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November 23, 2006
woo! crossed 30k!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I figured out a way to pad wordcount without stepping outside the story! See today's excerpt.
I'm getting a much better feel for the characters this time through. although I'm not at all happy with the narrative flow, I'm starting to enjoy the process more, which is nice. I just really enjoy these characters a lot. I'm not doing a very good job of making their voices sound different, but then, this year's goal has been downshifted from "write 50k words that don't suck" to "reach 50k in spite of dealing with wedding planning and assorted health problems" so it's ok.
"Remember how the bounce back shield is soft and springy? This one is hard and slick. The casting technique is approximately the same, just keep the different properties in mind. Give it a try."
Jaspa nodded and held her hands up. "Past me, past me, all harm must slide past me!" As she said the last phrase, she drew on her connection with Myertek and shaped the energy into a pointed shield around them both. It shimmered like ice, and she grinned.
"Very good for a first try," Professor Tindall said approvingly. "However..." she tossed a small force sphere at it, and the shield shattered and melted, "perhaps you have taken the icy concept too far. It needs to be strong, like the ice on a pond in the dead of winter."
Jaspa nodded. "I see what you mean, I think."
"Good. Try it again."
Jaspa cast the shield again, this time remembering the times she had played as a child on frozen over ponds back home. the shield was thick and hard to see through when she was using her magical sight, and this time when Professor Tindall threw a small force sphere at it, the sphere slid past Jaspa and onto the floor.
"Much better! I want you and Myertek to practice this shield the way you practiced the other one. When you're not using it, keep it tucked away so it is ready to be deployed at any moment."
"Yes, professor. Thank you! This shield is really interesting!"
"You are very welcome. I pray that it will not be necessary, but I would rather have you over protected than under protected."
"You and me both, professor." Jaspa grinned, and went back to the window to practice.
It was a long day. jaspa became surprisingly proficient at the deflection shield under Professor Tindall's tutelidge, [and Master Librarian Kalishk and] Professor Tindall finished charging up the wands, and Master Librarian Kalishk did quite a bit of research on Larmenic defence spells. By early evening, they were all fairly tired and took a break..
"Master Kalishk?" Jaspa asked between bites of bread.
"Yes, Jaspa?"
"How will we know when Flegen gets here? Do you think he will send a messenger with a challenge or something like that?"
"I doubt it. I expect to know he is here when the sentry spells I put up last night alert me." He sighed. "This sort of thing is very irritating. I would much prefer to be left alone to tend to my books."
"How many times have you had to defend the library, if you do not mind me asking?" Tindall asked quietly.
Master kalishk thought for a few moments. "Heavens. This must be the fourth or fifth time I have had to do battle to defend the contents of the library. The Collegium Sorcaeum itself has been under attack more times than that of course."
Posted by Ealasaid at November 23, 2006 12:16 PM
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