Cayenne 8, CCM 13, Mocha 7
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, during NIEE (synopsis and directory now up)
Challenges: Cayenne 8 (makeshift weapons), Chocolate Chip Mint 13 (dazzling), Mocha 7 (to the rescue)
Toppings & Extras: Cherry (I never have this little dialogue)
Word Count: 580
Rating: PG
Summary: An assassination attempt is foiled by an unlikely projectile.
Notes: Jez = Jasmine. This is almost the beginning of the story, when she’s 18 and has no idea that Bad Things are happening.
Jasmine hummed as she hurried through the now familiar hallways of Duke Elladan’s castle. She knew she was late for her studies with the duke’s daughter, Virginia, but she wasn’t too concerned, knowing Virginia was likely late as well. The conversation she’d just shared with the head of the stables had been far too interesting to cut off early. Her father was a well-known breeder and Jasmine shared his love for the beasts.
She reached the main hall and had to pause, as she did every time she entered the room for any reason. With a high vaulted ceiling and wide windows - some stained to depict famous events history - the room was a kaleidoscope of colors on a sunny day. The sun would streak through the windows, casting colorful shadows around the room, often setting the colors dancing. The one downside was that it made the room so bright it almost blinded her at first, but she didn’t mind since she loved the room so much.
That’s why she heard rather than saw the duke in the room as she entered, tucking her reader more securely under her arm. She looked in his direction as her eyesight returned. He was standing six or so yards away, discussing some house matters with his advisors.
Jasmine caught his eye and she grinned as he raised an eyebrow at her.
She nodded, indicating that she realized she was late, but didn’t immediately move as he returned to his conversation and she enjoyed the brightness of the room, pushing away the desire to be outside, riding or just enjoying the gorgeous day. That wasn’t her life anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to go and only then noticed the man standing in a corner of the busy room, even closer to her than the duke was, gaze fixed on Elladan. Something about his expression set her on edge, raising the hair on the back of her neck, and she paused again, uncertain.
Her hesitation only lasted until she realized the man in the corner had pulled a knife and was bringing it up to aim at the duke. Jasmine’s breath caught, a combination of anger and panic coursing through her.
Indecision gripped the just eighteen-year-old before instinct kicked in. “Sir!” she yelled at the same time as she brought her heavy reader up and threw it as hard as she could at the would-be assassin.
Elladan’s men spun as the book struck the assassin in the side. The man still released the knife but it went wide, clattering harmlessly off the wall. With Jasmine still standing there, staring, Elladan’s advisors got between him and the assassin, even as the soldiers on duty swarmed the man, subduing him in less than a minute and dragging him off.
Jasmine realized she was shaking only when a hand descended on her shoulder and she jumped violently, looking up into Elladan’s blue eyes, the duke looking as shaken as she felt. “Thank you,” he said softly, as one of his men offered her back her book.
“You’re welcome, sir.” A pause. “Why would...?”
“I don’t know,” Elladan said, “but I mean to find out.” His gaze went to the door through which they’d dragged the assassin. “This will not be appropriate for one your age, Jasmine,” he added, anticipating her next comment. “Off to class with you.”
He squeezed her shoulder and then vanished out the door, leaving a very shaken Jasmine standing alone, clutching her book.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, during NIEE (synopsis and directory now up)
Challenges: Cayenne 8 (makeshift weapons), Chocolate Chip Mint 13 (dazzling), Mocha 7 (to the rescue)
Toppings & Extras: Cherry (I never have this little dialogue)
Word Count: 580
Rating: PG
Summary: An assassination attempt is foiled by an unlikely projectile.
Notes: Jez = Jasmine. This is almost the beginning of the story, when she’s 18 and has no idea that Bad Things are happening.
Jasmine hummed as she hurried through the now familiar hallways of Duke Elladan’s castle. She knew she was late for her studies with the duke’s daughter, Virginia, but she wasn’t too concerned, knowing Virginia was likely late as well. The conversation she’d just shared with the head of the stables had been far too interesting to cut off early. Her father was a well-known breeder and Jasmine shared his love for the beasts.
She reached the main hall and had to pause, as she did every time she entered the room for any reason. With a high vaulted ceiling and wide windows - some stained to depict famous events history - the room was a kaleidoscope of colors on a sunny day. The sun would streak through the windows, casting colorful shadows around the room, often setting the colors dancing. The one downside was that it made the room so bright it almost blinded her at first, but she didn’t mind since she loved the room so much.
That’s why she heard rather than saw the duke in the room as she entered, tucking her reader more securely under her arm. She looked in his direction as her eyesight returned. He was standing six or so yards away, discussing some house matters with his advisors.
Jasmine caught his eye and she grinned as he raised an eyebrow at her.
She nodded, indicating that she realized she was late, but didn’t immediately move as he returned to his conversation and she enjoyed the brightness of the room, pushing away the desire to be outside, riding or just enjoying the gorgeous day. That wasn’t her life anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to go and only then noticed the man standing in a corner of the busy room, even closer to her than the duke was, gaze fixed on Elladan. Something about his expression set her on edge, raising the hair on the back of her neck, and she paused again, uncertain.
Her hesitation only lasted until she realized the man in the corner had pulled a knife and was bringing it up to aim at the duke. Jasmine’s breath caught, a combination of anger and panic coursing through her.
Indecision gripped the just eighteen-year-old before instinct kicked in. “Sir!” she yelled at the same time as she brought her heavy reader up and threw it as hard as she could at the would-be assassin.
Elladan’s men spun as the book struck the assassin in the side. The man still released the knife but it went wide, clattering harmlessly off the wall. With Jasmine still standing there, staring, Elladan’s advisors got between him and the assassin, even as the soldiers on duty swarmed the man, subduing him in less than a minute and dragging him off.
Jasmine realized she was shaking only when a hand descended on her shoulder and she jumped violently, looking up into Elladan’s blue eyes, the duke looking as shaken as she felt. “Thank you,” he said softly, as one of his men offered her back her book.
“You’re welcome, sir.” A pause. “Why would...?”
“I don’t know,” Elladan said, “but I mean to find out.” His gaze went to the door through which they’d dragged the assassin. “This will not be appropriate for one your age, Jasmine,” he added, anticipating her next comment. “Off to class with you.”
He squeezed her shoulder and then vanished out the door, leaving a very shaken Jasmine standing alone, clutching her book.