MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 50
June 8, 2011
Episode 46: The Piano Lesson | Scryer's Gulch
Jedediah Bonham strolled into his son's hotel with his daughter's confiding little hand in his. The LeFay was understated for his tastes; too much white and not enough red, though the giltwork was nice and there was a great deal of gold bullion fringe on the draperies that he approved of. Someone--Miss Duniway, most likely--was running through a series of exercises on the piano several rooms away. He waved his fingers at Charles behind the front desk, and the man returned it with a respectful-enough if sour nod, followed by a genuine smile for the girl.
"Hello, Charles!" chirped Lily. "Miss Duniway's going to teach me how to play the piano!"
"So I've heard," replied the desk man. "She's in the salon. Best that piano's sounded since it got here."
June 6, 2011
Chapter 12 Part 1 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
Temmin sent a message to the twins that night, by way of a sleepy footman. The next morning, a postulant Lover delivered the response; it sat on the library table when Temmin returned from a solitary breakfast.
"Disregard me," said Teacher, lounging by the window. "By all means, read your letter."
Temmin sat down and ran a finger over the Lovers' Temple sigil stamped into the wax. Breaking it felt like sealing his fate, though he'd sealed it the night before in his father's study. "Your Highness," it began. "Your presence is required at the Lovers' Temple from Farrday, the 34th day of Spring's Beginning, through Ammaday, the 35th day of Spring's Beginning to prepare for your admittance as our Supplicant." The elegant writing included no signature.
"That is from the Embodiments, I assume. Did you find your answer last night, then?" said Teacher.
"I would've thought my father told you this morning."
"I have not seen him yet, though I wager when I do we will have quite the spirited discussion." Teacher moved to sit atop the table. "What did you decide?"
"I'm taking Supplicancy."
A flicker crossed Teacher's dispassionate face. "You are sure? You may change your mind, right up until the moment you take orders."
"I'm as sure as I can be," said Temmin. "I heard...it sounds ridiculous, but I'm talking to a man who walks through mirrors, so...I heard a little voice calling my name. That's all." He looked up into the pale silver eyes. "I think I've been called. It feels like the right thing to do. Allis and Issak have been more trustworthy than my own father. So...I told them I'm doing it. Paggday--it's not my initiation, is it?"
"No," said Teacher. "That will be at the Neya's Day Spectacle."
"In front of everyone?"
"You must be sure of yourself. Public proclamation confirms that surety. You will be learning all about it when you are there on Paggday."
Temmin fingered the old red book, still lying on the table since his last lesson. "What if I'm wrong?"
"We pick a path, we walk it as best we can, and we change course if we find we have taken the wrong way. How gracefully a man adapts is one of his greatest measures. Shall we continue?"
Temmin opened the book.
June 3, 2011
Chapter 11 Part 7 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
Someone kept the windowless, ancient room within well-tended. Its style pointed to the Keep's founding a thousand years before; vaulted stone rose above tapestried walls to meet in graceful apexes. Eight altars had been carved from the bedrock, each with its God. Purple and gold seasonal draperies wreathed Pagg's niche, in honor of His spoke, Spring's Beginning. Candles flickered before all the altars, reflecting off the smooth, polished wood of the padded kneeling benches set in rows.
Empty glass vases waited before Nerr's statue, a silver pitcher of fresh water beside them. He settled the flowers, and carefully stacked the pink and white candies at Neya's feet. He knelt on the bench nearest the Twins, and prayed. "Lord, Lady, I don't know what to do. Are You calling me, or is this just about wanting the Embodiments? Or being mad at my father? I want to do the right thing. I know I haven't been the most faithful person--no, actually, I've always believed, I just haven't gone through the forms perhaps as much as I should. Just send me a sign. Let me know what I should do."
Chapter 11 Part 7 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 2
Someone kept the windowless, ancient room within well-tended. Its style pointed to the Keep's founding a thousand years before; vaulted stone rose above tapestried walls to meet in graceful apexes. Eight altars had been carved from the bedrock, each with its God. Purple and gold seasonal draperies wreathed Pagg's niche, in honor of His spoke, Spring's Beginning. Candles flickered before all the altars, reflecting off the smooth, polished wood of the padded kneeling benches set in rows.
Empty glass vases waited before Nerr's statue, a silver pitcher of fresh water beside them. He settled the flowers, and carefully stacked the pink and white candies at Neya's feet. He knelt on the bench nearest the Twins, and prayed. "Lord, Lady, I don't know what to do. Are You calling me, or is this just about wanting the Embodiments? Or being mad at my father? I want to do the right thing. I know I haven't been the most faithful person--no, actually, I've always believed, I just haven't gone through the forms perhaps as much as I should. Just send me a sign. Let me know what I should do."
June 1, 2011
For Premium Members: Father Nino answers a question in Ask a Tremontine
Father Nino has answered a question in the Ask a Tremontine forum available to premium members:
W4069 asks: Some religions go to great lengths to squelch dissenting voices and challenges to religious authority. Other orders are content to let-happen, confident that they're right anyway.
Is Tremontine theology open to interpretation and debate, or does somebody keep a close hand on permissible beliefs? Do commoners have prayer books, or must you go to a priest to get your spiritual fix?
Prayer books? Everyone has the prayers memorized. Why would anyone write them down. The Sagas, on the other hand...well, those who can afford them have copies, of course, and the rest can't read anyway, so why would they?
Enjoy.
Gulch updates
As you may have seen Scryer's Gulch updated today, for the first time in a couple of months. I've been beating my head against book two, and now that I'm taking a Netta-imposed break I figured I'd fill the hours with a little bit of Gulch. I have one episode in the scheduler for next week, one that should be done for the week after, and then it may--I say *may*--go on hiatus after that again. I want to get as many Gulch eps in the hopper before I go back on a break.
Episode 45: Ace in the Hole | Scryer's Gulch
Annabelle sent the encoded ethergram out to Chief Howman the next afternoon after school, asking for more information. Sending the ethergram via Simon Prake seemed both dangerous and disloyal somehow, but there wasn't any choice.
"I'm afraid this is going to be a two-dollar ethergram, Miss Duniway," grimaced Simon. "It's a long one."
"I know," she laughed, "but I remembered a few things I just have to tell my cousin as soon as possible--it couldn't wait for the mail. I'll just have to be extra-careful with my money this month."
A few things to tell her cousin--that was sure, or rather, her "cousin" had a few things to tell her. She'd had it with all the guessing; if DC knew anything more about the contaminated ore's effects, or what a plotter might possibly do with it, she needed to know if she was going to pin down the culprit--or even defend against him. Until then, she and John were going to track every piece of ore in and out of Simon Prake's office that they could. She and Misi would scout out the mines, and if Rabbit turned out to be able to "taste" the bad hermetauxite, he'd help too.
May 30, 2011
Chapter 11 Part 6 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
Temmin stayed with Allis and Issak until late in the afternoon: long talks about their mother, and coming to the City under Teacher's protection; lunch with the irrepressible Anda; and kisses--only a few. Pressing past a kiss reminded him of the twins' past, and though they didn't speak of it, Temmin saw flickers of memory pass through their eyes.
When they gave him their final kisses and saw him to the Temple's entrance, Temmin found Brother Mardus waiting, a Guard contingent ranged around him. Nervous petitioners picked their way up the steps under their stern eyes. "Your Highness," said Mardus.
"Brother Mardus, I'm surprised to see you!"
"You shouldn't be." The two men walked down the stairs; at the bottom stood Jebby, with Mardus's own horse. "Now, sir, you are going to get on that horse, and you're going to follow our lead. You will not break away, and you will do what I tell you when I tell you. Are we clear?"
Chapter 11 Part 6 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 2
Temmin stayed with Allis and Issak until late in the afternoon: long talks about their mother, and coming to the City under Teacher's protection; lunch with the irrepressible Anda; and kisses--only a few. Pressing past a kiss reminded him of the twins' past, and though they didn't speak of it, Temmin saw flickers of memory pass through their eyes.
May 28, 2011
"The Gratification Engine" now free to Patrons
It should have been this way all along:
"The Gratification Engine" is now free to Patrons. You'll see it in the tracker if you're a Patron, in the Tales of the Lovers' Temple section, or here.
Everyone else needs to buy it. 
You can find it at Amazon, B&N, or directly from me. Only 99 cents!
