Sarah Z. Creates

In the World-Building Wednesday series, I’m doing just that: using writing prompts to flesh out Talah, one of the worlds in The Sundered Realms. This month’s series is sketching out a few images of an origin story!

Tilda huddled before the dying fire in her borrowed cloak and wished that she could turn back time.

She would have taken Azar and fled far away as soon as rumors spread that the Earth King was taking a new bondling.

They could have avoided so much heartache and pain.

She held her fingers closer to the fire, trying to ignore the crookedness of their newly mended state. She would always be a hindrance now, with her badly healed bones and the pain and fear that lingered from Mairi’s attentions.

She shivered and tried to divert her attention. The night was dark enough.

But it was hard to escape her thoughts.

She’d left Azar behind. Not that she could have done much to gainsay the girl; Tilda had been in far too poor of shape to argue against anything.

The faeling’s absence gnawed at Tilda even worse than the pain in her body. She had raised that girl since infancy, had tried to protect her magic-less charge from the disdain of her peers, and now – now –

Now she was alone in her father’s court – magic-less, powerless, friendless and completely at Mairi’s non-existence mercy.

Tomorrow they would move again. This clan had allies among the air fae, who had told them what the future held. Tilda’s broken body was simply proof that the further they got from Mairi, the better they’d be.

But Tilda would be leaving Azar even further behind.

“We’re not going back, Abyl. We didn’t uproot our whole clan just to run right back into death’s jaws.” Cayne’s voice rumbled through the dark, low enough that Tilda expected no one but her heard. Everyone else slumbered, the knowledge of Mairi’s viciousness not yet carved into their flesh and soul.

“But the seer said -“

“I know what she said, brother. But the answer is still no. We’re not at war with the fae, and if we run fast enough and far enough, perhaps we never will be.”

“What of those we leave behind? We have only so many messengers to send, especially since half of them aren’t returning, Cayne. How much blood are you willing to carry? Phynta said the only way to truly stop Mairi is if the Fire Maiden allies -“

“Enough, Abyl.” Cayne sounded tired, as well he might. The twin’s father had died only months ago, and as the elder of the brothers, Cayne had assumed leadership of this clan. Tilda had been too consumed in her own pain to pay much attention to the leader, but now she tried to listen as hard as she could without moving. “We aren’t going back. We’ll save who we can and pray for the best. Now get some rest. Tomorrow will be another long day.”

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into The Sundered Realms! There’s plenty more to enjoy. In addition to these World-Building Wednesday posts, you can sign up for my newsletter to get a FREE short story: The Ruin of Ehslyng. Or stay connected via my Facebook page.