And for our last task of the week, I have posted the writing prompt from last year I chose for today’s break out and put the outline for the task below. (I know same as what we do every night, Pinky.)
Thursday, April 3rd: There is so much to see.
“There is so much to see,” She said with a laugh gazing upwards.
She knew she looked like a country yokel but couldn’t help herself and didn’t really care. It was likely she would never see these people again. What did it matter what they thought of her?
The buildings towered over her, glass spirals sparkling in the sun. She wondered if someone was detailed to clean them each morning.
She laughed again, this time at herself, for focusing on prosaic concerns even amid the splendor of the capitol city. As she spent the week before cleaning all the windows in their church as penance for her impertinence, she supposed it was on her mind.
‘I’m fairly certain Father Barker meant for me to focus on my own wrongdoings rather than how to keep glass clean,’ she thought.
She tore her eyes away from the spires and focused instead on the multitude of people passing by. As she didn’t consider her impertinent comment something she needed to do penance for in the first place, she felt fine with her misplaced attention.
The capital had people from every province in it and she found the varying styles of dress fascinating. There were Rothlanders from the cold north still wearing their furs. Many had laces undone in concession to the much warmer air of the capitol.
By contrast those from the lowlands of Cataran seemed to huddle in on themselves, their lighter garments inadequate to the area.
‘Maybe they ought to arrange a swap,’ she thought as Faran tugged her forward through the crowds.
He shot her a warning look as though suspecting she was planning something wicked. Sena frowned back at him. She was always blamed for thinking wicked thoughts and doing things she shouldn’t.
‘At least half the time it isn’t my fault,’ she thought. She sighed. ‘Probably why I’m here.’
Recognizing that she was only half of the problem, she and Gera were being separated. Gera found a place in their hometown of Denovia and it was hoped that she would settle down. She was primed to become a productive member of society and a proper lady.
This just left Sena as the problem they had to deal with.
Sena knew she was seen as the instigator even if Gera did egg her on, so she was being sent into the capital to attend Mrs. Leraston’s School for Young Ladies. The school was known for dealing with high-spirited young ladies and it was hoped that they would be able to channel her natural inclinations into more productive avenues.
Sena tried not to roll her eyes. That had been the phrase they used when packing her off. No one explained any details, sech seeming to have their own opinion of what the school would make of her.
She could see that Father Barker hoped that meant something along the lines of lace making or embroidery. He thought that those activities, along with praying for redemption from any thought of potential wickedness, were the only suitable occupations for young ladies.
While Sena worried that she would find herself doing endless amounts of needlework, she heard rumors there was more.
‘And at least I get to see the capitol,” she thought as they continued to make their way through the crowds.
SETUP: Sena is being sent to a girl’s school so she can learn not to cause trouble. Most think it is to learn to be a proper young lady however when she arrives they give her tests that have nothing to do with needle point. She passes and is allowed to stay.
COMPLICATION: Sena learns of a growing threat to the Empire and that she and the others are being trained to deal with the issue.
RISING ACTION: Sena is trained and learns more about the world and the Empire than she ever thought to know. Moves to the top of her class. The enemies move faster than the empire planned and she and the other top students are sent into the field with one of their trainers to assist while learning. They hold their own for a while but it is clear that they are going to lose the battle. They are each even separate orders to scatter and meet up at a secure location. Their position is over run and they scatter. Sena makes her way toward the secure location.
MEANWHILE: The Empire is attacked from another angle as their enemy makes a deal with a long time friend of the Empire so they are not only surprised but have to fight on two fronts.
CLIMAX: The empire is over run. Sena races through a world at war and finally makes it to the secure location. She is welcomed in but she is the only one who made it.
DENOUEMENT: They watch the world burn, biding their time, safeguarding their knowledge and secrets because they are more important than any one empire.
Ten til Midnight 