Today was a good day. I didn't have to work at Duluth Trading so I slept in (which my body kicked me out of bed around 9:30am so boo on it) then I putzed around on the computer until around 11:00...
I had been printing out my book so that I can work on editing and revision, well, I was only about to fit the first 13 chapters in the binder I had so I had to run to Monroe (our nearest shopping town) to go to Shopko to get a binder that was approximately 2 sizes larger than the one I had previously.
She's a bit of a porker right now. But I'm prodigiously proud of my work...even though the end of the journey is not in sight yet.
Well, after completing that project I had just enough time to throw hay at the sheep and horses and want to kill the roosters (yet again....why they aren't in the freezer yet I don't know but I sincerely wish they were). Then I ran to my 2nd job at PFC Co. (which stands for Pet Food Cube Company, he's a subcontractor for Kaytee Feed.) Well, when I got there there was no one else, so I had to "break" in using the "secret" unlocked back door. That was interesting :D Well, I put in a couple of hours and then drove back to Monroe, to top off my gas tank as well as pick up a pizza and a movie. I wanted to watch Sherlock Holmes, but didn't want to buy it and the Redbox didn't have it, so I settled for the new Star Trek movie. WHICH ROCKED! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very good plot line and great actors etc....I just wish that I had seen it in theatres. That would have been beyond amazing.
Well, after all that excitement I had to do something to relax. So I took a bath and shaved my legs (which needed the attention) and then made myself a Mudslide :Mmmmmmm:
So now I should really head to bed so that I can get up and play in the woods before going to work tomorrow.
But before I do I have a few other things. Like a pretty picture of the bruise I gave myself on the arm when I slipped on the icy steps Thursday Morning.
And finally I'd like to give, for your consideration a connection of two songs that I discovered tonight on iTunes. First is "Requiem for a Tower" by Escala. Followed by "Intro" into "See who I am" by Within Temptation. I apologize for the sound quality on the Within Temptation song but it was the only one I could find that had the "Intro"... Oh, and a segment of text from my book....near the climax of course. Listen to the songs while you read (that was the visual I received as I lay in the bathtub listening to them...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRsycxGgyuI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3UcPIU9A0I
The morning was dark. Fog clung to the river valley as the front gates swung open. From deep within the stone gates the first horse rode out into the mist wreathed valley. They rode single file, silently into the early morning.
The plan was simple. They were to wait until Conrad’s forced had advanced beyond the valley and then move in and cut off their retreat. As the last horse cleared the gates a gentle rain began to fall.
At the end of the line, Ishana closed her eyes as a vision gently began to form.
:Maeve stood on the pebble covered beach, her face turned to the sky as the rain fell. Slowly she began to turn about in a circle. She spun and spun until her feet gently lifted from the beach, her eyes closed to the sky a smile on her lips.:
Smiling, Ishana felt the rain’s gentle touch on her eye lids. Opening her eyes she whispered, “Our God is in the rain. Thank you Mama.” Nudging Zephyr she moved back into position.
The line moved slowly, their passage muffled by the fall of the rain. As they neared the mouth of the valley the wind died and a mist rose thickly from the river.
Ishana waited, feeling the damp mist trickle down her neck, underneath her chain mail shirt. Everything was cold and wet. Even beneath her thighs, Zephyr was covered with perspiration. However, the weather was only aiding their intent. The heavy fog made it impossible for the enemy to see where they lurked just inside two valleys that broke away from the Blaise river valley. They could hear the tramp of the foot soldiers as they passed through the valley, heading towards the plain next to Barton Towne and Donal's troops.
They would cut off their retreat, and do whatever they could to aid the rest of the troops. Beside Ishana, Mehmet sat quietly on his horse. Everyone was riding on simple leather saddles. Anything that would jingle or make noise had been removed. Even under the circumstances, Ishana was amazed at how quietly all of the horses were sitting. She caught Mehmet’s eye and he nodded his head.
Wrapping her hand around her pendant, Ishana focused on the noise of the soldiers. The vision formed quickly, as she saw them moving down the valley on either side of the river. In another minute they would be passing the valley. Opening her eyes she shook her head negatively at Mehmet. They would wait.
Finally the sound of the foot soldiers was swallowed by the mist. They all slowly moved into position, their horses moving silently through the tall grass, until they stood waiting on either side of the river. Shailendra slipped from the back of her Caribou, wading into the cold water of the Blaise River
At Mehmet's signal, Ishana raised the fog and they moved forward. Silently they crept up on their opponents until they were only a few lengths away. At that point, a cry sounded and the soldiers whirled around to face them.
The noise was deafening, horses screamed, men yelled, swords crashed; in the middle of it all, Ishana locked blades with another soldier. Throwing him off, she quickly slid her sword between the side plates of his armor. As he fell another soldier came roaring towards her.
Ishana watched in horrified fascination as the horse rose into the air, kicking out with its front legs. Quickly ducking out of the way, she scrambled for a better position and tripped over the body of the soldier she had just killed.
Falling backwards Ishana screamed in terror. She watched as if frozen as the horse reared again, striking out with its deadly hooves. Suddenly Faust dove down out of the sky his talons outstretched. He aimed for the horse’s head scoring deadly lines along its neck.
The horse collapsed on its side but its rider rolled free and got to his feet. Raising his sword he came barreling towards her berserk with battle madness. Ishana scrambled to her feet trying to meet his attack when suddenly a man on horseback came barreling past her and knocked the man down with his mace.
Standing where she was, Ishana watched in dumb amazement as Donal’s horse Jael spun and used his hindquarters to knock another soldier off of his feet.
Grabbing her sword Ishana turned and met the blade of another enemy soldier. As she locked blades with him an eerie sensation crept up her back making her hair stand on end. He was there, behind her.
Spinning around she managed to block his first blow. As their swords locked she met eyes that for the first time had shed their mask. Feral like the blue eyes of some of the snow leopard she had seen deep within the mountains he barely resembled the well dressed, well behaved man that she had first met in Acadia 's great hall. His lips curled back he snarled as her sword held underneath his blow.
Breaking the contact Ishana felt her heart begin to race as she tried to remember the skills that Mehmet had drilled her head. They circled each other in the middle of the field of carnage.
Conrad spoke in a voice full of anger and power, "I should have suspected that you would be here, little witch." He had shed his polished exterior and now appeared as the man he truly was; a man mad for power. His eyes seemed to glow like hot coals in his face.
Refusing to rise to his bait, Ishana kept watching him carefully watching for an opening while remaining defensive. “Oh I’ve been called worse than that lately, Conrad.”
He sneered the veneer of civility gone completely. "With your power, I could have ruled this land." Conrad's voice still taunted her. "You were the last piece I needed." his eyes narrowed, "Instead, you became a soldier."
He sneered at her, "What for? So that you can join all of your other sisters and die like a common villein?" Even as he spoke heat seemed to rise from his body creating a shimmering wave all around him.
Ishana's spoke quietly her voice low and even, "You would never have possessed me, Conrad. I refuse to be your puppet. I would rather die today a soldier, fighting for my Queen and country than to live as a puppet for your sick desires."
Conrad lunged, thinking to catch her off guard. Ishana saw the attack coming and neatly dodged it. Conrad ran a few steps beyond her before spinning back to face her.
All around them, soldiers were locked in life or death battle, yet not one disturbed them. Ishana dodged and blocked blow after blow as Conrad tried to use his strength and power to break her. She felt each attack beyond her physical self as he used his gift to attack her trying to drain her energy and strength. She retaliated, using her gift to show her his weaknesses.
Several times her blade skipped across his armor tearing chain mail and cutting flesh. With each wound that she inflicted his anger seemed to grow worse. It seemed to drag on for hours as they dodged each other striking both physically with their weapons as well as with the gifts bestowed on them.
Ishana felt her strength draining from her as she circled around, trying to anticipate Conrad's next move. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a familiar figure with long unkempt brown hair and intense eyes, dispatching an enemy soldier before continuing on in a single minded path towards them.
Without drawing her eyes off of Conrad Ishana blocked his next move feeling a sense of relief as she saw Eleeri draw one of her knives from its sheath. Facing Conrad she spoke. “All of your scheming, all of your planning will come to naught, Conrad. You will not live out the day.”
Conrad laughed, a cruel sound, “And just how do you see that happening? You can barely hold me off and you foretell my death? I find that laughable.” As Conrad continued to laugh Ishana watched the blade come sailing through the air.
Conrad staggered forward, gasping. His face pale and ashen he reached back and jerked the knife blade out of his back, grim determination written on his face.
Ishana was unprepared for his attack as he came forward in a berserker fury. Fending off his attacks she did not see the knife until too late. Slipping past her defenses Conrad buried the knife to the hilt in her side. “I’ll take you with me then.” He hissed.
Ishana stumbled, her hand going to the knife’s hilt. Sinking down on the ground she pulled the blade from her body. Pressing her hand against the wound, Ishana felt the blood welling out between her fingers as she fought for consciousness.
Through a haze she watched Eleeri come up behind Conrad her face frightening with its anger. Before he knew she was there her blade sliced across his throat. As Ishana saw him crumple to the ground she heard another agonizing cry. Turning her head she saw Donal rushing towards her.
Donal locked blades with a Corsan foot soldier his attention elsewhere. Several feet behind him, Ishana was locked in combat with Conrad. He had never seen such a fight as that which was raging between them. Conrad had shed his courtly demeanor and now was fully using his Magus power; smoke seemed to rise from him while small flames seemed to dart and lick about his clothing.
Ishana seemed to have become transparent; it was as though she had absorbed the wind for at times her hair and even her armor would appear translucent, drifting apart at the edges. She was applying every single thing that Mehmet had taught her. Yet Donal feared that Conrad was simply too strong.
As he struggled with his current opponent his back was turned towards the fight. He locked blades yet again with the soldier while slipping a knife from the sheath up his sleeve. A quick twist of the blade and the soldier fell at his feet. Spinning back to the fight that was raging behind him he was in time to see Eleeri slit Conrad’s throat. He watched as the man who had been his enemy slowly collapsed on himself, falling to the ground.
In a moment the fight seemed to grind to a halt. All of the Corsan foot soldiers dropped their weapons and shook their heads as though dazed.
At that moment he noticed Ishana where she laid on the battlefield one hand pressed tightly against her side the other lying at an impossible angle underneath her. His throat closed tightly and it felt as though a heavy stone were suddenly in his stomach. Dropping his knife and sword Donal ran to her.
He dropped to his knees beside her, “Ishana.” His voice was scared as he gently lifted her head to rest on his knee.
Ishana smiled somewhat sleepily, “Donal, you’re here.” Donal gently moved her arm feeling her stiffen and gasp softly, “I think it’s broken.” Ishana’s voice trembled.
Donal nodded his head fearing what lay beneath her other hand more than her broken arm. “I tried to straighten it out. We’ll get it set properly in a little while. Let me take a look at your wound.”
Gently he lifted her hand blanching at the sight of the wound. The weight in his stomach increased at the sight of the blood that was weeping from the wound. Ripping a section of cloth off of the bottom of her armor he balled it up and placed it against the wound, applying firm pressure to it.
Ishana looked up at him, “It’s bad isn’t it. You can tell me.”
Donal suddenly struggled to keep the tears from his eyes, “Yes, it is bad. But you will be fine.”
Ishana lifted her hand and gently touched his cheek, leaving a streak of blood behind her, “I’m glad you’re here.” Her voice was tight with her pain.
Donal sniffed, “I wouldn’t be anywhere else right now.” He whispered. Inside he felt as though he too was dying. The wound was bad. From the sound of her breathing, it had punctured a lung.
He wouldn’t be able to stop the bleeding even if he tried. Looking down into her gray eyes Donal tried to smile reassuringly. “We’ll get your arm set and this looked at and everything will be fine.”
Ishana smiled not believing a word, “And we’ll go back to Dabir?”
Donal nodded his head, “Yes, We’ll all go back to Dabir.”
“You and me and Nerike and all of the Guards?”
“Yes and we’ll tell our children and grandchildren about the day that Firebird defeated the evil Duke Conrad.”
Ishana laughed weakly, “But I didn’t really. Eleeri killed him.”
“And got her revenge,” Donal paused, suddenly overwhelmed, “What will I do without you?”
Ishana’s voice lost its teasing edge, “I am still here Donal.” But even she knew it wouldn’t be for much longer.
Donal nodded his head, “I know.” He brushed a lock of her red hair off of her forehead, “I also know that I should have told you weeks ago how I felt about you.”
Ishana felt as if her entire life hung in balance, “Yes?”
Donal tried to smile but it didn’t erase the fear from his eyes, “I have loved you for months now.” He laughed softly, “Long before Conrad even showed up in Dabir.”
Ishana smiled, “How different our lives could have been”
Donal nodded his head, “Yes but it was the Ishana who stood her ground with courage and wit that I fell in love with. Not Lady Ishana but Lieutenant Ishana of the Phoenix
Ishana gasped softly her eyes almost closing, “Don’t leave me, Donal.”
Donal shook his head, “I will never leave you.”
Ishana felt his tears as they fell on her cheek. As her eyes drifted closed she heard another voice, “Hold on, Firebird. You aren’t leaving us yet.”
1) That bruise is gross/awesome.
ReplyDelete2) I shared Requiem of a Tower with you. :)
3) I'm not a Trekkie, but I saw the new Star Trek in theatre and I enjoyed it, too.
4) Sherlock Holmes rocked.