I Meant to Do My Work Today...

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

chapter three & four

CHAPTER THREE

“Leo!” called Aria, his mother. “We really need some more meat. Would you mind going hunting soon?” Leo nodded, adding one final rub to the new bow he had just finished. He was a tall boy of eighteen, lean, energetic, and quick. His hair was blonde, bleached even lighter by the sun.

“Yes mother. I‘ll stay out until I have caught enough for a few meals.”

Aria smiled. “Thank you, my dear boy. I don’t think we could get on without you. And…if you could…” she glanced down at little Mary, who was playing with a straw doll, and lowered her voice. “It’s Mary’s sixth birthday tomorrow, November 7^th, you know. If you see some late berries or anything nice…”

Leo smiled, and nodded, picking up his knife for whittling rough arrows. “Your father’d be proud of you,” added his mother, quietly. Leo looked back, and half smiled, then exited the cottage to start making his arrows.

Father. Leo hadn’t seen him for 5 years. He had fought for East Listra, and been captured. At least, that was what they always hoped. Locked up somewhere in West Listra. Who knew, though? He might be dead, by now. Leo wished for the thousandth time that he was free to go fight in the East Listran army. He could help turn the tide. East Listra would win the war! His father would be found, and released, and his mother would be happy, his sister would grow up with a father… Leo shook his head free of daydreams, and focused on his task. Where to find some good sturdy wood...

CHAPTER FOUR

The morning of November 7^th was bright and clear. The sky was a pale blue, and clouds floated lazily through it, watching the leaves and grass rustle gently, while the lakes and rivers sparkled in the sun. The world seemed peaceful and calm. But many plans were afoot..

In the castle in East Listra, the princess put on her green cloak, took her bundle of food, and set out to find the Woods of Worden, which she had found, lay near the middle of East Listra.

In the fortress of West Listra, the king led his entire army out to cross the border between West and East Listra. They would hide in the trees bordering the Great River, and wait for the fateful red cloth to wave from the window of the castle.

In the village to north of the East Listran fortress, Leo set off at the crack of dawn, hoping for good luck and a lot of meat. “I’ll try the Woods of Worden. Haven’t been there in a while,” he said to himself, as he whistled a cheerful country tune, and walked purposefully off toward the woods.

Friday, October 12, 2012

chapter two

CHAPTER TWO

In West Listra, King Shardo was in a foul mood. East Listra had won the latest battle, and he was furious. The whole court was afraid to even approach him, for fear he may explode at them. So the Royal Serving Maid had left his hot porridge in the hall, not daring to enter his room, and the Royal Outfitters were too scared to come near him, and his Royal Firelighter and Window Opener were not to be found. This goaded the king into even fouler a temper. He was in the middle of a good yell (for he did enjoy scaring his staff while in a temper), when a firm tap was heard at his door.

He left off yelling for an instant to bellow “COME IN!”, and took a deep breath to continue his howl, when he turned to see who had entered. He stopped. A little old lady, with pure white hair, dressed very poorly, in old, brown rags, was standing staring at him, with piercing blue eyes. “Um,” said the king, unsure of what to do. He crept down under the bed clothes, suddenly aware that he was still in his pink and yellow striped nightshirt. He tried to pretend he was asleep. If only his royal outfitters had already come…

“Hello,” croaked the old lady.

“Hello…” muttered the king, trying to look sleepy.

“I have a way for you to take the castle of East Listra,” murmured the elderly woman.

“WHAT!?” yelled the King Shardo, leaving off all pretenses of sleep, and sitting bolt upright, unaware of the pink nightshirt, now. “How? How? Tell me!” he leaped from his bed, and grabbed the old ladies shoulders.

“Ah,” she quavered, in her cracking voice, “You must gather all your men, every last one of them, and take them to the Grendeline Valley, just below the palace of East Listra on November 7^th. Then, wait until a red cloth is waved in the princess’ window. The castle will be deserted, except for women and children, and you will take it easily enough. Then lock all the doors. The castle of the Easterners will be yours!” she finished. King Shardo waltzed her around the room in a dizzying circle, then dropped her (leaving her to stagger in several small circles till she gained her balance back) and almost skipped out of the room. He stepped in the porridge bowl and left porridge footprints all the way down the velvet staircase as he rushed to inform his Secretary of War.

“Two more days and the castle will be mine! The war will be over! I will have conquered! Just two more days, two more days…” he chanted, as he dashed down the hall. For today was the 5^th of November.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

a short story...

The beginning of a short children's story I wrote when inspiration struck...

PROLOGUE

The two countries had been at war for a long time. Listra was rent in two, for what reason, no one could remember. The first generation was nearly gone, and a new risen in their place, to continue the fight, having no idea why. How had it started? Why had it started? No one knew. But what had it been like with no war? What was peace like? Only one person could remember.

CHAPTER ONE

In the palace of Eastern Listra, nestled among the mountains, overlooking the Great River that flowed through the Grendeline Valley, sat Princess Celia. She was seventeen years old, and her face and arms were tan from long hours outdoors. She had long, curly, brunet hair, which her maid, Mildred was brushing; it must be admitted, rather impatiently.

“Ow!” Celia cried, as her maid yanked the brush through a particularly stubborn knot. “Can’t you be gentler?”

Mildred sniffed, annoyed. “I should cut it all off if I had any say,” she muttered rebelliously.

Celia leaped to her feet. “Why Mildred!” She exclaimed. “How ridiculous you are! If you had only told me that you hated brushing hair, I could have got someone else long ago! Don’t brush a single stroke more,” she added, grabbing the hairbrush from Mildred’s startled hands.

Mildred looked worried. “But miss, will I be thrown out?” she asked, in great concern.

“No, Mildred!” laughed Celia, “I will just hire someone else to brush my hair!”. She was blissfully heedless of the cost of servants.

The new maid was hired. She seemed rather old, but she did her task quite well. She often told Celia beautiful stories as the thick stubborn hair was brushed into shining dark ringlets. One day, she told Celia about the squirrels living in Worden Woods.

Celia sighed. “I do wish I could have a pet squirrel. But no one is willing to catch one for me. They say squirrels are extremely difficult to catch.”

The maid looked up, and her smile made her blue eyes sparkle. She smoothed back one of her own white locks. “Ah, but these squirrels would love to become your pet. They are gentle, and nearly tame, for few people try to catch them.” Celia was enchanted. Her dream since she had been a little child was to have a pet squirrel, though her parents were not keen on the idea. Both the king and the queen were agreed on the fact that squirrels were ugly pests.

The princess failed to notice the smile, and looked up excitedly, thinking to herself, “How perfectly splendid! I shall catch one myself! What an adventure!” Her green eyes danced at the thought. She was a wise young woman, though, and knew from experience that a princess was allowed to go very few places alone. So she kept her mouth shut.

She mused under her breath. “Mother and Father will be in the throne room all day on Friday. That will be the best time. November the 7^th. That leaves me four days to get ready.” The old lady’s eyes twinkled. She had keener ears than the princess realized.

And...

A map of Listra, in case you are still interested.