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 191: 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.
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. She moved carefully, wanting to keep her own fire banked and the coal alive as she transported it between rooms.
She moved slowly and carefully and took the metal shovel with its softly glowing coal into the other room. Anya moved to the clean fireplace and knew. lt down. Carefully she used the coal to build up a fire in the grate. When she had a small blaze going she gently added wood, needing to fuel the fire without smothering it with the new wood. Eventually it was burning merrily on its own and Anya was certain she could leave it for a while, returning to add more wood as it was needed.
Anya stepped back from the fire. The heat from it had yet to penetrate the bulk of the room, but she knew that in time it would. ‘The room’s not that large so it shouldn’t take too long.’
While she waited for the fire to warm the space Anya used exertion to warm herself and maneuvered the large reading chair into the circle where she would stand when talking to Deran. By the time it was in place, she felt warmed up. She wasn’t certain if it was her movements or the fire.
With the chair in place and the fire warming the room, Anya sat down in the chair. “Recaros,” she said to activate the circles. As before there was a thrill of delight that ran through her as the circles glowed and Deran appeared in his circle. He smiled when he saw her and took a look around the room. He noted both the chair and the fire.
“Good morning to you,” he said. “I can see this will be much more pleasant for you to work in. Have matters been settled elsewhere?”
“Marta gathered supplies and convinced others that I was heading south back towards Tyrin,” Anya said.
“Ah yes, the town where you were from.”
Anya recalled he mentioned not knowing the town. “I looked on the map,” Anya said. “Tyrin is near the Festian city of Ced.”
Deran blinked. “Ced? Really?”
“Yes,” Anya replied. “Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. I spent a great deal of time in Ced when I was younger. My uncle married a girl from there and settled within the city to open a book shop. I visited quite often.”
“So you knew the city?” Anya asked.
“Quite well actually. And it is now called Tyrin?”
“Not exactly. The ruins of the city of Ced are right outside the town of Tyrin,” she corrected. Anya thought about some of the older buildings. Many of them incorporated some of the ruins in their construction. “I think part of the village is on top of the old city.”
“I see,” Deran said. Some of his enthusiasm dimmed. “Ruins of course. Time has passed. I expected it to be so, but the length is somewhat daunting. One assumes some things are eternal.”
He shook his head and put on a smile. “No matter, the area remains the same.”
Ten til Midnight 