Etude 12: Tempo Commodo
For organizational purposes, I feel like it's better to start a new blog post for every new chapter, even if I manage to do multiple of them in one day. Here's the start of Etude 12, which continues Etude 11 (duh).
In other news, I should be getting off to dinner, so I'm posting this in the meanwhile. I sooo need to get back on track...
Sarah stood still, barely believing what had happened. The thing that had been lunging for Armand was now clearly visible. It was a gaunt figure in a tattered black robe. Frost traced delicate patterns over it, patterns that seemed to speak to some inner part of her mind and awaken a sense of dread and fear. It was hooded, and she could not see beyond the hood. The sword's vibrations seemed to have stopped, although she felt a faint pulse from it now and then. Strangely, the figure had not fallen as the wolf had when she'd stopped it. She walked hesitantly over to Armand. He was frozen in a gesture of defiance, arms raised to protect himself. She felt a building tension within herself, like water trying to burst through a dam. Her head was beginning to ache and throb. She looked at the sword in her hands. It glowed only faintly now, as if it had spent itself. Maybe if I can figure out how to use the sword, it can protect us. She held the sword up. It wobbled; she wasn't strong enough to bear the weight of it for very long. I don't know how to use this thing! "Sword of Peace, defend us," she said, hesitantly. Nothing happened. For a moment she thought the sword seemed to glow a bit brighter, and she felt it pulse in her hands. But it did nothing else. Maybe I can unfreeze only Armand and he can use the sword... She reached to touch him, but he remained stiff and frozen. The throbbing in her head was growing more painful. It was starting to be hard to breathe. The ltitlest movement sent needles of pain lancing through her head. I can't... Owww... But... On some impulse, she did her best to cram the sword hilt into Armand's open hand. And then the pain washed over her, and she fell into darkness.
...
Sarah opened her eyes muzzily. Her head was no longer pounding, but instead there was a dull, insistent ache. She was surrounded by a bright blue glow. She turned her head slowly, and saw Armand behind her, holding the sword with its point in the ground. There was a ring of cold flame all around them, centered on the sword. The flames danced around them, casting strange shadows, but this time there was something comforting about them. This was the cool blue of serene water, not the ice cold gray of the grave. Armand's eyes were closed, and he seemed to be concentrating on something. She didn't want to interrupt him, so she sat up slowly, massaging her temples. She squinted into the glowing barrier of flames, trying to see past them. She thought she saw the flickering shapes still beyond it, hovering there threateningly.
"You're awake," said Armand. It was a statement, not a question. He hadn't opened his eyes.
"I gave you back the sword."
"I noticed." And then, after a long pause, he said, "Thank you." Finally, he opened his eyes. "Are you recovered enough to move?"
"I'm still a little shaky."
He closed his eyes again, brows furrowed in concentration. "We can maintain the circle a little longer, but it's hard."
She stood slowly to avoid dizziness. Finally, she was upright. She scooped her pack off the ground. Armand was still wearing his. "I think I'm ready."
"Good." He pulled the sword out of the ground, and held it by the blade, then extended the hilt to her. "Hold onto the sword."
In other news, I should be getting off to dinner, so I'm posting this in the meanwhile. I sooo need to get back on track...
Sarah stood still, barely believing what had happened. The thing that had been lunging for Armand was now clearly visible. It was a gaunt figure in a tattered black robe. Frost traced delicate patterns over it, patterns that seemed to speak to some inner part of her mind and awaken a sense of dread and fear. It was hooded, and she could not see beyond the hood. The sword's vibrations seemed to have stopped, although she felt a faint pulse from it now and then. Strangely, the figure had not fallen as the wolf had when she'd stopped it. She walked hesitantly over to Armand. He was frozen in a gesture of defiance, arms raised to protect himself. She felt a building tension within herself, like water trying to burst through a dam. Her head was beginning to ache and throb. She looked at the sword in her hands. It glowed only faintly now, as if it had spent itself. Maybe if I can figure out how to use the sword, it can protect us. She held the sword up. It wobbled; she wasn't strong enough to bear the weight of it for very long. I don't know how to use this thing! "Sword of Peace, defend us," she said, hesitantly. Nothing happened. For a moment she thought the sword seemed to glow a bit brighter, and she felt it pulse in her hands. But it did nothing else. Maybe I can unfreeze only Armand and he can use the sword... She reached to touch him, but he remained stiff and frozen. The throbbing in her head was growing more painful. It was starting to be hard to breathe. The ltitlest movement sent needles of pain lancing through her head. I can't... Owww... But... On some impulse, she did her best to cram the sword hilt into Armand's open hand. And then the pain washed over her, and she fell into darkness.
...
Sarah opened her eyes muzzily. Her head was no longer pounding, but instead there was a dull, insistent ache. She was surrounded by a bright blue glow. She turned her head slowly, and saw Armand behind her, holding the sword with its point in the ground. There was a ring of cold flame all around them, centered on the sword. The flames danced around them, casting strange shadows, but this time there was something comforting about them. This was the cool blue of serene water, not the ice cold gray of the grave. Armand's eyes were closed, and he seemed to be concentrating on something. She didn't want to interrupt him, so she sat up slowly, massaging her temples. She squinted into the glowing barrier of flames, trying to see past them. She thought she saw the flickering shapes still beyond it, hovering there threateningly.
"You're awake," said Armand. It was a statement, not a question. He hadn't opened his eyes.
"I gave you back the sword."
"I noticed." And then, after a long pause, he said, "Thank you." Finally, he opened his eyes. "Are you recovered enough to move?"
"I'm still a little shaky."
He closed his eyes again, brows furrowed in concentration. "We can maintain the circle a little longer, but it's hard."
She stood slowly to avoid dizziness. Finally, she was upright. She scooped her pack off the ground. Armand was still wearing his. "I think I'm ready."
"Good." He pulled the sword out of the ground, and held it by the blade, then extended the hilt to her. "Hold onto the sword."
posted by Selene at 8:34 PM
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