The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is an 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 190: All within the house knew of Anya’s fleeing back to Dovish.
All within the house knew of Anya’s fleeing back to Dovish. All were talking about how the matron kept her safe until the weather cleared enough for her to make it home. Many speculated on whether or not Lord Mathis and his men would find her. A few even pointed out that it was foolish for her to go home when that is what the questing lord would expect of her.
To Anya’s surprise, thoughts about Lord Mathis were mixed. There were some who believed the Matron was in the right to get Anya to safety. They believed that helping Anya was part of the mission of the House of the Star and should be honored.
They were the most vocal, but in listening in Anya found there were others who disagreed. Part was because they believed the Matron should have arbitrated a discussion between Anya and Lord Mathis, resolving whatever issues there were. There was the belief that Lord Mathis was a reasonable man and that the reason he was seeking Anya was likewise a logical one. They believed it could have been resolved.
There were others though who simply feared the power of Lord Mathis. He had the ear of the king and stood high in the court. If he was angered enough, he could bring his grievance to the king and trouble could ensue. Anya recognized the words as self-preservation and even though she didn’t care for such talk, she couldn’t bring herself to hold it against the speakers. She was a stranger and she could bring trouble to their doors. She couldn’t blame them for being leery.
Still, Anya marked their faces and tried to remember who looked as though they might agree with the thoughts. If there was a time when she could leave the hidden parts of the House, they were the ones who could cause her issue.
Having gathered the general mood of the House and realized that Marta and the Matron’s plan was working, Anya pulled her sight back from the orb. She let her hand slip from its surface.
The mug of tea cooled slightly as she studied the House, but it was still warm and Anya took a step back from the orb and lifted the mug to her lips, taking a deep drink from the mug. She was chilled from standing on the cold stone, but the still warm tea helped.
‘I’ll have to remember to bring a mug with me each time until it warms up.’ While the tea warmed her some, Anya shivered, still feeling the cold of the room. She decided to head back to her quarters and begin her day. As she walked, her mind shifted through thoughts. There were so many new things to occupy her mind that she wasn’t certain how she would be able to take lessons with Deran.
Anya reached her quarters and set her empty mug down. She knew the fireplace in the room beside hers had its back placed against the one she used and hoped that the heat from there would seep into this room as well so her quarters would not grow quite as cold as when she left them without a fire. The magic that kept her firebox stocked with wood ready to burn also filled the box next door, so Anya did not need to take firewood with her. She did need a small coal to get it started. Not wanting to burn herself, she used the metal scoop she used to clear old ashes from the fireplace to lift one of the glowing coals from her banked fire.
Ten til Midnight 