Timewaster's Guide Archive

Enclosed please find one (1) dialogue exercise. Almost but not quite 700 words.

DEMON’S BURN
“There. The peaks we’ve been looking for.”
“At last.”
“We should camp here. It’s late, and you must be tired.”
“I’ve kept up with you so far, my Prince. Your arm is troubling you, not my stamina.”
“Forgive me, Iridia. You’re right, of course. Every time my horse takes a step, it’s like being stabbed in the thumb and feeling it through to the elbow.”
“Then sit over there and rest. I’ll gather the firewood. I think it’ll be cooler tonight than last night.”
“I won’t argue, not this time. Will you want to change the poultice?”
“It would do no good. It isn’t really helping you now. Your wound is beyond my magicks, but not Magda’s, I hope. My Prince—”
“Iridia. I’d rather you used my name. You weren’t so formal when we were children.”
“Retic. You weren’t a prince then. Excuse me.”
“That’s a fine blaze you’ve built there. The food, on the other hand …”
“Hah! I can’t work miracles with travel rations. Fresh meat would be good, but I’m not the hunter my husband was.”
“My arm wouldn’t let me draw a bow if I had one. If there were more light, I could perhaps set a snare. Well, jerky it will have to be.”
“You were handy with a sling, once. You killed Yeoman Rancing’s prize rabbit. How old were we? Ten?”
“How do you … stars! You were there! I’d forgotten — I only remembered him screaming at me and Mikael wetting his pants. How was I to know? He shouldn’t have let the thing get out of its pen.”
“The color should have told you. How many black-and-white rabbits had you ever seen out in the fields?”
“I was only a kid. Father paid him back, anyhow.”
“Rancing died a few months ago. Brain fever; very sudden. I spoke to him a few weeks earlier and he told me, ‘If Retic ever comes back here, tell him I’m still waiting for my apology.’”
“Seriously? After twenty years? It’s true I never apologized. He frightened the wits out of me and I avoided him ever after. Then Father was recalled to court, and … well. Such is the past.”
“Those were good times.”
“Indeed. We’ll want an early start tomorrow. I will, uh, suggest we combine our bedrolls. We’ve gained so much altitude the night will be chilly, and when two lie down together, they can keep warm. I read that somewhere.”
“I’ve taken a long time to answer, I know. It wouldn’t be entirely proper.”
“Nor improper. You have only your father waiting for you at home, I have only my mother and sisters. What did you say? Or were you just whispering to yourself?”
“It’s a practical suggestion, but I whispered of my loneliness, and wondered if that would drive my answer.”
“My own drove the question, in part. Please, take your time.”
“Finally I can answer. Let’s keep warm.”
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes. And warm.”
“I know my arm smells, but …”
“Shh, my Prince. It’s all right.”
“Wake up, princeling.”
“Eh? What? Who are you?”
“Magda, the one you came seeking.”
“Iridia? Iridia! Witch! What have you done to her?”
“I’ve rid you of a cloying, stupid cow. I listened to your heartfelt confessions last night. Revolting.”
“She called you friend.”
“I need no friends. Stand when you address me, princeling.”
“Damn your eyes! I will die without your help, and I would rather that than do the bidding of a murderess.”
“You will not die. Not for some days, anyway, as the acid courses through your blood and burns you to your bones, and the pain will be so great you will do naught but scream and scream and scream. Is that how you want to die, princeling, over a few mere words?”
“You will pay, witch. With every last drop of your blood, if you have any.”
“Oh, I am sure. Now show me your wound. Hm. Very grave. But not grave enough.”
“What? The demon—”
“Was supposed to slay you, fool! Put your sword down. It will not—”
“Kill you as it killed your minion?”