Lorne was a wretched creature, she had known this her whole life. Other girls scorned her in the play yards, and boys threw clumps of grave moss at her hair. If you insist, they all said, on being so morbid, you ought to look the part. She had confided in Janice, all of once, during solstice, that she found the graveyards comforting, and, well. Once was all it took. Yet Lorne couldn’t help being odd once more. And then just once again. The once more’s gathered…Continue Reading “Darkwood Fireflies”
Penelope awoke, eyes bleary, to a sharp rap on the front door. With a groan, she disentangled herself from the stirring Sisters and stumbled to answer. Peering through the small port window of the door, Penelope spied a messenger dressed in jewel-hued silks bearing an elegant box. Rubbing sleepily at her face, Penelope opened the door as the Sisters muttered behind her about aching bones and bruised joints. The messenger appeared startled at her appearance, tactfully averting her gaze as Penelope recalled her state of…Continue Reading “Ch 25 – A New Season (The End)”
“Hm? Oh! Yes…” Steph grinned sheepishly as he realised what Penelope was looking at. “You dropped your handkerchief that day we met, in the Upper Village gardens… I meant to return it when I picked it up, but I forgot about it in the chaos. I found it in my pocket when I returned home and thought it might be… an auspicious touch…” Steph trailed off, looking shy. Penelope smiled up at him. Then, struck by sudden realisation, she looked down at the skirt of…Continue Reading “Ch 24 – Paths of Power – Part 3”
Small clumps of cream fell from Penelope’s borrowed gown as she emerged into the space behind the ballroom stairs. She peered around the edge of the staircase, hoping to find a glimpse of Steph, or the Sisters, yet the dance floor was packed with twirling figures she did not recognise. Beyond them, small groups clustered around the banquet tables, chatting and laughing. In the far corner, attendants were clearing away what seemed to be a collapsed table and piles of upended food. Penelope’s stomach grumbled…Continue Reading “Ch 24 – Paths of Power – Part 2”
Penelope wandered the gardens until her feet ached. With numb detachment, she turned to face the lights shining from the tall windows of the ballroom. As she approached, the sounds of strings and flutes, so pleasant earlier in the evening, grated at her, causing nerves along her neck to twitch. The bright glow spilling from the ballroom, which had earlier seemed so enticing, now seemed harsh and piercing. She blinked against the onslaught to her senses, breathing through the pain building behind her eyes. Drifting…Continue Reading “Ch 24 – Paths of Power – Part 1”
Despite the season, the garden air was warm and humid, heated by the glow of amber stones set along the pebbled trail. Even so, Penelope shivered with apprehension as she followed her family towards a distant corner of the gardens. At last, they crossed a threshold into a circle of weeping rose trees, secluded from view of the ballroom terraces. Around them, the night was quiet but for the distant strum of music and the chorus of insects. Clarity began to dance between the trunks,…Continue Reading “Ch 23 – Reunion – Part 2”
Everything that followed was a whirl of chaos. The King offered another rousing speech of battle, sacrifice, innovation, and triumph. The Rangers were ushered away by the Healers and Alchemists. Steph squeezed Callum in a tight hug, refusing to release him until the Ranger promised he would eat, rest, and follow the Healers’ every instruction. Callum gave Penelope a quick embrace and a shaky grin, his arms still trembling from the trauma of battle and injury, before a Healer helped him make his way out…Continue Reading “Ch 23 – Reunion – Part 1”
Callum lay prone surrounded by Grimwood Healers garbed in billowing robes of bronze and green, their cuffs embroidered with the marks of their station. Steph was intercepted by a cluster of Rangers standing nearby, watching the proceedings with a grim set to their mouths. Penelope clipped across the hall towards Steph, stopping shy of the frenzied activity so as not to impede the workers. She heard snatches of rapid conversation from the Healers and gathered Rangers. “—spirits aren’t taking, they’re slipping away—” “—weren’t enough left,…Continue Reading “Ch 22 – Battle – Part 2”
It took some time for the crowd to settle. After many reassurances from the King, the initial terror gave way to an atmosphere of morbid curiosity. As an extra precaution, the audience was moved to cluster along the mid and upper level balconies, ushered by Rangers and palace staff. Eager to find the Sisters amongst the chaos, Penelope moved through the throng with Steph in tow, slowly making their way back downstairs. Failing to find the Sisters among the crowd moving to the upper level,…Continue Reading “Ch 22 – Battle – Part 1”
“Welcome, honoured guests! The Royal House of Grimwood is humbled by your presence this night,” the voice said. “My father,” Steph mouthed as they strained to hear. “For two long decades, the great Houses in this room have supported the realm of Grimwood with steadfast compassion and generosity,” the King continued. Penelope startled at the sound of footsteps approaching beyond the curtain. It sounded as though multiple people were marching along the balcony from either direction. Penelope flinched back, anticipating that the curtains would be…Continue Reading “Ch 21 – Revelations – Part 3”
Steph’s face fell with hurt and confusion. Penelope marshalled her spiralling thoughts, wanting to explain, yet unsure of how. Or if she even should. For a fleeting, uncertain moment, she considered keeping the truth to herself. After all, she hadn’t even told the Sisters about that night in the woods. But then a deep guilt took root, gnawing at her gut. Could she truly allow herself to lie by omission while Steph was standing here apologising for doing the very same? Yet… Could she trust…Continue Reading “Ch 21 – Revelations – Part 2”
Penelope’s relief made her almost dizzy as they ran the length of the carpeted balcony, dashing past portraits and tapestries, and climbed a set of steps to the balcony above. Steph then guided her back around the other way, towards a door set directly above the one they had just fled. Two armed Rangers wearing cowls and carved masks stood guarding the door. “Prince Steph! There you are! The King was looking for you earlier this evening. Did he give you your instructions?” The guards…Continue Reading “Ch 21 – Revelations – Part 1”
From the corner of her vision, Penelope could see Princess Ivy’s friends retreating, visibly distancing themselves from her. Penelope ignored it, allowing Steph to guide her to a quiet corner of the room, eyes following their every step. “Quite the entrance,” Penelope murmured, at a loss for what to say, feeling flustered by the intensity of Steph’s gaze. He released her arm, brushing his hand down her wrist as he lifted her hand between them, her gloved fingers still clasping the honeybelle. “I could say…Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 3”
Princess Ivy’s smile was all sharp edges as Penelope turned to face her. The sparkle in Ivy’s bright blue eyes was malicious, her smile widening as she looked Penelope up and down. Penelope glanced briefly at Ivy’s gown in kind, taking in the richly beaded bodice and layered skirt of purple silks before fixing her gaze on Ivy’s face. Had Princess Ivy’s intent ever been genuine, ever been kind, Penelope would have found her enchanting. Her pale skin was smooth and dewy. Constellations of shining…Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 2”
Penelope’s breath misted in the air as she stepped out onto a crescent court of black marble tiles, making room for the Sisters to follow behind her. She turned as the carriage door was closed and the attendants returned to their stations by the rear wheels. All six riders at the head of the entourage dismounted, moving to surround Penelope and the Sisters. Without delay, waiting stablehands climbed up into the empty saddles. Moments later the entourage was moving again, circling away around the drive. …Continue Reading “Ch 20 – The Dark Moon Ball – Part 1”
Prince Ethan is personally one of my favourite characters. I love his ruthlessness and complexity. His story is introduced in the short Ghosts of Grimwood tale, Fae & Fire.
The next hour was a flurry of chaotic motion as Penelope and the Sisters darted about the house, fluttering around each other and the Grimwood entourage, making final preparations. Penelope found her giggles renewing whenever she passed by Callum, who had a new story for her each time. “Did you know, Steph saved my life when we were kids? I fell into the deep end of a pond—” “It was a shallow pond—” Marni cut in. “I nearly drowned—“ “You did not—” “Anyway, another time Steph…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 3”
The entourage came to a halt in the clearing just beyond the front gate of the cottage, a wide circle of ferns and snowy earth at the end of the white crystal road. Penelope opened the gate with trembling hands and ducked a short curtsy. The flowers of her dress flared livid red. The banner-bearing guard leading the company appraised Penelope with wary shock before his features settled into a neutral expression. “Greetings,” he began. “As representatives of Royal House Grimwood, we have come to…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 2”
With the gowns ready and cosmetics all laid out in preparation for the next day, Penelope spent the rest of the day sleeping in stops and starts. Barely able to keep her eyes open through breakfast, Penelope crept upstairs to collapse on her bed. Unable to sleep for more than a few hours at a time with nerves jangling in her stomach, Penelope found herself dozing and waking at strange hours. The afternoon passed in a haze, drifting from dream to nightmare to frenzied thoughts…Continue Reading “Ch 19 – A Carriage Awaits – Part 1”
The Sisters found her later that morning hunched over her work bench surrounded by flowers and using one of Sister Rosin’s small wooden hand drills to bore a hole through a gleaming azure stone. “Aha!” Penelope exclaimed, looking up in triumph as the Sisters stepped into the lounge. Rinsing the stone in a floral teacup filled with water, Penelope held it up to the sunlight. “I’m making beads for my dress,” she explained with a wild grin before selecting another stone. In the play of…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 5”