April 2019 Writing Challenges: Days 15-18

April has been such a crazy month and I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. Always expect the unexpected, folks...scroll to the bottom of the post for a funny video on that topic. On with the challenges!

#AuthorsChallenge2019 Days 15 - 18

Day 16 - Your Dream Writing Life - I would love to own a little cabin somewhere with a small fireplace and a wingback chair. LOL But any of these three pictures would make a lovely writing area if my writing ever takes off.

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#AprilAuthorInspiration Days 15 - 18

She reached the far side of the clearing. Pounding footsteps behind her sent her into quick hiding. Just as another pain hit, a leather-booted leg stepped into her hiding spot. In spite of her condition, she gripped the thick ankle with both hands intending to escape, no matter the cost.
“Jema Natro,” the deep, rich voice chided. She remembered it well. And the frisson of pleasure it had once induced in her younger self. Tears brimmed and blurred her vision as she scanned upward. When she met the gentle, clear gray eyes that had lowered to her level, she loosened her grip on the soft leather.
“Tor Gervell! It’s been a long time but, I must speak with you. It’s urgen…” Her voice trailed off in a groan. She doubled over with the force of this one. Her precious, impatient child would not wait long. When she could speak again, she begged, “Please, Tor. There is no one else.”
Before she finished her plea, he was kneeling beside. He knew — could see what needed to be done. “I beg your forgiveness,” he whispered as he lifted Jema easily.
“Thank you,” she whispered in between the contractions. Tor carried her to a small cave only a few steps away from the path she’d been following. It wasn’t the best shelter but it would have to do. The next pang hit violently and she whined, doing her best to keep it quiet.
Tor lay Jema gently on the mazhy floor and left her to the arduous task of birthing. Drositiri, those Genzetti living above the mountains and not under them, were responsible for the birthing of their own children. No midiva. No aetha. No one to help if a problem arose. The infant’s imi’I alone bore the burden of responsibility.
The pangs came so close together now she could hardly catch her breath. And she dared not utter a sound louder than a groan for fear of discovery. Adurdrao was merciful and her ordeal was over almost as quickly as it had begun.
As if the babe knew danger lurked nearby, she uttered not a sound beyond the coughing necessary to clear her tiny lungs. She opened her golden eyes and gazed into her imi’I’s pale green. Thus Liha Natro, child of the high suns, was born in silence.
“Liha, you are your A’ada’s child.” The whispered words broke under the weight of raw emotion. The beauty of her ulu’u filled her with equal parts of joy and dread. With her looks, the child could never be brought back home. She had harbored a small of hope if the the child had been a strange blend of her green and her life-mate’s gold. She could’ve passed the infant off as her kreh. But the golden babe in her arms would never be mistaken as any offspring other than Aol Natro’s. She shared too many of his features.
She could lie and say the child was born after the suns had set. But a new law still doomed her child to death for there would be no witnesses who could verify the truth of her words. And she couldn’t urge someone to lie for her. What kind of a legacy did she really want to leave her child? Jema allowed her tears to roll silently down her cheeks for quite some time before Tor coughed respectfully warning her of his entrance.
“The suns are slipping into night as you weep. What will you do now? I know you wouldn’t have come to me without some kind of plan.”
The new imi’I nodded, tears still flowing down her cheeks. She set the babe to nurse at her breast and unveiled her plan. “She must be taken to Zim Haya Ne — to the temple at Si’Yinte Falls.”
Tor jerked in surprise. “Why to the Bot’hani shrine? Wouldn’t it be better to take her to our own Guardian? Bal Shif is a good man and a servant of Andurdrao.”
Jema shook her head slowly, sadly. This was not easy, would never be so. “No. She could easily be discovered there. Look at her, Tor! She is undeniably Aol’s ulu’u. If the wrong person spots her at Gild’n Shrine, they will know why she’s there. It would only be a matter of time before her blood would be spilled for the cruel pleasure of those who serve the false gods. I would avoid this early death for my child if it’s possible.” She bent and whispered her love once more in the infant’s tiny ear and then settled the babe at the other breast. She would feed her own child at least once before disappearing from her life forever.
As the hungry infant continued to nurse, Jema carried on. If Tor was disturbed by seeing the nursing babe, he hid his feelings. A newly birthed babe must eat if it was to survive. And it suddenly dawned on him — the reason it must be Si’Yinte Falls. Gild’n Shrine lay far to the west and north, deep within Genzet, a journey of at least one moon-cycle if traveling on foot. And that was the only way he could travel and remain hidden. He nodded once and spoke softly. “I understand what you are asking of me, and why. Are you certain this is the best way?”
“It’s the only way, Tor. I cannot keep this child and protect her. To save her life, I must be kept apart from it. Will you watch over her as you are able? It will be hard to let her go completely. I would like to name you Liha’s krehto. This way, I can ask of her openly and you won’t have to lie when you reply. I know I’m asking a lot of you. I’ll understand if you choose to walk away. I wouldn’t hold it against you.”
Liha finished nursing and fell asleep nestled against Jema’s heart, blissfully unaware of the danger she was in. Tor reached out his arms and waited, silently accepting the risky undertaking. If their ruse was discovered, they would all die, including poor Aol who knew nothing. If they could at least keep her safe until she was fully grown, she’d have a fighting chance.
“Liha Natro,” she whispered, “you are the ulu’u of Aol and Jema Natro. I give you to Tor Gervell to be his kreh. You will take his name now and forever be known as Liha Gervell.” And Jema set one last, gentle kiss on her ulu’u’s forehead before passing her carefully to the strong arms awaiting her.
Tor rose to begin the journey but Jema called him back. “When she’s old enough, will you please give her this?” She passed a small pouch to him.
He nodded as he asked, “What is it?”
“My dai’ir and pa’ir. I can’t even display them in our home now. My poor A’ada would shed many tears if he knew what the Drositiri have become.” Tor slipped the pouch into one of the large pockets of his breeches. The prayer bracelet and religious book of Genzetti prayers and songs would be safe there.
“Are you certain, Jema? There’s no going back. I could be a witness for you.”
“Can you imagine the uproar it would cause? You are known all over Genzet but the Drositir haven’t forgotten you are Tanderali. Besides,” she clicked her tongue as she waved away the temptation, “I would never ask someone to lie for me. She will live. You will keep me informed of her progress. And that must be enough. Why did I not see this might happen when Aol came begging for my suit?” After a moment, she answered her own question. “Ah, I was in a hurry and Aol was handsome and charming. He still is and I do love him… Perhaps it’s a fitting curse for my reckless choice.”
“Andurdrao loves all the faithful Children. Hold tight to your faith, even if you have to keep it inside for now.” Tor frowned as he stood tall and strong before her. She’d chosen Aol and he never chose another. What a heavy burden she’d asked him to bear. Was there ever a truer friend or a more pure kind of love? As he walked away, she heard his fading voice, “Walk well the path, Jema.”

Day 15 - Saddest Scene You've Ever Written - I don't know if which is the sadder scene, the one I shared on IG or the one above this text, or one I haven't shared at all! I do know when I wrote these, I was moved to tears and the larger part tears at my heart as a mother. I lost two babies through miscarriage and it left me hollow and grieving. I can only imagine what it must be like to have to give your baby up for adoption, knowing that baby is still alive and you still may never see them again. But at least there's a possibility, whereas with miscarriage... *sigh*
That being said, this is only the second incarnation of the scene at the bottom and it won't show up in the final manuscript. I hope to use it as fodder for a short story later on.

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#WWFChallenge2019 Days 15 - 18

Day 15 - Pic of you with a book your MC would read - The only book I could find on my shelves that Zec might read was this book on making elegant wire jewelry.

Day 17 - Do you plant to or have book merch? Yes! Click on the photo to visit my Zazzle store. :)

Zec Inessi sees dreams. Who doesn't, right? But these are prophetic dreams. Zec's gift could mean exile for him if the Divini'I discover his secret. When confronted by the nosy law-keeper, Shi Malaki, Zec's parents decide he must travel to Gild'n Shrine to secretly complete his m'sa'filam (pilgrimage). Such a treacherous path to the far north requires a trustworthy guide. They seek the help of Master Tor Gervell, sending Zec off with the traditional blessing: “Walk well the path which lies before you.” But have they made their move in time?

The darkness growing in Genzet threatens to destroy more than Zec's life. Two factions war within Genzet while two religions tear these factions apart from within. Their striving stirs the legendary Menterria, the stone protectors of Genzet, to wakefulness.

Why has Andurdrao given Zec this gift? Can the Children of Y'Dahnndrya rediscover their purpose? Or will zealots and heretics create a chasm not even the Menterria can bridge?

Day 18 - Blurb for your current WIP - I would /love/ to have your opinions on this blurb. I've edited and revised it two or three times...but does it pack a hard enough punch? Does it grab you and leave you hungering for more of this tale? *shrugs* I won't know unless someone tells me!

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As promised...the funny...