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 69: It hurt, but it still rang true.
It hurt, but it still rang true. Anya swallowed the hurt. There was no reason to worry about her family. Her sisters were fine and clearly the others were taken care of. Lord Mathis’ men would question them, but as they knew nothing she didn’t think anything would come of it. They might be annoyed if they thought she ran off and they might claim that if she returned they would punish her or send her right back where she belonged or some other claim, but there was nothing that could be done. They knew nothing of her past her leaving with the caravan.
But knowing her family was safe and soon to be questioned was a double edged sword. They were safe but there was little likelihood she could go back to Tyrin. ‘Not if his men claim I ran away.’ Their lie would have repercussions even if Lord Mathis stopped searching.
‘And I doubt anyone would believe he kept me locked in a tower for …moon magic.’ Despite seeing the magic in the bowl of water, Anya was uncomfortable with the thought of magic as it related to herself and decided it was something she could think about later. She suspected Lord Mathis got it wrong. ‘After all everyone else with a birth mark like mine died. How magical can the birth mark be?’
Anya leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky, studying the stars that had now come to influence so much of her life. She thought them cold and distant. ‘And not really to blame for what people make of them I suppose,’ Anya thought.
She decided that focusing too much on what to do with the rest of her life was too much for her to think about. ‘But I can stay here two more months.’ She decided. ‘I can stay safely here until Lord Mathis stops searching. They have books and maps and I can figure out what to do with the rest of my life after the two months.’
Anya decided that was a good idea. ‘After all I learned that the moon was once a goddess in the few weeks I’ve been here, I’m bound to learn more the longer I stay.’ Anya looked away from the stars. Knowing the moon was once worshiped wasn’t exactly practical knowledge, so maybe she could find more practical topics to study. She remembered the woman claiming they would help her with her studies. Thinking of the book of ancient rituals they sent down to her, Anya nodded to herself. ‘Their lessons and something more practical,’ she decided. ‘For two months at least, then I can come up with a better plan.’
She yawned and decided that even if she hadn’t spent her energy looking into the bowl it was late enough and the day had been strange enough for her to call it a day. Anya pushed off from the wall and walked over to the door. As she passed the stone basin still filled with water, Anya looked at it. It looked like a plain basin of water. She found her steps altering to take her in its direction. She looked at the smooth surface of the water, it reflected the silver of the moon and looked more like a looking glass than a basin. The wind ceased so there was no ripple across its surface.
“I wonder if Lord Mathis can use the basin of water like she could?” Anya said as she peered into the water.
Ten til Midnight 