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 131: Wanting something warm to add to her belly and fill it a bit without depleting her few meager rations she moved her small kettle to the hook over the fire.
Wanting something warm to add to her belly and fill it a bit without depleting her few meager rations she moved her small kettle to the hook over the fire. The water pitcher was full of fresh clean water even though she knew it had been only half full when she left it. She filled the kettle and set the pitcher to the side. ‘That’s at least one problem silved, I suppose,’ she decided. She might still need to go to the well for bathing water depending on how fast her pitcher refilled itself but she would have water.
Anya waited for the kette full of water to boil and placed her herbs in the tea pot so the water could be poured over them when it was hot enough. As she waited for the water to boil she thought of her situation. It was by no means hopeless. If no one else entered the hidden portions of the House then she could easily remain secreted away. ‘And if the magic is taking the dust away and repairing things, refilling the wood box and water pitcher, then all I really have to risk leaving the hidden parts for is food.’
Even without Marta helping her, Anya saw the back way into the larder and was certain she could secure enough food for herself once the others left the kitchen. Once she understood the schedule she would be fine. ‘And I am here to learn,’ Anya add to herself. There were books a plenty in the hidden spaces, along with many of the tools she might need. ‘And I could get to the library if I had to.’
The thought of her triggering the magic was daunting though. She wasn’t certain she liked the implications of being the reason for all of the changes. Beyond that thought was what others might notice. Would the return of the magic remain only in the hidden spaces, or would others notice dust disappearing and repairs being made around the House of the Star? Anya didn’t know how widespread the changes would be. “And if they spill out into the occupied portions and I’m the nly one who could trigger such changes, then they’ll know I am still here.’
Anya frowned. She realized the water was boiling and carefully removed the kettle from the fire, pouring the water over the leaves in the tea pot. She let the tea steep ans set the hot kettle to the side. She didn’t know if there was a way to stop the magic from doing what it wanted. She certainly hadn’t asked the rooms to shake off their dust or the firewood to pile up. ‘And if there is a way for it to stop, then odds are it is in one of the books.’ Anya doubted she would be able to find which book before it was noticed. ‘If it is in more than the hidden spaces.’
Realizing her thoughts were going in circles, Anya tried to let it go. She had no control over the magic of the House of Star and would just have to see what it intended to do.
‘But at least the matron can’t see me until the season returns if she o longer has sight of everything within the mountain.’ It was a relief to know that. ‘It gives me time to figure things out.’
Ten til Midnight 