I think the Lit Halloween Contest is once again the reason that Barren Harvest keeps stalling on me.\u00a0 I have a scene in the middle of the story that’s a downer, which I put there because I thought it was too low of a note to end on with the contest in mind.<\/p>\n
Now that it’s not an issue, I think that scene better belongs at the end.\u00a0 It gives the story more impact, and better fits with my original vision of the story.\u00a0 The regular readers of my world and the Arts Ardane probably won’t see the down scene as a bad thing, where the broader readership of the contest probably would have.<\/p>\n
So, I’m going to shuffle the scenes around and see if I can’t get that one moving again.<\/p>\n
Still to worn out from last night to think about something that big, though *laugh*\u00a0 Instead, I’m going to finally make those changes to the fourth chapter of Lowborn ( Mindblind ) and see if I can get jumping on Ch. 05.<\/p>\n
While I’m at it, how about a bit of a preview of Lowborn?<\/p>\n
The muscles in Cerebus\u2019 bare chest rippled as he hefted the sack of grain into the wagon.\u00a0 The wagon groaned a little under the weight, but had proven its solidity with numerous round trips.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He wiped the sweat from his brow and walked toward the front of the wagon, where his employer was busy secreting a loaded crossbow beneath the seat.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the last of \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cExcellent.\u00a0 Excellent.\u00a0 Just one moment, and I will fetch your coin,\u201d the rotund merchant responded after a start.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cerebus\u2019 voice had a quality that he\u2019d heard described as sounding like an ominous whisper emerging at normal volume, and it quite often unnerved people.\u00a0 He more or less ignored the nervous twitter in the man\u2019s voice, having grown quite accustomed to such reactions over the years.\u00a0 He was the product of a brutal rape by a warrior goblin, and he knew that his features were unsettling to most people.\u00a0 His size and strength alone made him stand out in a crowd, but his pointed ears and odd skin tone with hints of grayish-green marked him as someone unquestionably alien.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Yomen counted out his pay, and then took a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cI wonder if you might wish to earn some additional coin?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cerebus shrugged. \u201cDepends on what I\u2019ve got to do for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe reports of highwaymen along the road to Lakenshire have grown alarmingly frequent of late, and I fear to undertake the journey alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0His eyebrows shot up in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cYou want me to ride along?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI have seen you practice your swordplay, and you seem quite competent.\u00a0 I\u2019m willing to offer double your usual pay, and your normal pay to help me unload when we arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0And you can\u2019t find another man who will risk the run for what you\u2019re willing to pay.<\/em>\u00a0 Only a desperate and green mercenary would take the pittance after hearing of the attacks along the road.\u00a0 Fortunately, he had a good reason to accept the opportunity.\u00a0 \u201cI was headed into town today anyway.\u00a0 Let me go belt on my sword and pick up a few things from home, and you\u2019ve got a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSplendid.\u00a0 I wish to leave within the hour, in order to reach Lakenshire before nightfall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cNot a problem,\u201d he responded as he turned to walk home, snatching up his shirt from a fencepost as he passed it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The people crossing to the other side of the hard-pack dirt street barely registered in Cerebus\u2019 mind as he walked.\u00a0 All of his thoughts were on the rare visit to the town, and the opportunity to finally earn a little coin with his sword.\u00a0 The short ride might not be much, but it was experience.\u00a0 If he could convince Yomen to speak to other merchants once it was over, he might find more work \u2013 perhaps even jaunts beyond the backwater villages and towns of the area.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He could see his sisters and mother through the wavy glass of the kitchen window, already at work on supper.\u00a0 He stayed out of view, and walked to his room at the back of the house, which he\u2019d built with his own two hands to gain a measure of privacy and quiet.\u00a0 The family was used to him coming and going with little to no announcement, and he had no desire to worry his mother with the knowledge that he was going into town.<\/p>\n
\u00a0A loud thud sounded as he turned the corner \u2013 a familiar sound of late.\u00a0 As expected, he found his half-brother straightening after a throw of his mace.\u00a0 Though only twelve years old, Vladamir had already found favor with the local priest of Heraklan, and proved a devoted follower of the god.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cHa!\u00a0 Take that, you ugly troll!\u201d Vladamir declared, and then noticed his brother.\u00a0 \u201cDid you see, Mindblind?\u00a0 The log cracked!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cerebus nodded his head, actually quite impressed that the mace had managed to do such damage.\u00a0 Once the boy filled out, he knew that anything \u2013 or anyone \u2013 in the path of that mace was in big trouble.\u00a0 \u201cGood throw, Vlad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Vladamir hurried to the log to pick up his mace, as he had not yet mastered the devotion necessary to call upon his god to magically return it to his hand.\u00a0 \u201cI told you that I\u2019m going to come with you on an adventure some time, Mindblind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Though the nickname was meant as a cruel joke when his sister started it, Cerebus had actually liked the sound of it.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t bothered by having no magical ability, unlike the rest of the family, so it didn\u2019t hit home as his sister would have hoped.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cMaybe someday,\u201d he responded, though he hoped to have left long before to find his fortune by the time his younger brother was old enough to leave the novitiate of the priesthood.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWhat you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cHeaded into town.\u00a0 Don\u2019t tell Mom.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want her worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI won\u2019t.\u00a0 Can I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Mindblind shrugged and answered, \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0 His brother was one of the few people he let inside, even though Vladamir could be a pain at times.\u00a0 Deep down, he liked the way his younger sibling admired him \u2013 a sharp contrast to the way most people treated him.<\/p>\n
\u00a0His room was utilitarian, meant for little more than sleeping and storing his things.\u00a0 The closest thing he possessed to decoration was the wooden frame where he hung his leather armor, shield, and sword.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re going on an adventure,\u201d Vladamir declared when he saw his brother pull down the armor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cNo, just into town.\u00a0 I\u2019m riding with Yomen as a guard,\u201d he argued as he pulled on the chest piece of his armor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cIt is too an adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cOkay, it\u2019s an adventure, if that will make you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYou have to tell me all about it when you come home.\u00a0 You can\u2019t leave out anything because you think it will give me nightmares.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cAll you\u2019re going to get is a story about a bumpy wagon ride, but okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0A voice rang out from outside.\u00a0 \u201cVladamir!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cerebus cinched up the strap he was working on and nodded toward the door.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d better get going, or Mom\u2019ll tan your hide.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYou promised,\u201d his brother reminded him, and then hurried out the door.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cAdventure,\u201d he muttered, and then chuckled.\u00a0 Maybe once I get there and make it to the Cat.<\/em><\/p>\n
That thought convinced him to finish strapping on his armor in a hurry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Just the opening \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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