(Click for links to previous chapters.) Eight days, and no one is sick. The graves have been cleansed, the volunteers have been cleansed, and now we wait. Sister Mays is hopeful. I am worried. I have nightmares about a shadowy figure digging a new grave. Germins stayed three nights, but had no visions. I thanked … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 76

(Click for links to previous chapters.) Another week of ordinary. I try to savor it, knowing we are soon going to be pulled into the Wedding Plans Mother is orchestrating. She began quietly just making lists, then her ladies started flurrying about, and were soon joined by mine. It is only a matter of time … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 74

(Click for links to previous chapters.) I am in a good mood, almost a week of uninterrupted sleep and a lack of new problems seems to herald a period of boredom, and this time I am not complaining. I leave Mynar and Lej plotting over breakfast, Germins looking glum, and go looking for Alan. He … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 73

(Click here for links to prior chapters.) I convince father to go sleep some more (not hard to do), and Mynar takes his body back to wherever his mind already is. I decide to visit Thunder, and Alan and Jes join my usual parade.  We meet Germans in the hall, looking as if he just … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 72

(Click here for links to previous chapters.) Weekly court is crowded despite attempts to keep the construction out of the gossip pool. It was so totally a waste of effort. We are to the side, out of sight, silently waiting for the chamber to fill before gracing them with our presence; our audience isn’t equally … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 71

(Click for links to previous chapters.) The family is meeting for supper in one of the larger chambers on the first level of the keep, since the Great Hall is filled with construction. I don’t know where everyone else is eating; the steward can worry about that, but I have to go find Alan when … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 70

(Click for links to previous chapters.) “What is a Mage? What is a Royal Mage suppose to do? Did you talk him into this?” Alan is pacing around Mynar’s library asking questions which are mostly being ignored while I tell Mynar and Jes what has happened. Father hadn’t shared with them either. “You should make … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 69

(Click for links to previous chapters) We are tired and dusty as we ride through Misthold’s main gate just after twilight, our prisoner still tied in one of the supply carts despite four more escape attempts. Gregor and the battalion will escort him to the city prison; he isn’t coming inside the castle, much less … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 68

(Click here for links to previous chapters.) Taver reluctantly concedes we won’t travel any farther today, and has camp set up while I call a conclave of the village. I take my seat on the rock wall favored by Nalor, and wait for them to come to me. They collectively caused this problem and they … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 67

(Click here for links to previous chapters.) Taver moves us out early in the morning. “There will be no more delays,” he announces. No one argues with him, but I can’t tell if it is because they agree, or because they aren’t sure his temper has cooled. It looks to be a pleasant ride, the … Continue reading Spire: Chapter 66