Lamott on Writer's Block

TKC Collage 1

For fun and to garner a feel for the story so far, I created a collage of the first 14 images used for The King's Challenge :)

If you have missed out on any of the episodes, the links to each TKC post can be found in the dedicated page in the sidebar, or click 'The King's Challenge' in Labels.

Thanks for reading!

The King's Challenge #14

TKC 14

The return journey to the upper city is an eternity of running and hiding. Despite the sounds of people fighting, laughing, making love and screaming, our footsteps on the wooden walkways are like thunder to my ears. Every moment I expect to be waylaid. Worse, though, is the expectation of a knife in my back.

Damin’s urgency puts wings to my feet.

At the deadhouse we crouch in the shadows. Ahead is the switchback path to the plateau. It is well-lit and there are too many negotiating the steepness.

Damin swears. “They come down already.”

“Who?” I dare.

“Lawmen. Tonight the lower city will feel the brunt.”

“Damin, what happened?” I gesture at his bloodied hands and clothes.

“Assassins, two of them. I lost three of my men at the alehouse and barely got away. Those,” and he gestures at the forms on the path, “will now retaliate for losing two of their own.” He glances at me. “Lyra, they will kill us if they find us.”

“Pssst!”

Both of us jerk around and I nearly leave my skin. The old man from the deadhouse peers around the corner and gesticulates wildly. Damin glances at me, nods, and we swiftly make our way to him.

As a host of boots thud upon the planks and those shudders transmit into the island, the old man shoves us into the darkness inside. “Coffins,” he hisses, and locks us in.

There is no time for choices. We hear loud voices outside. Damin finds two empty coffins, and almost breaks my arm in his haste to get me into one. The cover closes. I hear scuffles and then the low sound of another lid closing.

The door crashes open. The old man shouts his ire.

I feel as if I am already dead.

Super!

The King's Challenge #13

TKC 13

Kneeling, I attempt to determine Damin’s injuries. How he received them is immaterial at this point. “Tell me where you’re hurt.”

Gulping in air rapidly, he shakes his head, unable to speak. Eventually he says, “Not my blood.” He shoves himself up. “We cannot stay here.” He moves swiftly to the small window and peers down. “Pack, Lyra. We are leaving.”

“What happened?” I demand.

“Later. We need to vanish. Move, Lyra! I would already be in hiding if I had not given thought to you – move!”

In quick order I have my cloak thrust into my pack and sling the receptacle to my shoulders. I join Damin at the window.

“They are coming,” he whispers. “Silent now. Do what I do.”

He clambers onto the sill and squeezes through the unglazed opening to swing onto an ancient lattice attached to the building. It does not look too strong, but Damin goes down nonetheless. I follow, ignoring the ripping sounds as my dress is torn repeatedly.

We hunker together in the shadows then and listen. The night is not silent here, but both of us become aware of approaching, stealthy footsteps. Damin points in the direction opposite. In a running crouch, he vanishes into the trees there. Again I follow, my heart beating a rapid rhythm.

Damin lifts a leaf-covered trapdoor and sidles in, beckoning. I think of rats, but I enter. In the darkness below, Damin pulls me along. It is an escape tunnel and it stinks of marsh mud.

I hear him counting under his breath. Abruptly he halts and heaves upward to open another trapdoor. Climbing out, he leans in to haul me through.

“Do you have coin? We are heading into Upper Normur.”

I nod. “Attis can help.”

He flashes a smile. “Seems the boy has use after all.”

Fallen World

The King's Challenge #12

TKC 12

My second night in Normur is not as comfortable. The bedroom I am allocated has gaps in the planking and allows the cold night air in, and this time the city lights are not as distant. Now I see fires everywhere, used for light, warmth and cooking, and I am horrified. One spark, and the lower city will be ablaze.

The bed is lumpy and the bedding mildewed. Shuddering disgust, I lay my cloak upon it, but I cannot sleep anyway. Staring out into a night filled with desperation, I understand how the way life works here needs to change if people are to survive with dignity.

Damin tells me to lock my door, saying he needs to go out and cannot watch over me. I wonder what he is doing and I give thought too to why he is reticent about it. Somehow I must break the shield he has placed around his emotions.

There is nothing to eat and my stomach cramps in hunger. This too reveals to me how easy it will be to stoke folk to revolution.

Yet, there is something far more dangerous on approach. I thought to save the folk of Grenmassin, but everyone will become slaves to desperation. Perhaps this is why Damin stays, having realised it. Perhaps change needs to start here in Normur, where many voices are able to shout loud enough.

Maybe I should listen to him before judging his continued absence.

As dawn begins to lighten the heavens, I lie on my cloak and curl up cold and hungry. In a state of slumber I hear a commotion and someone bangs on my door. Damin demands entrance. Up in an instant, I unlock to him.

He stumbles through, covered in blood. “Lock it!” he gasps, falling to his knees.

All you have been told

The King's Challenge #11

TKC 11

I ignore Damin’s statement and instead address what has befallen Attis. The boy does not deserve this.

“Let him go, Damin. I vouch for him and he will be too frightened to say anything. Please, let him go.”

“I can be your go-between!” Attis suddenly pipes up. He releases me to stand before Damin. “Sir, I swear, we want you to change things! I can listen to stuff up there and then come down and tell you, and I won’t tell anyone.”

Damin stares down at the boy. Then he looks up at me. “How long have you known him?”

“Since last night,” I respond, hope blossoming inside me. “I trust him already and you will as well if you give him a chance. Damin, he has a little sister he takes care of.”

Damin blinks. He too has a younger sister he is meant to take care of. Siri gave me all her savings to help me manage this journey, in fact. She misses her brother.

“You know Siri would expect this of you,” I murmur.

His cheeks tighten and then he nods at the boy. “Fine, it will be as you say. Someone will be watching you. I suggest you keep your word.”

Attis hops in place, filled with glee.

I shake my head and hope the boy will be fine. “Attis, go back to your sister now,” I say and hand him his second copper. Leaning in, I whisper, “Go now. Quickly.”

His eyes round again and he nods. Taking the coin, he scuttles out.

“Let him go!” Damin shouts for the benefit of the men outside. Then he pierces me with that blue gaze. “This is no place for a lady.”

Well, stuff that. By the stars, I intend to find out exactly what is going on here.

Justine's Journal #51

52 Weeks 500 Words

This is how it began: Justine (not her real name) decided to write 500 words (or as near as), anything goes, per week for 52 weeks. She would then submit it for anonymous posting, via me, her friend. Perhaps a pattern will emerge from her words, but at this stage it’s more an experiment I have agreed to share in. I’ll attempt to draw conclusions at the end of this. Stay tuned if this resonates with you.

Week 51

The second to last journal entry! I think I may suffer withdrawal symptoms after this J

Here’s an update of recent events. I attended a charity event for literacy and the support the campaign was most heart-warming. I am so happy to see how many care about this issue. The event included collecting books for schools and, although I did not attend the delivery drive, I hear teachers and kids both were over the moon.

On a more personal front, my brother is flying down for business in two weeks and we’ll be having dinner before he flies back. I can’t wait to see him!

My partner and I currently discuss finding a new place for the two of us. Mine is too small for him to move in (although he spends most of his time with me anyway!) and his is a bachelor flat. This means we are in fact deciding whether to spend the rest of our lives together. No talk of marriage, but neither of us needs that kind of formality, not yet anyway. Both of us have been burned, and we’re taking it step by step. Still, you should see the massive smile on my face when no one is looking! I feel the future is very bright and I’m loving life right now.

Around me life continues.

I saw a boy fall from his bike the other day and my entire body tensed in sympathy with him. He picked himself up and pushed his bike into a nearby driveway, so he was all right … although I did notice the tears, poor little guy.

Cold nights at the moment mean the homeless really take strain. A few of us in the neighbourhood donated old jackets and blankets to a collection charity. The days are warmer now as winter moves towards spring, but the nights aren’t. Winter may still surprise us with a few ‘events’ too. I pray these folk find shelter. I wish there was a way to deal with this problem permanently, for all of us deserve a warm place and food to fill our stomachs.

As for the coming of spring. We feel it in the air now, but it hasn’t yet rained enough to fill the dams for summer’s dryness. While we would love to have the warmth back, we understand we need it to rain a lot before we can relax for summer. Here’s to hoping this happens, despite the terrible discomfort for those on the streets. This is such a conundrum for me. I wish for rain, but wish also for good days and nights to ease the plight of those less fortunate.

That’s me for this week. Keep smiling, everyone!

Something wonderful

The King's Challenge #10

TKC 10

A man emerges from the gloom to hunker before me. He gestures and the oaf behind me releases my hair. “Lyra, what are you doing here?”

I push myself onto my knees and glare at him. “Damin, nice to see you.”

Sighing, he stands. “You and the boy were asking questions about me. I am sorry, but we needed to know why.”

At least he has the sense not to offer a helping hand. Right now I will probably bite it. “May I get up?” I ask, fury causing my voice to tremble.

He nods.

As I stand, I study him. His straw hair is as untidy as ever, although not as clean as I remember. Blue eyes still have the power to pierce distances, I notice. I always feel as if Damin looks through me as well as at me. He is a little on the thin side, and I suspect that is because the fare here is sparse. He is tanned and wears forest colours.

I look away before I hit him, I am that angry. “Attis,” I murmur, “come here.”

The boy scuttles to my side, his brown eyes big as gold coins. He latches onto my cloak and I pull him in. “The boy does not deserve such treatment.”

Damin sighs again. “Unfortunately he knows too much now.”

Attis gasps and I feel him shake with fear. “If you touch him, I swear I will kill you,” I say.

A long silence ensues and then Damin gestures. The two men who brought us in leave. “He will not come to harm, but he cannot now leave here.”

“What are you doing, by the stars? Where is the Damin I knew back home?”

He leans forward. “Something big comes. You know this, for you came looking for me.”