ailaaurie

Aila's Ramblings - 9/28/23

📢 BREAK: October 4-14, 2023
I am out of the country on a covid-postponed trip to celebrate my mom being cancer free.  :)   

📚 The Wicked House of Caroline 📚

It will be poste...

TWHoC: Chapter 16 - Worst Meal of My Life

As long as she could remember, water had been a part of her life.   Her father was the magistrate of a seaside town on the capital island of the West Islands.  Her mother was a sailor and they had brought her to be baptized in the s...

TWHoC: Chapter 15 - I Can't Die Yet

A sudden pain shot through her shoulder as her body bounced from one side of the carriage to the other.  If it weren’t for the cushion wrapped around her, she was afraid that there could be broken bones instead of just bruises.  Howeve...

TWHoC: Chapter 14 - Pray to Whatever Gods You Believe In That I Don't Survive

“You exiled her to the Forbidden Valley?”  The Third Consort’s eyes were large, and Iris also couldn’t help but look at Luther with surprise as he took a seat on a large, plush chair in the parlor.  His eyes were red and his lips...

TWHoC: Chapter 13 - You Really Dodged an Arrow

From the wide-eyed, almost slack jawed fallen expression on Luther’s pale face, it was obvious that he never expected her to respond.  He stood in place, frozen for a moment as the Grand Hall went so quiet that Beks could hear Luther’s sh...

TWHoC: Chapter 12 - Once the Coronation is Over, I'm Leaving

“Collapsing was your only option?  Was it too much trouble to fake another attack?”  Deo held his sister across his arms and brought her into her room after returning from town to find her being carried out of the Gilded Palace by on...

TWHoC: Chapter 11 - Useless Piece of...

Royal guards were yelling all around her, and spread out along the perimeter of the Gilded Palace.  Two doctors rushed in along with their attendants to get to Chamberlain Wilton, now laying on the floor, his face pale and glassy eyes looking...

TWHoC: Chapter 10 - Burn the Kingdom to the Ground

Despite her position, Beks didn’t recall ever taking such a big risk in her life.

From the start, her life had been planned and controlled by others.  Everything she did was prepared for her and in a controlled environment.  And ...

TWHoC: Chapter 9 - Everyone is Terrible

The nobles were restless.

There was no way to hide the fact that Laurence had an accident and was in a coma, and Beks had a feeling it would get out even if they tried to hide it, so at the next court, she arrived with several doctors and Ch...

TWHoC: Chapter 8 - It is Best You Pray That He Does

As per her admittedly slightly overbearing instructions, Laurence completed his duties without approaching the river.  Beks was on guard the entire time, watching him as he and Lady Eleanor thanked the priest and then began a slow procession ...

TWHoC: Chapter 7 - They Never Should've

Two major things consumed her time.  The first being the Inundation Blessing.  While she’d assisted in planning behind the scenes in the past, it would be her first time attending.  The half day’s travel to the major river close...

TWHoC: Chapter 6 - It is Water

“There are some charities that help educate children with basic reading and counting that I took an interest to,” Beks had told Laurence in preparation for asking to leave the palace.  It wasn’t a lie and philanthropic project were comm...

TWHoC: Chapter 5 - She'd Paid a Life

“She’s obviously insane.”

“Brother, you can’t say that.”  Beks sat back on the sofa in Laurence’s office as he paced in front of his desk, scowling.  Beside her, Lady Eleanor had a comforting arm around her and was ge...

TWHoC: Chapter 4 - Mistress of Nexus

“There’s a what?” Her foster brother’s voice was laced with disbelief and Beks slowed her movements placing some bread on to a napkin to bring back to feed the birds.  She looked from Laurence at the head of the table to Luther across...

TWHoC: Chapter 3 - After You Read These Letters, Burn Them

She opened the container of birdseed and sprinkled a bit on her windowsill, then tore apart a piece of bread she brought back from breakfast for the larger birds.  Once there looked to be enough, Beks closed the window and put the container a...

The Wicked House of Caroline: Chapter 2 - He Wouldn't Allow Himself to Die so Easily

It was something they had been preparing for, as it was obvious a few weeks earlier that the Queen would not recover from her illness.  Despite all her attempts to brainwash herself, and the Queen, into believing that she would indeed recover...

Aila's Ramblings - 7/13/23 - BREAK TIME

📣 Main News: 📣

BREAK: No update next two weeks; I am resting and I'm afraid (actual) work calls.  T_T
Scheduled Future Break: First Two Weeks of OCTOBER (Trying to schedule br...

The Wicked House of Caroline: Chapter 1 - Dawn in Her Hair

“When was the territory now known as Sagittate of Kadmus put under the control of the Carolines?” The old woman’s voice sounded over the crackling of the fire meant to keep the study room warm.  Thick stone walls didn’t do much to kee...

Love Interest End Story: Tom - Part II

He would be lying to himself if he weren’t the least bit insulted by what the soldiers escorting the prisoner transport wagon were whispering amongst themselves.  They thought he was crazy.

They just didn’t understand.  They di...

Love Interest End Story: Tom - Part I

“I am scheduled to speak to her doctor this afternoon, sir.”  It was the same conversation that they’d had for years.

“I hope the results continue to be positive.  I just want her to get better.”

Except this time, t...

Love Interest End Story: Fabian - Part II

In the city, nothing was ever completely dark a

Love Interest End Story: Fabian - Part I

Every year, there were only a handful of knights who were able to complete the grueling four-year training regimen to become a first-tier imperial knight.  If he had followed his original trajectory, he would’ve been amongst that handful an...

Love Interest End Stories: Gideon - Part II

“I’m afraid he’s been very busy lately.  The Chamber has come to session and this is the time of the year when they get the most done,” Axton told him as he flipped over a thick notebook filled with notes.  “To try to get in as...

Love Interest End Story: Gideon - Part I

The salty sea spray hit his face and he stood at the bow of the naval ship, looking at the horizon in the distance.  He could see two watchtowers protruding up, signaling the mouth of the delta.  He took a deep breath to quell his excite...

Love Interest End Stories: Montan - Part II

“Ancient artifacts and buildings always pose a challenge, even to the best of us,” Constantine said from the comcry as Montan carried a bucket and three water canisters towards the spring.  There were two springs that provided water for s...

Love Interest End Story: Montan - Part I

It was a sunny, but chilly day, and the breeze coming off the water didn’t make it any better.  On the private dock of his godsister’s island, where a large manor was nearing completion, the ‘fastest ship in the empire’ was waiting to...

Love Interest End Story: Dimitri - Part II

He thought that no one noticed, as he lowered h

Love Interest End Story: Dimitri - Part I

He stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath as he studied the man looking back at him.  His dark hair was neatly combed, his face was washed and bright, despite being so nervous the night before that he barely got any sleep.  ...

Summer Jams 4: Viclya - Part II

“What are children doing here?” The thin man on the ground didn’t hide his confusion.   The other man looked just as confused and before they could ask any more questions, Maeve moved.

“Less talk!  More stab!” Maeve ...

Summer Jams 4: Viclya - Part I

“There are so many things to do in Viclya and you all choose to lay there, like seals basking in the sun.”  Tori reached the crescent shaped beach past the tents and saw her visiting cousin looming over the row of towels beneath sunshades...