her baton.
Suddenly, the door creaked open and Clary sat straight. Then she saw who it was and she relaxed.
"Mattes."
"Clary." He grinned and leaned against her desk. "It's good to see you. I was beginning to think I'd never be back." He hoisted himself onto the desktop and rolled his pants up, to just over his knees. "Look at that." He traced faint scars. "Barely a mark on me."
"There was a reason the healer wanted you in bed. Your legs heal better that way; even I know that."
Tunstall snorted. "Weeks it was. I swear, Sabine just wanted to torture me."
"She would," Clary laughed.
Tunstall turned to her suddenly. "Let's see your scars. I heard you got a few new ones."
At that, Clary turned pink. "Hardly anything. You should see the new one Cooper's got up her leg."
Tunstall raised his eyebrows.
"Fine." She drew her hair back from her face and tilted her head to the light. Tunstall could see the fine, blush-pink scar arcing across her cheek.
"That's all?" He tried not to sound disappointed.
She turned her head more and he saw that the tip of her ear was missing.
"Clary! Get a gold hoop."
"What?"
"Get your ear pierced and put a hoop through it. That would be-" he thought of something. "Wait. Pierce your ear and get a little gold hoop with a pearl on it!"
Clary grinned at his enthusiasm. "And why would I do that?"
Tunstall blinked. "Well. . . because it would just be the perfect thing to do. Embarrassing Pearl even more."
"I don't think so. I'm not much into wearing flash." Clary laughed quietly. "Ask Cooper to do it. If you paid, she probably would."
"But her scar is on her leg! You can't very well put an earring in a leg. Besides, no one could see it. Think of what she'd have to wear to show it off."
Clary bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "Cooper. . . oh gods." She snorted just as the door opened again.
"What's this about my legs?"
Smackdown 2011, LR R2: My Pleasure, G
A/N- This is my first drabble for Goldenlake's Smackdown 2011. Rosie meets Lark.
Rosethorn was in her garden, up to her knees in mud and overgrown vegetation, when she heard someone pounding on the door of her cottage. The door that she had just repainted. She waited and listened to see if whoever it was would leave.
The pounding continued.
"Mila bless me." Rosethorn sighed and stood, not bothering to try wiping the wet dirt from her hands or habit. She stomped around the side of the cottage, not wanting to get the just-washed floor dirty.
A dark-skinned woman, Moonstream, the new temple head, was standing on the doorstep. A thin woman, several years older than Rosethorn's twenty stood behind. She was wearing the most eye-shattering shade of yellow Rosethorn had ever seen.
"Honored Moonstream?" Rosethorn said, with perhaps a touch more civility, than otherwise.
The dedicate turned. "Rosethorn! I was looking for you-"
You don't say.
"- I wanted to know if you would be all right if Soladin stayed here for a while."
Soladin. That was the other woman's name. She looked Yanjingi, and she had a dancer's light frame. She coughed softly into the yellow gauze scarf around her neck.
Rosethorn frowned. She didn't say I'd have anything to do with. . . Soladin. She could stay here and I could stay in my garden. "That's fine by me."
"Thank you, dear. Now," Moonstream pushed Soladin forward. "Sol, this is Dedicate Rosethorn; Rosethorn, this is Soladin Yannae, from Khapik, in Tharios."
Rosethorn stuck out a muddy hand. "Pleasure."
Soladin didn't hesitate to shake. "All mine."
Rosethorn was in her garden, up to her knees in mud and overgrown vegetation, when she heard someone pounding on the door of her cottage. The door that she had just repainted. She waited and listened to see if whoever it was would leave.
The pounding continued.
"Mila bless me." Rosethorn sighed and stood, not bothering to try wiping the wet dirt from her hands or habit. She stomped around the side of the cottage, not wanting to get the just-washed floor dirty.
A dark-skinned woman, Moonstream, the new temple head, was standing on the doorstep. A thin woman, several years older than Rosethorn's twenty stood behind. She was wearing the most eye-shattering shade of yellow Rosethorn had ever seen.
"Honored Moonstream?" Rosethorn said, with perhaps a touch more civility, than otherwise.
The dedicate turned. "Rosethorn! I was looking for you-"
You don't say.
"- I wanted to know if you would be all right if Soladin stayed here for a while."
Soladin. That was the other woman's name. She looked Yanjingi, and she had a dancer's light frame. She coughed softly into the yellow gauze scarf around her neck.
Rosethorn frowned. She didn't say I'd have anything to do with. . . Soladin. She could stay here and I could stay in my garden. "That's fine by me."
"Thank you, dear. Now," Moonstream pushed Soladin forward. "Sol, this is Dedicate Rosethorn; Rosethorn, this is Soladin Yannae, from Khapik, in Tharios."
Rosethorn stuck out a muddy hand. "Pleasure."
Soladin didn't hesitate to shake. "All mine."
The Last Night Part 5: Rosethorn
A/N- I'm going to try and put a post up on my blog about Niva's background, but I'll tell you here what's relevant. I think she grew up in a very manly family; her mother died (Note that I'm making all this up, it's all non-canon as far as I know.) when she was pretty young and she lived with her father and three older brothers. She lost most of her contact to her village when she traveled to Winding Circle and Lightsbridge. I see her father as a hard man, kind of sad because he loved his wife so much. I think he tried to raise Niva as best he could, but he didn't really know how to bring up a girl-mage. So he sent her to Winding Circle, maybe when she was a bit too young, with the best of intentions. About working on the farm/profits versus love: Niva worked on the farm since before her magic came out. She continued to do so, partly because that's what she knew and partly because she wanted to help. Her father encouraged her because he could she she loved it and it was a way for her to earn bread when she grew up and lived on her own. He also liked the profit, but if she hadn't wanted to farm, he wouldn't have pressured her into it. He doesn't think he did, but maybe she thinks he did. I think they were a misunderstood family, and not everyone interpreted actions and words the same way. And by the way "monochromatic striations" sounds a bit ridiculous, but. . . I couldn't think of anything else. >.< Oops, I almost forgot, Niva's friend from back in Anderran is "Lise."
Niva wiped her sticky fingers off on her leg and smiled. Her dress was now patterned with dozens of Earth Temple circles in different colors of berry and plant. It was odd enough to make her stand out from the other novices, and it wasn't skin and mud.
She pressed her hands to the cotton fabric and let her magic seep through it. Can you hold the dye, please? She felt a strange tickle on her palms as the cotton wiggled. I guess it's permanent now.
Niva stood and pulled the dress over her shoulders. She grabbed the bag of tea and began to wrestle her way free of the little grove she had made.
The sun beat down on the empty field. Niva shielded her eyes and glanced at the sky. It was mid-afternoon. How could I have been gone so long? I be everyone else is back, I bet they're waiting for me! Ooh, I'll look so stupid; they're going to ask themselves why they let me finish my novitiate!
Then the rational part of Niva's mind took over. She took a deep breath and set of in the direction of Winding Circle. The field wasn't very far from the temple, but the distance seemed like miles. Pretty soon, Niva was breaking into a jog, a run, an all-out sprint for the temple.
The South Gate was wide open, and the road was full of people arriving to the temple. There were a few gleaming carriages and rough wagons, but most of the people were riding dusty horses or walking á pied. A Fire Dedicate with long red hair and sooty hands stood at the entrance and waved people down the appropriate road.
Niva raced between the people, turning sideways and jumping over small dogs and bundles. She had nearly reached the Fire Dedicate at the gate when-
"Niva!"
The girl skidded to a stop and spun on her toe. She blinked against the sun and dusk that now masked the road.
"Niva-girl!"
She squinted and saw a tall man on a horse waving at her. He had short-cropped blond hair and a crooked nose.
"Lars!"
Suddenly, Niva jumped sideways as an orange carriage rolled past. The Fire Dedicate looked over.
"You'll have plenty of time to catch up later, dear. Right now you ought to move on before one of this lot runs you over with their shiny toys."
Niva smiled crookedly. "Wouldn't want to mess their paint job." She turned and began running along the spiraling road to the Hub. It was only a few minutes before she was slipping back through the door she had used at dawn. She let her eyes adjust to the dark and looked around for the other Earth novices.
A dark-skinned Earth dedicate touched her shoulder. "Earth is right over there," he said in a rumbling whisper. He paused then added, "You're doing fine. Don't worry. Almost all I remember about my dedication is being terrified out of my wits. Stay calm and it'll be fine."
Niva nodded and moved away, hurrying to sit in the Earth quadrant once again. 'Stay calm and it'll be fine.' What was that supposed to mean?! She knelt on the ground and watched the other novices trickle in. At least I wasn't last.
Then a girl in a beautiful white-gray dress walked in. The dress swirled gently with monochromatic striations and bits of it sparkled gently. It was hardened air and fog. The girl waltzed around the room to the Water section. Niva laid her face on ground and sighed. She could feel the rough cotton of her dress all too well.
A moment later, she heard someone gasp. She looked up and felt her mouth drop open in shock. A man in green breeches and a bark vest had strode into the room. His short black hair was matted with sweat and he carried an eggshell that was filled with a liquid that gleamed in Niva's magical vision.
"Green Man!" she whispered. There were other murmurs of amazement rippling across the room. She watched as the man walked tiredly around the room. He paused in the Earth quadrant for a moment near Niva. She glanced up at his face and then openly stared.
It was Isas. He had managed to weave grass into pants and fashion a bark vest. Up close, he appeared less magnificent, and more like a tired boy wearing a costume.
Niva felt a stab of jealousy. Why didn't I think of plant-clothes? And a magical contribution to the Circle. Gods, that was stupid. She huffed in aggrivation.
Isas glanced down, smiled slightly and then stepped into the Air section and knelt. Niva stared disbelievingly. Air? What's he doing? I thought-
She didn't get an answer, as the Heartfire roared, flames licking the ceiling. Smoke stung her eyes and her eyes watered as Froststar once again stepped forward.
"You have made your choice!" the dedicate called loudly. "Now you must act upon it. Your friends and family wait at the Earth Temple's main garden. Follow me, please."
The next while was blurred in Niva's memory. She vaguely remembered following the others down the Temple path, sunshine and dust floating through the air. Then peoples' voices, smudged together and undecipherable. Stairs and a wooden stage. Then they were all sitting on benches and Froststar began to speak. She said something about hard work, life, magic, strength, their dedication to the gods. She began to call names, and one by one, the novices stood, took their turn to speak to Froststar, and left the stage to gather with the other dedicates of their new chosen life.
"Angharad Vallette." Some words about healers and then "I choose to be Peachleaf." She daintily set a glass-like globe of magic and water down on the table in front of the stage.
"Kato Stevens." Flames and fire. "I am Blaze."
Several others, a girl with spiky black hair, a copper-skinned boy with a curly mane of hair. Other girls, an older man who looked nearly as noble as Isas. A younger boy, like Niva, with dark skin and short hair. He looked terrified and barely managed to squeak out "Frostpine!" before racing off the stage.
More. Blonds, red-heads, people who looked as though they came from the other side of the Endless Sea, a Trader, before "Isas fer Yorvan."
Isas stood, ever elegant in his long-limbed way. He walked to Froststar's side, where she asked him something Niva didn't hear. Then he looked over her shoulder and opened his mouth to speak. "Isas fer Yorvan. . . now. . . I am Crane."
Niva blinked. A heron or a crane. One of those long-legged things that dances around everywhere. Everyone thinks they're so graceful, but I saw a heron once, and it just looked awkward, rather unbalanced. But then it started moving and it flew and I understood. It was graceful when it did what it lived for. "Oh, Isas," she whispered. Then Isas- no, Crane- was leaving, setting his magical bowl on the table, and joining the Air dedicates.
Niva glanced around and realized she was one of the last. There was one other, a fair-haired boy who looked to be nearly twenty, with broad shoulders and a smith's arms.
"Percy Organa." He stepped away and quickly said "Armstrong," before setting a huge hammer on the edge of the table and walking into the crowd of red robes.
"Niva Andersson." She could feel the heat of everyone's gaze upon her. She stood, as if in a dream and moved before Froststar, carrying her overlarge teabag. There was a silence, then Froststar spoke.
"Niva Andersson, you have chosen to dedicate the rest of your life to Mila of the Grain and the Green Man. Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes." The word drifted from Niva's mouth, almost too quiet to hear.
"Do you agree to live in poverty and serve the poor to the best of your abilities?"
"Yes."
"And do you agree to teach others to tame magic, whether or not they are discovered by you?"
Who said anything about teaching? I can't even teach my own brother to grow a squash! "Yes, I suppose so."
"Now, you must doff your old name and choose who you are to become."
"I. . ."
A memory washed across her.
"You're like a thorn-"
"A thorn? Like a thorn in your foot?"
"No! A thorn like the kind on a rose or a raspberry."
And then another, from a time long ago, back in Anderran, near Midsummer.
"You're like a rose, Niva. Just perfect and beautiful."
Niva carefully smeared ointment across the scars on Lise's face and worked for an answer.
"Beauty fades, Lise, dearest. The rose eventually wilts."
Lise looked up and smiled through her tears. "Eventually."
"Besides if- when- you marry someone, they want you, your personality and ideas and feelings. Those stay forever, not like beauty. You watch, in sixty years, we'll be sitting here and you'll have your childrens' babies all around you and you'll have to share them with me, since I'll have jabbed all my suitors away with my thorns." Niva grinned.
Lise smiled back. "What about Sami? He was looking at you at the festival. Don't deny it!"
"Novice Niva?"
"I choose. . . to be Rosethorn."
Niva wiped her sticky fingers off on her leg and smiled. Her dress was now patterned with dozens of Earth Temple circles in different colors of berry and plant. It was odd enough to make her stand out from the other novices, and it wasn't skin and mud.
She pressed her hands to the cotton fabric and let her magic seep through it. Can you hold the dye, please? She felt a strange tickle on her palms as the cotton wiggled. I guess it's permanent now.
Niva stood and pulled the dress over her shoulders. She grabbed the bag of tea and began to wrestle her way free of the little grove she had made.
The sun beat down on the empty field. Niva shielded her eyes and glanced at the sky. It was mid-afternoon. How could I have been gone so long? I be everyone else is back, I bet they're waiting for me! Ooh, I'll look so stupid; they're going to ask themselves why they let me finish my novitiate!
Then the rational part of Niva's mind took over. She took a deep breath and set of in the direction of Winding Circle. The field wasn't very far from the temple, but the distance seemed like miles. Pretty soon, Niva was breaking into a jog, a run, an all-out sprint for the temple.
The South Gate was wide open, and the road was full of people arriving to the temple. There were a few gleaming carriages and rough wagons, but most of the people were riding dusty horses or walking á pied. A Fire Dedicate with long red hair and sooty hands stood at the entrance and waved people down the appropriate road.
Niva raced between the people, turning sideways and jumping over small dogs and bundles. She had nearly reached the Fire Dedicate at the gate when-
"Niva!"
The girl skidded to a stop and spun on her toe. She blinked against the sun and dusk that now masked the road.
"Niva-girl!"
She squinted and saw a tall man on a horse waving at her. He had short-cropped blond hair and a crooked nose.
"Lars!"
Suddenly, Niva jumped sideways as an orange carriage rolled past. The Fire Dedicate looked over.
"You'll have plenty of time to catch up later, dear. Right now you ought to move on before one of this lot runs you over with their shiny toys."
Niva smiled crookedly. "Wouldn't want to mess their paint job." She turned and began running along the spiraling road to the Hub. It was only a few minutes before she was slipping back through the door she had used at dawn. She let her eyes adjust to the dark and looked around for the other Earth novices.
A dark-skinned Earth dedicate touched her shoulder. "Earth is right over there," he said in a rumbling whisper. He paused then added, "You're doing fine. Don't worry. Almost all I remember about my dedication is being terrified out of my wits. Stay calm and it'll be fine."
Niva nodded and moved away, hurrying to sit in the Earth quadrant once again. 'Stay calm and it'll be fine.' What was that supposed to mean?! She knelt on the ground and watched the other novices trickle in. At least I wasn't last.
Then a girl in a beautiful white-gray dress walked in. The dress swirled gently with monochromatic striations and bits of it sparkled gently. It was hardened air and fog. The girl waltzed around the room to the Water section. Niva laid her face on ground and sighed. She could feel the rough cotton of her dress all too well.
A moment later, she heard someone gasp. She looked up and felt her mouth drop open in shock. A man in green breeches and a bark vest had strode into the room. His short black hair was matted with sweat and he carried an eggshell that was filled with a liquid that gleamed in Niva's magical vision.
"Green Man!" she whispered. There were other murmurs of amazement rippling across the room. She watched as the man walked tiredly around the room. He paused in the Earth quadrant for a moment near Niva. She glanced up at his face and then openly stared.
It was Isas. He had managed to weave grass into pants and fashion a bark vest. Up close, he appeared less magnificent, and more like a tired boy wearing a costume.
Niva felt a stab of jealousy. Why didn't I think of plant-clothes? And a magical contribution to the Circle. Gods, that was stupid. She huffed in aggrivation.
Isas glanced down, smiled slightly and then stepped into the Air section and knelt. Niva stared disbelievingly. Air? What's he doing? I thought-
She didn't get an answer, as the Heartfire roared, flames licking the ceiling. Smoke stung her eyes and her eyes watered as Froststar once again stepped forward.
"You have made your choice!" the dedicate called loudly. "Now you must act upon it. Your friends and family wait at the Earth Temple's main garden. Follow me, please."
The next while was blurred in Niva's memory. She vaguely remembered following the others down the Temple path, sunshine and dust floating through the air. Then peoples' voices, smudged together and undecipherable. Stairs and a wooden stage. Then they were all sitting on benches and Froststar began to speak. She said something about hard work, life, magic, strength, their dedication to the gods. She began to call names, and one by one, the novices stood, took their turn to speak to Froststar, and left the stage to gather with the other dedicates of their new chosen life.
"Angharad Vallette." Some words about healers and then "I choose to be Peachleaf." She daintily set a glass-like globe of magic and water down on the table in front of the stage.
"Kato Stevens." Flames and fire. "I am Blaze."
Several others, a girl with spiky black hair, a copper-skinned boy with a curly mane of hair. Other girls, an older man who looked nearly as noble as Isas. A younger boy, like Niva, with dark skin and short hair. He looked terrified and barely managed to squeak out "Frostpine!" before racing off the stage.
More. Blonds, red-heads, people who looked as though they came from the other side of the Endless Sea, a Trader, before "Isas fer Yorvan."
Isas stood, ever elegant in his long-limbed way. He walked to Froststar's side, where she asked him something Niva didn't hear. Then he looked over her shoulder and opened his mouth to speak. "Isas fer Yorvan. . . now. . . I am Crane."
Niva blinked. A heron or a crane. One of those long-legged things that dances around everywhere. Everyone thinks they're so graceful, but I saw a heron once, and it just looked awkward, rather unbalanced. But then it started moving and it flew and I understood. It was graceful when it did what it lived for. "Oh, Isas," she whispered. Then Isas- no, Crane- was leaving, setting his magical bowl on the table, and joining the Air dedicates.
Niva glanced around and realized she was one of the last. There was one other, a fair-haired boy who looked to be nearly twenty, with broad shoulders and a smith's arms.
"Percy Organa." He stepped away and quickly said "Armstrong," before setting a huge hammer on the edge of the table and walking into the crowd of red robes.
"Niva Andersson." She could feel the heat of everyone's gaze upon her. She stood, as if in a dream and moved before Froststar, carrying her overlarge teabag. There was a silence, then Froststar spoke.
"Niva Andersson, you have chosen to dedicate the rest of your life to Mila of the Grain and the Green Man. Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes." The word drifted from Niva's mouth, almost too quiet to hear.
"Do you agree to live in poverty and serve the poor to the best of your abilities?"
"Yes."
"And do you agree to teach others to tame magic, whether or not they are discovered by you?"
Who said anything about teaching? I can't even teach my own brother to grow a squash! "Yes, I suppose so."
"Now, you must doff your old name and choose who you are to become."
"I. . ."
A memory washed across her.
"You're like a thorn-"
"A thorn? Like a thorn in your foot?"
"No! A thorn like the kind on a rose or a raspberry."
And then another, from a time long ago, back in Anderran, near Midsummer.
"You're like a rose, Niva. Just perfect and beautiful."
Niva carefully smeared ointment across the scars on Lise's face and worked for an answer.
"Beauty fades, Lise, dearest. The rose eventually wilts."
Lise looked up and smiled through her tears. "Eventually."
"Besides if- when- you marry someone, they want you, your personality and ideas and feelings. Those stay forever, not like beauty. You watch, in sixty years, we'll be sitting here and you'll have your childrens' babies all around you and you'll have to share them with me, since I'll have jabbed all my suitors away with my thorns." Niva grinned.
Lise smiled back. "What about Sami? He was looking at you at the festival. Don't deny it!"
"Novice Niva?"
"I choose. . . to be Rosethorn."
Friday, April 22, 2011
A Scrap of Waffle
I forgot I had already decided how Niva picks her name, and I thought up this whole other scenario. I can't get away from it so I'm writing it up.
A name?
Niva bit her lip. How could she just pick a name for the rest of her life?
"I. . .I choose-"
Suddenly, a memory blossomed across the girl's mind.
"You're like a rose, Niva. Just perfect and beautiful."
Niva carefully smeared ointment across the scars on Lise's face and worked for an answer.
"Beauty fades, Lise, dearest. The rose eventually wilts."
Lise looked up and smiled through her tears. "Eventually."
"Besides if- when- you marry someone, they want you, your personality and ideas and feelings. Those stay forever, not like beauty. You watch, in sixty years, we'll be sitting here and you'll have your childrens' babies all around you and I'll have to love them too, since I'll have poked any potential husbands with my thorns." Niva grinned. "They'll all have bloody fingers after me."
Lise smiled back. "What about Anders? He was looking at you at the festival. Don't deny it!"
"Novice Niva?"
"I choose. . . to be Rosethorn."
A name?
Niva bit her lip. How could she just pick a name for the rest of her life?
"I. . .I choose-"
Suddenly, a memory blossomed across the girl's mind.
"You're like a rose, Niva. Just perfect and beautiful."
Niva carefully smeared ointment across the scars on Lise's face and worked for an answer.
"Beauty fades, Lise, dearest. The rose eventually wilts."
Lise looked up and smiled through her tears. "Eventually."
"Besides if- when- you marry someone, they want you, your personality and ideas and feelings. Those stay forever, not like beauty. You watch, in sixty years, we'll be sitting here and you'll have your childrens' babies all around you and I'll have to love them too, since I'll have poked any potential husbands with my thorns." Niva grinned. "They'll all have bloody fingers after me."
Lise smiled back. "What about Anders? He was looking at you at the festival. Don't deny it!"
"Novice Niva?"
"I choose. . . to be Rosethorn."
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Last Night Part 4: Becoming One
A/N- Niva's last name is going to be Andersson, and she has three brothers, Evan, Lars, and Dai. She also has her father, but no mum. Sorry, but I've never pictured her as a mum girl. And thanks to Winterrain for reviewing, muchos gracias!
Niva spread her arms across the ground. "Stop spinning the merry go round, Dai." When she still felt herself spinning, she frowned. "I mean it! There's going to be a whole lot of pavement pizza in a minute!" There was still no reply, so Niva open her eyes and tree-tops waving across the sky. Niva gagged at the sight threw up in the long grass at her side.
"I hate ambient magic," she mumbled into the ground. "Hate, hate, hate it. Why couldn't I have just been a stupid academic or something?" She knelt in the grass until the world stopped moving under her, then pulled herself up and looked around.
Slender, young cinnamon trees had grown up in a circle and they intermingled with scrubby bushes and a few leafy sprouts. Niva twitched her fingers towards the plants and they began to drop their seeds and bits of bark on her. She giggled loudly, then laughed almost hysterically in joy. Mila truly was on her side today.
The girl set to work gathering the supplies she needed. Soon she had a small heap of herbs and spices on a large rock in the middle of her green circle. She sorted through the ingredients, tossing the imperfect bits aside, until she had a good combination.
Niva narrowed her eyes. How can I make it into tea? I need to grind it up somehow and get a teabag. She looked about, and saw a large, smooth rock. It was the perfect fit for her hands. She gripped its sides and mashed it into the heap of herbs on the first rock. She could hear crunching noises and pushed harder. A little bit of rock dust won't hurt anyone.
After several minutes, she lifted her rock to reveal a gritty reddish powder. Perfect! I just need a bag now. An idea flashed into Niva's head and she grinned wickedly.
"I'm sorry for ripping your handiwork, temple seamstresses!" She ripped a large section off the bottom of her cotton undergown and relished the ragged edge that was left.
A quick brush of her hand, and the tea was gathered in the strip of cotton. Niva folded the fabric up and reached deep into her magical self. A glimmer of magic was returning. The girl gripped it and used it to carefully weave the edges of her tea-bag together, before falling back to the ground. The small act of magic was hard to do.
Niva toyed with a bit of cinnamon as she thought about what to do next. I'm ready to go back, except I don't had anything to wear. Not that I care, but Papa would appreciate it if I dressed up. What can I do? She tried to remember what she had heard other novices say about dedication ceremonies. Illena said that a lot of people just paint themselves up with mud. And Norris said some people make clothes out of leaves. . . She snorted and shook her head. The best way to represent the Earth Temple was to be natural. She looked down at the remainder of her undergown, which was streaked with dirt and grass stains. It isn't quite scandalously short. She glanced around surreptitiously, then- seeing no one- stripped out of her dress.
She smoothed it across the ground and held her hand in the air. "Can any of you give me some berries? Or leaves. . . or anything that stains?" She closed her eyes. I must sound ridiculous.
Something dropped into her hand, and then a whole barrage of plant matter showered her. Niva looked at her treasure. "Thank you!" The plants rustled as though a wind had blown through, and the girl felt a wave of acceptance from them.
She grinned and grabbed a fistful of red berries, squishing them in her palm. Sticky juice ran down her fingers and Niva began to paint her dedication dress.
A/N- I hadn't really planned on having the novices make their own clothes. That was accidental. I was sitting here forever, and then the idea for Niva's dress hit me. What did you think?
Niva spread her arms across the ground. "Stop spinning the merry go round, Dai." When she still felt herself spinning, she frowned. "I mean it! There's going to be a whole lot of pavement pizza in a minute!" There was still no reply, so Niva open her eyes and tree-tops waving across the sky. Niva gagged at the sight threw up in the long grass at her side.
"I hate ambient magic," she mumbled into the ground. "Hate, hate, hate it. Why couldn't I have just been a stupid academic or something?" She knelt in the grass until the world stopped moving under her, then pulled herself up and looked around.
Slender, young cinnamon trees had grown up in a circle and they intermingled with scrubby bushes and a few leafy sprouts. Niva twitched her fingers towards the plants and they began to drop their seeds and bits of bark on her. She giggled loudly, then laughed almost hysterically in joy. Mila truly was on her side today.
The girl set to work gathering the supplies she needed. Soon she had a small heap of herbs and spices on a large rock in the middle of her green circle. She sorted through the ingredients, tossing the imperfect bits aside, until she had a good combination.
Niva narrowed her eyes. How can I make it into tea? I need to grind it up somehow and get a teabag. She looked about, and saw a large, smooth rock. It was the perfect fit for her hands. She gripped its sides and mashed it into the heap of herbs on the first rock. She could hear crunching noises and pushed harder. A little bit of rock dust won't hurt anyone.
After several minutes, she lifted her rock to reveal a gritty reddish powder. Perfect! I just need a bag now. An idea flashed into Niva's head and she grinned wickedly.
"I'm sorry for ripping your handiwork, temple seamstresses!" She ripped a large section off the bottom of her cotton undergown and relished the ragged edge that was left.
A quick brush of her hand, and the tea was gathered in the strip of cotton. Niva folded the fabric up and reached deep into her magical self. A glimmer of magic was returning. The girl gripped it and used it to carefully weave the edges of her tea-bag together, before falling back to the ground. The small act of magic was hard to do.
Niva toyed with a bit of cinnamon as she thought about what to do next. I'm ready to go back, except I don't had anything to wear. Not that I care, but Papa would appreciate it if I dressed up. What can I do? She tried to remember what she had heard other novices say about dedication ceremonies. Illena said that a lot of people just paint themselves up with mud. And Norris said some people make clothes out of leaves. . . She snorted and shook her head. The best way to represent the Earth Temple was to be natural. She looked down at the remainder of her undergown, which was streaked with dirt and grass stains. It isn't quite scandalously short. She glanced around surreptitiously, then- seeing no one- stripped out of her dress.
She smoothed it across the ground and held her hand in the air. "Can any of you give me some berries? Or leaves. . . or anything that stains?" She closed her eyes. I must sound ridiculous.
Something dropped into her hand, and then a whole barrage of plant matter showered her. Niva looked at her treasure. "Thank you!" The plants rustled as though a wind had blown through, and the girl felt a wave of acceptance from them.
She grinned and grabbed a fistful of red berries, squishing them in her palm. Sticky juice ran down her fingers and Niva began to paint her dedication dress.
A/N- I hadn't really planned on having the novices make their own clothes. That was accidental. I was sitting here forever, and then the idea for Niva's dress hit me. What did you think?
The Last Night Part 3: Overused
I just realized I never posted this. Oops, sorry. The tea Niva makes, btw, is loosely based off Celestial Seasonings' "Sugar Plum Spice." Bon lit! (Is that what I mean to say?)
Someone grasped Niva's shoulder and gently shook her. The novice moaned and rolled over, further entangling herself in her blankets.
"Niva, dearest, you need to get up now. It's just past the seventh hour of the morning." Silverleaf pulled Niva's blankets away and draped them over the end of the bed.
Niva shivered in the sudden coolness, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and swung her feet to the floor before shuffling to her pine wardrobe. She had just opened it when Silverleaf placed her hand on the porcelain doorknob.
"You don't need a robe today. Dedication is about getting as close to your element as you can. Besides, no one wants to spend hours scrubbing grass and grime out of a white robe," Silverleaf smiled. "Use your water pitcher and handkerchief to wash up, then meet me outside, alright?"
Niva glanced at the other girls in her dorm room. "What about them? Aren't they coming too?"
Silverleaf shook her head. "No, this is just the seventeen to nineteen-year-olds' room, remember? You're the only one in here to be dedicated so young."
Niva blinked. She had assumed there were at least a few other girls her age taking vows and that just hadn't mentioned it. "Oh."
"There's five or six girls in the twenty-and-over dorm room, and a few boys as well, but you're the youngest," Silverleaf paused. "It's fine to be the youngest. You know Dedicate Moonstream, right? From the Water temple? She was the oldest in her group to take vows. I think she was. . . . about twenty-four."
Niva gasped. "No! She's so good, though!"
Silverleaf shrugged. "It's all in the hands of the gods." She gave Niva a last smile, then turned and headed out of the room.
Niva walked over to her small bedside table. She poured a thin stream of water into her bowl and watched it sparkle in the early dawn light. She dipped her kerchief into the water and hurriedly washed her face and neck. She paused when she finished, and slid the square of fabric into her pocket. It might be useful. She knelt to reach under her bed and pulled out a smooth wooden box. It was dark Anderran cherry with strips of zebra-wood. She pulled the key from the ribbon around her neck and opened the box.
A cloud of herb-scented air rolled out. Several carved and painted god and goddess figures nestled in the box, along with bags of herbs, letters, and other mementos of Niva's old home. The novice drew out a small drawing in a gilt frame. There were two girls, one red-haired in an emerald-green dress and the other blonde with a faded pink dress. They were smiling widely.
Niva kissed the picture for good luck and laid it back in its place. She pulled the necklace Isas had given her out of a little drawer in the box and clasped it around her neck. She locked the box again, put it away, and joined Silverleaf outside the dormitory.
Four girls and five boys waited with the dedicate in the pre-dawn light. They were all a few years older than Niva, and she looked down, blushing.
Silverleaf counted the novices quickly, then turned and led them down the main temple road, towards the hub. "I believe you all know what's going to happen today," the dedicate said as she walked along. "Generally. It's my duty to tell you what you should expect today, and wish you luck and the gods' blessings."
Niva shivered. Why did you have to say that, Silverleaf? You're making it sound like we might die or something.
"I'm taking you to the Heartfire chamber, under the Hub. You'll be anointed and blessed and given instructions for your. . . . dedication."
They walked in silence until they reached the Hub. Silverleaf lead the novices off the temple road and around the side of the building. She stopped, part of the way around, and stepped up to the Hub's stone wall. Niva frowned as the Dedicate drew a symbol on the wall with her finger. Magic flared like silver paint and a door-sized section of the wall swung open, as if it was hinged. Silverleaf held the door open and ushered the novices into the Heartfire chamber.
Niva blinked in the sudden darkness, trying to regain her vision. A bonfire burned in the middle of the room, but it was pouring thick, herb-scented smoke into the air, which effectively cloaked the room in shadow. The room was divided into quadrants, three of which were already filled with novices sitting on the floor.
Silverleaf lead the Earth novices around the edge of the circular room to the last quadrant, before walking up to the Heartfire, where several other dedicates of assorted temples were waiting.
Niva glanced around, then sat on the floor like everyone else.
"Today is a very special day in your lives," a Fire dedicate called in a deep voice. "Today you will take vows that will bind you to your chosen god or goddess-"
"For life." A tiny Water dedicate continued. "You will vow to serve the poor, your gods, and your temple in any way you can."
"Your dedication starts here, in the Heartfire." This time, Silverleaf was speaking. "You will choose which temple to join and be marked with its element."
"Then you will go into the fields around the temple and find the meaning of your dedication," an old Air dedicate finished. "It is different for everyone."
A tall, pale woman in a gold-bordered yellow habit stepped forwards. Niva gasped. The woman was Froststar, the head dedicate of the temple. Niva had only seen the woman on two other occasions: the day Niva had arrived at Winding Circle, and the day she took her novitiate's vows.
"Decide now where you want to be," Froststar called loudly. "Go to the quadrant of your choice and be marked. Then go to the fields. Return to the front of the Hub, after you have found a meaning for your vows. Use your magic and create something to give to your god or goddess upon your return. The dedication ceremony for your families is directly after you have all arrived back, so find something to wear." She smiled at them turned, and raised her hands to the Heartfire. It roared and flames licked the ceiling. Then the fire gave a burst of smoke that turned the room to blackness.
Niva coughed, then looked back at the fire in shock. It was now made up of twisting flames in blue, green, yellow, and red. Each color flame streamed from a quarter of the fire-pit, then rose to spiral around other flames.
A green-robed dedicate stepped up to Niva. He held a copper bowl in his left hand. "Do you choose to serve the Earth?"
Niva nodded, speechless.
The dedicate dipped his finger into his bowl and knelt next to the girl. He had a large glob of pale brown cream on his finger. He painted the cream in a straight line down the middle of Niva's face. It was cold and gritty, and Niva shivered as the man painted a horizontal line across her cheekbones. The lines formed the symbol of the Earth temple. The dedicate stood and moved onto the next person.
Niva forced herself not to run her fingers over her face. She stood up and picked her way between novices and dedicates to the door Silverleaf had brought her through. A few other novices were leaving too. Niva didn't look at them. She was afraid that one of them might be Isas. She didn't want to know which temple he was joining. She still had a small spark of hope in him joining the Earth temple.
She slipped out the door and into the already warm morning. The sun was rising, casting a pink glow over the periwinkle shadows. Niva looked around at the roads that spread through the temple.
Go to the fields around the temple. Niva chose the main road, one she knew would lead out the South gate and began to jog along it. To her surprise, the gate was open, flanked by a pair of Fire dedicates who merely nodded to her as she hurried out.
Start with the easiest thing to do. Make something for Mila and the Green Man. I can make. . . um. . . Niva thought deeply. Something to benefit people. After all, isn't that what Mila does with all of her plants? But what am I good at?
Tea, said a little voice in Niva's head. You can make tea. You and Isas had plenty of practice with tea at Lightsbridge.
I can make an endurance tea! I could make it and take it to the poor, just like Froststar said. What will I need? I want something strong, that can keep people awake. Niva began to compose a list in her head. Chicory, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg. If I can find black pepper, that would make it even better. Niva stopped dead in the middle of the field, tall grass licking her legs. None of that stuff is wild out here though. The temple orders it all from other places. The girl bit her lip and frowned. Then she grinned. "This is what magic is for!"
She sat down in the field and carefully grasped a blade of grass. They never taught us this in class. She reached deep into herself, grabbed a rootlet of power, and twisted it around the grass. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I can do this." Magic began to pour into the grass. Niva grasped it gently and tried to shape it into cinnamon trees and scrubby chicory plants. The grass resisted; Niva could feel it twisting away from her. She gripped the magic harder and slammed her will into the plants.
It was as though she had broken through a door. Bits of dirt and roots were blasted into the air as Niva's tree and bushes exploded into life. Magic roared around her and swam in her veins. She gasped at the power. There was a loud creak and rustling noise as the new plants settled.
Dirt and leaves rained down around Niva. She watched her plants bud, bloom, and grow fruits. The bushes shivered for the last time and Niva could see a little ginger plant under one of the bushes. She smiled. Now she could start on the tea itself.
Suddenly, the power Niva held vanished. It was as though the magic had lasted as long as she needed it and not any longer. Niva's smile slid off her face as she realized her magic was gone too. She had overused herself. Again.
"Mila bless me," Niva mumbled as the ground rushed up to meet her.
"Niva, dearest, you need to get up now. It's just past the seventh hour of the morning." Silverleaf pulled Niva's blankets away and draped them over the end of the bed.
Niva shivered in the sudden coolness, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and swung her feet to the floor before shuffling to her pine wardrobe. She had just opened it when Silverleaf placed her hand on the porcelain doorknob.
"You don't need a robe today. Dedication is about getting as close to your element as you can. Besides, no one wants to spend hours scrubbing grass and grime out of a white robe," Silverleaf smiled. "Use your water pitcher and handkerchief to wash up, then meet me outside, alright?"
Niva glanced at the other girls in her dorm room. "What about them? Aren't they coming too?"
Silverleaf shook her head. "No, this is just the seventeen to nineteen-year-olds' room, remember? You're the only one in here to be dedicated so young."
Niva blinked. She had assumed there were at least a few other girls her age taking vows and that just hadn't mentioned it. "Oh."
"There's five or six girls in the twenty-and-over dorm room, and a few boys as well, but you're the youngest," Silverleaf paused. "It's fine to be the youngest. You know Dedicate Moonstream, right? From the Water temple? She was the oldest in her group to take vows. I think she was. . . . about twenty-four."
Niva gasped. "No! She's so good, though!"
Silverleaf shrugged. "It's all in the hands of the gods." She gave Niva a last smile, then turned and headed out of the room.
Niva walked over to her small bedside table. She poured a thin stream of water into her bowl and watched it sparkle in the early dawn light. She dipped her kerchief into the water and hurriedly washed her face and neck. She paused when she finished, and slid the square of fabric into her pocket. It might be useful. She knelt to reach under her bed and pulled out a smooth wooden box. It was dark Anderran cherry with strips of zebra-wood. She pulled the key from the ribbon around her neck and opened the box.
A cloud of herb-scented air rolled out. Several carved and painted god and goddess figures nestled in the box, along with bags of herbs, letters, and other mementos of Niva's old home. The novice drew out a small drawing in a gilt frame. There were two girls, one red-haired in an emerald-green dress and the other blonde with a faded pink dress. They were smiling widely.
Niva kissed the picture for good luck and laid it back in its place. She pulled the necklace Isas had given her out of a little drawer in the box and clasped it around her neck. She locked the box again, put it away, and joined Silverleaf outside the dormitory.
Four girls and five boys waited with the dedicate in the pre-dawn light. They were all a few years older than Niva, and she looked down, blushing.
Silverleaf counted the novices quickly, then turned and led them down the main temple road, towards the hub. "I believe you all know what's going to happen today," the dedicate said as she walked along. "Generally. It's my duty to tell you what you should expect today, and wish you luck and the gods' blessings."
Niva shivered. Why did you have to say that, Silverleaf? You're making it sound like we might die or something.
"I'm taking you to the Heartfire chamber, under the Hub. You'll be anointed and blessed and given instructions for your. . . . dedication."
They walked in silence until they reached the Hub. Silverleaf lead the novices off the temple road and around the side of the building. She stopped, part of the way around, and stepped up to the Hub's stone wall. Niva frowned as the Dedicate drew a symbol on the wall with her finger. Magic flared like silver paint and a door-sized section of the wall swung open, as if it was hinged. Silverleaf held the door open and ushered the novices into the Heartfire chamber.
Niva blinked in the sudden darkness, trying to regain her vision. A bonfire burned in the middle of the room, but it was pouring thick, herb-scented smoke into the air, which effectively cloaked the room in shadow. The room was divided into quadrants, three of which were already filled with novices sitting on the floor.
Silverleaf lead the Earth novices around the edge of the circular room to the last quadrant, before walking up to the Heartfire, where several other dedicates of assorted temples were waiting.
Niva glanced around, then sat on the floor like everyone else.
"Today is a very special day in your lives," a Fire dedicate called in a deep voice. "Today you will take vows that will bind you to your chosen god or goddess-"
"For life." A tiny Water dedicate continued. "You will vow to serve the poor, your gods, and your temple in any way you can."
"Your dedication starts here, in the Heartfire." This time, Silverleaf was speaking. "You will choose which temple to join and be marked with its element."
"Then you will go into the fields around the temple and find the meaning of your dedication," an old Air dedicate finished. "It is different for everyone."
A tall, pale woman in a gold-bordered yellow habit stepped forwards. Niva gasped. The woman was Froststar, the head dedicate of the temple. Niva had only seen the woman on two other occasions: the day Niva had arrived at Winding Circle, and the day she took her novitiate's vows.
"Decide now where you want to be," Froststar called loudly. "Go to the quadrant of your choice and be marked. Then go to the fields. Return to the front of the Hub, after you have found a meaning for your vows. Use your magic and create something to give to your god or goddess upon your return. The dedication ceremony for your families is directly after you have all arrived back, so find something to wear." She smiled at them turned, and raised her hands to the Heartfire. It roared and flames licked the ceiling. Then the fire gave a burst of smoke that turned the room to blackness.
Niva coughed, then looked back at the fire in shock. It was now made up of twisting flames in blue, green, yellow, and red. Each color flame streamed from a quarter of the fire-pit, then rose to spiral around other flames.
A green-robed dedicate stepped up to Niva. He held a copper bowl in his left hand. "Do you choose to serve the Earth?"
Niva nodded, speechless.
The dedicate dipped his finger into his bowl and knelt next to the girl. He had a large glob of pale brown cream on his finger. He painted the cream in a straight line down the middle of Niva's face. It was cold and gritty, and Niva shivered as the man painted a horizontal line across her cheekbones. The lines formed the symbol of the Earth temple. The dedicate stood and moved onto the next person.
Niva forced herself not to run her fingers over her face. She stood up and picked her way between novices and dedicates to the door Silverleaf had brought her through. A few other novices were leaving too. Niva didn't look at them. She was afraid that one of them might be Isas. She didn't want to know which temple he was joining. She still had a small spark of hope in him joining the Earth temple.
She slipped out the door and into the already warm morning. The sun was rising, casting a pink glow over the periwinkle shadows. Niva looked around at the roads that spread through the temple.
Go to the fields around the temple. Niva chose the main road, one she knew would lead out the South gate and began to jog along it. To her surprise, the gate was open, flanked by a pair of Fire dedicates who merely nodded to her as she hurried out.
Start with the easiest thing to do. Make something for Mila and the Green Man. I can make. . . um. . . Niva thought deeply. Something to benefit people. After all, isn't that what Mila does with all of her plants? But what am I good at?
Tea, said a little voice in Niva's head. You can make tea. You and Isas had plenty of practice with tea at Lightsbridge.
I can make an endurance tea! I could make it and take it to the poor, just like Froststar said. What will I need? I want something strong, that can keep people awake. Niva began to compose a list in her head. Chicory, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg. If I can find black pepper, that would make it even better. Niva stopped dead in the middle of the field, tall grass licking her legs. None of that stuff is wild out here though. The temple orders it all from other places. The girl bit her lip and frowned. Then she grinned. "This is what magic is for!"
She sat down in the field and carefully grasped a blade of grass. They never taught us this in class. She reached deep into herself, grabbed a rootlet of power, and twisted it around the grass. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I can do this." Magic began to pour into the grass. Niva grasped it gently and tried to shape it into cinnamon trees and scrubby chicory plants. The grass resisted; Niva could feel it twisting away from her. She gripped the magic harder and slammed her will into the plants.
It was as though she had broken through a door. Bits of dirt and roots were blasted into the air as Niva's tree and bushes exploded into life. Magic roared around her and swam in her veins. She gasped at the power. There was a loud creak and rustling noise as the new plants settled.
Dirt and leaves rained down around Niva. She watched her plants bud, bloom, and grow fruits. The bushes shivered for the last time and Niva could see a little ginger plant under one of the bushes. She smiled. Now she could start on the tea itself.
Suddenly, the power Niva held vanished. It was as though the magic had lasted as long as she needed it and not any longer. Niva's smile slid off her face as she realized her magic was gone too. She had overused herself. Again.
"Mila bless me," Niva mumbled as the ground rushed up to meet her.
Chapter Seven- You Can't Turn Back Now
A/N- Thanks to everyone for commenting on/adding the story. Does anyone remember how the war is in WotE? I think at that point it's still going on, correct me if I'm wrong.
Dyslexic Nerd- I think the farmer will be fine. Do you think he should come back in?
Briar, Evvy, and Rosethorn joined the end of the line of travelers waiting to get through the gate. Briar stood on tiptoe and examined the people at the gate.
"There's a pair of hedaxi, questioning people or something. And a whole troupe of soldiers." Briar watched intently. "The hedaxi are sending a soldier down the road every once in a while. They aren't- oh, wait, one of them is coming back!" He watched a soldier trot his horse to the gate from the Gygonxe side and say something to the hedaxi. "I guess they're patrolling the road."
Rosethorn frowned worriedly. "The emperor set them out to find us, I bet. He wants us more than I thought."
"What does he want us for?" Evvy asked impatiently. "I know he wanted an audience with you, but so did everyone else we ever met."
Rosethorn pulled a crinkled paper out of her pocket and passed it to Evvy. The girl smoothed it and wrinkled her nose at the words. "He wanted us to assi. . .as. . . he wanted us to help him do magic, right? He sounds just like Jooba Hooba. Big words and stuff no one can read." She snorted and shoved the paper back at Rosethorn.
"I suspect he wanted to use us against Living Circle, whether as hostages or magical protection, I don't know."
Briar gasped, a look of mock horror spreading across his face. "You don't know?"
"Boy, the next well we pass has your name inscribed on it." Rosethorn smiled crookedly, then turned serious. "What's our whole story about getting into Gygonxe anyways? We can't just be going on a joy-trip."
"We did tell that farmer you were sick. . ."
Rosethorn nodded curtly, then swung her pack to the ground and rummaged through it. She came up with a bag of hot, green peppers that Evvy had stolen from a tree the day before.
"This isn't really an appropriate time for a meal."
The dedicate snorted, grabbed a single pepper and replaced the rest. She snapped the pepper in half and dribbled the juice across her fingers. She raised her hand to her face, but Briar grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?" he hissed softly.
"We ought to at least seem convincing. I figure the pepper will make my eyes tear up, and that would enforce our story. We need all the help we can get," she said firmly.
Briar sighed heavily and released her hand.
Rosethorn traced her eyes with her wet finger and exhaled sharply. "That stings." Before Briar could say anything else, she smeared the remainder of the juice across her nose. And sneezed explosively.
Evvy peered at Rosethorn curiously. The dedicate's eyes were already dripping with tears and her face was splotchy. Evvy giggled. "You look awful!"
Rosethorn blinked hard and glared at Evvy. "Thank you ever so much. Now," she glanced at Briar. "Let's get through that gate."
They swung their packs back over their shoulders and began walking the last hundred yards to Gygonxe.
Dyslexic Nerd- I think the farmer will be fine. Do you think he should come back in?
Briar, Evvy, and Rosethorn joined the end of the line of travelers waiting to get through the gate. Briar stood on tiptoe and examined the people at the gate.
"There's a pair of hedaxi, questioning people or something. And a whole troupe of soldiers." Briar watched intently. "The hedaxi are sending a soldier down the road every once in a while. They aren't- oh, wait, one of them is coming back!" He watched a soldier trot his horse to the gate from the Gygonxe side and say something to the hedaxi. "I guess they're patrolling the road."
Rosethorn frowned worriedly. "The emperor set them out to find us, I bet. He wants us more than I thought."
"What does he want us for?" Evvy asked impatiently. "I know he wanted an audience with you, but so did everyone else we ever met."
Rosethorn pulled a crinkled paper out of her pocket and passed it to Evvy. The girl smoothed it and wrinkled her nose at the words. "He wanted us to assi. . .as. . . he wanted us to help him do magic, right? He sounds just like Jooba Hooba. Big words and stuff no one can read." She snorted and shoved the paper back at Rosethorn.
"I suspect he wanted to use us against Living Circle, whether as hostages or magical protection, I don't know."
Briar gasped, a look of mock horror spreading across his face. "You don't know?"
"Boy, the next well we pass has your name inscribed on it." Rosethorn smiled crookedly, then turned serious. "What's our whole story about getting into Gygonxe anyways? We can't just be going on a joy-trip."
"We did tell that farmer you were sick. . ."
Rosethorn nodded curtly, then swung her pack to the ground and rummaged through it. She came up with a bag of hot, green peppers that Evvy had stolen from a tree the day before.
"This isn't really an appropriate time for a meal."
The dedicate snorted, grabbed a single pepper and replaced the rest. She snapped the pepper in half and dribbled the juice across her fingers. She raised her hand to her face, but Briar grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?" he hissed softly.
"We ought to at least seem convincing. I figure the pepper will make my eyes tear up, and that would enforce our story. We need all the help we can get," she said firmly.
Briar sighed heavily and released her hand.
Rosethorn traced her eyes with her wet finger and exhaled sharply. "That stings." Before Briar could say anything else, she smeared the remainder of the juice across her nose. And sneezed explosively.
Evvy peered at Rosethorn curiously. The dedicate's eyes were already dripping with tears and her face was splotchy. Evvy giggled. "You look awful!"
Rosethorn blinked hard and glared at Evvy. "Thank you ever so much. Now," she glanced at Briar. "Let's get through that gate."
They swung their packs back over their shoulders and began walking the last hundred yards to Gygonxe.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
BfLC Chapter 6
A/N- I am soo sorry I haven't updated in so long. My calendar seems to hate me, but I've been keeping the storyline in the back of my head. Here goes nothing! Oh, btw, I've typed up a Chammuran dictionary.
Chapter Six- Gift of a Friend
Several days later.
Evvy gasped as the border gate of Yanjing and Gygonxe rose up on the horizon. It was a monstrous creation of gray granite. Evvy could feel the rocks' hard magic call to her. She lunged over the edge of the wagon she was riding on and reached out.
"Whoa, dalaga. You'll fall right out of my cart," said the farmer in the front seat.
Briar grabbed the back of Evvy's tunic and hauled her back into the cart. "Apologies, tao," he said in smooth Chammuran. "She's never seen the border gate."
The man smiled sagely. "My son was like that the first time he saw it too. I started taking him along to the souk with me as soon as he was old enough to help the customers. Say," he added. "What are you doing around these parts? I've never seen you and I've made this journey enough to know most of the regulars."
Briar let the lie roll off his tongue. "We're taking my aunt to the Circle temple. She's been unwell for a while now." He nodded to Rosethorn, who was sleeping in the back of the wagon. Even with dye on her face, she was still paler than either Briar or Evvy. This worked to an advantage, however, as Briar could explain why they were traveling across the border.
The farmer frowned. "The Circle Temple? I've heard that there's a war brewing between the emperor and the Temple. You didn't hear it from me, but I'm told the emperor wanted the Temple to. . . to swear some sort of fealty to him. He wanted them to. . . back his army, and they refused." He shivered, then kissed his left thumbnail for luck. "You never heard that though."
Briar nodded and climbed into the back of the wagon with Evvy and Rosethorn. He pulled Evvy close and whispered in her ear. "We're going to get off soon. I don't want the border guards to remember us riding through with the farmer. Wake Rosethorn." He clambered back up next to the farmer. "Tao, my family and I are going to get off soon, if you could stop. You don't need our trouble."
The farmer blinked in confusion but nodded and steered the wagon to the edge of the road. "Alright friend. I've barely known you, but you have a good feeling about you. I'm rarely wrong about such things. May Lailan bless you and yours."
Briar hopped off the seat and helped Evvy and Rosethorn down before grabbing their packs. He hurried back up to the man and slid a gold cham across the seat. "Many thanks." He thought for a moment and them pulled a small iron token out of his pocket. It was stamped with a spiral on one side and a leafy plant on the other. "If you're ever in need of help, go to a Circle Temple and give them this. They will help you as best they can." The token was a miniature copy of a mage medallion, and it could be redeemed for services and goods at the Circle temples.
Them farmer held the token to the light and paled. He knew the token's meaning. "Gods' speed and blessing," he murmured before his horse began trotting down the road.
Rosethorn glanced at Briar. "What did you give him, boy? It was something special by his face."
"A gift. . . in case he needs help."
Rosethorn frowned, but accepted Briar's answer, then swung her pack over her shoulders. "Let's go. I want to get into Gygonxe before dark."
Chapter Six- Gift of a Friend
Several days later.
Evvy gasped as the border gate of Yanjing and Gygonxe rose up on the horizon. It was a monstrous creation of gray granite. Evvy could feel the rocks' hard magic call to her. She lunged over the edge of the wagon she was riding on and reached out.
"Whoa, dalaga. You'll fall right out of my cart," said the farmer in the front seat.
Briar grabbed the back of Evvy's tunic and hauled her back into the cart. "Apologies, tao," he said in smooth Chammuran. "She's never seen the border gate."
The man smiled sagely. "My son was like that the first time he saw it too. I started taking him along to the souk with me as soon as he was old enough to help the customers. Say," he added. "What are you doing around these parts? I've never seen you and I've made this journey enough to know most of the regulars."
Briar let the lie roll off his tongue. "We're taking my aunt to the Circle temple. She's been unwell for a while now." He nodded to Rosethorn, who was sleeping in the back of the wagon. Even with dye on her face, she was still paler than either Briar or Evvy. This worked to an advantage, however, as Briar could explain why they were traveling across the border.
The farmer frowned. "The Circle Temple? I've heard that there's a war brewing between the emperor and the Temple. You didn't hear it from me, but I'm told the emperor wanted the Temple to. . . to swear some sort of fealty to him. He wanted them to. . . back his army, and they refused." He shivered, then kissed his left thumbnail for luck. "You never heard that though."
Briar nodded and climbed into the back of the wagon with Evvy and Rosethorn. He pulled Evvy close and whispered in her ear. "We're going to get off soon. I don't want the border guards to remember us riding through with the farmer. Wake Rosethorn." He clambered back up next to the farmer. "Tao, my family and I are going to get off soon, if you could stop. You don't need our trouble."
The farmer blinked in confusion but nodded and steered the wagon to the edge of the road. "Alright friend. I've barely known you, but you have a good feeling about you. I'm rarely wrong about such things. May Lailan bless you and yours."
Briar hopped off the seat and helped Evvy and Rosethorn down before grabbing their packs. He hurried back up to the man and slid a gold cham across the seat. "Many thanks." He thought for a moment and them pulled a small iron token out of his pocket. It was stamped with a spiral on one side and a leafy plant on the other. "If you're ever in need of help, go to a Circle Temple and give them this. They will help you as best they can." The token was a miniature copy of a mage medallion, and it could be redeemed for services and goods at the Circle temples.
Them farmer held the token to the light and paled. He knew the token's meaning. "Gods' speed and blessing," he murmured before his horse began trotting down the road.
Rosethorn glanced at Briar. "What did you give him, boy? It was something special by his face."
"A gift. . . in case he needs help."
Rosethorn frowned, but accepted Briar's answer, then swung her pack over her shoulders. "Let's go. I want to get into Gygonxe before dark."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Chammuran Dictionary
Words with an astrick (*) are words I've made up for my own usage in fanfictions. The rest are legitimate from Tamora Pierce's Street Magic.
Amir- prince, ruler of Chammus
Belbun- four-legged rat
Bindi- paint, metal, or jewel placed between the eyebrows
Bunjingi- miniature tree in which the trunk is long, with a few branches balanced at the upper end
Cham- large sum in Chammur; silver equals twenty copper davs; gold equals twenty siver chams
*Dalaga- girl
Dav- copper is the smallest coin in Chammur; silver dav equals three copper davs
Doa- daughter of (noble house only)
Doen- son of (noble house only)
Eknub- foreigner
Hammam- bathhouse
Hedax- rank similar to lieutenant
Mutabir- head of law enforcement and courts in Chammur
Pahan- teacher, mage
Shakkan- miniature tree form like and elongated S pointing to right of viewer
Souk- market
Takamer/Takameri- rich person
*Tao/Tae- sir/ma'am
Tesku- leader of a street gang
Thukdak- slang for street rat
Zernamus- parasite like a tick, one that survives by living off the rich
Amir- prince, ruler of Chammus
Belbun- four-legged rat
Bindi- paint, metal, or jewel placed between the eyebrows
Bunjingi- miniature tree in which the trunk is long, with a few branches balanced at the upper end
Cham- large sum in Chammur; silver equals twenty copper davs; gold equals twenty siver chams
*Dalaga- girl
Dav- copper is the smallest coin in Chammur; silver dav equals three copper davs
Doa- daughter of (noble house only)
Doen- son of (noble house only)
Eknub- foreigner
Hammam- bathhouse
Hedax- rank similar to lieutenant
Mutabir- head of law enforcement and courts in Chammur
Pahan- teacher, mage
Shakkan- miniature tree form like and elongated S pointing to right of viewer
Souk- market
Takamer/Takameri- rich person
*Tao/Tae- sir/ma'am
Tesku- leader of a street gang
Thukdak- slang for street rat
Zernamus- parasite like a tick, one that survives by living off the rich
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Battle for Living Circle
I realized I've never shared the Battle of Living Circle on here with you. So here it all is. If you want, you can read it all on Fanfiction. Hope you like it, please review.
Chapter One- Of Listening and Leaving
I obviously don't own any of this, it's all Tamora Pierce. This is just my imaginings of the new Circle book. I decided a) not to put much thought into how the trio knows about the Emperor's plan and b) I'm going to keep Evvy's cats out of this. I like animals, so we can just pretend she gave the cats to a nice, loving family. This is a really short segment, but it's been in my head. I'll post more soon.
Rosethorn crammed jars into her pack. She layered bits of clothing between the jars to keep them from clinking together.
There was a loud crash. "Mila damn it," Briar muttered. "It was just a jar of aloe," he called to Rosethorn. "Nothing big."
"Hurry up, we need to get out now. The faster we leave the better," she told him. "The Yanjini Emperor is going to know we overheard his meeting soon enough. We need to let Living Circle Temple know before he does."
Evvy trotted up the stairs. "I have all the food packed. I think I have all my rocks too."
Rosethorn tied her pack shut and swung it onto her shoulders. Briar did the same, and then put on the sling for his shakkan tree. "I guess we're ready," he said. "Let's go."
Chapter 2- Knowledge is Power
Sorry for the shortness of chapters. I hope you like it. Please review. As everyone knows, it's not mine. :/
Rosethorn pulled her hood over her face as they walked away from the house. "The last thing we need is someone figuring out where we went. You two," she nodded to Briar and Evvy, "blend right in. I am like a stick in the mud. A pity there isn't a good way for me to blend in."
Evvy frowned. "There are some shops that sell hair dyes and paints for people. We could probably find one. Here." She tossed her pack to Briar and melted into the crowds of people in the street. Briar and Rosethorn could hear her high voice over the city noise.
"Doa, do you know a place that sells paints and dyes? My aunt likes to look her best. On Spicer Street? Over there, okay, thank you very much doa."
The girl trotted back. "On that street over there, there's a place. How about I go in and get the stuff? The lady said there's a used clothes store too. We should get some of that too, because habits and fancy stuff don't look normal on the road. Let's go."
Evvy picked a jar up off the shelf. "Anleigh's Color- Starry Night Black. Five davs? That's a rip-off!"
A cool hand touched her shoulder. "I can sell cheaper if you can tell me a few things." Evvy turned around. A tall woman in a blue sari stood behind her. "Is there anything else you need? Once you know what you want, come up to the counter and we can…negotiate a price." The woman winked, then walked away.
Evvy grabbed a few jars of inky-black dye before another label caught her eye. Cinnamon Sugar Brown. I bet Rosethorn could dye her skin with that. That would really help us hide from the emperor. She picked up a couple jars of brown dye, then walked over to the counter.
"Who's this all for?" the lady asked. "Pretty colors, they aren't especially cheap either."
Evvy licked her lips. "They're for my auntie," she said in her most little-girl voice. "She's….mmm…..getting on in life and she likes her hair to be one color."
"Oh, yes. Just like so many people. The total cost is twenty davs, but I'll settle for twelve with the right information. Do you happen to know of a pair of mages, a young man and an older woman? The man is native-looking, but the woman is small and fair."
Evvy frowned. "Those pahans from Em-ah-lahn? Aren't they here to meet the emperor?"
The woman shrugged. "They were supposed to have an audience with him this morning, after his private meetings, but they never showed up. The guards said they were there."
Evvy tried her best to look calm, but her mind was racing. How she know about this? How did the emperor know? We said Rosethorn was sick and we couldn't make it. I didn't think anyone saw us. "I was on Acadia Lane and I saw the pahan on the roof. There were plants crawling up his arms. It was weird," Evvy shivered as she pushed her coins across the counter.
"If you see anything more, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll make sure the right people hear of your cleverness, and you will be rewarded. Good day." The woman handed Evvy the bag of goods, then slid behind a beaded curtain. Evvy walked away as fast as she dared, not looking back.
Chapter 3- Multiple Reflections
A/N- Thanks to Rosebud in Amber for being the first to do anything other than view my stories. I hope you like this. Nothing really happens, but it was written during my Algebra 2 class. Let's hope it stays easy so I can keep writing. Please review.
Rosethorn and Briar stood at the side of the market square. Evvy hurried over. "The emperor knows what we heard and he knows we're gone!"
Rosethorn turned pale. "What do mean? Who told you that?"
"There was a woman in that store. She lowered her prices for information. I said I was buying things for my aunt and I said I saw you at our house. I think she believed me. I hope so."
"Mila! What do we do now?" Rosethorn ground her teeth. "I suppose the best thing to do is get out as soon as we can."
Briar held up a large bag. "We bought some clothes and there's a hamman around the corner. We can change our clothes there and dye Rosethorn's hair."
The three mages walked to the bathhouse and paid their entry fee. Briar went into the men's section, while Evvy and Rosethorn entered the women's part.
A short while later, Rosethorn and Evvy stood by a private bath. Evvy pulled the jars of dye from her pack. "How are we going to do this?"
"I think these are plant dyes. I can just ask it to stain my skin until I want it to come out, I think," Rosethorn said. The dedicate turned away and pulled her green habit off, over her head. Even though she wore a thick, cream-colored under-dress, Evvy could see the woman was thin and bony. This journey will be hard on her.
Evvy turned around, stripped off her clothes, and slid into the foamy water. Rosethorn had already cleaned her hair and was rubbing in the black dye.
"I'm going to miss being a redhead," Rosethorn snorted. "I'm going to miss seeing my own reflection." She finished with the black dye and climbed out of the water. She was still wearing the under-dress.
Rosethorn caught Evvy's look and smiled crookedly. "Ever since my town was raided by pirates, I've tried to always wear something. This dress, it's a wonder in a way. Lark, at Winding Circle, made it. It doesn't rustle, it has loads of pockets, and it stays clean. At least, for the most part. Lark made it before I could grow any tomatoes."
Evvy sank into the water and scrubbed herself clean. By the time she was done, Rosethorn was painting her skin gold-brown. The woman was almost unrecognizable.
Except her eyes. They were large and brown, not almond-shaped and almost black. Oh well. People can have different eyes. Briar's are green after all…
Rosethorn finished. "I suppose we should keep this dye. Will you help me wash out my hair?"
Evvy walked over and poured water over Rosethorn's head. Only a little dye washed away. "I think you're magic is keeping your hair black. We can dry off, then get dressed, I suppose. What should we do with your habit? We should keep it, I don't think…"
Chapter 4- Trouble Brewing
This was actually written during French. We're studying passé composé. At any rate, have fun, please review.
Briar washed and dressed quickly, then left the hamman. He and Rosethorn hadn't brought much with them from Chammur, and Evvy had never had much to begin with. There was plenty of empty space in their packs, and Briar intended to use it.
He wandered down the street to a souk and found the food market. We'll need bread, and probably some fruit or vegetables, he thought. I should probably buy some water flasks too.
He slid into a bakery. It was empty, so Briar walked up to the counter. "I'll get six loaves of your freshest bread and a bag of rolls."
The baker raised his eyebrows but didn't comment. He set the order on the counter. "Anything else?"
Briar thought. "Do you sell any of that mix for biscuits or pancakes?"
"I sell both. You can buy a bag with five, ten, or fifteen cups. Which would you prefer?"
"I'll get two fifteen-cup bags of each, please," Briar said.
The baker turned away to fetch the bags. This is strange. Either he's planning a party or something has happened. Either way I want to know.
The baker set Briar's purchases on the counter and tallied up the cost. "25 davs, sir." As Briar pushed the coins over, the baker leaned towards him. "Sir, I am only a baker, but I would like to know what has happened. To my knowledge, there are no festivals or weddings soon, but you are buying enough to supply one. You don't need to tell me, but I would appreciate if you do."
Briar glanced over his shoulder. "I have word that there is trouble brewing in the palace. I've heard of a war against Gygonxe and its Living Circle Temple. If you have family there bring them home now. Don't spread the word, it will just cause panic." He slid a silver dav into the baker's apron pocket. "I trust you will be most…confidential." The mage gathered the bread into his pack and left the shop.
The baker didn't waste a moment. He started setting his goods on the counter, a sign that he was closing early and his prices were cheap. I will take my money and belongings and leave. I can stay with my brother in Chammur for a time. He won't mind. He and his wife will appreciate the company.
Unaware of the baker, Briar finished his shopping and hurried back to the hamman. He looked around. Evvy and Rosethorn ought to be done by now. Two people leaving the bath-house caught his eye. The younger girl was Evvy. Briar stared at the older woman. She had gold-brown skin like a local and choppy black hair. Her pink and orange dress just touched the ground. Briar frowned. Something wasn't quite right. Her eyes aren't slanted. Briar rolled his eyes. It was Rosethorn. How couldn't have figured that out?
Evvy saw him and skipped over. Rosethorn glared at him. "Don't make any clever comments, boy, or I'll string you up in the first well I find."
Briar grinned. "I haven't said anything….yet."
Chapter 5- Stuck in the Mud
A/N-Sorry this took so long, all my activities just barfed events all over my calender. I'll try to get some more out soon. Thanks to sliz225 for reviewing. :)
Briar licked his lips then spat on the dirt road. "I hate having my mouth taste like dirt." They had been walking for most of the afternoon in a large crowd of people streaming out of the city. Some were farmers, going home to a night's rest; some were travelers, headed for their next stop.
Evvy skipped ahead. "Get used to it! It's not that bad, after a while." She turned back to Briar. "Where are we sleeping tonight anyways? It's going to be dark in a little while and we still need to eat."
Rosethorn rolled her eyes. "We're on the road, girl. Meals won't come regularly. But I suppose you're right. We might as well have a hot meal on our first night. I heard someone say there was a stream around here. We could kip near it and catch fish."
They turned off the road and hurried towards the stream. It was getting dark quickly, and the temperature was dropping. Briar knew it wasn't cold enough to snow, but the temperature would be there soon.
He left Evvy and Rosethorn at the campsite and continued to the water. He set his pack down and pulled out his string and hooks.
Rosethorn dropped her pack and rolled her shoulders. "Well, I suppose we ought to get everything set up." The woman took a large oil-skin out of her pack and shook it open. "Evvy, get the other end. Drape it over the big branch there and find a rock so we can hammer the spikes down."
Evvy closed her eyes. She could feel a large rock, a piece of granite, near a patch of mud. She opened her eyes and picked up the rock. Rosethorn was adjusting the oil-skin over the branch. She pinned the tent down with the spikes, and then moved back so Evvy could hammer in the stakes.
"What do we do now?" Evvy stood up. "I mean, I know we're going to Living Circle, but what then?" She sighed. "When do we go home?"
Rosethorn smiled sadly. "I don't know. I'm not sure I even remember what home is. We may just pass through Living Circle, but we're probably going to be there for a while. It won't take the Yangini emperor long to get his army over there, and when he does…."
"We're going to be stuck. Just like rocks in mud."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Drabble #2 + BoLC bits
The woman leaned back into her dark corner. She was almost fashionable, wearing a dark jacket and trousers, with her coppery hair coiled back. She wore tall, heavy boots that were more what you'd expect to see on a Grundholt engineer.
____________
I'm thinking Rosie, Briar, and Evvy will get to LC and be in the bathhouse when young dedicate Hwangwalker finds them...from there, I don't know. But it's something.
____________
I'm thinking Rosie, Briar, and Evvy will get to LC and be in the bathhouse when young dedicate Hwangwalker finds them...from there, I don't know. But it's something.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Drabble #1
She could feel the wind at her back. It chilled her skin and whipped her blue surcoat about her knees. But it felt good. It kept her awake, kept her concentration sharp as she padded through the field.
She felt more alive than she had in quite a while.
She felt more alive than she had in quite a while.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Vignettes/ Drabbles
Vignette: vin'yet: noun: a brief evocative description, account, or episode.
Drabble: drah-buhl: noun: essentially the same, at least 100 words
So that's my new idea. I'll give you vignettes of ideas I have. They'll all be labeled under "Drabbles" and whatever genre they are. The post title will be "Drabble #___". I think about titles way too much, and they distract from the general theme.
Drabble: drah-buhl: noun: essentially the same, at least 100 words
So that's my new idea. I'll give you vignettes of ideas I have. They'll all be labeled under "Drabbles" and whatever genre they are. The post title will be "Drabble #___". I think about titles way too much, and they distract from the general theme.
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