Disclaimer: The world and characters of Tortall belong to Tamora Pierce, not to me.
Series: Bitter, Twisted Lies
Event: Single Sentence Shot Put [this site doesn't allow single-sentence fics to stand alone, so I'm combining this with the TTJ]
Words: 32
Certainty
When Marek and Eiralys are found out, she lies like a Stormwing, but the rumors spread to her father and they end as quickly as they began - and just as painfully.
Series: Bitter, Twisted Lies
Event: Tasty Triple Jump
Words: 392
Haughtiness
Mindelan.
Mindelan- the cause of all those arguments between her mother and father. Eiralys cannot forgive the girl who made screams and shouts echoing in the Cavall castle. Eiralys remembers people who hurt her or her family.
Eiralys does not forgive.
Mindelan- the name so often on her sister's fiancé's lips. Eiralys pities sweet Margarry, who could never doubt the faithfulness of anyone. Eiralys is not like Margarry. Eiralys knows what it means when a man talks about a woman like that, with lit-up eyes and a radiant smile.
Eiralys is wise in the ways of men and of women.
Mindelan- the person so envied by the scores of women (women who are Riders and Queen's Ladies and other ill-bred professions) who long to be so brave. Eiralys does not envy the second lady knight. Eiralys gave up her dreams long ago, as was her duty as the eldest.
Eiralys knows what true bravery is.
Mindelan- the woman sitting, talking, smiling with Marek. Eiralys does not own Marek. Eiralys has less of a claim to him than Mindelan does, being married, but she does not care. Eiralys gets what she wants.
Eiralys is not afraid of anyone.
Mindelan- the recipient of a well-deserved slap. Eiralys tosses her hair and walks away, Mindelan's sharp intake of breath music to her ears. Eiralys is smug. Eiralys is a lady and cannot be challenged to a duel.
Eiralys spreads gossip, rumors, scandals, spreads fear, and Mindelan, knight or no, knows nothing of fear.
Mindelan- the reason Marek is screaming at her. Eiralys has proof now, for what man would yell at his lover about another woman unless there was something more than friendship? Eiralys does not argue with him at first.
Eiralys is right.
Mindelan, Mindelan, Mindelan. Eiralys is sick of this girl and she tells Marek just that.
"Why do you care so much?" Eiralys says. "She's just a little chit."
Eiralys is confident that her brutally true words will render Marek speechless and pull him onto her side. Eiralys is wrong.
"I don't need this," Marek says, throwing up his hands. "I don't need you."
Mindelan- the woman who broke Eiralys and Marek's love. Eiralys could kill Mindelan, so great is her anger. Eiralys does what she does best. Eiralys gives up. Eiralys goes home. Eiralys forgets, over time.
Eiralys never does forgive.