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 90: She glanced back after a departing Tobias.
She glanced back after a departing Tobias. “Was it a love affair gone wrong?” Anya asked as she followed the Matron back inside. Without the women scattered in groups throughout the space the room felt cavernous.
“With Tobias?” the matron asked. Anya nodded. “Not exactly.” She shook her head. “The girl’s father chose a man he wished her to marry but she strongly objected. He asked if there was someone else and she declared her love for Tobias, mostly because she knew Tobias rather fancied her, or at least her dowry and he was a friendly face. She considered him a better alternative than the other suiter. They each tried to win her full affections and her father sent her here to think about her options and come to a final decision.”
And she reached her final decision then?” Anya asked as they climbed the stairs to the floor she usually occupied.
“She did,” the matron told her. “She didn’t really want to marry either and ended up accepting a position as a ladies companion. The lady herself once came her with a similar conundrum to work out so she understood. I think they will make an interesting pair for the time being.”
The matron had a satisfied air to her. Anya nodded. It seemed like things worked out decently, but she couldn’t help wondering what the father might think when he found out the news. She suspected Tobias might relish the moment a little more than strictly passing the information required.
“Will there be …consequences?” Anya asked.
“For us?” the Matron asked lifting an eyebrow.
Anya nodded.
“No,” she said. “All here know no decision is ever forced. Denham was someone I knew when I was younger, we weren’t close but knew each other to greet in public. He hoped that would play a role in convincing her that his path was the right choice. He was however warned that all decisions would be hers. He will be disappointed, but I doubt his ire will amount to much.”
“Oh,” Anya said.
“Are you things packed?” the matron asked. Anya realized they were stopped in front of the door.
“Yes,” Anya said. “I have my pack and a book I borrowed from the library.”
“I will wait while you retrieve them,” the Matron said. Anya nodded, opened the door and ducked inside. A moment later she returned, pack on her back and book in her arms. Given what she saw of the other bags, both their beauty and their similarity, Anya felt self-conscious about her own bag. As the matron didn’t pay it any attention and there was no one else in the corridor, Anya relaxes slightly.
Since the Matron already knew she was from Tyrin Anya felt safe enough to ask, “Those bags the others carried, Are they something everyone uses in Rulash?”
The matron blinked. She stopped and looked back towards the door as though seeing the departing women once again crowding below. She looked back to Anya’s leather satchel.
“They tend to be used by most here,” she said.
Ten til Midnight 