I completely forgot about the fact that I had to post last night after I left work. I know I’ve been slacking in terms of posting and keeping up with this, but I promise things will get better once I’m done with school.

As an update on that front, I’ve been assigned to my commencement ceremony and I’ll be flying to New Hampshire in May to attend in person. I didn’t get to go to my graduation for culinary school, and this feels a lot bigger, so I wanted to go. I’ll be done with classes in December and I’m still on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude. I’ve been thinking a lot what I want to do after I graduate and there’s been a lot on my mind. I’ve been applying to jobs and interviewing. I’m also thinking about grad school, but unless I get scholarships for it, I’m not sure about taking on more debt.

I hadn’t intended on posting this story, but I figure, why not? Bear in mind it’s barely been edited (and certainly not professionally) or workshopped at all, but I wanted to give something while I work on a second short story in the series. I originally wrote this as a character backstory for a D&D game. It’s kind of what gave me the idea for the Realms of Sciath series actually. If you’d like to give feedback, I’d love for you to comment! Enjoy!

The following is the journal of Liliana Thrushgrove:

Spring 25, 1327

I’m going to beat that stuffy dwarf Halderk at a game of cards. We’re meeting at The Salty Wench in Glondorin. Ma always says I shouldn’t go there, she doesn’t trust the folks of Glondorin. But why not? It’s not as if it’s Thrierdin, that huge city is much more dangerous. Well, parts of it.

Spring 26, 1327

I won against Halderk again, poor sod. I dunna know why he can’t wrap his head around the games, but it’s like he doesn’t get them. Makes for easy coin for me. Anyway, some guards from Shieldspire told us we weren’t allowed to gamble, so they arrested us. I dunna know where the dwarf prince ended up, but I’m sitting in a cell here in Shieldspire. They took all my belongings except the necklace Ma gave me. A small switch on the back side of the gem will turn the wearer invisible for a time. I took lengths to conceal this journal, a pen, and a small amount of ink from them as well. It’s a waiting game now…

Spring 64, 1327

At least I think so. I might have lost track of the days in this Gods-forsaken cell, but I think I counted right. They tell me the Arlessa would have conscripted me into her armies, but because I’m small and easily hidden, I’m being sent to Thrierdin for some kind of special assignment. Who knows what they’re talking about though.

Spring 67, 1327

It appears I am to be sent to Arinthe, in the north. We’re camping the night between Shieldspire and Glondorin since that’s where the port is. They’ll send us out to the Draiocht Sea but we’ll turn north on the trade route. The Thrierdinese are seeing the rising tensions between the Goric dwarves and the Arinthians, and they wonder about the rumors of a growing war. They’ve given me a partner, a half-elf named Harris Torlyle. We’re to spy on the Arinthians and find out why they’re causing hostilities.

Spring 71, 1327

Arinthe is beautiful, a city made of white stone. The mountain range just to the north is breathtaking, and the crags at the edge of the sea withstand the sometimes-torrential waves. The Tower of the Cabal is as tall as the peaks by the sea, and visible anywhere in the city. The information that Harris and I got said the Cabal is a good place to start. The Archmage, Intarius Raelduûn is a famous wizard, and Count in the Arinthian government. I’m wary of entering the Cabal uninvited, even with Ma’s necklace.

Spring 73, 1327

Archmage Intarius isn’t what I expected. I always pictured wizards as grey, old men with pointy hats, but Intarius is middle aged with dark hair except for his frost-white sideburns, and salt-and-pepper goatee which is neatly trimmed, and comes to a short braid. He wears a circlet atop his head and luxuriant red and purple robes. He was waiting for us when we tried to break into the Cabal. He didn’t imprison us, but he did want to know why we were there. He’s quite kind, really. He’s as interested in the growing tensions as the Arlessa is. He says while the whole government may not agree, Arinthe wants to avoid a war. He’s suspicious of a man named Thelden, who is the Duke of Cenwyk.

Spring 75, 1327

Cenwyk wasn’t very forthcoming with information, but while Harris was keeping him busy, I had a look around. I found and copied this letter from the Viscount of Larkenia:

Thelden,

Things go as planned. Continue using your Dwarven cohorts to increase tensions with the Arinthians. Also, the Dwarf prince is on the move. Our intel suggests he was recently seen in Glondorin and is making his way to Arinthe to smooth things over. You are to kidnap him and make it look like it was the Arinthians. This will stop him from being received as a diplomat and will anger the Goric Dwarves. I also need more of the component you sent.  

            Xanthus Triloch

I didn’t know if he already had kidnapped Halderk or not, but it didn’t feel safe to stay much longer. We made our goodbyes, and now we’re camping on the way to Larkenia.

Spring 79, 1327

            Larkenia has a bleak feeling to it. The skies have turned grey, and a chill breeze blows from the west. It’s so small, it’s barely a town. We’re staying at the inn, a decrepit building of rotting wood. The Viscount’s tower looms in the center of town like a stone gargoyle. I told Harris I could get in using Ma’s necklace.

Spring 80, 1327

            Bastard! I dunna know where he’s gone, but that Harris Torlyle is going to pay. At the Viscount’s Tower, we uncovered a plot by the King of Askenia himself. He is behind it all! He’s trying to get Goric to go to war with Arinthe. He’s working with the Prew who live under the mountain range that divides Arinthe and Askenia. They’re trying to assist in the rise of Kortaxis, The Obsidian Terror. A black dragon that lives in the swampland south of Arinthe. The King needs Kortaxis’s help in becoming a lich. We found out, Torlyle betrayed me, stole me ma’s necklace and ran off.

Spring 83, 1327

            Not knowing what to do I went to the port in Askenia. I figure I can offer work on a ship and maybe get out of Sciath. With what’s coming here, I dunna want to stick around, no point in going back to Thrierdin.

Spring 85, 1327

            I’m being followed. The king must know I know about his schemes. I’d wager Torlyle got caught and sold me out. Next time I see that half-elf, I’m going to run him through with Shadow Biter, my rapier, or my dagger, Grimfang. Best keep them close to me. The king may send sellswords after me.

Summer 3, 1327

            I’m working for a pirate, but he’s a good chap. “Sly” Slade Townsend is his name, and I traded work for passage off the continent of Sciath. The Draiocht shines like sapphires. Not even sure where I want to go yet, but I’m fine working with him for a while.

Summer 7, 1327

Slade knows all the thieves’ guilds, and underground things going on everywhere it seems! It’s impressive. We’re taking a short time to resupply in Arinthe before we go. I’m glad to be out of Askenia, but I’m keeping a low profile here too. Intarius knew how to find me, of course, and came to visit. I told him what happened and about the king’s schemes. I sent a letter to Ma and Da so they know to get out too.

Summer 10, 1327

            We’re getting underway tomorrow. Slade told me there’s a place called Terlas on the other side of the Snowdrop Sea. It’s perfect because it can only be sailed in Summer.

Summer 13, 1327

            Even though it’s summer, the spray of the Snowdrop is frigid. I love the beauty of the sea though, and I can see why someone would want to stay at sail. I’m a natural around the ship, and I like the work. We raided a slaver ship yesterday, freed the slaves and took a good bounty. Slade and I play cards together and he can keep up with me. Nice to have a worthy opponent. He said we won’t get to Terlas until fall.

Summer 56, 1327

            We’ve done quite a few raids now. Usually slaver ships or other pirate clans or whatnot. We’re stopping at a port soon, and it will be nice to be on land. I’ve come to trust “Sly” Slade with my life. I told him he should stay away from Sciath; that that continent was doomed to become a poisoned land, torn apart by war, and the acid breath of The Obsidian Terror.

Autumn 3, 1327

            We’ve crossed the pole. Not sure of the calendar here, but the date is what it should be in Sciath. Sly got me set up in a city called Frostbreeze. He knows the guild folks there of course and got me to work utilizing my…skillset. He’s off with the crew to Halderas, a city to the south. Sly is a good friend. He told me that he would keep an ear out for any information about that bastard Torlyle, and me Ma’s necklace.  

Autumn 79, 1327

            Sly’s in Frostbreeze! He lost the ship after a raid gone sideways. He’s got himself set up with the guild here and is close in with them. He says he’ll help me any time I need work or information. I told him I’d sail for him any day and that he’s a good friend.

Thank you for reading and I hope your day is fantastic!

Kathryn

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