#descriptive narration

Audio description, also known as video description or descriptive narration. It is a narration track added to videos or live performances. It explains the visual elements for people who are blind or visually impaired. It describes actions, expressions, settings, costumes, and other visual details that are not conveyed through the audio track alone. This allows individuals with visual impairments…

Shanlee`s POV

I did not wish to remain in Velia overlong, knowing it would be the first place Lord Luca`s family would send soldiers or bounty hunters to look for me. Calpheon did not control Balenos, their power did not extend to this area, but their money would.  Enough of it would guarantee that those tracking me would be relentless.  

How had everything gone so wrong? And yet if I was honest with myself, I knew.  Pride was part of my own downfall.  I had been so certain that I could make a difference when I had first joined up with the Valkyries.  I had been a child of twelve the first time I had spied them on a trip with my adoptive mother and my sisters Solannie and Soryah.  We had been passing near the College and the Valkyries seemed everything I wished to be when I saw them train in the College`s courtyard.  Their grace, strength and prowess in combat as well as their reputation for upholding justice was what I wanted to strive for.  The reality of what most of them really were, the lie of what I had wanted to be would slowly eat away at my soul.

Mentally shaking myself, I stepped away from under the leaking eaves of the overhanging roof and knew such gloomy thoughts would not help me now, I had to believe that my faith would be strong enough to see me through this.  

Now, I deemed that only two options really stood before me, to return to Calpheon and plead for forgiveness towards my young lord`s family for my failure to protect him, knowing that I could not recall anything after I had retired to my room with Francesco.  This marked my negligence in large part responsible for Luca Martelli`s death.  The second choice was to follow the only lead given to me by a fisher who had told me he had spotted a man fitting Francesco’s description boarding a ship bound for Heidel in exchange for my pitiful hours’ worth of work.  Though the man had thanked me, I knew that the two fish I had brought, in were nowhere near the help his valuable information provided.

Shanlee’s POV

It was clear I had not been the only unfortunate in the past few day as I scavenged clothes from the dead. I felt shame at doing this and offered up a prayer to Elion for their souls and I asked forgiveness for myself for the stealing from their corpse. Though if I wished to survive I had very little other option. I had bound the wound to my side, but with the lack of proper food and sleep, I feared a fever had set in as I stood shivering on the outskirts of Velia where my young lord and I had been staying.

I lowered the tattered hood of the cloak I had taken to hide my deep flame-coloured hair and the features of my face as I walked into the busy fishing community at sundown. I knew I had to take precautions not to be recognized as I headed towards the inn and tavern where Lord Luca and I had taken adjacent rooms. I held the simple blade of a dagger I had looted from a body close to me, it was the only weapon I now had. Could I even hope to recover my belongings? No, it was not my main priority now, I needed to find my lord.

I moved as quietly as possible to the open doorway of the noisy tavern. The day’s work had ended for most and in such a small community there was little else to go for entertainment, news, good food and spirits. I looked around to make certain that the patrons were busy and my entrance would not be noticed any more than that of one more stranger in a crowd.

As I stepped inside, I knew as the conversation ceased, that I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I felt nearly everyone’s eyes turn to look upon me and their looks ranged from curious to downright hostile. An older grizzled man half rose out of his chair.

“Another stranger come to bring more trouble to our peaceful village? We don’t need more of your kind round here. Go back where ya came from!” He stated in a gruff tone. A few others echoed his sentiment, but most remained quiet until a young blonde-haired barmaid spoke up.

“That’s enough out of you Lars Kemph or I’ll cut ya off from yer next drink. All are welcome here, one recent tragedy with that young lord’s death doesn’t mean we close our doors and our hearts to live in fear forever after.” The pretty girl, though half his age seemed to have the least amount of trouble standing up to him. The one called Lars grumbled under his breathe about women no longer minding their place, but sat back down. There were a few nods of approval from other nearby fellows but they said nothing more when what may have been their women folk glared them down.

The barmaid came towards me now and motioned for me to come in and find a place. I did not recognize her from the night I had spent drinking in merriment with Francesco, but the words she spoke were like a dagger to my heart. Could this be true, Lord Luca was dead? Had this happened the same night as the failed attempted on my own life? Elion forgive me if my nonchalance had cost my young master’s life! Where was Francesco? He had failed me as I had failed my lord. Had so much taken place in my absence? I had never drunk myself into oblivion, how could this have happened?

It is easy to see from standing right outside the entrance of Bath & Body Works what everyone is doing. Associates are looking around, lotion or perfume bottles in hand, searching for customers to assist. They are wearing permanent smiles on their faces, attempting to look as welcoming and helpful as possible. Taking cover behind displays are customers, who prefer to shop without being disturbed. Their eyes can be seen darting around, trying to avoid the sometimes-pushy associates. The majority of customers are women, many of whom are mothers. These mothers are seen tugging at their children’s hands, attempting to avoid a potentially embarrassing accident involving broken glass and spilt lotion. Associates are obviously bored and wanting to go home. They are not on the lookout for customers, but rather looking at their watches, phones, or even trying on products. Among the bored associates, are bored significant-others, wandering aimlessly around the store, also avoiding associates. They can be seen carrying purses, and often have their arms crossed.

It becomes easier to make out the many conversations floating around the store once stepping inside Bath & Body Works. The associates sound like broken records. Their unchanging inquiries of, “What are you looking for today?” and “Would you like to try this new scent?” bombard the eardrums. In response, many customers are heard stuttering back, “Uhh, no thank you, just, uhh, looking.” Mothers who are shopping are yelling at their wailing children to leave breakable products alone. Significant-others sound like more broken records, asking, “Can we leave yet?” or “Are you finished yet?” Walking toward the registers, cashiers are heard upselling customers. “Sponges are only $3.50! Would you like to add one to your purchase today?”

Steering away from the determined cashiers, one decides to poke around the different displays in the store. Going from corner to corner, overwhelming amounts of diverse aromas from every collection assault the senses. The ambiance in one area allows anyone to imagine their self in front of a fireplace roasting marshmallows while someone bakes a delicious pumpkin pie. Warm vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves immerse the little nook; seemingly coming from an imaginary kitchen. In the next area, one feels transferred to a private island where coconut and mango trees surround as a fresh margarita is served. If one were to continue investigating, they would feel like they had arrived to somewhere in Asia. They would be welcomed with the rich scent of Japanese cherry blossoms. The smell of something reminiscent of rain is also lingering. Continuing to walk leads to more aromas that jump out such as candles burning, create a relaxing atmosphere.