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 188: She set her soiled clothing to the side.
She set her soiled clothing to the side. When she returned from her lessons, she would rinse out the garments and hang them by the fire to dry. She knew they would smell of smoke, but that couldn’t be helped. ‘Even if I tried to dry them outside they would just freeze stiff instead of actually drying which would ne help at all.’
As Anya set them aside to be washed later, set the kettle to boil over the fire and cut off a portion osf sausage and then cheese, she wondered how the others dried their clothes in winter or if they went around smelling of smoke the entire winter through. Given how amused they were by the Dovish attention to bathing, Anya wondered if they only rarely remembered to wash their clothing.
She shook the thought away, not really wanting to dwell on it. As she ate her breakfast, Anya thought over her dream that might not be a dream. As she did something occurred to her.
“Ced,” Anya recalled. The statue said that there had once been a temple in Ced. From her readings, Anya found out the ruins that were near Tyrin were of an ancient city named Ced.
“At least I think that is what it said.”
She finished her food and rinsed off her hands She poured the boiling water over the tea leaves and let them steep. As they did so, Anya went to the bookshelf and found the book she wanted. While the first book she borrowed from the library had the maps and after reading it, she returned it. Later Anya found another copy in one of the studies. She took it back to her quarters in case it proved useful. Anya flipped to the pages where the maps were contained. It had a picture of the ancient cities of the Festian empire overlaid on a map of the current kingdoms and their cities.
“I was right,” Anya said. “Ced is the name of the ruins.”
Anya put the book away and decided to take her tea with her to the room with the orb. Drinking it would keep her warm along the way and she was eager to get her day started. Even with everything going on, her mind kept drifting to Deran and wondering what lessons he might be setting her when she arrived. As tiring as moving the circles was, Anya found herself excited by the thought of more magic.
She took her cup with her and carefully moved through the halls. She arrived in the room with the orb and took a deep drink from the hot mug. Keeping the mug in her left hand for warmth, Anya placed her right hand on the orb. She closed her eyes as her vision doubled.
As before, she found herself looking at a layout of the House of the Star. ‘Although I suppose I should call it the House of the Children of the Moon instead,’ Anya thought. Suddenly her vision shifted and she was gliding through the house. Anya frowned wondering what was happening. Usually she had to direct her thoughts in order to see anything specific. The orb took her sight deep into the mountain. She moved past the area claimed by the women who served in the House of the Star. She passed the areas that were used by the others who lived in the town. Her sight was taken deep into the heart of the mountain. While much of the inner hidden parts of the House were restored, it was still a work in progress and she was taken deeper into the mountain than the restorative magic reached.
Ten til Midnight 