tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74334635766900809072012-02-01T17:24:19.133-05:00Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.comBlogger7531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-13470733928915596822012-02-01T16:23:00.000-05:002012-02-01T17:24:19.145-05:00

I watch the Young Sinner and the benighted and demonic crowd around them.  That... female... who will be named Imperatrix, the foreigners who surround the once pure and perfect scions of the Imperial line... The dog-keeper in the ridiculous parody of the Fenjitza’s wear surround by his vile beasts, all mocking the various ministers of the greatest Empire on the earthsphere. The foreigners,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17177226773613642023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-82258071221398981752012-01-31T22:38:00.002-05:002012-01-31T22:44:50.082-05:00

Muunas, High God, make those shenning girls stop!    “Kyriala!”  I was almost wheezing.  I wasn’t drunk at all any more, chasing those... those... I had a choice.  I could get angry or just give up and laugh.  The dawn was just over the Rim and the light had gone from dim to the absolute crystal clear of what people call a ‘throne morning’.  Thank you Ten.  Jitzmitthra seldom had rain but

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17177226773613642023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-86727854909251577232012-01-30T01:31:00.000-05:002012-01-30T10:33:52.616-05:00

Dad is beaming.  The money is pouring in this year.  Not only for Jitz but for the whole men’s party for the... well I guess he’s the Imperator now, technically since it’s after his third threshold birthday.  I’m not holding my breath until after the Ten Tens.  I mean I get about all this voting shen.  I saw more ways of governing in my travels than I have fingers and toes. I wave the old

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17177226773613642023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-68400429139606693852012-01-27T20:47:00.002-05:002012-01-27T20:47:36.020-05:00

I may do another Fig Post.  We'll see.

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17177226773613642023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-26910262773596878492012-01-27T14:09:00.001-05:002012-01-27T17:14:24.260-05:00

They told me to sit and meditate.  I wasn’t sure I could.  I was too drunk and too full.  I’m drunk, did I say that out loud?  But I was in the Temple, sitting right at Muunas and Selinae’s feet.  That’s not right.  I got up and genuflected to the High Gods and staggered over to sit with Mikas.  That was better. I was really drunk.  I checked to see if I needed to throw up.  No.  “Hi

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-20274851208773638402012-01-25T23:54:00.000-05:002012-01-26T16:36:22.474-05:00

“Grandmama!  He didn’t!” Kyriala’s grandmother leaned over the ceremonial cloth spread on the carpet, waving her glass for emphasis.  “He did!  He did indeed!  I hid him behind my pillows, wrapped in a sheet, disguised as a bolster, while my papa tore my room apart, certain that someone was threatening my virtue!  I sat in bed leaning against my pillows, my sheets pulled up around my ears,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-51592622407521669442012-01-24T19:42:00.002-05:002012-01-27T15:19:49.340-05:00

I had a little time to put myself back together and the day itself helped.  Kallijas knew he was going to get very drunk in procession, even if he just wet his lips with every drink he shared with the crowd.  He’d followed Virani-e’s example even if he was a tremendously easy drunk for Diem Inebriants Multifarious. I had a glass of ginger wine myself and wonder of wonders my stomach didn’

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-29885372000286593882012-01-23T00:16:00.000-05:002012-01-23T00:40:31.482-05:00

Things went white in my sight for an instant. When I came to myself I was on my knees.  He grabbed my hands.  “I’m sorry... I thought I should warn you... treason though some might see that as.” I pulled my hands free and went to my face in front of him, hands locked in my hair.  “No no, Minis, gehit, I mean... don’t do that...”  I felt his hand on my arms, trying to raise me. I couldn’t

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-84891469369558400842012-01-20T15:40:00.003-05:002012-01-21T12:02:35.930-05:00

I wasn’t sleeping well, which was giving the world an unreal quality.  Tanifas was threatening to have Akminchaer dose me if things didn’t improve after the wedding. Gan and Fara slept with me every night now and I mostly lay awake between them or on one side and the questions fled through my mind over and over and over.  What if I wasn’t ready?  What if I hadn’t learned enough? What if I

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-60430782490842352562012-01-19T23:56:00.000-05:002012-01-21T19:48:31.802-05:00

Kallijas and I were both on the Presentation Balcony watching the end of the Kofabilgan ritual dances on Anae 20.  Kall was in the full Regent's regalia and sat on the throne while I stood.  It had been two years that I had been standing next to him but to some part of me it was always the first time. I kept having to shake myself mentally, look to what was different, because of the sheer

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-5191476557607829492012-01-17T23:21:00.002-05:002012-01-18T17:15:59.826-05:00

Ailadas tells me I have to talk to Minis and my financial manager because I’ve been spending so much money trying to find the best present for my brother.  I’ve spent a lot of money already and there’s only so much I can spend... especially the way it got set up after Virana-e conquered and changed things.  I can tell it’s going to be a whole section of lessons on economics, based on the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-22292192622277069882012-01-16T23:56:00.001-05:002012-01-17T02:12:45.346-05:00

I’d been looking at lots and lots of weird animals and I hadn’t found the right one yet. I mean... a two-headed snake, or one of those weird things from the Dragon city up north that they said were dragons... really from the desert south of Sria. It wasn’t truly a dragon, but a big constrictor snake with tiny stumps of wings that didn’t do anything and stubby front legs. It moved fast as a

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-367138435217439322012-01-16T14:15:00.003-05:002012-01-16T14:23:29.642-05:00

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-86670868920496583472012-01-13T17:31:00.002-05:002012-01-13T21:27:33.110-05:00

Dear Minis: We made it home timely enough.  Yes, the sky is more chaotic in the changing seasons, but the more experience you get, the easier it is to deal with. See the enclosed Official Reply which you thoughtfully provided, filled out by myself on behalf of your invitees.  [It was an official invitation to the whole family basically and they were all going to be attending, and would

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-27509386766562002682012-01-12T02:27:00.003-05:002012-01-13T16:11:46.616-05:00

Antras was just smiling at me now as he'd poured more wine and withdrawn.  I'd asked him to arrange dinners with Ky and Gannara and Fara many times in the past few moons, but this night it was just Kyriala because Gannara was so busy with his own wedding preparations for Farasha.  He was going so far as to hand-build most of a wedding caravan… though I kept sending him carpenters and

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-54591873436863344412012-01-10T23:52:00.001-05:002012-01-11T02:54:01.100-05:00

I picked up my pen to finish signing the latest stack of invitations and letters. It was late enough that Doof sat on the rail of my pen-rack with his head tucked between his hunched wings, fluffed almost into a ball.  He rocked gently back and forth as he breathed. Eltras lay on my desk, his chin on the forearm of my writing hand, his purr made me take good care of my signing and he’d

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-30462763230732797522012-01-09T21:20:00.000-05:002012-01-24T15:22:05.866-05:00

Dear Virana-e,I hope you made it home in a timely fashion after your last visit.  I noticed the couriers were reporting nasty, non-flying weather around the time you left.  It seems to me that the high winds are very closely linked to the sailing winds and that in the fall and winter things get very wild.I am enclosing the OFFICIAL-- I put all the curliques and flourishes on the word

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-8031792288659359622012-01-05T23:59:00.001-05:002012-01-06T01:18:44.358-05:00

The bureaucrat’s eyes had flickered over me, as he beat his retreat and I thought I saw him blanche even further. Somehow that decided me that I didn’t just want to listen. After all, he was my former under-minister of roads.  I eased around the door and took in the scene. Eosenas was at the side of his desk, lying on his face before Chevenga, who was regarding him with the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-51900960115468897712012-01-04T19:52:00.004-05:002012-01-04T20:07:03.530-05:00

The offices of the Imperial road services were in the second above street level, Imiriaenium Halls, of the bureaucratic side of the Marble Palace.  Kallijas was above in the Highest Office.  He had no interest in tormenting the man but handed his fate over to Chevenga, after hearing the story.  I was prurient enough, and angry enough that I wanted to at least hear.  I’d met Komona Shae

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-5645285239622361132012-01-03T23:35:00.003-05:002012-01-04T17:51:27.882-05:00

The morning pigeon messages were still on Kallijas’s desk when the second batch was brought in by his welcomist, along with the flying couriers' packets from the Western Empire. We’d been working on a tricky situation between two districts along the North-West coast.  Kall knew that area because he’d been stationed there.  It was a contradictory law of inheritance that the Quadrians had

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-79359580285007918602011-12-19T12:37:00.002-05:002011-12-19T23:17:31.285-05:00

The Solstice it is coming, the egg is in the nog.Please give a friendly man a friendly little dog.If you haven't got a friendly dog, a friendly cat will do,If you haven't got a friendly cat may the Ten bless you! Ten bless you, Sers, Ten bless you!If you haven't got a friendly cat may Ten bless you! The Solstice it is coming, the lights are on the tree.How about a turkey leg for dear old me?If

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-87580840984139092312011-12-16T19:26:00.001-05:002011-12-16T19:26:38.555-05:00

Perisalas Shefenkas looked down at the letter lying on his desk.  It had been sent over on the run from the Pages, from Intharas’s desk. Under the desk his one hand scrubbed over his thigh. The floridly hand-written letter was excessive in both the size and shape of the letters, with trailing tails on many individual characters, and the language. Manifesto Revised It is with a heavy,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-22470364441917337532011-12-15T22:36:00.003-05:002011-12-23T01:12:26.060-05:00

Kyriala sat on the mat wearing the bright blue split-skirt thing Riala designed for her, with her old Socks on the floor next to Bella.  Her tiny white dog sat between my big black bitch’s front paws, looking like a toe ornament. Gan sat up on one of the dog-washing stations with Tanifas’s tinies on and around him, while Farasha sat in one of the padded chairs with the cats.  Other than

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-49402633570310391232011-12-14T23:08:00.003-05:002011-12-14T23:08:52.728-05:00

I've been driving around all day and could not write a single word. More tomorrow.

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-20042953500313939162011-12-13T23:47:00.004-05:002011-12-13T23:49:14.050-05:00

The office of the Chamberlain was a hive of activity, with the underservants holding their notebooks or swaths of flowers and bolts of fabric.  Even as a pair left with a glass statue carefully wrapped on a litter another group came in with a stack of bound volumes for review. Tenii Sal Faren, the Chamberlain of the Marble Palace after Skorsas, signed before nodding the book away.  “We

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-80791304015314478672011-12-12T23:04:00.001-05:002011-12-13T17:18:32.339-05:00

Reknarja, Crown Prince etc. To:  Minis Aan, Spark of the Sun’s Ray Elect etc...  [All the appropriate titles... if this were written by my secretary – my welcomist you would say – it would be perfect, but since Sukala’s cave and subsequent letters I am assuming you don’t mind if they are here in spirit if not in actuality.  If not, let me know and I’ll certainly put them all in next

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-90717076431966245352011-12-09T20:33:00.001-05:002011-12-13T16:43:39.097-05:00

We put our hands back in the box and Sas handed me the wedding ring.  I took a deep breath and began to recite, as if to my priest --  Selinae’s Answer to the God.  Selinae help me. 1:  “Oh, Thou, my beloved.  Thou art white and pure and clean, and greater than ten thousand stars upon the veil of night.  His head is as the most fine gold.”  He really is that handsome.  But I started to

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-89399478508735976122011-12-09T00:13:00.001-05:002011-12-23T01:01:57.507-05:00

Daddy set me down at the bottom of the Temple steps, off the back of his old warhorse.  “If he's not good to you, Puppyfuzz, I'll kick his ass, champion or no,” he whispered in my ear. “I love you too, Daddy.” I said out loud.  He couldn't see me smile but he'd be able to hear it.  He could feel me shaking.  I was trying not to shake. I peered through the layers of veils.  I could

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-8456827654306516712011-12-07T23:49:00.001-05:002011-12-08T11:34:17.829-05:00

Jia has a fancy scarf wrapped around under his eyes and over his tentacles, tied in a big fancy bow.  It’s green dots on silver… little dots and he’s matching the pattern. It’s the same as my suit and I’m a big enough boy that I get to stand up with Kallijas. I’m standing next to Minis and Jia’s being good.  Laisa’s grandmother said that the animals should come, as long as they didn’t shen

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-87925912928833573212011-12-06T21:28:00.001-05:002011-12-06T21:44:41.816-05:00

Resolved: The Mahid Question to be sent back to committee for further public consultation.  For – 327 Against – 99 Abstain – 12 Absent – 8 ** I sat, in my new swimming costume, a long shirt, with my feet in the water.  Laisa floated face up in the pool, braids trailing, eyes closed.  Ky sat next to me, also with her feet in.  There were a hundred swimmers in the Lesser Baths

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-52772352957497674732011-12-05T23:29:00.001-05:002011-12-23T00:50:07.821-05:00

I laughed until I was wrung out and limp, lying on Gan who was just as limp.  The girls were leaning back against the walls of the gently rocking platform. Fluffy grumbled and Bella had her big, fat, block head on my gut.  It actually didn’t hurt.  It was as if she pressed the hurt out of my stomach muscles and growled at it if it tried to creep back. “You know, Minis, Gan, Ky… this just

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-74096901331301830582011-12-02T18:53:00.001-05:002011-12-02T20:06:09.970-05:00

“Shush, shush, be quiet or they’ll catch us!” “Well, give me the lookers!  To actually draw the pictures I need to see!” “I need to write the story or the High Editor won’t buy the pretty pictures you draw!” “Ow…ooch…It was my mother’s sister’s second cousin’s aunt by marriage who heard that he was going to ask her today and where.  So give me the lookers!  Ow.” “Hey, hey!  I

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-55008107199321122072011-12-01T14:19:00.000-05:002011-12-03T23:05:07.978-05:00

I hung onto my temper with everything I had and took a deep breath.  Gan had no idea I wanted this to be so good.  He was just teasing me as if everything were normal.  Ky wasn’t upset.  She… and Fara both looked very happy.  The dog, Bella, ran along side me, her tongue hanging out and even she was grinning. Erl was there to escort us to the waiting mamoka.  “Sers, Serinas.”  It would

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-42942486842972582722011-11-30T21:25:00.001-05:002011-12-23T00:41:42.358-05:00

I was so happy, sitting on this beautiful horse.  She was so smoothly paced it was almost like flying.  And Minis had probably driven the poor stable staff to distraction that she'd be perfect for me. He was so wonderful… such a silly serin, thinking he was just being himself. I looked at Minis and Gannara and Farasha, sideways under my lashes.  Fara waved at me, even as she talked to Gan

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-25440358392288359962011-11-29T22:08:00.001-05:002011-12-23T00:35:45.052-05:00

I met Ky at the Steel Gate, and offered her my comb as she stepped out of her chair.  She was dressed absolutely gloriously, in a green and silver outfit.  The silver embroidery outlining leaves over the green silk.  It wasn’t a dress though. It was the split style that people were calling Kyriala’s Ride… after her being in exile with me and riding… astride… all over the empire rather than

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-50975254614446223622011-11-29T00:00:00.001-05:002011-11-29T00:02:12.817-05:00

Sorry Guys... I've just spent the whole weekend packing my house into one bay of the double garage and just got back.  No post tonight. My extreme thanks to Dave and Cat for the help. Three solid days of back-wrenching work.  I have come to the conclusion I have too much stuff.

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-35877939846077745162011-11-25T11:39:00.001-05:002011-11-25T16:06:48.276-05:00

I tried to let the frigid temperatures of flying home cool my overheated head.  I needed to set my household on it immediately.  The moment my feet hit the roof of the Marble Palace. My stomach twisted, even if I was not going to let it out on anyone.  I planned all day… in my head, in the air.  We didn’t relay, stopping for the overnight and I just couldn’t let go of Ky’s arm as I

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-40129941695215421762011-11-24T23:58:00.001-05:002011-11-30T22:41:47.979-05:00

As we got up from breakfast, Chevenga said “I want a word with you, Minis.” “Oh, certainly.”  He was speaking as if it were important.  What had happened?  An emergency of some kind?  Or had I done something wrong?  I could feel my gut clench, tight around my happiness from my late night dreams.  I could see Ky’s face, worried for me.  I smiled at her.  If anyone could see through my

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-39557992531151978832011-11-23T23:08:00.001-05:002011-11-24T16:42:03.840-05:00

Kyriala had this enormous smile on her face this morning.  So did I.  I kept catching sight of myself in various reflections in the Hearthstone.  I tried to tell myself that it was just our joy at Kall and Laisa’s announcement of betrothal but... was it because of the dreams I’d had the night before?  Had she dreamed too?  Oh… she wouldn’t have dared… would she?  Oh… oh… I thought to the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-29423635106910065802011-11-22T23:58:00.001-05:002011-11-23T00:59:00.893-05:00

I know that I am dreaming.  I am in the Hearthstone Independent.  If I could open my eyes I would see fleeces and feather pillows and feather beds and the edges of Yeola-e style bed boxes.  I would see the glowing, warm walls, the stones built thick with hot water running through. The glass windows instead of scraped parchment, scraped vellum to let a watery, transluscent light through

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-71840462143436815952011-11-21T23:58:00.001-05:002011-11-22T01:42:06.213-05:00

The traditional Arkan carry chair… one carried by bearers on foot as opposed to this wildly modern idea of an express chair… was trotted up and set down carefully in front of the Itrean house.   The Itreans had not moved from the familial home, though the miniature and the plinth before the house had been replaced by a sculpture of a winged horse poised with only one hind foot upon the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-2105265960882589252011-11-18T16:45:00.001-05:002011-11-19T14:39:40.272-05:00

It was very late in Chevenga’s… Virana-e’s house, even though technically he did not own it, his spouses did.  Kallijas and I and Kyriala and Laisa and all our entourage were staying another day so the family could celebrate Kall and Laisa’s betrothal.  My gut was uneasy and the height of the mountain was making my head pound. I lit the candle and opened my holy book to a passage that

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-66453415809794614482011-11-17T23:58:00.001-05:002011-11-18T12:18:45.979-05:00

Nuninibas is being a dork.  He’s saying that my brother is being bad by waiting so long to ask Kyriala to marry him. I kind of agree with him but there’s no way I’m going to let him say stuff like that so I yelled at him and he yelled at me and we got to pushing.  I don’t know who said what first but we ended up rolling on the floor, with some of his friends and some of mine around us,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-70499661740550163772011-11-16T23:46:00.001-05:002011-11-17T17:54:40.770-05:00

MAHID WOMEN REIN IN DULIS - by Kafiris Loren Risae 8, 50 Y.P.A. Arko City Two days ago, contrary to loud predictions of an enormous loss, the female Mahid team held the Flying Dulis to a zero zero, with opened goals. The historic match was played in front of an exclusive and appreciative crowd.                            It seemed at first that the Dulis would, as predicted, roll

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-69539338374021852932011-11-15T21:55:00.001-05:002011-11-16T00:18:02.417-05:00

The disk soared up, just beyond her reaching glove and Irenas reached past her with his long arms, snatched it and came down.  Rather than take advantage of his eight-stride safety, he snapped the shot to Mirenen, their second enforcer who bore down on Amitza. He didn’t hesitate, thinking he’d be able to roll right over her, not seeing her grin behind her helmet bars.  She ghosted

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-6256273794164173222011-11-14T15:40:00.001-05:002011-11-14T23:10:42.972-05:00

“As I said... I’m not intending to do anything about it right now...” I said to Entera’s white-all-the-way-around eyes.  “Other than talk to you.  You were not quite as murderous as the rest of the drunken thugs you were hanging about with...  May I ask you... was it just because I was stupid enough to be alone in a garden?” He grabbed his crystal in both hands.  “I never laid a hand on

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-23774391873076657492011-11-11T23:42:00.001-05:002011-11-13T01:56:07.894-05:00

“Elsha… go in for Jorasa… she only needs a moment or two more.”  Elsha nodded and picked up her helmet, but didn’t get up.  They were still in the midst of mid-game.  The choir sang softly as the watching crowd spoke quietly, a sea-murmur of bets made and changed, and commentary on the first set play.  Servants moved between the seats, offering refreshements.  Jorasa sat, helmet off,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-25923780159908981622011-11-10T21:21:00.001-05:002011-11-11T11:35:33.222-05:00

I was chatting with a group of aides and assistants, outside the Assembly Hall, while the party for a reinstated Chevenga racketed all around us.  Kallijas had just taken Laisa up to show her something on the mountainside, and my thumb ran over the split ring I was carrying in my own glove pocket.  I was feeling very good.  One of these days I would find the courage to give Ky the bow she

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-54845767157781143442011-11-10T12:42:00.001-05:002011-11-14T13:47:36.060-05:00

Hey Folks!  It's time for my final Comment Contest for Eclipse Court. I'm in the home stretch to the end and I'd like to see if you all have any more advice for me! If you post fifty or more good comments before the end of the story, I will create a character for you and write a post based on this character. Have fun!  http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=277746668936375&set=o

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-87025655938393980772011-11-09T18:47:00.001-05:002011-11-09T19:36:35.226-05:00

Laisa had snowflakes caught in her eyelashes and the fur trim of her hat.  The candle-light gave her a golden glow and my breath caught in my throat.  The family all knew... they all liked her... they told me I should ask her... when we were here last time they told me. Her eyes were wide and so blue... so blue... her mouth open slightly, wisps of gorgeous hair against her face in the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-25583166173733575272011-11-07T19:49:00.002-05:002011-11-07T20:29:41.833-05:00

“Coach Arenen.  Welcome.  This lowly one is most honoured.  There is a chair of honour. May this one offer kaf? Cakes?”  The training school was almost deserted after the classes, just before everything was closed up for the evening.  Lirasas Arenen nodded and settled slowly into the offered chair. “I thank that one.  Just kaf thank you. I must say I’ve been very impressed with the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-44656421514197061612011-11-05T00:01:00.001-04:002011-11-05T01:04:03.541-04:00

Kallijas was being very gallant.  Of course.  It’s who and what he was.  Oh papa, I was hoping… I am hoping. “Serina… here… watch your step the snow has made it slippery.”  He offered me his elbow and I clung to it to not slip in my boots.  Arkan cordwainders just had no idea what real boots were, nor what was necessary to keep someone’s feet warm and dry, in Yeola-e.  My feet were

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-75519539469067124352011-11-03T18:09:00.004-04:002011-11-03T18:11:52.379-04:00

“The vote of the people of Yeola-e on the question, that we fully reinstate as semanakraseye of Yeola-e First Virani-e Fourth Chevenga Shae-Arano-e in light of his conviction under the Statute semanakraseyeni sections 21-1 and 21-5-7 and the findings of the Chevengani Mental State Assessment Committee as stated in their final report, we have duly totaled as, of two thousand thousand, seven

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-16340208296109290142011-11-02T20:37:00.001-04:002011-11-03T00:18:56.598-04:00

I had to laugh at the look on Virana-e’s face.  He really hadn’t expected me to be here as well as Kallijas, who had a strong arm around his shoulders and kept kissing him on the back of the neck.  I gave way to a dozen other people in the thick crowd outside the Assembly Hall. I circled around to congratulate Niku on the births.  Kyriala and Laisa were with the crowd around her and I

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-56243314236731779862011-11-01T20:17:00.001-04:002011-11-01T20:25:31.815-04:00

Kyriala’s grip on my arm froze when the midwife said something sharp and the second baby was up and out of the water.  Etana had the baby and passed it straight to Kaninjer who immediately put his mouth on the baby's face and sucked something out of the child’s lungs.  I was holding my breath, mouthing my prayers to Dimae with suddenly no air to say anthing. You want to live, child, you

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-59633535896993562012011-10-31T18:14:00.001-04:002011-11-01T12:35:41.276-04:00

Laisa and I had only seen the water room as a bathing room before, not a birthing room.  I poked Laisa and nodded toward Kallijas who was uncomfortable being in the same room as Niku while the birth was going on.  He wanted so much to be properly guarding.  Laisa put her fan up over her fond smile.  Skorsas whispered in his ear and he answered just as quietly.  I didn’t hear what was

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-85867452620933354752011-10-30T22:14:00.000-04:002011-10-31T00:39:24.716-04:00

It was cold enough to make my teeth ache as we descended to Vae Arahi. The snow completely whitened the mountainside, except for the stark, wet grey and black and white cliffs and some of the erratic stones.  The lake was white, was it frozen over?  There were dark patches broken all around the mystic’s island where Chevenga was… or perhaps had been?  Was he still there? The snow all

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-46057954798374481502011-10-27T20:52:00.002-04:002011-10-27T20:52:08.475-04:00

I have to take a couple of days off... my apologies, I'll try to get my head together again for tomorrow.  

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-19282801742366495872011-10-25T23:33:00.003-04:002011-10-26T02:13:20.906-04:00

Eltras sank down on the bench at the stove end of the servant’s table in the night kitchen.  “Phew.  I’m done for today.  What’s on the hob, Kataina?” The cook, prepping vegetables to go into ice-water for the next day, carefully drawing thin, wide, long curls off orange roots with her paring knife, looked up.  “Cold roast meats, leftover.  My famous leftover beef stew with Niah earth

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-87061041515750073012011-10-24T21:15:00.000-04:002011-10-25T23:32:29.206-04:00

Kyriala’s exhibition of her and her friends' tapestry works was a day before Kallijas and I were to do the Solstice Ritual, and three days before we were all slated to leave to be at the Yeoli referendum over whether they wanted Chevenga as semanakraseye after all his problems. Personally I thought he would be happy either way.  If they didn’t want him, he’d be able to retire with honour

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-62551420540195548412011-10-24T13:26:00.000-04:002011-10-24T20:56:21.578-04:00

Announcing the first ever Fan written piece of fiction for Eclipse Court!  Enjoy! ______________ A Jiaklem Adventure by Dave Kirby The words were important; he knew they were. Words he could understand, and he knew the funny marks on the paper were words, somehow. The marks meant words, in the silent language, and they were IMPORTANT! His people should see these Important Word Marks; they

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-31868227932117767722011-10-21T23:54:00.001-04:002011-10-22T00:03:41.967-04:00

I couldn’t sleep and snuck into Minis’s room but there was Gan and Farasha sleeping and Minis wasn’t there, so I was really quiet and sat out in the front sitting room with Jia and Altras and Bella all of us in a pile on the big chaise.  Antras came in and asked me if I wanted Kaita or anything else and I asked him if he could get me a big glass of goat milk, since I found out I liked it

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-50038529411438870452011-10-20T23:49:00.000-04:002011-10-21T00:05:10.228-04:00

The Fenjitzas, now that I had sat back and actually recovered my balance a bit, I would never have recognized.  I’d only seen him in his full priestly regalia that glittered enough to nearly blind someone if he were standing in the sun. Here in the golden, late-night lighting of the Temple he had his hair tied up tight and wore nothing but kilt and gloves.  He was even barefoot.  I saw

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-71591639928928496942011-10-19T19:42:00.001-04:002011-10-19T19:43:17.218-04:00

“Just Radas, please, Spark,” he said, settling down cross-legged on the tiles with me, completely heedless of the fact that we were sitting in the middle of the Temple floor, in the middle of the night, under the high God’s eye. “If that’s the case then just Minis, for me,” I said to him and managed to wipe my face with the sodden handkerchief I had clutched in one fist and thrust it

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-62669475186117992902011-10-18T22:08:00.001-04:002011-10-19T20:04:00.985-04:00

I stood behind the Steel Gate and waited for my escort.  Since the kidnapping attempt and the slaughter of my guards, I wasn’t going to be able to just walk out into the city when I wanted to.  Idiesas was the head of Kallijas’s security and had taken over mine with Joras’s death.  I would never in a thousand thousand years hint at what I felt when two of the Muunas’s First Elite stood at my

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-49890706292390666112011-10-17T21:10:00.000-04:002011-10-19T20:04:50.349-04:00

Kallijas and I were in the Verdant Imperial Garden room having a late evening talk.  It was nearly midnight, though Kallijas was so much happier early in the morning.  I was happier staying up late. He told me that might change as I got older, but for now he would have been able to tease me about it every morning when we trained.  Bella, who had decided that I needed a pack member present

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-13452857739262179312011-10-17T01:39:00.004-04:002011-10-17T01:39:41.012-04:00

I believe I have fixed the wobble in the book and have slotted all the re-writes into their respective spaces. We go onward from here! Thanks for looping back through time with me.

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-86710697100923813062011-09-29T22:19:00.000-04:002011-10-17T01:29:07.593-04:00

Two days later, after the Pages had come out, the public viewing of my honoured dead took place. They had died in defense of the people of Arko’s elected choice and so deserved all honours as far as I was concerned. In the Great Hall behind the Steel Gate, the biers were laid out, and the public were allowed in, to pay their respects.  I stood behind a carved screen on a gallery four

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-4547125946832555242011-09-28T17:18:00.002-04:002011-09-29T00:54:36.237-04:00

“Three of the plotters survived to be truth-drugged and between those three’s unwilling testimony, it has been discovered that there were twenty men in this plot.  They were mostly young men and late second-threshold children, with several older men apparently as teachers.  We have the names of sixteen of the conspiracy and the Ministry of Serenity and Irefas are working at this moment to

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-15522615409522969662011-09-27T23:41:00.000-04:002011-09-28T01:03:12.327-04:00

Kallijas was in the hall outside the Sun Jade Imperial Suite, hands clenched behind him as he stood;  Idiesas, fully geared, at his back. As I came up the steps Kall took three steps forward, took me by the shoulders and gave me a searching look.  “Are you all right, Minis?” I found myself searching his face just as closely.  His eyes were creased with concern, not only for my

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-55162062852919390592011-09-26T21:57:00.000-04:002011-09-27T10:14:44.434-04:00

Doob and Resh and Ashi crashed Ky’s party to break the news that Minis had been attacked, which broke up the gathering as quickly as if someone had vomited in the centre of the crowd. “Ashi, you say he looked all right?  He wasn’t hurt?” “No, Ky he looked fine… he looked shocked and kind of stone-faced but there were his guards killed all around him.” “I’m going to the Marble

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-48927513947336828262011-09-22T19:54:00.001-04:002011-09-27T20:59:01.127-04:00

The little chapel’s door opened, letting in all the light from the rest of the suite.  It was like a file across my senses.  “Go away,” I said, burying my head deeper in my arms.  “Please go away.”  A clicking noise on the marble tiles and a big, cold nose snuffled into my neck.  “Hey!” “Minis… come out and talk to me now,” Tanifas said.  “The Ten are a comfort, but they don’t tend to

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-22547652821352620982011-09-22T00:43:00.001-04:002011-09-22T04:54:20.164-04:00

Antras had all the lights lit but I didn’t want them.  I wanted darkness.  I managed to cross the room to my chapel and lie down on the floor there.  It was almost dark enough. I’d been surrounded and escorted back to my quarters.  “What’s happened to my guards?  Joras… is he all right?  I saw Ilinaras and Ruboras die.  Boras, Skorsas, Finaras, Tirias and Riodas… Are they all right? 

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-43769182243777575292011-09-20T15:38:00.000-04:002011-12-16T17:44:48.621-05:00

Hi guys!  I have an enormous presentation this evening, that I have to leave for in about ten minutes.  I will be posting late, after midnight.  My apologies. I know, I know, it's a cliff hanger...  I can't say I'm sorry.  ____________________ Here we are.  Better late than never. ____________________ Perhaps because it was Joras, perhaps because I had finally trained sufficiently

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-82381765755262317952011-09-19T23:49:00.001-04:002011-09-22T00:08:24.080-04:00

I wanted to get home, away from pushy writers and, for all I loved him, Ailadas’s friends and colleagues.  It was just Rim sunset by now as I pushed wearily off the University grounds, turning the same route I had skated so many times before.  It was even the same route I’d skated the day I’d stormed out of the Chancellor’s office, just before I met Chevenga.  I felt as if that all had

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-64978706122514515592011-09-16T01:53:00.000-04:002011-09-16T02:13:52.895-04:00

Perhaps that would make him go away, but it was a vain hope.  He was careful with my scroll, but seized it avidly, all the same, and then kept asking questions.  I wanted to go swim and assuage my wounded spirit and here he was digging into me, looking for some shocking scandal.  I hoped sincerely I had not been as annoying when I was a freelancer. “Why, thank your brilliant self,” he said,

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-10661783040547943622011-09-15T23:58:00.002-04:002011-09-16T01:58:57.635-04:00

“… to be honest it was good research… but Koren, really, you should have warned him it wasn’t likely to get him his leaves,” Professor Boreanas was saying as I entered.  He held his kaf cup out to have it refilled, along with a shot of fine Niah pehahka added quietly by the servants, waving the mouthpiece of the pipe with the other hand to emphasize his point. Professor Mirminar, who

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-59125961206849796692011-09-14T17:38:00.004-04:002011-09-16T01:05:45.795-04:00

I had a positive review from Laurelate Faitzikran… who held not only the one leafy crown of professorship, but three.  I had a grudging second positive from Professor Boreanas.  But I did not get my third.  Professor and multiple Laurelate Jarinidas, the most senior of my reviewers, whom I hoped would appreciate all the new records I’d brought out of the Imperial Archives, was not

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-44076716076279239912011-09-13T00:15:00.004-04:002011-09-14T17:34:45.808-04:00

I stood looking down at the candidate’s chair, which was obviously going to be quite uncomfortable. The chair was too short for me and put my knees up high. No doubt if I were broader in form, a more slender chair with firm armrests would have been left in its stead. This would not be an occasion to find anything resembling comfort. Ailadas said that this was intentional. No one would have

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-88459523283324643562011-09-12T23:38:00.002-04:002011-09-12T23:41:51.833-04:00

The door closed on my mother and baby Tesha, the servants who had brought our tiny amount of luggage, everyone.  It was as if quiet followed along afterwards in the cool blue rooms that were home now.  I looked at Gan and Fara and Ky and… it was confusing.  I wanted to hug them all… but I didn’t want to be improper. Kyriala fixed my hesitation.  She stepped forward and as gently as if

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-41543073296352599332011-09-09T22:43:00.002-04:002011-09-12T11:15:40.280-04:00

I hum under my breath to my new daughter, who stretches herself and fusses.  Her toes are well healed up, from when the Haian separated them, they cannot be hurting her.  She is full fed, she is clean, she is dry.  Why will she not sleep? The activity of my son coming home diverted her for a time but she is too young to more than gaze at pretty lights and now she is wiggling once more. 

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-73459565380673607182011-09-08T22:23:00.002-04:002011-09-11T00:08:04.378-04:00

We were very late coming in because we were forced to fly out of the way of a number of snow-storm fists and lost a lot of air.  Our flyers had to work hard to find rukamoy to get us height, in the hills below the Yeola-e mountains. The flight of us were very high over the city and it looked like a glowing eye against the dark earth, the brightest high-light the spot that was the Marble

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-6219522489697268832011-09-07T23:50:00.000-04:002011-09-08T15:44:25.741-04:00

I managed to doze in the air on the way home, with no dreams that I could recall, and my flyer woke me well before we had to transfer, so I was wide awake for it.  Kallijas was smiling so big, I said  to my new flyer as I squirmed into proper position. “I can see his teeth from here.  This has been one of the best things for Him!”  He’d been almost manically happy, from Chevenga’s ceremony. 

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-7614182754328447892011-09-06T23:11:00.000-04:002011-09-07T09:52:03.934-04:00

…I wake in the sweating dark of the inn, with Gannara’s soft breathing next to me.  Of course I had that nightmare.  It is what I was afraid of, that I couldn’t make Chevenga believe me, in time.  It’s just dawn.  The Kiss of the Lake is today. Gannara rolls over, yawns and smiles sweetly at me.  My heart clenches, as he’s gotten older he looks more like Chevenga’s brother than a copy of him

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-49902769193316135412011-09-02T23:58:00.005-04:002011-09-03T10:15:55.521-04:00

“Thank you, Namidipipi,” Kyriala looped the reins around the post in her fancy little Enchian carriage, and nodded gratefully at her groom.  He was almost too tall now to be a boy, almost too tall for it to be proper for him to accompany her while she drove. Minis had owned up to the carriage and the groom and the father and all of it.  He’d actually told her all the places he’d found the

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-75365474579047970062011-09-01T01:03:00.001-04:002011-09-01T01:04:39.829-04:00

The sun is warm on my face this spring day in Yeola-e, even though it’s early in the day.  Yeolis don’t do things at noon, like we do.  I’m aware of Gannara beside me. We’re hidden in the talus and boulders encroaching on one side of a wide, wide open space on the mountain.  I’m having a pleasant fantasy for once, since we got away from the Mahid.  Not mine anymore.  I’ve been so short on sleep

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-5018625328718971652011-08-31T09:42:00.000-04:002011-08-31T09:42:38.848-04:00

“Jitzmitthra... is the strangest time of year in Arko,” I said.  “Of course I’d be born in the middle of it.  They’re arguing in Assembly whether I exist or not, having been born on a day that technically doesn’t exist.” Sukala got this extremely quizzical look on her face, came over, poked me in the arm.  “Chalk.  You exist.  Case closed.” I had to laugh. “That’s the argument my grandfather

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-1487367518437581452011-08-30T15:39:00.003-04:002011-08-31T09:25:38.515-04:00

“No no no, stop, stop.”  She reached for my hands, then stopped herself short.  “You are Arkan, shy about the hands... I hold them in spirit.”  I gave her my hands anyway.  I was used to this kind of thing, from Yeolis, in Yeola-e. Her grip, though knobby and thin, was very warm and tender and comforting, even motherly… well, in my case more nursely.  “Tell me, would you blurt out an Arkan

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-46051227602299205212011-08-29T20:10:00.001-04:002011-08-29T20:54:39.292-04:00

“He was only seven, so it must have been pervasive in his life,” Sukala said thoughtfully.  “Touching every aspect... oh!  I’ve never had two people together who he’s had sex with before, and I’ve always been curious: what’s he like?” Kallijas choked wildly on his tea and started coughing even as I passed hot liquid through my nose and started sputtering my eyes watering, Reknarja made this

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-41999719921148172702011-08-26T12:58:00.002-04:002011-08-26T13:03:38.033-04:00

“So you were not just dreaming that,” Reknarja said.  Klaimera looked at him as if she were a touch offended. “I’ll admit I saw nothing of the kind.  But I have the spirit-sense of a brick.  I could imagine it from the way Surya moved.” “The best person to ask whether you were dreaming it is Virani-e himself,” said Sukala.  “When you get the chance.  He is the only person to whom it really

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-29484522372067828082011-08-24T00:05:00.001-04:002011-08-24T00:06:29.222-04:00

“I love you too, Sukala,” Kallijas said and disappeared into another cavern.  There came odd creaking noises and then the sound of water rushing, perhaps into a stone sink.  “Bear with us, my dear potentates!”  Sukala said and went off after him. “Just tea for me, please,” I say.  “May I help?” “No, no, sit down Minis,” and “Certainly, my lad, come right in here!”  Kall and Sukala said at

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-12088042045247617962011-08-22T10:43:00.003-04:002011-08-22T21:35:59.076-04:00

The Liren baths were cool and since the girls had snuffed half of the lamps, the only light was from the windows and the cool green reflections on the ceiling and against the statues. “I am so upset with him I don’t know what to do!”  Skala splashed her hand flat against the water.  “He’s ready to marry me, he’s not spoken to my brother, he’s not spoken to my uncle... he said he was thinking

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-15881041337805677172011-08-19T18:07:00.006-04:002011-08-19T19:58:22.993-04:00

What Surya did then was something I never thought he’d do in front of Chevenga’s family, much less his friends.  It was part of the end of the ritual and I wanted to look away, a great deal, even as my... perhaps not so vile organs stirred.  “He needs to be tied to life,” Surya explained, as Chevenga twitched under his hands.  “Right now.”  He turned his attention and words back to what he was

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-15879186675564083342011-08-18T23:15:00.006-04:002011-08-19T18:02:14.788-04:00

Then Azaila lifted his hand, and the mirrors with their reflections were taken away.  “Stand up,” he said.  “There is another sword to take your leave of.”  He pointed back into the room where their State sword hung. Chevenga rose smoothly enough but it was slowly, as if he had to be careful of every muscle stretch.  The room had had all its candles put out sometime in the past few minutes, I

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-19319063253534746642011-08-17T22:12:00.002-04:002011-08-18T00:22:01.884-04:00

Once all the armour was off, Azaila took Chirel off his own shoulder and held it out to Chevenga, saying, “Make your farewell, Virani-e.” Chevenga had said that it was the name he was taking, as a non-warrior.  The same way Surya had taken a new name, I suppose.  It made sense that the warrior name would no longer be the first thing people knew of you, but it would be very, very hard for him

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-16649825363570849312011-08-16T20:16:00.003-04:002011-08-17T14:31:23.690-04:00

One of the people in these formal black and white robes did a censing at this point, trailing the delicate scented smoke through the room in circles and whorls and curliques that would have suited the most ornate craving person. As it tickled my nose and the distant murmur of voices... Chevenga’s? The black and white wearing elders? I couldn’t tell. As it tickled my nose I realized that my mind

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-21196509224760424472011-08-15T23:21:00.001-04:002011-08-15T23:22:35.782-04:00

His speech was wonderful.  I recommend any Arkan read it in either Sinimas Menden’s or Kirinas Ferztainas’s translation.  Once he finished, we – all of us, foreigners, family, everyone who would witness his private ceremony – went in a clutch together up to the School of the Sword.  He looked as though he was walking injured.  He hadn’t put helmet on again and he was sweating over pale, with

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-34572921768164512032011-08-13T00:49:00.003-04:002011-08-13T22:08:26.764-04:00

It took a little time to get him out of the crowd afterward and geared up for his own aska kraiya speech, and the crowd took some time to settle. When Chevenga stood up to make his address Kallijas was at his elbow and Che nodded at him and waved him back. “My People, Whom I love…”  is how he started.  There are multiple accounts written of this famous address, but what I paid most attention to

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-20642260963629823802011-08-12T23:12:00.002-04:002011-08-12T23:12:55.201-04:00

I will have something later tonight...

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433463576690080907.post-63566510149500899362011-08-11T18:24:00.004-04:002011-08-12T01:54:44.372-04:00

He blinked, looking non-plussed.  What did he expect?  Of course, the greater part of the ceremony would be his asa kraiya address, rather than his response to this genteelly despised and reluctantly received award. He thanked everyone he thought should be thanked and answered the jibes from the crowd when they disavowed their parts.  “I could have done nothing without you.” The cheers and

Vrykahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635332962048022375noreply@blogger.com0