It's the 3rd Once Upon a Time... linkup!!! Last week I had my first linkers (don't know if that's a word, but you never know. ;). So here's a mighty THANK YOU to Cait and Mime over at Notebook Sisters.
Without further kerfuffle (itn't tha an awesome word!), welcome to the next linkup!
The prompt for today is: forgiveness.
This selection is from my new fantasy, The Last Scribe.
Here's a peek at the setting:
A deep, inky darkness.
Small flames in a dying campfire.
An unwanted revelation.
Ó Pure Grace
“I am the last scribe.
And I was running away.”
Mikailah’s face is
immobile. It means nothing to her. Nothing at all. I am going to have to start,
from the very beginning. Where is the beginning?
What should I do,
Unseen?
Tell her who she is.
“Mikailah,” I begin, my
voice wavering and timid. “There is a reason you and your family have been deep in the Woodland for so many years. It is not because they are forest
people. It is because they have been hiding, waiting.”
“From what, Breem? Why?”
she demands, her face going pale. Her hand is fiddling with that lock of hair,
twisting, pulling, twirling.
“Because they are the
kings…the kings of Messeran.”
She is so still, so
quiet, I almost wonder if she didn’t hear me. Then her eyes flick to me, wide,
so green, and terrified.
“You lie!” she hisses.
I shake my head. “I
don’t. Maybe I wish I did. But it is the truth. They have waited for all these
years for the right time. And the time is here. Now.”
She is trembling, her
face a picture of rage. “Why did you not tell me before? Why wait all this
time? You knew that I was a princess,
of the line of kings, and you never said anything?
Anything at all! Why? Why, Breem?”
She is on her feet,
suddenly, voice lashing. I try to calm her. “Mikailah, sit. I didn’t know what
to do. And I was running. I told you that. I was running away.”
“From what?” she snaps.
“Me? Messeran? The Unseen?”
“Maybe from it all.” My
voice is quiet. Very quiet and low. I can’t sort through it all in my head, not
now, not so close to all that has happened. But I know I must have my say. “But
it is true.”
“Prove what you have
just said.”
I point at her. “You
are my proof. Ask Kiar. The line of the kings is strong in your blood. I don’t
need to ask any questions.”
“Why did Aligha say nothing,
all these years, raising Mytharal and I? Why did she never tell us?”
“I am sure she had a
reason.”
“Reason, my foot!” she
spits. “I trusted her. I trusted you. And now I find out everything is just
lies.”
“No.” I shake my head,
trying to ignore the thread of pain worming itself inside me at her
accusations. “Not everything.”
“Close enough. Is there
anything else you want to tell me about myself?”
The sarcasm is thick in
her tone. But there really is so much I still haven’t told her. How can I? Not
now. Maybe after she has cooled off. After she has had time to think about it.
“Forgive me?”
“I…I can’t!”
“Mikailah!”
“Please, don’t ask me.
Leave me alone!”
Post a selection from your current WIP no larger than 500 words to your blog.
If there is a prompt, make sure your section fits the requirements.
Add the Once Upon a Time... linkup button:
And voila, you are done! Don't forget to visit the other blogs and drop a line.
:( Oh. So sad! (Not your linkup...sorry, that came out bad. The SNIPPET is sad!) Breem. Poor Breem. Sounds like you're being a tough writer. Which is probably good. xD
ReplyDeleteHaha!!! No, don't be sorry. It'll take off. It just takes time. I won't give up. And that's what counts.
DeleteAnd, ahem.... me? Tough? On Breem?
Oh, yeah.... me.
It is good. :D