Allergies?
In other news I am learning how to use Gimp. I was working on the cover image for Torn last night. I am not sure how good it is, but I don't think that it's bad considering that it was only the second time I have used gimp. BTW for you photoshop people, it's not that I don't like your program, I just can't afford it. Gimp is free. I can afford free.
Anyhow, chapter 51 coming your way.
51
The sunlight streamed in through the open windows.
A light breeze billowed through the thin drapes and touched Maureen’s face.
Her eyes opened dreamily. She yawned and stretched.
She felt more rested than she had in weeks, long before Julius even arrived.
She got out of bed, and was about to reach for a faded pair of jeans and a tattered shirt when she saw the leather armor draped across the back of a chair.
She smiled as she remembered her promise.
She picked up the armor and changed into it.
***
Julius hadn’t gone to bed.
Instead he remained in the living room pondering the news that Maureen had brought the night before.
He had spent some time pacing, some just sitting. But no matter how he looked at it he was uncertain what the information meant.
The times had been this close before, and then had separated again. It had happened many times, so he wasn’t sure how much he could trust it this time.
He had finally decided that it was useless to try and determine anything without more data.
He looked at the swords. They had been propped in a corner since Maureen had fallen ill.
He removed one of the swords from its scabbard and inspected the edge.
It hadn’t suffered as much abuse as he had feared from the practice sessions.
Either way he wasn’t in the mood for sleep, so he decided to clean up the edges of the swords.
He was just finishing up with the second sword when Maureen walked into the room.
He looked up, and then had to catch himself before he sliced off his own finger.
She reminded him of the woman he had fallen in love with so many years ago.
Her hair was pulled back high on her head, and she moved gracefully in the armor.
She walked right up to him and lifted the sword from his hands.
She pointed it at him.
“Shall we?”
***
Julius couldn’t stop smiling. He was actually surprised at the progress that she had made. He didn’t think that it was possible to learn so much in such a short space of time.
He dodged as a blade shaped wall of fire advanced on him.
“Speed it up,” he yelled. “Otherwise he’ll be able to sidestep just as I did.”
He had barely finished the command before the next one hit him square in the chest.
He was glad that she was still pulling her blows, otherwise that fire would have been painful.
He tried to recover, but was twisted by a gust of wind. Unable to recover he hit the ground face first. He rolled, trying to regain his feet, but was stopped by the pressure of her sword against his side.
Laughing he stood up.
“I’m glad that you thought to use the dull side for that. Otherwise you would be running for a towel right about now.”
Maureen stood there, smiling.
Julius wiped the sweat from his forehead. They had been practicing for a number of hours and the sun was high in the sky.
He could see the sweat standing on Maureen’s face as well. Her breathing was heavy, but no more so than his own.
“Let’s take a break, go inside for a little while.”
Maureen cocked her head and eyed him quizzically.
The look was so silly that he couldn’t help but to laugh some more.
“We’re both hot, and I could use something to drink and maybe a snack. I thought that you were probably feeling the same,” he said once the laughter was contained.
Maureen smiled, it did sound nice. She did have one question before she would relent, however.
“Before I agree, what’s so funny?”
Julius started laughing again.
Maureen’s face developed a confused cast, which only made his laughing harder.
She waited patiently for his laughter to cease.
“Well?”
More laughter.
Julius finally got himself under control.
“I’m just in a good mood is all. I was surprised by how well you were progressing and laughing at my own inability to defend adequately against you. Then you gave me that funny look and I was immediately overtaken.”
“Is that all?” she asked, incredulous.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Maureen couldn’t withhold her own mirth anymore. She was soon laughing alongside Julius.
They fell against each other, trying not to fall down in their laughter.
Finally they headed toward the house for their break.
1 Comments:
Jen,
I checked around and it seems others use the Gimp for cover images. Just be sure you create the image in 300 .dpi.
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