This past weekend we moved. It was probably not the most dramatic move we have ever made, because it was from an upstairs unit to a downstairs unit. Although my teen was extremely helpful in the move, she had a rather critical spirit about the new spot. It certainly is smaller and aesthetically. It needs some work before we can really call it home.
While we are still in sifting and sorting mode, all of our furniture is in the correct places. Most of our paintings and family photos are up and I believe that within a week, we will have found a place for most of our belongings. Moving does not mean that I can allow myself to be distracted when fulfilling my goals. Rather, I have to guard my writing and editing time as it is precious. This takes some self discipline, and I have to turn a blind eye to a few piles of things that still have to be sorted.
It makes me think about two of my characters who had to move in books 1 and 2. Nadine and her entire family had to move after book 1. It is not as if they had much of a choice. The Dragon Thief recognised Nadine and that meant that King Radolf would find out where they were. Those of you who read my prequel Novella, A Mother’s Warning probably have realised by now that King Radolf is not a man to be trifled with. A less drama filled, but still important move was Elizabeth, the Medicine Woman. She originally lived closer to Holly Hill Cave, but after Lady Christine summoned her to help with a rather unusual problem, she set up her rooms in Lord Logan’s lands. What made these two moves very different was that Nadine’s family was under threat. However, Elizabeth had no enemies. She chose to move, and many of her loyal patients followed her. Forced decisions feel a lot different to empowered choices. But whether forced or voluntary, the show must go on as they say. So I will be forging ahead regardless of the piles of clothes around me or the painting of shelves that I must do. I hope that by next week’s newsletter, I have fully settled in.
What Am I Currently Writing?
Nesta leggings were soaked as she ran through the early morning dew drenched grass. The tiny seed like flowers clung to her garments as she pushed her way through their clinging reed like stems. In the distance, beyond the tall trees that reached up towards the blinding early morning sun, she could hear shouts and the ring of swords drift through the surrounding silence. The camp had to be close by.
There was a narrow gap between the dense cluster of trees that Nesta squeezed her way through. Below in a valley were a group of young women lined up for inspection. To the right were twenty women in neat formation with leather and metal chest armour and mid-thigh length skirts with leather strips hanging from a thick metal belt. Despite the early morning cold, their garments were sleeveless.
In the middle was a line of shivering women, and girls stripped down to thin linen undergarments. Two women issued uniforms to the group. From a distance Nesta heard the shrieks of a handful of girls who bathed in a frigid stream on the other side of the border of massive coned trees.
“Keep it down!“ called one of the female guards. “Do you want to wake the entire regiment of King Radolf’s men? Can you imagine what they would do when they find a river full of half naked untrained women?”
Nesta stared at the group. She had never imagined that there would be so many of them. Nesta felt the prick of icy steel in the back. She spun around to see an ebony skinned youthful woman with cold eyes that belied her gentle smile.
