55 Fiction

The power went out, so we lit some candles. I couldn't see in the dark, neither could John. John walked into the table, knocking over the candles starting the fire. We couldn't find the fire extinguisher, so we ran out the door. Serves us right, thought we could do as much as normal while blind.

Creative Writing

As he pulled the string back of the long bow ready to loose an arrow, he heard a piercing scream from his right. He turned spun to his right and loosed the arrow. It flew straight and true and hit the target with amazing accuracy. As soon as the scream stopped he knew it was a true kill. He went over to inspect the crumpled heap of the witch of aranor. He had been sent to eliminate the threat of the witches in secrecy, however he had been spotted. Kimondu, leader of the elven bowman of all people, had been spotted. Had he been but a mere human, he would have died long ago in the rush of the ambush, But he was an elf that was faster, quicker, and nimbler than any human. He dove into a bush as he heard another scream from his left, he silently cursed his bad luck. A dark form, seeming to have no shape, rushed from behind a tree in his direction. He pulled his dagger from his belt, and threw it intending to kill. Sparks flew as the witch deflected the blade off one of hers. The sparks lit up the entire area, blinding the witch. Kimondu dove into the clearing pulling another dagger from the other side of his belt. The witch let loose another scream and rushed at him. They both ran for each other, and then collided with fury. The witch stopped screaming and just stood there with a blank stare on her face that only could be seen by the stars in the sky. She fell to the ground in a heap as Kimondu pulled the knife from her ribs. Smiling to himself he found his bow and his other knife and ran north towards civilization. Mission having been completed, he slung his bow over his shoulders and cleaned his knife as he bound through the brush once again. Having known this forest since the he was a boy, he never got lost. It suddenly occurred to him that there were 5 witches. He had only killed 4. At this realization he brought back his bow and knocked an arrow, slowing only slightly. He heard a scream, but this one seemed to come from all directions. He cursed his bad luck as he jumped onto a low hanging tree branch, and sat there in waiting. A glow came from the left, a fire bolt. He had always been curious how it swirled in the air as it leaped toward its target. It seemed to change color slightly from orange to red to yellow, yet stayed the same color on the outside. It grew bigger as time seemed to slow down. His mind willed his body to move, yet his body seemed to be cemented on the spot. He knew this moment would be the last one he had empty of immense pain. He was going to die. He remembered back when he was a child, he always dreamed to become a ranger. He had always had a talent for tracking and archery. He excelled in all his classes in Wizardry too. He knew the fundamentals of fire and ice and electricity all by heart and could recite them at will. However he could never counter them, he put the time to study that into other areas such as strategies and tactics in fighting. He was the only ranger that was also a wizard, he held great respect among his people. Yet he was going to die from a simple witch. Not so simple, they were feared among even the kings that held great armies. One witch could take down a whole garrison, burn down a small village, then laugh at the kingdom and want more. The only reason that they didn't do this often is that they were in secrecy. They only fought when in danger, and spent most of their other time in studying the black arts. They had been deemed dangerous and had a reward on all of their heads. Those who brought a head of a witch along with her talisman would receive 200 silver, a great sum of money that could buy a house and a great deal of land. If he would return, he would be able to invest in his own personal army if he wanted, they would give him that much money. Yet he was going to die. Streaking and glowing and lighting up the area for what seemed to be miles around, this fire bolt was aiming for his life. Suddenly a light came from his right. So bright that it over powered the fire bolt in a second. It went lightning fast and was only seen for a second. When it disappeared, all was quite and dark. It took a moment for his eyes to get accustomed to the dark again, but when they did, what he saw amazed him. Zaracis was standing in his navy colored robes, a color only used by the highest of wizards. In his raised right hand he held his staff with a gleaming sapphire on the tip. His long grey beard gave his age away to be hundreds of years old, yet Kimondu knew that he was only about 30. He should know, he grew up with him. All the great wizards grew long beards. Some say it was the cause of magic. As he looked over at where the witch had been, he only saw a charred smoldering heap. "That's 3 you owe me now", chuckled Zaracis. His appearance intimidated most yet his voice soothed even the most frightened of children. "Who's keeping track?" Kimondu remarked. Chuckling to himself, Zaracis stepped up to the heap, bent down, and being pleased with himself took the talisman of the witch. "Go find the other 4 that you got, this one is mine". Kimondu thought to himself what a wizard would to with money, they never needed it. They always got their support from the crown for various things from the aid of the army, to the aid of the towns folk. They were peace keepers most of the time. "What would you do with it? I didn't think wizards much care for money." "Who said i was the one to use it? im claiming it for the towns people. The taxes for the war this year have starved many, and I intend to give some of it back", Zaracis said as he did the grueling job of cutting off the head of the witch. "I figured as much. Your always helping the common man," Kimondu answered, thinking he would get a question of what he was going to do with it. "Kimondu my good friend, I need not the finer things of life. I need not fame or glory or riches untold. Those are what makes people greedy for more and they turn unhappy with that greed in their hearts. Helping others is what makes people happy. Being a wizard with all my needs taken care of, I can focus my attention on making my life happier, by making others happier. I thought you were in the classes of wizardry? Did you not learn this?" Kimondu was a bit taken back as he knew it was the truth. He knew now that Zaracis didn't need to question him or reprimand him on what he was going to do with the money. He just needed to appeal to his heart. Dam wizards, always messing with the heart. Normal people always just tried to get what they want using force or blackmail. Wizards were not normal, they got what they wanted using words to the heart and soul, not to the body. "Should have known better to mess with a wizard I suppose, your probably wanting me to use my money from the bounty for helping people. Well your words don't always work wizard", as soon as he said this he knew it to be foolish. He never believed it for a second, and it would appear that niether did Zaracis. After looking into the compassionate eyes of the wizard, no, his best friend that he grew up with and live his whole childhood with, he broke in. "Fine! Ok ok I get it! I will use it as you want! Just stop messing with my head!", his voice sounded angry yet carried a softness to it. "Kimondu, I have not been messing with your head as you say. You have just been warring with your own mind. You know whats right and wrong, what is good and what is bad. Choose for yourself, I will have no part in your choice unless you wish me to on your own accord." The sun was rising as they hurried to get the things they needed to go back to town.

You only get what you look for

Optimism and pessimism have been the corner stones for nearly any accomplishment anyone has ever done. The saying "seeing the cup as half empty or half full", has been a cliche for a long time telling people how they see things. There is also an old story of a wise king of Brittain, some say it was Arthur. He sent two of his most loyal servants out to both the east and west forests near his castle. To one he said," Go and find me the most beautiful flowers in the land". To the other he said," Go and find me the most deadly and vile looking briars and thorns". So off they went. Several days later, they arived back at the castle with two carts, one carrying flowers and one carrying thorns. The king came out to see and inspect if they had done their jobs. He saw the beautiful flowers and the thorns and told each that he was pleased. Then they asked him," We can understand why you would want flowers, but why would you want thorns and thistles your majesty?" He then looked at the one that was sent for flowers and asked him," While you were looking for flowers, did you see any thorns on your travels?" The man just pondered for a minute, then answered," Why, no, now that I come to think of it, I did not see any." Then he asked the one that had brought the briars if he had seen any flowers on his journey. The man answered that he didn't. So then the king declared to all the onlookers," These men went out and found both beautiful and horrid things! They now know that if they look for beautiful things, even though i'm sure there were thorns along the way, they did not pay attention to them for they were looking for what I sent them for. On the other hand, if they look for ugly things, even though there may have been many flowers along the way, they only found what they sought for!"

The moral of this legend might be clear, but I will explain it anyways. Basicaly, what you want to find in life, you will find it. If you look for troubles and stress and heartache, you will get it, even though there may be enjoyable things in life along the way. The same goes for the other, if you look for the pleasent things in life, you will find it, even though life may not all be a bucket of flowers.

Lit Circles section 1: Discussion Director

1) Why did michael use his and Richard's mother as an example to show that fire was bad?

He did this to use sympathy to further his cause, whatever that may be. Later we realize that fire was banned in the midlands because wizards used it prominently. I'm curious to see if michael was visited or informed by someone from midlands to declare this, or if it was just his judgement.

2) Why does Kahlan keep the fact that she's a confessor away from Richard?

Great fear came from people when they first realize that she is one. she claims that it would ruin her friendship with Richard if she told him. I'm suspecting some sort of power that she holds that perhaps only affects men, as she was planning to convince the wizard, a guy, to help her using a power. It also was used against the quad, whome im suspecting were men as well. She has yet to use it on a female of my knowing. Although it must not be a power she uses kindly as it was described as a "thunder with no sound" and she did not want to use it on Shar, however he wanted her to. Perhaps its a decieving pleasure that the power inflicts, i have yet to find out.

3) Why does Richard hide his knowlege of the book and the tooth, when it would seem he knew it might help?

The obvious answer to this is that he promised his father that he would only reveal its secret to the owner of the book. It makes me wonder if he was secretly with Rahl. Then again, he was killed by him, however evil people always kill even their most loyal servants if betrayal is suspected right?

4) Why does Zedd insist that Kahlan was not the woman for him?

This seems to relate largely to her power that she keeps secret from him. I still don't know the answer to this but im continuing to find out.

5) Why do people they meet along the way ask her about her finding a mate?

This question I think is answered with the fact that this story seems to take place back when women were not considered able to stand alone, or for very little time if any. Considering they have swords and maces and crossbows, this tech indicates that it takes place near the middle ages. That was a time that women who stood alone were considered harlots or witches. They seem to respect her enough though to brush it off as she has a power that I am unsure of at the moment. Curious to read on to find out.

About Terry Goodkind

When he first started writing, his first book "Wizard's First Rule", he became one of the world's best selling authors. Every book that he wrote sold better than the first and before long, over 20 million copies of his books have been sold. He accounts that,"As soon as I started writing Wizard’s First Rule, I knew writing was my calling." He was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended art school there. Aside from writing, he has taken carreers in cabinet making, wildlife art, violin making, and restoration on artifacts. His wife Jeri and him have built a northeastern home by themselves, and are building another in the desert southwest, where he now lives most of the time.

Top Three...Pie!

Rank: #1. Lemon Meringue
#2. Apple
#3. Pumpkin

These are ranked, of course by my opinion as many others would choose something different, in consideration of sweetness, flavour, texture, and name(haha yes name)

Lemon meringue is by far the sweetest and many would argue that its not the greatest mainly because they cannot handle the degree of enchanting taste that emanates from this mouth watering delicacy. (enough vocab?) This is without any additives as some prefer whipped topping on their apple or pumpkin pie and some would not even try them without it. Lemon meringue doesn't need any additives because it comes with the included meringue, which makes it that much better.

Flavour is more of the biased side of the argument, as i prefer lemon over apples and cinnamon and pumpkin.

They all have very good texture. Pumpkin pie has no substance that you need to chew, thus making you lazy for your desert. Apple pie has substance but so much so that you still need to chew considerably before daring to swollow...unless your apple pie is soggy (in which case i wouldn't like it anyways). Lemon meringue has just enough texture to keep you from lazing about but just under whats needed for the main course of the meal...unless you just had soup... Which makes it a perfect go-between. All things in moderation afterall.

And finally the name. Pumpkin and apple are both easily spelled. (unless of course you thought pumpkin was pumkin, then you should learn it if you favor it more). Lemon meringue is considerably harder to spell and thus sounds like it is a legend in itself!

All of these i consider when deciding my desert, hence my order of rank for each. Some of you may ask what about turtle pie? Is not chocolate better than lemon? And i tell you NO! don't get me started on how bad chocolate is for you than lemon, plus chocolate is mostly refined and the taste you normaly find in say, a Snickers, can not be found naturaly. (and some of you are just wondering what the heck turtle pie is...well go research it! if you don't know your pies then you can't argue that lemon is not the greatest!)

Review, Jumper:

A very unique, if anything, movie that uses a concept that none have used before. Thus it cannot be compared to much. It was a fairly good movie through the special effects, the acting, and the interesting idea of moving at the speed of thought. What really took away from it was the plot. The main point of view and perspective was alright, but the order of events could have been a lot better. Also the character profiling was poor. The main character was hit more often than he hit his enemy. The story line went off quite a bit from the main point and sometimes trailed indeffinately. It was a dissapointment because the main idea of teleportation without device was degraded by plot factors.