Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 14
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Enjoy!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 14
Katie knew she was going the wrong direction when she left Thomas. She was curious as to whether or not he’d let her go, and a little peeved when he didn’t call her back. Whatever he had to do must be important, but she’d hoped to buy herself a little more time, maybe coax the final task for breaking free of the curse from him.
Seemed like if it was dangerous, it would be a good story, at least. And certainly something she’d rather avoid.
The old hall was narrow and drafty, the dim light flickering from torches mounted on the walls. She wasn’t yet tired, and she didn’t remember seeing this part of the manor, so she decided to continue following the lovely stone walls for awhile, just to explore. The manor was basically a large rectangle, so theoretically the hall would eventually end where it started, or so she assumed.
Reaching out, she trailed her fingertips along the cool wall, surprised to feel a slight dampness coating her skin. She rubbed her fingers together, smelled them, an old, earthy moss and soil fragrance bringing to mind the old English moors she’d often heard about.
“The stone absorbs moisture from our surroundings. In the right conditions, it releases it again.”
Zariah’s soft voice behind her made Katie jump, and she whirled around, one hand to her chest as her heart beat fast within.
“You scared me! Why didn’t you make noise or something?”
Zariah smiled. “It wasn’t my intention to scare you, Ms. Watson. I intended only to make sure you didn’t have to spend another night in the library.”
Katie rolled her eyes and dropped her hand, walking beside her hostess as they continued down the hall.
“Thank you for that,” she said, taking a deep breath, this time able to smell the lighter nuances she’d just sampled from the wall. “There aren’t really any bogs or wetlands here to speak of, so why do the walls smell more like moss?”
Zariah glanced sideways at her, and then shrugged.
“The manor isn’t bound to a single place, or time, for that matter. If our aid is requested, we are bound in that place until the threat has been dealt with, or the request is rescinded. But we never know who will come through our door next, or in what time/place we will...be.”
Katie frowned. “That’s not possible.” Zariah merely raised her eyebrows, her head cocked to the side until Katie conceded.
“Then again, it’s not possible to make my cooking edible either. And gargoyles don’t turn into men or vice versa.” She brought her hands up to rub her face, her mind stretching and failing to make sense of any of it. “I think it’s time I got some sleep. Just thinking about this is enough to make me crazy.”
Katie felt a light touch on her shoulder, and a sense of peace radiated out, easing the ache in her neck and down her back.
“Your room is just up ahead on the right.” Zariah walked with her to the door, and waited until Katie pushed it open. “Should you need anything at all, pull the rope by the bed. Rest well, Katie Watson. Tomorrow night after dinner, you and Thomas will begin your journey.”
Enjoy
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 14
Katie knew she was going the wrong direction when she left Thomas. She was curious as to whether or not he’d let her go, and a little peeved when he didn’t call her back. Whatever he had to do must be important, but she’d hoped to buy herself a little more time, maybe coax the final task for breaking free of the curse from him.
Seemed like if it was dangerous, it would be a good story, at least. And certainly something she’d rather avoid.
The old hall was narrow and drafty, the dim light flickering from torches mounted on the walls. She wasn’t yet tired, and she didn’t remember seeing this part of the manor, so she decided to continue following the lovely stone walls for awhile, just to explore. The manor was basically a large rectangle, so theoretically the hall would eventually end where it started, or so she assumed.
Reaching out, she trailed her fingertips along the cool wall, surprised to feel a slight dampness coating her skin. She rubbed her fingers together, smelled them, an old, earthy moss and soil fragrance bringing to mind the old English moors she’d often heard about.
“The stone absorbs moisture from our surroundings. In the right conditions, it releases it again.”
Zariah’s soft voice behind her made Katie jump, and she whirled around, one hand to her chest as her heart beat fast within.
“You scared me! Why didn’t you make noise or something?”
Zariah smiled. “It wasn’t my intention to scare you, Ms. Watson. I intended only to make sure you didn’t have to spend another night in the library.”
Katie rolled her eyes and dropped her hand, walking beside her hostess as they continued down the hall.
“Thank you for that,” she said, taking a deep breath, this time able to smell the lighter nuances she’d just sampled from the wall. “There aren’t really any bogs or wetlands here to speak of, so why do the walls smell more like moss?”
Zariah glanced sideways at her, and then shrugged.
“The manor isn’t bound to a single place, or time, for that matter. If our aid is requested, we are bound in that place until the threat has been dealt with, or the request is rescinded. But we never know who will come through our door next, or in what time/place we will...be.”
Katie frowned. “That’s not possible.” Zariah merely raised her eyebrows, her head cocked to the side until Katie conceded.
“Then again, it’s not possible to make my cooking edible either. And gargoyles don’t turn into men or vice versa.” She brought her hands up to rub her face, her mind stretching and failing to make sense of any of it. “I think it’s time I got some sleep. Just thinking about this is enough to make me crazy.”
Katie felt a light touch on her shoulder, and a sense of peace radiated out, easing the ache in her neck and down her back.
“Your room is just up ahead on the right.” Zariah walked with her to the door, and waited until Katie pushed it open. “Should you need anything at all, pull the rope by the bed. Rest well, Katie Watson. Tomorrow night after dinner, you and Thomas will begin your journey.”
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