We begin chapter 10 with the setting. I throw you directly into the action this time. The pacing requires it. In the last chapter, we had an exciting beginning and a resolving end (little resolution, but releif). Now, we begin again with a little action (not much this time).
“Natalya! Natalya!” Aksinya called from her room while she rang the tiny servant’s bell. Her voice was ten times louder than the bell, and it formed a soft counterpoint to her cries.
Sister Margarethe and the Lady Natalya came running.
The moment they were through the door, Aksinya pointed at Sister Margarethe, “You, sister, prepare my breakfast. I shall have tea and something more substantial than the school provides. Sausages with eggs would be fine. Please scramble the eggs in butter.”
Sister Margarethe’s brow rose, but she just curtsied and went down to the kitchen.
Aksinya waited a moment, then she raised her chin and spoke loudly, “Natalya, please draw my bath.” Then she whispered, “First come here—beside my bed.”
Natalya didn’t hesitate, “Yes, mistress.”
“Yes, Aksinya.”
Natalya blushed, “Yes, Aksinya.”
“Next time, I want you to drink tea with my guests as well. I did not embarrass you when Lady Bockmann and the Sister Margarethe were in my room, but I will next time.”
“Y…yes, Cou…Aksinya.”
“Now, close and lock the door.”
Natalya ran to the door and locked it.
“Come over here.”
Natalya stood at the side of the bed.
Aksinya grabbed Natalya’s arm and pulled her down to the bed. She put her arms around the girl and kissed her cheeks, “Nata, you saved me yesterday. I didn’t have a chance to tell you before. You saved me. You are truly my best friend, and I love you. You don’t know how important you are to me.”
Natalya held Aksinya close and sobbed in her hair, “Mistress, Aksinya, I was so afraid I would loose you. I love you. You are like the sister I never had.”
“And you are much more than the sister I lost. I can’t shed a tear for her either, and I don’t know why.”
Natalya’s embrace tightened, “Let me shed your tears, mistress. That is something I am very good at.” A laugh tinged her sobs.
Aksinya kissed Natalya’s tear streaked cheeks again, “Yes, dear Nata, you are very good at that, but you are an especially great person. I pray you learn that before you fall as I have.”
Aksinya calls for her help. Remember, they have not spent their days in the house--they always snuck back to the school. They usually ate breakfast at the school. Aksinya wants breakfast and, as an aristocrat, she knows how to get it. She has her bell and her voice. This is supposed to give a little levity and a little realization of the culture of the times. Aksinya isn't used to the Austrian methods of calling servants. Don't you wonder who gave her the bell? Either the Freifrau or the Sister obviously.
About setting the chapter. You can guess where we are going with this chapter. You'll get more tomorrow. Hint: where is the book. The setting is simple, I use what the reader already knows. The bedroom in the house is reasonably well known. We understand from the breakfast order that it is likely the morning. The presence of Sister Margarethe tells us the same. Unless the Reverend Mother gave her the day off from teaching. We will find out more. In setting the scene, especially when the reader is familiar with the setting already, you can ease into it with some revelation. I like to use this technique, that is, the world exclusively through the eyes of my character, and I have used it to drive entire novels before--not so much with this one.
When Natalya and Sister Margarethe come to her, Aksinya gets rid of the sister. It is a distribution of duties, but it serves Aksinya well. Aksinya speaks loudly because Sister Margarethe might be listening. Once Aksinya has Natalya in her grasp, she lays down the rules of her house. There wasn't any need of rules when there was just the two of them--now they need rules. First, Natalya must call Aksinya by her name (in private, of course). Second, Natalya isn't a servant, she is a lady in the house. She will be served tea, and not have to serve the tea. We are already seeing what Aksinya will do with the Sister. Then Natalya must lock the door. It would be improper for a Countess to show such tenderness to her lady-in-waiting.
Aksinya is a kind person, but she does not show much emotion. We get a repeat of her response at the death of her family. Aksinya can't cry for herself or others. This is a critical marker in her personality and in the novel. She can express herself, but Aksinya can't let out her emotions.
Natalya and Aksinya share a tender scene, and we have a foreshadowing--I hope you learn how great a person you are before you fall as I have. This statement is prescient and important. There is more, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Showing posts with label emotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emotion. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A New Novel, Part 30 Hungary
We move very simply from Russia into Hungary. There is no east and west--yet. The world is war torn from WWI, and I will likely add much more in description to this section and the next. I don't want to make this a travelling novel, and I don't want to draw attention away from the main storyline, plot, and theme.
Zάhony was a city being rebuilt. It was war torn and weary. The people looked at anyone who was different with suspicion. Asmodeus, Aksinya, and Natalya exited at the station. Asmodeus led them back toward the Russian side and behind some buildings. There Aksinya said her words and suddenly she and Natalya were again in their normal forms and their clothing. The counterspell was very simple. After the change, they were completely bedraggled, and they stunk. Aksinya could smell herself. She was very uncomfortable, and she wanted a bath.
Asmodeus led them back to the station. The Russian and Hungarian guards stared at them, but here the revolution was still an event in Moscow and well away from this place. Here the old order of White Russia still reigned. They allowed Aksinya, Natalya, and their courtier an escort to cross the boarder. The Russian and the Hungarian guards bowed to them as ladies and gentlemen and to Aksinya as an aristocrat. Aksinya spoke French. The men nodded politely but did not understand her. Asmodeus spoke to the Hungarians in Hungarian. Asmodeus led them into and through the town to a very fine inn on the other side.
He engaged them an apartment with a sitting room. The very first thing Aksinya did was tear off her clothing. While Natalya drew a bath, Aksinya stripped off everything. She entered the tub before it was half full and let Natalya continue to fill it with hot water from the stove in the bathroom. She let Natalya scrub her. She didn’t dally, but stepped out before the water was cool and started to help Natalya remove her clothing.
Natalya held Aksinya off. She hung her head, “I’ll take care of my clothing myself, countess.” She blushed, “It is unseemly for my mistress to help me.” She gave Aksinya an imploring look.
Aksinya didn’t say anything—she returned to the bedroom. The demon had placed a selection of clothing there. Aksinya put on a warm gown and pulled on a heavy robe. Almost before Aksinya was clothed, Natalya entered from her bath. She carefully kept her back turned away from Aksinya and pulled on her old nightgown and robe.
When a knock came at the door, Natalya answered it.
A woman and two kitchen girls stood there. Natalya nodded at them. Aksinya addressed them in French, “Good evening.”
The lady and the girls curtsied and ducked, but didn’t say a word. They filled the small sitting room table with many dishes and fine food. They laid out very nice china and silver. When the table had been set and filled, they all curtsied again and left.
Aksinya took a deep breath. She sat at the table. Natalya stood at her elbow. Aksinya tugged on her sleeve, “Lady Natalya, please sit with me and eat.”
“It would not be proper, countess.”
“It might not be proper, but it would please me. We ate together all the way across Russia from Minsk to here, and you didn’t complain.”
Natalya blushed.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. You will be my lady and my friend both. It would please me if you would eat with me.”
“Only in private, please mistress. I would never want to embarrass you.”
“And I would never desire to embarrass you.”
“Thank you.” Natalya guiltily slipped into a chair and tried to make herself a little lower than Aksinya.
Aksinya served Natalya a plate of food and placed a fork in her hand, “Please eat and converse with me, Lady Natalya. You are very pleasant company and a very fine lady-in –waiting.”
“Thank you,” but it was slightly muffled as Natalya demurely filled her mouth with a bite of meat.
Did you note how I showed you Natalya's desire to hide her scars from Aksinya. I didn't tell you anything--I just showed you. Did you note that Aksinya called Natalya her friend. This is a revelation I need to make stronger from the beginning. Aksinya has had few friends. Her friends were here books of sorcery. She was estranged from the family she loved. The reason will become obvious later. For Aksinya to have a friend is a new thing for her--even her approach is awkward, but notice, not unplanned or unthought. She is not embarrassed, but rather approaches friendship like a demand.
Zάhony was a city being rebuilt. It was war torn and weary. The people looked at anyone who was different with suspicion. Asmodeus, Aksinya, and Natalya exited at the station. Asmodeus led them back toward the Russian side and behind some buildings. There Aksinya said her words and suddenly she and Natalya were again in their normal forms and their clothing. The counterspell was very simple. After the change, they were completely bedraggled, and they stunk. Aksinya could smell herself. She was very uncomfortable, and she wanted a bath.
Asmodeus led them back to the station. The Russian and Hungarian guards stared at them, but here the revolution was still an event in Moscow and well away from this place. Here the old order of White Russia still reigned. They allowed Aksinya, Natalya, and their courtier an escort to cross the boarder. The Russian and the Hungarian guards bowed to them as ladies and gentlemen and to Aksinya as an aristocrat. Aksinya spoke French. The men nodded politely but did not understand her. Asmodeus spoke to the Hungarians in Hungarian. Asmodeus led them into and through the town to a very fine inn on the other side.
He engaged them an apartment with a sitting room. The very first thing Aksinya did was tear off her clothing. While Natalya drew a bath, Aksinya stripped off everything. She entered the tub before it was half full and let Natalya continue to fill it with hot water from the stove in the bathroom. She let Natalya scrub her. She didn’t dally, but stepped out before the water was cool and started to help Natalya remove her clothing.
Natalya held Aksinya off. She hung her head, “I’ll take care of my clothing myself, countess.” She blushed, “It is unseemly for my mistress to help me.” She gave Aksinya an imploring look.
Aksinya didn’t say anything—she returned to the bedroom. The demon had placed a selection of clothing there. Aksinya put on a warm gown and pulled on a heavy robe. Almost before Aksinya was clothed, Natalya entered from her bath. She carefully kept her back turned away from Aksinya and pulled on her old nightgown and robe.
When a knock came at the door, Natalya answered it.
A woman and two kitchen girls stood there. Natalya nodded at them. Aksinya addressed them in French, “Good evening.”
The lady and the girls curtsied and ducked, but didn’t say a word. They filled the small sitting room table with many dishes and fine food. They laid out very nice china and silver. When the table had been set and filled, they all curtsied again and left.
Aksinya took a deep breath. She sat at the table. Natalya stood at her elbow. Aksinya tugged on her sleeve, “Lady Natalya, please sit with me and eat.”
“It would not be proper, countess.”
“It might not be proper, but it would please me. We ate together all the way across Russia from Minsk to here, and you didn’t complain.”
Natalya blushed.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. You will be my lady and my friend both. It would please me if you would eat with me.”
“Only in private, please mistress. I would never want to embarrass you.”
“And I would never desire to embarrass you.”
“Thank you.” Natalya guiltily slipped into a chair and tried to make herself a little lower than Aksinya.
Aksinya served Natalya a plate of food and placed a fork in her hand, “Please eat and converse with me, Lady Natalya. You are very pleasant company and a very fine lady-in –waiting.”
“Thank you,” but it was slightly muffled as Natalya demurely filled her mouth with a bite of meat.
Did you note how I showed you Natalya's desire to hide her scars from Aksinya. I didn't tell you anything--I just showed you. Did you note that Aksinya called Natalya her friend. This is a revelation I need to make stronger from the beginning. Aksinya has had few friends. Her friends were here books of sorcery. She was estranged from the family she loved. The reason will become obvious later. For Aksinya to have a friend is a new thing for her--even her approach is awkward, but notice, not unplanned or unthought. She is not embarrassed, but rather approaches friendship like a demand.
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