yorelm
Well-Known Member
This is my first post in about 3 years, so I hope things have changed for the better since then. Just seeking views on a present story opening.
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Levy needed to hear my announcement, and now. I couldn't proceed without his understanding. I turned from the staring out at my home of New Isrealm and moved away from the roof railing.
I fixed on Levy, sitting under the shade of the awning I had built for him, though it wasn’t much needed since evening approached. He sat cross-legged on a padded mat, hunched over while scribing church drafts. Except for his hands, his body made not one twitch. Only the fabric of his ghutra and the graying hair of his beard rustled from a wind. To me he looked regal; a man deserving of loft.
"Levy, first you need to know my mind is firm for what I'm about to tell you. It won't be to your liking."
He looked up but said nothing, and his lips thinned to a tightened frown. Interruptions always annoyed him.
"I've decided to become your real, blood son, and have already taken measures."
"Jacob, I thought this discussion was over some time ago. When Abbey and I brought you in, we considered you our son that very evening."
And I had always thought of Levy as my father, but he never insisted I refer to him as such. I’ve used his birth name since childhood and have grown used to it. "It's not the same as being of your flesh. Right now your blood line ends with you. Do you not want grandchildren to carry your lineage?"
"If I have no blood child, then that's how it was meant to be."
He didn't mean that. I overheard him speak of his regrets of being childless--a real son or daughter from his loins--on at least two occasions. Once to mother when I was a child, and more recently in confidence to a close friend from the church. He did have remorse.
He placed his writing aside and stood to come closer. His tunic had that cloying church incense smell. "What do you mean you've taken measures?"
"I spoke with Alma--"
"The sorceress? You know how I feel about that, yet you do this?"
"I'm of twenty years now, long past a child's reasoning, and this wasn't considered lightly. I’d like to think you could respect my judgment."
"Yet you disregard that I have forsworn sorcery. Trickery that's not of God. It killed Abbey and that was enough for me."
"Mother was an unfortunate mistake. Let it rest, Levy. Alma's a good woman and has agreed to help...but I had to supply her with a few things." I rushed the last words to get them out before thinking too much.
Levy stared without a blink, waiting for me to continue.
"She needed a sample of your blood and parts of your flesh. I took the blood from that cut a few days ago, and I clipped a nail and a few strands of hair while you slept."
He stiffened to keep control. He knew me well enough to realize an outburst would do more harm than good. Instead, he turned away to look over the city's cubic buildings, and kept his voice deliberately calm. "How could you do this knowing my feelings, Jacob? You have you crossed the bounds of respect."
"As I told you, I considered this for some time. You’re a good man, and your line should continue for centuries to come. In addition, I don't feel complete, almost a parody. I know you love me as a real son, but sometimes it aches to know it isn’t so. We should be tied by true blood."
Levy turned back to me, keeping his face stolid. "And the woman will do this freely?"
"No, she desires a favor, but out of respect for you, she would not tell me or go any further until she received your personal approval."
"Then it is done. I will not consent."
I was prepared for that answer. Actually, I counted on it. Levy was stubborn, but reasonable. He would at least listen to Alma, but would make it clear he could not be easily influenced.
"Doesn't her honor for your permission speak of her character?" I asked.
He considered that. Still, I knew he didn't feel comfortable with anyone of Alma's power possessing parts of him. He would go, if simply to ask for the pieces back.
"Damn you, son, for doing this thing!"
I couldn't bare waiting, so I exploited his concern in order to commence as soon as possible. "Then let us go right now. You don't want her to have your flesh for too long, do you?"
I helped Levy down the ladder to the top floor of our home where I stored my coppersmith tools on the left side, and Levy saved parchments and general supplies on the other. There wasn’t much space for much else. Levy's bones weren't what they used to be, so he needed a rest before descending the final flight to the main floor.
I ungirded my tunic to let it fall to full length, then laced my sandals after fumbling a few times in my haste. We left for Alma's lodging. Earlier she said she had a reckoning that might help sway Levy in my favor. I was counting on that idea to be highly convincing.
---------
Levy needed to hear my announcement, and now. I couldn't proceed without his understanding. I turned from the staring out at my home of New Isrealm and moved away from the roof railing.
I fixed on Levy, sitting under the shade of the awning I had built for him, though it wasn’t much needed since evening approached. He sat cross-legged on a padded mat, hunched over while scribing church drafts. Except for his hands, his body made not one twitch. Only the fabric of his ghutra and the graying hair of his beard rustled from a wind. To me he looked regal; a man deserving of loft.
"Levy, first you need to know my mind is firm for what I'm about to tell you. It won't be to your liking."
He looked up but said nothing, and his lips thinned to a tightened frown. Interruptions always annoyed him.
"I've decided to become your real, blood son, and have already taken measures."
"Jacob, I thought this discussion was over some time ago. When Abbey and I brought you in, we considered you our son that very evening."
And I had always thought of Levy as my father, but he never insisted I refer to him as such. I’ve used his birth name since childhood and have grown used to it. "It's not the same as being of your flesh. Right now your blood line ends with you. Do you not want grandchildren to carry your lineage?"
"If I have no blood child, then that's how it was meant to be."
He didn't mean that. I overheard him speak of his regrets of being childless--a real son or daughter from his loins--on at least two occasions. Once to mother when I was a child, and more recently in confidence to a close friend from the church. He did have remorse.
He placed his writing aside and stood to come closer. His tunic had that cloying church incense smell. "What do you mean you've taken measures?"
"I spoke with Alma--"
"The sorceress? You know how I feel about that, yet you do this?"
"I'm of twenty years now, long past a child's reasoning, and this wasn't considered lightly. I’d like to think you could respect my judgment."
"Yet you disregard that I have forsworn sorcery. Trickery that's not of God. It killed Abbey and that was enough for me."
"Mother was an unfortunate mistake. Let it rest, Levy. Alma's a good woman and has agreed to help...but I had to supply her with a few things." I rushed the last words to get them out before thinking too much.
Levy stared without a blink, waiting for me to continue.
"She needed a sample of your blood and parts of your flesh. I took the blood from that cut a few days ago, and I clipped a nail and a few strands of hair while you slept."
He stiffened to keep control. He knew me well enough to realize an outburst would do more harm than good. Instead, he turned away to look over the city's cubic buildings, and kept his voice deliberately calm. "How could you do this knowing my feelings, Jacob? You have you crossed the bounds of respect."
"As I told you, I considered this for some time. You’re a good man, and your line should continue for centuries to come. In addition, I don't feel complete, almost a parody. I know you love me as a real son, but sometimes it aches to know it isn’t so. We should be tied by true blood."
Levy turned back to me, keeping his face stolid. "And the woman will do this freely?"
"No, she desires a favor, but out of respect for you, she would not tell me or go any further until she received your personal approval."
"Then it is done. I will not consent."
I was prepared for that answer. Actually, I counted on it. Levy was stubborn, but reasonable. He would at least listen to Alma, but would make it clear he could not be easily influenced.
"Doesn't her honor for your permission speak of her character?" I asked.
He considered that. Still, I knew he didn't feel comfortable with anyone of Alma's power possessing parts of him. He would go, if simply to ask for the pieces back.
"Damn you, son, for doing this thing!"
I couldn't bare waiting, so I exploited his concern in order to commence as soon as possible. "Then let us go right now. You don't want her to have your flesh for too long, do you?"
I helped Levy down the ladder to the top floor of our home where I stored my coppersmith tools on the left side, and Levy saved parchments and general supplies on the other. There wasn’t much space for much else. Levy's bones weren't what they used to be, so he needed a rest before descending the final flight to the main floor.
I ungirded my tunic to let it fall to full length, then laced my sandals after fumbling a few times in my haste. We left for Alma's lodging. Earlier she said she had a reckoning that might help sway Levy in my favor. I was counting on that idea to be highly convincing.
