http://slow.writerscafe.org/zoejane The original writings of author Beth en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776106280 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 A poet in a turbaned domeTroubled, walking to and fro,Finds the words he wants to speakWatching bright night city - bleak. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/543981/ A story from younger days. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/494424/ She wondered where they all went to when they went home. She, well, she was just here. And she watched. While juggling orders of Bud Light and Buffalo wings, she overheard snippets from some, and none from the others who just stared straight ahead, looking at, but not watching, the newscasters on th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/482710/ Introduction http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/482219/ something I wrote back in '06 and just found again... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/348513/ Burn the skywith unholy ragethrowing shacklesBreaking firerising to the airigniting all lifecatching raptured fireWhy should it be contained?Let it burn.Crumble to asheswhile the flame lives onDestroying everythingcrackling furious rageviolent, raging, pushing,burning, wr.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/347761/ for musicians http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/347759/ One night, the inveterate Council of the Cities gathered to imbibe in their most pleasant pastime, discussing the fate of the egregious fire-emanating dragon who constantly terrorized and plundered the small dwarvish towns of the East. They all sat around a long, wooden table. The obvious Head of th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/323813/ It sat and bloomed year after year,delicate windblown flower.All who passed by upon the roadsaw and stopped to admirefragrant petals, translucent leaves,a token of Life's Innocence.But deep, down deep, the flower was ANGRY.Every year with the rising of the summer sun,she had to sit A.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/302322/ Turn my sunshine upside downhang shadows in the sky.brighten the night with sparkling heatshoot rays of pristine light upwardpierce into endarkened sky. Turn my sunshine upside down;let's all grow wings and fly. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/297750/ when one wants to be alone... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/297746/ Venus stirs in her sleep Something is in the keep. Something evil, something dark. Out to kill, out on a lark. Bitter joys to feed upon The blood, Venus' Lifesong. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/297744/ I once visited an orphanage in Mexico - this was my impression. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/296302/ Ever wonder why you're doing what you're doing? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/295775/ Welcome to the House of W****swalk up close, open the doors.we are the ones who live hereselling that which we hold dearfor a taste of affection,perhaps for retribution;a punishment to ourselves,only time promises to tell.Shunned by those you deem decent,but no harm by us is meant... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/295772/ A play on words... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/295768/  Lyla's gasp startled Jurian from his concentration, and he turned sharply to the girl. His irritation died on his lips as he saw her fascination. "Is - is that magic you're using?" she asked. "Yes, it was," he said. "One thing you should learn. Neve.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291797/  The ship docked in Jaaston, a teeming red city with long flat buildings and tall, straight-boned men. To Lyla's eyes, everyone seemed busy, scurrying around like ants in a colony. Sothor and Julian led the way to a stable in the center of the town. Gold exchanged hands, and the four.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291794/  Dala looked up as Rachelle entered the room. Putting aside her needlework, she stood. "Queen Rachelle." She had heard from Sir Valon about their escape from Castlebury, and their flight through the forests of Tulern. She had bigger things to worry about - namely, .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291792/  Rachelle and Valon entered the castle, taking the first turn to the throne room down the wide hallway. Suddenly, footsteps sounded ahead on the wooden floor. Valon grabbed Rachelle and jerked her into a side door. Peering through the cracks, she made out the form of a knight she knew well. S.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291791/  Rachelle hung back while Valon approached the two men who guarded the gates to Veros. As the travelers drew nearer, the guards stood to attention. "State your name and business," the shorted one intoned, a bushy black beard covering the lower half of his face. &qu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291790/  Jurian looked around the inn until his gaze came to rest on the one from whom the power emanated, radiating like a new-born star. It had to be her. She sat at a table with two others, one with a broad back that Jurian recognized well. The other was a scrawny girl. Young lady, he corrected hi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291787/  The innkeeper's name was Theobald, and he had run The Inn for forty years, inheriting it from his father, who had been the Theobald before him. Lyla learned all of this bit by bit as he ran busily between tables at the inn, which was filling up as the sun sank into the dark corners of the wo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291785/  “We should reach Veros tomorrow,” Valon said over his shoulder. Behind him, Rachelle made an unladylike grunt. “I have to say, Your Grace, I am very pleasantly surprised that you have managed to keep up this pace for so long.” He cast a quick glance .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291784/  Outside the gates of Castlebury of the Vines, a retinue of men stopped. Their leader stepped forward. “Hallo!” he called. The walls were deserted, and not a single head poked into view. “Hallo the castle!” he called again. This time a voice answered... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291783/  The tang of salty air was strong as Gael came into view. Low buildings lined the horizon, giving the city on the shore a boxy appearance.  Already the murmur of voices reached the trio as they stood on the edge of the forest.Brigit hopped with glee. "There it is!"Sotho.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291782/  Valon whipped back a branch and turned to hold it for the queen. She came close after, sweat dripping from her hairline. “How fare your feet, my Queen?” he asked. Those particular appendages were swathed in pieces of the knight’s sleeping blanket. He had t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291781/  Mychel peered into the murky water of the bowl as Brigit finally finished stuffing the scattered items back into her pack. Her lips were moving, but the Master couldn’t hear voices in his tower. The picture was blurry at the edges, fading in and out. Mychel gripped the sides of the bow.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291780/  It was daytime once again, and the trio of adventurers were one day's march from the seaport of Gael. The ground under their feet sloped gently downhill, descending to sea level. Occasional gulls flew by overhead, bringing a faint smell of salt and fish.Brigit loped ahead, the bundled st.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291779/  Rachelle trudged along behind Sir Valon. Her ruined shoes slipped treacherously in the mud, and the knight offered a solicitous hand. She ignored it, and struggled up the slippery hill alone. “How long until we reach Veros?” she demanded to know. “At least.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291778/  “The Legend of Melizzande – Silent Queen as witnessed by Ffraed Lewyn, loyal servant of the Queen.” Lyla turned the page, careful not to harm the crumbling pages. The light of the fire was flickering low. Brigit and Sothor reclined on beds of piled leaves covered w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291776/  Ryder slammed down his pewter goblet in frustration. Three whole days had passed. The entire castle was nearly torn down around his ears, and still his men had not managed to locate the Golden Scepter, or that lackluster Queen. Doubtless she ran from the castle, taking it with her, he mused... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291775/  “The story starts when the Silent Queen wasn’t the queen yet,” Brigit began. “She was still a small girl, actually. One day she disappeared, and the servants were a great worry, not knowing where to find her, and wondering what to tell her stern father, King Greathen... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291773/  Brigit was hunting, and Sothor sat silently by the fire, occasionally breaking off a branch from the dead tree nearby and throwing it into the flames. Lyla huddled on a rock close to the heat, and wondered what she was doing out here in the forest with a giant and wild girl for company. She .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291772/  The sun was just beginning to set when Valon stopped his march. Rachelle dropped to the ground, rubbing her aching legs. They weren't traveling by road, for fear that someone from the raid on Castlebury would be sent to search for them. Instead, they traveled due north."We'll get to.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291771/  The old man entered the courtroom of Martez. The presence of the many foul demons in the place gave him pause, and he stopped to collect his wits before proceeding to the Master.  He could feel the monster’s fiery eyes watching him approach the throne. Once there, the man.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291770/  Sothor was a giant of a man. Easily seven feet tall, he bent his head to enter Mother Haether's cottage. Lyla choked on a gasp and clutched the tin of velander. The huge man frowned down at her, but said nothing."H - Hello," managed Lyla, dropping a nervous curtsey.Mother H.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291767/  “Loarne is a city-state in the middle of the Blue Lands,” began Mother Haether. “It is a very powerful place, and yet no one knows very much about it. It is where magicians and sorcerers travel in order to learn their craft. Many powerful men live there, not powerful in bod.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291765/  Mother Haether’s cottage was charming, Lyla thought. Dried herbs hung from string above her single window, and her dishes were all wooden, as well as the furniture. There was a straw pallet along one wall, but the wand-bearer had a hard time imagining the haughty Queen Rachelle deignin.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291763/  Lyla jerked back behind the wall as Queen Rachelle emerged from the cottage before them. Brigit was behind her, and they watched as the queen began crossing the road, slipping in the mud and nearly falling. Brigit stifled a laugh, and Rachelle looked sharply up. Seeing no one, she continued .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291762/  “Let me in! Let me see the queen!” The speaker was a ragged man, worn from having galloped many miles from the north. His horse had given out, and he walked the remainder of the way, running when he had the strength. “What is your business?” .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291761/  Rachelle sat in misery. The room was filled with people, but not one was attending to her. The floor was filled with bloody men and bandages, so she stared into the fire. No one had brought her so much as a glass of water, and her throat was dry. Even Sir Valon was gone from her side, sittin.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291759/  High in the great tower of Chantruth, Mychel woke suddenly. His dream was clear as day. Pushing aside the red velvet cover, he climbed out of his bed and strode to the tall window. He drew the heavy curtains aside and gazed out over the tiny pinpricks of the town lights below. His .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291758/  “There it is!” Brigit called from her perch in the top of a royal aspen tree. Lyla stood on her tiptoes, but couldn’t see anything. Brigit scrambled back down the tree trunk, swinging from branch to branch while the wand-bearer watched in fearful awe. “How do.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291756/  It was nearing evening on the second day when Valon and Rachelle entered Icboth. The queen stopped, catching her breath. The last day and night had been horrible. Hours of walking over the rough ground had worn her shoes to pieces, and her feet were bruised from sharp rocks. Sir Val.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291753/  The messenger quaked before Lord Martez, anticipating a horrible demise at the hands of the demon lord. But when Martez spoke, his voice sounded amused, rather than angry. “So… the Golden Scepter has hidden itself, has it?” he mused. The human lifted his .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291748/  Lyla sank down on a log, rubbing her sore feet as Brigit stacked wood to build a campfire, grumbling something about ‘long skirts’ and not reaching Icboth by nightfall. Lyla wondered how they would sleep that night, for they had no blankets or food. The flint sparked and.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291746/  Deep in Yrganu, the circle of spell-casters stumbled backwards. The demon they had been channeling lay still in the center of the circle. “What was that?” a young man fearfully asked. An old man slowly got to his knees. “That was our doom.” .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291744/  Lyla scurried after Brigit. The tall girl leapt nimbly over rocks and branches, never once looking back. Eventually they reached a point that Brigit deemed acceptably far from the castle, and stopped to rest. The two girls stood awkwardly, watching each other. “What i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291743/  Rachelle ran. She couldn’t help it… she was a coward, and she knew it now. She paid no heed to the briars slapping against her skirt, or the vines that caught her arms. Sir Valon was behind, urging her on, his battlesword drawn to protect against any followers... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/zoejane/291742/