Coming up with a plan to communicate Charlotte’s displeasure to her distant fiancé required tea and cake.Once the maid had finished setting out the cups and left the room, Charlotte fixed worried eyes on Anya and asked. “What do we do?”Anya retreated into a sip of tea to delay her reply. What did she know …
They both woke late the next morning, stiff and sore, and hobbled out to take a fresh day’s view of the damage. Cadan was whisked off by the group setting off to assess the Castle bridge, despite the sling easing pressure on his shoulder. Samuel collared Eleanor as an assistant scribe, making lists of missing …
“They don’t like to… restrict… his enthusiasm and creativity.” Lesley’s friend, Janet, raised a brow. “So he’s an undisciplined, spoiled brat.” Lesley focused on her coffee. “Yes. And they won’t do anything, even when people say things.” “What about his school?” “Natalie’s homeschooling him. She says the education system is a relic of the industrial …
Rebecca watched the raindrops chase each other down the giant wall of glass facing her desk. It was a glorious view on sunny days, but on ones like this, when the clouds came low and the rain looked like it was ready for a re-do of the forty days and forty nights flood story, it …
“But he never leaves his room, other than for meals and to go to school, it’s just not healthy. He’s a growing boy, he needs to get outside, run about, get muddy with other boys.” “Does he look unhealthy to you?” “Well, no, but…” “Have you ever actually been into his room?” “Certainly not, I …
Ingrid broke the spell between them. “While I’m glad these two are more-or-less whole, we still have damage to deal with. We’re going to need supplies, and soon. Who do we send to town? And how do we pay for the goods we’re going to need?” Sarah stood. “Questions for tomorrow, not tonight, and for …
Theo wound up his enthusiastic description of his employer with the emphatic, “He is a veritable prince among men.” Silence. And not of the awed variety. Eventually, one of the older men at the table in the corner said. “You’re not from round here are ya.” Theo’s face – never good at hiding his thoughts …
For those who've read Sackcloth and Sky, a scene from Zain's point of view... The boy put the bowl on Zain's desk, yet another time-wasting exercise from the kitchen. He had more important business than eating unappetising little snacks. He breathed in, a memory rose. One of the gruel Lyra would bring him during those …
Myrah hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on her brother’s marriage proposal, she’d been snipping flowers for the vase in Mother’s sitting room and found some lovely late-blooming roses behind the bower. She was bent over, coaxing a particularly reclusive flower from behind its thorny guards when voices had hit her from the raised floor of the …
I had things to do today, nothing earth shattering, just the weekly security report from Sir Scatterscurry, and jam-making. Of course I didn’t need a mouse with a sword and an over-developed sense of chivalry guarding my home, but his primary domain was the potting shed, and he did a lovely job of keeping my …
The DNA of Stories 