Standing up and stretching my legs for what seemed like hours, I brushed the dead leaves and dust from the seat of my kilt and from beneath the laces of my sandals that ran up my calves. As I walked through the market, the aroma of fresh baked goods, ripe fruit and and steaming vegetables pulled at me but there was only one thing on my mind at the moment. Even the allure of the coin girls failed to register with me. Today and perhaps tomorrow, would be a turning point of which I was quite uncertain of where it might lead. (more…)
One Book Closes
Though I had given it a lot of thought, now that the collar was ready for me to pick up the clarity I had this morning had fleeted. I raised what little bit of the red fruit still remained of my lunch for the blacksmith to see and yelled back to let him know I’d be there as soon as I finished eating. I don’t know if heard me but he casually shook his head and waved back as he turned around and went back inside.
(more…)
Karissa’s Story
CAPTURED
My head reeled with the rush of sensation as I came to and sat up quickly, looking around in wonder. The sound of voices speaking in a tongue I did not know assailed me. Taking deep breathes to stave off a return to unconsciousness, my nose twitched at the unfamiliar, spicy scent of the air. Attempting to raise myself from my position on the cold stone floor, I felt the unfamiliar weight of the heavy chain around my neck.
Accidental Master
The afternoon sun fell quickly and with it darkness and cold moved in. Be11a was mostly quiet and moved very little after I ordered her to keep her weight off her ankle. She leaned up against a tree, seemingly relaxed though she would jump at the slightest rustling in the brush and look expectantly. I guessed that she was anticipating the familiar face of her Master and I hoped for the same thing but with each passing moment as darkness moved in I started losing faith. (more…)
Be11a
Brushing the fly away from the red fruit in my hand, I took the last bite and savored the sweetness that the fruit brings to your tongue after the initial sourness when the fruit is picked a bit early, not unlike the last two weeks with Be11a.
Awakening
The rhythmic pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer in the distance faded farther into the background with each gentle breeze that danced across my face. Even the unusually strong sun that brought drops of perspiration to the temples of the bloated figure selling red fruit from beneath the weathered canvas seemed to fade away beneath the solitary kalana tree that propped me up.
