This week I was able to write 5,770 words in the second draft. This brings the total word count up to 9,861. I fell off my daily word goal of 1,000 words a day. While I can keep that pace, it would result in my house being a mess along with several other things being neglected, so I have settled on a daily goal of 500 which I am free to exceed.
While I was not supremely excited about anything I wrote this week, I did find a scene I think is worth sharing. Enjoy!
There was only one person they could see as they drew close. He seemed to be a sort of gatekeeper standing before what seemed to be the edge of the city, his hand resting on his sword.
“Greetings.” Akil called as they came before the stern wizard.
The wizard left the sword sheathed as he eyed the naims before him, “What business do you have here?”
“We have a nymph child, he needs food.” Akil said, turning the child toward the man.
“A nymph son? Why is a nymph son out here with two naims?”
Akil and Cyrus exchanged a glance, unsure how much was safe to say. “We were charged by his mother to get him safely to Halcyon. We were separated in Trost, she suggested we came here to get food for him.”
The wizard smiled, “Friends of Agur, come. Rhys and his wife Rosalind will be able to help you.” He turned and headed toward one of the larger mounds to the right of the main road.
They looked at the strange city in wonder. There was little more than bumps and small mounds to mark that there were any homes. The doors were laid into the ground, though the larger mounds had something closer to standard doors than the others which appeared to be trap doors leading into the subterranean dwellings. Akil felt almost claustrophobic at the thought of descending into one of them. The large mound they were led too seemed bearable, however.
The wizard knocked on the door and stood with crossed hands to wait a response. Another wizard, slightly smaller in stature than the guard, answered the door. He looked at the naims with a crying baby a moment before asking the guard, apparently named Ekon, what he needed.
“These naims are bearing a nymph child to Halcyon. They have no means to fed the child though.”
The wizard looked at the naims with a much less subdued energy, “Oh! Come on.” He waved to the naims and rushed down the stairs, calling to his wife. “Rosalind, dear. Can you make some formula for a nymph child?”
Akil, followed by Cyrus hurried down the stairs. The entry room was rather spacious, though Akil felt keenly aware of the weight of the earth which must be above them. Cyrus was unphased.
Rosalind came at her husband’s call and looked at the naims a moment before smiling at the child, “give me just a moment, sweety. I’ll get you some food.” She continued on to the kitchen while Rhys led them to the living room to sit. Rhys reached for the child. Akil hesitated, his shredded nerves made him feel particularly protective of the child, but he handed the child off, knowing they would be of great help to him.
“Did you come from Enid?” He asked as he tried his own brand of gentle bouncing the quiet the child.
“No. We were in Trost.”
“Are there nymphs in Trost?” Rhys asked, confused.
Akil smiled, “No, the child is from Lux. We were going north to get to Halcyon, but we had sorcerers on our trail. We had to take another route.”
“When we get you enough formula prepared, you should go to Enid. The nymphs there will be able to help get you to Halcyon.” He looked at the child who calmed only slightly, “You will be safe there.”
“Here, give him this.” Rosalind said rushing in with a small bottle. Rhys placed the bottle to his lips and the child drank hungrily. The quiet after such an extended length of crying was a great relief to everyone, especially the naims.
“Thank you.” Akil said leaning back, relaxing for the first time in hours.
“I hope you don’t mind my asking, but what are you doing with a nymph child that has sorcerers after you?” Rhys asked.
“Has word not reached here of Lux?” Cyrus asked from his corner.
Rhys turned to him, intrigued, “No. What happened in Lux?”
“It’s been destroyed.” Akil said, leaning forward again. He felt a sort of anxiousness to hold the child.
“Destroyed?” Rhys cried out in surprise. “How? When?”
Akil tried to think back, everything had happened so quickly. Had it been a day or two? “I think it was last night. The sorcerers from Shara came. We left just before, I am not sure how bad it turned out, but it didn’t sound good. I heard people talk of the forest now being dark.”
“Dark? Entirely?” Rhys set the bottle aside now that Zuriel had finished it.
“May I?” Akil asked, reaching for the child.
“Of course.” Rhys quickly stepped forward and returned the child to Akil. “Why would they do that? Did Samael order it?”
“I don’t imagine they went on their own. Even if they did, Samael was the one who stirred them up to the hatred needed to wipe out a city.” Cyrus said.
“Is this child, the only survivor?” Rhys asked.
“I don’t know.” Akil said, shaking his head.
Rhys looked confused. “Why did you two and the mother flee?”
“Because he’s the dueling.” Rosalind said softly from the doorway.
“Oh, of course!” Rhys shouted, “Last time I was in Enid, Pachoua mentioned naims in search of a male child, but the only pregnant nymphs had girls.” Rhys looked excitedly at the child, “I had completely forgotten. Sevan and his people will help you. Rest here tonight, and in the morning, we will take you to Enid.”
Akil and Cyrus thanked them as Rhys and his wife rushed off to prepare a room for them.
“How many do you think know?” Cyrus asked.
“It’s sure that Samael knows. He went after the nymphs as soon as a whisper went out about the search.” Akil shook his head.
“There were already lies going around before.” Cyrus said, looking sternly at the floor.
“I can’t help feel we played a part in destroying Lux.” Akil said, looking sadly down at the child. He wondered how far Adira had made it. If she was still alive.
“We might have sped it up some, but Samael has wanted the nymphs gone for a long time.”
“Maybe.”
“Certainly.” Cyrus corrected as Rhys returned to usher them to their room.
