At Somersby-Too Far from Home

[makesthings]

The wind was blowing from the South and Sameth wished he could change it, but the Charter wasn't even there.

Today in class, Cochrane had been lecturing them on the merits of democracy and kept giving him pointed looks so that he had to try and speak up for monarchy.

It was horrible and he didn't do a good job of explaining things since so much of it depended on the Charter and explaining his family's hard history.

In the end, he didn't feel like much of a prince and going outside didn't help since nothing felt quite real enough.

So he ended up in his room staring down at a piece of paper and wishing for ideas, but all the things that he wanted to do needed the Charter.

Comments

[wordofa_sayre]

"Not for long," Nick assures him. "All we've got to do is get up the steps, and they go around the edge of the wall -- can't miss them--"

Evidently he can still trip over them in the dim light, though, as he promptly demonstrates upon finding the first riser.

[makesthings]

"Light is helpful and I hate steps like that, you need to know them. Too damn far from the Wall again. Wait, here's something."

While searching about, Sam finds the end of a candle and a match in his pocket.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Useful sort of thing to have with you," Nick observes, from where he's now comfortably sprawled out on the floor.

[makesthings]

"No Charter here and its useful to have a quick bit of light sometimes. I don't trust torches, they break too easily."

He turns around trying to see what's actually in this old tower.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Some day I'm going to find a way to test the attrition effect on this Charter of yours," he informs Sameth, right before leaping to his feet.

"Up the stairs, old chap. That's where all the fun is."

[makesthings]

"Things break near the Wall especially if they use electricity and other things. I'll show you if you can ever convince your uncle to let you near the Wall."

Sam starts up the stairs, keeping the light on the risers.

[wordofa_sayre]

"What, don't you think I can be convincing? I'm hurt, Sam, truly."

Nick follows after him, given that Sam's the one with the light.

[makesthings]

"I know you can be convincing but you know what all those government types are like about the Old Kingdom. You should hear some of the things I've heard my father say after he's had to visit with them."

[wordofa_sayre]

"It's different when you get to know them," Nick counters. "Everyone's got their little ways about them, that's all."

[makesthings]

"I guess, but he gets tired of having to remind them that yes, we do exist."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Of course you exist. Can hardly miss that," he scoffs, and scrambles up the rest of the stairs to catch up with Sam before the other young man reaches the top.

"Hold on, hold on--"

[makesthings]

There's only so much farther he can go since the stairs start to get wobbly,

"Not the way some of them talk. I wish I had something to shore this up with."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Well I'm not them, now am I? Steady on, now--"

He puts his hand on Sam's shoulder and steps up, pointing with the other at the sliver of light showing between the roof and the top curve of the large bronze bell.

"Do you see them?"

[makesthings]

"I know you're not."

He looks up and can just see the shadows,

"Oh yes. I think we can make it up there if we're careful. Its not too bad just have to be careful since the stairs are a little worn down."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Wouldn't want to fall, right..."

Nick's only half paying attention now. He's craning his neck in order to get a better look at the rickety extended staircase that leads to the top of the arch where the bell is fastened, and the birds' roost there.

[makesthings]

Sameth sighs and since he can't do a good solid spell to ground everything, finds a loose piece of wood and tries to extend it under the stairs.

[wordofa_sayre]

His glances travels further around the tower room, and all at once Nick brightens.

"Ah-hah, there!"

Without hesitation, he starts toward the other side of the room and the old ladder that the staircase had been built to replace.

[makesthings]

"There what? Nick, will you just wait?"

He can't make the piece of wood stick so Sam gives up and follows after Nick though the wood creaks under both their weights.

[wordofa_sayre]

"The ladder--"

Nick makes his way along the catwalk with total unselfconsciousness and complete disregard for anything as mundane as safety. He reaches the ladder and pulls it away from the wall, sneezing once as a cloud of dust flies into the air.

"--it looks sturdy enough, I'm sure it'll be fine--"

[makesthings]

Sam on the other hand is quite aware of the sounds that the floor is making as he carefully moves towards Nick,

"It doesn't sound sturdy. You can hear the beams."

[wordofa_sayre]

"What? No, it's old wood, it's supposed to creak like that."

He shakes the ladder, which wobbles a little, and then glances over his shoulder at Sam and grins.

"Come on, help me lean it across to the joist."

[makesthings]

He does make his way over though Sam takes the time to say,

"No, its not. Yes, wood does make sounds and all but not like this. I've heard noises like this in some of the tower rooms near my workshop. I once went exploring and almost broke my arm when some fell on me."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Should have moved out of the way," Nick says, blithely.

[makesthings]

"I did that's why I didn't break it."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Well, good show, then," he retorts, instantly reversing himself.

The ladder wavers in the air as he pulls it fully upright and starts to push it out over the drop.