Fragments of an Echo # 3 by Chipka
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Description
“Are you afraid...?” Beölí asked.
Liébo shook his head. “Of course not.”
“Then why are you trembling?”
Silence.
From anyone else, there might have been challenge in the question, but from Beölí, there was only a rakish, innocent curiosity. He stood beside Liébo, pale in the smoky-gray drape of his student's robes. In the westward cast of sunlight, his snowy-pallor took on a ruddy, buttery tinge. His hair, like a drape of gold tinged with snow, flew in a playful tousle thrown by the wind. The world, however, fell—slowly—into shadow, and so, the definition of his half-elfin features stood in the sharpest relief. Though the light was brighter, it as Beölí's face was lit by a single, small candle in a room troubled with darkness.
To the west, clouds at varying altitudes caught the diminishing light, or swallowed it, hungrily. The air was hot with the crackling scent of aerostats tuned arcane spectral frequencies. There was a mass of omens, suspended just above the clotted, tumultuous veil of clouds—two or more of them were sure to descend.
The first scents of rain blew in from the west. Behind darker clouds, a vast thunderhead loomed in all of the colors of sunset.
This is our day... Beölí's and mine, Liébo thought, hugging himself against a chill and squeezing his hands beneath his armpits for warmth. It was a warm day, but he felt a chill. Something akin to fear, but not as profound a discomfort.
The door behind them was sealed. There was no retreat from the castle balcony. Rectors waited behind the closed door, watching through spy-holes and listening. The tools of an aeromancer's trade lay on black cloth before them: the planospheric astrolabes, the telescope, and the field-counter wands, charged with strange energies that stank of thunderstorms and the crackle of lightening. Those were the honored tools of an aeromancer's trade, and Liébo felt a twinge of pride as he spied his own notebook, crammed with lecture notes, diagrams, and the first letter from his brother. He smiled, inwardly, if not literally, at that small assertion of vellum, scrawled with news in Líesh's clumsy, angular hand.
I wish you were here, Liébo thought.
I wish you were here....
He tore his thoughts away from brooding nostalgia and glanced directly ahead. The city lay in stark silhouette beneath the fire of cloud-clotted sunlight. Something moved in that light; Liébo found hints of it, like minnows swimming through buttery haze. Omens! At least a dozen of them!
“We should start,” Beölí said, quietly. He'd seen them too.
Liébo nodded, taking in the troubled wonder of the western sky before focusing on his tools and the task at hand. The approaching mass was sure to spawn at least a complex tangle of omens. Today's test was to read only one. Accurately. And Liébo, in his gray robes and sandals, stood—as any true aeromancer might—in quiet anticipation for what the sky might yield.
* * * *
The Czech Republic offers some of the most dramatic skies I've ever seen. Maybe it's the presence of the grand, rambling castle on its hill, overlooking the city. Maybe it's the way everything falls into sillouhette at a precise moment, every day. Now, I am in the smaller town of Český Krumlov, a gorgeous town known for it's distinct vibe—people come here and they don't leave. The castle here is incredibly large. It isn't impossible to walk from one side of the old center to the other without leaving the castle itself. It is an amazing place.
***
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting! Hopefully your weekend is going well.
Comments (32)
lior
Excellent mood, so wonderful colors too!
claude19
SPLENDID mood, with a burning sky !!!
bronwyn_lea
This is a beautiful picture!!!
Levemark
Beautiful picture!
marybelgium
excellent !
romanceworks
The sky is on fire and your words keep it burning. The omens intrigue me and the castle sounds quite amazing. CC
Mondwin
Magnificent view........bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx
MagikUnicorn
Splendid Hot Sky here well done...
MrsRatbag
The photograph is electric, and I love waking up to find a story by you; it's so easy to be transported when I'm not quite in this world yet. All I can say is "TOO SHORT!" -- I didn't want to reach the end. You should do a book!
EmeraldElf
Amazing photo!
Heathcroft
Castles and half-elven characters- Feels like home! Excellent in every way. Chip.
igorsv
Excellent image - castles silhouette against the dramatic sky.
Amosicho
Excellent photo
beachzz
The foto, the words, take me to the most amazing places. This post is no exception, I'm transported yet again!!
ragouc
Superb....5+++
Fidelity2
Very cool. This one is rated 5+.
West_coaster07
Very nice!!!!
Meisiekind
Very dramatic sky and a dramatic narrative to go with it. Excellent work once again! :)
Faery_Light
Very impressive looking sky. I love the story you wrote to go with it. You have a wonderful way with words. :)
auntietk
Wonderfully done, my friend. Beautiful image, and I'm loving the story!
Lunastar
That is the most fantastic sky I have ever seen. STunning!
ladyraven23452
ho my gods i love it i just cant wate until the next one your on my ground now my kind of story.10+
MrsLubner
The sky needed to be noticed, to be the star of the show and you helped it with this stunning shot.
NekhbetSun
Loved the tale and captivating sky....both rock Chip ! H u g s
bmac62
Wonderful scene well captured. I share your enthusiasm for that part of Europe. My family and I lived in Germany for 3 1/2 years in the 70s. Think we visited every castle and Cathedral in Bavaria...well, not quite. I'll be back to look about your gallery some more and read some more... Bill
kasalin
Outstanding & Beautiful mood !!!! Dear Chip, like your words and capture !!! Excellent 5+++++++++++++++ Hugs:):):)
Norski
The photo: !! That sky reminds me of sunsets my first home: the Red River Valley of the North. The story: It's a slightly odd sensation, reading it backwards.
elisheba
An astonishing capture, and what a story!!! I already read the end but that doesn't change much to the quality of it, I love that mix between fantasy and science-fiction and the psychological insight you always have when you write:)
mermaid
amazing sky and story
KatesFriend
The sky seems painted like an impressionists piece but more dynamic and alive. And provides the right kind of colour for the scene in your story. Very captivating tale. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to read more though as I am starting to fade.