Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 385
October 15, 2015
Collage 6 - TKC
Two weeks of episodes from Damin's point of view have now passed, therefore it is time for a collage:)
Remember, if you have missed any, the episode links are on The King's Challenge page in the sidebar.
October 14, 2015
The King's Challenge #76
TKC 76
I have barely led my Grenmassin team in when Attis hurtles down from the crumbling battlements, calling out.
“The boy has become indispensable,” Mirlin murmurs out of the side of his mouth, “but don’t tell him, for pity’s sake.”
Attis comes to a breathless stop before us and pumps my hands repeatedly, eyes shining. “Where’s Lyra?” he demands.
This nearly undoes me, but I smile at the boy. “Lyra is on her way to Arc.”
Silence surrounds us and Mirlin eyes me. “The spire, I assume. She saw it.”
I eye him right back. “Strange that you did not mention it before.”
“Because she needed to discover it herself,” he shrugs.
Attis glares at both of us. “Is Lyra safe?”
Mirlin heaves a sigh. “Right now she is the only one who is safe.”
Attis nods and grins. “So when do we start walking?”
Mirlin looks at me, and I mutter, “First light. Wipe that grin off, boy; it’s a long walk. Here, take Forest and see he is fed. This is my sister Siri and Lyra’s brother Horin.” I introduce them to Attis. “Show them around, will you?”
Giving a mocking salute, Attis beckons them to him and takes Forest’s reins. They vanish into the crowd, but I trust Attis to take care of them.
“The spire?” I demand of Mirlin.
He shrugs again. “A legend of previous time. Apparently it is able to protect the Arc, but I have no idea how. That is an Elemental’s sphere of knowledge.”
I desire to strangle him. He is definitely keeping secrets. Lyra was right; we should not entirely trust him. Drawing a breath, I turn away and head up the stairs Attis nearly broke his neck on earlier.
From the vantage of height, I call out. “We move out at first light, everyone!”
I have barely led my Grenmassin team in when Attis hurtles down from the crumbling battlements, calling out.
“The boy has become indispensable,” Mirlin murmurs out of the side of his mouth, “but don’t tell him, for pity’s sake.”
Attis comes to a breathless stop before us and pumps my hands repeatedly, eyes shining. “Where’s Lyra?” he demands.
This nearly undoes me, but I smile at the boy. “Lyra is on her way to Arc.”
Silence surrounds us and Mirlin eyes me. “The spire, I assume. She saw it.”
I eye him right back. “Strange that you did not mention it before.”
“Because she needed to discover it herself,” he shrugs.
Attis glares at both of us. “Is Lyra safe?”
Mirlin heaves a sigh. “Right now she is the only one who is safe.”
Attis nods and grins. “So when do we start walking?”
Mirlin looks at me, and I mutter, “First light. Wipe that grin off, boy; it’s a long walk. Here, take Forest and see he is fed. This is my sister Siri and Lyra’s brother Horin.” I introduce them to Attis. “Show them around, will you?”
Giving a mocking salute, Attis beckons them to him and takes Forest’s reins. They vanish into the crowd, but I trust Attis to take care of them.
“The spire?” I demand of Mirlin.
He shrugs again. “A legend of previous time. Apparently it is able to protect the Arc, but I have no idea how. That is an Elemental’s sphere of knowledge.”
I desire to strangle him. He is definitely keeping secrets. Lyra was right; we should not entirely trust him. Drawing a breath, I turn away and head up the stairs Attis nearly broke his neck on earlier.
From the vantage of height, I call out. “We move out at first light, everyone!”
October 13, 2015
The King's Challenge #75
TKC 75
On the third day out of Porlese we sight the fort. Markedly, on the journey, the amount of people has increased, and they are not only fleeing slaves. We see families walking together, clearly from Alarn, given their mode of dress, and many farmers and villagers from smaller towns and settlements in the hinterland.
As we close in, there is a steady trickle west of us, those heading directly south from Normur and the more northern towns.
I note a few Messengers also, as well as a fair showing of nobility. Both these groups are invariably on horseback.
The fort will be crowded. I hope the supplies we sent south over a period of four years will be enough to feed not only the hungry arrivals, but sustain us on the march across the plains to Arc.
Closer in, we notice donkey trains coming in from the east, exiting from the mountain passes. It appears others have harked to the supply situation and have sent goods via the less travelled routes. Safer, especially with raiders in the countryside. The sight fills me with relief.
A sprawling settlement surrounds the fort on three sides. There is not enough space for everyone inside. Everything and everyone is wet, for the rain found us again yesterday. As the entrance looms, the downpour intensifies. It hides the presence in the sky, which is easier on us at this point. I sense fear growing even among the men of Grenmassin. Until now they had not seen it clearly, but at sunset on our first day of walking it was a bright orb of manipulation above, with not an errant cloud to hide it. Terrible silence then followed gasps of dismay.
There is no longer doubt.
“Damin!”
A holler draws my attention and, grinning, I hasten forward to clasp the man’s hand. “Mirlin, you made it.”
On the third day out of Porlese we sight the fort. Markedly, on the journey, the amount of people has increased, and they are not only fleeing slaves. We see families walking together, clearly from Alarn, given their mode of dress, and many farmers and villagers from smaller towns and settlements in the hinterland.
As we close in, there is a steady trickle west of us, those heading directly south from Normur and the more northern towns.
I note a few Messengers also, as well as a fair showing of nobility. Both these groups are invariably on horseback.
The fort will be crowded. I hope the supplies we sent south over a period of four years will be enough to feed not only the hungry arrivals, but sustain us on the march across the plains to Arc.
Closer in, we notice donkey trains coming in from the east, exiting from the mountain passes. It appears others have harked to the supply situation and have sent goods via the less travelled routes. Safer, especially with raiders in the countryside. The sight fills me with relief.
A sprawling settlement surrounds the fort on three sides. There is not enough space for everyone inside. Everything and everyone is wet, for the rain found us again yesterday. As the entrance looms, the downpour intensifies. It hides the presence in the sky, which is easier on us at this point. I sense fear growing even among the men of Grenmassin. Until now they had not seen it clearly, but at sunset on our first day of walking it was a bright orb of manipulation above, with not an errant cloud to hide it. Terrible silence then followed gasps of dismay.
There is no longer doubt.
“Damin!”
A holler draws my attention and, grinning, I hasten forward to clasp the man’s hand. “Mirlin, you made it.”
October 12, 2015
The King's Challenge #74
TKC 74
I do not look back after taking to a path with three children upon Forest. The way the horse snuffles at the air causes me to believe he likes children, and I find myself astonished that something so small makes me smile.
Siri walks next to me. “They follow. Even Artur,” she murmurs.
Again I smile, but do not respond with words. It is time to allow Artur and the others to think they made their own choices or we will have trouble later.
Ahead, these highlands are flat. It means easy travel. The plateau, however, bites in before swinging far to the west again to assume the same line Normur occupies. This means lengthy travel. We cannot simply head south. After the bite, it will be south and west. Those heading south from Normur will have used the land bridges to cross the canyons. The weather will be temperamental upon this journey.
The flats teem with movement. The slaves too have made their choices, and a host now moves into the distance. For three days most of us and them will be hungry, for I doubt many thought about supplies in their bid for freedom. I have some, but it will not cover everyone in our team.
The fort will have supplies. Drawing a breath, I prepare for the three day march to it, knowing the children will feel it most.
Horin ambles with the other kids. I notice he keeps them entertained and motivated. The lad has wonderful insight. I notice too how Artur glances at him. The stonemason wonders if Horin can make good on his threat.
Again I smile. Despite Artur’s gruffness, he has a soft heart. I foresee young Horin receiving defence tips from the big man before too long. Artur likes the fighters.
“Where is Lyra?” Siri eventually asks.
“On her way to Arc.” By the stars, I hope Lyra is safe.
I do not look back after taking to a path with three children upon Forest. The way the horse snuffles at the air causes me to believe he likes children, and I find myself astonished that something so small makes me smile.
Siri walks next to me. “They follow. Even Artur,” she murmurs.
Again I smile, but do not respond with words. It is time to allow Artur and the others to think they made their own choices or we will have trouble later.
Ahead, these highlands are flat. It means easy travel. The plateau, however, bites in before swinging far to the west again to assume the same line Normur occupies. This means lengthy travel. We cannot simply head south. After the bite, it will be south and west. Those heading south from Normur will have used the land bridges to cross the canyons. The weather will be temperamental upon this journey.
The flats teem with movement. The slaves too have made their choices, and a host now moves into the distance. For three days most of us and them will be hungry, for I doubt many thought about supplies in their bid for freedom. I have some, but it will not cover everyone in our team.
The fort will have supplies. Drawing a breath, I prepare for the three day march to it, knowing the children will feel it most.
Horin ambles with the other kids. I notice he keeps them entertained and motivated. The lad has wonderful insight. I notice too how Artur glances at him. The stonemason wonders if Horin can make good on his threat.
Again I smile. Despite Artur’s gruffness, he has a soft heart. I foresee young Horin receiving defence tips from the big man before too long. Artur likes the fighters.
“Where is Lyra?” Siri eventually asks.
“On her way to Arc.” By the stars, I hope Lyra is safe.
October 11, 2015
The King's Challenge #73
TKC 73
Something about their attitude angers me. Lyra came looking for me because she needed me to convince the folks of Grenmassin that disaster will come to us from the heavens. Siri believed her, for she gave Lyra her savings, and clearly Horin did too, and still does. The others? They cling to the belief Grenmassin is safety. Even after what happened there, they still believe it is better to go home.
“I am not going to be nice about this,” I growl at them. “Make your choices right here. An asteroid will soon smack into us, this is fact. We hope something out there nudges it aside, but that may be a fool’s hope. Grenmassin will not survive it and there is nothing now there anyway to call you home. People everywhere head south, including the slaves you see running from Porlese this night. We are going south.” I indicate Siri and Horin. “Lyra is already …”
“Lyra lives in the clouds,” Artur interrupts. “Did she convince you of this?”
Almost I smack a fist into his face. “Lyra will save even you, idiot,” I grind out. “Watch yourself, Artur.”
The big stonemason shoulders forward … and Horin steps into his path. “My sister is powerful and she will save all of us if we give her the chance to. Say one bad word about her and I will beat you up.”
Artur blinks at the boy, and splutters into laughter. No one else does, for somehow we understand Horin will make good on his threat. I see a sword in my mind as I look at him. He has the warrior gene, indeed, as I thought. I need to delve him more, soon.
“We are going south,” I state. “The three youngest will start off on Forest, and the children will take turns as we go.”
Something about their attitude angers me. Lyra came looking for me because she needed me to convince the folks of Grenmassin that disaster will come to us from the heavens. Siri believed her, for she gave Lyra her savings, and clearly Horin did too, and still does. The others? They cling to the belief Grenmassin is safety. Even after what happened there, they still believe it is better to go home.
“I am not going to be nice about this,” I growl at them. “Make your choices right here. An asteroid will soon smack into us, this is fact. We hope something out there nudges it aside, but that may be a fool’s hope. Grenmassin will not survive it and there is nothing now there anyway to call you home. People everywhere head south, including the slaves you see running from Porlese this night. We are going south.” I indicate Siri and Horin. “Lyra is already …”
“Lyra lives in the clouds,” Artur interrupts. “Did she convince you of this?”
Almost I smack a fist into his face. “Lyra will save even you, idiot,” I grind out. “Watch yourself, Artur.”
The big stonemason shoulders forward … and Horin steps into his path. “My sister is powerful and she will save all of us if we give her the chance to. Say one bad word about her and I will beat you up.”
Artur blinks at the boy, and splutters into laughter. No one else does, for somehow we understand Horin will make good on his threat. I see a sword in my mind as I look at him. He has the warrior gene, indeed, as I thought. I need to delve him more, soon.
“We are going south,” I state. “The three youngest will start off on Forest, and the children will take turns as we go.”
