I have read through, eagerly, all of the story posts and hope that this will help enrich the story. You are all doing such a FABULOUS job. Feel free to write my character in however you like. For me, I like seeing how you write your characters to try and get the tone right before embarking on characterization. This story is really taking shape! I love the entrance into the painting. Nice! I have a surprise in my new part, I hope you will enjoy it.
Also, all apologizes for not posting sooner. I have been in the dumps. Reading the posts actually cheered me up. Forward, I say!
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Daniel sensed that something was wrong. The Queen’s presence was not there—not at all. He was not the most fluent with the rifts of the world, but he recognized that there was a deep rift where the Queen was supposed to be.
After delivering the painting, he had gone back into his quarters and pulled, from the floorboards, his old bottle of wine. For a while, he had sat and drank before opening the window and looking outwards at the fading sun in the sky.
Another letter had come from Leila. He did not want to read it again, but the end result was what bothered him the most. She had found someone else. It was a simple fact and as much as Daniel pretended that it did not bother him, it ate at him.
Time will solve all problems. Do not linger on things that you cannot control and cannot change. Each day is a new opportunity to grow. Be careful to not let that slip through your fingertips.
He got to his feet and put the wine bottle up along the other empty ones in the small cabinet in his room. Daniel lingered for a minute on them. They were of all different makes and brands. Many of them were cast in glows of celebration while others were clouded with sorrow. He took back the wine bottle for a second from the shelf and ran his fingers over it.
Tomorrow will be another day. Let your sorrows fall from you like rain. Then, you can start again.
Daniel put the wine bottle back into the cabinet and quietly closed it. He did not look back at before he took more cross-bolts, a short sword and returned to the palace hall.
There was no one there. He began to wander the halls. Finally, when the effects of the wine were wearing off, he came upon Welcheren. The alchemist appeared just as puzzled as he was.
“I am looking for the Queen,” Daniel said.
“As am I,” the alchemist said, focusing his gaze on the bard.
Daniel sensed movement, but it was quicker than him. The raven swept into the hall and settled on Welcheren’s shoulder. He looked at Daniel and cawed once.
“I know where the Queen is,” the crow said.
Welcheren looked at his shoulder. “Well?”
“The rift is greater than what we might have suspected,” the raven said in a near whisper. He said this in such a way that only Welcheren heard what was being said.
Daniel frowned and tilted his head to the side.
“Do you want a cracker?” the raven said, turning its beak up at Daniel.
Daniel smiled. “You always know more than I give you credit for, fair raven.”
“You should tell him,” the raven whispered into Welcheren’s ear. When the alchemist did not reply, he lightly touched Welcheren’s ear with his beak and then returned to his spot, balancing on one leg.
At that moment, both men felt the earth shake from underneath their feet. The raven went off towards one of the high ornamental windows and looked outside.
From the next window, a large rock smashed through it, decimating the painted glass into a hundred shards that spread out throughout the room. Welcheren and Daniel both covered themselves in their cloaks to shield themselves from the particles flying everywhere.
“Oh,” the raven said, flapping its wings in the air. “This is bad.”
He flew back to where Welcheren was and settled on the opposite shoulder.
“Ahem,” the raven said. “We are under attack.”
Right. Yes. Erm. Mugs would have been helpful? 