Oh no, another new writing piece . . . .
995 words on a story that started nigging at me the other night. It also lacks a name as of now.
One day I will finish something before starting something else, promise. Names are still up in the air for some of the characters.
Oh, and it is utterly cliché so far, and so far as it has been plotted. I'm hoping to shake it up a bit as I go, though.
If not, it'll just stay cliché I guess . . . I don't see the harm in writing cliché if it's just for my enjoyment. Besides, it's only bad if it's boring.
Besides, I figure if I work all the cliché out it'll stop popping up so frequently.
Edit: Ooops. Fixed an awkward dialogue and put the italics in.
[First a handy pronunciation guide, at least how I'm saying the names:
Kaetha = Kay-tha [though I'm considering going back to the original spelling I had going: Katha]
Revenal = rev-ah-nahl [his name is still up in the air, I haven't found anything that really sticks]
Havik = like the word havoc
Lionn = lin/lynn [like Fionn only with an L] ]
Kaetha was wearing his very best mask of boredom, an act that he was very proud to have perfected, even if he did rarely have to fake the sentiment in court. He could feel his lover's eyes upon him from the far side of the room and knew the man was probably shaking his head. The Duke of Havenleigh had always been remarkably good at reading people, a talent which Kaetha often exploited when he needed a good spy, but because of these same talents the duke knew him too well. Kaetha might look bored to everyone else in the room, but the Duke Revenal knew that he was just being childish.
"Very well," he gave a sigh which he thought was appropriately melodramatic, "since you have already went through the trouble of securing a bodyguard--which I've absolutely no need for--my dear General, you may as well show him in. The least we can do, after all, is give the poor thing a meal."
He knew quite well that General Havik would not be so easily dismissed, truly he suspected this new bodyguard would be around for at least a week (and likely even longer) before he found some way around Havik's newest conviction. There had not been a war for nigh on three centuries now, and even now there was no hint of conflict in the political relations of all the nations around his kingdom. Kaetha doubted he was going to need the services of a bodyguard anytime in the near future, or really anytime ever.
It was no secret, however, that General Havik despised the relationship between him and his dear duke. The court itself was split roughly evenly on the matter, though no one dared to speak up against it where the young king or his lover might hear. Kaetha had suspected for some time that the General might try to interfere, and thought that might be the old General's true motive behind the bodyguard. As if one bodyguard could undo such a thing as love so easily. Kaetha might almost find the thought amusing, if he was not already acquainted with the General's stubbornness. Instead he found it tiring.
When the great doors of the throne room opened again the bodyguard came out trailing behind Havik, they walked leisurely down the ornate carpet lining the center of the room like a pathway. Kaetha tried to deny that he might be curious about the man. The bodyguard was slender, and certainly not what came to mind when Kaetha thought "bodyguard," in fact the king thought his new bodyguard looked more like an unpolished gemstone. There was a grace and beauty that was waiting to be tempered. Kaetha stared at him appraisingly from behind his bored mask, wondering if he might somehow make a musician or a dancer out of this guard instead. Certainly, he vowed, he must find some way to polish him.
But for now, he did his best to look bored. Starting with giving his new guard a casual once over before promptly dismissing him.
"This is my new bodyguard?" he turned his gaze to Havik instead. "He doesn't quite . . . seem the type."
Kaetha watched for the bodyguard's reaction from the corner of the eye, somewhat pleased when the man's face remained impassive. Very good, a man who did not wear his heart on his sleeve. That at least insured his survival at court.
"I assure you, your Majesty," the General responded, "he is more than qualified for the position."
"I suppose I'll just have to trust your word for now, my dear General," he faked another sigh, "Of course, I'd hardly think that one of my most loyal supporters would settle for less than the best. After all, what would you do if I were to die? I'm sure the shame and guilt would just eat at you forever and ever. Therefore you must have chosen well, after all, isn't it said that you can't judge by a book's cover?"
The king stopped a grin from crossing his face just in time, General Havik scowling at the veiled insult, before turning to the bodyguard. "So, what are you called, bodyguard? I should need a name to call you by, I think. It would be rather awkward for both of us to always go about addressing you as 'bodyguard.'"
". . . Lionn, your Majesty," the man's voice was quiet and calm.
It was an unobtrusive voice, the king noted, completely indistinct and easily forgotten. Kaetha had the feeling it was purposefully feigned, it was a voice that would allow one to fade into anonymity. He gave the man a few more points and made a note to reevaluate him, perhaps that beauty he was admiring was hidden for the same reason. After all, attracting admiration did little to help a body fade into the background.
"Lionn," he repeated, "such a graceful name. It's fitting for one who moves so fluidly." The king smiled, realizing once he met Lionn's eyes that although the bodyguard may not wear his heart upon his sleeve it was clearly reflected in his eyes. Lionn was surprised.
"Thank you, your Majesty."
"Well, I think it is high time for court to be adjourned," Kaetha announced. He had been in favor of adjourning it before it had started truthfully, but at times it payed to cater to the arrogance of the nobility. "Bodyguard Lionn, you shall join the Duke of Havenleigh and I for lunch."
He wondered briefly just what rumors had reached Lionn's ears about he and the Duke Revenal, surely all the juiciest ones had at the very least, if not some of the more truthful ones. He thought there might be some fun in exploiting them a little bit, even the ones that were purely fiction. That is, there would be until Revenal stopped his childish games. But the duke would probably let him have a little fun, or at least Kaetha hoped so.
__________________
. . . Kaetha is so immature
One day I will finish something before starting something else, promise. Names are still up in the air for some of the characters.
Oh, and it is utterly cliché so far, and so far as it has been plotted. I'm hoping to shake it up a bit as I go, though.
If not, it'll just stay cliché I guess . . . I don't see the harm in writing cliché if it's just for my enjoyment. Besides, it's only bad if it's boring.
Besides, I figure if I work all the cliché out it'll stop popping up so frequently.
Edit: Ooops. Fixed an awkward dialogue and put the italics in.
[First a handy pronunciation guide, at least how I'm saying the names:
Kaetha = Kay-tha [though I'm considering going back to the original spelling I had going: Katha]
Revenal = rev-ah-nahl [his name is still up in the air, I haven't found anything that really sticks]
Havik = like the word havoc
Lionn = lin/lynn [like Fionn only with an L] ]
Kaetha was wearing his very best mask of boredom, an act that he was very proud to have perfected, even if he did rarely have to fake the sentiment in court. He could feel his lover's eyes upon him from the far side of the room and knew the man was probably shaking his head. The Duke of Havenleigh had always been remarkably good at reading people, a talent which Kaetha often exploited when he needed a good spy, but because of these same talents the duke knew him too well. Kaetha might look bored to everyone else in the room, but the Duke Revenal knew that he was just being childish.
"Very well," he gave a sigh which he thought was appropriately melodramatic, "since you have already went through the trouble of securing a bodyguard--which I've absolutely no need for--my dear General, you may as well show him in. The least we can do, after all, is give the poor thing a meal."
He knew quite well that General Havik would not be so easily dismissed, truly he suspected this new bodyguard would be around for at least a week (and likely even longer) before he found some way around Havik's newest conviction. There had not been a war for nigh on three centuries now, and even now there was no hint of conflict in the political relations of all the nations around his kingdom. Kaetha doubted he was going to need the services of a bodyguard anytime in the near future, or really anytime ever.
It was no secret, however, that General Havik despised the relationship between him and his dear duke. The court itself was split roughly evenly on the matter, though no one dared to speak up against it where the young king or his lover might hear. Kaetha had suspected for some time that the General might try to interfere, and thought that might be the old General's true motive behind the bodyguard. As if one bodyguard could undo such a thing as love so easily. Kaetha might almost find the thought amusing, if he was not already acquainted with the General's stubbornness. Instead he found it tiring.
When the great doors of the throne room opened again the bodyguard came out trailing behind Havik, they walked leisurely down the ornate carpet lining the center of the room like a pathway. Kaetha tried to deny that he might be curious about the man. The bodyguard was slender, and certainly not what came to mind when Kaetha thought "bodyguard," in fact the king thought his new bodyguard looked more like an unpolished gemstone. There was a grace and beauty that was waiting to be tempered. Kaetha stared at him appraisingly from behind his bored mask, wondering if he might somehow make a musician or a dancer out of this guard instead. Certainly, he vowed, he must find some way to polish him.
But for now, he did his best to look bored. Starting with giving his new guard a casual once over before promptly dismissing him.
"This is my new bodyguard?" he turned his gaze to Havik instead. "He doesn't quite . . . seem the type."
Kaetha watched for the bodyguard's reaction from the corner of the eye, somewhat pleased when the man's face remained impassive. Very good, a man who did not wear his heart on his sleeve. That at least insured his survival at court.
"I assure you, your Majesty," the General responded, "he is more than qualified for the position."
"I suppose I'll just have to trust your word for now, my dear General," he faked another sigh, "Of course, I'd hardly think that one of my most loyal supporters would settle for less than the best. After all, what would you do if I were to die? I'm sure the shame and guilt would just eat at you forever and ever. Therefore you must have chosen well, after all, isn't it said that you can't judge by a book's cover?"
The king stopped a grin from crossing his face just in time, General Havik scowling at the veiled insult, before turning to the bodyguard. "So, what are you called, bodyguard? I should need a name to call you by, I think. It would be rather awkward for both of us to always go about addressing you as 'bodyguard.'"
". . . Lionn, your Majesty," the man's voice was quiet and calm.
It was an unobtrusive voice, the king noted, completely indistinct and easily forgotten. Kaetha had the feeling it was purposefully feigned, it was a voice that would allow one to fade into anonymity. He gave the man a few more points and made a note to reevaluate him, perhaps that beauty he was admiring was hidden for the same reason. After all, attracting admiration did little to help a body fade into the background.
"Lionn," he repeated, "such a graceful name. It's fitting for one who moves so fluidly." The king smiled, realizing once he met Lionn's eyes that although the bodyguard may not wear his heart upon his sleeve it was clearly reflected in his eyes. Lionn was surprised.
"Thank you, your Majesty."
"Well, I think it is high time for court to be adjourned," Kaetha announced. He had been in favor of adjourning it before it had started truthfully, but at times it payed to cater to the arrogance of the nobility. "Bodyguard Lionn, you shall join the Duke of Havenleigh and I for lunch."
He wondered briefly just what rumors had reached Lionn's ears about he and the Duke Revenal, surely all the juiciest ones had at the very least, if not some of the more truthful ones. He thought there might be some fun in exploiting them a little bit, even the ones that were purely fiction. That is, there would be until Revenal stopped his childish games. But the duke would probably let him have a little fun, or at least Kaetha hoped so.
__________________
. . . Kaetha is so immature