Good Evening Everyone! Another productive evening has seen me finish Chapter Sixteen of my third book, When Gods do Meddle. There is a longer excerpt below.
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Writing Time: 40 Minutes
Word Count: 611
Excerpt
Fla’ana stared at her oddly, for what seemed like a long time, and at last she said, in almost a whisper as if she feared being overheard. “There are others, many others, who would not want this shared, for many reasons, but there might be something.”
“Tell me what it is!” Tanara all but demanded.
Fla’ana arched an eyebrow at being commanded, but after a moment decided to let it pass. “It is said that, deep within the Shifting Wilderness, there is hidden a sword made of crystal. Forged by power and craft unknown , it channels the raw energy of light and life. If it can be found, and used, then that might just be able to break Ymiron’s power in a way that he would not be so easy able to come back or escape from.”
Tanara sat forward eagerly, “where is it?
Fla’ana shrugged her shoulders. Other than somewhere in the Shifting Wilderness, I do not know. It has been hidden there for time out of mind, hidden even from the gods and goddesses of this Terra. Many have sought it, none have found it, and now many believe it does not, or never did, exist.”
Tanara stared intently into the River Goddess’ eyes and finally said, “so we might leave and end up chasing tall tales and rumors?”
Fla’ana smiled, “for whatever it is worth, it is my believe that there is truth in the stories, and somewhere on the continent there is such a weapon.”
Maelith leaned forward at this point, “how would one even begin to look for such a thing?”
The Goddess leaned back in her chair in thought. “If there is anywhere that might have some clues, it would be some of the collections that have been assembled by the Earth Goddess Tengana.”
Tanara chuckled, “one danger into another. Very well, that is where I will start then.”
“That is where WE will start,” said Maelith with determination.
Tanara looked at her companion for a long moment and said, “I am sorry that you cannot return to your own people, Maelith, and I appreciate your help, however I do want to make sure you understand that I mean to carry out the object of shortening the tyranny and power of Ymiron, or die trying.”
Maelith was grim at this, but said with the same determination, “I would expect nothing less from you, Tanara. I will go with you.”
Tanara nodded and turned to Varna, “and you my friend? Will you come with us.”
Varna shook her head, “I am sorry, Tanara, but I think my days of adventure are behind me. I have offered, and Fla’ana, has accepted me as serving as her handmaiden and aid for a time.”
“It is a shame you cannot come, we could have used your knowledge.”
Varna smiled, “I am sure you will be just fine on your own. There is some part of me that yearns to accompany you but I am older than I appear and if I confess the truth, everything that I have done has been seeking to serve my Goddess, and now I truly can.”
Tanara leaned back in her chair and sighed, “I understand, my friend. Fla’ana, I appreciate all that you have done for us and I crave your kindness for one final night so that we might take our leave in the morning.”
Fla’ana bowed her head in acknowledgment, “I was happy that I could help you, in what way that I can. I will see that you are well supplied for the moment and I will see that you exit my domain near to Valkas Cor, that is likely the closest place where you might find some hint of what you seek.”
The rest of the meal passed in a combination of silence and idle conversation. Everyone present was clear and set in what thy intended to do. Tanara in particular wondered whether this crystal sword really did exist but mostly was grateful that she felt like she had a purpose and something to strive toward for the first time in month and she found herself almost surprised that Maelith going with her, which she had not dared even ask or hope for, gave her a sense of connection and satisfaction that she had not even fully realized she was missing. Thoughts like these chased themselves around Tanara’s head through the rest of the meal with the River Goddess and her companions, making preparation for their journey, and falling into an uneasy sleep.
I hope you all have a wonderful day, have a chance to do or experience something creative, and I’ll catch you on the next one.
– Jon
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