Welcome to WIPpet Wednesday! If you’re familiar with my WIPpets then you’ve probably noticed that I updated the cover for Surrogate: Traditions again. When I said I might hone the cover even more, I meant it… and I really like the results, but, knowing me, I might tinker more with it later. The manuscript isn’t with the publisher yet, so I have time.
This week’s WIPpet Wednesday* again comes from Surrogate Traditions, the third novel in the Surrogate Series.
Here’s my WIPpet math: 10/04/2017 – a bit of re-figuring the figures was in order to make it work. 170 + 4+ 2-1=175 words.
Note: Autalaci is Alyward for, well, not exactly husband, but the male(s) or sire-capable ashk(s) involved in an Alyward family circle. What’s an Ashk? I suppose it does bear explaining since I brought it up. Ashk is the Alyward term for anyone who identifies as non-binary. (very common among Alywards) Yes, some ashks can sire children while others can bear children, so they’re perfectly capable of being autlacis, immas, ottonols, or otherwise. I could go into a deeper explanation, but that will suffice for now. And if you want to know what those last Alyward terms meant, go HERE.
Akierlasta is the Takla word for the male leader of the Empire– think emperor. The female term, incidentally, is Akierli. Merch is the Akierli.
The Setup: Etain is talking to Aerachin and Upland, who’s bedridden, about what’s gone wrong with her marriage.
“I can’t trust him.” Etain looked through the open door and across the living room to where her first autalaci sat watching them.
“He blames himself enough for ten people.” Aerachin stood over the bed to stroke Etain’s manes. “Forgive him for your children. Forgive him so you can move on.”
“Forgiveness does not mean trusting him or remaining by his side.” Upland drew a raspy breath. “Help me sit up, Aera, then go get the man. I wish to talk to him.”
“Please, Uncle.” Etain helped move his pillows into a prop he leaned against. “I do not want—” But she knew she had to.
“Listen to what I tell him before you speak.”
Leigheas soon stood between Merch and Dresh at the end of the bed. “You called for me, Dearest Akierlasta?” His hands were behind his back, and their hands stretched behind his.
“I’m going to check on Kalli.” Jon closed the door behind him.
“Leigheas Sternbow.” Upland’s voice took on its officious tone. “I know the black depth of your treachery.”
Read more WIPpet Wednesday posts from Surrogate: TraditionsHERE.
*WIPpet Wednesday is a blog hop hosted by Emily Wrayburn wherein writers share excerpts of their latest WIP. All genres and levels of accomplishment are welcome. The only stipulation is that the excerpt must coincide with the date in some manner. For example, on 10/8/14 you might share 10 lines from page 8, 8 paragraphs from chapter 14, or perhaps 18 sentences by doing WIPpet math and adding the day to the month. We’re flexible like that.
Whenever I think I couldn’t love this world more, I get drawn deeper in. The Alyward are a fascinating people. This is a great scene, and what a way to leave us hanging! I want to know what Upland says to him.
I love writing about the Alyward. They and pieces of another species in the series have become very dear to me for simply being who they are. Heck, I love all the species in this series, but the Alyward… Etain’s people have grasped a lot of concepts we humans seem to widely be unable to.
That’s very awesome how much thought you’ve put into this world. The Alyward language seems fascinating, and it is interesting that words like autaluci doesn’t have a direct translation in English since the cultural practices of the Alyward are different from ours!
I like today’s snippet! Curious about whether Leigheas is worthy of forgiveness and if he is truly feeling guilty for what he has done..
Lots of languages have words that don’t translate, as you probably know, so I made it happen in my made up languages too.
And, Leigheas… some things we can never forgive ourselves for.
Thanks for the feedback. I love that you’ve come to appreciate the effort it takes to world-build. It is work, but it’s also great fun, at least for me.
So…Takla have binary gender? I kind of don’t want an answer to that (I’m building up to the full-immersion experience). As always, a great snippet with lots (and lots) of intrigue, you cliffhangerer! 😉
No, this bears some explaining, so here goes. Taklas have a much more conservative Human, stricter, definition of gender. They have male and female and recognize LGBT, but the nonbinary, the Q… it widely confuses them, hence Leigheas’ problem w/ his own wife at at times. Taklas, like Humans, want labels. But the Alyward, Etain’s species, they recognize three genders, and I am using the word gender loosely here… male, female and ashk, ashk being anything in between or not the other two. Ashk is a self-definition and has nothing to do with biology. Biology only comes into play for reproductive purposes and even that can be manipulated through Alyward science. To be honest, no one cares in Alyward society and they don’t apply labels in the way Humans or Taklas do. There is no lesbian, gay, or bi. There is definitely trans, but those individuals generally go by male and female. To be a trans ashk is rare, but no one cares even then. And ace, gender queer, intersex and so on… just ashk. That’s the only word used. Attraction for the Alyward has nothing to do with male, female, or ashk… it’s attraction based on the person, not their parts.
Ohh, now I really want to know what he has to say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then I’ve done my job. 🙂
LikeLike
Whenever I think I couldn’t love this world more, I get drawn deeper in. The Alyward are a fascinating people. This is a great scene, and what a way to leave us hanging! I want to know what Upland says to him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love writing about the Alyward. They and pieces of another species in the series have become very dear to me for simply being who they are. Heck, I love all the species in this series, but the Alyward… Etain’s people have grasped a lot of concepts we humans seem to widely be unable to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very awesome how much thought you’ve put into this world. The Alyward language seems fascinating, and it is interesting that words like autaluci doesn’t have a direct translation in English since the cultural practices of the Alyward are different from ours!
I like today’s snippet! Curious about whether Leigheas is worthy of forgiveness and if he is truly feeling guilty for what he has done..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of languages have words that don’t translate, as you probably know, so I made it happen in my made up languages too.
And, Leigheas… some things we can never forgive ourselves for.
Thanks for the feedback. I love that you’ve come to appreciate the effort it takes to world-build. It is work, but it’s also great fun, at least for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So…Takla have binary gender? I kind of don’t want an answer to that (I’m building up to the full-immersion experience). As always, a great snippet with lots (and lots) of intrigue, you cliffhangerer! 😉
LikeLike
No, this bears some explaining, so here goes. Taklas have a much more conservative Human, stricter, definition of gender. They have male and female and recognize LGBT, but the nonbinary, the Q… it widely confuses them, hence Leigheas’ problem w/ his own wife at at times. Taklas, like Humans, want labels. But the Alyward, Etain’s species, they recognize three genders, and I am using the word gender loosely here… male, female and ashk, ashk being anything in between or not the other two. Ashk is a self-definition and has nothing to do with biology. Biology only comes into play for reproductive purposes and even that can be manipulated through Alyward science. To be honest, no one cares in Alyward society and they don’t apply labels in the way Humans or Taklas do. There is no lesbian, gay, or bi. There is definitely trans, but those individuals generally go by male and female. To be a trans ashk is rare, but no one cares even then. And ace, gender queer, intersex and so on… just ashk. That’s the only word used. Attraction for the Alyward has nothing to do with male, female, or ashk… it’s attraction based on the person, not their parts.
LikeLike