To Spin A Yarn

To "spin a yarn" is to tell a tale. The Art of telling a story, a tale, is essential to the human experience. We all have stories to weave, tales to spin. Here is mine.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Goodreads Support Network part 1

http://indiewritersupport.com/m/blogpost?id=6616203%3ABlogPost%3A70524

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Friday, May 25, 2007

Chapter 3: Who Cares?

The hum of whispered prayers could be heard as we joined the gathered masses for morning devotions. Everyone knelt on frayed and tattered rugs, facing the sun and basking in the sunlight of the new day. I raised my head up to allow the warm light to chase the last bastion of sleep from my weary body before I settle into my own prayers. It had been weeks since I was able to relax and enjoy a morning devotional, but meditation and prayer did not come easy. Listening to the repetition of the prayers disturbed me. They sounded stale, without meaning, mere words from the Book of Prayers. These were mindless rants of people that have forgotten who they are. Their prayers were no longer venerates of adoration and pleas of supplication, but ritualistic chores to be done before breakfast.

I bowed my head and closed my eyes to keep my temper at bay and try to concentrate on my own prayers. If there is only one righteous man, then there is the glory of the One. In this case, with Argento, Trinity, and myself, I can take solace that there are three among the righteous in this place. It did not take long before restlessness to attack and provoke me to move. I could find no peace here. I had to remove myself before I am provoked to slaying these unfaithful.

Hand on my sword, I approach Argento and whispered to follow me in his ear. As we began to move, Trinity perked up and I motioned her to come as well. We had to remove ourselves from these people, lest we become infected with their disease of hopelessness and apathy.

“What are we going to do Uriah?” Argento asked once we were in an alcove alone.

“About what, Argento, what can we do?” I said, sitting on a marble bench. “We came here to find and mobilize an army, not expecting…this.”

“It’s not all that bad, Uri,” Trinity said, planting herself next to me, “There are some people that still able to fight.”

“Who and where are they?” I said.

“The Patrona seemed like she still has some fight left in her,” Trinity said.

“She knows how a far gone her people are and have turned to cynism and spitefulness towards a husband that has grown weak and fat on apathy.” I said.

“That’s not fair, Uri, she is doing what she can, I know.” Trinity said.

I sighed and nodded, answering Trinity’s charge with a pat on her knee. I knew that she knows what is going on with the Patrona. I should trust in her gift to see the heart and motivations of others. It has served us well many times over.

“Right,” Argento said, “So what are we going to do? The enemy is still approaching, daylight or not.”

“I know, we still have a charge to fulfill and prepare these people to fight nonetheless.” I said. “But first things first.”

“Breakfast!” Trinity said and bounced up and headed to the Refectory.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Chapter 2: Friends and Enemies

"By the grace of the One, we greet thee, fair warriors of the Light," the local patron cried as he ushered us through the door, "Come, come, take solace in our company, rest, rest, thee now."

The elderly man in his long gray robes, long worn thin, past it's former luster. The gold hem that former adorned his atire was now a dark faded maise of sticth. I looked at Trinity and then to Argento. Each responded in equal look of question. What had happened to these people. They were of the Light, yet, it seemed that they lived in darkness and was none the wiser.

"Come, come," the patron said as he took hold of my arm, "Come, take solace here, rest, thee."

The man pointed to a room filled with plush carpeting and pillows. The lamps and candles that lighted the place were adorned with gold and shimmering jewels. But all of it looked dull and worn from lack of polish. Its condition was like everything else in the citadel we had seen so far. Dull, worn, a shadow of former glory. Stepping carefully over pillows and quilts and other peices of furniture, I nodded my thanks to the patron and sat on a chair. Trinity and Argento equally made they way through the maze of pillows and did the same.

"We thank thee, patron, for your kindness and hospitality," Trinity said.

"It is our pleasure, mistress," the patron said, "If you would like, I can prepare a bath."

Trinity beamed a smile as she looked over at me. I smiled and nodded. "Go ahead, you deserve it."

With a clap of her hands and giggle she quickly shed her armor and sword before following the patron out the door. Argento and I watched her leave before shedding our own armor, finally able to rest after what seemed days of fighting. We encountered the enemy several days ago and have been on the run since then. I was starting to think that the King had given us an impossible task, to rally the Brethern to fight for his cause, before we found this place. I must confess that I still think it is an impossible task. We had been a peace for so long that the people have grown accustom to the peace he brought, thinking that we have nothing left to fear.

"Uriah, this place..."

Argento paused, shaking his head in dissappointment. He had expected better from the citadels. Some of the outposts were in similair fashion but he was accepted that resources were few in those remote locations. However, this was a citadel, a major stronghold of the Brethern, they were hoping to find help, only to find simple people cowering in fear.

"Yes, my friend, the enemy has infiltrated this place. The people forget who they are."

"How can this be, Uriah? Their lack of loyalty is most disconcerting."

I busied myself with cleaning my armor and sharping my sword as he spoke. I too had felt the same, yet will not give up on a glimmer of hope that there are still some here that are willing to fight. I looked over at my friend and tried to distill some hope into him.

"I will not give up hope on the loyalty of these, Argento. The enemy knocks at the gates, but they have so far not let him in."

"I am glad we have your confidence, Master Uriah."

Argento and I turned to see where the voice was coming from. We were startled to see the patrona standing at the threshold. We exchanged looks and the thought of having been betrayed. Argento gave me a knowing look as I merely nodded before turning my attention to the patron's wife.

"Mistress, may I beg forgiveness for doubting your people."

The woman moved gracefully, being trailed by several maids carrying platters of food and jars of drink. "It is of no consquence, my lord, Master Argento is right. There are some that forgotten the ways of our people and have givven themselves to the enemy. "

As she ushered the servants forward to serve us before speaking one last time.

"Be ware, my lords. All who smile in your face is not your friend. The hand of the enemy is everywhere...even here."

With a whirl of her cloak she turned to leave before giving way to Trinity who displayed her happiness over having bathed and clean clothes with song. The two women exchanged looks before the patrona stormed through the door. Trinity watched her leave before turning back towards us. Her face lit up as she spotted the food and drink.

"How delightful!"

Argento and I exchanged looks before chuckling and digging in ourselves.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Chapter 1: The Brethren

As we rounded the street corner approaching the darkside, we decided to go an opposite direction. This time, scaling the citadel walls and over the top, avoiding the Enemy and his minions. This evil mystical force had spread across the sleepy hamlet, leaving a small section untouched, and pure. It was up to us, the Three to find a way to the light, vanquishing the darkness. Our last engagement left us retreating for our lives. The mighty Dragon of Darkness nearly swallowed us whole. The armies of the Zin reached out like vines of gold, spreading from the evil stronghold nearly entrapping us from all sides. Yet, we escaped back to the light, God be praised.

With broadswords and claymores in hand, solid silver shields at our backs, and newly formed polished armor, we set off to defeat the dragon--learning our mistakes. The Enemy's evil has not yet spread to the citadel, perhaps the last bastion of purity and light left in the town. Helping each other, we began to make the treacherous climb up the wrought iron gates and up the cobblestone wall.

In the dark, I would have been afraid. The Enemy would have played tricks on my mind, bringing to life the frozen gargoyles that hung on the corners of the citadel. In the dark, the Enemy would use deception to our fears against us. But I was in the shadow of the light, and I was not afraid. I had to be brave. We all had to be brave. For with fear, the dragon would defeat us.

Argento spotted it first, the golden vine of darkness rapidly advancing toward us. We had to hurry. Scampering across the tiled roof of the citadel, we could see the spewing filth of the demon stronghold in the distance. Infecting every living thing in it's path. Trees withered and died, grass turned brown as death approached, and animals spasmed with fear. Out from the top of the tower spewed a horrific gas of darkness and evil, and circling over head was the dragon.

Trinity whispered in my ear, " The darkness is spreading," and pointed in the direction of our path. We were too late. The darkness was already approaching our position. "Look," Argento cried out. "the dragon is coming!" We looked up as the ominus shadow of the dragon passed over us. "Let us fall back," I said as we retraced our steps back to the courtyard of the citadel.

The dragon landed, cutting off our escape. It was a horror, the dragon was pure evil, from it's deformed sharp claws to the blood-red scales, to the large horned-head. We raised swords and shields, forced to fight where we stood. The dragon spewed out his putrid breath of brimstone and fire in attack. We quickly raised our shields in defense, as it absorbed the flames. Argento baited the dragon with parried thrusts of his sword, as I tried to avoid the slashing of its claws. Trinity fended off assaults from it's tail, leaping and slashing simultaneously. We were hard-pressed to find a way to the Light.

"There," whispered a small still voice, prompting me to look behind me. I turned around and saw it. "There!" I pointed, motioning the others to turn around. "I see it!," cried Trinity. "Me too!," pointed Argento. We have found our saviors. Out from the open doors of the citadel rushed members of the Brethren. Giving the dragon a stunning blow to it's abdomen, we retreated towards the door.

Running through the narrow alley towards the bright light cascading from the door, the Brethren beaconed us on. The dragon, seeing our retreat, tried to follow us, raining down fire and brimstone in our wake. Jumping up to a lone grassy edge on a cliff of a cobblestone wall, we neared our destination. We could see the shine of the glory of the Light in it's place. The dragon was fast approached as was the golden vines of darkness. There was no time to lose. Coming within a man's length to the door, we made one last dive towards the Light or be swallowed up in darkness.

Approaching the door, the servants of the One rushed the dragon and the impending darkness it represented and shouted, "Behold the Glory of the One!" And in an instant, all that was evil, all that was corrupt, all that was dead, was cast away, fleeing the Light.

We were safe, as we were welcomed into the citadel by the local garrison of the Light. But the journey is not ended, for we have only just begun to fight.