This week’s Friday Fiction is hosted by the wonderful and talented Joanne “JJ” Sher over @ her blog, An Open Book. Click here to read and share more great fiction. Several of us Wrimos are sharing novel excerpts this week–you’ll be in for a real treat! ^_^
Author’s Ramblings: And this week is another except for my NaNoWriMo Novel, Gemfire. Still in the extremely rough stage, but featuring the main character, Areya and an old Keeper friend of hers, Thatcher. (Think of Keepers like a cross between Rangers and Guns-for-hire with the protection of the law behind them). This is after Areya and her group of two were lured into a trap by mistake. Thatcher and Areya try to catch up after a few years of being apart. Enjoy! ^_^ (Oh and Spire is the currency in their world).
Areya sipped a small cup of the bitter coffee, her
brow furrowed in thought. “I actually haven’t seen anything, we’ve just come
over from MinderBlu.”
brow furrowed in thought. “I actually haven’t seen anything, we’ve just come
over from MinderBlu.”
“Speaking of which.” Thatcher frowned. “You caused a
bit of trouble there and in Meresch, correct?”
bit of trouble there and in Meresch, correct?”
“Trouble?” Areya repeated, innocently. “I didn’t do
anything. No fights, no citations.” She held up her hand, the coffee cup
balanced on her knees. “Hands are clean, see?”
anything. No fights, no citations.” She held up her hand, the coffee cup
balanced on her knees. “Hands are clean, see?”
Straw-blond eyebrows knitted themselves together.
“Right. Which is why there were rumors of a girl with dark-hair and weird eyes
tricking a couple of guards at the entry gate-”
“Right. Which is why there were rumors of a girl with dark-hair and weird eyes
tricking a couple of guards at the entry gate-”
“Hey! I left my toll spire there after I’d earned it
and I cleaned all their armor for free! They weren’t even gonna-”
and I cleaned all their armor for free! They weren’t even gonna-”
“Sugar?” Lilith took the coffee cup from it’s
precarious position and handed it off to Takera who was busily stirring the
powdered sweetner into the liquid mixture.
precarious position and handed it off to Takera who was busily stirring the
powdered sweetner into the liquid mixture.
“-you stole an heiress from under the eye of her
bodyguard, blew up a merchant stall and-”
bodyguard, blew up a merchant stall and-”
“She came of her own free will and I didn’t blow
that up, someone else did. Besides, since when can I actually blow things up
anyway? If I could, I would, that’d be a really handy skill to have.”
that up, someone else did. Besides, since when can I actually blow things up
anyway? If I could, I would, that’d be a really handy skill to have.”
“That’s a skill you won’t be learning.” Thatcher cut
in, irritably. “Areya, could you please pay attention when I’m trying to-”
in, irritably. “Areya, could you please pay attention when I’m trying to-”
Takera handed the cup over just as Lilith turned
with another, the two collided and coffee went everywhere.
with another, the two collided and coffee went everywhere.
Areya was on her feet in an instant. “Oops?” She
offered, lurching forward and grabbing Thatcher’s arm. “The river’s this way,
I’ll help you wash it off.” She tugged, hard. “Come on, please!”
offered, lurching forward and grabbing Thatcher’s arm. “The river’s this way,
I’ll help you wash it off.” She tugged, hard. “Come on, please!”
The scowl on his face settled, but he let himself be
pulled away.
pulled away.
She threw a worried glance over her shoulder, then
continued on, pulling the Keeper’s leader further into the clearing to the
river. “It was an accident, they didn’t mean it, honest. They’re just a bit
jittery, you guys make them nervous.”
continued on, pulling the Keeper’s leader further into the clearing to the
river. “It was an accident, they didn’t mean it, honest. They’re just a bit
jittery, you guys make them nervous.”
“They should be.” He shrugged out of his overcoat
and handed it over.
and handed it over.
Areya dunked it in the river and began to swish it
around. “I really wasn’t trying to cause trouble you know.” Her voice was
quiet. “I just couldn’t leave them alone and you all but dared me go into
Meresch.”
around. “I really wasn’t trying to cause trouble you know.” Her voice was
quiet. “I just couldn’t leave them alone and you all but dared me go into
Meresch.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You did too!”
“Areya!” He exclaimed, exasperated. “Really, what am
I going to do with you?”
I going to do with you?”
“Love me, adore me and promise to stop randomly
knocking me out?” She quipped. “When was the last time you washed this thing?
It stinks!”
knocking me out?” She quipped. “When was the last time you washed this thing?
It stinks!”
“We don’t exactly have time to spend on washings and
it’s been a while since we were able to stop without attracting attention.” He
sighed. “C’mere.”
it’s been a while since we were able to stop without attracting attention.” He
sighed. “C’mere.”
Areya lifted the soaked vest from the water and
moved closer to him by the bank. She sat, tucking her legs up beside her and
leaning against his shoulder, snuggling into the arm that was offered. This was more like the Thatcher she remembered. “You
been okay?”
moved closer to him by the bank. She sat, tucking her legs up beside her and
leaning against his shoulder, snuggling into the arm that was offered. This was more like the Thatcher she remembered. “You
been okay?”
“Just peachy.” He rested his chin on the top of her
head. “We’ve been cleared to go hunting.”
head. “We’ve been cleared to go hunting.”
“Hunting?”
“Yes, three names and we’re to see to all of them.
We cleared to move until a situation is declared solved in accordance with
general guidelines.” He smiled, sadly. “It’s good and bad at the same time.”
We cleared to move until a situation is declared solved in accordance with
general guidelines.” He smiled, sadly. “It’s good and bad at the same time.”
“…sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s good money and we all get along, it
could be worse.”
could be worse.”
“I doubt it.”
“You been okay?”
“Yeah. The usual.”
“Any news from your mother?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Areya.”
“I heard that someone in MinderBlu had a map for
sale.”
sale.”
“A map?”
“Yeah, for that place.”
“You came all the way back here on the hearsay about
a map?”
a map?”
“It’s the only lead I’ve got, Thatch. What would you
have me do?”
have me do?”
“Tell me you were in the area for one.” He tweaked
her ear, straightening and allowing her to sit up. “It would’ve been nicer than
just finding out that you were waltzing through the islands and leaving a
lovely line of terror in your wake.”
her ear, straightening and allowing her to sit up. “It would’ve been nicer than
just finding out that you were waltzing through the islands and leaving a
lovely line of terror in your wake.”
“I didn’t leave anything!”
“Relax. I’m not going to scold you for it, though
you do deserve it. What part of ‘don’t cause trouble’ is so hard for you
understand?”
you do deserve it. What part of ‘don’t cause trouble’ is so hard for you
understand?”
“All of it!”
“I’m speaking in plain Basic.”
“That’s beside the point and I really tried. I
didn’t fight anyone this time.”
didn’t fight anyone this time.”
“I know. I’m proud of you, even if I did have to fix
a few ruffled feathers and smooth out the kind of debts that the empire really
shouldn’t be paying for.”
a few ruffled feathers and smooth out the kind of debts that the empire really
shouldn’t be paying for.”
“Erm. Sorry.” Areya ducked her head. “But I did try!”
He chuckled, softly, patting her head with one damp
hand. “Give me that, I’ll rinse it, you don’t need to be wading around in the
water, it tires you doesn’t it? When there isn’t any Mineral present in the
stuff?”
hand. “Give me that, I’ll rinse it, you don’t need to be wading around in the
water, it tires you doesn’t it? When there isn’t any Mineral present in the
stuff?”
“You remembered.” She smiled, handing it over. “Thanks.
Make sure you scrub it and wring it well, because you stink like a-”
Make sure you scrub it and wring it well, because you stink like a-”
“Don’t finish that if you know what’s good for you!”
She smirked. “Who are you hunting?”
He shrugged. “Three bandits. The Specter, Sunshine
Reya and Wolfsbane.”
Reya and Wolfsbane.”
“Wolfsbane?” Areya shuddered, visibly. “No wonder
you all look like that. Isn’t the unit too small?”
you all look like that. Isn’t the unit too small?”
“We’ve added a few since you left.”
“I wasn’t one to begin with.” Areya shot back. “I
was just a cute little stray that was helpful from time to time.”
was just a cute little stray that was helpful from time to time.”
“You made a good mascot.”
“I can’t be a mascot for the rest of my life.”
“I know, I know, I’m just saying.”
“It’s that bad?”
“Worse. I’ve lost a few of the young ones.”
“He knows you’re hunting?”
“Oh he knows alright. Knows by know which group is
doing the hunting and probably doing all he can to get some inside information
on the troupe.” He shrugged. “Thankfully, we’re so new that the dynamics
haven’t been worked out completely, it gives us the advantage, just a little.”
doing the hunting and probably doing all he can to get some inside information
on the troupe.” He shrugged. “Thankfully, we’re so new that the dynamics
haven’t been worked out completely, it gives us the advantage, just a little.”
“So you’re gathering intel? That why you had us
grabbed off a trail for doing nothing?”
grabbed off a trail for doing nothing?”
“Naturally. You weren’t the original targets though,
Orson is good at what he does, but sometimes he can be a little near-sighted.
Can’t see past what’s in front of him.”
Orson is good at what he does, but sometimes he can be a little near-sighted.
Can’t see past what’s in front of him.”
“Really?”
“The local guards loaned him to us, apparently he’s a
consultant for one of their young generals and is good at tracking and integration. There’s an outpost in the nearest city, it’s a secret safeground for many of the generals and their favorites to visit. We’re lucky to have him.”
consultant for one of their young generals and is good at tracking and integration. There’s an outpost in the nearest city, it’s a secret safeground for many of the generals and their favorites to visit. We’re lucky to have him.”
Areya snorted. “Not that lucky.”
“Really?”
“Lilith and Takera practically had their hackles up
from the moment he thought of entering the camp right up until Dekker’s squad
jumped us. They didn’t like him at all.”
from the moment he thought of entering the camp right up until Dekker’s squad
jumped us. They didn’t like him at all.”
Thatcher’s bushy eyebrows arched upwards in
appreciation. “Really? Impressive.”
appreciation. “Really? Impressive.”
“Not really. I think we’re all just a little strung
out.”
out.”
“What did you think?”
Areya shrugged. “He didn’t smell like danger, so I
didn’t figure he was.”
didn’t figure he was.”
“He led you right into a trap and from what I
understand, you didn’t even try to fight back. Even if you knew it was Keepers,
there was no guarantee that this would’ve been our squadron or that a Keeper
brook would’ve even considered your medallion.”
understand, you didn’t even try to fight back. Even if you knew it was Keepers,
there was no guarantee that this would’ve been our squadron or that a Keeper
brook would’ve even considered your medallion.”
“Did they find it?”
“No.”
“Figured.”
“Are you hiding it somewhere that I don’t want to
know about?”
know about?”
Areya winked. “Something like that.”
He chuckled. “You’re a real treat, you know that?
I’ve missed your chatter. I’ve missed you, kidlet.”
I’ve missed your chatter. I’ve missed you, kidlet.”
“I didn’t chatter and I’m not a kid!” She pouted. “Well,
maybe not all a kid.”
maybe not all a kid.”
“You know what I mean. My turn now. Have you heard
anything?”
anything?”
“Have you?”
“If I had, I would’ve said so by now, don’t you
think?”
think?”
“Just asking.”
“No harm in asking.” He smiled. “I see you’ve got
yourself two interesting travel companions.”
yourself two interesting travel companions.”
She grinned. “They’re hilarious. I suppose they are
really the only friends I actually have.”
really the only friends I actually have.”
“Really? Congratulations then, though I’m wounded as
not to be included in your precious selection.”
not to be included in your precious selection.”
“Ha ha. You’re in the special friend category.” She
smiled, watching as he wrung out the overcoat and swished it through the water
once more. “They’re kind of in a different friend category.”
smiled, watching as he wrung out the overcoat and swished it through the water
once more. “They’re kind of in a different friend category.”
“Really? Am I flattered or insulted?”
“They’re girls! That’s different enough.” She
protested, laughing. “and they’ve been extremely kind. I can’t complain.”
protested, laughing. “and they’ve been extremely kind. I can’t complain.”
“Why’d you pick them up?” He sobered. “The guard she
left behind, a Ferdinand somebody, he wasn’t too keen on it.”
left behind, a Ferdinand somebody, he wasn’t too keen on it.”
“He shouldn’t be. He tricked her, the two-timing idiot-.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” Areya huffed. “He was lying through
his teeth the whole time and he set a pack of thugs on me to explode that
merchant stall. I had nothing to do with that.”
his teeth the whole time and he set a pack of thugs on me to explode that
merchant stall. I had nothing to do with that.”
“I know. The merchant says you were an angel and
pulled him to safety at your own risk.”
pulled him to safety at your own risk.”
“Ha. It wasn’t anything that heroic. He was heavy.”
“Must’ve taken a lot of energy.”
“Not really, I was running pretty low, otherwise he
wouldn’t have had a scratch on him.”
wouldn’t have had a scratch on him.”
“ah. I did wonder.”
“I was fine, thanks for asking.”
“I can see that for myself.”
“Lilith picked me up from the streets and took me
back to her place. We kind of hit it off from there and she was…nice. Reminded
me a little of Melody and the others. Then I really saw what Ferdinand was
doing and how her whole family treated her and—Thatcher, they really weren’t
letting anyone in or out of the city! People died!”
back to her place. We kind of hit it off from there and she was…nice. Reminded
me a little of Melody and the others. Then I really saw what Ferdinand was
doing and how her whole family treated her and—Thatcher, they really weren’t
letting anyone in or out of the city! People died!”
“I know.” He said, quietly.
“You know? How can you just say you know? People
died and no one did anything about it!”
died and no one did anything about it!”
“Not all of them died.”
“What?”
“Some of them that made it into the harbor didn’t
head for MinderBlu, they went back and spread word. We were traveling through
to check up on it and also because we’d gotten wind that Sunshine Reya had been
active in that area. Imagine my surprise when we pass through and there are two
guards grumbling about a girl with dark hair and-”
head for MinderBlu, they went back and spread word. We were traveling through
to check up on it and also because we’d gotten wind that Sunshine Reya had been
active in that area. Imagine my surprise when we pass through and there are two
guards grumbling about a girl with dark hair and-”
“And weird eyes, I know already.” She glowered at
him. “Really, Thatch!”
him. “Really, Thatch!”
“Lack of information and miscommunication.” He
listed. “It was a problem that we knew nothing about, so we couldn’t fix it. But
your stepping in and turning things upside down made it pretty easy to tie up
loose ends.”
listed. “It was a problem that we knew nothing about, so we couldn’t fix it. But
your stepping in and turning things upside down made it pretty easy to tie up
loose ends.”
“You’re welcome.”
He winked. “Thank you, kindly miss.”
(c) Sara Harricharan
Thanks for reading, do let me know what you think! ^_^