This submission is for Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo weekly prompt. I can’t resist these.
Without a choice, Kael crept through the sheeting rain toward the garden, the baby heavy in his arms. His other sister, Gitta, hid behind the trellis, paralyzed by the terrible stridency of murder. He took a step closer and ducked back, squatted and held his breath, stroking Clover’s cheek to keep her quiet.
A guard in a black cloak stood at the corner of the shed, a loaded crossbow resting in his hands. He squinted in the rain as he scanned the garden, pens, and moor. Gitta didn’t seem aware of the man’s presence, and Kael begged her to stay as if his will alone could bind her limbs and silence her tongue. “Stay there, Gitta. Please, stay there.”
The guard spit and wiped the rain from his forehead with a sleeve before walking toward the pens. Kael tossed a stone into the garden. Gitta spun and he beckoned. As she ran toward him, he retreated into the heath. “We’re going to hide in the old cairn,” he told her. “You lead, quiet as a mouse.”
Gitta nodded, eyes like winter pools, her body soaked and shaking. She set off and Kael followed. They squeezed through the gap into the stone hollow. Kael opened Clover’s blanket and wrapped it around both sisters. They sat near the back, snuggled together, the tight quarters offering shelter from the storm.
“No talking,” Kael whispered when words formed on Gitta’s lips. She nodded and pointed at his shoulder. He gave his bloodied sleeve a peek and shrugged, then placed a finger to his lips.
Heather broke beneath quiet footfalls. Gitta pinched her eyes closed and Clover pressed her face into Kael’s arm as the shadow of a man blocked the gray light. Kael looked out, meeting the dark eyes. The stocky guard combed thick fingers through his wild beard.
“Niall?” another voice called.
“Just taking a piss,” the bearded man yelled into the rain. He gestured for Kael to stay before he trudged away. “No sign of them. I’ll stay on the moor and keep an eye out.”
Kael swallowed a sob, motionless, listening. The autumn skies brought premature darkness, the rain falling in rustling gales. Clover slept in his arms and Gitta dozed, emitting small sleep-filled cries that grated his raw nerves. The wind keened, and rain-dampened calls kept him vigilant, the hunters still on the prowl. Sorrow pressed down with the unbearable weight of the old stones.
Myths of the Mirror 
Great piece with words that flow so well …
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Thanks for the visit, Tony. I love doing these little flash pieces. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Happy Writing.
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Beautiful imagery, such a good job, Diana. Do you think you will expand it? KL ❤
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It’s actually a little slice of my WIP The Rose Shield that I modified to fit the prompt. So the answer is yes! It’s part of a 4-book series 🙂 Thanks for the comment. Happy Writing!
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Ma’am,I have no words to adore the vivid description and the intensity with which you have written this post.I adore your blog to abysmal.Glad I can see your beautiful stories in my wordpress reader now.
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Thank you for the lovely comment 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the piece and look forward to connecting!
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Yes,sure ma’am.:)
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Fabulous response to the prompt. I could feel Kael’s tension.
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Thanks for reading. I love the visual prompts and flash fiction. Such a joy not to have to think in book-length! Happy Writing 🙂
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[…] D.Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror […]
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Thanks, Sue. Always great fun 🙂
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“eyes like winter pools” I love this phrase and description
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Yeah, the depth of those dark dilated pupils. These are fun to write. Thanks for reading and hope you’re enjoying your day. 🙂
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Very strong and so vivid! I was holding my breath waiting! Another wonderful story!
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Thanks for reading, Lynn 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. I enjoy these prompts, for sure. Have a great week, my friend. ❤
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Always a pleasure x
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What a beautiful and imaginative write for the photo prompt! The characters have such depth in even such a short story, and the suspense also is great. I enjoyed your explanation on how you come up with character names. Just wonderful!
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Thanks for the visit and comment. I could do these prompts all week (and skip writing books!) – they’re so fun. Yes, baby name lists have saved me many times 🙂 Happy Writing.
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I’ve been doing a prompt regularly too, and I like them more than I thought. I never thought I would enjoy doing it, but I think it really expands the imagination. Happy Writing to you also 🙂
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I recommended your work, Diana, today to a published author today who seemed to be struggling with his creativity. I said, “I think just by appreciating her word choice will be enough to spark you into action.”
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I got goose bumps when the guard lied to protect them. Powerful writing.
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The characters get such small parts, it’s fun to figure out how to give them all personality. Thanks for reading and for the great comment. Have a wonderful week 🙂
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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Thanks for the reblog, Penney 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the read! Happy Sunday.
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That’s great! 🙂
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy Travelings!
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Always always so much depth to your writing. I need to read one of your books as I think I could learn a lot from you
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That’s so sweet of you to say, Sacha. I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I have this thing totally figured out. If you ever have any free time, I’d recommend Sorcerer’s Garden. It’s pretty spirited (like you). Have a great week and Happy Writing!
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Each of your characters show their own personality, Diana. I love the way you describe and build traits. These form how they may act and react in the next scenes or chapters. One great part of reading you over time, I feel you have to “know” each person in your story before actions are developed. It makes a few writers I used to read; “pale” in comparison!
Kael is so serious and strong, aware of all around him, no sign of his being able to let down his guard yet. . . I’m ready for tomorrow and sun’s early light.
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Thanks, Robin. I picture him being about 8 years old and therefore the weight of the world on his young shoulders. Thanks for reading. We’ve been rainy all week – hoping for sun. Have a great Sunday!
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The weight of the world on his shoulders~ I did feel this, Diana.
It rained only one night and afternoon out of 9 up at my Mom’s apt building. We were able to get out three times together and once she declined I went with brother and his wife.
Not sure how work will go but have been enjoying calling the new guy in texts, “Agent C” while he does the same to me in his replies. Having fun so far. . . Busy lives and so far, only 3 dates in 104 days of contact. 🙂
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Beautiful! I could sense the tension and then relief. Look forward to reading the whole story!
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It will be a while, Inese, but in the mean time these short pieces are fun to write. Thanks so much for the visit 😀
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Always a pleasure to learn about your projects and look forward to a new book 🙂
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I love your imaginative take on this photograph, Diana. Full of suspense in even just a short piece. Wonderful atmospheric writing! Where do you get the names you use here and in your books? They are always terrific! Hope you’re having a great weekend. 😀
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The old internet, Annika – baby names! Ha ha. Even for a short piece like this, the names take me a while to pick out. I really do think names evoke character. Have a wonderful weekend yourself, Annika. I’m curious. How is your book coming? Let me know when you are ready for a beta reader 🙂
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Diana, thank you so much for asking about my book and offering to be a beta reader. Wow! That makes me smile. To be honest with my father-in-law’s illness, passing and all the worry and travel over the past few months, as well as another serious family crises I have not made as much progress on the edit as I wished. With things looking up I am hoping with my renewed energy and back to ‘normal’ life to start working on it in September after the holidays and hopefully have it finished latest December! There, now you have me bound to a date! Scary but exciting!
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There’s no deadline. Do it at a pace that’s comfortable so you do it well. This should be fun and you want to put your best effort out there. Happy Writing 🙂
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So good! Love the tension that brings the view to life 💛
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Thanks, Val. Not peaceful and relaxing like your posts, but fun for a writer 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Have a lovely weekend.
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Wonderful take on the photo, Diana. Elegant writing in a suspense-ridden short one. Great stuff. 💕
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Thank you, Van. These short posts are easy on everyone and such fun to write. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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Wonderful writing, Diana. Intense, suspenseful, and threaded with sorrow.
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Thanks, Steven. Yeah, those poor kids. Things aren’t going to be easy for them. I appreciate the visit, as always. Happy Writing.
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You too. 🙂
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I can’t do very short ones but yours is fabulous.
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Thanks for the visit, Olga. I never thought I could either, but I actually enjoy them quite a bit, and it gets easier with practice 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy Writing!
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Fantastic, Diane! I’d really love to see a whole story with this. 🙂
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It’s coming, Linda. 🙂 This is a little slice of a longer story I’m working on. So glad you enjoyed it! Have a great weekend.
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent – Daily Echo.
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Thanks, Sue. Love your prompts, as always 🙂
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Thanks, Diana 🙂
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Such powerful writing!!
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Judith. Glad you enjoyed it. Sue’s prompts are always story-worthy. Have a great weekend 🙂
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Indeed they are. Loved it. Hope your weekend is drier than ours. It’s poured down since Friday
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We are stuck in cold rainy weather too. I’m hoping summer shows up before August!
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And you always do such a great job with them! Love this one!
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Thank you, Michelle. The prompts are fun. Have a great weekend 🙂
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You’re welcome D. You too! 🙂
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You. Are. Such. A. Good. Writer. !!!!
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I just watch the movie in my head and write it down, Pam. Then I edit it for hours 😉 Thanks so much for reading and the wonderful encouragement. Hope your weekend is amazing!
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I don’t know how you come up with such good stories for the photos, but I’m sure glad you do! Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
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These little short ones are easy for me, Barbara. I don’t have to think through all the threads and layers of a book. The problem is that I can get really distracted doing these! Thanks so much for the visit and sweet comment 🙂
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Excellent short for this photo prompt. The guard taking a piss made for a bit of fun suspense. Have a great weekend Diana!
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Thanks Kathryn. Yeah, that piss kept the other guards away 🙂 He was a good badguy. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.
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Great writing as always! 🙂
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Thank you, Bette. 🙂 Your visits are always appreciated. Have a great weekend!
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You have a great weekend too! XO
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Glad you can’t resist the prompts! Wonderful, Diana!
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Thanks, Kelly 🙂 The photos prompts are usually so evocative, and they make for fun posts too. Have a great weekend ❤
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You write effortlessly… always enthralled with your word choices. Hope you have a great weekend as well. 🙂
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Oh, oh, I hope the baby doesn’t start crying and give them away.
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Thanks for reading, Bernadette. I have no idea what’s going to happen! Part of the fun is leaving it open 🙂 Have a great weekend. ❤
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Excellent response to the prompt. A pleasure to read. Love the way you ended this. You also provide just enough detail to set the story. Have a creative weekend.
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Thanks for reading 🙂 I enjoy these visual prompts. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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This was a wonderful read! I love how you interpreted the picture and gave a story to it ^.^ 👌 – Michelle
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Thanks for the visit and comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the story, or perhaps, slice of a story. Have a great weekend 🙂
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Great read Diana. I loved the completeness and yet also the openness! If that makes sense! Anyhow a great read. xxx
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Makes total sense. No back story – just a slice of time. Thanks so much for reading 🙂 Have a great weekend.
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Great tension in your story, Diana. Good atmosphere. I hope they all make it to their goal. —- Suzanne
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I have no idea 🙂 Just a little slice of time. I hope so too! Thanks for the visit, Suzanne. Have a great weekend.
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You’re most welcome for the visit, Diana. I hope you and yours are having a great weekend also.
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Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Thank you so much for the reblog! You made my day 😀
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Have a nice day!
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I like it, I like it a lot. You are such a talented writer.
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😀 Thanks for the sweet comment. I do my best. I wish it was effortless, but it is great fun. Happy Friday, my friend 😀
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You wouldn’t appreciate the result that much if it would be effortless. 🙂
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Wonderful, Diana. I love your writing. You create an atmosphere and characters with a natural flow, and with the skills of a wordsmith. 🙂
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Aw. Thank you, Sebnem, for the lovely comment. It’s always nice to hear from another fabulous wordsmith 😀 Happy Writing!
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Great little story!
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Thanks for the visit and comment, Trent. Glad you enjoyed it 😀 Happpy Writing!
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Well done, Diana! The setting, the emotion, so vivid!
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Lovely to see you here, as always, Julie. Have a wonderful productive weekend 😀
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That was very good all from a picture. I thought it captured the sombre nature of the moors very well. 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Richard. I’ve never been on a moor (except vicariously through blogs). Someday. *Sigh* 😀
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You’ll have to visit one day. Me and Sue could show you around.
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We’re about 4-5 years away from our big world adventure (waiting for retirement). The UK is top of the list. 🙂
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Something to look forward to 🙂
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Fantastic Diana! Every time I read a short of yours, I see a wonderful book. This left me with SO many questions!
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I did this one as a little slice without any backstory, Noelle. I tend to “fill readers in” so it felt different to leave it open at both ends. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Happy Writing!
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