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 242: ‘Does it really?” He nodded. “Well that does need looking into then.”
‘Does it really?” He nodded. “Well that does need looking into then.” Arkaron frowned. “What exactly is ponela wood?”
“It is used in the creation of powerful magical artifacts,” Anya said. Beyond that I don’t know too much about it.”
“Well that is more than enough to know about it I would think,” he said. “And it proves that this meeting is of more benefit to me than simply satisfying my curiosity. And not angering the Lady of the moon.”
He gestured to a nearby chair. “I am not certain if you can sit, but if you can, you are welcome to do so. I have been standing for far too long today and feel I must.”
“Of course, please,” Anya said. “I didn’t think to bring a chair close, so I’ll have to stand.”
Arkaron nodded. “If we meet again then perhaps you can remember to do so and it will be more comfortable for both of us. Although I would prefer an arrangement instead of a summoning if there is a next time.”
Anya nodded. “I would as well,” she admitted.
Arkaron smiled and nodded. “Of course. Now I have been told that someone hunts you. It turns out to be Lord Mathis, which I find interesting. Will you tell me how that came to be?”
As he had already been contacted by the moon herself, Anya saw little reason not to tell him of her moon mark. She explained Lord Mathis seeing her mark at the well and choosing her for service. Arkaron nodded as he listened and then frowned deeply when she told him of her abduction and relocation to the tower. His face grew even darker when she told him of her abandonment in the tower.
“And you were not the first he has done this to?” Arkaron asked.
“No,” Anya said shaking her head. “I was the last he found so I don’t think he put anyone in the tower after I escaped.”
“I see,” he said. “That itself bears looking into. I think I know the manor house he might be using as a base…” His voice trailed off. After a moment, he shook his head. “A different matter, please continue.”
Anya briefly told him of her time in the House of the star, skipping over the fact that the Matron almost gave her over to Lord Mathis as that wasn’t something she felt he needed to know. She merely told him that she was being hidden and given food within the mountain, which finally led her up to her current relocation and studies.
“Well it is quite a tale,” he told her. “But it seems as though you have found a safe and secure place. I am not certain what help I am to be.”
“I am safe while I stay within the mountain and I can learn the tools and the methods for using the mechanisms to help me feed myself within the mountain and for study but it seems to me that it is just a way of settling permanently into the mountain and not finding a place to go once I leave. I enjoy studying the information, but I would like to make use of my time so that when I leave I can use what I learn to find a place, In Tyrin the herbalists and healers are all men who have studied with others and have certification papers claiming that they were trained. Even if I learn I will not have those papers.”
“Ah,” he said as he realized her dilemma. “You wish to find a place outside of the mountain when it is safe.”
“If it ever will be safe,” Anya said.
Ten til Midnight 