Post by PeroxidePirate on Jul 18, 2011 12:46:45 GMT 10
Title: Going My Way
Rating: PG
Character: Aniki
Event: 400 Word Dash
Words: 400
Summary: Aniki sets out on her journey through Scanra, and makes a new acquaintance.
Four days’ walk — further than Aniki had ever been — a blizzard came up from the coast. She was lucky to notice the signs of bad weather coming; luckier still to reach a crossroads inn before the wind picked up.
The taproom was filled with travelers taking refuge, men mostly, only half of them Scanran.
She squared she shoulders and swaggered, hoping she wouldn’t have to use her sword. She was brave — to a fault, perhaps — but she’d never had the chance to hone her skills.
The other patrons paid her no mind, though. She looked around sharply; since all the tables were occupied, she took a seat at the bar. It was her first stop at an inn since leaving home, and she relished the chance to eat food prepared indoors, by someone with time to devote to the task.
She was halfway through her second bowl of stew when the serving woman rapped on the counter to get her attention. “If you fancy conversation, I’ve an invitation to pass on.”
Aniki laughed and shook her head. “I’m not looking to get involved,” she said. “I’d as soon eat dinner in peace.”
“Suit yourself,” the barmaid replied, but she studied Aniki. “You seem to be on a journey, though. Kora thought so. She’d like to read your fortune.”
Aniki turned to follow the woman’s gaze. In the corner of the room, a girl Aniki’s age sat with a deck of cards before her. Her brown hair was twisted into a practical bun; her dress was the same homespun wool as the breeches Aniki had chosen for winter travel. But her dark eyes seemed to dance in the firelight; she rested in her chair as though she owned it, as though she was sure she was perfectly safe.
“All right,” Aniki said to the barmaid, without taking her eyes off the young fortuneteller. “I’ll go.”
“Sit, please,” Kora said, when Aniki approached her table. “I have a feeling about you. I want to know if it’s true.” She shuffled, then held the cards out. “Pick three.”
“All right.” Aniki made her choices, setting them face down on the table.
Kora turned them, one at a time. “Queen of swords. Queen of coins. The world.” She grinned. “Are you traveling south, by any chance?”
“As it happens, I am.” Aniki grinned back.
Rating: PG
Character: Aniki
Event: 400 Word Dash
Words: 400
Summary: Aniki sets out on her journey through Scanra, and makes a new acquaintance.
Four days’ walk — further than Aniki had ever been — a blizzard came up from the coast. She was lucky to notice the signs of bad weather coming; luckier still to reach a crossroads inn before the wind picked up.
The taproom was filled with travelers taking refuge, men mostly, only half of them Scanran.
She squared she shoulders and swaggered, hoping she wouldn’t have to use her sword. She was brave — to a fault, perhaps — but she’d never had the chance to hone her skills.
The other patrons paid her no mind, though. She looked around sharply; since all the tables were occupied, she took a seat at the bar. It was her first stop at an inn since leaving home, and she relished the chance to eat food prepared indoors, by someone with time to devote to the task.
She was halfway through her second bowl of stew when the serving woman rapped on the counter to get her attention. “If you fancy conversation, I’ve an invitation to pass on.”
Aniki laughed and shook her head. “I’m not looking to get involved,” she said. “I’d as soon eat dinner in peace.”
“Suit yourself,” the barmaid replied, but she studied Aniki. “You seem to be on a journey, though. Kora thought so. She’d like to read your fortune.”
Aniki turned to follow the woman’s gaze. In the corner of the room, a girl Aniki’s age sat with a deck of cards before her. Her brown hair was twisted into a practical bun; her dress was the same homespun wool as the breeches Aniki had chosen for winter travel. But her dark eyes seemed to dance in the firelight; she rested in her chair as though she owned it, as though she was sure she was perfectly safe.
“All right,” Aniki said to the barmaid, without taking her eyes off the young fortuneteller. “I’ll go.”
“Sit, please,” Kora said, when Aniki approached her table. “I have a feeling about you. I want to know if it’s true.” She shuffled, then held the cards out. “Pick three.”
“All right.” Aniki made her choices, setting them face down on the table.
Kora turned them, one at a time. “Queen of swords. Queen of coins. The world.” She grinned. “Are you traveling south, by any chance?”
“As it happens, I am.” Aniki grinned back.