Sunday, September 21, 2014

Prompt: Who does the sentinel guard? Take 1



Thanks to SergeyMusin for permission to use his powerful “Deadly Shadow At Necropolis”!

It took a full moon’s journey to reach the Necropolis, even riding our bildoons in shifts. One rider stayed awake, astride the lead bildoon’s head, and the other two slept on their beasts’ broad back-plate saddles. It wasn’t comfortable, but we had to move fast.

I leaned back against the lead bildoon’s ear plates and looked up the sliver of remaining moon. We only had one more night to reach the city, or we’d miss our chance. Returning home empty-handed wasn’t an option. The Thieves Guild would throw us out on our ear if we had nothing to show for a full moon. Unguilded thieves didn’t survive long in Setaastin.

This whole thing was Jarron’s idea. I glanced back to where he and Boon were sleeping, while the bildoons plodded steadily toward the city. Bildoons might only have three brain cells to rub together, but they had perfect navigation. Jarron had stolen a Necropolis goblet from Master Toock, and once he let the bildoon’s sniff and drool all over it, we gave them free reign, and they set out on an unerring path to the city of the dead.

The day before the new moon was the only time the living could enter the city. Jarron convinced us that we could load up on Necropolis goods and return to Setaastin as heroes. Well, heroes among thieves, anyway. Which was the same thing to us, taken in by the guild when no one else would have us or help us.

Boon and I were brothers in every way that counted, except by blood. We teamed up with Jarron after our mother was killed in the Valken Purge. He’d already been living on the streets long enough to know all the safe sleeping spots, and cooks who might leave an extra loaf or bowl of stew to cool on their kitchen window ledge.  When the Night Guard caught us, the Thieves Guild paid our bail and took us in. We all took the brand the next full moon. I rubbed the crest on my forearm, remembering.

                                                                                                            
#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you
Namaste
I’ve heard many translations. Here’s one I love:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.


Time writing
 ~30 minutes


September word count
 8,306


2 comments:

  1. Writing report:
    Novel editing, Ch 34
    Time: ~20 min

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh dear. Planning to rob the city of the dead doesn't bode well, does it? I doubt it will go as Jarron plans...

    ReplyDelete