Muddled: Some Moons of the Melvese of Lymoth

By K. L. Singleton

“This will be a good marriage?” I had to realize the question with his calm voice. He used my word for it. The last swallow of the drink was the smoothest, and I sighed after it while I nodded in agreement. I put the goblet down to rest my hand on his knee; it was the only other part of him I’ve touched other than his hands

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Feb 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781951886387

K. L. Singleton

To the reader: I learned late in life to be flexible with it because life has its own plan. I've just decided to put my imagination to use, it is better than a part time job at a fast food joint. Been there done that and not doing it again. Let me assure you that I've started writing for a better reason than the money. A book is its own world, the cover is a peak into the door, the words illustrate the world, and you're sucked in until you're at the back cover wanting more. Reading can be a relief, like movies and music, from the troubles of this world and its nice to witness someone else's happiness, be a part of an adventure, or be sympathetic to a person's situation because it relieves us that we're not the only ones. I would like my books to be anything my readers need it to be. I want them to not see words but the picture they've painted in motion. To know that one of my books has inspired or awed someone to do something in their lives would be a "job well done" to me. The best books are the ones you keep coming back to, a certain scene like in a movie, and I hope it all these things for you. Thank you God for giving me this brain and for my parents who nourished and helped shape it to make me the person is capable of this.

Book preview

Contents

Moon 180

Moon 181

Moon 183

Moon 184

Moon 186

Moon 192

Moon 248

Moon 252

Moon 256

Moon 292

Muddled

About the Author

Alee

\ ‘āl-ē \

Moon 180

W hat’s his name? I, Alee, whispered, my eyes stay focused on the target. The bow string no longer obscures my vision. The breeze held the heat from days I remember well training here every day as a child.

Mahr’l Doun Eilvann. Melve and he’s chief warrior. My father almost sounded like he was bribing. High titles, breeding, and ability cannot enthrall me however way he wished it to. The target was two hundred yards away, the bale of hay smaller in the distance down the valley. I sat on the gate enclosing the sparring ring and training areas of archery, hands, swords and weapons for our warriors.

The man being the best warrior of his people was the slightest assurance.

Father-,

He is arriving in two days. The wedding will be three days after that. Also, be sure to work with your sword today. I swung my head around to see that he was already walking back to the gate. My body followed my head and I started making steps after him. I’d been cut off, silenced with my opinion taken.

I started to say something, what I couldn’t be sure because it wasn’t disobedience or disrespect. Never to the Chief that was sometimes father. The sometimes merciful teacher. I knew I was going straight but my vision wasn’t. By the time he looked back at me from the gate I had made myself grab a sword but could only lean against the wooden dummy, the blade sliding out my soaked grasp.

A Ly! The man was leader of a kingdom of animals with villages run by basic instinct. The only reason he’d entertain an arranged marriage is because they lost the ability to bond like similar species eons ago. However softer they were from their like it was still a vast difference from her culture. I could have no rank in their army and my title would have little power. Did they drag their women by their hair? Did they have to get aggressive just to be heard?

Lynnla was a primitive planet and one of the most stubborn at staying in seclusion and only ever being neutral. I know my strength did not allure the animal man, that we were not the closet planet, or that inbreeding was not a risk.

I let my father go, becoming smaller in the distance on his horse down the road.

I don’t know how long later in the day it was when Kamut came with wine and ehrly pears, cheese, and bread. She sat beside me in the thin shade of the dummy. She drank deeply to make me do the same. She bit into her pear but otherwise stayed silent.

Kamut was stolen from Ecnedgimd twelve years ago, we were both eight when I saw her on the docks east of here, in Magkan. I was lonely, my father trained his men, ate with his men and governed his people. I was tutored and pampered in a cushioned room, isolated from everyone except on Chiefly appearances. She was standing on a stool, her dark skin extra burnt by the sun, her neck and wrist chains were bloody and her captives had cruelly shaved her head leaving patches and wounds. She was crying on the outside how I had cried alone in my room at night.

I told father I wanted her and so he bought her. After a few months she became comfortable enough to talk to me.

What do you want me for? I heard her dress rustle over before her voice. She wore a red quarter sleeve dress with a gold wrap, its ends were twirled up and she wore a red silk cap to cover her wounds. She could take all the dresses here. She wore the jewelry better on her long neck too.

A friend. She looked skeptical and much stronger than the first day.

What do you do around here? she sounded like a woman not a girl, and like me.

Nothing. What do you do?

I was becoming a warrior. Kamut straightened her shoulders proudly.

Teach me everything. This she smiled at.

Two years later we won my father over.

The two days were easy, going about my usual routine even on the second when after a simple lunch I was preparing with my men for security detail of the Chief’s guests. It was routine and nothing new but the amount of shining the armor received.

As we moved to the their horses, the Chief and his seconds’, we came into position to wait for the Chief. The doors opened and he made his way down the stairs, his second and counselors close. I could see him putting his gloves and snugging them tight. To my surprise he walked past his horse to me.

I do love you, Alee. Was he said then he turned to get on his horse. This was a party to welcome the Melve and his party. It would be an honor to have the captain’s personal security. I had chose to be ready also.

Kamut handed me the staff before taking her place behind me. The procession started but it relaxed, expecting little to happen. I thought of things.

Alemunenette Eilar Dea Zeltsh was more mystical than my father preferred. My mother was Elven from the Sky Planes, an multi-dimension planet with no time. She literally came down to him one day. It’s surreal to imagine my other half so free with no order unlike my father. My mother died during my birth. My father likes my first name because it starts with ale however it’s my mother’s house for instant claim more or less; their wedding was Magtar not Sky. Dea was my great grand-mother and Eilar is the trust and good intention that is in every Elve in Sky. I have her pointy ears and I use them on the field and hunting, they make me a better warrior. I have her slanted green eyes but my father’s thick nose from the brow with a broad end and rounded lips. They were odd to me like two pulled in cushions above my small chin. My tone will be the same as the Ly, a barely green olive color from my mother’s green toned down by father’s tan. My hair is the darkest black but Kila had cream color hair.

I have always followed orders and this is no exception. I will marry this man, I must wait until I talk to him. When I’ve seen huge pregnant women they were weak and slow; that is not a good condition for a warrior to be in. I felt undecided about many things yet it was unimportant when things are expected of me. We kept form at the exterior gate of the castle expecting the entourage in a timely fashion.

We saw the gray flags first, the horses’ legs trotting at a good speed. I was surprised not to see e him at the head, he must be one of the four. They held their helmets and could see occasional glimpses of teeth as they talked. I felt how open my eyes were and I believe I saw the one on the end put animal skin of probably wine away.

He is young isn’t he? my father kept his face forward as he whispered infront of me. Kamut nudged my arm in agreement, coming out of line.

I refused to answer.

All the horses were gray, uniform, like the ten soldiers in dark metal armor. Their blades were made of black obcur. Their shiny slick blades could only be made by the master smiths and they all had a sword. What must the chief warrior carry? Ten feet from us they stopped, the one with the broadest shoulders got off his horse first.

Greetings and Welcome to Magtar. I am Chief here, Woen Zeltsh. Welcome again, Melve for this celebrat ion and festivities for your wedding.

Thank you Chief, we will be celebrating and hunting I hope. His smile was a quick stretch of the mouth. My men are thankful for you taking them in and I am thankful for all this union will bring. With that he put his hand out for my father to grab his arm.

Much will be brought forth and what my daughter will bring to you.

I’m sure she will. I was hoping she’d show this sign of favor, to meet as soon as possible. He did appear somewhat older than me but no more than fifteen years.

You can meet her now. May I present Mane Alemunenette Zeltsh after my second, Swen Dane. At my call, I marched to the left of Dane who was to the left of the captain and saluted the Melve. Their helmets were off, my father isn’t even in armor, but most of my men were the security detail. I saw him mask his look as he tried to look through my helmet. Now I knew when his surprise left but couldn’t see disgust.

Another saddled off his horse, with the same hair and a gray wrap. He came up slowly and simply tapped the Melve on the shoulder.

May I introduce my second, Llon Revnn. He and my father clasped arms. He looked to me, Good meeting, Mane. He said before reaching to clasp my arm and the Melve took his opportunity, when we were locked he touched the skin of my arm with his other hand. A bold man not in fear around my father.

Remove your helmet, soldier. My father commanded and I complied. As always my braid that’s wrapped around the back of my head fell down. I saw his eyes move over my face. I also saw the blatant appreciation and approval. He was an arrogant man.

You must be a good daughter, Lady Alee. Was all he said to my armor. The way he said me name was like Hale without the first letter or worse, like the brew.

Obedient, yes. It’s her band’s turn at security and she’ll be escorting your men to their barracks. Ready to see this fortress? my father said now back on the Melve.

He looked down upon me with brown eyes, unreadable though light. As I looked up at him his eyes roamed over my face again. The man beside him appeared to be more surprised. M-my name is ale with another e on the end. He nodded as he looked me over again while a smile crept over his face. The smile just made me hate how I my first word was stuttered. Then hastily added, And my greetings to you, Melve Elivann. I am excited to meet you. excited sounded too scripted.

I’d gladly like a tour of the grounds. He turned back to my father, clasped his arm again before going back to his horse and was followed by his second.

Chief started the procession, back on his horse with a straight back. Dane was beside him on his horse, their gold shawls stopped below the horses’ bellies. Kamut gave me back the gold spear as head of security in between their horses. The spear was a dragon with its tail wrapped down and a huge pearl in the mouth. It was a gift from Chief Toew on the fire planet, a show of peace.

I marched in time, pristine, though my back could feel gazes. Different tones of question, curiosity, and some negative denial. I almost wished for an ambush.

When the Chief’s and Melve’s party stopped we continued on into the gate under the main door. The entrance was grand, two stairs came up to the door and the dirt road under was wide. Sometimes the castle could host festivals and trade. Today more warriors and horses were rehabilitating here than usual.

The gate was cranked back behind us and I felt I could relax at last.

He looked very good. Kamut was always honest, polite lies showed ratness, literally. The Gimd scrunched their noses up when they lied, horribly. Her facial tattoos were beautiful; she had her first ten battles across the top of her brows and she had the Gimd warrior quest down her nose under a circled with minimal lines to make a snarling animal for the hunter. My father paid for her to go back to her planet Ecnedgimd to complete the year long quest. He is hard yet very kind at times and I had missed her terribly but now seemed my time for my life to change.

I said something foul in Gime and she only laughed but it didn’t bounce off; I was still angered from my word choice. I was abnormally sensitive and wanted to attack her. We starred at each other, willfully until my anger was rightfully directed.

I don’t know if I like all this. I sighed. I unbelted my sword, tilting it to glint on my way to the sword rack for this was not my personal weapon.

Wait till you talk to him. she followed me, started working on my armor. Yes, tonight I would have to wear something I never have before. A leg trapping dress. A tight constrictive garment. It made me tear at my bracers.

Yes. I must observe first. There’s no denying I knew this was