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Here we are with Day 59 of Anadrasata's adventures. This episode has taken longer than usual to get up for which I apologise. Part of the reason for that was that when I was writing this, I got ahead of myself and wrote several pages of events that belong in Day 60. So, then I had to go back and write things that actually belong on Day 59.

This piece runs to 2,982 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index page.

Ghairniksday, 9 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Jimool, 27 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
7 Ueuekayomatilistli, 14 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.15

Dear Journal,

Thankfully today is not another day of rest. When Nais brought me up my warm water this morning she told me that there is some friction between the servants from "traditional" Confederation households and "Imperialised" households below stairs over how things should be organised and handled - specifically rest day also known as the day after tomorrow. There is, it seems, a school of thought which says that the family should go down to the scullery to fetch their own warm water for washing in first thing in the morning. The prevailing school of thought, led by the housekeeper and Cook, says that the family should not be trailing through the kitchen and into the scullery in their night attire in order to wash their faces. Cook had added that she did not need a mob of hungry schoolboys loose in her kitchen among her supplies first thing in the morning, particularly when she has the leftovers from a large, important dinner on hand. The mob of hungry schoolboys seems to include all my unmarried male cousins, and possibly Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl - Cook has been with the family since shortly after Cousin Ghrus and Cousin Poktlilui married.

( Read more... )

Here we are on Day 58 of Anadrasata's travels. More Forbaigns arrive to attend the celebration dinner, people attend a funeral, and the subject of eels is discussed.

This piece runs to 2,958 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Skaithosday, 8 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Rebi, 26 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
6 Ueuekayomatillstli, 13 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.14

Dear Journal,

It was fine when I woke up this morning, and when Nais brought me in my warm water, she told me that the carriage had already left to collect Cousin Mizti, as well as Axolin and Miztli's younger siblings Eloxochitl and Cuixtli, plus Eloxochitl's husband and child, from the airship port as they came in on overnight vessels. Cuixtli is coming home from school specially to attend this dinner, and Eloxochitl's husband has a position in a government office.

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Here we are on the 57th day since Anadrasata left home on her journey to visit her closest living relatives, aside from her immediate family. Given that they live in a foreign country, and that she passed through another foreign country to get there, I'm sure that she would have considered it the trip of a lifetime, even if other life changing events and realisations hadn't happened on her way.

This piece runs to 3,257 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Hakkarsday, 7 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Khemaas, 25 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
5 Ueuekayomatilistli, 12 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.13

Dear Journal,

When Nais brought me my hot water this morning, she told me that the household had started preparing the guest bedrooms for the family members coming to our engagement dinner at first light this morning. Cousin Nhaidha and her family are expected mid-afternoon today. I dressed in a walking dress and went downstairs for breakfast and to offer myself up as an extra pair of hands, once I return from our visit to the Pearlish Lines office.

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This is part six of this series which I first wrote months ago, but I have pulled my notes out of my travel bag where they have been living and here we are.

This runs to 792 words and I hope that you enjoy them.

Elliot Simpson was sitting in a one man shelter on the southern Tasmanian coastline conducting a marine life survey when his phone vibrated. The phone's screen told him that the call was from "Mum." He let the call go to voicemail and wondered what she was calling about. His parents' relationship was volatile, although they were each other's most ardent supporter they also disagreed strongly with each other on a regular basis, and while those arguments were at that their peak, they stopped talking to each other. Last he'd heard, his parents weren't talking to each other. When he and his siblings had been children, that had been the cue for one parent or the other to leave home for a while on a research trip. As an adult he was glad that he didn't have to understand their relationship, but he suspected that they should never have married each other. Indeed, he suspected that his mother had married his father just so she could change her surname - after falling foul of a vengeful penguin spirit she had placed an avoidance on her name, and he still had no idea of what either her given name or her maiden name were.

When the voicemail message notification came up, he plugged his headphones into the telephone and played the message. It said, "Give me a call back, please. I need your advice."

He left the headphones on and called her back. His mother answered almost immediately. "Thank you for calling me back so promptly. Where are you? I tried catching you at your place, but obviously you're not home."

"Down on the southern coast, Mum. I'm doing a marine life survey."

"Is that part of your degree? Are you warm enough?" His mother sounded both interested and concerned, and he knew that she didn't trust scientists in general to have the common sense to come in out of the rain.

"I've got myself a nice little spot here, all set up to keep the sun, rain, and wind off," he assured her. "This is a personal project - I don't think any of my marine biology professors believe in sea serpents."

He could hear his mother take in a deep breath across the ether. "You're out on a sea cliff, counting sea serpents as they go past you?"

"Not quite," he admitted. "I'm counting the numbers in the breeding site that I'm overlooking right now. What did you want to talk to me about?"

She took a deep breath, "Well, it's Richard Ashgrove's funeral today, so nominations for Grand Master of the Most Far and Further Diaspora Circle open tomorrow. Your father and I are both thinking of putting our names in, but if we do, we'd make our friends and allies have to choose between us, reducing the possible vote for each of as. Given that, we decided that only one of us should nominate. What do you think?"

He looked at the potential relationship chasm opening up in front of him and went with, "I think you'd both be good at it in different ways, as long as it didn't involve disagreeing with each other."

His mother laughed. "Fair enough. Is there anything you think might separate us as candidates?"

Elliot paused, then replied, "What name would you put on your nomination paperwork?"

"That was the point your father and sister both made," she admitted. "Which is why it's your father who's filling out the nomination form. Would you be able to fly up to Sydney in the next few days, once we've got it signed by the nominators, and hand it in at the head office? Just to make sure it gets there?"

"Of course," he agreed readily. "As well as doing this job for you guys, I can talk to Terry James about those Coral Sea scaleback sightings off Sydney Heads. Maybe even see one myself."

His mother said cautiously, "I thought you said they are a tropical species. What would they be doing in Sydney?"

"We think they're coming down on the Eastern Australian current. Let me know when you want me to collect the nomination form?" Elliot wrote down a new observation on his sheet, easily done because it was a new species for today.

"Of course," his mother agreed, "and because you're doing us a favour, we'll pay for the return flights. I'm sure I can do something to get you good flights and seats, even if they're not readily available. I'll call you soon."

"Looking forward to it already," Elliot acknowledged. As his mother ended their call, he hoped that she was only going to try for a little extra good luck and not a guaranteed result because sometimes she went a little overboard.

Here we are on Day 56 of Anadrasata's travels, and we have both developments and decision making.

When you get to it, Pairhoclais is said Pai-rho-clais. I can totally see the possibility for the syllables to be completely different.

This piece runs to 2,100 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Rhoinday, 6 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Sulese, 24 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
4 Ueuekayomatilistli, 11 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.12

Dear Journal,

I woke to more scudding rain this morning, and as there is a definite chance that Lord Elnaith will call today, I had Nais help me into a visiting dress for the day. That being done, we went downstairs for our breakfasts - mine with the family and hers with the other servants.

( Read more... )

I thought that with the thrilling events in Anadrasata's personal life it would be interesting to see how things played out back at home in Umbrial. Because he is her guardian until she turns twenty-five, she does need her brother's permission to get married before her birthday - there is an obvious way around this but having that permission does make everything easier.

This piece runs to 4,260 words and I hope that you enjoy it. (I have no idea how it got that long!)

Index Page.

Umbrial
Onnaday, 3 Deichen, 1893 C.E.

Tallaig Nearabhaign had not been expecting a telegraph from Tlemutsiko just yet, he had not been expecting two, and he had not been expecting any on this subject. He was expecting to hear shortly that his middle sister, Anadrasata Nearabhigan, was beginning her journey home. That notification would sensibly be sent by telegraph because there was no guarantee that a letter would travel the width of the Circle Sea any faster than his sister could make the journey herself. He had not expected to be warned to expect a request for permission to marry his sister and ward.

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So, here we are on Day 55 of Anadrasata's travels. Matters develop, some in a good way and some, it seems in a concerning way.

Next point of view character I write needs to use "apparently" less. To be fair, Anadrasata uses it as an indicator that she does not know the information directly, so it represents various versions of "reportedly", "allegedly", and "I was told." It is also worth noting that she is not writing for public consumption.

This piece runs to 2,881 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index page.

Brogaiday, 5 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Asnan, 23 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
3 Ueuekayomatilistli, 10 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.11

Dear Journal,

It wasn't raining when I woke and looked out the window, but rain clouds were still scudding across the sky and dropping rain on other parts of the city. Nais brought me my warm water and suggested that, given the colour of Great-aunt's blanket cloak, my purple-black walking dress might be the best choice to wear to the temple this afternoon. Great-aunt's maid is seeing to the freshening up of the garment, which is made of a fine p-akeri wool and purple in colour. That matter decided, unless the two shades of purple are just wrong together, I dressed for the morning and went down to breakfast.

( Read more... )

Here we are on Day 54 of Anadrasata's travels. Things are happening off stage, so to speak, and some of them have nothing to do with Anadrasata.

This piece runs to 2,446 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Thuwnday, 4 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Eheid, 22 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
2 Ueuekayomatilistli, 9 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.10

Dear Journal,

This morning was fine and breezy from the south when I woke up. Yesterday was a momentous day - not only am I engaged to be married to an eligible gentleman whom I greatly esteem, but no-one in my mother's circle of acquaintance can ever suggest again that I am and have always been without prospects. (On repeated reflection, the mayor's wife is very good at making snide observations without actually stating anything. One thing I do agree with my mother on is that I do not particularly care for that lady.)

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Here we are on Day 53 of Anadrasata's travels and there are happy developments! Also a number of related discussions.

I have been meaning to mention that when the story talks about fortified wine, I am talking about something very close to, if not identical to, port. Kasoohlt, on the other hand, is a white whisky made from maize. This may explain why the ladies drink both of these from small glasses....

This piece runs to 1,930 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Onnaday, 3 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Sebti, 21 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
1 Ueuekayomatilistli, 8 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.9

Dear Journal,

I woke up this morning a lady in expectation of receiving a proposal of marriage.

It is an experience unique in my personal history. It combines both hopeful expectation and dread that the expected event won't occur - a situation in which I would not like to dwell overlong.

( Read more... )

Here we are on the fifty second day of Anadrasata's travels and developments in her personal life appear to be continuing apace.

This piece runs to 2,940 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Twirsday, 2 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Jimool, 20 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
13 Tlanoluaoy, 7 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.8

Dear Journal,

I woke early for some reason this morning, so after doing as much as I could without Nais and warm water to get ready for the day, I took the opportunity to read the next chapter of my Aunty Ssang novel. I believe I am developing an ambition to mature and age into one of these ladies - if not Aunty Ssang herself, perhaps Mak Nur-rang who seems to have perfected the art of managing a difficult set of close relations while managing to raise perfectly nice children of her own. (Of course it was her mother-in-law who arranged her eldest son's marriage to that dreadful young woman!)

( Read more... )

So, here we are on Day 51 and the formal courtship continues. There is also some world discussion which some of you may find interesting. In addition, I believe some characters are having their concepts of another character...stirred. (How well do we know other people? If you don't work with them, what does their work actually involve and what do they need to know to do it? Come to that, if you don't live with them, what exactly are their home circumstances?)

This piece runs to 2,973 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Naiphday, 1 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Rebi, 19 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
12 Tlanoluaoy, 6 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.7

Dear Journal,

Nais woke me at the appointed time and we did not dawdle over my ablutions and getting me into my walking dress. We were downstairs, shawls about our shoulders to counteract the morning chill and adjusting our hats when Miztli descended the stairs for his pre-exercise snack. He was kind enough to say that we both looked very smart, and stayed chatting with us until Lord Elnaith arrived to take us to morning prayers. I noticed that Miztli is still limping a little form the other day - I didn't notice it yesterday, so perhaps it's due to the early morning coolness.

( Read more... )

So here we are at Day 50 of Anadrasata's travels. That's a considerable number of entries in this story and doesn't include all the side bits. I hope that the Index Page has been of use to at least some of you, and that you are enjoying this story. I am behind on my typing and have three more days' worth of entries waiting to be typed up. (Yes, I have not had a writing problem, I have had a typing problem. I suspect that typing block is not really a thing....)

This piece is 2,389 words long, and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Endday, 31 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Khemaas, 18 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
11 Tlanoluaoy, 5 Coatl, 6.11.2.2.8.3.6

Dear Journal,

I woke to rain this morning and the strong smell of sea brought in on the wind. I thought I could hear the sound of breaking waves and dismissed it as my imagination, until Nais told me that the morning deliveries had brought news that the sea swell was up this morning and waves were breaking higher up the sea walls and breakwaters than is usual.

( Read more... )

Piece four in this series.

The coven had gathered around the table in Jane Bailey's back sunroom. Originally the space had been a verandah, but a previous owner of the house had filled in the spaces above the half wall and between the columns with horizontal louvres made of textured glass and added an exterior door. Jane had added a security screen door so that she could leave the glass paneled door open and enjoy the scents and sounds from her garden without having every biting insect and inquisitive lizard wander in to share the pleasant room with her.

( Read more... )

Here we are on Day 49 of Anadrasata's travels. She is still in beautiful Tlemutsiko within the Confederation, and tonight her suitor has been invited to dinner with her family. Her family that sided with the winning side in the War of Secession, and subsequently renounced their citizenship and did not return to the Empire. He is an Imperial kinsman who is also an Imperial official with a roving remit who first set out to meet her because there were official concerns that her visit to her relatives could be part of some scheme by the Confederation's government against Imperial interests. Why would anyone be nervous about this dinner?

This piece runs to 3,036 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index page.

Daighsday, 30 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Sulese, 17 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
10 Tlanoluaoy, 4 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.5

Dear Journal,

My night passed peacefully, except for a dream where I found myself naked at the dinner table with Lord Elnaith and Crimson Blossom of the Ninth. They were both beautifully dressed in what my dream told me were the latest fashions.

Nais woke me when she brought in my warm water, and we were of the same mind as to which dress I should wear tonight - the new dining gown in a variety of blues that no-one had seen yet. All being well, there should be a return dinner invitation for me to dine at the consulate (or possibly in a restaurant) in the near future, and we agreed that when it comes I should c0nsult Great-aunt on whether it will be appropriate for me to dress in an Imperial or a mixed style.

( Read more... )

Here we are again, and the circle of effects grows wider.

The...space, because it wasn't really a room just the volume between supporting slabs of stone, was swirling with woodsmoke as well as the smoke from the torches and candles. Illusion was certainly a skill held by many of those present but at this meeting the use of illusion would have been considered several sorts of insult, and so the space was just a space and the occupants were themselves, revealed as they rarely were even to themselves. The swirling smoke and patchy, flickering light repeatedly veiled and unveiled a multiformed gathering, united only in the possession of a magical nature.

It wasn't the seniormost or the most powerful among them who spoke, but the one who had chaired such meetings ever since they had become necessary. It was a matter of tradition and custom, and those things were important in this meeting. Almost as important as blood and contracts. "The Guardian and Keeper of the Stone has died," said the small, brown skinned, white haired figure, "and the new one has not yet been chosen."

"Was it by violence?" The question came from a tall figure leaning against a stone slab, just on the edge of a pool of torch light.

"Nay." The bogle shook his head and the wispy white hair floated around him in its agitation. "Old age. He was a hundred and six, which is a great age for a human."

"Indeed," the tall figure inclined its head in acknowledgment of this truth. "And he held the Stone well for a long time. Do we know when a new Keeper might be picked?"

"It will depend on when they hold the funeral rites," remarked a female voice. The speaker was both far older and far sharper than she normally allowed the world to see. "Once the formal acknowledgment of the last Keeper's death has been completed, the Stone will choose the next Keeper."

"Can we influence that choice?" The speaker was one of the youngest of the assembly, a youthful being of leaf and roots.

"We cannot," replied the sharp female who had spoken earlier. "The nature of the binding on the Stone means that it must choose a Keeper, but it also means that we cannot guide or steer that choice."

"If it was still in this country," said the tall lean figure, "we could...remove potential Keepers we did not care for."

"If it was still in this country, then it would be far closer than any of us would be comfortable with," barked out a dark, low slung figure that had a tail and went on all fours. "The wisest thing we ever did about the Stone was make sure that Johnathen Wishart took it with him when he went to the other side of the world. If it was still here, then there would be very little we could do to stop a Keeper from finding what else it can make us do. The ones who access it now are happy with what it gives them - let's not wish for things to change."

"True," said the bogle. "They call upon every compact we have ever made with man, but they understand that there is price to be paid for each service and they do that willingly. In the main."

There was a murmur of assent from the assembly.

"If I might ask," this speaker was male, maned and gilled, "has anyone here been tasked to harm a human by anyone reaching out through the Stone since the third Keeper after Wishart died? Or heard of such a task?"

"Not even the darkest of the unseelie," replied the tall lean figure. "Mostly the requests are for a little extra power to push into a spell that does something we could do."

"Or to help them find something," added a dry voice. "A sharing of skills to the other side of the world. Can these human practitioners have become afraid of hurting each other through magic?"

"Or lost the knowing of how to protect themselves from their own actions," put in another voice. "On the other hand, humans can believe many strange things, and these ones are on the other side of the world - who knows what they're doing? Perhaps it is a religious thing?"

"Humans and religion," went on the low slung speaker. "What did the gods ever do to deserve them?"

Here we are, back with piece number three in this series.

Helen Congrove was sitting at her kitchen table with her daughter, foster daughter, two granddaughters and a grandson. "Richard Ashgrove was one of the best of us," she said, "and he will be missed. He was a hundred and six so he didn’t have his life cut short, but his passing does mean that there are now...opportunities." She smiled, it wasn't a particularly nice smile, and went on, "One of the best pieces of advice that Richard ever gave me, and he gave me a lot of advice when we were both younger, was that the best revenge is a life lived full and well. I've followed that advice for years, and now I'm going to take it a little harder."

( Read more... )

This whole adding something to the writing and typing cycle thing might be working.

The Master of the Circle of Shadows was pontificating. There was no other word for it - he was sitting in a throne-like chair and was lit from above by an angled light that left most of his face shadowed by the hood that hung low over his forehead. The rest of the Circle were facing him in an arc, the seven Initiates seated on their padded footstools and the five Acolytes kneeling on cushions behind them. All of them wore black robes made on the same pattern as the Master's, with the Acolytes' unadorned, and the Initiates' illuminated with silver embroidery. The Master's robe, of course, was picked out in gold and silver thread. Laurence Boyle, one of the Acolytes, privately thought that the Master had taken the Emperor Palpatine aesthetic rather too much to heart. He'd also come to the conclusion that the Circle of Shadows was as much a personality cult as an arcane society, and was trying to plan a gentle exit on his own terms. At the moment though, the Master was saying something interesting and perhaps useful.

( Read more... )

Of course, the best way to get yourself up-to-date on your writing and typing up is to add another thing to write and/or type to the rotation....

Richard Ashgrove's death was an easy one, for him. He slipped loose from this mortal coil at the age of a hundred and six while sitting in dappled shade on the verandah of his house, just after finishing his mid-morning cup of tea with two biscuits. He had been counting the native bees visiting the roses in the garden bed beyond the railing, and the only sign that his housekeeper had that anything was happening was his soft sound of surprise as his life ended.

Having been a prudent and thoughtful man, Richard's will was up-to-date and the expectations of his family and loved ones had been managed so that no-one was surprised or upset by the disposition of his goods, assets and real estate. The only messiness that ensued was in matters that he could not control.

At the time of his death Richard had been Master of the Ashgrove Circle for fifty years, Keeper and Guardian of the Gneiss Linking Stone for sixty-two years, and Grand Master of the Most Far and Further Diaspora Circle for forty-seven years. He was, as previously stated, a prudent and thoughtful man. He was also mentally stable with a strong sense of justice and fair play. Most current magical practitioners in the imported tradition he practiced had never known a time when he was not all three of those things, so they had no understanding of how much he had influenced the magic they used and the practice of those around them. Older practitioners did, and many took protective steps.

The active attempts to influence the decision of who would take up Richard’s vacated positions became blatant. It is, perhaps, a pity that some of those self-nominated candidates really didn't understand what they were trying to get themselves into.

More Anadrasata! Here we are on Day 48 of her travels and Tlemutsiko has another day of rest. Really, three days out of thirteen seems quite reasonable to me. Matters do move slowly forward.

I checked back through what I've written previously today, and Anadrasata has now been with her relatives for a full tzolk, which means that I can start referring back for recurring activities, i.e. routines have been established. That means I can revisit the language conversation group - that could be fun.

This piece runs to 1,715 words and I hope that you enjoy them.

Index page.

Ghairniksday, 29 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Asnan, 16 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
9 Tlanoluaoy, 3 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.4

Dear Journal,

The thunder passed overhead last night and was followed by torrential rain. I got out of bed at the height of it to make sure that it wasn't blowing in through my windows and getting the carpet and curtains wet. What I did see when I was adjusting the window was lights outside like the ones in the square in Amnestri. They hang from hook necked poles or fittings on the sides of buildings and the tops of them are covered so that the light only goes downwards. From what I could see, given the weather, they are spaced so that there are no pools of darkness on the pavement - or at least not in this part of town. Having seen this. and admired the effect of the lights through the rain and on the wet pavements, I drew the curtains again and went back to bed. The last thing I remember before falling asleep was wondering if some of the thunder I was hearing was, in fact, echoes off the mountains.

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Here we are on Day 47 of Anadrasata's travels and matters slowly progress.

This piece runs to 2,555 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index page.

Skaithosday, 28 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Eheid, 15 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
8 Tlanoluaoy, 2 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.3

Dear Journal,

As soon as I woke I remembered that tomorrow is another rest day, and made sure to clarify with Nais that I do not expect to have a bath then. She assured me that she would make sure that I was not down for one - and something about her expression made me ask if I ever was. She told me that, generally speaking, downstairs I was regarded as a thoughtful lady, if distinctly foreign and that the staff both accepted that I would occasionally need guidance and were pleased that I seemed willing to accept it. I told her that I was grateful for everyone's effort to stop me making a fool of myself, and we left the conversation there.

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