The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 33: The matron walked over to one of the covered windows and pulled the curtain to the side, letting in a stream of light.
The matron walked over to one of the covered windows and pulled the curtain to the side, letting in a stream of light. Anya gasped. The library was huge. One entire wall was full of windows but all of the other walls were filled floor to ceiling with book cases There were ladders used to access the books on the upper shelves. Or at least the upper shelves of this floor. As Anya looked up she could see that there were three more library levels above. Running down the center to the room were shelves that only stood about waist height. On top of these shelves were framed maps. The frames were upright but leaning towards the center of the bookcases at an angle so the maps on either side met in the middle forming a triangle over the book cases.
Now that there was light to see by, the Matron walked to the first of the low shelves.
“This map,” she said, indicating the first of the framed maps, “Has our location marked with a golden star.”
“For the Star,” Anya replied as she stepped close.
“For the Star,” the Matron replied. “You will notice that it is in the center of the map. While other maps will show entire kingdoms and their borders, this particular map maker chose to place the Stars location in the center and depict everything that was within a month’s journey.”
“Is that why it is drawn in a circle?” Anya asked.
“It is,” the matron replied. “It can be a little disorienting to look at as it’s perspective changes the relationship of places. But I suspect your home won’t be pictured.”
Anya looked up at her and blinked. She opened her mouth to respond but found she had no idea what to say. She closed her mouth.
The matron nodded. “Wise choice to keep quiet when you don’t have anything to say. The last time I saw clothing like yours was on a woman from Dovish. The border of Dovish is a little over two months away if one were walking by foot.”
“Two months,” Anya said. She gasped. She knew she lost track of time but there was no way she was walking for two months. The Matron nodded.
“The stars abode is in the kingdom of Rulash,” the matron told her. “You will find many fine books dealing with Rulash in this library should you wish to learn of it. As with your name, no one here will ask where you came from or why you are here. It is rare we receive anyone from outside of our kingdom’s border but the guidance of the Star is welcome to all.”
“And if someone comes looking?” Anya asked before she could stop herself.
Ten til Midnight 