Notes

Talos, the city of unsurpassed riches, it’s wealth as vast as the desert sands. It is the golden province in the Quramos Empire, riveting with scholars and architects entailing minds, hands, and skill worth thousands of silver pieces. In a city such as this, where even the lowest-born blacksmith can afford silks, and palace servants can arobe in the thinnest linens, a pampered girl may flourish into comfortable womanhood and live her summers in everlasting tranquility.

But today was not a day of splendor.

Amelia






































2nd draft

Death’s fast breath blew the candlelight leaving only the ominous darkness to lurk like a plague.

Her whole world was black and white.
Shifting her head to one side, feeling the weight of the veil and listening to it rustle, her eyes strained to focus through the fine weave.

A fire like never before burned inside of her. The cloth pressed against her face as she walked to the platform before the river of Yordanos. It was too soon. The Senate was crowded and she envisioned their thoughts chiming with her own that she—the second daughter of the late sovereign—would mourn by her father’s sudden death.

A tear escaped, proof of her mourning.

Through the haze of the veil, she could barely make out the faces of the twenty chairmen split into both sides of the platform or that of her mother, the dowager of Talos. And she did not see her elder sister Alejandra. Perhaps she could not bare to see the casket.

“Stand straight, Amelia.” Hissed her mother, pinching the girl’s arm.

Biting her lip, Amelia was led forward.

It was her fault.

Everything.

As the mists thinned, a black sarcophagus with silver ornate carvings became visible floating in the clear water. Dread crawled into the pit of her stomach. The veil swished back and forth and she shook her head with a cry.

Amelia splashed into the river, the warm currents dragging at her black linen skirts, impeding her progress. Men and women wailed, their cries escalating, spreading across the river, their horror washing over the empire, filling the air with grief.

The child reached out to the coffin, but just as her fingertips brushed the smooth granite, it floated farther downstream. Her mother shouted again, furious. Amelia pressed on, determined, knowing she would pay dearly for her disobedience as she continued to thrust herself into the water, past the short waves, past the deep, past the sand that touched her feet.
Soldiers rushed forward. The splashes they created reached her, pushing her forward. The coffin floated along the currents, until at last Amelia’s cold withered fingers wrenched her body closer allowing her to peer inside.

For a moment she couldn’t breathe.

She traced her fingers over his cheeks and pressed a kiss upon his forehead. “Farewell, father. I—

The soldiers fell back, sick with guilt, until one of them was able to grasp at her arm and took Amelia by her shoulders. Screaming for her father, she fought him, the material of Amelia’s linen tearing free in his fingers. He tightened his grip, frustrated.

The child trashed, crying out once more for her father, frantic. Amelia’s teeth clamped onto his shoulder. She bit him, hard. He swore and shook himself free. No more. It was enough.

He picked Amelia up and pressed her face against his shoulder. She hiccuped. A tear, stuck on her lashes, slipped free. Her heart ached for her father… Love you.


























First Draft

Her whole world was black and white.
Shifting her head to one side, feeling the weight of the veil and listening to it rustle, her eyes strained to focus through the fine weave.

A fire like never before burned inside of her. The cloth pressed against her face as she walked to where the chairmen were waiting. It was too soon. The senate was crowded and she envisioned their thoughts chiming with her own that she—the only daughter of the late sovereign—would wallow in defeat by her father’s name removed from the records.

Through the haze of the veil she could barely make out the faces of the twenty chairmen split on both sides of the senate or that of her mother, the dowager of Talos. And she did not see her elder sister Alejandra. Perhaps she could not bare to see the casket. .

“Stand straight, Amelia.” Hissed her mother, pinching the girl’s arm.

Biting her lip, Amelia was led forward.

“