Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 396
August 22, 2015
August 21, 2015
The King's Challenge #24
TKC 24
Both men hold the boat Damin, Mirlin and I clamber into. The raging water threatens to sweep it away and us along with it. We bounce as if we are to overturn. When they release it, we are swept into the darkness.
How those two will manage alone with the second boat, I have no idea. All sight of them is lost within moments.
We hold on. There is some light from above and in its shadows I realise Damin dares not even touch the oars. The water is insane under us. The rushing noise is overwhelming. I begin to wonder if the lower city exists at all now. How many bodies will we discover churning in this morass?
There are points of light, however, ahead in the darkness. Lanterns lit for night. Those on high ground summon the less fortunate to haven.
Our boat grinds over something below and our swift progress finally slows.
“Walkway!” Damin bellows. He reaches for the oars and starts digging into the water.
Soon he is the one determining direction, not the current. The fear closing my throat subsides somewhat and I am able to breathe.
Mirlin lights his lantern again. I swallow convulsively when I realise we are rowing through a sea of bodies.
“You highborn can’t stomach reality,” Mirlin growls at me.
Instantly I desire to throw him overboard, to join the dead. How dare he?
“Quiet, Mirlin,” Damin snarls. He is about to say more, when a desperate shout arrests him. It has all our attention, in fact. Damin swings the boat.
Clinging to a tree we discover a woman and two children. Damin bumps against the tree and snags a lower branch. Hazardous as it, swiftly we have them with us. The little girl cries uncontrollably. Her mother draws her close.
Both men hold the boat Damin, Mirlin and I clamber into. The raging water threatens to sweep it away and us along with it. We bounce as if we are to overturn. When they release it, we are swept into the darkness.
How those two will manage alone with the second boat, I have no idea. All sight of them is lost within moments.
We hold on. There is some light from above and in its shadows I realise Damin dares not even touch the oars. The water is insane under us. The rushing noise is overwhelming. I begin to wonder if the lower city exists at all now. How many bodies will we discover churning in this morass?
There are points of light, however, ahead in the darkness. Lanterns lit for night. Those on high ground summon the less fortunate to haven.
Our boat grinds over something below and our swift progress finally slows.
“Walkway!” Damin bellows. He reaches for the oars and starts digging into the water.
Soon he is the one determining direction, not the current. The fear closing my throat subsides somewhat and I am able to breathe.
Mirlin lights his lantern again. I swallow convulsively when I realise we are rowing through a sea of bodies.
“You highborn can’t stomach reality,” Mirlin growls at me.
Instantly I desire to throw him overboard, to join the dead. How dare he?
“Quiet, Mirlin,” Damin snarls. He is about to say more, when a desperate shout arrests him. It has all our attention, in fact. Damin swings the boat.
Clinging to a tree we discover a woman and two children. Damin bumps against the tree and snags a lower branch. Hazardous as it, swiftly we have them with us. The little girl cries uncontrollably. Her mother draws her close.
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August 20, 2015
The King's Challenge #23
TKC 23
The stairway is carved by nature and therefore twists where one least expects it to. Willing hands have made adjustments to ease the way, but it remains dangerous. Especially when this wet and particularly in the dead of night.
My cloak does not help either. After it has snagged three times on exposed roots as we go down, I finally tuck the flapping ends into my belt. My feet are my eyes. Never has my heart thudded this fast. With every step I expect to plunge into the abyss.
Then we hear it. I am not the only one who comes to a halt on the twisting decline.
Water. Rushing, churning, gurgling. Insane water.
Ahead, Mirlin reignites the lantern. The resultant glow reveals three men poised in various stages of descent before me, my own precarious position, and Damin looking down into the darkness behind me. It also touches on a swirling mass of black water.
My gut hollows. That is a torrent. It may kill all of us.
Mirlin looks back … at Damin. In his eyes there is doubt. Perhaps even fear.
“We have no choice,” Damin mutters, and I feel his warmth as he steps carefully onto the level I occupy in this moment. Raising his voice, he says, “Go on.”
Nodding, Mirlin continues. Soon he vanishes as a curve in the way hides him. When we reach the same place, I see two boats on a shelf of rock. In the dry the shelf would be high off the marsh; now the floodwaters have risen to mere inches from the filthy hulls.
The two others are already tossing camouflage aside. The dead branches are swallowed so swiftly into the current, my breath shortens. Many have already died in that insane current. We may soon join them.
The stairway is carved by nature and therefore twists where one least expects it to. Willing hands have made adjustments to ease the way, but it remains dangerous. Especially when this wet and particularly in the dead of night.
My cloak does not help either. After it has snagged three times on exposed roots as we go down, I finally tuck the flapping ends into my belt. My feet are my eyes. Never has my heart thudded this fast. With every step I expect to plunge into the abyss.
Then we hear it. I am not the only one who comes to a halt on the twisting decline.
Water. Rushing, churning, gurgling. Insane water.
Ahead, Mirlin reignites the lantern. The resultant glow reveals three men poised in various stages of descent before me, my own precarious position, and Damin looking down into the darkness behind me. It also touches on a swirling mass of black water.
My gut hollows. That is a torrent. It may kill all of us.
Mirlin looks back … at Damin. In his eyes there is doubt. Perhaps even fear.
“We have no choice,” Damin mutters, and I feel his warmth as he steps carefully onto the level I occupy in this moment. Raising his voice, he says, “Go on.”
Nodding, Mirlin continues. Soon he vanishes as a curve in the way hides him. When we reach the same place, I see two boats on a shelf of rock. In the dry the shelf would be high off the marsh; now the floodwaters have risen to mere inches from the filthy hulls.
The two others are already tossing camouflage aside. The dead branches are swallowed so swiftly into the current, my breath shortens. Many have already died in that insane current. We may soon join them.
August 19, 2015
The King's Challenge #22
TKC 22
The jailhouse is a squat stone building surrounded by high walls. Damin leads us through a gap and whistles softly.
“Here,” a voice responds.
Mirlin is old, but one look into his dark eyes and I know never to underestimate him. This one is a survivor and possibly a killer.
“Why bring the woman?” he demands.
In answer, Damin flips my hood briefly back.
Mirlin nods. “Indeed. Come then. We can’t afford to waste this night.” Glancing around a last time, he heads for the same gap. “Two others wait for us at the stairway,” he throws over his shoulder.
Soon we are running. Mirlin sets the pace and his urgency communicates. I suspect this has more to do with the foul weather suddenly ending and thus leaving us without our veils of protection, than with a feeling of being watched. I know Attis watches, but his is the good kind.
Near Normur’s northern limit, Mirlin turns abruptly west for the edge of the plateau. Between ancient and crumbling buildings, which seem to teeter and sway as if about to plunge into the abyss below, we come to a mess of wire and stakes. This is to discourage climbers from the marsh … and it hides a hidden set of stairs.
Not that I see them, for darkness is now absolute. Damin told me what to expect.
Mirlin finds a lantern in the rubble nearby and lights it. In the wavering pool of yellow, I see two others and they shift the barrier aside. Everyone moves fast. The rain is lessening. Sound alone will now give us away.
“Go, Lyra; I’m right behind you,” Damin whispers, and I set feet to this dangerous path and endeavour. There is no turning back. Three men are ready to kill me if I even think it.
The jailhouse is a squat stone building surrounded by high walls. Damin leads us through a gap and whistles softly.
“Here,” a voice responds.
Mirlin is old, but one look into his dark eyes and I know never to underestimate him. This one is a survivor and possibly a killer.
“Why bring the woman?” he demands.
In answer, Damin flips my hood briefly back.
Mirlin nods. “Indeed. Come then. We can’t afford to waste this night.” Glancing around a last time, he heads for the same gap. “Two others wait for us at the stairway,” he throws over his shoulder.
Soon we are running. Mirlin sets the pace and his urgency communicates. I suspect this has more to do with the foul weather suddenly ending and thus leaving us without our veils of protection, than with a feeling of being watched. I know Attis watches, but his is the good kind.
Near Normur’s northern limit, Mirlin turns abruptly west for the edge of the plateau. Between ancient and crumbling buildings, which seem to teeter and sway as if about to plunge into the abyss below, we come to a mess of wire and stakes. This is to discourage climbers from the marsh … and it hides a hidden set of stairs.
Not that I see them, for darkness is now absolute. Damin told me what to expect.
Mirlin finds a lantern in the rubble nearby and lights it. In the wavering pool of yellow, I see two others and they shift the barrier aside. Everyone moves fast. The rain is lessening. Sound alone will now give us away.
“Go, Lyra; I’m right behind you,” Damin whispers, and I set feet to this dangerous path and endeavour. There is no turning back. Three men are ready to kill me if I even think it.
Thomas hits the City!
My second Thomas H short story went live yesterday. I love writing about Thomas, for it's all tongue-in-cheek fun!
Blurb
After a disastrous beginning in the country, Thomas Henson begins his new life and career in the city. He must now step up or fail in this issue of being an adult. There is no trust fund and the silver spoon has long been melted.
Thomas will negotiate the ways of city living, of city working and of city romancing. We do hope dear Thomas finds himself now, although we know so well how everything, simply everything, is an issue for our Thomas. Fingers crossed!
First Review!
Thank you Poppet!
Amazon USSmashwordsAmazon UK
Blurb
After a disastrous beginning in the country, Thomas Henson begins his new life and career in the city. He must now step up or fail in this issue of being an adult. There is no trust fund and the silver spoon has long been melted.
Thomas will negotiate the ways of city living, of city working and of city romancing. We do hope dear Thomas finds himself now, although we know so well how everything, simply everything, is an issue for our Thomas. Fingers crossed!
First Review!
Thank you Poppet!Amazon USSmashwordsAmazon UK
August 18, 2015
The King's Challenge #20 and #21
TKC 20 and 21
After Attis has delivered both food and dry clothes and after eating to the last crumb, we sleep. This entails stiff postures from both of us, as we attempt to lie on the same bed without actually touching, but sleep we do need. Tonight we will go for the boats; we need to be alert and strong.
Soon the sounds of a city awakening to a new day no longer bother me and Damin’s soft snores tell me he is asleep. I relax and oblivion takes me.
Hours later I suddenly snap into awareness when a particularly loud noise penetrates the fog of sleep. I realise someone is at the door. The knocking there is loud and repeated. I also realise Damin’s arm is across me. For a moment I consider not moving, to lie there forever with that warmth on me, but the knocking becomes insistent.
In a flurry of movement meant to jar Damin into wakefulness, I leave the bed. By the wan light in the room, I can tell evening draws near. It is still raining.
“Lyra, wait. We don’t know who it is,” Damin whispers as he rolls from the bedding to stand. From the sodden bundle of discarded clothes in the corner he withdraws a dagger and then stealthily approaches the door.
I have a similar dagger in my pack and I swiftly have it to hand. All the young of Grenmassin are taught how to fight and for that I am now thankful. In silence I step into the darkest shadows.
Damin nods at me and then says, “Who is there?” in a normal tone.
The knocking ceases immediately. “Attis.”
Rolling his eyes, Damin unlocks and hauls the lad inside, quickly locking again. “Boy, you just told the entire inn where we are.”
“Mirlin told me to wake you no matter what,” Attis gripes. “I tried to be quiet, but you weren’t listening.”
“Mirlin is here?” Damin snaps out. “How do you know Mirlin?”
The tousle-haired boy stands arms akimbo before Damin and I hide a grin. “Mirlin is my uncle. I am his eyes in the city.”
Damin glares. “Well, you could have told me that in the lower city. I almost had you killed, by the stars.”
Attis turns away, looking for me. “Lyra would not let anything happen to me, I knew it. Lyra?”
I step from the shadows. “You are safe where I am, yes. Now tell us your news.” This time I smile widely when the boy perches on the rumpled bed as if he is part of our family.
“Mirlin came as the sun lowered, said to wake you, saw you come here, he was watching for you. Says the lawmen concentrate on the edge, pushing folk back into the water, so it’s safe to go east as planned.” Attis squints up. “What is in the east?”
“Never mind,” Damin mutters. “Did he say he will meet us?”
A nod. “At the jailhouse.”
“When?”
“He’s already there,” Attis shrugs.
“Then we must make haste,” Damin says, but I shake my head and add, “We eat first. Attis?”
The boy nods vigorously and scoots off the bed to go to the door. “Supper is ready downstairs. I’ll bring yours up.” Unlocking, he vanishes.
Damin stares at me. “It will be dangerous, Lyra.”
“And people are dying. Whatever this night brings, we get as many to safety as we can. We use the rain to hide us from sound and sight.”
Sighing, Damin starts donning boots and gear. “That was the plan. This rain is the best defence, even as it is the cause.”
After Attis has delivered both food and dry clothes and after eating to the last crumb, we sleep. This entails stiff postures from both of us, as we attempt to lie on the same bed without actually touching, but sleep we do need. Tonight we will go for the boats; we need to be alert and strong.
Soon the sounds of a city awakening to a new day no longer bother me and Damin’s soft snores tell me he is asleep. I relax and oblivion takes me.
Hours later I suddenly snap into awareness when a particularly loud noise penetrates the fog of sleep. I realise someone is at the door. The knocking there is loud and repeated. I also realise Damin’s arm is across me. For a moment I consider not moving, to lie there forever with that warmth on me, but the knocking becomes insistent.
In a flurry of movement meant to jar Damin into wakefulness, I leave the bed. By the wan light in the room, I can tell evening draws near. It is still raining.
“Lyra, wait. We don’t know who it is,” Damin whispers as he rolls from the bedding to stand. From the sodden bundle of discarded clothes in the corner he withdraws a dagger and then stealthily approaches the door.
I have a similar dagger in my pack and I swiftly have it to hand. All the young of Grenmassin are taught how to fight and for that I am now thankful. In silence I step into the darkest shadows.
Damin nods at me and then says, “Who is there?” in a normal tone.
The knocking ceases immediately. “Attis.”
Rolling his eyes, Damin unlocks and hauls the lad inside, quickly locking again. “Boy, you just told the entire inn where we are.”
“Mirlin told me to wake you no matter what,” Attis gripes. “I tried to be quiet, but you weren’t listening.”
“Mirlin is here?” Damin snaps out. “How do you know Mirlin?”
The tousle-haired boy stands arms akimbo before Damin and I hide a grin. “Mirlin is my uncle. I am his eyes in the city.”
Damin glares. “Well, you could have told me that in the lower city. I almost had you killed, by the stars.”
Attis turns away, looking for me. “Lyra would not let anything happen to me, I knew it. Lyra?”
I step from the shadows. “You are safe where I am, yes. Now tell us your news.” This time I smile widely when the boy perches on the rumpled bed as if he is part of our family.
“Mirlin came as the sun lowered, said to wake you, saw you come here, he was watching for you. Says the lawmen concentrate on the edge, pushing folk back into the water, so it’s safe to go east as planned.” Attis squints up. “What is in the east?”
“Never mind,” Damin mutters. “Did he say he will meet us?”
A nod. “At the jailhouse.”
“When?”
“He’s already there,” Attis shrugs.
“Then we must make haste,” Damin says, but I shake my head and add, “We eat first. Attis?”
The boy nods vigorously and scoots off the bed to go to the door. “Supper is ready downstairs. I’ll bring yours up.” Unlocking, he vanishes.
Damin stares at me. “It will be dangerous, Lyra.”
“And people are dying. Whatever this night brings, we get as many to safety as we can. We use the rain to hide us from sound and sight.”
Sighing, Damin starts donning boots and gear. “That was the plan. This rain is the best defence, even as it is the cause.”
