Worldbuilding Wednesday: Alaila’s Daughters, part 2

The first part of Alaila’s Daughters can be read here. The first of the Tellerassar legends can be found here, and more about the Tellerassar can be found here.

Or, head over to Kammastories, where the story is postedtoday in full.

Alaila’s Daughters are Scattered

Ikaira did not leave the riverbank even when the sun rose towards its zenith and all his tears were spent. Only when the sun lit the waters of the gorge from above did he see movement in the water. It was Alaila. She wore a dress the colour of the shadows of the deepest pools and her eyes brimmed with tears. Ikaira rushed to the water and embraced her.

“Where is Lamira?” he asked, for he did not see his daughter who usually followed her mother everywhere.

“She is safe in our halls,” Alaila said and motioned towards the wall of rock from where the waters of the river flowed. “Hidden there we can all be safe. Dalath and her kin do not know of this place. We have left them to roam about the river to the south. They have twisted our Gift.” Tears flowed from her eyes. “My gift. I was a fool to think that such a gift could not be twisted to serve the Lewjan.”

They walked hand in hand along the river – Alaila lightly stepping in the shallow water; as far as she could venture out while the moon wasn’t full, and Ikaira walking along the bank – while Alaila told him all that had happened while he had been away.

“War still rages between the people of the Midlands,” she then added. “Markus leads raids to the river towns and villages nearly every week. They have even ventured to the northern bank where they have gotten a foothold. I fear for the safety of my people. With the Vídolf’s involvement we will only be seen as another enemy even though we serve the Light. I do not see a way out for us. We cannot hide in our halls forever even if they are safe. Some have left the river at night to look for other pools and streams. We do not know if they are still alive.”

Photo: Sias van Schalkwyk

Ikaira thought for a long time before speaking. “There is one way. The lands gifted to the Tellerassar are safe. No one can attack our houses on the cliffs.” He took a deep breath, remembering all that had happened to him while in the service of Markus. “I have men to spare – warriors and soldiers who can keep you safe. We can fly over the river and keep an eye out for any of the Vídolf.” Alaila wanted to protest, but he would not let her. “We can fly out of the range of Markus or anyone else’s arrows. We are as safe high in the air as you are in your stone halls.”

And so it was that the Tellerassar took to flying above the water, calling to each other over distances, as they watched the actions of the Vídolf closely. It was these Tellerassar about whom the first legend was told and each eagle people saw were thought to be Ikaira still searching for his lost love. And it was these Tellerassar – who were skilled fighters and had knowledge of both the northern and the southern parts of the Midlands – that became Keepers, aligning themselves with both Théotriewe and Holt Haliern. Tiriane, who played a notable part in the story “A Dragon’s Freedom”, was one of these Tellerassar. 

’n Onderhoud en “Om middelmatigheid aanvaarbaar te maak”

Laas week het omtrent verby gevlieg in ’n warrelwind van werk en (ongelukkig) sinusitis. Alhowel ek nie veel studeer of geskryf het nie, het ek darem ’n bietjie wêreldbou kon doen en het vir myself gesê dat om Thor te kyk ’n goeie manier is om te sien hoe Noorse mitologie verander word om by ’n spesifieke storie te pas*. Maar ek kon nou nie juis aan ’n produktiewe rede dink om al die ander flieks te kyk nie…

’n Verhaal en ’n onderhoud

Maar, terug by die interessante nuus – een van die lede van die Anomalous Sandbox (die skryfgroep waarvan ek deel is) het ’n storie in Desember gepubliseer en die storie – saam met ’n onderhoud – is nou beskikbaar om op die webwerf te lees. Gaan lees gerus sy“Deprescience” hier en lees die onderhoud hier.

Om middelmatigheid aanvaarbaar te maak

Ek het ook begin om stadig maar seker inskrywings op Story Lane te gaan plaas. Ek beplan om daar meer nie-fiksie en opinie stukke te plaas. Die eerste stuk lê my na aan die hart en is getiteld “Making Mediocrity Acceptable”. 

*Indien jy dalk nuut is hierso – my verhandeling handel oor die gebruik van Noorse mitologie in Afrikaanse en Nederlandse letterkunde.

An interview and Making Mediocrity Acceptable

The last week truly passed in a whirlwind of work and (unfortunately) sinusitis. Although I did not get much studying or writing done, I did do some worldbuilding and told myself that watching Thor was a good way to look at the way in which Norse myths are changed to fit a specific story. I couldn’t think of a productive reason for watching all the other films, though…

A story and an interview

But, back to interesting stuff – one of the members of the Anomalous Sandbox (the writing group I am part of) had a story published in December and his interview is now available at the site as well. Read his story “Deprescience” over here and the interview over here.

Making Mediocrity Acceptable and other musings

I’ve also started to slowly but surely post over at Storylane. I am planning to do more non-fiction and opinion pieces over there. The first piece is quite close to my heart, and is titled “Making MediocrityAcceptable”.

*If you’re new to the blog – my dissertation is about the use of Norse mythology in Afrikaans and Dutch literature.

Friday Finds: For the Love of Notebooks

There is something to be said of the allure of a blank page – or even a blank book. It is not always a page waiting for a writer’s blood to be poured on it, but it is definitely calling to be filled. Filled with shopping lists, diary secrets, love letters, doodles, artwork or literature. 

I have amassed a collection of notebooks – collecting them probably since I was able to write. Diaries with locks, plain school notebooks, soft covers, hard covers, spiral bound, saddle stitched and one custom made (refillable) in blue leather with one of my favourite quotes in silver lettering on it.

"A Writer's Tools" by Rae Grimm

I usually use more than one notebook at a time – one for studies, one for “other writing” and one for Airthai stories and worldbuilding. I feel naked when I go out without having a notebook on me. I usually end up using my phone’s notebook in such cases anyway!

While rummaging around the internet one day, I came across a wonderful notebook blog – Notebook Stories - which made me feel less alone in my love of notebooks! Not only do they show some of the best and most beautiful notebooks/journals available, but they also showcase a specific addict – I mean collector – every Friday. Take some time to browse through their blogroll as well – there are some very yummy books contained in those pages!

Paperbacknote Notebooks

One of their posts highlighted the company “paperbacknote” – which uses old paperback covers to make custom notebooks. Paperbacknote truly gives new life to these paperbacks – and you can see the love that went into their making. If you want, you can get the original book shipped to you when you order one of the notebooks.

In their own words:

“Every paperbacknote notebook is made with an original cover from a used paper back novel in its found condition. Each notebook is hand-assembled and contains stitch-bound blank pages allowing the book to open flat, as well as rounded corners and an embossed logo on the back cover. The size is approximately 11cm x 17cm x 1.2cm with 30-60 pages (depending on the thickness of the original book). The cover is original from used books culled from thrift shops, garage sales, and boxes in basements and attics. At first glance, these notebooks appear as though they are real paper back novels. Only when you open them up do you discover the true secret inside. They are blank! At least until you fill them with your own thoughts, stories, pictures, and words. A perfect gift for an aspiring writer, note taker, list maker, journal writer, or anyone who wants to keep their notes under cover.”

Do you still use paper notebooks? Or do you find digital notes are better? I would love to hear from you!

Airthai Legends: Alaila’s Daughters

Last week I wrote of one of the legends of the Midlands of Airthai – Whythe Tellerassar’s cry is so sorrowful. This week I’m continuing the story with a second legend – that of Alaila’s Daughters.

To read the first part, click here.

Alaila’s Daughters

Just as some believe that Alaila died on the fateful day Ikaira and his followers became the Tellerassar, so many believe that she was spared; even though she would never be able to return to her people. It is told among the people of the Midlands that, even as Alaila fell pierced by an arrow of King Markus’s soldiers, she did not change back into a mortal woman, but became the first of the water women. Able to breathe under water as easily as in the open air, she was able to escape from the soldiers into the deep waters of the river.

Frightened and hurt, Alaila hid in the dark waters of the gorge for many days. The soldiers left the gorge and retreated back to their lands south of the Great River. But Alaila still hid, until she heard a single cry sounding above the water. In the mournful song she recognised her name and went towards it with all haste. An eagle swooped down, changing into the form of Ikaira. He walked along the bank of the river, ever calling her name with the hope that she had not perished.

But even when she went to him, she could not leave the water entirely. So they would still be apart except when the moon was full, for, on that night, Alaila was able to leave the river and walk again on the green banks of the river. Ikaira returned to her as often as he could and the road towards the river was safe for travel. In time Alaila bore a child – a daughter who could live in water like her mother and was also bound to the river.

Rumours of the water women filtered to the people living close to the river and soon other tales were told of other women becoming water women themselves when pity was taken on them by Alaila and her daughter. Soon the water women were all called “Alaila’s Daughters”. But not all lived in the deep waters of the gorge and some took to living in the deep waters where the Great River flowed slowly. And it was through one of these women that evil came to the water women. 

Dalath was one of the Vídolf, servants of the Lewjan who held dark magical powers. She sought out one of the pools where a water woman had been spotted and searched for her on the night of the full moon. She dressed herself in mourning clothes and wore a mourning veil to hide her face as the Ciph did. In this manner she walked along the bank of the river and wailed about the awful lot which had befallen her. One of the water women went to her and, after hearing her story, gave to her the gift of being able to breathe under water. As soon as Dalath had entered the water, however, she murdered the one who had taken pity on her. One by one she made five of her sister Vídolf water women, but, instead of being benevolent towards others like the other water women, they lured men and children to their deaths in the water.

Rumours of these happenings reached the Keepers of Théotriewe and, from there, Ikaira who hastened to Alaila. For a whole day and a whole night he waited on the bank of the river, calling her name. But she did not answer and she did not come to him. At last, when the day was dawning once more, he gave up hope of finding her and wept where he sat.

Next week: Alaila’s Daughters, part 2

One of the Tellerassar plays an important role in the short story “ADragon’s Freedom”, which can be downloaded and read here.