Maril sagged against the wide foundation of the support pillar, letting her temple press against a stone block taller than her, it was huge, cool, and weathered smooth. She sighed noticing a strand of her deep brown hair that had escaped from her long braid. It was plastered to the sweat on her face and… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 1
The table was hard and grainy under her elbow. Her head, propped up by her arm, was unreasonably heavy. The herbs in her vegetable soup drifted around on the surface as if they were dancing bugs, or maybe miniature boats. Swirling around her spoon they looked like they were racing or trying to catch one… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 2
Nora smiled at Maril in the vanity mirror’s reflection. Maril’s parents had recently hired Nora to help Vicki in the kitchen and to do other minor chores around the house. In Maril’s opinion, Nora was an inefficient maid, always running around to find things she had forgotten or lost. Maril was reasonably sure it was… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 3
Maril reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to hear Owen, down the hall at the front door, say, “Just this way Mister Hinkelton. I will show you to the tea room. Miss Maril will be right down.” Nora, who had followed her down the long flights of stairs, nudged her lightly on… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 4
Maril and Bert walked down the street in what Maril had started to think of as companionable silence. They were headed to the community park where both ends of Canter Court joined the main highway. There were about 30 houses on the loop of the street, all about the same size but of a variety… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 5
Maril peered out the carriage window. Owen, who had figured out where Bert lived without any assistance from her, was turning into a driveway. There was an elaborate looking building near the street decorated with carved wood trim and embellishments. The building was painted teal and all the trimmings were a burnt orange color. It… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 6
It took almost an hour to get to the aqueduct where Maril had left off a few days before. The main highway started out relatively smooth but got progressively rougher as the carriage traveled farther from the city. Maril fell asleep for part of the trip, even with Bert excitedly looking out first one window… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 7
Maril climbed out of the carriage at pillar 1,458. This one and one more to go. She was starting to get tired. Her mana had not completely refilled since she had worked on the other pillars a few days ago. Bert jumped down out of the carriage behind her. It was a tiny bit annoying… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 8
They finished the last two pillars uneventfully. Owen was maybe a little suspicious when they came back from the pillar after Maril had absorbed the mana. She only realized after sitting down in the carriage that it was odd that she was laughing and had enough energy to leap up into the carriage. But no… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 9
Bert had given Maril the puzzle box and began teaching her how to open it as they left the Assignment Office. The puzzle to open the box was surprisingly complex. When she realized she was not going to learn how to open the box before they got to Bert’s house she had Owen stop at… Read More »Maril Leyfinder: Chapter 10