The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writerโs Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer โ aim for a dozen new people each time โ and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Letโs rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
April’s question is: Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?
When I first glanced at the prompt I thought โNo, Iโm not a risk-taker in my writing.โ
But then while pondering it further, perhaps I am somewhat. I don’t think of it as risk-taking, more like trying to make myself stand out in the sea of fantasy writers and bloggers. Building an audience is all about standing out and getting noticed, as is all the marketing I do for my freelance editing business. And is standing out risky?
It sure can be.
Well, it is to me, as Iโm sure it is to many followers of this group (the word โinsecureโ is what draws us together, right?). But it is also something I MUST do if I want to be a successful business owner and author.
Like many fantasy authors and game players, I have created a fantasy world where my stories will take place.
I say โwillโ because they arenโt written yet. There. I said it. Iโm going to write stories.
Even saying this feels risky to me. Iโve just put it in writing that Iโm going to write novels. What if I never get to?
Honestly though, I have enough of the story on paper that there is no way I canโt write the books now. Iโm dying to.
On to risk number 2. The blog series is written in the first person, from the perspective of the narrator who is doing the traveling, but she is telling the story to an audience (the readers) actively. Throughout the narration she โbreaks the fourth wallโ and talks to the audience, giving them candid info about the scene or episode or answering questions they pose to her (the questions are implied in the answers).
Itโs not a typical construction, but I need it to be more than boring blog posts talking about a fantasy land. It needs a purpose, a reason, and to be more conversational. Whatโs more conversational than someone discussing their travels to a foreign land and answering questions about it? It works well enough for me writing it, I can only hope it works for the reader.
Risk number 3. I suppose some of the idiosyncrasies within my fantasy world could be considered risky. For example, it is a matriarchal society. Heredity is through the female line for rulers, family lineages, and names, and the offspring remain with the motherโs family until they are at least 9. Marriage exists, but it rarely happens. There is no reason for two people to be only together.
There is no worship system, no houses of worship, no gods. Only what the people interact with on a daily basis- sky, earth, sun, moon.
I have a difficult time terming these points as โriskyโ because it is fiction, and fantasy at that. There is the real risk that some readers wonโt identify with it enough to read it, which is ok. Thatโs what target audiences are for.
Risk inherently implies that there is a reward. I am rewarded when I write the story and see it come to life on the page, and I can be rewarded if readers consume it and enjoy it also. Growth and change come about through risk. Without it, it can be difficult to move forward in life, business, career, in many things. Maybe my risks arenโt earthshattering, but for me, they still seem large. And Iโll keep taking them.
Hello Everyone! Daylight savings time has ended in my corner of the world, and that means evenings are useful once again! Ostara is around the corner, too, marking equal day and night length. The energy of the season is rather frenzied, my animals are ecstatic to be spending more time outside without ice.
In other news, I’ve been working on a couple of short stories for contests and an anthology. They are both set in Ereth, I’ll keep you updated on how they do and where you may be able to find them in the future.๐
The next issue of Collataโก comes out this weekend, so if you want to see what being a Nightingale is all about, join us with the link that follows the episode. Hope to see you there!~
Elahna and Ivy had just made their way upstairs to their rooms at the end of the last episode. That is, after a healing soak in the hot pool and an unexpected proposition. Elahna was surprised and sheepish, Ivy rather unimpressed. What will the morning bring? Let’s find out!~
I woke the next morning to the sounds of creaking and then a splash, which made me sit bolt upright. My head outpaced my body some in the movement and I clasped it to slow the bobbing images, then fell back against the pillow. I hadnโt had cider in some time, apparently Lissaโs batch had more of an effect than I had thought it would. But at least the splash hadnโt been directed at me. I sat up, slower this time, and peered out the open window.
Below, Scosy was drawing water from the stone well, transferring it into a large wooden cask that sat on a low cart.
The air was heavier than the evening before with the distinct earthy tang of evergreen forest. Tendrils of ground fog threaded through the tree trunks beyond the innโs grounds. I fumbled in my discarded clothes for Aymurโs timepiece. It showed being in the fifth erdur. Well, at least I hadnโt overslept.
I watched as Scosy finished his task, hung the well bucket on a hook next to the winch handle and set off toward the stables with his bounty. It was good to know the horses would be well-tended before we left. Time then to see about myself.
After a meager breakfast of two glorious slices of toasted homemade bread with butter and some dark fruity jelly, I made a visit to the stables to check on the horses. Scosy hurried in when he saw me enter, a stricken look on his face.
โI wasnโt sure when ye would be settinโ out, miss, โpologies for not havinโ โem ready.โ He grabbed for Revelโs stall door, but I held up my hand to stay him.
โMorning Scosy, no need to scramble. Ivy has to look at the center tree, we will be a bit yet. I trust heโs been good for you? No trouble?โ I nodded at Revel, who munched contentedly on some extremely fragrant hay.
โOh no, miss, heโs been a peach. No trouble at all.โ His words trailed off as he shifted to look around me at something outside.
I turned to see Ivy striding across the yard toward the road and the center tree, I assumed. Scosy didnโt even seem aware of my presence any longer, so I stepped back out of his way. I recalled Lissaโs comment last night about the boyโs infatuation and felt a pang of sadness for him.
I trailed after Scosy, who lagged well behind Ivy as she strode toward the center tree. It was a magnificent specimen of a planetree. The camouflage colors of olive, gray, cream, white, and sage green cloaked the massive trunk in ribbons of brightness amid the morning shadows. Lissa hurried out the front of the tavern, joining Ivy, who gazed up at the canopy.
A stoutish man in a busy red, black, and green plaid shirt and caramel-colored trousers approached at a determined pace from the upper right of the Shoe. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows and the open buttons of his shirt allowed a forest of dark hair sprinkled with wood shavings to precede him by two inches at least. I had to stifle a giggle behind my hand. The man must be furred like a bear under the shirt, I thought to myself, but then quashed the idea, because what if there were bear-men here? Bigger curls of wood and more shavings clung to the canvas panels tacked onto his trousers above the knees. He must be a finish carver or something, definitely one who works wood with tools, not saw blades.
He nodded a brusque greeting at Lissa and the few other townsfolk who had gathered, setting the unruly nest of wavy hair on his head bobbing. โElements be, Miss Ivy, well met. Lissa said youโd be out to have a look at our tree afore you set out. Iโm much obliged.โ He brushed wood dust off his hand after raising it in greeting.
โElements be, Porter. Has there been something ailing the tree recently? It definitely appears less vigorous than I would expect.โ
โWe dealt with a bout of anthracnose last anid, but by autumn, it was looking well again.โ
โThis tree has a dryad, am I correct?โ Heads nodded.
โBut no oneโs seen her for a while. The lads have been out in the forest blocks, I just havenโt had a chance to ask them to speak with her.โ
Ivy nodded once in understanding. โIโll try to get her to come out so I can ask her what she knows.โ
I stepped closer to the gathering, but still on the outside edge, and watched Ivy place her palm against the trunk. After a moment, she stepped back, her gaze following something I couldnโt see. Then she gasped and held both her hands out as if to catch a baby bird.
I glanced around at the others in the group, whose faces all had tightened with concern. But they looked at Ivy and not her hands, so I surmised they couldnโt see the dryad either.
Ivy cocked her head slightly and said softly, more for her audienceโs benefit than the dryadโs I wagered, โShow me, what ails you and your tree?โ Her lips firmed into a line as she studied her hands, then she looked upwards into the canopy. โIs there an air weaver in town that can float me up?โ She fixed Porter with eyes that brimmed with urgency. โShe is very weak, but she shows me tunnels and chewing. There must be borers somewhere. I need to go up and look.โ
โAh, yes,โ Porter pivoted to face Scosy. โLad, run and find the Verticx chap. They may not have left for the blocks yet. Hurry!โ Scosy jolted into movement, his gangly limbs propelling him down a side lane into the forest. โIs she in any danger?โ Porter continued, โCan we do anything?โ
โDo you have an Orderly? Some ginseng would help her vitality. We may need to make poultices to draw the borers out as well.โ
A woman in a sky blue and pale yellow plaid scurried off up the left leg of the Shoe. Ivy remained focused on her cupped hands, her brow creased with worry.
I admit, it was strange watching Ivy attend to something I couldnโt see. And honestly, it made me feel a bit better knowing the others couldnโt see the dryad either. I knew that Lissa had some wood magic though, and I assumed Porter did as well, so there must be a threshold of ability that allowed someone to see the dryads. I did wish to see what one looked like.
No, at that point I wasnโt sure what the nature of the dryad-tree bond was, but I did ask Ivy later when we were underway. Dryads live in and on their trees, and they take on some aspects of them as their appearance. She said this dryad had skin that mirrored the treeโs, but that it was brittle and flaky and had become a slate gray instead of multi-colored. The creatureโs hair was dry and crumbly and she felt slack like a wilted stem. I could tell she was very concerned for the dryad, but honestly felt that the ginseng root the woman returned with would help her immensely.
Scosy returned in half an hour or so with a silver-haired man who had very long pointed ears, the most elf-like ears I had seen yet. He was fairly tall, and very slight, but somehow managed to take up space within the gathered crowd. Ivy greeted him and told him what she needed. He smiled, nodding in agreement, and made a circular motion with his hand, the palm facing downward. A sharp breeze sprang up and the loose dirt and pebbles in front of him began to spiral around. Next thing I saw was Ivy step up into air, but obviously onto something. The elf joined her, and they rose straight up toward the branches, some sixty feet above. I bit my tongue to keep from drawing attention to myself.
They spent about ten minutes aloft, circling the trunk and examining three areas closely. Ivy confirmed the presence of borers and a secondary infestation of lacebug when she landed. She said the trunk was weeping in the three places she and Leverett had lingered at and prescribed poultices of tobacco leaves to be applied every few days, making sure the mash filled the tunnels.
โLeave a piece of ginseng root out for the dryad every tertia or quarta anar* for the next anos too. Whoever goes up with Leverett can also spray the lacebug with a soap solution. Just to lessen the pressure on the tree so it can heal. Send word to Aymur for him to visit in seisla aneks and check progress. Iโll recheck it on my return from Irillo as well. Hopefully I can perform some bark healing on the wound sites then.โ
โMany thanks, Ivy. We will see it all gets done. Safe travels to Irillo, and give Sawyersetโs regards to the Regna. Elements be.โ Porter ambled away back up the road, wood shavings littering his wake.
We returned to the tavern with Lissa to gather our belongings and say our farewells. She stood, shaking her head with a wry grin on her face, watching her son bustle about our mounts in the stable yard when we alighted from the back stairway. โAh Ivy, youโve saddled me with a mournful puppy for the rest of thโ anar. Look at him, his feet โave barely touched the ground since you told him to make ready. You sure you donโt want โim to tag along, youโd only have to say the word.โ I heard the mirth, but also the concern in her remark.
Ivy started to reply but Lissa cut her off with a waved hand, โI do jest with ye. Heโll be โimself again on the morrow. I do wish he had more of my wood skills, but evidently not so. Sawyerset isnโt the place for โim. The horses is what he gravitates toward, Iโll have to put out a word for him. Maybe some bigger inn could use a stable hand and he could work his way up. Quindecca isnโt too young to be settinโ himself up for later on.โ
โI could ask when Iโm in Irillo. Perhaps even inquire in Foreloreโs stables. I can vouch for him, so that is more than a blind query.โ
โWould ye do that? Iโd be much obliged to you. And I wonโt breathe a word to Scosy unless thereโs something for him.โ
โOf course, Iโll report back on my return, or send a message if there is something before. Do you think heโd be willing to go at any point?โ
โOh, Iโm sure he would. If he could work in a busy stable, my boy would be right at home. Almost as happy as seeinโ you.โ We all shared a laugh and a smile, said our thanks, and parted ways at the kitchen door.
Let’s leave off here for today. In case you are wondering, Ivy did indeed find a place for Scosy, in Forelore’s stables no less. They were happy to have another hand with horse ability on staff. I saw him at one point out in Irillo as part of a foal training unit. He seemed very content and at home. Lucky boy, but I’m sure Lissa missed him. And it was good to know Ivy was true to her word.
*anek = week, anar = day, anos = month, anid = year
I’m sure there are many arborists out there who would love to have levitating abilities to diagnose tree canopy issues. I was impressed with that, for sure. It was also interesting that we have the same problems with planetrees and sycamores here that the Center Tree suffered from. But no dryads. Poor Scosy, though, I thought about saying something, but I didn’t want to get involved. Would you have said anything? Have you been in a similar situation and not done anything? Drop a comment below about your experience or let me know how your spring is going ๐. See you next time!~
Wanna be a part of Huphaea? Subscribe to Collataโก, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter! Then you will be part of Eleanorahโs troupe of Nightingales, privy to extras and fun facts from this fantastical land of magic and elven kind once a month. You can join here:
[mailerlite_form form_id=3]
ยฉ2021 Eleanorah Starr and Red Leaf Word Services. All Rights Reserved.
Hello Everyone! Wow! It’s been a while since the last episode, but if you saw the MIA post, you will know why ๐. But there is creative work to be done, so I am pushing ahead to regain a posting schedule once again. I hope this missive finds you safe, healthy, and looking forward to a festive holiday season. ๐๐โ๐ ๐ผ
We last left Elahna slumbering in her rooms in Rosewood the night before she is to embark on the journey to Irillo. She is supposed to meet Ivy Arborea in the kitchens “sometime after seisla.” Let’s pick up the story there and see what the morning has in store for her.~
Morning dawned bright and crisp. I opened my eyes to the insistent, musical notes of a purple martin singing on the branch outside my window. He remained there, peering in at me as he trilled, until I swung my feet to the floor; then he disappeared in a flash of indigo, his task complete. I smiled, shaking my head as I opened the pocket watch and checked the timeโjust after 5, well, quinta.
โThank you, Rosewood, that was the loveliest alarm to wake up to.โ
The leaf shutters rustled in answer. I stretched and began my routine and preparations to leave.
Rosewood, somehow, was much warmer than Alexa or Siri, or any of the AIโs we have now, even though I suppose it was potentially more pervasive. I canโt quite describe it, but I was never disturbed that the manse could potentially know anything I did. There was no creepiness of being spied upon or listened in on, it just was. Right there is a statementโit all has to do with intent, doesnโt it?
The yellow stones, (sapphires maybe?), led me to the kitchen wing.
Ivy called out as I passed the open door to a small room set up like a cafรฉ.
There was a dark, butcher-block table set out with baskets of rolls and breads, crockery jars of butter and jams, wedges of cheese, baskets of eggs, plates of bacon, a bowl of beautiful fruit, carafes of juices, and the accoutrements for coffee or tea. Five or six sets of tables and chairs filled the room opposite a raised stone hearth, where a small fire burned.
Ivy sat holding a cup of something warm between her hands. Coffee, I determined as I laid my pack beside hers at the door and greeted her.
โI did, yes, deeply Iโd say. And I was woken by the sweetest purple martin outside my window. You?โ
She smiled and put down her mug, โYes, I did, and he woke me too. Rosewood must have sent him to me first, knowing I would need more time to extract myself from Lignan. Help yourself to the spread, and donโt be afraid to take some extra for the journey if you want. We wonโt see Sawyerset until this evening.โ
I helped myself to some bread, really wanting to make toast, and then I realized what the raised fire was for. A few minutes later, I had an entire cooked breakfast of eggs, a couple slices of bacon, and perfectly browned toast. The little flame was hot, precise, and cooked items perfectly with only a pass or two through it on a thin metal plate or the grilling grate. Faster than any gas stove or toaster.
I sampled a dark red juice that turned out to be a smoothie, and decided I would be filling my corked bottle with that for the ride. It was an amazing combination of berries, I guessed. It would be perfect for a summer picnic lunch.
We finished our food and packed our extras away. Ivy eyed my rucksack as I kept stuffing things into it, and its shape never changed.
โA spelled sack, great idea. Especially since you will have to wear it the whole way because Revel is so touchy. Iโll help you settle it on your back before you mount so it adjusts to you and feels weightless. I should have thought of that myself.โ She frowned a little at her saddlebags, which were obviously spelled as well, with the amount she was stuffing into them. โPerhaps I can find one in Irillo for the ride home.โ
โNo idea. Matris summoned me, but Iโm not sure why. Perhaps she is just lonely for the country, though, and for Arborea news. Sheโs on the Eanneadic Council, so she has to spend most of her time there advising the Queen. But I know she misses the quiet of her home outside Irillo. And she knows my young ones are with their patres, so it is the perfect time for me to go.โ
We reached the stable then, and I thought to mark the place in that conversation to pick it up again once we were on our way.
Arlen danced out to meet us, and I could hear whistling along with the slicking sound of a horse being brushed. Kaval had Revel and Felicity out, tacked, and waiting for us in the main aisle, running a last brush over their coats to make them shine.
โAh, there you are. Right on time. Arlen woke me early, said youโd be heading out afore septa, so I got them ready for you. Sheโs assured me theyโve promised to get along and be proper. I donโt want to be let down.โ The last was said with a pointed look at Revel.
He handed us a couple nosebags of oats for the long afternoon stretches, and we swung up onto the horses out in the yard. My pack really did feel like nothing more than a sweatshirt on my back once Ivy adjusted it properly. She placed the oatbags in there as well, and it shifted a bit, but never registered any more weight. Iโd had no idea the backpack could do all this when I bought it, but I was very glad I had gone back for it. And thankful to Daphne and Aymur.
We said ‘Elements be’ to Kaval, and trotted down the drive. I noticed Ivy glance up to the middle of the manse and blow a kiss to a small figure in a window. Lignan, I guessed. He held up his hand, then turned quickly away.
And so we were off! I remember feeling nervous, but really happy to be moving along toward some answers about my situation. And I REALLY wanted to see Irillo. I’ll leave it here for now, Ivy and I talked a lot on the ride, so there’s lots to tell of what I learned from her in the next few segments. It won’t be long until I post next, I promise!~
What did you think about my comparison of Rosewood to our in-home AI’s? How would you feel about that type of situation? Drop a comment below and let me know, and thank you for your patience during my hiatus. It means a lot!
Remember toย subscribe to Collata โก, theย Collection of Huphaea newsletter. In it I give extra insights into this land of Sentients and magicโnuggets I forget to include in the episodes, or other fun facts. Collata โก is usually a monthly newsletter, so no clogged inboxes from me. Click the button and become a Nightingale today!
Quill & Orb Press, (the fiction part of my word services business), is open to do developmental, line, and copyediting for YOU! Fantasy, paranormal, YA, historical fiction, steampunk, and other genres welcome.
Are you an indie author? Iโd love to work with you!
If youโd like more information about my editing services, or the differences/distinctions between the three types of editing, head over to the website here:
Hello Everyone! Does it seem to you that the months go faster as we approach the end of the year? October has vanished, which means I’ve been too busy to notice it. We have had some odd weather for New England, but also some perfect fall days, which I am thankful for. The foliage colors have been vibrant and long-lasting, as long as there is no wind. But here we are on the week leading up to a full moon on a Halloween Saturday!
I wonder how many people still have that candy that appeared in the stores in July…
This is another audio only episode, a continuation of the last and lots of dialogue with not much to illustrate, so audio is the better format. I enjoy making the audio episodes, I hope you find them fun too. Enjoy your week, and Happy Halloween and Samhain. Trick or treat!~
The last audio episode had Elahna returning from a day in Cragbend to meet a Sentient horse, Arlen and become embroiled in a horse-horsemaster disagreement. Arlen won; no surprise, really, she knows her business.Elahna had returned to her room afterward to freshen up for dinner, so we will pick it up there….~
Click the orange arrow to play episode 16…
That was quite a dinner, right? The food in Huphaea was always incredible, it is one of the things I miss most. Do you think Elahna and Ivy will gel on the ride to Irillo, or will it be awkward? At least the horses seem to have things sorted out, thanks to Arlen. I never did find out how young Thorn made out, but I would wager his days got a whole lot more regimented. I have to say part of me wanted to stick around to see his mother, Larix, just because of how Daphne made her sound. But I had bigger things to tackle. It will be on toward Irillo next time!~
Quill & Orb Press, (the fiction part of my word services business), is open to doย developmental edits,ย copyediting, and proofreadingย forย YOU! Fantasy, paranormal, YA, historical fiction, steampunk, and other genres welcome.
“Collaboration cultivates drafts into bookish gold.” ๐ฎโจโ๐
-Quill & Orb Press
Are you an indie author? Iโd love to work with you!
Line editing is on the way! Intermediate level classes start this week and I will be working on refining the special editing eye and ear line editing requires. This level of editing focuses on how an author’s sentences and words create their unique voice and the lyrical flow of the story. It is an intimate exploration that can take a manuscript to the next level. If you’d like more information about line editing or other editing services I offer, click here:
Remember toย subscribe to Collataโก, theย Collection of Huphaea newsletterย to get more from this land of amazing food and magic treehouses! This monthly newsletter has extras from Elahnaโs story, stuff not seen in the episodes. Click the button and become a Nightingale today!
Hello Everyone! Welcome to October. Falling leaves, pumpkins and cornstalks, long sleeves, and Halloween candy are now everyday sights. Here is a photo of my nephew’s roadside stand here at our farm:
He grew the pumpkins himself, from field prep to harvest, with his own equipmentโhe’s thirteen. He’s done pretty well so far, weekends clean him out and he has to restock. Proud aunt here!
This episode will be audio only. I haven’t done audio since the very beginning, so it was time to brush off the mic and put it to use. This segment is also dialogue-heavy and I thought it may work better in audio form. I hope you enjoy it, I had fun reading it for you. Be well!
We left Elahna on the road back to Rosewood Manor from a day in Cragbend. She had just seen some color-changing frogs in the clutches of children under the bridge. This episode includes more animals, but before I give anymore away, hit the PLAY button below and give it a listen. Then let me know what you think!~
Click the orange arrow to play episode 15…
What did you think? How would you have reacted, and would you want to ride a Sentient horse? Arlen was magnificent. Honestly, every Sentient I met was, but the horses were extraordinary. How do you think Revel will do on his first real excursion? Let me know how the audio was, and if it worked well, especially with all of the dialogue. I’d love to hear from you!
Quill & Orb Press, (the fiction part of my word services business), is open to do developmental edits and copyediting for YOU! Fantasy, paranormal, YA, historical fiction, steampunk, and other genres welcome.
Are you an indie author? I’d love to work with you!
Line editing is coming! I am finishing courses as we speak and will be offering it later this fall. If you’d like more information about line editing, or the differences/distinctions between the three types of editing, head over to the website here:
Remember to subscribe toCollata โก, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter to get more from the land of Sentients and magic! This monthly newsletter has extras from Elahna’s story, stuff not seen in the episodes. You know you want to, click the button and become a Nightingale today!
Hello Everyone! There’s a cool breeze wafting in my window as I type, it feels sort of likeโI can’t say itโfall? Yikes! It won’t be long now until I put the pool away, but while the sun is still warm, I’ll be out in my hammock. I hope all is well with you in your corner of the world, and let’s get on with the exploring, shall we?
When we left Elahna, she had just returned from her trip to the top of Rosewood Manor. Let’s see what other mischief she gets herself into.~
back in my rooms…
I stopped back in my room, since Rosewood had so conveniently deposited me there, thinking to grab stuff for a day in town, but then I remembered I didnโt have anything! What an odd feeling. The summer-appropriate clothes I wore had all been given or loaned to me these past three days, I had no personal supplies and no money. Indebtedness was adding to the anxiety I chose to bury in discovery. Iโd have to sort that out soon. I hoped the queen would have some ideas of how I could be useful while I was here. Hopefully one that didnโt involve indentured servitude or work campsโฆ. So far this society didnโt feel like a cruel, vindictive one, but I shouldnโt get my hopes up.
For now, I was glad I had been practicing โliving in the presentโ and being concerned with what I could control at any given moment. And oddly enough, right now what I had to control was time. Oh, the ironyโฆ
In the back of my mind, yes, I was worried about what my parents and brother were thinking. Especially since I was sure someone would have discovered my car left there in Vermont. I hadnโt really said where I was going, though, cause I wasnโt sure myself. My bike would be harder to find, but if my mom remembered that I was seeking a rumored megalith someone was bound to know where I would end up. It would look so much worse than it really was, I felt awful at how scared and upset they would be. I was also glad I hadnโt yet gotten the puppy I was planning to.
After a quick re-set of my hair in a ponytail, I decided to find Aymur before I left the manor. Perhaps he had a time-keeping device I could borrow for the day so that I didnโt miss the evening meal. On my way back out the the door, something caught my eye on the side table. A small green pouch and a silver disc on a chain sat with a card bearing my name.
Once again, the generosity of these people left me speechless. A few metallic clinks sounded from the pouch, but there was more in it than that. I took it over to the bedspread and upended it, not knowing what to expect. Four copper coins like to quarters with holes in the middle, four white pearls the size of an eraser, two pink pearls a bit bigger than the whites, an iridescent bauble with sides (a dodecahedron?), three gold circles like O-rings the same size as the coppers, and two silver crescents about half-dollar size tumbled out. Well, this would be interesting, hopefully I wouldnโt overpay too much for a tart.
*photos from pxhere, except three gold rings from Deena England on Unsplash
The pocket clock was simple yet striking. The silver cover clicked open when I pushed the tiny catch and revealed a flat dial with numbers one to twenty-seven in a circle. The transparent bronze arrow in the center spun around and sprang to a stop at half ten. I wondered what kind of stone the arrow it was, Iโd have to ask about that too.
I swept the money back into the pouch and put both items in my pocket. I still had erdurs before dinner. Time to explore Cragbend!
As I left the manor I encountered the young boy, Lignan, from the night before. He stopped so that we didnโt have to walk through the door together, holding it for me, and I could have sworn I heard a mumbled โSorry for what I wroteโ as I passed. I nodded slightly in thanks and continued down the cobbled apron onto the dirt drive. Moments later, he ran past me and off toward the horse paddocks.
The walk to Cragbend proper took about half an hour. I crossed an ornately carved wooden bridge at the Sawyerโs Run Inn that put me in view of the crossroads. Most likely that was the riverโs name, which would make sense, given the barge scene I saw from the treetop. The smell of roasted vegetables and meat surrounded the inn, making my mouth water. How could I be hungry after the lavish breakfast Iโd had? But man, that smelled heavenly.
People nodded and smiled, sometimes palming a greeting. I returned it, trying to hide my observation of ears and other elvish features. I wondered how many of Cragbendโs citizens had elemental powers and how many were, what did Daphne call them, Ungifted? Was there animosity between the Gifted and non? She didnโt seem to indicate it, but then again, she obviously had gifts aplenty, so why would she. Iโd have to try a little sleuthing of my own.
Cragbend clock tower
A large stone clock tower outlined with dark wood in Tudor-esque style marked the center of town. It was one of the few stone items I had seen so far here. The smooth facade gleamed cream with pink streaks in the bright sun. A large, triangular shaped crystal of the same bronze stone as in my pocket clock glinted in the clock face, pointing just after the eleven. It still felt like the days were the same length as home, it was so hard to tell when my frame of reference was gone.
There was something remarkable about the sun here. The light it gave off was of an intensity that made me expect it to be unbearably hot, but it wasnโt. It felt like a June summer day in New England, no humidity, perhaps around 80 degrees. Was that the weather workersโ doing? How much did they have control of? Did they plan a weekโs weather (um, an anekโs weather, I should say) like a menu? When did it rain? It must be frequently, with the lushness of the land and the healthy haystacks I noticed. I had never felt so unknowledgeable before.
So many questions I had, canโt you imagine? No, I didnโt have an escort or anything, I didnโt need one. No one mentioned any threats or things to watch out for. Kind of telling thatโs what we think of first, right? Come to think of it, I hadnโt even seen any guards in Rosewood Manor. I guess with a living house that could help when it was needed, people defenders were unnecessary. Iโd hate to think what that house could do to an intruder.
The field next to The Cleft Barrel stood empty, the Bluebirds had moved on to their next stop. I felt a pang of sadness at that, but it was replaced by the hope that I would see them again someday. Maybe the other Madrigal troupes too, so I could compare all of their shows. Perhaps a festival. Surely a society with such amazing performers would hold festivals, right?
Since I knew the road to the right headed back to Venrood Forest, I took the left fork. One of those many pointed signs indicated that somewhere down the road were places called Sagebridge,Arrowbreak, and Crescenton. I wondered what they were like. Were they family seats, too? I could hear the rhythmic splashing of a water wheel not far away, and maybe the grinding of millstones? The scents of cooling bread enticed me as I passed a bakery, no wonder as plump baguettes filled racks just inside the windows. Even the carved sign of a steaming loaf above the door looked good enough to eat!
Just then the door of the bakery flew open and three boys scampered out, a stout baker hot on their tails. As the boys rounded the corner toward me and the road, the one in front, a black-haired boy in green shirt and gray knee breeches, reached in the window and snagged two of the baguettes. They took off down the street in the direction I was headed, hooting and laughing. The bakerโs rolling pin clocked the slowest boy in the back of the shoulder, but he did not slow.
Wow! That was a surprise! And there I was, caught in the middle! We’ll find out next time what happened ๐.~
And there it was, the first bit of mischief or dissent that I had witnessed since arriving. I did feel bad for the baker, but it was a great throw of the rolling pin! The money, though, I wasn’t sure what to make of that, it was so different. I’ll tell you what I learned about it next time. What would you do in a new town in a new world for several hours? Drop a comment in the box below and we can talk about it ๐.
In some other news, Quill & Orb Press, (the fiction part of my word services business), is ready to do developmental edits and copyediting for YOU! Fantasy, paranormal, YA, historical fiction, and other genres welcome.
Are you an Indie author? I’d love to work with you!
Click here for a list of genres I review, and other services I offer:
Want more info about life in Huphaea? Sign up for Collata โก, The Collection of Huphaea newsletter! Nightingales get some more inside bits about my time in Huphaea, and other news on my writing and related interests. Once a month, so no cluttered inboxes, just a snippet here and there. Join the Nightingales, Eleanorah’s troupe!
Hello Everyone! I hope you are all well and staying safe. We have been in the grip of some brutal humidity, but that is just an excuse to use the pool more ๐. Hard to believe it is August already, and the Halloween candy is already in stores? I can’t even… Let’s get back to exploring Rosewood, shall we?
We left off with Elahna finishing her climb up the redwood that took her to the top of Rosewood Manor. She emerged into the sunshine, and… (this is one of my favorite parts, I remember it so vividly!)~
Remember this view?*
I sucked in a sharp breath and dropped to my knees, terrified now that I was the tallest point on the tree. My head swooned and spun, my breakfast threatening to reappear.
That would be way too much of a shame, it had been wonderful going down, I had no desire to ruin the memory.
I crouched within the tips of the branches, stilling my mind and heart, breathing deeply for several moments. Slowly, I lifted my eyes from the floor. My fear had paralyzed me so that I hadnโt noticed the size of the open room around me.
A circular floor, complete with a knee wall, balanced on the tree top like a newsboy hat. Three clusters of plum-colored rattan chairs and side tables and two chaises were arranged haphazardly, colorful pillows tossed here and there. Beyond the furniture all I could see was sky.
The unease that danced beneath my ribs in lurching, fluttering steps sucked in all of my attention, inhibiting me from lifting my hands off the comforting floor. Maybe this was a bad idea. How long would it be before Rosewood alerted Aymur, or worse, Daphne that I was incapacitated up here?
I hung my head lower, about to give in to defeat when a slight tingling flowed up my arms, as if urging me to rise. Soft rustling began to my right and I glanced back to see branches flowing toward me. Their soft, lime green fronds caressed my bare arms, while the woody parts snaked around my waist and legs. The tree was providing me with a safety harness!
Once I was firmly, but gently wrapped in live webbing, I noticed the warm cedar-like fragrance of redwood filling the open air. My mind began to still and I inhaled deeply, using the serene scent to quiet my stomach and nerves.
The tree nudged me again.
I leaned back onto bent knees and raised my eyes to the limitless ceiling of the deck. Ever so slowly I stood up, the living harness adjusting with me, always providing reassuring pressure to my torso and legs. The Seat wanted me to see its grandest view and was providing comforting support, I had to oblige.
The vista of a verdant countryside cut through by a platinum ribbon rolled to the horizon.
Venrood Forest stretched below, vast but short in stature now. A few barges topped with golden stacks of planks emerged slowly from the trees and were hitched to what must be draft horses, but looked like ponies, to be guided into the mill pond. I turned, intending to look down on Cragbend itself, and made my way around the furnishings to the opposite side. My harness loosened and shifted with me, giving me confidence with every step.
Cragbend was a bucolic hamlet at ground level, from the air it resembled a Thomas Kinkade painting.
The river narrowed after the mill pond and continued to wind through the town, bisecting it neatly. People moving on the main road resembled ants, some driving carts to an open air market on the upper side. Smoke curled from chimneys and water wheels sploshed. I glanced at the sun, it still had a way to go until high noon, (what did Daphne say that hour was called, mezzanar, I think?), I still had time to wander once I was done up here.
Past the market, the road ran out of town again, lined with shops and smaller farmsteads just like on the forest side coming in. I wondered where it led to, deciding to ask Aymur for a map later.
As I stepped away from the edge, the wall receded to knee height again. I approached the stairs leading down, and the harness twigs slid silently away.
The redwood scent lingered, however, even to this day I can recall it when I need an extra bit of courage or peace.
I placed my hands on the deck as I passed through the floor and whispered, โThank you, that was truly amazing. I couldnโt have seen that view without your help.โ
Rustling like maracas answered me, along with a warm pulse under my hands. I smiled and ducked below the platform once again.
This time fiery garnets glowed when I reached the circular juncture, directing me down through an immense beech tree that deposited me at the end of the hallway my room was on.
How cool it would be to grow up in a tree! One thing I knew for sureโacrophobia was not part of an Arboreanโs makeup!
Yes, how cool would it be to grow up in a tree? You see now why I remember that morning so vividly. I was paralyzed with fear, yet able to witness that grand sight. It was breathtaking. Would you have been able to stand up on top of the tree without help? I won’t forget that sight, nor several others that we will get to later on. Next episode, we will head into Cragbend for a taste of everyday Eflarian life!~
Curious for more information about Ereth, Huphaea, and its inhabitants? Join the Nightingales by subscribing to Collataโก, the Collection of Huphaea’s newsletter! I send out one email a month with extra bits from my time in Huphaea, things I can’t fit into the episodes. Come along, join the troupe, we are a merry band! Subscribe below!
Hello Everyone! Here we are at episode 10, I’ve made it to double digits! I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep on schedule, and figured that ten would be a good round figure to judge by, but here it is, and I’m enjoying it a lot, so I’ll keep going. I hope you are enjoying my recounting too. And it is almost Augustโwhoa, how did that happen? Make the most of your last month of summer (for those in the Northern hemisphere, that is). I am slated to return to playing soccer next week, and I just purchased a lovely hammock for backyard reading time with the dogs. It’s been hot here, but so much more comfortable reading in a hammock. I hope you make some time for your favorite activity this week!
Last episode we had a delicious breakfast with Lady Daphne Arborea, and got some indication that going home may not be so easy. Elahna also fell prey to some mischevious tree dryads. She was on her way back into the manor to do some exploring…
**This episode has a lot of descriptive elements that I can’t find pictures of, or draw that would do what I saw justice. My hope is that I can describe it well enough that it comes alive in your mind too. Not so many pics this time, is what I mean. Let your imagination do the illustration, that’s my hope.~
Rosewood Manor’s unique and ever-changing floor
Back in the main foyer, I examined the floor scene again. I blinked my eyes several times because I would have bet my last dollar (if I had any!) that the water in the stream was flowing lazily. Gemstones glittered up at me, daring me to follow them to the reaches of the manor. When I looked up, having made my decision, Aymur was approaching me, a bemused smile on his face.
โWhat catches your fancy, may I ask?โ
โThe water in the floor scene, I swear it flows over the rocks. Is it real?โ
His smile broadened some, โNo, itโs an illusion created by the vitae of the house. Quite realistic, isnโt it? We are never sure what will appear when the seasons change, itโs always different. One autumn it was a giant pile of sugar maple leaves. Try finding the red, orange, and yellow markers in that. We were all cross-eyed for anos!โ
โAm I really allowed to go anywhere in the Manor? I mean, I donโt want to end up in someoneโs bedroom, but I am dying to go up the stairs.โ
โOf course, be my guest. Rosewood will redirect you from private quarters anyway, so donโt worry about being nosy. My personal recommendations would be the tiger-eye and aquamarine paths, though.โ He stepped aside and gestured toward the stairs.
โFunny, I had just decided on the tiger-eyes. Thanks!โ I headed for the stairs, but then stopped and turned back when I heard Aymur speaking. His back was to me, but no one else was there.
Oh, possibly. Iโm sure Aymur did have his own dryads. But I think he was talking to the Manor. His hushed tone was that of scolding a small child, like he was telling Rosewood not to mess with me too much. I remember laughing to myself at that moment, cause here talking to โyourselfโ with no device in your ear or person present is likely to get you strange looks, but there? Nope, it was totally normal. I was kinda bummed that I couldnโt see the fae spirits, or talk to the houses. But I got used to others doing it around me. It was just one of those things.
My impression the previous night had been that the giant staircase formed the back of the main hall. As I walked, I realized that it occupied the center of the ground level. The forest floor scene continued on past the stairs for a distance equal to the front half and ended in a wall of four sets of leaf-outlined double doors. Arches indicated two more hallways off either side, leading away into yet deeper parts of the manse.
The immense, forked-trunk staircase was so large it exuded a presence. It began as one, split to encircle a third, arrow-straight leader, and rejoined at the landing. The treads were smoothly carved into the heartwood, and revealed captivating streaks of red, orange, brown, and gray. The outer edges retained the craggy bark of an ancient oak. Branchlets wove together to form a balustrade on the balcony and stairway, dotted here and there with the guiding gemstones.
The tiger-eyes took me up the right flight, then right again and along a limbway that included short sets of steps. It ended as a sitting area that faced that arm of Venrood Forest I had seen from the road.
The room was open to the air, with a short knee-wall of leafy branches all the way around, and an increased density of slender twigs as a ceiling. The tawny wicker furniture held pillows in various shades of yellow and pale pink and sat around a woven, goldenrod hued rug. It was breathtaking. I wondered if the sun set, or rose in this direction.
I approached the edge, as close as I dared to go, (being horribly afraid of heights), to get an idea of how high in the canopy I was. The knee-wall rustled and stretched in height, getting taller the closer I got.
Wow! What an ingenious feature!
Of course! There were small children in the Seat, so responsive walls would allow them to be anywhere, no matter their age or curiosity level. I appreciated it as well. The queasiness in my gut lessened and I leaned on the now-chest-level wall, looking some fifty feet or more down. Above me, twice that remained, the leaves shimmering in the late morning sun. Acrophobia be damned, I was going to the top.
Back out in the limbway, the aquamarine markers glowed brighter than any other. I was being baited like a mouse with cheese, but I didnโt care.
Up and up I climbed, the stairs getting shorter and the halls smaller, but clearly ending in rooms or suites. I was still within the branches of the colossal oak, though I knew this particular one would not take me to the very top, it wasnโt tall enough. As if in answer to my musings, the sun-dappled corridor shrank notably in width and the limb ended against a circular, deck-like structure.
The decking grew out of the giant redwood trunk it encircled, the silvery inner wood heavily lined and shining like polished granite. Natural colored nets woven of multi stranded string formed the walls of the radial juncture.
It was like walking inside a pair of fishnet stockings, though I was sure this particular weave would lift an elephant if necessary. With no knee wall here, I fought the sickening urge to look down and kept my eyes on the gems in the center of the floor.
Several other hallways extended off of the platform in various directions. Redwood trees have a much more radial structure than that of the rambling oak, and because of it, I would not get to glimpse any suites that may be nestled in the giant evergreen.
The markers led me partway around the trunk and then onto an external staircase that spiraled up. I thanked the tree for the hand-sized banister and continued to climb, my stomach in my throat. Three more platforms fell away below me before the branches became smaller and more dense. My legs were aching and my hands shook with the phobia, but I swallowed it down and pushed through the foliage into warm sunlight.
I’ll stop here for this time, cause I remember the feeling I had at the top of that immense tree, and it still wipes me out! It needs its own post, for sure. See you soon! ~
Rosewood Manor is quite the place, right? I suppose it could be a bit creepy sometimes, but it always seemed more helpful than anything. I sure appreciated those responsive walls. I never saw Rosewood in autumn or winter so I’m not sure how it looked when the leaves were off the deciduous trees that made up the manse. Maybe they didn’t fall, but just turned color. It was such a cool place to live, made me wonder about the other Seats, what they were like. Would you want to live in a place like Rosewood Manor? Leave a comment below and let me know!~
Would you like more info bits about Huphaea and places like Rosewood Manor? Then subscribe to Collata โก, The Collection of Huphaea newsletter! Nightingales look forward to one email a month that goes a little deeper into this new world, giving some insight or explanation beyond the episodes. Hit the subscribe button below to join the mailing list and become a Nightingale!
Hello Everyone! Greetings, and I hope you are all well. It’s been a very warm, humid week, but since we are in mid-summer here, it’s to be expected. Good news is that the pool warmed up quick ๐๐ผ๐๐ผโโ๏ธ. Things here continue to open up from lockdown, thought it appears I will have to wait to play soccer again. I’m hoping for the fall, (please…).
In other news, my incubator has been working overtime, chickens and turkeys have been hatching like crazy! Here’s a dose of fuzzy cuteness…
all of these guys hatched yesterday!
How is your summer (or winter, for my Down Under friends) going? I won’t keep you from it, so let’s continue with the story. Catch you soon!~
When we left Elahna, she was on her way to have breakfast with Daphne Arborea, matron of Scion Arborea. I think it has already been mentioned, but they are kinswomen of the Queen of Eflary, Halesia. We’ll return to following that spectacular floor, shall we?
The red circles led me off the main foyer to the left, out a side door of glass embedded with autumn leaves. It swung wide as I approached, revealing an immaculate arbor of wisteria in full bloom.
wisteria arbor*
The heady fragrance of the flowers and the drone of thousands of giant, yellow and orange bumblebees accompanied me down the lane to a high-walled rose garden.
A rectangle of perfectly manicured boxwood enclosed hundreds of roses, some sprawling artfully over rocks or benches, others blanketing their arbors in a rainbow of monochromes.
I’m pretty sure I even saw blue roses. Like delphinium blue roses.๐ฎ
In the center, an oval stretch of turf held a bright red sofa and a few tea tables with chairs.
A woman, with silvery-blond hair twisted into a long braid that hung over her shoulder, sat at one of the tables. Her sleeveless tunic and leggings were a calm shade of lavender, and her gauzy wrap matched my shirt. She raised her eyes from the scroll in front of her and smiled, but did not stand. I approached the table slowly, wondering if I should bow, but she interrupted my thoughts.
โAh, hello Elahna. Forgive me for not rising to greet you. I stumbled out in the forest with one of the children and my ankle is painful. Not an opportune time for the Orderly to be out of town. Iโm Daphne Arborea. Elements be.โ She raised her left palm in greeting as I was becoming accustomed to.
โElements be. Thank you for allowing me to stay in your wonderful house and helping me to get home.โ
โI wish I did have some help to offer you. My niece the queen is asking the Scholars currently in Irillo to provide you with what they know, but alas, I must say that previous Passers have never found a way back. They assimilated into our world and continued living their lives. I apologize for the abrupt news, but it is something you should ponder on your way to Irillo.”
“But please, sit with me. I havenโt eaten yet either and it is mid-morn already. Would you prefer coffee or tea?โ
โTea, please.โ
Yes, that was upsetting news, and not what I expected to hear. It was very discouraging to think of not ever going home, but then again, part of me was all for it. I wasnโt in the best of places in my life at home, maybe a completely new start would be refreshing. But unnerving too, because I didnโt know any societal norms, or customs of this land. At least when you travel to other countries here on Earth, you can Google it and get ideas of what to expect or look for. I had nothing. NOTHING. Well, I had learned a proper greeting with the palm out thing, and a different word or two, but that was about it. Yeah, I was pretty concerned.
Breakfast was served, and though I saw no servant take note of the beverage preference, two cups for tea and a larger pot accompanied the meal.
*
โHow did you do that, I mean, how did they know I wanted tea? You asked me, but no one came after that until the food did.โ
โOh, you must have so many questions!โ Daphne laughed a clear, knowing chuckle. โI have a couple of tree dryads who carry messages for me. I can tell you donโt see them, since one is almost sitting on your head right now.โ
tree dryad, possibly*
At that, I looked up and around, and perhaps I felt a faint flutter of a tiny breeze on my forehead, but I couldnโt be sure. There were things around me that I couldnโt seeโฆ uneasiness rose again.
โCome now, you little mischief-makers. Thatโs not fair, she canโt see you. Go along and help the bees gather nectar for the hives. You can carry three times as much as they can.โ She made a slight shooing motion with her hand, and resumed her attention on our meal and conversation. โHow was your night, did you sleep well?โ
โYes, thank you, I did. Though I did have an odd encounter with a young boy that has made me nervous.โ
โOh?โ
โLast night on the way to my room after the performance, there was a young boy and a woman in the hall in front of me. The boy looked absolutely terrified of me and cried to his mother something about me taking her with me when I went home. The woman hushed him and hurried him away, but then I found this in my room this morning with the fresh clothes. I suspect the boy must have left it, cause it says the same thing he did last night.โ I took the childโs note out of my pocket and held it out to her.
As she read it, I continued, โIt made me wonder what a Passer is, and what they may have done to be feared so. If Iโm to be blackballed and I have to live here from now on, I need to know what sentiments I may face.โ
Her brows pinched slightly and she pocketed the note. โI am very sorry Lignan had an outburst like that in front of you. He is so much more volatile than most Arboreans, because of his Spark blood. You will travel with his matris, my grandautris Ivy, to Irillo in the morn. Lignan is her older child and he is very attached to her, despite being almost of age to declare a House. Rosewood has already chosen him, however, and it will fall to me to direct his attention to his abilities and their applications. Iโll be the villain in that play for sure.โ
A contemplative look crossed her fine features and I surmised young Lignan was the source of consternation for the Scion matriarch.
I dug into the gloriously fluffy vegetable omelet on my plate, closing my eyes and savoring the depth of flavor that exploded in my mouth. Vegetables here delivered tastes far beyond the best organics at home, and herbs somehow added layers of flavor to the dishes that made them whole-mouth experiences. I had yet to dislike anything I had consumed, and I know some things I wouldnโt have touched normally had crossed my palate, like mushrooms.
*
I didnโt care, it was all heavenly.
The mini corn muffin was light like a spongecake, and the butter full of rich cream. The orange juice would have been termed a smoothie on Earth, it was so thick, and the color was a true orange, not a watery yellow. It was worth staying here for the food alone!
I opened my eyes to find Daphne watching me with a small, quirked smile, but she didnโt embarrass me by commenting on my reverie.
โTo answer your question, Passer is the term we give to people who pass through the ways unknowingly, like you. No one knows how or why it happens, but as I said, none in our history have been able to return from whence they came. Perhaps the Scholars know more, but I would start considering how you can sustain yourself here in our land.โ
Well, it appeared that my landscaping and horticulture talents would be useless, if there was a whole family with actual plant magic. It would certainly take some thought.
โWhat other kinds of magic are there? Or rather, what would someone without magic be able to do?โ
Daphne clearly pondered that thought as she buttered her corn muffin.
โThere are many people who do not have magic here. The vitae can only be drawn on by those with Elemental blood. However, we are charged with maintaining the Balance, so we work with and aid the Ungifted. Iโm sure you can find a place in a trade, perhaps even in Maarran.โ
โWhat is Maarran?โ
โI do suppose you havenโt had time for geography, have you?โ I nodded to that, as my mouth was full. โThis continent of Huphaea is divided into two countries, Eflary originated as the elven land, and Maarran as the human land. Each still has rulers of the Elemental Families native to that country, but they are by no means purebloods. We all coexist and cohabitate freely and for the good of the Balance.โ
โI see. How do you know where someone is from?โ
โDoes that matter? Well, yes, sometimes it might, I suppose,โ she answered her own question and continued on.
โHouse and Scion names indicate lineage in Elementals, but Ungifted usually identify by the lands they live in. For example, we are in Gaiist territory, as my overarching Family, but Cragbend is the Seat of the Scion Arborea lands, which are within House Florian lands. An Ungifted would be as specific as they needed to be. Someone from Cragbend would say they were from Arborea lands. Someone from Sagebridge, though, would say Florian.”
“That does make sense. It would make more sense if I had a map, though.”
“There is a wondrous map in Irillo, in the Scholar’s Seat. Make sure Halesia takes you to see it.”
I nodded. She took this as leave to continue her explanation.
“There are two other Houses and eight other Scions within the Gaiist Family. And then two more Families within Eflaryโ the Flamels and the Aeros. The same number is true for Maarran, but they have a Family with water magic instead of our fire Family for Balance.โ
โOh, hopefully I will just pick up some of it as I go. But I get the point. I remember Fife questioned me with a bunch of names when I told him mine, I had no idea what he meant.โ
โWhat is your second name?โ
โStarr.โ
โOh, certainly. That could suggest several Houses and Scions. Iโm sure you will acclimate as you go. I should ask, how well do you ride?โ
โAs in a horse?โ She nodded. โFairly well, though it has been quite a while. Horses are only for pleasure riding on Earth, mostly.โ I grimaced a bit, recalling how sore I would be after a day in the saddle. โHow long is the ride toโฆ erโ Irillo, is it?โ
โA day and a half usually, but not less than a day. Depends on the pace. You should visit the stables so my horse master can select you an appropriate mount. In the meantime, please explore Rosewood and the lands, and even town if you like. Dinner will be at octdecca erdur.โ
โOh! Yes! I have been meaning to ask about time here, how many errr-durrs are there in a day?โ
Daphne sat back in her chair with her cup of tea in two hands. โThere are septduary erdurs in an anar. Itโs half octa now.โ
โOk, thank you. And thank you for this lovely meal and conversation.โ She smiled and watched me leave, I could feel her gaze on my back. More than that, I had an idea that her dryads decided I was fair game again. Minute tugs on my hair and silver ear hoops rattled my composure. I hurried back through the buzzing arbor.
Which would you rather have- black flies or mischievous dryads you couldnโt see? I quickly learned the fae spirits were extremely devoted to their chosen Elemental, but that they delighted in tormenting Ungifted. Some people here think living with ghosts or cockroaches is bad? Try living with things that you canโt see, but can hide all of your clothes overnight! Makes putting out bug bait not seem so badโฆ
nuisance flies or dryads?*
I’ll leave it there for this week, that was a long segment, but Daphne gave me a lot of information to process. And next time we will explore Rosewoodโ now that’s a real treat!~
Wow, Elahna just found out that she may not be able to get back to Earth. How would you feel about that? Would you be dying to get home, or content to start fresh, if it came to that? Drop a comment below about how you would react to the news that Elahna heard from Daphne. What would you do?
If you want an extra peek into Huphaea and Elahnaโs journey, subscribe toย Collata โก, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter. Once, maybe twice a month, Nightingales get an exclusive snippet from my memory of my time away. Click the button below to join the Nightingales, Iโm looking forward to welcoming you!
Hello Everyone! I hope you all are well and staying safe and healthy. Summer is in full swing here, since the last post I have finished opening the pool and am back to swimming laps in preparation for soccer starting back up. How is the re-opening progressing where you are? Are you thinking of travelling this summer at all? I’m doing the mind travelling route, taking off for other worlds in my head as I write these CoH chronicles and the subsequent novel(s). I’ve also taken up firm residence in Victorian London, thanks to the historical fiction audiobooks I escape with when I’m weeding and walking the dogs. Sherry Thomas’ The Lady Sherlock Series has been fabulous to listen to, if you are a fan of that genre, I strongly recommend it!
When we last saw Elahna, she had been left at the spectacular Rosewood Manor by the Bluebirds and she knew she would be heading to the capital city of Irillo sometime soon. There had been another performance, and then an awkward encounter with a boy. Elahna was pretty nervous about this ‘Passer’ thing. Let’s see how she is in the morning…~
a sunlight alarm*
Warm sunshine streaming through leafy shutters brought me awake. At some point I had crawled under the covers and nestled into the cloud-like pillows. Branches woven together formed an intricate canopy in russet and olive hues above me. Leaves framed the edges where scrollwork would normally appear, and gauzy light blue material filled the gaps mimicking the sky. I hadnโt taken the opportunity to appreciate my accommodations last night, my unrest had been too immediate and I had even fallen asleep in my clothes. I rubbed crusty sleep from my eyes and scanned the room then, examining the contents.
Every piece of furniture appeared to grow out of the floor, walls, or ceiling, depending on what it was. Bright dyed cushions in blues, soft yellows and russets decorated the chairs. The bed dressings mirrored the color choices in summer weight blanket and linens.
Time. What time was it? I hadnโt had a chance to figure out how many erdurs were in the days here yet.
Come to think of it, I hadnโt even seen the moon in this land yet. Was there one? At that thought, so many other questions flooded my mind that I had to get up and move around to dispel them.
That was when I found the water system in the bathroomโyou had asked about water earlier.
The sink emerged from the wall as a curved basin of lighter colored wood.
Two curved hollow branchlets hung over the sink. I touched one and cool water started flowing, and was immediately absorbed when it hit the basin.
not quite right, but on this idea…*
It was mesmerizing to watch. I touched the other, and warm water flowed. These trees would certainly consume huge amounts of water to support all of these leaves and structures; a built-in recycling system, created out of the tree itself, made perfect sense. The lighter-colored wood of the basin must be the treeโs xylem, its water conductive tissue. Ingenious.
On the opposite wall, a shower area was designated. The shower head faced down from the ceiling in the center of a lattice work not unlike the bed canopy. The walls were constructed of layers of leaves, which funneled the water to the same light-colored xylem floor. I was grateful for the warm water after fighting battles for two nights during the Bluebirdโs performances.
When I emerged, wrapped in a thick fluffy robe that resembled cotton (though not any cotton known here), I found a new set of clothes on the chair aside the purple door. A folded note sat atop them. My new name on the front and the message inside were written in fine script:
~Please follow the red circles from the main foyer to my garden to break your fast. I look forward to meeting you.~
– Daphne Arborea
Hmmm, was this a summons? I didnโt enjoy the idea of being summoned, but I was a guest in her house. Maybe I could ask more questions about this house. Maybe she would explain what a Passer is and how they are viewed.
Honestly, at that point, I wasnโt sure what โPasserโ meant. I assumed it meant something about how I had come here, but then that also meant there had to be more people who had come here from Earth. Had that gone badly in the past and now Passers were feared? I didnโt get that feeling among the Bluebirds, but once we were here in Cragbend, the sentiment was different. And certainly that boy last night had been scared.
Speaking of that boy, along with Daphneโs note, there was also a thrice-folded piece of paper, obviously torn from something else, with a note written in a childish hand on the inside:
Please donโt take my Mamam with you when you go back to your home. I would miss her a lot, I love her so much. Please just go back home yourself and leave her with me. Thank you, Lignan Arborea
I knew it was the innocent plea of a scared child, but it was the stories that fueled the fear behind it that made me uneasy. I decided to take it to Daphne and ask what was going on.
The new garments were similar to my borrowed ones, but with dark green leaf patterns embroidered into the light green linen. Being a tree-oriented family, I wasnโt surprised. My stomach rumbled and I proceeded out the door to meet Daphne Arborea.
Now that I was looking for them, I discovered a entire crayon box of colored shapes and circles on the floor, all going in separate directions, like breadcrumb trails of cereal winding down the halls and up the stairs. Upon closer inspection, the colorful bits were actually gemstones, gold, and crystals set into the wood floor as part of the nature scenes beneath my feet.
gemstone markers with gold nuggets in Rosewood’s floors
In the vast main foyer, where the original house remained, the floors were of the same patterns, the only difference being the noise my sandals made as I walked.
The effect the scenes created was like walking on an iced-over stream with gems set in the streambed, or a rocky forest path with colored trail markers lining the edge. It was so realistic I kept waiting for wet feet, or pebbles between my toes. I remembered what Raga said about Rosewood Manor always changing and wondered if the floor scenes did too.
I should stop here, so that next time we will meet with Daphne Arborea, matriarch of House Arborea. Stay tuned and don’t miss episode #9!
So, a floor inlaid with gemstones and gold nuggets as markers? What kind of place is this, right? I’ll let you in on something, gemstones are pretty commonplace in Huphaea. There are four Houses concerned with obtaining and working with them, so you can imagine what they produce. We will meet them later on, I promise!
How about the Manor itself, and what do you think Daphne Arborea will be like? Let me know in the comments below, don’t worry, you’ll find out soon!
If you want an extra peek into Huphaea and Elahna’s journey, subscribe to Collata, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter. Once, maybe twice a month, Nightingales get an exclusive snippet from my memory of my time away. Click the button below to join the Nightingales, I’m looking forward to welcoming you!
The Sun, a Book, and a Dog 