So now that we've all been called out as the fraud writers we all are, I feel the need to share an exerpt of my novel
You know, my non-fanfiction one? I hope this meets with expectations, since real writing is only stealing other peoples characters!
“Absolutely not.” Elle shook her head. “No. He's not coming with us.”
“I don't think we have a choice.” Radames had his head on his arms, so his voice was muffled. “He has money. Don't forget about that. We need money to be able to afford this journey.”
“What happened to pooling our supplies and living off of the land? We could still do that, you know.” Elle was livid. Radames didn't blame her. She'd only met Zoser a couple of times, and he hadn't exactly been cordial or warm to her either time. She shared her mother's feelings of him; Ryenna hadn't been fond of Zoser either.
Arcus, meanwhile, hadn't said a word either way. Radames knew he was thinking. They were both weighing the options. At least, Radames assumed Arcus was weighing the options. He'd come in to Elle's room, announced that Zoser was coming with them, and dropped his head onto the table. He had only lifted it once, while Elle was screaming obscenities in Elvish, and he'd immediately regretted it. The stress was doing nothing for his headache. Elle had calmed down some, and was repeating her vehement aversion to the idea as she paced back and forth.
Radames turned his head to look at Arcus. “You've been awfully quiet over there. What do you say about the situation?”
“I don't like it.” Arcus shrugged. “But I have to agree with Radames. We don't have much of a choice. If we tell him no, he'll follow us anyway.”
“We could slip out without him noticing.” Elle looked between the two of them. “We should be able to do that. Radames and I are good at sneaking around, and I know you can be quiet when need be.” She looked at Radames. “Besides, you know how to cover our trail so we can't be tracked.”
“Who do you think taught me how to do that?” Radames sighed. “He'd pick up the trail within hours. We'd never be able to slip away, unless we went by sea. The problem is-”
“Let's take a ship, then.” Elle smiled, confident that the problem was solved. “If the Sea's Jewel is still in the harbor, I'm sure the captain would be willing to take us for a small price.”
Radames lifted his head and dug out the map. “That would be a great idea.” He traced the route from Raven's Point to the marked spot with his finger. “Except that there's no way to get to where we're going by sea. We have to travel by land, meaning my father can track us.”
Elle sighed and flopped down onto her bed. “So we really do have no choice?”
“Afraid not.” Radames looked between his two friends. “Looks like we have to put up with him. You two can still back out, you know.”
“Are you kidding?” Arcus clambered to his feet, looking scandalized. “You and I have come this far together, and you offer that? You've gone around the bend, elf, if you think I'm leaving you now. I can deal with having your father around.”
Elle got to her feet as well. “Arcus is right. We aren't leaving you alone with him, Radames. You two will kill each other. At least with us around, you have backup.”
“Besides, there's the matter of the treasure.” Arcus raised a brow. “No way are we letting you go out there and claim that treasure yourself. All for one, you hear me? We started this together, we end this together.”
“That's right.” Elle smiled at him. “The three of us are in this together or not at all. Ilcc oem ela, ela oem ilcc, am I right?”
“Whatever Elle just said.” Arcus nodded. “Unless she's insulting me, in which case, I disagree with it.”
Radames chuckled and stood up, smiling gratefully. “I truly am blessed to have friends like you. You're both right. We're all in this together.” He rolled the map up and put it away. “We'll have each other's backs, just as we always do.”
“Isn't that what family is for?” Arcus grinned. “We drive each other absolutely mad, but we look out for one another. So we're going to be forced to deal with your father on this journey. So what? We'll keep each other safe. Nothing can touch us as long as we're together.”
Radames nodded. “Thank you both, truly.” He glanced out the window at the setting sun. “We'd best be getting some rest. We'll be up and on our way by dawn.”
Elle settled into her bed as Arcus and Radames headed for the door. Radames turned and glanced back at her, smiling, before he closed the door behind him. Arcus met him in the hallway. “You know, elf, we could slip away without either of them. We started this, just the two of us. It could end that way too.”
“No.” Radames shook his head. “We may have started this together, but it's no coincidence that they showed up at this leg of the journey.”
“It could be.” Arcus shrugged. “It could be completely random.”
“I don't believe in coincidences, Arcus, and neither should you. The gods have something planned for us that involves them. I have absolutely no idea what it could be, but even if we leave them here, they'll find a way to join us again.”
Arcus rolled his eyes. “Remind me why I spend so much time with you? I seem to have forgotten.”
Radames laughed. “You know I have a point, though.”
“You do.” Arcus sighed. “I just hope this is all worth it. I'm going to be pretty irritated if we go through all of this work and the treasure turns out to be a pile of leaves or a crop of onions.”
“I don't know.” Radames winked. “They could be magical onions that will cure any disease.”
“Any cure that requires eating an onion is not going to have a lot of people clamoring for it. Could be why it's untouched.” Arcus laughed. “Pleasant dreams, Radames.”
“You too, Arcus.” Radames smiled and went into his room. After locking the door and checking his window, he climbed into bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.
