#shelbee's story

[shelbeetaylor]

Character Introductions (Part 2)

-> story masterpost

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Genevieve Santira

Most of her life, people have only called her Genevieve, but Evie’s calling her Gena has begun to stick.

Genevieve uses she/her pronouns.

Genevieve is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and her birthday is on May 16 which would make her a Taurus.

Genevieve is known as the Crown Princess’s maidservant to those outside the palace, but those inside know her as one of Cassandra’s best friends.

Likes: working with her hands like sewing and embroidery, helping her father in the smithy, and taking care of her friends

Dislikes: playing mother to the chaotic individuals she happens to be friends with, her inability to read or write, and Cassandra only when the princess doesn’t listen to her

Genevieve often frequents the taverns of Vale Serine not to drink but to listen to the songs played by the traveling bards. Since she cannot read or write, the lyrics of the nomadic musicians provide her with stories she wouldn’t be able to know of otherwise.

If Genevieve lived in our world, her playlists would probably be filled with songs by artists like Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and SZA.

Genevieve, though quite confident in her ability to perform her job adequately, she struggles a lot with her life at home. Her parents were forced into marriage and out of their village after having her brother--who she hates talking about-- out of wedlock. Genevieve was very young when her brother disappeared, and her home life took a turn for the worse. Now she relies on her time away at work and the adventures Cassandra drags her on to grant her reprieve.

Face Claim: Angel Coulby as Guinevere in BBC Merlin

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Wesley Moonbourne

A lot of people often refer to him as Wesley, but Evie has deemed it more appropriate to call him Wes.

Wesley uses he/him pronouns.

Wesley is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and his birthday is on October 14 which would make him a Libra.

Currently, Wesley holds no official title, but by training in Vale Serine under the instruction of Theo he hopes to earn himself a spot as one of the knights of Nevernia.

Likes: dogs, hunting, and playing chess

Dislikes: feeling like he doesn’t belong, Evie feeling bad, and being without his dog Ranger

Wesley grew up in the outskirts of Bellbury, a city surrounded by farmland, so one of his odd interests is agriculture. Most of his days in Bellbury were spent voluntarily helping around the nearby farms, much to his family’s chagrin. If Wesley wasn’t able to become a knight, his dream would be to move out into the countryside and live on a farm with his animals, his dog Ranger, and the love of his life.

If Wesley lived in our world, he would listen to a variety older music like songs by Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles.

Wesley, having just moved to Vale Serine, is really struggling with trying to fit in. He wants to be accepted by the knights and especially by his idol, his cousin Theo, and he’s trying his best to become friends with them whether it’s by acting cool or sneaking along on their adventures. Hopefully his newfound friendship with Princess Evie will lead him in the right direction.

Face Claim: Noah Beck

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Terran Willows

People usually just call him Terran, but the knights are also partial to Terr-man or giving him briefly-used, more colorful monikers… Sir Enoch’s favorite at the moment is Bog Man.

Terran uses he/him pronouns.

Terran is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and his birthday is on June 20 which would make him a Gemini.

Terran is currently studying as an apprentice to Galen, the Court Physician, and he has been working under Galen for about five years.

Likes: his mother’s yearly visits, reading, and practicing magic in his room

Dislikes: Galen’s intense exams, getting scared, and Galen’s overprotective rules about magic and going out

In the spirit of helping people, Terran dedicates as much of his time and energy into improving the lives of others. While he is working towards becoming a physician full-time, Terran volunteers around Vale Serine helping those who need it. Sometimes the knights will even tag along to help and protect him, especially if he’s making a trip into places like Serine’s Hope to hand out food, provide free medical care, or distribute clothes.

If Terran lived in our world, he would definitely be a big fan of Maude Latour, but he would listen to mostly folk music like Hozier, Lord Huron, and Noah Kahan.

While Terran is quite proud of who he is as a person, there is still a lot of turmoil inside his head about it. He grew up in the outlying villages of Nevernia where it isn’t uncommon to see friends string up friends for being queer or possessing magic. Terran managed to escape that environment with his secrets intact, but the inner demons spawned in that hell have followed him to the big city, though he’s lucky to have Galen there reminding Terran every so often that he is not a monster for the way he was born.

Face Claim: Colin Morgan as Merlin in BBC Merlin

[a-completely-normal-writer]

30 Days 30 Lines Tag: Day 13

*Crawls from the sea of homework and first week stress and dumps this at you guys feet. *

I can not make up my mind on what the POV for this story is gonna be. Like one second I want to write it in first person, but the next I'm writing in third. *Le sigh*

Anyway this is a "line" (more like a short story honestly) in which Shelbee isn't doing okay mentally and Sam is worried for his sister, but does not understand how to convey that worry as a little child, so he is acting out a bit. All in all the day was not good for either of them. Shelbee is around like 14/ 15 in this scene and Sam is 4. This is my first time writing a younger child's POV, so let me know how I did!

It's long-ish so I put it under the cut

Ps. I don't know if I ever talked about it, but Sam can read minds, it's the power he was born with. It came from his mom (Stephanie). He can also tell the future (kind of), but that isn't displayed in this excerpt.

Sam didn’t know where Shelbee was. 

Well no, that wasn’t entirely true.

Her body was standing right in front of him, But he didn’t know where her mind was. 

Her thoughts had been unreadable to him for the entirety of the day. It wasn’t that she was blocking him out--she never did that, instead reminding him to not look inside, but it was hard not to and sometimes he forgot--it was that the thoughts themselves didn’t make sense. 

They were a mess of images, words, and phrases that while he understood on a fundamental level, could not comprehend with his four year old mind. Even if he had not been as young as he was, the different thoughts were so scattered the wisest soul would have trouble sorting through them

For an hour or two he stayed away from her mind and thoughts not wanting another scare like that, but the fear of that woman broken on the floor began to go away, and his curiosity got the best of him once more. 

He almost stopped looking completely when an image of a badly hurt woman flashed past her thoughts. There was red everywhere in the scene, seeping into a wooden floor that Sam didn’t recognize.

He had burst out crying and the image faded from her mind  just as quickly as it came, his sister turning all her attention to him. 

At times her mind was silent. No thoughts, images, or words. 

There was just nothing.

Like right now.

Sam set his wooden dolls on the table and watched as his sister stirred the pot on the stove again and again, the spoon making a clunking sound against the metal.

This by itself would be nothing out of the ordinary, but the fact that she had been stirring the pot for the last ten minutes, after the fire had been turned off was unusual.

"Shelbee I'm hungry!" Sam whined, hoping to get her attention away from the thoroughly stirred soup and back to real life. 

"The food's done now."

It seemed to work as she looked up and over at him.

Her eyes were weird and fuzzy, like she wasn't really looking at him. Sam glanced back, but didn’t see anything but the bedroom and bathroom door. She turned back to the woodstove and moved the pot from off of it onto the counter next to it.

He already knew that, but he let her tell him anyway. 

She ladled the food into a bowl and sat it in fron of him before sitting down with her own. 

Normally, the two would talk to each other as they ate, with Sam showing her the treasures he picked up while they were out, and Shel telling him exactly what each one was. Sometimes she made up things when she didn’t know, but Sam was fine with it, as the stories were fun

 Sam was following the usual routine, but Shel was not.  Only nodding slowly--she was doing everything so slow today-- and giving the occasional “that’s very nice, Sam”. 

After the third time she said it, he began to think that phrase didn’t actually mean anything. 

He stopped pulling treasures out of his pocket, and went back to his soup. Tears formed in his eyes, but he wiped them away, making his movements wide and exaggerated, before glancing up. 

Shelbee didn’t notice. Just swirled the soup in her bowl.

Her thoughts were empty again.

 He kicked the leg of the table hard, the force making  some of the soup from his bowl spill out onto the table.

Nothing

He kicked again, making an even bigger mess.

Still nothing. 

He kept kicking, each one increasing in ferocity as his anger grew.

Shel didn’t even look up from her bowl

Sam clenched his teeth, and reared his leg back to just behind his chair, and kicked out with the extra momentum he collected. 

The kick moved the table with a screech across the floor, and Shel let out a grunt as the table's edge made contact with her midsection.

A loud thud came from the side of him at the same time and Sam felt something luke-warm begin to soak through his pant leg. 

He leaned over the side of his chair to find the culprit and saw that his soup had fallen to the floor.  The wooden bowl had bounced and was sitting on its side all the way across the room. 

The liquid had spilled all over the floor and was slowly spreading and seeping between the cracks of the wooden floorboards.

It’s thickness and eerie light red color reminded him of the hurt lady he’d seen early today, and Sam backed away. 

Unfortunately, the chair did not have much room to move on and  he tumbled out of it, rolling onto his side .

His head cracked against the hardwood floor. 

Sam let out a scream and banged his fists against the floor, frustration, sadness, and anger, all coming out in a wave of emotion that made his chest ache. Tears flowed down his face, as he hiccuped with each breath he took. He kicked out with his legs, and made contact with something solid, that fell with a loud and satisfying thump. 

It didn’t hurt, not really-- it sounded way worse than it was -- but it was the last straw for him.

Through his wall of tears he saw Shel come and kneel down next to him. 

She reached out for him, trying both to inspect his head and soothe him, but he wasn’t done with his tantrum. 

 He struggled hard against her grasp, screaming and swinging, tears still streaming down his face. Sam felt his fists connect with skin multiple times, but he was pulled close to his sister anyway. Shel’s hand rubbing his head soft and gentle.

He fought against her hold for a second, but he suddenly felt very tired, and he relented, sinking into his sister's hold, and sobbing into her chest. 

“-ry”

Sam realized his sister was saying something, and he turned his head to listen. 

“I’m sorry. Sam, I'm so sorry.”

His first  thought was that she was apologizing for ignoring and being mean to him today, but as she kept repeating the words, rocking the both of them back and forth on the floor, he thought that maybe she was apologizing for something else, something to do with the hurt woman. 

Then Sam was tired of thinking, so he just lay against his sister, letting her rock him back and forth on the floor of their house, the movement lulling him to sleep.

As his eyes closed and unconsciousness took him into its arms, Sam desperately hoped that there would never be another day like this one. 

[mrsamericanmade]

WELCOME TO THE FIERCE 50 CAMPAIGN

Today marks the launch of the first annual Fierce 50 Campaign. As women over 50, we are coming together in a supportive collaborative community to honor and celebrate one another, and to share with the world what it means to be a woman at midlife and beyond. Through this collaboration, each woman has developed a unique bond with their blog partner, opening their hearts and sharing their stories. In building authentic connections and relationships, we are forming a community of women who have within them over half a century of life experience and wisdom to share. We are joining together as one to begin shifting a worldwide perception of this demographic. 

We are here to show the world how powerful we are together and that we are only truly just beginning. As Lee Woodruff tell us, “As you discover each one of our stories, you understand just how powerful this time of life can be. Far from beginning to fade, most of us are just hitting our stride and putting five decades of life, smarts, confidence, love and sass to work.” 

🏆 Honored to introduce: 

My fellow Fashion Blogger and Fierce 50 sister: Anita Morris, a 50-year-young wife of a Los Angeles Fire Department Captain and mother of two sons (ages 20 & nearly 19). She says her greatest joy has been her family, but now that her boys are grown and independent she has found a new interest which she is eager to share. She blogs at Anita by Design, where she shares her love of sewing (which she rediscovered a few years ago) and she encourages women to embrace their own personal styles, to be confident in who they are, and to use the creativity they’ve been blessed with. She even teaches a Beginner’s Sewing Course on the blog through video tutorials!

Anita is relatively new to blogging and just celebrated her 1-year anniversary last month. Her blog shows her love of bold colors and beautiful, well-fitted and classic garments. And she makes them all herself, including the amazing Kelly anorak jacket she is wearing above!! Anita started sewing again in 2014 (after a long break to raise her family) and became aware of the amazing sewing community that exists. She sews almost everyday now and she tells me she has learned more in the last 2 years than she has known since she learned to sew many years ago. And now, with the internet and the amazing YouTube, there is an abundance of information available to us. How inspiring is this?

✂️👗 When she first began blogging, she didn’t really have a plan and just wanted to do it because it seemed fun and it would be wonderful to have a place for all her garments to be shared. And she knew that she could help someone else by teaching them. So she created her own YouTube videos and tutorials including a “Beginner’s Sewing Course” (see below) and she says her ultimate goal with sewing is to design her own patterns and make them available to the public. 

Anita says her inspiration comes from all over the place. Sometimes it begins with the pattern and she imagines which fabric would look good with the design. Sometimes the fabric itself is her inspiration - she will see a fabric and immediately know what to do with it. Other times she might just get an idea in her head, then look for a pattern and the fabric to bring it to life.  Sometimes she will see a woman wearing something and think to herself, “I can make that.” What a talent! 

She finds sewing to be both expressive and therapeutic. Her personal style comes through in sewing, as she gets to decide what type of garment she will wear (no trends or fads to adhere to). Because she gets to make every decision that goes into the construction of the garment it is truly a custom design. She is not bound by what’s “fashionable” and she can choose to sew current trends, with her own twist, or totally ignore what’s “in” and do her own thing. And because it all fits her so well, these garments are timeless and flattering. 

🍦 Fun facts about Anita: 

She loves tea parties, she enjoys reading, her favorite foods are seafood and ice cream (just like me!) and she stores her fabulous hat collection in recycled comforter packaging. Her personal motto is: “When you live in your designs, it is from there that God shines.”

🔍 Where to find Anita:

Blog: AnitabyDesign

Instagram: AnitabyDesign

Facebook: AnitabyDesign

YouTube: AnitabyDesign

Pinterest: AnitabyDesign

If you have enjoyed reading this blog post and want to learn more about the Fierce 50 Campaign, please visit this page to see an archive where you will find each of the women that are participating in the Fierce 50, along with their blog posts. We have lots more planned for this year and beyond so stay tuned.

🙏 Gratitude:

Thank you to our fabulous sponsors for aligning with us and supporting our mission to celebrate women at midlife. We want to thank Madison Reed, HSI Professional, Onzie and Awe-Inspired for believing in us and partnering in our first annual Fierce 50 Campaign. Please visit this list to see all of the collaborators and check out the Thrive article by Catherine Grace O. 

🎉  And thank you to the amazing Hannah Storm for joining us and sharing your journey on the newly launched Thrive Global. Hannah, we applaud you and the incredible work you have done lighting a path for women to succeed in so many creative endeavors after the magical 50!

✉️  Interested in either joining or supporting the movement? please contact info@catherinegraceo.com for more information.

🎨  Illustration credit: @bethbriggsillustration

Sharing this post on Shelbee’s On the Edge #SpreadTheKindness and her other linkup, Nancy’s Fashion Style Fancy Friday and Jennie’s A Pocketful of Polka Dots Fabulous Friday.

[careerexpansion]

Makerspaces Event Recordings + "Are You Global Ready?" The 2017 GEC Online Conference Is Coming!

The Library 2.017 Makerspaces mini-conference recordings have been posted! You can find them at:

Library 2.0 Site - Recordings Page: http://ift.tt/2lDGLjV (must be logged in)

YouTube Conference Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGvt9IyrGCa68EtCWNg2w57IMjSxFJFuT 

Library 2.0 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Library20 

Included in the recordings are: the keynote sessions from Heather Moorefield-Lang, June Abbas, Leanne Bowler, Kristin Fontichiaro, and Kyungwon Koh; the pre-conference special webinar with Susan Considine and Mike Cimino from the Fayetteville Free Library on "STEAM and Making at the FFL;" and our general sessions: Tara Smith + Jessica McClean--'Hosting Maker Days and Forging Collaborative Partnerships in Anticipation of an Academic Library Makerspace;' Alisha Wilson + Nancy Stetzinger--'Keeping It Fresh: How to Create and Sustain a Maker Culture that Motivates Teens;' Ben Rearick--'Proposal for a Theoretical Framework for Small + Rural Libraries Supporting Entrepreneurs;' Rachel Seltz--'Volunteers at Your Library Makerspace;' IdaMae Craddock--'From Makerspace to Learning Commons: What's Next;' Rebecca Ferrer--'From Zero to System Wide Makerspace in 3 Grants and 4 Years;' Josh Weisgrau +Jessica Parker--'Librarians are Maker Champions: Here's how you can be too!;' Kristina A. Holzweiss--'Making a Difference:' Morgan Chivers + Katie Musick Peery--'Walking the Walk: iterative design in student staff service learning projects;' Hilda Gómez--'Bibliotecas Activas;' Abigail L. Phillips--'Finding What Fits: Approachability of Makerspaces and Making in the Library;' Robert Pronovost--'Low Cost Tools to Bring Making into Your Library;' Stephanie Piper--'Smart Working for Active Makerspaces;' and Martin Wallace, Katie Peery, + Morgan Chivers--'Making Maker Literacies: Competencies-based Course Integration of Academic Library Makerspaces.'

The 8th Annual Global Education Conference (GEC) November 13 - 16, 2017

The Global Education Conference Network's eighth annual worldwide collaboration on globally-connected education will take place around the clock starting Monday, November 13, and continue through Thursday, November 16.

This event is FREE to attend, but does require that you REGISTER! Please register HERE. 

The GEC features thought leaders from the world of education and beyond, is completely free to attend and takes place online in live webinar format. We invite you to join the 25,600 GEC community members (from 170+ countries) and actively participate in dozens of sessions focused on international education topics. Some important conference updates are below:

Still Taking Proposals

Keynotes + Sessions

Thanks to the GEC Sponsors + Partners

We're Still Taking Proposals!

The call for proposals is open until November 5th. We encourage all to submit by following the detailed directions listed here. If accepted, you can present in your time zone at a time that is convenient to you!

Keynotes + Sessions

As usual, Lucy Gray is putting together an INCREDIBLE keynote speaker lineup and it is still growing.

Mali Bickley (Collaboration Specialist, TakingITGlobal)

David Bornstein (Co-Founder + CEO, Solutions Journalism Network)

Fabrice Fresse (Member of EvalUE, EvalUE)

Michael Furdyk (Co-founder, TakingITGlobal)

Terry Godwaldt (Executive Director, The Centre for Global Education)

Seán Ó Grádaigh (National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG))

Alan Mather (Chief, Office of College + Career Success)

Ann S. Michaelsen (Teacher and school leader, Sandvika vgs)

Jean-Luc Moreau (President, EvalUE association)

Dana Mortenson (CEO + Co-founder, World Savvy)

Jennie Niles (DC's Deputy Mayor of Education)

Lori Roe (Instructional Technology Specialist, Delaware Department of Education)

Maggie Mitchell Salem (Executive Director, QFI)

Ariel Tichnor-Wagner (Senior Fellow of Global Competence, ASCD)

Erin Towns (Global Educator, Edward Little High School)

Liam Wegimont (Chairperson, GENE)

Dr. Jennifer Williams (Director of Education Strategy, Participate)

Below are the session titles and presenters for our 59 currently-accepted general sessions, and more of these are coming as well! Full details are here.

Amplifying Student Voices Globally Via the Our Global Classroom What If Grid. - Bronwyn Joyce

Beyond Our Borders: Fostering Global Competency Through Student Travel and Virtual Exchanges - Cynthia Derrane

Bringing learning BACK INTO the classroom - Liu Yijie

Bringing the world to rural environments - Peter Raatz

Children's Literature, Math, and Global Connections - Oh My! - Glenna Gustafson

Classroom Conversations with the World - Paul Hurteau

Conference Proposal #WebDay - Sean Terwilliger

Connecting Kids @SOS Children Village Globally - a dive into iEARN projects - Sheeba Ajmal

Connecting through Architecture: Minecraft in the Language Classroom - Kathleen Reardon

Cosmopolitan Project Based Learning - Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals in PBL - Craig Perrier

Creating Change through Youth Empowerment - Mahika

Designing for All: Lessons from a Global Network of Maker Classrooms - Lisa Jobson

Developing Globally Competent Students - Ann C. Gaudino

Enhancing Intercultural Communication through an International Film Club - Helaine W. Marshall

Exploring Gender Neutral/Inclusive Bathrooms in Libraries: A Global Perspective - Raymond Pun

Food Rescue through a High School - Toni Olivieri-Barton

Foundations of Global Learning: Creating Global Citizens in the First-Year Experience - Dr. Shelbee NguyenVoges

Global Learning Collaboration in a Less Tech World - Dr. Reynaldo L. Duran

Global Mentors Project: Connecting Student Teachers with Mentors from Around the World - Terry Smith

Global PBL in the Digital Age - Brad Bielawski

Global Scholar Diploma at the High School Level - Toni Olivieri-Barton

Global Students Global Perspectives - Amazing Race Project - Laurie Clement

Going Beyond the Hour of Code - Bryan L. Miller

Great Global Challenge Project Awardee Presentation: Why should I study a Foreign Language? - Ruth Valle

Harnessing the Power of Children's Literature to Teach Math and Global Themes - Glenna Gustafson

High School Global Issues Class as a Springboard for Creating Young Activists - Adam Carter

How can schools be vehicles for creating community wellness? - Jennifer Moore

How might preparation for and engagement in a protest poetry festival enhance Grade 10 boys’ understanding of global conflict? - Glynnis Moore

How to create inclusion and shared power in virtual exchange partnerships. - Jack Haskell

How to increase global competency in students: A research-based discussion with Empatico - Chelsea Donaldson

iEARN - Girl Rising project - R. Allen Witten

Integration of Global Outdoors Learning Blogs, TED Ed Lessons and Global Goals in Management Courses - Dr. Jose G. Lepervanche

Intercultural Competence - Shawn Simpson

Intercultural Competence For Educators: What's In It For Me? - Dr. Whitney Sherman

Just Little ol' Me Sharing my Global Collaboration Experiences. - Lynn Koresh

Maverick Leadership - Mike Lawrence

More Than Current Events- A Globally Connected Triad of Tri-BOBs - Noa Daniel

One Truth and a Million Truths: Teaching History in a Globalizing World - Nayun Eom

Online global collaboration - enablers, barriers and implications for teacher education - Julie Lindsay

Opening up Statistics Education to a Global Audience - Larry Musolino

Power of Impact Cinema: How to bring the world into your classroom? - Gemma Bradshaw

Practice Active Global Citizenship with the K-12 Global Art Exchange - Paul Hurteau

Preparing Students for Careers in a Globally Connected World - Heather Singmaster

Promote Global Tolerance + Celebrate Cultural Diversity by Creating New Media with the My Hero Project - Wendy Milette

Promoting Internationalism In Teaching And Preparing Global Citizens Through Exchange Projects: Different But The Same Project As An Example - Mr. Omar Titki

Ripples Make Waves: Bring The Global Water Crisis Into Your Classroom - Joan Roehre

talking kites in the footsteps of J. Korczak - Ruty Hotzen

Teaching Math and Global Themes with Children's Literature - Glenna Gustafson

Tech Trip: Using EdTech to Get the Most Out of Global Travel - Kathleen Reardon

Teens Dream: A global video contest for teens to express their dreams as they relate to one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - Linda Staheli

The power of case studies - Anne Fox

Tips for starting your own DIY Global Youth Summit - Tara Kajtaniak

Tutoring Students Online to Promote Universal Access to a Quality Education - Kasey Beck

Understanding the Reproductive Health Education Needs for Sustainable Development - Ms. Eunmi Song

Use Design Thinking to Integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) into STEM - Barbara Bray

Utilizing School-Based Virtual Field Trips for Global Learning - Dr. Stacy Delacruz

Virtual STEM Competition-Your Community, Your World - Volita Russell

What's a Crankie?? Using Creative Story Exchanges to Build Global Competence and Connect Students Across Borders - Cora Bresciano

World Peace Music Project - Yoshiro Miyata

Thanks to the GEC Sponsors

Without the support of the following organizations, GlobalEdCon would not be possible. We are grateful for companies and organizations who believe in the power of globally connected learning. Contact Steve Hargadon (steve@hargadon.com) about opportunities to get involved with our community.

That's all for now, but there is a lot more to come! Be sure to REGISTER and then join the Global Education Conference network to receive daily updates about the conference and notice of any changes. Thank you for your continuing support, and...

See you online! Makerspaces Event Recordings + "Are You Global Ready?" The 2017 GEC Online Conference Is Coming! posted first on http://ift.tt/2tX7Iil

[growthvue]

Makerspaces Event Recordings + "Are You Global Ready?" The 2017 GEC Online Conference Is Coming!

The Library 2.017 Makerspaces mini-conference recordings have been posted! You can find them at:

Library 2.0 Site - Recordings Page: http://ift.tt/2lDGLjV (must be logged in)

YouTube Conference Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGvt9IyrGCa68EtCWNg2w57IMjSxFJFuT 

Library 2.0 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Library20 

Included in the recordings are: the keynote sessions from Heather Moorefield-Lang, June Abbas, Leanne Bowler, Kristin Fontichiaro, and Kyungwon Koh; the pre-conference special webinar with Susan Considine and Mike Cimino from the Fayetteville Free Library on "STEAM and Making at the FFL;" and our general sessions: Tara Smith + Jessica McClean--'Hosting Maker Days and Forging Collaborative Partnerships in Anticipation of an Academic Library Makerspace;' Alisha Wilson + Nancy Stetzinger--'Keeping It Fresh: How to Create and Sustain a Maker Culture that Motivates Teens;' Ben Rearick--'Proposal for a Theoretical Framework for Small + Rural Libraries Supporting Entrepreneurs;' Rachel Seltz--'Volunteers at Your Library Makerspace;' IdaMae Craddock--'From Makerspace to Learning Commons: What's Next;' Rebecca Ferrer--'From Zero to System Wide Makerspace in 3 Grants and 4 Years;' Josh Weisgrau +Jessica Parker--'Librarians are Maker Champions: Here's how you can be too!;' Kristina A. Holzweiss--'Making a Difference:' Morgan Chivers + Katie Musick Peery--'Walking the Walk: iterative design in student staff service learning projects;' Hilda Gómez--'Bibliotecas Activas;' Abigail L. Phillips--'Finding What Fits: Approachability of Makerspaces and Making in the Library;' Robert Pronovost--'Low Cost Tools to Bring Making into Your Library;' Stephanie Piper--'Smart Working for Active Makerspaces;' and Martin Wallace, Katie Peery, + Morgan Chivers--'Making Maker Literacies: Competencies-based Course Integration of Academic Library Makerspaces.'

The 8th Annual Global Education Conference (GEC) November 13 - 16, 2017

The Global Education Conference Network's eighth annual worldwide collaboration on globally-connected education will take place around the clock starting Monday, November 13, and continue through Thursday, November 16.

This event is FREE to attend, but does require that you REGISTER! Please register HERE. 

The GEC features thought leaders from the world of education and beyond, is completely free to attend and takes place online in live webinar format. We invite you to join the 25,600 GEC community members (from 170+ countries) and actively participate in dozens of sessions focused on international education topics. Some important conference updates are below:

Still Taking Proposals

Keynotes + Sessions

Thanks to the GEC Sponsors + Partners

We're Still Taking Proposals!

The call for proposals is open until November 5th. We encourage all to submit by following the detailed directions listed here. If accepted, you can present in your time zone at a time that is convenient to you!

Keynotes + Sessions

As usual, Lucy Gray is putting together an INCREDIBLE keynote speaker lineup and it is still growing.

Mali Bickley (Collaboration Specialist, TakingITGlobal)

David Bornstein (Co-Founder + CEO, Solutions Journalism Network)

Fabrice Fresse (Member of EvalUE, EvalUE)

Michael Furdyk (Co-founder, TakingITGlobal)

Terry Godwaldt (Executive Director, The Centre for Global Education)

Seán Ó Grádaigh (National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG))

Alan Mather (Chief, Office of College + Career Success)

Ann S. Michaelsen (Teacher and school leader, Sandvika vgs)

Jean-Luc Moreau (President, EvalUE association)

Dana Mortenson (CEO + Co-founder, World Savvy)

Jennie Niles (DC's Deputy Mayor of Education)

Lori Roe (Instructional Technology Specialist, Delaware Department of Education)

Maggie Mitchell Salem (Executive Director, QFI)

Ariel Tichnor-Wagner (Senior Fellow of Global Competence, ASCD)

Erin Towns (Global Educator, Edward Little High School)

Liam Wegimont (Chairperson, GENE)

Dr. Jennifer Williams (Director of Education Strategy, Participate)

Below are the session titles and presenters for our 59 currently-accepted general sessions, and more of these are coming as well! Full details are here.

Amplifying Student Voices Globally Via the Our Global Classroom What If Grid. - Bronwyn Joyce

Beyond Our Borders: Fostering Global Competency Through Student Travel and Virtual Exchanges - Cynthia Derrane

Bringing learning BACK INTO the classroom - Liu Yijie

Bringing the world to rural environments - Peter Raatz

Children's Literature, Math, and Global Connections - Oh My! - Glenna Gustafson

Classroom Conversations with the World - Paul Hurteau

Conference Proposal #WebDay - Sean Terwilliger

Connecting Kids @SOS Children Village Globally - a dive into iEARN projects - Sheeba Ajmal

Connecting through Architecture: Minecraft in the Language Classroom - Kathleen Reardon

Cosmopolitan Project Based Learning - Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals in PBL - Craig Perrier

Creating Change through Youth Empowerment - Mahika

Designing for All: Lessons from a Global Network of Maker Classrooms - Lisa Jobson

Developing Globally Competent Students - Ann C. Gaudino

Enhancing Intercultural Communication through an International Film Club - Helaine W. Marshall

Exploring Gender Neutral/Inclusive Bathrooms in Libraries: A Global Perspective - Raymond Pun

Food Rescue through a High School - Toni Olivieri-Barton

Foundations of Global Learning: Creating Global Citizens in the First-Year Experience - Dr. Shelbee NguyenVoges

Global Learning Collaboration in a Less Tech World - Dr. Reynaldo L. Duran

Global Mentors Project: Connecting Student Teachers with Mentors from Around the World - Terry Smith

Global PBL in the Digital Age - Brad Bielawski

Global Scholar Diploma at the High School Level - Toni Olivieri-Barton

Global Students Global Perspectives - Amazing Race Project - Laurie Clement

Going Beyond the Hour of Code - Bryan L. Miller

Great Global Challenge Project Awardee Presentation: Why should I study a Foreign Language? - Ruth Valle

Harnessing the Power of Children's Literature to Teach Math and Global Themes - Glenna Gustafson

High School Global Issues Class as a Springboard for Creating Young Activists - Adam Carter

How can schools be vehicles for creating community wellness? - Jennifer Moore

How might preparation for and engagement in a protest poetry festival enhance Grade 10 boys’ understanding of global conflict? - Glynnis Moore

How to create inclusion and shared power in virtual exchange partnerships. - Jack Haskell

How to increase global competency in students: A research-based discussion with Empatico - Chelsea Donaldson

iEARN - Girl Rising project - R. Allen Witten

Integration of Global Outdoors Learning Blogs, TED Ed Lessons and Global Goals in Management Courses - Dr. Jose G. Lepervanche

Intercultural Competence - Shawn Simpson

Intercultural Competence For Educators: What's In It For Me? - Dr. Whitney Sherman

Just Little ol' Me Sharing my Global Collaboration Experiences. - Lynn Koresh

Maverick Leadership - Mike Lawrence

More Than Current Events- A Globally Connected Triad of Tri-BOBs - Noa Daniel

One Truth and a Million Truths: Teaching History in a Globalizing World - Nayun Eom

Online global collaboration - enablers, barriers and implications for teacher education - Julie Lindsay

Opening up Statistics Education to a Global Audience - Larry Musolino

Power of Impact Cinema: How to bring the world into your classroom? - Gemma Bradshaw

Practice Active Global Citizenship with the K-12 Global Art Exchange - Paul Hurteau

Preparing Students for Careers in a Globally Connected World - Heather Singmaster

Promote Global Tolerance + Celebrate Cultural Diversity by Creating New Media with the My Hero Project - Wendy Milette

Promoting Internationalism In Teaching And Preparing Global Citizens Through Exchange Projects: Different But The Same Project As An Example - Mr. Omar Titki

Ripples Make Waves: Bring The Global Water Crisis Into Your Classroom - Joan Roehre

talking kites in the footsteps of J. Korczak - Ruty Hotzen

Teaching Math and Global Themes with Children's Literature - Glenna Gustafson

Tech Trip: Using EdTech to Get the Most Out of Global Travel - Kathleen Reardon

Teens Dream: A global video contest for teens to express their dreams as they relate to one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - Linda Staheli

The power of case studies - Anne Fox

Tips for starting your own DIY Global Youth Summit - Tara Kajtaniak

Tutoring Students Online to Promote Universal Access to a Quality Education - Kasey Beck

Understanding the Reproductive Health Education Needs for Sustainable Development - Ms. Eunmi Song

Use Design Thinking to Integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) into STEM - Barbara Bray

Utilizing School-Based Virtual Field Trips for Global Learning - Dr. Stacy Delacruz

Virtual STEM Competition-Your Community, Your World - Volita Russell

What's a Crankie?? Using Creative Story Exchanges to Build Global Competence and Connect Students Across Borders - Cora Bresciano

World Peace Music Project - Yoshiro Miyata

Thanks to the GEC Sponsors

Without the support of the following organizations, GlobalEdCon would not be possible. We are grateful for companies and organizations who believe in the power of globally connected learning. Contact Steve Hargadon (steve@hargadon.com) about opportunities to get involved with our community.

That's all for now, but there is a lot more to come! Be sure to REGISTER and then join the Global Education Conference network to receive daily updates about the conference and notice of any changes. Thank you for your continuing support, and...

See you online! Makerspaces Event Recordings + "Are You Global Ready?" The 2017 GEC Online Conference Is Coming! published first on http://ift.tt/2xx6Oyq

[mozurii-blog]

17 Penis Horror Stories Guaranteed To Make You Laugh

New Post has been published on http://www.mozurii.com/17-penis-horror-stories-guaranteed-make-laugh/

17 Penis Horror Stories Guaranteed To Make You Laugh

We asked the BuzzFeed Community for their craziest and most awkward experiences with a penis. Here are hilarious results.

1. The allergic reaction:

“Years ago I dated a guy from work and gave him a blow job. He randomly started distancing himself from me, but later on we grabbed drinks. He asked me, ‘Do you remember what you had for lunch on Sunday?’ I had no idea, but he said, ‘You had cashew chicken… I’m allergic to cashews.’ Apparently his dick had exploded into a swollen, itchy, red, skin-peeling member from the blow job I gave him. Whoops.”

—carlyp4

Columbia Pictures

2. The girthy jaw:

“I occasionally get lockjaw. One time I was giving my boyfriend a blow job – he’s quite big and girthy – and my jaw started to hurt. I thought ‘fuck it’ and kept going, which was a big mistake. It got to the point where I couldn’t open my mouth wide enough to get his dick out, so I had to pry my mouth open with my fingers. Whoops.”

—shelbeed

3. The curry dick:

“I was giving two guys blowjobs in the back of a gay bar in London, when a third guy came up and presented his dick to me. Being the nice guy I am, I started to suck it, when I was hit with the overwhelming taste of curry, and I REALLY don’t like curry. I did everything to keep from puking before I got up and excused myself. It really sucked (pardon the pun), because all these guys were really hot.”

—tomb4ad

Warner Bros. Pictures

4. The wreck it and ralph:

“Gave a blow job before he gave me a ride back home. In those days I was a swallower, but I think that was the last time ever because I had to make him pull over so I could vomit on the side of the road. Ever throw up semen? Traumatizing.”

—marthagailj

5. Whatever the heck this is:

“Things felt a little wetter than usual when my boyfriend and I were fooling around, but I assumed we were just extra horny. He looked down and asked if I was on my period. I wasn’t, but when he pulled out there was blood EVERYWHERE. We noticed the blood was coming from his penis. We grabbed a towel and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. It stopped, and we realized his frenulum had snapped, so we went to the hospital. While in the waiting room, I felt a rush of liquid come out of my vagina. Since we hadn’t immediately stopped having sex, he basically filled me up with blood. I was, of course, wearing a white skirt. Whoops.”

—Conz Preti, Facebook

Disney

6. The scratched penis:

“I had just gotten my first set of acrylic nails put on. I ended up giving my friend a hand job, and apparently I completely tiger-striped his penis with scratches. I didn’t find out from the guy though; I found out from his guy friend who received a text from my hookup with a picture of his torn-up penis.”

—thedrakequator

7. The pesky tampon:

“I was really horny so I drove 45 minutes to my ex’s house to have sex. The next morning I realized I never took out my tampon. I proceeded to stick my fingers as far up as possible, but his penis was so big that it pushed it too far up. After 30 minutes I gave up and called the guy, asking for a favor. I went to his work, locked the door, pulled out some medical gloves and a towel, and spread my legs on his desk so he could pull out the tampon. He fished around for 15 minutes and finally got it out.”

—lauront

Sony Pictures

8. The dismembered member:

“I had to drive my college roommate to the hospital after he ���broke his penis’ in the shower. He was with his girlfriend in the shower and apparently thrusted too hard.”

—thedrakequator

9. The impromptu health lesson:

“I was pretty sheltered as a kid, so, despite being 17 when I saw my first dingly-dangly, I was extremely concerned about the large growth he had directly below his penis. He then gave me an anatomy lesson and taught me that they’re called balls.”

—ashleyf16

UPN

10. The nostril catastrophe:

“I was giving my horrible ex a blow job, and he ejaculated so forcefully that the cum came out of my nose. It burned like hell and I threw up a little on his bed. I spent the rest of the night hanging over the sink, coughing and unable to talk because it still hurt so much.”

—shaelagm

11. The fresh, never frozen, penis:

“My first experience with a penis took place in the storage room of a Wendy’s that my ex worked at. He whipped it out and I started screaming at the sight of the first dick I’d seen, swinging my purse at him and yelling, ‘OH MY GOD, IT’S DISGUSTING. GET IT AWAY, GET IT AWAY.’ I swung my purse a little too hard and ended up giving him a black eye. Yeah, we broke up after that.”

—hulachickbeasley

NBC

12. The colorful punk:

“It was my first experience with a penis, and I was very scared. He was one of the more ‘punk’ guys at school, and he pulled out his penis. All of his pubic hair was dyed in a rainbow. I ran out of the room as quickly as possible.”

—thedyingwhale

13. The SpongeBob re-creation:

“I, being a lesbian, had never seen a penis at the time. I was tipsy and having a threesome with my girlfriend and a male friend of ours. Not knowing what to do with his penis, I quoted a line from SpongeBob and said ‘FIRMLY GRASP IT,’ and then I did exactly that. Cut to four years later when I got married to the girl, and the guy was my best man. At the end of his speech in front of our family and friends, he asked everyone to ‘firmly grasp their glasses and toast to the newlyweds.’”

—mirandag4f9

Nickelodeon

14. The American Idol audition:

“I don’t know why, but I sang (into, on, at?!) a penis, like it was a microphone, one time.”

—dnorthern11

15. The numb mouth:

“I tried to put a condom on a dick with my mouth, but the condom was one of those tingly sensation condoms, which meant it was covered in chemical lube. The second I tasted it I ran to wash my mouth out. My boyfriend at the time thought I was puking, which actually made him start to puke.”

—claired4f1

16. The true blow job:

“I was a little sheltered, so I took the term ‘blow job’ literally, like, thats what you do to the penis… you blow, like it’s a balloon. He wasn’t amused.”

—hollycc

The CW

17. And the bloody surprise:

“I was on my period, but my boyfriend and I decided to have sex anyway. Everything was great until we both started to feel pain. He pulled his dick out and the condom was gone. He started digging around in my bloody vagina for it, while complaining about his tip hurting. We got the condom out and saw that his penis was covered in blood. He thought something was stuck in his pee hole so he went to the bathroom and tried to pee it out for 30 minutes. Finally a clot of my blood came out of his pee hole. Right after that he tried to have sex with me again, so I would say he survived.”

—wallaceed13140

FX

[lolmohammed667]

17 Penis Horror Stories Guaranteed To Make You Laugh

THE SICKEST AND MOST FUNNY SHIRTS EVER!

“I took the term ‘blow job’ literally and blew on it like it was a balloon. He wasn’t amused.”

"Years ago I dated a guy from work and gave him a blow job. He randomly started distancing himself from me, but later on we grabbed drinks. He asked me, 'Do you remember what you had for lunch on Sunday?' I had no idea, but he said, 'You had cashew chicken... I’m allergic to cashews.' Apparently his dick had exploded into a swollen, itchy, red, skin-peeling member from the blow job I gave him. Whoops."

—carlyp4

Columbia Pictures

"I occasionally get lockjaw. One time I was giving my boyfriend a blow job – he's quite big and girthy – and my jaw started to hurt. I thought 'fuck it' and kept going, which was a big mistake. It got to the point where I couldn’t open my mouth wide enough to get his dick out, so I had to pry my mouth open with my fingers. Whoops."

—shelbeed

View Entire List ›

[Read More ...]

OFENSIVE STICKERS

[latoyarubalcava3546]

17 Penis Horror Stories Guaranteed To Make You Laugh

“I took the term ‘blow job’ literally and blew on it like it was a balloon. He wasn’t amused.”

"Years ago I dated a guy from work and gave him a blow job. He randomly started distancing himself from me, but later on we grabbed drinks. He asked me, 'Do you remember what you had for lunch on Sunday?' I had no idea, but he said, 'You had cashew chicken... I’m allergic to cashews.' Apparently his dick had exploded into a swollen, itchy, red, skin-peeling member from the blow job I gave him. Whoops."

—carlyp4

Columbia Pictures

"I occasionally get lockjaw. One time I was giving my boyfriend a blow job – he's quite big and girthy – and my jaw started to hurt. I thought 'fuck it' and kept going, which was a big mistake. It got to the point where I couldn’t open my mouth wide enough to get his dick out, so I had to pry my mouth open with my fingers. Whoops."

—shelbeed

View Entire List ›

[shelbeetaylor]

Character Introductions (Part 1)

-> story masterpost

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Cassandra Ravenwell

Most people call her Your Highness or my lady, but her friends call her Cass. Only Evie is allowed to call her Cassie.

Cassandra uses she/her pronouns.

Cassandra is 21 years old at the beginning of the story, and her birthday is on December 1 which would make her a Sagittarius.

Cassandra is the Crown Princess of Nevernia, but she also unofficially holds the title of the best fighter in the kingdom.

Likes: hanging out & sparring with the knights, drinking, and talking late into the night with the physician's apprentice Terran

Dislikes: obscenely optimistic people, assholes, and the thought of being married to a man

While it is not uncommon to see Cassandra partaking in spars and mock warfare with the knights or taking rides on her horse Artemis, she is also a big fan of the ballet. Both to appease her mother and to feed a secret wish of hers, Cassandra takes private lessons to study the dance form.

If Cassandra lived in our world, her favorite song would totally be "My Kink is Karma" by Chappell Roan, but her top artists would be Billie Eilish and Halsey.

Cassandra has been dealing with the age-old struggle of mother versus daughter her entire life, but more recently some self-realizations have led to serious complications  in their relationship. Cassandra's known for years that she was attracted to women, however, living openly queer is punishable by death in her kingdom as perpetrated by her family for the past few generations. Within the past year, she has also discovered that she possesses magic which is not necessarily illegal, but openly practicing magic is just as dangerous as being openly queer.

Face Claim: Katie McGrath as Morgana Pendragon in BBC Merlin

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Evie Ravenwell

While her full name is Evangeline, she likes everyone to call her Evie.

Evie uses she/her pronouns.

Evie is 18 years old at the beginning of the story, and her birthday is on March 21 which would make her a Aries.

Evie holds the title of Princess of Nevernia since she is the daughter of the late king's brother, but she certainly doesn't appear to be the usual princess with refined manners who adheres to the rigid rules of society.

Likes: music (plays piano, sings, and composes), books, flowers, friends, and her horse Apollo

Dislikes: mean people, her friends being sad, and death

One of Evie's weird hobbies involves trivia, a game in our world that she would dominate in. Due to her photographic memory, love of reading, and need to learn, she has a great knowledge of history and has a ton of random facts stored in her head.

If Evie lived in our world, she would absolutely love music by Laufey and Lizzy McAlpine.

After losing her family and friends in the rebel invasion of Wystwillow, Evie is brought to Vale Serine to live with her aunt and cousin, the Queen and Crown Princess of Nevernia. Living in a new castle all alone is hard enough, but she's forced into a foreign society of rigid social rules and separation. Evie will have to adjust, however, she's determined to change some of the ways the Ravenwell Palace works.

Face Claim: Elle Fanning as Aurora in Maleficent and Lily James as Ella in Cinderella (2015)

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Theodore Valennard

Everyone calls him Theo, even the queen, but Evie is partial to Teddy.

Theo uses he/him pronouns.

Theo is 21 years old at the beginning of the story, and his birthday is on May 5 which would make him a Taurus.

Theo has been knighted for several years now and has been designated as Cassandra's personal guard, but the arrival of Evie has forced him to take up a more unofficial role as her protector as well.

Likes: teasing banter with Cassandra and the knights, hunting, and the sea

Dislikes: war councils with the idiotic General Valseras, injustice, and losing to Cassandra (in literally anything)

Though a lot of Theo's career and life revolves around death with his defending the kingdom and his love of hunting, Theo enjoys raising animals. He's raised every one of his hunting dogs, and he's been with his horse Poseidon for most of the horse's life.

If Theo lived in our world, he would listen to various types of rock music including songs by Metallica, Iron Maiden, Volbeat, and Paramore.

Though Theo has been away from his blood relatives since he was twelve, he is still dealing with the aftermath of living with them. His father was the one who sent him away to Vale Serine at such a young age, and for some reason every one of his accomplishments as a knight is still a way for him to try and make his father proud. He also grew up in an extremely anti-magic household and has carried that prejudice with him in his career.

Face Claim: Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon in BBC Merlin

[shelbeetaylor]

Chapter Thirty | Bitter Medicine

-> story masterpost

-> previous chapter

The forest was quiet with the insects and animals retreating into wherever they stayed during the colder months, just the occasional crinkling of falling leaves and the rustle in the breeze of those still left on the trees. Without those, it would be deathly silent among the rows of bark and fields of yellowing grass, light peeking through in larger patches as the holes in the canopy grew with the changing of the seasons.

Terran smiled at the glimpse of a doe among the wood and leaves, barely making a sound as she carefully stepped her way around the red, orange, and brown shapes in laying in still hordes on the forest floor. He himself stayed quiet and still like the leaves, trying not to spook the doe so he could continue to admire the way she existed in the ever-changing world around her.

She made it tentatively to the middle of the clearing that he was also occupying, boring into the strange human bent over in an awkward squat with eyes that seemed to be made of the earth itself. Terran glanced over her with his own, taking in the rippling pelt of golden honey and snowy white spots. A smile turned into a soft, slightly crooked grin that caused the doe’s ears to flick briefly, and before he knew it she was bounding off to the safety of the vast woods before him.

He sighed through his nose, dropping his head as he did so. It was a good attempt on his part, the animals in this forest have simply been given good reasons to fear humans what with being hunted for sport on the regular.

Terran dropped out of the uncomfortable squat he had assumed accidentally upon sighting the doe and instead leaned against a nearby tree as he found himself sitting on the ground, looking back in the direction of Vale Serine. The castle was barely visible among the treetops, enough leaves on the branches to still cover the horizon in burning colors.

Sometimes he would leave the brick and mortar of the city when he felt himself losing his sense of belonging. It happened more often than one might think. It wasn’t that he hated living in the city— that wasn’t it at all. He loved his friends and Galen, and he genuinely enjoyed being there more than he ever had at home in his small little village of Callisto… but there were these moments dotting his life where he was overcome with this inexplicable cloud of thoughts that haunt his every move.

Just this past week he looked down at the medicinal concoctions he had made every morning for the past several years and thought how ineffective they must be since Galen hadn’t made them. It was ridiculous, of course, because Terran had memorized the step by step instructions Galen gave him, had memorized why each ingredient was added to the mix, had memorized every note Galen gave him as the physician watched him make the draughts on his own… Yet, looking at the bottles in his hands he couldn’t help but think he was holding poorly flavored water that he gave to the palace residents, lying to their faces that he was delivering a concoction to help ease their ailments.

This wasn’t an anomaly. There were countless days where Terran sat before Galen in a lecture, stood before a patient, or laid in his room with his books and felt that he was out of place, that he was not worthy. Why did they trust him? Why did they think he was talented enough to be the next in line? Why would Galen choose him of all people to be his apprentice? What made him so special? Questions like these would echo through the hollow shell that was his body as he walked around pretending to be a human, every word out of his mouth making him want to throw up.

So when he couldn’t bear it anymore he’d tell Galen he was taking a walk and spend hours in the forest outside of Vale Serine. He’d take quiet steps on an undetermined path through the rows of trees, he’d sit against a tree as he was doing now and read a book, he’d lay on the ground and listen to the sounds of the earth wash over his still body. And for a moment he’d feel like he was back at home on the outskirts of Deavyos, his mother preparing dinner for him in the village a few hundred yards away, debating if she should walk to the edge of the trees and call back her son or if she should wait patiently for him to find his own return. He could almost hear the echoes of the everyday village life— conversations, laughter, farm animals cooing. He could almost see the smoke of the homes rising into the darkening sky. And then he’d remember why he left, why he traveled all the way to the heart of a neighboring kingdom, why his mother wrote a letter to her dear elder brother and sent her son on his way to one of the most dangerous places for him to even exist.

And for a brief moment in time, that little reminder of why written among the trees, whispered on the wind, spoken by the animals in their own language ate away at his dark thoughts and made him whole again.

Terran looked down and opened the pouch at his side, and upon seeing the empty space inside he found his footing and resumed the quest for various herbs that Galen had sent him on in the first place.

The sound of the sea was a constant in this dark corner of the outskirts of Bellbury. The cove hidden among the cliff sides was just out of reach of the strict authorities dominating the main ports, instead pirates, smugglers, and other people that lived outside the law made their home in this shadowy dock. It was the perfect place for these two to hide. There were no questions asked about who they were, where they were from, and most importantly why they were there. They were nameless, faceless, landless.

The two entered the hall carved into one of the cliff sides, torches lining the walls and casting flickering orange lights onto the stone around it. Shady characters passed by every so often, the one leading assuming his usual foreboding countenance to ward off these passerbyers. The more the hallway opened up, the more people began to appear until the setting shifted to an underhanded marketplace, or something of the like at least.

A woman passed in front of the torchlight at the end of the hall, seemingly made of the shadows themselves as her body morphed into a humanlike form. She watched the two approach her stand, the one leading constantly flicking his eyes about as though trying to perceive the entire hall with one glance. He was right to be wary, sure, especially in a dangerous place like this, but his frantic eyes were flashing warning signs to the people around him that he did not belong here.

And yet, though she was expecting their arrival, she was still surprised. Surprised at how uncomfortable they looked, surprised at the lack of preparation, surprised at how… human they looked. She glanced down at a shining shape swaying against the lead’s chest. It was a Nemhainic rune cast in silver, and from the looks of it a spell was etched into the silver in Meredian. So that’s how they did it. Simple, but effective— though the amount of magic radiating off of the pendant was a big red flag.

“So,” she said as they approached, “you’re the ones from Beyond the Peaks.”

She didn't mean over the piece of the mountains that jutted out from the range to separate the kingdoms of Valoran and Nevernia, she certainly didn't mean those pale imitations of the great behemoths that ancestors past wouldn't dare cross. No, these two truly came from the lands beyond those grand alps.

“I suppose you are the one we have been instructed to meet with?” the one in the lead countered.

She gave him a greeting smirk. “Sabine Leath, High Priestess of Morgainnessa.”

A single eyebrow raised, and distrust entered his gleaming eyes. “I was told you were an acolyte of the Temple of Astovret.”

Sabine let out a soft chuckle through her smile. “Oh, in my youth, yes, but a lifetime lived changes a person.” She again looked into his eyes, and in another attempt to ease his fear she continued. “I still have not forgotten the teachings of the Temple— though ‘Temple’ is a gratuitous term for the state of the institutions in this land.”

“We refer to them as Temples,” he responded, seemingly on instinct.

Sabine sighed, “It seems you are not understanding that the Temples are no longer in these lands. The Ver are but a distant memory, a scattered few that continue the worship of the old days… but that is neither here nor there. Are you wanting my help or not?”

“Unfortunately, you’re the only one I can ask.”

Sabine continued on grinning. “Well, now. Hold on to distrust like that and you’ll fit in with the locals perfectly.” She reached down to grab a sword and shield leaning against the wall.

He looked the ordinary items up and down, glancing over the crest painted onto the shield while waiting for further explanation. The High Priestess tilted her head ever-so-slightly to the side at the glaze of judgment in his eyes.

“Not impressed?” she taunted.

“I could’ve brought my own.”

“Yes, but how conspicuous would an inauthentic crest be among dozens of knights. This is true Deavyan craftsmanship.” Sabine’s smile turned dark as she tilted her head again. “I was informed of your… for lack of a better term, magicless state.”

He frowned quite aggressively. “I am not—”

Sabine held up her free hand. “Any of your little tricks will be entirely useless for your mission, so I couldn’t care less about them. No matter, I came up with some new ones for you.”

She leaned the sword back against the wall and held the shield tenderly in her hands, fingers caressing the giant golden lion sprawling across the front.

“Mi draiofareddheil seohwn nìthrych mi dalùm manns fymo dwyhan. Seohwn bydh naieum naimhdion leda an anwelesinneach fearym.”

A shimmer slid its way over the face of the shield, then disappeared as quickly as it materialized. She handed it off to him and picked up the sword, delicately balancing the blade between her fingers the same way as she did the shield.

“Mi draiofareddheil seohwn nìthrych mi dalùm manns fymo dwyhan. Seohwn bydh brifort acaddynt cor leda acaddynt inndwl.”

The same enchantment shimmer passed over it. Once the sword was passed onto its new master as well, she offered him her final gift: a book.

“What’s this?”

“You’re now Sir Mahecus Knowlden of the kingdom of Deavyos, and I suggest you do a little light reading so you fit in.”

He looked back down at the book extended out to him, then took it and nodded his thanks. The moment those two left, she shook her head and muttered to herself, “This plot of the Court of the Owl Moon is going to hinder my plans.”

Terran flung open the door to Galen’s chambers haphazardly. The old man stood over his bench, appearing to be mixing some sort of mysterious concoction that Terran couldn’t recognize but immediately despised the horrid smell it produced.

“What the hell is that?” he asked without thinking, trying to keep himself from gagging.

“A sort of pain killer. Did you find everything I asked for?”

Terran took a few steps further into the chamber and extended out the pouch filled with herbs, and Galen hobbled over to look in it. The old man made a face at the sight.

“What’s wrong?” Terran questioned, a little annoyed. “I got everything on the list.”

“Yes, but you didn’t get enough.���

“I—” Terran sighed pointedly— “I took the big pouch ‘cause you said we needed a lot!”

“Yes, but,” Galen said again, “when I said a lot, I thought you understood what I meant what with the tournament starting today.”

“Tournament? I—” and then he remembered and dragged his hand down his face, his palm sounding a slap as it hit his forehead.

“The annual knight’s melee tournament,” Galen explained anyway, “that happens every fall and that the city has been preparing for the past week.”

“I forgot.”

“You forgot?”

“Well, no one ever said I was the brightest apprentice you’ve had.”

“No,” the physician agreed, “and they certainly won’t now.”

Terran's lips pressed into a disapproving thin line.

“Go on, grab that book and help me with these preparations.”

Terran sighed through his nose, his shoulders slumping forward and his chest deflating a little as he did. He hated tournaments. The knights always picked on him as a way to show affection albeit a little messed up, but the worst part was the hours and hours on his feet healing ungrateful knights from other kingdoms that thought they were better than him because they were simply born into a noble family.

The apprentice glanced over at the shelf on the other side of the room where the book Galen was referring to was sitting. Terran— without moving his feet an inch— gracefully outstretched his hand, his index finger extending ever so slightly farther than the rest of his fingers as though it was pointing at the tome.

“Gwyairm.”

There was the familiar tingle of energy warming his chest that wrapped around his arm down to the bones themselves which lurched from his fingertips the second he spoke. The sensation lasted both a lifetime and for only the blink of an eye.

The book lifted itself off of the shelf as though picked up by invisible hands and flew smoother than it ever had into his hands which still tingled with the small bit of power he unleashed.

Terran couldn’t help but grin widely at his little victory, and an involuntary, “Yes!” escaped his mouth. The celebration didn’t last long, however.

“Oi!” the physician exclaimed behind him, and there was a slap delivered to the back of the apprentice’s head. “What did I say about using magic for everyday things? Is it really that difficult to walk over and pick it up?”

Terran whirled around, finding the old man immediately returning to his work after reprimanding his apprentice, and said, “That was the best it’s ever looked! How am I supposed to get better if I don’t practice?”

Galen pointed the pestle in his hands at the boy as he spoke, “You are not going to get comfortable using magic for the mundane. What if someone walked in and saw that?”

“Magic’s not illegal anymore,” Terran groaned.

“No, it’s not,” the old man agreed, “but that doesn’t mean the masses are ready to let go of their fear.”

Terran wanted to argue with the physician, but he knew that Galen was absolutely right. The probability that someone passing by seeing him do magic would find a way to get him killed on fear of his power alone was too high to risk, yet it still hurt inside every time he was reminded of that fact.

“Alright, no more magic.”

Galen looked up at him, hearing the defeat in his breath, and his face softened. “One day I’m sure you’ll find some use for it, and the world won’t go knocking on your door with torches and pitchforks.”

“Well, that’s very comforting,” the apprentice said, sarcasm creeping in.

Galen just chuckled and replied, “C’mon now, help a poor old man out.” Terran gave him a small smile as he made his way over to the bench and began prepping some more medicine, but there were whispers— inklings of thoughts— lingering in the back of his mind. It seemed another escape into nature might be needed to silence the voices in his head.

-> next chapter (coming december 7)

[shelbeetaylor]

Chapter Twenty | Evie's Grand Plan

-> story masterpost

-> previous chapter

Evie held out her hands, presenting the rows and rows of white lilies and various other flowers to Wes.

All he did was cock his head, lift an eyebrow, and say, “I don’t get it…”

Evie deflated a bit, her shoulders slumping forward as she sighed loudly. “Flowers will cheer her up! We’ll decorate the castle, obviously.”

Wes’s face only deepened in confusion. “So… how is this gonna convince– what’s her name?”

“Gena,” Evie replied without missing a beat.

“How is this gonna convince Gena to tell you what’s wrong?”

“It’s a surprise, duh! It’ll make the castle significantly less dull– you know, I’ve been meaning to give the castle a little bit of a makeover, so this is the perfect excuse to do it.”

“But, like… this is to get her to talk to you about her feelings, right?”

Evie made a face, pressing her lips together and sighing through her nose. “Yes, Wes, hopefully Gena will see the flowers and how beautiful the castle is and will feel inspired to talk to me about how sad she is. BUT the most important thing is that the flowers will make her happier and the castle will look prettier.”

Wes just sort of looked at her like she was a little crazy, and even his voice sounded like he was thinking she was a little insane. “Okay… I’m seeing a problem with this.”

“What?”

“How in the world are you going to get the entire castle decorated with flowers in one day, much less without Gena’s knowledge?”

“Ooh, that’s a good point,” Evie nodded. Who could help her? Who could help her? Who could help– “I know what we can do.”

“What?”

Evie started off towards the castle again and called back to Wes. “Follow me!”

Wes simply shook his head, ran a hand down his face, and followed after her.

Evie flung open the door to Teddy’s room, making his servant jump and almost drop the bucket he was carrying.

“CIVARN!” she shouted, before dropping down to a normal level. “I need your help with something.”

Evie had only really interacted with Civarn during their half-successful sabotage mission a little bit ago, so they weren’t really as close as she was with Theo or Gena. However, Evie would become friends with him. She still had to give him a nickname. Besides, she was sure she could get him to help her out.

Civarn sighed and set the bucket down. “What do you need, m– Evie.” Good, someone filled him in.

The grin that grew so wide on her face was filled with mischievous joy. “I have a plan.”

Civarn glanced between Wes and Evie blankly. “Why is there a plan?”

“Because Gena is sad! We must cheer her up!”

Civarn had to take a moment to connect the dots on who the nickname was referring to, but once he got past that hurdle, he was following. “Okay?”

“We…” Evie pulled out the single white lily she picked and presented it to him, “are going to decorate the castle.”

Civarn looked at the floor, looked up at her, and looked like the most exhausted person in the world. “The entire thing?”

“Yes, the entire thing.”

Civarn scoffed and stuttered before he got out, “Why?”

“Because,” Evie explained, “Gena is upset, and Gena likes flowers. Flowers plus Gena plus castle means happier Gena. Hypothetically speaking.”

Civarn rubbed his temples. “So, you want me to decorate the castle in flowers?”

“You and as much of the castle staff you can rope into helping.”

“I–” Civarn kept appearing to grow more and more tired.

“Ooh, can you, like, gather everyone so I can debrief them before I enlist their help? It’s probably best I explain what I want.”

Civarn wasn’t even able to give a monosyllabic sound in response, his face was just stuck. 

“Man, it would be easiest to just say sure,” Wes said from behind Evie. “She’s not gonna let you say no.”

“I–”

Evie inched closer to him, making the saddest face she could. “Please?”

Civarn made a face back at her as though his brain was telling him not to listen to her, but he gave in and said, “Fine.”

“Yay!” Evie began jumping up and down.

“Just give me like an hour or so to finish up my work.”

“Okay! Thank youuuuuu.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Evie took Wes by the wrist and yanked him out of Teddy’s room.

“We’re not actually doing this right?” Civarn asked Wesley.

During the hour that Evie had to wait for Civarn to finish his work and gather the castle staff, she had managed to draw up intensely detailed plans almost equivalent to battle strategies. Now Evie ended up dragging him, Civarn, and the entire group of volunteers out to the gardens to explain what Wesley was calling her Grand Plan. Currently, Evie was waving her arms about as she explained what exactly she wanted. She had become a general ordering soldiers about. It was, he had to admit, a little terrifying.

“Dude, I really think it’s better if we just do what she says. I mean, she started ordering you around without hesitation.” Evie told Civarn she was technically his superior and because of that he had to do what she said all because Civarn told her he didn’t want to drag everyone out to the gardens.

“I still don’t work for her, so that’s not really how that works.”

“That is not what she said.” She said that it works that way because she said so.

“Well, if there was any doubt she was related to the princess…” Civarn didn’t finish the thought, but Wesley knew what he meant.

“So,” Evie explained, “I’m gonna send her home early today. Once I do that, we’ll start giving the castle a makeover, okay?”

“Does she do this a lot?” Wesley asked.

“This is a first for me,” Civarn answered.

Evie was pointing out the different flowers she wanted to use. Wesley had no idea what they were except for the lilies, but those were pretty obvious. He shivered for a moment in the cold wind.

“Do you need a jacket?” Civarn asked.

“No, I’m good.” 

Wesley just focused on Evie giving her speech, her amber waves bouncing as she turned her head from the group to the flowers and back. As crazy as this whole thing sounded, there was this excitement, this passion in her ashy gray eyes that made him want to partake. Besides, it was for a good cause, so what was the harm? 

Evie's room was filled with freshly picked flowers the volunteers from the castle staff had helped her collect. Each of the servants had also taken a substantial amount of flowers with each of them, but Evie by far harbored the most. White lilies, orange dahlias, sunflowers, and purple and white autumn crocuses all littered around the place. 

Wes and her sat on the ground, weaving the flowers together.

“It’s not working,” Wes complained, struggling to twist the flowers together correctly.

“Here.” Evie motioned for the two flowers, and he handed them over. “So, you wrap it around like this, then loop it through.”

She handed the flowers back to him, the stems neatly intertwined.

“How do you do that?” he asked, taking back the flowers. “It’s so easy for you.”

Evie shrugged. “Just practice I guess, like with everything else.”

“You made these a lot back home?”

Evie smiled because she knew what he was trying to do. “You really wanna know about Wystwillow, don’t you?”

“Well,” he said as he tried to loop another flower, “I’ve never been there, and who knows if I ever will be able to go. So, I just wanna know about what it was like.”

“That is a fair reason,” Evie told him, returning to hers. She slowed her process down though because she saw Wes staring intently at how she was tying the stems together. 

“So… you were talking about your friends back home?”

“Yeah, um…” Evie looped another stem onto her collection of flowers. “I don’t know, what do you want to know?”

Wes shrugged. “Whatever you feel like telling me.”

Evie pressed her lips together, struggling to come up with words. “I–” She sighed, a little bit defeated. There was just so much floating around in her brain. Wes looked up from his flowers, and it was like he could see the whirlwind of things in her mind.

“Uh, what if I told you something about myself for everything you tell me about Wystwillow?” he offered.

He must’ve misread her troubles being that she wasn’t willing to share, but she wasn’t going to correct him. Evie was always happy to learn more about people she was trying to befriend. “Okay.”

“I guess, you can tell me about your best friend from home and I’ll tell you about mine?”

Evie nodded, looping another flower stem before she could find the words to speak. She let out a breath, then started, “She was the daughter of one of my father’s advisors. Her name was Agatha Holloway.”

“What did you call her?”

He already caught onto her love of nicknames. Evie's smile was a little sad when she told him, “Aggie.”

Wes chuckled a little bit. “Very creative.”

Evie lightly slapped him on the arm. “I am very proud of that nickname, thank you.”

“Okay,” he said, throwing his hands up.

Evie stopped working on her flowers for a minute as she walked through her memories. “She was so… amazing. We grew up together, so it was only natural that we became friends, but she was just confident and brave and, well, amazing. She would always be the one to suggest an adventure. I would always tag along because I loved her, but I could never be as fearless as she was.”

Evie turned back to her flowers, but she kept talking. “There was this one time where she wanted to ride out to a nearby village–um, Halus– and there were these local kids that were doing magic out in the woods. I was so scared, I stayed on the horse in case I needed to run away. But she just walked right up to them and demanded they become our friends.” Evie chuckled a little bit at the thought of it. “We spent the whole afternoon playing games with them, watching them practice their magic, sharing stories. It’s one of the most amazing days I’ve had in my life which I know is not saying much since I’m only nineteen, but I’ll never be able to forget it.”

“That does sound like fun.”

“It really was.” Evie's smile faltered a little bit. “I think about it a lot now that…” She stopped herself, accidentally messing up on the stem she was trying to tie. She wasn’t quite ready to talk about her last memories of Aggie. The wound was too fresh. It hadn’t even been a month. That was not a step she was willing to take right now.

Wes nodded slowly, probably assuming what had happened to Aggie without her having to say anything. 

“So, mister, you promised to tell me about your best friend from home,” Evie bounced back and said.

“His name is Ranger.”

Evie's brows furrowed. “That sounds like a dog’s name.”

Wes grinned. “It is.”

“Your best friend from home is a dog?”

“Yup!”

Evie laughed a little bit. “Okay, tell me about Ranger.”

“Well, he’s my first hunting dog. My dad gave him to me when I was sixteen…” Wes looked up for a moment, doing some mental math, “so I’ve had him for about four years now.”

“That’s a respectable time to own a dog,” Evie joked.

“It is indeed,” Wes agreed, playing along with her comedic bit.

“So I gave you a story, you need to give me one. What has Ranger done?”

“Ooh…” Wes rubbed his chin as he tried to come up with a story. “Well, I do remember that the first time we ever took him out hunting– my father and I– instead of finding the bird we shot down, he peed all over my father’s boots.”

“He did not!” Evie giggled.

“Oh, yes he did.” Wes was trying to control his laughter as he told the story. “My father was absolutely furious, he just screamed at him. ‘NO, WRONG WAY. GET THE BIRD, GET THE BIRRRRD!’ It was the funniest thing ever.”

The way Wes had reenacted the story with just his hands and his face had Evie in stitches. She was laughing too hard to even work on her flowers, clutching her stomach as her muscles began to hurt. 

When she was finally able to stop herself from giggling enough to speak, she asked, “So, where is Ranger now?”

“Not hunting with my father,” Wes joked. “Actually, he’s waiting at home for me.”

“You didn’t bring him with you?”

“No,” Wes looked down at the floor for a moment, his shoulders sinking a little. “My father doesn’t want me bringing Ranger here until I’m knighted.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, probably like he doesn’t want me to get distracted or he doesn’t want me to set up anything too permanent here until we know I’ll be living here for a while, I guess.”

“And bringing a dog is setting up something permanent?”

“I know!” Wes began looping another stem, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make any sense, but I guess it’s more of an incentive to succeed, or something.”

“How long is it gonna take you to get knighted?” Evie tilted her head as she inquired.

Wes gave her a big shrug, arms and all. “Theo said we have six months until we’re given our final test. Actually it’s closer to five months than six months…”

“So you train for six months and then take this test?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Do you just get one chance, or what?”

“No, he said if we fail it the first time, we have about three months to succeed. Otherwise, we go home knighthoodless.” 

“Oh…” Evie said. “What kind of test is this?”

“Combat,” Wes replied. “We have to beat Theo in no less than five minutes’ worth of sparring.”

“Well, I’m sure in six months you’ll be able to do that– five,” Evie corrected herself.

“I don’t know, I got absolutely pummeled fighting Princess Cassandra.”

Evie's eyes grew wide, “You fought her?!”

Wes looked her up and down like he was a little shocked by the excited response, but he replied, “Yeah, it was a sort of entrance exam, I guess. She actually slapped me to the ground.”

Evie stifled a laugh, and Wes pressed his lips into a thin line as he nodded. She went to reassure him, “But that’s okay! Cassie’s hard to beat, not even Teddy can beat her.”

“He lasted longer than I did.”

“Well, he’s been sparring with her longer.”

Wes opened his mouth to say something, stopped, then proceeded, “You know, I didn’t think about it like that.”

“See? You just listen to what Teddy says, and if you need to practice I can help.”

“You can swordfight?” Wes seemed a little in disbelief.

“Not at all,” Evie cackled.

“Oh, so you’ll be no help.”

Evie shook her head, still laughing, “No!”

“Well, I at least appreciate the thought.”

“I can be a great cheerleader, though,” Evie in all seriousness offered. “If you want some moral support, I can certainly be there.”

“I might need that.”

“Great, can do.”

Wes chuckled a bit, then asked, “So, how do you finish this?”

“Oh, it’s pretty easy, just take that and tie it there.”

Evie watched him as he followed her instructions, and he looked at the finished product with brows furrowed. “It’s… not good.”

“Well, it’s your first one,” Evie explained. “They’ll get better, I promise.”Wes looked down at it, up at Evie, then back down again. Without hesitation, he plopped the flower crown onto her head, the thing falling lopsided onto her amber curls. Evie immediately began laughing incredibly hard, so hard tears began forming in the corners of her eyes.

-> next chapter

[shelbeetaylor]

the conversation that inspired evie's clumsiness...

Theo in the beginning when Evie first moves in: no no absolutely not. This is way below my pay grade. Cass: I just watched her trip and nearly impale herself and it's literally her first day here

-- from the archives of mine and @singingslayingsoprano's exchanges --

Early in the story's creation, Grace and I were joking around and produced a lot of texposts / incorrect quotes-type beat conversations between the characters, and some of them inspired actual scenes I've written. I thought it would be fun to share them :)

-> story masterpost

[shelbeetaylor]

Chapter Twelve | Insult and Injury

-> story masterpost

-> previous chapter

Theo had waited patiently and silently as the court physician examined Cass’s leg while the physician’s apprentice kept a wary eye on Evie who was inclined to curiously peruse the selection of books on the balcony. When Galen finally pulled away from his examinations, the knight shifted a bit in anticipation.

“Lucky for you, you’ll be fine with a bit of rest,” the old man said. Theo breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn’t caused or exacerbated any injury. “I don’t think I need to tell you to be more careful with your dancing–” Galen looked back at Theo– “or with your pursuits.”

Theo nodded, still wrapping his arms around himself despite the good news. 

“I’ll be able to resume dance then?” Cass asked.

“Just to be safe, I’d take a week off. But a couple days of taking it easy wouldn’t hurt. That means no training.” Cass made a face. “I need to go fetch some ingredients for a draught for you.”

Both Cass and Theo nodded in response and waited until the door closed behind the physician. Terran suddenly appeared beside them, an intrigued look on his face.

“What in the hell happened?” Terran half-chuckled.

“Terran, we need your help,” Cass simply said.

The apprentice’s smile faltered a bit. “Why? What’s going on?”

“We found the intruders,” Theo explained, “and we have reason to believe they’re after the queen.”

Terran brushed a hand over his mouth as he processed Theo's words. “What makes you so sure?”

Cass flicked her eyes towards Theo and he stopped before he could even speak. He knew that look, she’d used it so many times during dinner and court and practically any situation with her mother. He knew what that look meant. “All the evidence points to it being the most likely scenario.”

“And why do you need me?”

Cass smiled a terrifying smirk, and the apprentice began beaming right back at her. 

Gena had almost finished putting away the laundry she was working on when the door to Cassandra’s chambers creaked opened.

There in the open doorway was her mistress being stabilized by Terran as she limped towards her bed. Gena's stomach immediately started turning, and she dropped the clothes she was holding to rush towards the two of them.

“My lady–!” Gena was abruptly stopped by Cassandra holding up a hand.

“I’m fine, just a little dance injury,” she replied with a half-hearted smile.

“More like a Theo injury,” Terran joked.

Gena looked between the two, confused and concerned, and Cassandra shrugged. “I can tell you about it later.” That didn’t make her feel any better about the situation.

“Uh, so here’s the medicine Galen wants you to take. The instructions are on the paper… and, yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Cassandra gave him a small smile, and Gena nodded a farewell. 

Her mistress let out a sigh through her nose and shook her head, but Gena just gazed at her. She looked so tired… deep bags beginning to form underneath her eyes, her movements more sluggish than usual, her eyes a bit bloodshot.

Gena half-heartedly listened to what Cassandra said. Something about a meeting the next night… she wasn’t sure. Cassandra realized halfway through her spiel that the maidservant was not quite hearing everything she was saying.

“Gena, are you listening?”

The maid fell out of her trance. “No, I’m sorry m’lady…” Cassandra pursed her lips, but didn’t say a word. “...Are you feeling alright?”

Cassandra seemed hesitant to answer, but she put on another one of her charming yet false smiles. “Yes, well, besides my newly acquired injury. Why do you ask?”

Gena was unsure if her face reflected how crestfallen she felt. “You just look tired, m’lady.”

“I assure you, I’m fine… though it has been an eventful day.”

The maid sighed through her nose and gave a half-hearted smile. It wasn’t a battle she wanted to fight, but she wasn’t thrilled to give it up either. 

“The recent loss of Wystwillow is not only unfortunate, but it is detrimental to our success in this ongoing war.”

Cassandra was barely paying attention to whatever bullshit speech Valseras was giving at the war council. The man was an idiot. Instead, her mind wandered to the night previous. Cassandra had been working on her translations of Meridian– which were going horribly– and trying out some more spells– which failed miserably. Learning magic was harder than she thought it would be.

“You don’t look too well, princess,” Valseras said, ripping Cassandra out of her foggy brain. “Is there some sickness keeping you from focusing on today’s council?”

The princess flicked her eyes over to the imbecilic general, her mouth gently twisting into a snarl, and replied, “Truthfully it’s your half-witted and dull monologue causing my chronic boredom.”

While the general clenched his jaw in defeat, the queen gave Cassandra a warning look despite the twinkle of agreeance in her eye. Cassandra just smirked in response to it all, though the world was titling a bit. The victory was worth it.

“As I was saying, “ Valseras began again, attempting to recover from his public humiliation… again, “the rebels now hold two major cities in the south of Nevernia.” Cassandra didn’t even try holding back her eyeroll. “With them being our two most important holds on the southern part of the kingdom, I believe it is safe to assume our control of the south has been lost with the fall of Wystwillow. And thus, the loss of the south is extremely harmful to our war efforts–”

“Get to the point, Valseras,” Cassandra's mother demanded.

Valseras, thrown off balance a bit, nodded before continuing. “I believe the rebels will focus their attacks on overtaking Bellbury next.”

Cassandra's eyes moved towards Theo, who was next to the dipshit general. The knight shifted uncomfortably at the mention of his home, yet he stayed silent. She knew no matter how much Theo hated his family, who governed Bellbury, he still loved that coastline city. The idea of what happened at Wystwillow befalling Bellbury had probably haunted the back of his mind ever since that messenger arrived to deliver the news.

Bellbury being the next target wasn’t a completely insane concept. The city was Nevernia’s largest port city, and losing it would seriously hurt their access to resources, especially since their main trading center would be destroyed. Protecting Bellbury would be essential to regaining control of the kingdom.

“After Bellbury, Vale Serine would be next. The rest of the kingdom would fall shortly after.”

Cassandra looked to the map on the table, the figurines laid out to illustrate the current status of every soldier, fort, and city involved in the war. In that moment, the princess could have sworn that some of the pieces were moving slightly. 

“What do you think we should do, general?” the queen asked.

Cassandra and Theo shared a glance across the table because they both knew whatever was about to come out of Valseras’s mouth would be a bunch of bullshit.

“I believe we should gather our army in Vale Serine and prepare to intercept the rebel army before they reach Vale Serine. It’s too treacherous to cross the Never Peaks, so they’d have to enter through the valley.” Valseras began pointing at the map, and Cassandra watched the spires of the castle figurine beneath his finger grow taller and taller. “They’d have to enter the valley from the west, and we’d intercept here.”

Theo shook his head, rolling his eyes as he scoffed quietly, but the general must have sensed the disapproval from the knight that was half his age. Cassandra could no more prevent the smile spreading across her face than stop Theo from completely dismantling Valseras’s entire plan.

“That is the most rubbish I’ve heard in a war council.” Starting off strong, apparently. “You would leave our only port city– the only place where we can receive reinforcements, resources, and weapons from allies– to fall to the rebels' hands?”

“Now, Sir Theodore,” Valseras interjected, “don’t let your personal feelings and ties to Bellbury cloud your judgment.”

“Personal feelings and ties don’t need to be involved, it’s a stupid fucking plan.”

Cassandra stifled a laugh, almost sounding like she was snorting. Another glare from her mother. She should’ve started a drinking game by now.

Valseras puffed out his chest and glowered at the two. “If you’re so smart, then tell the council your genius plan.”

Black spots began forming around the corners of Cassandra's vision, but that would hardly stop her from taking advantage of this perfect opportunity to prove Valseras’s idiocy to the council. A good public humiliation was always a joy.

Theo began his counter argument. “We cannot leave Bellbury on its own. It’s too important to us. I suggest we split our troops, with a heavier focus on Bellbury. As General Valseras said,” Theo gave him a classic Theo smile, “the rebel army would have to travel through the valley to reach Vale Serine, so we’d know where they were headed a long while before they arrived.”

Valseras scoffed much louder than Theo did. “What does that have to do with anything?”

The table rocked back and forth as though it was aboard a ship, yet Cassandra was ready with her comeback. “It means, general, that if the rebels were to overlook Bellbury completely and head straight for us, then we’d have plenty of time to call in reinforcements stationed at Bellbury, subsequently trapping the rebel army in the valley and decimating their ranks. If they decide to attack Bellbury as you predict, then we are prepared to send aid if the troops stationed there so require it.”

Valseras’s face twisted up into a mix of anger, jealousy, and defeat. Cassandra hadn’t realized she was white-knuckling the table until she had to look down for a moment as the rocking became too violent. There was a faint ringing in her ears as she tried blinking away the growing blackness.

“I believe I’ve come to a decision,” the queen said after an indeterminate amount of time. It was hard to tell what with everything in the world shifting around her.

“Maybe you should check with your children first to make sure they approve of your plan,” Valseras muttered. It was becoming hard to hear with the dull buzzing growing louder, but it was certainly loud enough for everyone in the council including Theo and the queen to hear.

“At least Her Majesty can make competent decisions, unlike you,” Theo replied almost immediately.

Valseras’s jaw clenched, but he turned to Cassandra and said, “And what does the beloved princess have to say about it? It seems you always have something…”

Cassandra couldn’t hear the end of Valseras’s sentence as it faded into the background behind the ringing and buzzing. She reached for anything within her grasp to stabilize her body as it went numb. Her vision that was previously plagued by a constantly morphing world was almost instantaneously overtaken by blackness that was so warm and inviting, and she couldn’t help but fall into its embrace. 

Watching his best friend crumple to the ground was one of the most horrifying things he had experienced, and he had seen a lot of horrible things in his young life. One moment she was being her usual self– throwing around witty comments and smirking every chance she got– and the next… The next she had grabbed onto the table violently in the middle of Valseras’s comeback as her eyes rolled back into her head, and her body went completely limp.

Theo literally dove underneath the table to try and catch Cass, though her head had hit the floor before he was beside her. Without thinking a second time, the knight lifted Cass onto his lap and held her while Galen too hobbled his aging body over to the princess as fast as he could. 

“What’s wrong with her, physician?” Queen Ginevra asked only mere moments after Galen began his examination. 

Theo looked up at the old man whose face seemed to show a mix of concern and disappointment, but he simply replied, “I cannot be sure, Your Majesty, but I think it best to return the princess to her chambers and examine her there.”

“We will resume the council after you take your leave, then.”

Theo hid his grimace as best he could, though the physician looked at him with his all-knowing eyes and pursed his lips. “I will need some help transporting her.”

“That’s fine,” the queen said a bit too casually for Theo's liking. “Whoever misses the rest of the council will be informed of the happenings.”

Bastien and Godfrey were immediately taken to Cass’s sides, and Galen returned to his feet with the help of the latter. Bastien knelt down next to Theo, a comforting hand on the other’s shoulder, and lifted Cass off of Theo's lap. Something in him hurt as he was freed from the princess’s weight, and he stood with numbness buzzing through his body.

“Typical. She can’t make it through a council– war or otherwise– without pulling some sort of dramatics.” Valseras was barely able to finish his thought before Theo leaned over the table and grabbed the general’s shirt.

“Do not say another word,” he breathed, inches away from Valseras’s face. “You have no right, and you have no idea what’s going on.”

Theo wasn’t even stopped by the queen for a reprimand as he let go of the general and walked out of the war room. 

By the time Theo had reached the princess’s chambers, Cass was already neatly laid onto her bed as if she had been there the whole time. Her dark waves were sprawled out on the pillow beneath her head, and she lay so still it was almost as if she was dead. It was the most peaceful Theo had ever seen her.

Genevieve stood at the foot of her bed looking over her mistress, hand over her mouth as Galen explained what had happened at council. Her lilac eyes were glossed over as if she wasn’t even listening to Galen’s words anymore, just lost in her concern for Cass. 

“Galen, have you any clue what’s wrong with her?” Theo asked.

“Yes, I believe I know exactly what it is,” the physician replied confidently. He walked over to the nearest nightstand and picked up a bottle filled with liquid. “And the untouched draught I made her confirms it.”

Theo didn’t need to be told what the draught was for. She’d been taking it on and off for years now. He simply shook his head, sighing loudly through his nose. If she weren’t so goddamn stubborn–

The door opened and in walked Terran, accompanied by Godfrey who went to fetch him. Terran gave a small smile as a quick greeting to everyone.

“I brought the medicine you asked for,” the apprentice announced. “And Godfrey told me what happened…”

Galen pursed his thin lips and nodded a thanks. “I’m sure everyone here has suspected it, but I’m afraid the princess simply collapsed from severe exhaustion and sleep deprivation.”

“Do you have any idea how many days she’s been awake for?” It was disheartening every time Theo had to ask this of Galen.

“I gave this draught to her three days ago.”

There were exclamations muttered by both Genevieve and Godfrey. Terran looked like he wanted to crawl inside a dark hole and not come out. Theo ran a hand down his face, unsure if he was more mad at Cass or at himself. 

There was a groan, and everyone’s heads snapped towards Cass. She had begun tossing and turning, whimpering a bit as her breathing became shallow. Genevieve rushed to her side, and Terran moved closer to Galen. Cass inhaled sharply as her eyes flew open, almost panting she was breathing so quickly. Genevieve began cooing soothing words to Cass as the princess looked around, unsure of her whereabouts. Theo had only ever heard Cass talk about her nightmares. It made him sick to see her experiencing them.

Once Cass had realized she was in the safety of her room, she looked about and noticed the four other people sitting there watching her awake. She sat up slowly, Genevieve’s hands still trying to comfort her, and she asked, “What happened?”

Galen was the only one brave enough to respond. “You fainted, my lady.”

“Fainted?” Cass’s eyebrows raised as if she believed she was incapable of such a thing.

“We brought you back here,” Theo explained, “to rest.”

“Rest–?” Cass turned on a dime. “You let me sleep!?”

“You are exhausted, my child,” Galen matched Cass’s anger with sternness just as terrifying. “You are making yourself sick by depriving yourself of sleep. I am prescribing heavy sleeping draughts that you will be taking until you are back in good health.”

The princess gave Galen a stare that would have made Theo submit from fear, yet the physician held her gaze in a way he would never have had the courage to. Cass clenched her jaw and flicked her eyes downward in defeat. 

“Fine. I shall do as you say.”

“Good.”

What followed next was detailed instructions that Genevieve was to make sure Cass followed until the physician deemed her in good health again. Theo hardly paid attention, instead wondering what she saw in those horrific few moments before waking. Could it have been the same dream? Maybe it was a hint to finding the assassins? Or was it a completely different, yet just as terrifying future? He wouldn’t dare ask with Terran around. Cass had made it very clear he was not to know of her dreams. He’d simply inquire later. But still… he couldn’t stop pondering the vision she had just received.

-> next chapter

[shelbeetaylor]

a quick dive into chapter eight's magic...

One if my favorite things to do in my stories is developing a magic system, so I thought it would be interesting to share more about the spells in the story!

The Locking Spell A telekinetic spell used to lock any sort of lock, be it doors, chests, trunks, or otherwise. Incantation: -> A closadh (pronounced "uh kloh-sehg") Derived from: -> Scottish Gaelic's "a ghlasadh" meaning "to lock" -> Welsh's "clo" meaning "lock"

The Unlocking Spell A telekinetic spell used to unlock any sort of lock, be it doors, chests, trunks, or otherwise. Incantation: -> Datasgladh (pronounced "daht-ehs-gloog") Derived from: -> Scottish Gaelic's "fuasgladh" meaning "solve" -> Welsh's "datgloi" meaning "unlock"

-> story masterpost

[shelbeetaylor]

it’s finals week!! (ewwwwww)

hey all!! so a little bit of a late notice but boy oh boy has it been a wild two weeks recently lol. I’ve just hit finals week and between the medium sized projects for my other classes and the six weapons certifications I’m doing in stage combat this semester I have had literally no time to update my postings or even write (big rip). So this week and next week I will refrain from posting chapters while I get myself through this hell week.

I know I just started posting a new part of the story and I am soooo sorry about that but I am definitely going to at least get the soundtrack, ao3, and the chapter links / masterpost updated. I am hoping in lieu of chapters I can get some content written out like world lore or more magic lore… but we’ll see how insane this week gets.

I’m literally not joking my body is like breaking down because I’ve been in the combat rooms rehearsing constantly to get these fights up to performance level it’s been a stressful time, so I appreciate everyone who’s been reading regularly and hope that we can resume our regularly scheduled program once I’m through the semester.

Thanks again for being here, please send all the good thoughts for these finals lmaoooooo

[shelbeetaylor]

Chapter Twenty-Nine | A Whisper on the Wind

-> story masterpost

-> previous chapter

Cassandra stared at the note in her hands, the one with her name scrawled across it. She still wasn’t brave enough to open it, just continuing to run her thumb gently over the wax seal that taunted her. How easy it was in theory to run her nail under the hardened blue and gold wax and pop open the envelope, letting the contents inside see the world again. However, that was just in theory.

She looked up at the sound of the door opening. It was Theo, standing just as he did the other morning. “You ready?”

Cassandra sighed, glancing back down at the note. Her dress, despite all its golden adornments, had no place for her to keep it on her person. There were no pockets hidden among the blue fabric, and the cut itself dipped low on her chest. Yet, Cassandra did her best to tuck the envelope into her bodice to keep him as close to her heart as possible. Maybe the words he had written would make this easier, like he was there with her cheering her on from the sidelines the way Bastien and Theo were about to.

“Yes,” she responded quietly, standing up slowly.

The princess stood for a moment, fidgeting with the Sunbound Blade at her side. She didn't jump as Theo gently placed his hands on her shoulders, but she barely noticed his approach amid her attempt to relieve herself of the weight at her side.

“We’ve got the entire area on high alert,” he explained. “Bastien and I will be right there next to you in case anything goes wrong.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

She looked him in his eyes as he sighed. “I know.”

“Well,” Cassandra said after a brief pause, “let’s get this over with.”

Cassandra waited just inside the doors to the balcony, still relatively hidden from the gathered crowd awaiting below. Bastien and Theo were already standing outside on either side of the doors, eyes sharp in case of an attack. The entire city had gathered outside waiting to hear what their king had to say. However, many guards were on alert, however many eyes were sharpened, this was not the throne room. It would be nearly impossible to catch the assassins in this crowd. Barring that, how were the people themselves going to react? Henri— he loved them and they him. How was she, a foreigner who barely spent time in the kingdom, going to live up to the true heir?

King Guillame, who was waiting among the shade with her, approached the young princess and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “I can see the worry in your eyes.”

“Your old eyes see true,” she responded, still staring out at the empty sunlit balcony.

“Assassins are frightening, but my people are not,” he told her calmly. “You think too highly of my son and too lowly of yourself to predict the future of this announcement.”

Cassandra's breath hitched a moment. It was as though he could see into her heart and mind, and it was a little unnerving. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

The aging Valoran king shrugged in a way that she had only ever seen Henri do. “It would be a little too late now to change my mind. I mean, the treaty was signed weeks ago.”

There, just for a moment, Cassandra saw Henri wearing his father’s crown, but the vision was gone when she blinked her eyes and rendered her unable to speak momentarily.

King Guillame squeezed lightly then released her shoulder before continuing, “I’ll give you a brief introduction, and from there it’s all you.”

“Fantastic,” she breathed more to herself.

The king stepped away, dipping his head before walking out to greet his people. Cassandra put her head into her hands as a hush spread throughout the crowd below in the courtyard.

“My people,” she could hear him begin, “we have suffered a tragic loss that we have grieved for many moons now.”

She sighed through her nose and ran her hands down her face, wrapping her arms around herself in a big self hug. How in the hell was she supposed to do this? One hand formed a claw around where his note was hidden, nails digging into the skin that was exposed. The ink her name was written with seared the muscles and bones lurking beneath.

She wasn’t ready then, yet here she stood a year later. She wasn’t ready yesterday, yet she laughed only hours later. She wasn’t ready now…

Cassandra looked out to the balcony, the gleam of the king’s crown reflected the golden rays of light.

…yet something told her that today, at least, she would be standing on the other side of it.

“…and as part of this momentous treaty between our two kingdoms,” King Guillame said, “an exchange of territory was promised. As I am without an heir, I hoped to name a suitable heir, so I knew that you, my dearest people who I and my son before me dedicated our lives to, would be left with someone I trusted to lead you in the right direction. So, as a part of the treaty, I have named the Princess Cassandra Ravenwell as the heir to the throne, and in the wake of my death the kingdoms of Nevernia and Valoran will be united as we once had hoped for with the union of your prince and the princess— one that was not to be.”

The crowd was deadly silent.

“I present to you, your new Crown Princess, Cassandra, who wishes to address you all.”

That was her cue. Cassandra made her way forward, stepping into the sunlight as she exited onto the balcony. The rays weren’t as blinding as she expected them to be, instead casting the courtyard in a shimmering gold. Hundreds of eyes bored into her with burning stares as she approached the railing, placing her hands gently on top of it while gazing out at the gathered crowd.

The heat of the envelope flared again, and she inhaled sharply. Here it was, the moment they were all waiting for.

“I would first like to thank King Guillame for not only the introduction but also for his generosity… and his trust in me to lead his people when he passes on to the next world.”

Her voice boomed across the courtyard, and a chill ran down her spine at the sound of it. She sounded like her mother a little, and she pushed that thought immediately out of her head. She still had a bit of speech to go. King Guillame nodded his head in a respectful, quiet acknowledgement of her thanks, and Cassandra turned her head back to the people below.

“Your king said to me when I arrived, ‘Valoran belongs to the free and to those who believe in freedom.’ As I have come to know not only the story of this kingdom’s history but also the stories of the people who live here, I know too that truer words have never been spoken. There is an air of freeness that rides the winds of this kingdom, one that is unlike anywhere else I have ever been.”

Cassandra sighed, releasing her grip on the railing before it got too tight.

“I will never live up to the Baudelyon legacy. They united a people to free them from the tyranny of the Markthudans. I have merely helped your prince protect you from ruffians that terrorize the countryside. There is a reason one of us is cast in stone for eternity, and the other is hoping her name will be remembered in history books.”

There was a shift in the air, subtle yet noticeable, however, she was unable to pinpoint if it was the crowd’s response or something else.

“I make this promise to you now that I will always strive to do more for you all, and I only hope that I will be adequate enough for you all and that you will love me in return, the way your prince loved you and the way I loved him.”

There was a cold pressure on her left hand that drowned out the uprising of cheers from below.

I forgive you, and I love you too, Raven.

“Cass, watch out!”

It all happened so fast after Theo’s shriek that she couldn’t change her face from the shocked countenance that had cracked her regal exterior. Arms wrapped around her, pushing her to the floor as a crossbow bolt hit the wall of the castle with a resounding shunk. Almost immediately, Theo rolled out of the tackle and shouted at Bastien to watch his backside, but Cassandra couldn’t roll over to look as she curled in pain from the hilt of the Sunbound Blade being driven into her hip from the impact with the balcony floor. She heard everything, though. The slice of metal against flesh, a second shunk, the collapse of two bodies, the screams and shouts below from the thousands of innocent civilians watching the violence unfold.

Cassandra just laid there, out of the way, waiting for someone else to take care of the problem while she replayed the words she had heard. She never did speak to anyone about what she heard that day, but then again she didn’t need to.

The sun was hanging low in the sky as the three Nevernians approached the outskirts of Vale Serine. They were returning with both good and bad news this time. Good news: Theo and Bastien, with the help of the Valoran archers, managed to take out both of the assassins before anyone got hurt. Bad news: on their persons were copies of a declaration of war. The southern rebels made it clear that Valoran was now a part of this war with the naming of a Ravenwell as its heir. More innocents were about to be roped into this everlasting battle, and more would certainly be killed.

“Man, I can’t believe we can’t even rest for a minute,” Bastien complained, referring to the entire situation.

“We have to call a war council,” Theo replied. “This changes a lot.”

“I couldn’t have an hour’s nap?”

“Yeah, sure, ‘an hour.’ I know you, you’d sleep until midday tomorrow.”

“Then we can do the council then! I just need some sleep.”

The boys continued on as though she wasn’t there, but Cassandra was so far removed from their world that it didn’t even matter. Her lungs filled with anxieties she had never known before, her exhale a long breath that struggled to escape her mouth without wavering. Her stomach was uneasy, but it was more calm than it had been the entire trip. She wasn’t sure what it was… anticipation, perhaps?

It had to be. Cassandra looked around and saw only a changed world. There was nothing different about it, yet everything was different. The way the sun shone over the trees and mountains, the way the wind floated over the hills, even the way the birds sang. She could feel it in her bones.

“Are you okay, Cass?” Theo asked her.

Cassandra took another couple deep breaths in. There were no tears to threaten her composure, no imaginary grip on her throat to block her voice. She took her breaths because she wanted to take them.

“Yes.”

For the first time in a while, there was some truth to her smile.

It was a dark and forbidden corner where the hooded figure stood lurking, hand resting on his sword for a bit of comfort. There wasn’t much of that to be had on these nights.

“Our Allies are dead,” a voice echoed behind him.

He turned around to find only shadows with the tiniest gleam of light reflected in six eyes, and he sighed— certainly not of relief but of something of the like. “An unfortunate loss, I am sure, but I could not stop the knights. You ordered an attack on the princess, and you should have learned from the last attempt on her mother.”

“A loss, indeed,” the voice said, “but such is the price of war. They got our message?”

“They should be delivering the declaration to Ginevra as we speak.”

“Excellent. You have done well, Guillame.”

“It is Your Majesty to you.”

The soundless air mimicked a smirk.

“You promised you would save my people from this wretched curse on our lands,” the king demanded. “When will you end their suffering? We starve and thirst, and you play games.”

“Valoran’s suffering will end when our suffering ends, when the Ravenwells are eradicated from this land, and it becomes the land of the people once more. That is when the curse you acquired will be lifted.”

The king pressed his lips together into a thin line.

“We shall call upon you when you are needed again.”

Just as quickly as they appeared, the shadows melted back into the night, leaving King Guillame alone with the uneasy feeling in his stomach.

-> next chapter (coming november 30)