A New Excerpt

Here I, Anna, am! Halfway through NaNoWriMo!
I am a bit ahead of schedule in my writing, and it's going well at the moment.

I have a short excerpt to share today. Enjoy.

Excerpt from Solar Kingdoms: Crown of Ashes
Chapter Ten
Drugs and Water

Despite feeling sick, Roary's frustration and fear gave him adrenaline and he worked quickly and well. He forced himself to eat at lunch, knowing if he didn’t he’d only make himself more sick, ahead of time. Which was likely not wise. He’d never been planet side during the cycle. He’d never once actually experienced the moons effect on his blood. It was awful.
            “Why . . . why under the Light, did this have to be me?!” he muttered. “And why under the Light did I have to end up enslaved on Shesetirn of all places? This is . . . so, so bad!” He said the last word very loudly. One of the guards down the hall turned to look at him. Roary glared at him, but then turned his attention back to the floor.
            His water bucket was nearly empty. He’d need to go fill it again soon.
            Roary sloshed the mop into again and then pushed it along the floor, his grip tight. He kept muttering, his arms flexing in irritation and then, the handle snapped in his grip.
            “Ah! Nine Hells and Ulverick’s rotting corpse!” he swore loudly. In his momentary fury he snatched up the nearly empty bucket and turned, tossing the water out.
            Onto a person. “Bloodsnakes,” he breathed, eyes wide. He was in so much trouble.

            Jolene left her mother’s study, scowling. The news of what was going to be occurring shortly because they lost the battle on Mihick was disturbing. Drahk’ner was getting what he wanted though, and there was no way to protest it, save to fight another battle.
            They couldn’t afford to do that.
            And so, Versiah’n soldier’s and men would be swarming to Shesetirn, taking over control of the streets, searching homes and market stalls and schools, anywhere they pleased, to find Roary Dere'kelt.
            They would comb the planet, and Jolene knew that there would be damage to people’s belongings, their land, and their homes. The soldiers would take up residence wherever they pleased, for according to Drahk’ner, it was their right while they searched.
            With this kind of madness, the damage would go beyond property, Jolene knew. People would get hurt, and likely violated.
            She shuddered. While her mother’s newly heated temper was disturbing (she had never been one to shout and scream before this battle) Jolene understood why. This was going to be a mess, and it was going to be an aching, festering abscess in Shesetirn’s way of life.
            All for some stupid boy. Drahk’ner’s passion was making him lose sight of reality. Jolene almost felt certain the prince was dead.
            Why else would he disappear for thirty-three years?!
            She turned up the corridor and pushed her dark red hair out of her face, sighing. She needed to calm down. Fretting about it like this would only wind her up, and that was no good. It certainly wouldn’t help the situation any. What was done was done. They’d just have to do the best they could to protect the people and their homes and their property.
            She turned a corner, her eyes going a bit wide to see a prisoner boy there, swearing rather brilliantly over a broken mop handle. She smirked and walked a bit closer, needing to pass him by to get to the stairs to go up to her chambers.
            She stopped in her tracks though as he snatched up his bucket and whirled around. The water sailed out and she jumped as it landed right on her head, splashing her hair and face and chest.
            She blinked quickly, gasping a little. Sun and Stars it was cold!
            The boy swore again and Jolene looked up at him to meet his wide eyes. She was sure hers were just as round. He looked terrified though. He opened his mouth again to speak but she held up a hand.
            Something about his expression, made her anger fade. She nearly laughed, but she kept it in.
            “Good aim,” she said lightly, shaking water from her arms.

            “Wh-what?!” he asked, exasperated.

Ja'ek Portrait and NaNoWriMo!

First of all there, this portrait was finished ages ago, but it should definitely be on this blog. Ja'ek, of course.

Secondly, Anna here, (the one writing) I am going to see if this November for NaNoWrMo I can write like a crazy! That is the plan. I am currently doing a quick read through to get my bearings, writing out some notes, and sorting a few things out. Then I shall get on the horse! Wish me luck!

"Emperor"

Roary once again, doing cool ice magic with a random dragon. Just a fun painting for kicks :)

Shesikite Gelming

So this creature has been floating around in my brain for YEARS!
The Gelming.
Yes it's basically a camel without a hump. Serves the same purpose as well. They're desert/tundra animals for the most part.
That swelling part under their throat serves the same purpose as the camels humps, fat stores so they can go long periods of time on little food and water.

Ja'ek and Roary Portraits

Two of the four main characters, Ja'ek and Roary

Arrogance and Agony

Ja'ek and Roary. Kind of a surrealistic character contrast painting. Fire and Ice.
Digital painting by Anna Stansfield.

Mirkinae'n Alicorn

First Note, I am aware that the 'Alicorn' is actually the word used to refer to the actual horn of the Unicorn.

In the case of this creature however, the beast was named after it's only useful property, it's horn.

The Muurakite Alicorn is a cross breeding of the Versiahn Unicorn, The Muurakite Unicorn, ( a beast of gentle temperament towards humans, with training. It behaves much like a dog despite it's large size.) and war horses of various types.
As a point of reference please note the Muurakite Unicorn has no magical properties, is a semi-large beast, and it is a predator/scavenger.
The purpose of the breeding was the hope to create a Unicorn with some magical properties, but also the capabilities of a war horse (and the bulk) and the sharp teeth and temperament of the Muurakite Unicorn.

However the result ended up being a scavenger beast with very little patience for human's, and a very vicious nature. The animal is virtually untrainable, far too high strung and downright mean.

They travel in family groups/herds ranging from two to twenty or so animals. Rarely are there less than five or six of them in one herd.

They're overprotective of their own kind, will generally stay out of people's way as long as the boundaries are not pushed.

The issue is if they feel the least bit threatened they tend to attack, and they will not stop till they have killed, or have been killed.

For the most part they scavenge out of laziness. They can kill their own meal if desperate enough and they will do it. But the Alicorn is a slothful creature that when left alone wanders around it's desert home at a leisurely pace.

They have over the years developed a softer tissued hoof that splays some over the sand, like a camel's foot or a gelming, though it is not quite so soft as those noted creatures.

They are often nicknamed the 'Fire Horse' deriving from the bright red hue of the root hair on their manes and tales.

They usually come in brown's, this reddish - tan color being the most common. They have however been spotted in cream colors and occasionally dark grey's or black. They sometimes have faint spots.


Pencil, micron pens, copic markers.

Roary and Ja'ack in Stain Glass