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 245: “After all, how can I help you avoid dangers if I don’t know what they are?”
“After all, how can I help you avoid dangers if I don’t know what they are?”
Anya nodded understanding the situation but still finding it hard to admit the actions of her family. The curiosity of why Lord Mathis’ man would go to the old family house and expect one of her sisters to be there or for her to feel like it was a safe place to hide was too great a mystery to ignore. She told him of what she learned since arriving in the House of the Star, ending with the hunter’s request for an audience.
“And you were unable to listen in on the meeting between them?” Arkaron asked.
“I was called away,” Anya said. She didn’t explain further. Somehow bringing up the young man and his grandfather seemed wrong. Both Arkaron and Lord Mathis had interest in the Fairweather estate. The two she saw made use of the ponela wood, whether they knew of its magical properties or not. She suspected they did. However they were not lords or kings but regular folk. If they came to the attention of those arguing for the estate, she didn’t want to be the one to bring that attention to them.
“It is a puzzle,” Arkaron said. “It might have something to do with some property deed. I doubt Mathis would know your family, his hunter either actually, so they would have had to find some record that sent them there.” Arkaron nodded. “I will have someone check into it, discretely of course. It would not do for Mathis to become aware of my interest.”
“Thank you,” Anya said. She wasn’t certain if she should add some sort of title. Thus far he hadn’t requested it so she didn’t add it. “I know this probably wasn’t what you had planned.”
“No,” he said. “But It wasn’t as though I could refuse. And I have to say I am enjoying this little puzzle you have presented me. It is a bit of a change from my normal day. It may take a while to find the information,” he said. “Perhaps we can meet at the same time next week?”
Anya had the impression that amusing or not, the time he was willing to give her was ending. “That would be fine if it suits your schedule.”
“It does,” he said. “Until then.”
Recognizing the dismissal, Anya took her hand from the orb and Arkaron and his well appointed chamber faded away. She was alone in the new quarters arranged by the moon. As Anya lifted her hand from the orb, she expected to shiver. She didn’t. She felt no chill.
She smiled. The fire was still going but burning low. She left the orb and moved to the fireplace. After settling another log on and making certain it would burn and not smother, Anya slipped the amulet off of her neck. While wearing it to speak to Arkaron was one thing, she did not want to forget she was wearing it when looking in on Lord Mathis or the Hunter. She placed it atop the mantle over the fireplace. Anya settled into her reading chair.
Ten til Midnight 