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 159: “So he couldn’t govern you?” Anya asked.
“So he couldn’t govern you?” Anya asked.
“well he could,” Deran said. ‘We were law abiding. We paid our taxes and when called upon served the greater good of the empire. But we control forces that he couldn’t control. I suppose I should say they. It was several generations of them all in a row. Each one seemed to resent us more than the last. Finally by existing we seemed to violate some laws. Many tried fleeing the Empire at that time and were killed because of it. And then those who made it to the other kingdoms who wanted to destroy the empire thought that we couldn’t be trusted as we had so often served the Empire so they killed us on sight. So there was no place for use to go. So many of us died. When the wars began and the Emperor had very few of us he could call to his service, I believe he might have seen the error of his ways. But by then it was too late. The Empire was falling. But even if he realized there were two few of us to aid him I doubt he blamed himself, even in the end. He ,might have blamed the Emperors before him, but not himself. He wasn’t that sort of man. Emperor Torighian had the firm and eternal conviction that whatever he did was right simply because he did it. Not a terribly good trait in anyone and disastrous during his reign.”
“I see.” Anya said.
“You do, which is the point. Although I don’t know how far the palace is from here, seeing it is still quite a feat. It also means there is hope for you to see the dim recesses of your own past, with training. It will be something we will work on. However the basics are probably where we need to start. You have begun your studies?”
Anya nodded and told him of beginning her reading in history and in various other books.
“A bit haphazard, but not too bad a start,” he said. “I will need to search my memory and come up with something a little more focused. “
Anya nodded and shivered slightly. She noticed that the room was growing colder and the light was starting to fade from the room.
“Ah perhaps you had better come back tomorrow, when the light returns?” Daran said as he noticed she was chilled. And Maybe we can work on moving this to a warmer, occupied area.”
“You can move the rings?” Anya said. Now that she was aware of the cold it seemed to seep into her bones and she felt cold all over.
“It can be. We will do that tomorrow as well. For now I think you had better go back to your rooms, warm up and think of a place more convenient.”
Anya nodded. “There is just one problem. I seem to be trapped in this ring of light.”
“Oh you just need to enact the release,” he told her. “Lecaros.” He said. “And then to reactivate when you return tomorrow, Recaros.”
“Alright,” Anya said. “Goodnight then.”
“Good night and I will see you tomorrow to becoming your studies.”
Anya nodded. “Lecaros,” she said. Anya enunciated as clearly as possible. The light flickered off and Deran disappeared.
Ten til Midnight 