Working on the new Pimchan story. Rough draft. Don’t judge.
Traveling Thoughts
excerpt from “The Warrior’s Wedding”
by Marian Allen
Pimchan set off at a brutal pace. She had slept in her practice arena, wrapped in a cloak in the open. The sand was much colder and much harder than she had remembered. The stars and chill mountain air had not emptied her mind and settled her thoughts, as she had hoped. She had, uncharacteristically, found herself replaying the events and conversations of the previous day.
She had a vague feeling that she had been manipulated into something, but couldn’t put a finger on any point at which she had not been the one to make a decision, or any decision that had been made poorly or under duress.
It was Somboon who had been coerced. No one had asked his permission to place him in jeopardy or to toy with his honor. It was no wonder he had been angry, and it was to his credit he had raised no objection, other than his protest that he might not be a believable match for a Warrior.
Was he a believable match? Could they convince Akara he was?
He was strongly built, in excellent physical shape, practiced in weapons and in street fighting, accustomed to keeping the peace or, if peace was disturbed, restoring and enforcing it. His Guards’ loyalty to him was only exceeded by their loyalty to her and to the town, and she suspected that her place was only marginally above his.
He had proven himself fearless and clever in combat and at strategy.
She paused at the edge of the forest and looked around, fully expecting Somboon to be apace with her.
Instead, he was far behind her, matching his speed to Nadia’s, carrying Pimchan’s Male on his shoulders.
Ashamed, and angry with herself for being ashamed at having not considered the welfare of domestics, Pimchan halted by a pool of clear water just inside the shade of the tree line.
“We will rest,” she stated, as if she had her own reasons that had nothing to do with anyone else.
~*~
Previous Pimchan stories have appeared in various volumes of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s SWORD & SORCERESS anthologies. See my Stories page for excerpts and details.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Write about a hard journey with children.
MA
