If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.
We are stepping back in time to when Ardwyad the Advocate was a young draig môr (sea dragon) and Queen Heledd had just formed her Chosen Court in their underwater city of Caer Morgana.
All Parts of They Were Shining, a new serial in response to the Smogust Writing Challenge.
Llallogan, brand new prophet of the Chosen Court, staggered into the palace’s dining chamber.
:You look terrible,: Queen Heledd set down her sea-rice cake. :Bad dreams?:
He scowled at her. :That seems to be my lot.: He grabbed a small platter of sea-rice cakes and sat at the farthest end of the table. His scowl deepened when he saw her shrug and resume eating. :I’m going out.:
:I will be too. Nia and the girls are going for a picnic.:
Llallogan pretended not to hear. He thought that Heledd’s friends were a bunch of empty-headed ninnies. He didn’t think much better of Heledd. He left the palace and wandered into the caer’s winding streets. He found a tavern, empty of its patrons who were all out in the sea-rice fields. He sat at the low-slung bar, an uneven slice of polished coral.
:Prophet.: The tavern owner placed a cup before him. :Medd reismôr? How are you settling in at the palace?:
:I hate it.: Llallogan scowled. :Heledd is impossible. It’s not like I can dream on demand for her.:
The owner mumbled something half-encouraging. :Drink up.:
Llallogan managed a smile. :Thank you. I don’t know how much longer I can bear this.:
:Isn’t the Sage, Difyr, helping?:
:She says every prophet’s relationship with the Lady is different.: Llallogan shrugged. :It feels like the Lady’s not interested any more.:
The drain môr refilled his cup. :Quiet is good. That means there’s no trouble.:
Llallogan groaned, sensing impending doom. :Don’t say that.: He wasn’t sure if the bad feeling were his prophetic gift or a fear of the jinx.
He spent the day drinking and grew dimly aware that he’d been switched to the non-alcoholic variety at some point in the afternoon, for by the time the field workers came in, his head started to clear.
A trickling of dread came through the Chosen Court bond. :Geraint?: The Sword never panicked.
:Have you seen Heledd?:
Llallogan rubbed at his forehead. :She was going on a picnic with some friends.:
:She’s not back yet.:
Llallogan glanced out the tavern door. Night had fallen and the warm lights did little to hide the darkness of the sea. :I’ve felt nothing through the bond.:
:Me either,: Geraint replied. :Hadn’t been paying much attention.:
Levering himself off the stool, Llallogan headed for the door. :I’m in the caer. I can go check at her parents’.:
:Already have. And her friends. You can sense her?:
Llallogan stilled, closing his eyes and going within. :I sense her,: he murmured. :A kind of … euphoria? That doesn’t sound like her.:
Geraint growled through their connection. :Heledd knew happiness before she became our Monarch.:
:Right,: Llanllogan mumbled. :How do we find her?:
:I’ll send out a search party. None of her friends have returned either. Maybe you could ask the Lady or Difyr?:
:The Sage may know.:
This is a response to the Smogust Story Hoard writing challenge by Bradley Ramsey and The Circus Dragon for the month of August. And yes, as it often happens with these month long challenges (often being precisely once before), it’s going to be a serial.
Here’s what I need to know from you. Should I email/post each story as they are ready, or would you prefer a weekly round-up? The poll below will help determine the flow into your inbox—or whether I set up a separate section for daily challenges that you can opt into (or out of, depending on how the poll swings). For this first week, I’ll be posting this first entry and then posting a weekly round-up. Unless, of course, the wheels come off and I don’t make it past the first week.
All Parts of They Were Shining, a new serial in response to the Smogust Writing Challenge.
Ooooh a serial just for Smogust :DDD I LOVE!!!