Thursday, February 23, 2012

3 word week: The Letter

For Steve Isaak's Three Word Week challenge.

I've noticed that Steve's choice of words influence my writing style very heavily. I never write fantasy, but these characters were determined to get out!

This week's words are:
I.) chirography (also called cheirography) - n. Penmanship.
1. the penmanship of a person, especially when used in an important document, as in an apostolic letter written and signed by the pope.
2. the art of beautiful penmanship; calligraphy.

II.) eruct - vb. - To belch.
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) to raise (gas and often a small quantity of acid) from the stomach; belch
2. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) (of a volcano) to pour out (fumes or volcanic matter).

III.) velitation - n. - A dispute or contest; a slight contest; a skirmish.

*********
     'The document is a forgery. I'm sorry.' Elvan's words masked his distaste as he handed the paper back to the short, fat man before him. Sorrow was very far from his mind; he felt nothing but nausea from the dealer's presence.
     'Pshaw!' The exclamation failed to hide the stinking belch that escaped between the rotting teeth of Drango's snake-like smile. 'How can you claim it's not authentic?'
     'Everything about it is wrong: the vellum, the sepia, the chirography... And would you stand back a little? Your eructation is unpleasant.'
Drango took a step back in surprise at Elvan's directness.
     'What kind of language is that you're speaking? I can't understand half of what you say.'
Elvan was unmoved by the trader's rudeness. 'The language I am speaking is one of twenty three in which I am fluent. It is yours, but clearly I speak it rather better than you do. You cannot win this velitation, little man.'
Drango bristled at the Spellman's insult to his height. 'Are you going to buy this paper or not?'
     'Let me say this in words that even you can understand,' Elvan said, fixing the shopkeeper with a clear, grey stare. 'The incantation is a fake. I shall not waste a single nengen on it. Good day,' and he turned and left the dingy shop.
As the door closed behind him he smiled. Drango would have no trouble finding a buyer because the scroll was an extremely accomplished piece of work. Anyone else would be completely taken in by it, he knew, because he had taken great care when he created it.

6 comments:

snafu said...

Very good, you like to add the little twist at the end.

MorningAJ said...

That's me! Always got a twist in the tale. :)

Maude Lynn said...

This is really well done!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Brillian AJ, brilliant!

Anna :o]

(http://puzzelicious.blogspot.com)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Anne ... excellent - loved the way you crafted it and then that twist at the end .. bet you enjoyed creating it .. cheers Hilary

Sandra Davies said...

All this and nengens too - very creative indeed!