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]

"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.

[makesthings]

"Is there space for it?"

Sam's trying to see without putting too much weight on the center of the floor, but there are only so many places he can be.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Sure there is, all we have to do is--"

He leans forward, attempting to steady the ladder... and then leans too far.

Wood rips against wood as the ladder's feet skid against the catwalk, and then it slams down against the arch. Pulled off balance, Nick staggers and falls sideways, clinging like grim death to the thin beam of wood.

[makesthings]

When the wood rips, Sam yells out and tries to grab for Nick to keep him from falling too much farther and then the wood under him starts going with loud cracks,

"Charter!"

[wordofa_sayre]

"Sam, no, get back!"

The ladder creaks and shudders, then the end of it slips sideways along the arch, dragging Nick along with it.

It comes to rest with a thump against the bell, sending up a loud peal and startling the birds into flight.

[makesthings]

"To where?!"

Sam has to let go of Nick when he gets pulled out but the wood under him is still going and he tries to get a grip on a nearby rafter.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Away from the edge!" Nick yells. He's dangling over the drop now, with a solid grip on the slender span of the ladder and no foothold at all--

--and, incredibly, he's laughing.

"Told you the ladder was strong enough! It's the bloody catwalk that's the problem!""