“truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t.” -mark twain
today, i’m excited to kick off fiction friday here at the daily gallen. having received some wonderful feedback from the fantasy novel excerpt i shared a few weeks ago, i have decided to make it a point to share more fiction – whether good or bad – on a regular basis.
thus, fiction friday. i’d like to thank christine niles, from whom i kindly stole the wonderfuly alliterative name. you should check out christine’s blog at river of thoughts. it’s good stuff.
today’s inaugural fiction friday is a short story about a character from my book in progress. i just wrote it last nite. so, it’s either really good or really bad.
you be the judge.
…
“the assassin’s oath”
though she heard other voices, niscene e’terrall saw no one in the darkness. not even the one whom she knew stood over her.
“in the darkness i bind my service. to death, i pledge my fealty.”
niscene did not mind the darkness of the oath ceremony. her life had been spent in darkness. but it was not the darkness that she feared. in the darkness, one could cause fear as well as be struck by it.
“from this day, the world will know not my name, nor my face.”
how he had found her, niscene knew not. he knew her name and her face and her story. every sordid detail. he told her she could repay the world for what had happened to her. when he looked into her eyes, fear took her instantly. no one had frightened her as did ash’an rah. not since her brother and his friends. but despite her fear, she accepted his offer.
“i am an agent of death. from the shadows, will i bring chaos.”
niscene felt a smile tug at her red lips. her whole life had been full of chaos. set upon her by her brother and his despicable friends. ignored by her parents. seemingly justified by the maker or some other god. but no more. the idea of returning the torrent of chaos in her life with some of her own gave niscene an ecstasy she never thought she would know.
“i am an assassin of the realm of men. from this day to the last shall i hold their fate in my hands.”
there. it was finished. all the voices ceased when they breathed the final word of the oath. the assassin’s oath. for generations, the world had told stories to their children, yet believed them as nothing more.
“words are but words,” the fiery voice of ash’an rah said, raising goose pimples on niscene’s skin. “rise and return to your chambers. you will find a name.”
niscene shuddered. a mixture of fear and excitement. fear of the man whom had just spoken. excitement at her first assignment. slowly, small flames came to life on a thousand candles lining the walls of the chamber. enough light to find one’s way. but not enough to make out faces. ash’an rah was gone.
niscene stood slowly. with the aid of the candlelight, she made her way out of the hall. when she found her chambers, she entered, eager to learn whose name she would find inside. a fire burned in the hearth, giving the room’s only light. niscene noticed immediately the roll of parchment set above the mantle.
licking her lips, niscene took the parchment and unrolled it.
she laughed.
…
thoughts, words, whatevers? share in the comments!
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