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This is a snippet from my yet-to-be-completed NaNoWriMo story, Black Ink Plague, a fantasy about inkbloods, people who were left at the roots of a magic tree as babies, and can use charcoal from those trees to write and cast spells.
The main character, an inkblood called Liar, who works as hired killer, harvested a branch in the woods, is startled by a snapping twig–by another inkblood, with whom she has some awkward conversation about the weather.
I skipped over a few descriptive sentences, where Liar speculates the other woman might be from one of the settler families, who come from the middle east, mostly.
Liar picked up the thread of the conversation, “Have you been here long?”
“This spring will make two years,” she said, “and don’t worry, I’ve already been told that last winter was mild.”
“Perhaps you can leave the city for the coldest part of the winter? There’s not much to do, anyway,” Liar offered, though she found winter an excellent time for assassinations. People bundled up so much, no one expected to see your face, and even well-paid guards would find a reason to linger under the shelter of a roof, or near a fire when they were meant to be patrolling.
The only difficulty was the snow, which gave away your tracks if you weren’t careful, and the icy conditions made traveling the roof roads too dangerous to be considered. She highly doubted the woman next to her, who wore traditional black in expensive and well-cut fabrics, with little hints of color in her trimmings, worked at the business of ending lives, however.
“That’s a good point,” the other woman said, after a thoughtful pause. “Thank you for suggesting it.”
* * *
Black Ink Plague is set in a world similar to ours, with the addition of the Rakau tree, which has magical properties–charcoal or ink from the tree can be used to cast spells. However, only inkbloods, babies who were left overnight at a Rakau tree’s roots on their first full moon, can harvest and use the tree. The price they pay for their magic is that the ink infects them, staining their skin and eventually forming words from the spells they cast on their skin. These words change their lives in unexpected ways.
“the business of ending lives” – a very effective phrase on so many levels. Thank you for another excellent snippet.
When I make my characters wicked, they tend to be scary-practical. Liar’s a little wicked. 😉
“worked at the business of ending lives, however.”–Love this sentence. Such a contrast to the rest of their conversation. Lovely snippet.
Thanks! Liar has mastered the art of not saying the things she thinks–an art I need to work on, myself…
I suppose I figured that Inkbloods weren’t all assassins, but this is an excellent reminder, caitlin.
Does that mean that Liar’s skin-words will affect her in a different way than, say, this other Inkblood?
Oh, yes, they cast healing spells, and growing spells, and illusions, crafting spells, protective spells, etc. Killing people makes up a small percentage of what they do–it’s very dangerous.
Because the words they write are the words written on them. So yes, very differently!
I’m lost in your magical world, Caitlin and you do have a wonderful way with words.
Thanks!
“Which will give away your tracks if you’re not careful.” I think it’s supposed to read. Great work. I always love reading about Liar. 🙂
She’s describing something that has happened in the past, and will again. Tense is complicated sometimes. Thanks!
Strong snippet as always Charmaine, wonderful winter imagery.
I would *not* want to live there, but it is pretty, with a crisp white blanket of snow…
Interesting concept for a plague… Why would parents do this to their children if the powers did bad things (as well as some good things) for them? Makes me definitely curious about this world. And the interplay between the characters makes for fun reading.
The power that comes with being an inkblood is tempting to some parents. I think of them like over-enthusiastic helicopter parents, pushing their child into a sport, contest, etc.
Ah! I see. That’s true… they’re showing that kids aren’t always benefiting from the excess of activities, and that the emphasis on sports for some kids does outweigh the benefits…. So, yeah, I see what you’re saying. Interesting parallels.
Sometimes parents make good choices for their kids… other times, not so much. That’s life.
That makes it all the more real, and fun. Thanks for the explanation.
This bit did a great job of showing that there might be considerable diversity among inkbloods- interesting!
The majority of them aren’t like Liar, though there’s a good-sized population of discontents, who cast spells to commit arson, theft, or murder. Some of them are Liar’s friends. 😉
I love every new detail from this world. Fascinating snippet, how different the other Inkblood seems to be!
This one is valued by her parents, and uses her magic for “pretty” things. That makes a big difference.
Those are some good points both for and against conducting assassinations in winter. I’d err towards caution, since ice terrifies me. Great details in this snippet.
There are points against conducting assassinations in any weather! Liar’s a little less cautious than either of us, though.
I see how Black Ink Plague is similar to our own world. It is quite fascinating. Good snippet!
This isn’t quite urban fantasy, but it’s close–the world is ours, from the past, with changes. And people are people, right? Magic or not.
Interesting new character. I wonder how the ink bloods get along with each other. Might this woman be a threat, or an ally?
Right now, she’s a one-off character. But you never know…