So - here's the new Master Class assignment. We were given the 10th line on page 100 of Anne McCaffery's Dragonflight. We had to either begin or end the story with this line "She rubbed her palms against her thighs in anticipation of the challenge."
As I said, my response is the end of the story. The beginning can be found here. The part in the middle. Well, that you'll have to wait for my short story collection to get. Here's the ending:
She rubbed her palms against her thighs in anticipation of
the challenge. So much had happened to
lead her to this point. She knew, beyond
any inkling of a doubt, that this moment would define the rest of her
life. The rest of her rule.
“Highness, you’ll wrinkle your dress if you keep doing that,”
Jaylen’s maid nodded to where Jaylen’s hands were wrapped into fists in the
delicate silk fabric.
“You’re right, Noella.”
Noella reached down to smooth the silk. When she brushed against Jaylen’s hands she
jerked back. Small red marks appeared on
Noella’s fingertips.
“Oh! Noella, are you
alright?”
“I was burned. How?”
“I was fixing my dress.”
The blank look on Noella’s face screamed incomprehension.
“I manipulate fire now, remember? I was warming my hands enough to smooth out
any wrinkles.”
“I guess you’ll have no need of me ironing any of your
clothes again, will you?”
“Don’t be silly, Noella.
You’ve cared for me right from the start. I will always need you. Irons and all. Besides, I think the court will keep me
plenty busy to worry much about ironing my own clothes.”
“Aye. They will at
that. Is Lord Maroshek going to be here
today?”
Jaylen’s face pinked a little at the mention of his name, “He
is. He refused my request to stand with
me.”
“He’s a smart man.”
“I know. I just feel
better when he’s there.”
“Lord Maroshek has been your protector since shortly after
your birth. If you didn’t feel better I’d
be worried.”
“I hate the political necessity of having to distance myself
from him right now.”
“Is it just his protection you miss, or is there something
more?”
Jaylen’s face reddened even more. She turned away from her maid to stare out
the window. Parts of the city still
burned. Ash blew on the wind like
snowflakes. Most of the prophecy had
come true. Now it was up to her to
rule. She felt like the hard part had
just begun.
“I don’t know, Noella.
The House of the Lion has always served and protected the House of the
Phoenix. Never anything more. Yet, there is a part of me that wants more
from Maroshek.”
“Never? That’s a
strong word.”
Jaylen whipped around.
Her mouth hung open, “What do you mean?”
“Come, child. You know
that the official histories are only that which was chosen to be
preserved. There is always more to the story
than the official histories.”
“Then there have been times the Lion House was more than
protectors to the Phoenix House.”
Noella’s lack of reply told Jaylen all she needed to
know. Her task to rule suddenly didn’t
seem so heavy. The trumpets sounded
outside interrupting the conversation.
Noella placed the crown on Jaylen’s head and adjusted her auburn curls.
Jaylen drew herself up, assumed the long familiar regal
bearing expected and nodded at the guards.
They threw open the heavy oak doors still singed around the edges. Walking through, Jaylen made a note to
herself to have someone fix them. As she
stepped into the throne room, she changed her mind. The blackened marks throughout the palace
would serve as a good reminder for the ruling Houses that she, Jaylen Amayana,
was the rightful Empress. And that
anyone who wanted to challenge her would have to deal with a Phoenix Reborn.
Please be sure to click on the Master Class badge above to check out other great authors' responses to the prompt as well.
No fair. I want to read the whole thing with an ending like that. Good luck with NaNo. I'm doing it too.
ReplyDeleteI promise, once it's done and fit for public consumption, I will let you know where it can be found. Good luck with NaNo!
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