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 101: It took longer than she thought to convince herself to lower the shields and step into the market.
It took longer than she thought to convince herself to lower the shields and step into the market. Knowing it was necessary, Kasca took a deep breath and tried to swallow her fears. She let the shields fall away and stepped out of the alleyway before she could change her mind. She tried not to look terrified as she approached the first market stall she needed.
The merchant smiled pleasantly at her and Kasca did her best to smile back as she bought one of the cloaks that seemed to be so common here. The style was slightly different from her own and she thought it would blend better. She managed the purchase and moved on.
Ther weren’t that many things she needed to purchase at the moment, but each purchase brought her closer to the magistrate’s office. She slipped the cloak on, appreciating the extra warmth on the cold spring morning and with it in place, stepped into the building she needed.
Kasca hoped dealing with the merchants would calm her before she had to deal with the official magistrate, but when she stepped inside, her knees were still quivering.
“How may I help you,” the clerk asked in a polite enough tone.
“I wish to enquire about purchasing the apothecary shop located on Dovecote Lane,” Kasca told him. He perked up when she mentioned the apothecary shop.
“You’re a healer then?” he asked.
“I am,” she replied.
“Excellent news,” he told her, a grin spreading across his face. “I’ll just tell his lordship.”
“All right,” Kasca said as he hurried away. She tried not to frown at his excitement. He was back shortly with a well dressed man she assumed was the magistrate. He looked her over and seemed equally delighted.
“Well now, a healer interested in the Dovecote lane property, what excellent news. The Lord Mayor will be pleased.”
“Will he?” Kasca asked.
“Go and get the paperwork and let’s see if we can get the process settled,” he told the clerk. The clerk hurried into a back room returning shortly with a roll of papers. The two of them checked he names and a runner was dispatched to fetch the owner selling the property.
The owner came quickly. He turned out to be a cousin of the healer who owned it.
“I was the only one left to inherit it,” he explained. “It will be good to have a healer in the neighborhood.”
“Oh,” Kasca said. She knew that the city would be short on healers but somehow hadn’t expected this much excitement.
The paperwork began, the magistrate himself presiding over the property purchase. The building cost lest than expected.
“We are encouraging our healers to settle back in the areas,” the magistrate explained.
“I see,” Kasca replied. And in a way she did. They were short on healers, she just hadn’t expected this great a welcome.
“Tell me are you a magical or a non-magical healer,” the magistrate asked. “We need it for the business license we will file with the city.” Everyone in the office held their breath waiting for her reply.
“Magical healer,” Kasca admitted with some trepidation.
Ten til Midnight 