Linham.....part 2

Coming up the street was a motley assortment of characters. At least that’s what Narom thought as the travelers made their way to them. One elf, two brothers, a prissy guard and a gypsy woman. Sigh.

“Oh here they come now!” Absolom walked over excitedly. “Hi everyone! I’m Absolom, and that man over there is my uncle Narom.”

“Greetings young man. My name is Reisling Blanc.” The well-dressed man executes a proper Beinesse bow, even tipping his hat in one full swoop. 

Absolom smiles as the long, blue feather passes near Narom’s face. “Nice hat you have there. Where could I get one?”

Reisling smiles courteously. “I earned this one. I am a veteran of His Majesty’s guard.”

Absolom looks dejected. “Oh, ok. I guess I’ll just have to settle for this old cap.”

Reisling can barely contain his smile. “That cap is magnificent!”

Absolom looks up, and seeing the approval from Reisling, places the cap on his head. 

Narom watches this with disinterest. “We really should be going. Staying inside the city is not safe.”

One of the human men speaks up - this one is in gleaming full plate armor. “I agree. It is time to leave.

Absolom looks over. “What is your name sir?

“I am Eric Michaelsson of Dracholt. This is my brother Karl.” He points over to the other young human male that is dressed very differently. This one has brown robes on - monk’s robes. 

“Hi duke!” Karl nearly bounces over in his excitement to meet the young boy. 

“Well hi!” Absolom returns the handshake and manages not to be knocked over.

The gypsy woman speaks. “Careful Karl. Let’s not hurt the young man.” She smiles and walks over. “My name is Elliyanna. I am here to help you. I’m sorry about your father.”

“Thank you. May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”
“Is it true that you can read people’s thoughts?”

Before Elliyana can answer, Narom interjects. “Absolom! Be polite!”

Absolom hangs his head dejectedly, and then looks up at Ellyianna. “I’m sorry ma’am. I did not mean any insult with my question.”

She smiles, and lightly places her hand against the duke’s cheek. “No insult taken. It’s a valid question, and one that I would expect the future ruler of Linham to be curious about. No, I cannot read someone’s thoughts.”

“Oh, well......ok. I’d just heard....” Looking at his uncle dissuaded any further questions.

“We really should be leaving.” Narom steps into the foot hold and swings up on to his magnificent war horse. 

Linham...part 1

As the young duke-to-be Absolom Lore contemplated his future, several things occurred to him. The first thing was obvious - who killed his father, and why? Next of course was the idea that whoever did that foul deed might make an attempt on him or his mother. Lastly, now that his uncle, Narom, had taken over teaching him how to be a noble, what was next?

Those questions would have to wait. Narom was outside waiting for him, so Absolom gathered up his possessions and headed out the door. As he passed through the halls that were once the safest in all of Morlania, he could not help but be a little sad. Father was dead, and Mother was scared. Narom and Absolom were on their way out of Linham accompanying a group of travellers that Narom had only recently described as “trouble.” 

Just what happened to father? About the only thing that Absolom could get out of his mother was that as they were sitting at the tavern enjoying the birthday festivities, a halfling had suddenly leapt out of the shadows and stabbed father. Once, just once, but it was enough. “Father died quickly,” Mother had said. The subject was then closed. Mother got this look on her face that convinced Absolom that the conversation was over, and so he had let it go. 

Why kill father? The Duke was liked in Linham. In fact, people really admired him. It was said he was the fairest and most respected Duke in Morlania, even more so than the Emperor himself. Perhaps that was it? Was the Emperor jealous of his father’s fame?  That really made little sense. The one time that the Emperor visited with his father seemed to go well, and the two men were friendly with one another. It just didn’t make any sense......

“Absolom!” Uncle Narom seemed to be agitated. “Where is your mind boy? Keep focused on the task at hand young man!”

“Yes sir. Sorry.” Absolom always addressed his uncle as “sir” as his father had instructed him to do. “It’s a sign of respect.” Remembering his father’s words made Absolom frown.

“What is it? Why the frown?”

“It’s nothing sir. Really.” Absolom looked up at his uncle and smiled - well, at least the appearance of one.

Narom looked unconvinced but went about his business any ways. One last grab and pull at one of the straps holding the saddle on Absolom’s horse, and things should be ready for departure.

Absolom was looking around. “Have you seen our traveling companions?”

“No.”

“Oh, ok sir. Are we to meet them someplace then?”

“No.” 

“Oh. Then how are we to find and meet with them sir?”

“I’ve no idea. I would suspect they will find us. Trouble usually does.”

So...with the time on my hands....

I've always wanted to write a short story. Fantasy-based setting. Maybe it's time to try my hand at it. I would appreciate any and all feedback - gulp, even if you have to tell me "it sucks."


I'm not much of a right-brained person (read creative) here but since I don't have anything else to do, time to grow.


Soo....

Randomness....

• 3 different shootings tonight in Colorado Springs...wow, what an angry world.
• Really? How DID that umpire in the Atlanta-Pittsburgh game miss that call at home?
• My boys just don't seem to get it. Lying, stealing and cheating their way through life just simply won't work. And yet they continue these behaviors. Why?
• My daughter has spent the last 2 nights with my parents.....I miss my baby boo.
• Will our government ever pull its head out of its ass? Time for a revolution..... "The tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of patriots from time to time." (Thomas Jefferson, quote somewhat paraphrased - I did it from memory!) Maybe it's time for some blood? We can start with the Tea Party....
• Waiting for the CBI now.....hope things work out.

Nite....

Sleep....and lack thereof...

So here I sit.....4:07am....not able to sleep. Worried about everything I suppose. Have to call on a job in the morning but already feel inside that it won't work out. Really sore left baby toe. Sore left ankle too. Just falling apart I suppose.....

Old fashioned notions.....

So I made this comment on Facebook about kids apparently not being able to spell. My oldest spells the word "listen" as "lisen" and the word "all" as "alll." Is it so hard to spell correctly? I know he has been taught and knows how those words are spelled. To me it is a mark of intelligence to be able spell correctly. I also think that unconsciously people judge others by how they act - if you act the fool, they think you to be the fool. If you act like a moron, you are believed to be one.
.......
Maybe it's just me.....

So...here we are....

Just needed some place in which I could jot down random thoughts and such. Love Facebook but just not the place for some of what I want to say, so here we are.....

My daughter decided that she had to have a "Sponge Bob" backpack for school. I looked it over, and saw that in reality-world (a place my kids don't seem to like or understand) this back pack would not work well. The straps were flimsy, there was very little room for books and such (yeah, the important stuff) and it just didn't seem like spending $17 on it was worth it. Of course, she melted down, yelled at me in Target, grabbed the "ugly purple" (her words) back pack and stormed off.

I truly do not understand:

1. Seriously, yelling at my parents never got me what I wanted.
2. Why is it so important for kids these days to have to look "cool?"
3. Why do kids these days always want the crap stuff instead of the functional-lasts-forever stuff?

Ugh.

Needless to say......she did not get the Sponge Bob back pack, nor did she have to accept the "ugly purple" back pack.....

because...

I walked out of Target, straight to the car with my money and dignity intact.

Parent 1

Kid 0

.......nite