The Light of Baja (WIP)
Story: work in progress
Rating: G
Word Count: 812
Summary: The city prepares for the afternoon Festival of the Lightbringer, and we're introduced to Aleksandra, the Lady of the Temple.
Notes: Another maybe-opening to a maybe-novel. But, until it has a real home, it'll sit up here for a while. Written to a song prompt, Light of Baja by Dan Gibson.
The light of Baja fills the temple halls and city walls - and the sea throws itself at the cliffs far below, but no one has time to hear the steady rush.
They are rushing themselves, in the heady, excitable, hustle-bustle of a morning to be planned and prepared. Today is the day of the Lightbringer - and Baja has brought it all.
The temple is decked in her colours of red and gold, far more expensive than usual; the spicy smell lingers in the air from the kitchens across the busy street. And through it all, the light of Baja flows, streams, from that place where it is kept - behind the whitewashed temple walls - dispensing a golden, syrupy glow to its city and its morning - touching the base of the gull’s wing as it wheels in the near cloudless sky overhead. It is a warm day, especially so early - and the people are not usually awake at such a time as this.
Aleksandra, Lady of the Temple, swept the front hall herself whilst the rest of the temple workers were busy running about the building. She watched the way the dust motes sparkled when Baja’s light hit them, and smiled to herself. Each golden glint reflected onto her skin and left a warm, prickling sensation. The woman tied back her long, brown hair, and went back to the task at hand - sweeping her broom to and fro. She was almost finished when the great double doors opened but a crack, and a girl slipped through into the room. From behind her, a glimpse of pure light flickered. She closed the heavy doors, and it was gone.
“And, how is Baja today?” Aleksandra asked the child in her deep and husky voice. The girl started, having not expected the Lady herself, and bowed.
“It seems most well, ma’am,” she stuttered to the floor. “Everything should be ready for this noon, ma’am.”
Aleksandra smiled kindly. “Excellent, child. Thank you.”
The girl bowed again, and hurried past to the smaller set of doors, her sandals clacking against the clean floor.
“My dear?” Aleksandra called as the girl reached for the door handle. The child turned to look at her, eyes wide and nervous. “How long have you been with us now?”
The girl cast her eyes downwards. “Two months, ma’am.”
“I see.” Aleksandra leant on her broom. “I admire your dedication and eagerness, but it may do you good to not rush about so. And you needn’t be quite so nervous, my dear.”
The girl let out a deep breath, and smiled with relief. “Yes, ma’am,” she said, a little more confidently. “Thank you.”
“It’s quite all right, now you go check that everything’s being seen to.”
The girl nodded once more, and left the room. Aleksandra smirked to herself, and put the broom up against the wall. Then, she went for her daily talk with Baja.
“It’s morning, light one,” the woman said as she entered the room at the centre of the temple. “And a good one too, I might add. The sun is almost as bright as you. Hardly a cloud in sky, so they’ve told me. The Gods are looking down kindly for this day, some people are saying. We certainly have been more than lucky with all this good weather. It’s quite the warm spell.”
Baja pulsed brighter in greeting, but didn’t respond to the rest of Aleksandra’s words - which wasn’t so odd, because it rarely did. More than anything, Baja needed the sound of a warm and soothing voice, which the Lady possessed in armloads.
“That dear child has already cleaned you all up,” Aleksandra murmured. “I do wish she wasn’t such a bag of nerves, she’d be ever so good if I could get her to stand before the council without collapsing into a panic.” She absently nudged an urn in the corner of the room, but knew that she had nothing to do. “Well, light one, what do you think? Are we predicting a good outcome for today?”
Baja simply pulsed again; but Aleksandra had spent almost as many years of her life watching it as she had breathing, so she could read it rather well. It was mostly a positive response, but a small element of uncertainty emanated too. That was hardly a surprise; Baja tended to be overcautious - it was one of its little quirks.
“Ever the pessimist, light one?” Aleksandra asked, with a fond sigh. “Judging by your vagueness, I’d say that you’re half asleep. The girl probably woke you up.” She took one final glance at the corners of the room - spotless. “Then I shall see you at this noon for the Lightbringer festival. Keep shining.”
Baja did just that.
(Story Index)
Rating: G
Word Count: 812
Summary: The city prepares for the afternoon Festival of the Lightbringer, and we're introduced to Aleksandra, the Lady of the Temple.
Notes: Another maybe-opening to a maybe-novel. But, until it has a real home, it'll sit up here for a while. Written to a song prompt, Light of Baja by Dan Gibson.
The light of Baja fills the temple halls and city walls - and the sea throws itself at the cliffs far below, but no one has time to hear the steady rush.
They are rushing themselves, in the heady, excitable, hustle-bustle of a morning to be planned and prepared. Today is the day of the Lightbringer - and Baja has brought it all.
The temple is decked in her colours of red and gold, far more expensive than usual; the spicy smell lingers in the air from the kitchens across the busy street. And through it all, the light of Baja flows, streams, from that place where it is kept - behind the whitewashed temple walls - dispensing a golden, syrupy glow to its city and its morning - touching the base of the gull’s wing as it wheels in the near cloudless sky overhead. It is a warm day, especially so early - and the people are not usually awake at such a time as this.
Aleksandra, Lady of the Temple, swept the front hall herself whilst the rest of the temple workers were busy running about the building. She watched the way the dust motes sparkled when Baja’s light hit them, and smiled to herself. Each golden glint reflected onto her skin and left a warm, prickling sensation. The woman tied back her long, brown hair, and went back to the task at hand - sweeping her broom to and fro. She was almost finished when the great double doors opened but a crack, and a girl slipped through into the room. From behind her, a glimpse of pure light flickered. She closed the heavy doors, and it was gone.
“And, how is Baja today?” Aleksandra asked the child in her deep and husky voice. The girl started, having not expected the Lady herself, and bowed.
“It seems most well, ma’am,” she stuttered to the floor. “Everything should be ready for this noon, ma’am.”
Aleksandra smiled kindly. “Excellent, child. Thank you.”
The girl bowed again, and hurried past to the smaller set of doors, her sandals clacking against the clean floor.
“My dear?” Aleksandra called as the girl reached for the door handle. The child turned to look at her, eyes wide and nervous. “How long have you been with us now?”
The girl cast her eyes downwards. “Two months, ma’am.”
“I see.” Aleksandra leant on her broom. “I admire your dedication and eagerness, but it may do you good to not rush about so. And you needn’t be quite so nervous, my dear.”
The girl let out a deep breath, and smiled with relief. “Yes, ma’am,” she said, a little more confidently. “Thank you.”
“It’s quite all right, now you go check that everything’s being seen to.”
The girl nodded once more, and left the room. Aleksandra smirked to herself, and put the broom up against the wall. Then, she went for her daily talk with Baja.
“It’s morning, light one,” the woman said as she entered the room at the centre of the temple. “And a good one too, I might add. The sun is almost as bright as you. Hardly a cloud in sky, so they’ve told me. The Gods are looking down kindly for this day, some people are saying. We certainly have been more than lucky with all this good weather. It’s quite the warm spell.”
Baja pulsed brighter in greeting, but didn’t respond to the rest of Aleksandra’s words - which wasn’t so odd, because it rarely did. More than anything, Baja needed the sound of a warm and soothing voice, which the Lady possessed in armloads.
“That dear child has already cleaned you all up,” Aleksandra murmured. “I do wish she wasn’t such a bag of nerves, she’d be ever so good if I could get her to stand before the council without collapsing into a panic.” She absently nudged an urn in the corner of the room, but knew that she had nothing to do. “Well, light one, what do you think? Are we predicting a good outcome for today?”
Baja simply pulsed again; but Aleksandra had spent almost as many years of her life watching it as she had breathing, so she could read it rather well. It was mostly a positive response, but a small element of uncertainty emanated too. That was hardly a surprise; Baja tended to be overcautious - it was one of its little quirks.
“Ever the pessimist, light one?” Aleksandra asked, with a fond sigh. “Judging by your vagueness, I’d say that you’re half asleep. The girl probably woke you up.” She took one final glance at the corners of the room - spotless. “Then I shall see you at this noon for the Lightbringer festival. Keep shining.”
Baja did just that.
(Story Index)