Shirley Meier's Blog, page 48

512 - The Plinth is Replaceable

"HEY AILADASSSSSS!!!!!"  Ili careened into the schoolroom on his skates, bouncing off the doorframe.  "Ow.  AILAD—"
"Ooof."
Since Ili had caromed right into Ailadas's middle as he rose to answer Ilesias's shout, they both sat down rather abruptly, Ailadas back into his wheeled chair that squeaked backwards a fraction, Ilesias landing on the floor.
"OW!" –"Ouch, young man… you might have broken

511 - I Couldn't Help It

Of course I had to be the first one to congratulate her when they landed.  It was only right.  And I was so proud of her accomplishment I could almost burst.  Of course she could do it!
"Oh my goodness!  Oh my goodness!  I was so afraid I'd never learn!  I was so scared I'd never get it right!"
Really?  My cool, serene, unruffled best female friend in the world was being that hard on herself

510 - I'll be Hurling

Sawas grinned, if anything, wider. "I'll be hurling, Minis and Eminaias will be catching. Sorry, we're running a little late today. We've had such good, strong rising air we wanted to take advantage of them today." I'd asked him to just use my name instead of any titles the night before. "Once we finish with our other student." Other stu…oh. Yes.
"Of course. Please, don't let me interrupt.

One Reason

One reason I'm going to be a little slower writing for a while.

509 - What Was So Funny?

"… as Arkans we have had a long, long tradition of maintaining Mahid.  They have been the reflection of the Imperial line as long as we have been Imperium… from before we fell from the stars!  One must remember we cannot judge on the last few generations, since the Mahid have no choice but to be what the Imperator wills.  In this case… and in this proposal, it seems that Minister Rafas is

508 - I'm Really Into the Story

…the boy.  I don't remember his name either.  No more than I remember my own.  The word comes back when I think that.  I ignore it and concentrate on finding signs of their travel.  A large enough group to have killed all of us… who is us?  We… we… were… protecting!  Yes.  Protecting the boy!
It felt so good to have a memory, something to pull out of this fog in my head.  Fog. More like mud. 

507 - So Be It

Amitzas Mahid stood next to the Corrective Stall, hands tucked under a brightly embroidered kerchief, all flames of different hues.  It was so odd to see on him.  It was so odd to see him in blue robes or green ones, or burgundy and white, much less with the bright cloth.  His thin white hair still cascaded as perfectly straight as a column down to the backs of his calves and ...

506 - Ever Faithful

We had sat for two whole days, arguing about the relative merits of Rafas's proposal… alternating between rabid Assemblymen foaming about the very existence of one half of my family and others pointing out that Rafas's picture of the new Mahid was very reasonable.
"The Honourable Assembly has been speaking of the Minister's proposal only of the men.  Does the female side of the Imperial family

505 - The Fulcrum of that Point

I stare through the leather bars of the training helmet.  I, Jorasa Mahid... and my friends... get to prove to the Senior that we can do this.  All of everyone who is left is in the seats.

The doors are locked to give us our privacy.  My blood is thundering in my ears.  When Amitza and I first tried it, and then requested Eforasa to join us, it seemed a lot easier. ...

504 - ...No Idea Other Than Hatred

"The average Arkan has no idea of Mahid other than hatred.  The Mahid were pretty much universally despised!  They were tools of oppression, "the Imperator's black dogs"!"  

Assemblyman Furninian spoke at length on how the Mahid were reviled by everybody.  He concluded with:  "This competition creates a perception: that Rafas, by proposing it, and we, as Assembly, by approving it, and the