Morning all and welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Here I take the start of a story idea and work on it for fifteen minutes a day. I started with an old writing prompt that interested me, cleaned it up a bit to fit the basic outline of the story I want to write and then set aside fifteen minutes each week day to see it grow. Each morning’s writing starts with the last sentence of the day before. And so now we have the story of Kasca…
Day 16: The boat floated on and Kasca hoped that if nothing else, she might find answers.
The boat floated on and Kasca hoped that if nothing else, she might find answers. While the air felt a little heavy within her shielding, she knew she couldn’t lift it and risk the boat being exposed on the open water.
Even without the sight of the small boat causing problems, she was worried about the contagion. She knew her shielding would keep her safe. She was sent south because she had the best chance of getting a message to the others. An alliance was being formed. The Kingdoms of Tomar and of Kesteskan were willing to stand with them to help remove the Overlord from power. She knew part of that willingness was due to the fact that the Overlord had been eyeing other kingdoms of late.
While news from the southern districts had not made it to them in a while, Kasca’s hometown was placed far north and often received news from other kingdoms. There had been overtures. Some peaceful, but always with the threat of being peaceful, for now. Tomar was the closest to their district and Kasca heard of trade agreements that the Kingdom of Tomar was asked to consider that in no way favored them. Normally they would have been laughed off, but the proposals were delivered not by an emissary seeking an audience, but by one of the chosen governors backed by a squadron of elite soldiers. There were whispers about the beasts from the patrol even being present.
Kasca also knew that in addition to avoiding the threat posed by the Overlord and his troops, the other kingdoms wanted a piece of the fallen empire. They had been prosperous once. Their grainfields were lush and full. Their mines deep and plentiful. They were blessed with resources. Others were willing to help them overthrow the tyrannical Overlord for a share in those resources. Kasca knew agreements were reached. She didn’t like some of the conditions, but people were starving.
She raised objections when asked but others were convinced she was wrong. ‘They wanted me to be wrong.’
They wanted to believe the other kingdoms would help and then leave them in peace, let them eat the grain they harvested and use the resources available to them, taking only a percentage. Kasca doubted their altruism, but was ignored.
She was the best runner they had left though and sent south with the plan. The others were to spend the upcoming winter preparing. Honing weapons, preparing gear. They were to plant, grow and wait. When the harvest came they were to secret away as much as possible before the assessors came to collect the quota. It was after the harvest that the first strike would occur and they needed to marshal supplies for that time. Kasca needed to pass the message so others could be ready.
Yet there was no one to give the message to in town. Disease took anyone she would have told. She would have to hope that other towns, other villages had not been as hard hit by the disease.
Ten til Midnight 