Fill-Challenge 201, Lemy'es
Apr. 30th, 2023 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lantairvlea posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
tenminutesadayHey all! I'm still about! Keeping super busy between work and the novel. I've ticked to 250 pages, which is still mind-boggling. It might have another 50 pages. I don't think it will be 100, but we'll see! I also think I finally have a good, somewhat loose outline of how to fill my two glaring time gaps in the story.
Silfiya DeTauwr's last name got a spelling change (along with a couple other characters) as I continue to try and have some consistency in spelling and pronunciation. You don't realize how absolutely messed up and inconsistent English is in how it uses letters and combinations to make certain sounds until you have something else to compare it to.
My detail-obsessed self is tempted to make a video/audio file for a pronunciation guide.
Without further ado, Sray's entrance into Engama from Silfiya's perspective.
Silfiya DeTauwr sat at the staff table. The hall was a buzz with excited chatter as its occupants awaited the new arrivals. The last two weeks had been interjected with reminders to the students, especially those in their second and third year, that first term students have not taken vows and to allow the instructors to reveal Engama's secrets in their proper time and order.
The room quieted somewhat as a small crowd appeared in one of the doorways. It was a nervous, shy-looking group, typical of new students at first glance. Silfiya turned back to her conversation with Dafid Dentill when her eye was caught by something. She looked back at the group as it spread out and entered. A young woman of some twenty years-old stood head and shoulders above the rest of the teenagers in the group. Tall, blonde, and looking very Kamenan, she was plainly visible within the group of dark-headed, curly-haired Ela'yan youth despite her attempt to slouch amongst them.
As the group got closer, Silfiya sat up. It felt like she was looking into the past. The memory of her final days in Kamenlohn, and her last conversation with Kayrin jumped into sharp focus. That was over twenty years ago. It couldn't be Kayrin, but the second possibility seemed just as impossible.
Mishor stood and the hall quieted. Silfiya had never paid more attention to each new name that was read before. The minutes stretched themselves as she anticipated each name Mishor spoke, looking for when the young woman would recognize her own name.
"Sray Hillenbohn, daughter of the widow Kayrin Hillenbohn of Jon."
Sray Hillenbohn, daughter of the widow Kayrin Hillenbohn. Daughter of the widow. O Gohl, what did Dayfid do, and how did they end up here?
"Are you alright, DeTauwr?" Dafid Dentill asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"What? O," she removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose and then rubbed the corners of her eyes with her thumb and forefinger, which came back slightly damp. "I'm fine," she insisted. "I think I have a headache coming on. I think I will retire once we've been introduced to the new students." She couldn't help watching the young woman as she spoke. Sray they had named her. It sounded Kamenan enough, if you weren't a native speaker. At least to anyone else here it wouldn't be questioned. Silfiya felt a sharp pain in her chest as she thought more on the young woman's name. It had to be Getie'an. It was Getie'an. It meant hope. They had named their daughter "hope."
This was going to be a very long night.
It's kind of a shame that isn't going to make it in the book, but it gave me some more perspective on Sifliya and what she would be feeling.
Silfiya DeTauwr's last name got a spelling change (along with a couple other characters) as I continue to try and have some consistency in spelling and pronunciation. You don't realize how absolutely messed up and inconsistent English is in how it uses letters and combinations to make certain sounds until you have something else to compare it to.
My detail-obsessed self is tempted to make a video/audio file for a pronunciation guide.
Without further ado, Sray's entrance into Engama from Silfiya's perspective.
Silfiya DeTauwr sat at the staff table. The hall was a buzz with excited chatter as its occupants awaited the new arrivals. The last two weeks had been interjected with reminders to the students, especially those in their second and third year, that first term students have not taken vows and to allow the instructors to reveal Engama's secrets in their proper time and order.
The room quieted somewhat as a small crowd appeared in one of the doorways. It was a nervous, shy-looking group, typical of new students at first glance. Silfiya turned back to her conversation with Dafid Dentill when her eye was caught by something. She looked back at the group as it spread out and entered. A young woman of some twenty years-old stood head and shoulders above the rest of the teenagers in the group. Tall, blonde, and looking very Kamenan, she was plainly visible within the group of dark-headed, curly-haired Ela'yan youth despite her attempt to slouch amongst them.
As the group got closer, Silfiya sat up. It felt like she was looking into the past. The memory of her final days in Kamenlohn, and her last conversation with Kayrin jumped into sharp focus. That was over twenty years ago. It couldn't be Kayrin, but the second possibility seemed just as impossible.
Mishor stood and the hall quieted. Silfiya had never paid more attention to each new name that was read before. The minutes stretched themselves as she anticipated each name Mishor spoke, looking for when the young woman would recognize her own name.
"Sray Hillenbohn, daughter of the widow Kayrin Hillenbohn of Jon."
Sray Hillenbohn, daughter of the widow Kayrin Hillenbohn. Daughter of the widow. O Gohl, what did Dayfid do, and how did they end up here?
"Are you alright, DeTauwr?" Dafid Dentill asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"What? O," she removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose and then rubbed the corners of her eyes with her thumb and forefinger, which came back slightly damp. "I'm fine," she insisted. "I think I have a headache coming on. I think I will retire once we've been introduced to the new students." She couldn't help watching the young woman as she spoke. Sray they had named her. It sounded Kamenan enough, if you weren't a native speaker. At least to anyone else here it wouldn't be questioned. Silfiya felt a sharp pain in her chest as she thought more on the young woman's name. It had to be Getie'an. It was Getie'an. It meant hope. They had named their daughter "hope."
This was going to be a very long night.
It's kind of a shame that isn't going to make it in the book, but it gave me some more perspective on Sifliya and what she would be feeling.
