Nanowrimo 2021 Day 13 and 14 - Word Count and Favorite Bit (Patreon)

This weekend I added 2273 words to Seek the Oasis, bringing the total word count to 22,309!

“Aysel?”

She turned, seeing Malai staring up at her with big, innocent eyes. Her heart twinged with guilt.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Aysel forced a smile, hoping it looked natural enough. “I’m alright. Just thinking.”

“What about?”

“Many things,” Aysel said vaguely, plucking a pouch of dried fruits from a stall and passing over a coin. “You, the other children, the journey ahead. The mind tends to wander.”

Malai made a humming sound of what Aysel assumed was understanding. His gaze turned away from her, instead watching the crowd around him. Absently, he reached out to hold Aysel’s hand. Aysel accepted it gladly, marveling at how soft the child’s hands were compared to her own. Even at a young age, Aysel’s hands had been rough and calloused, whether from training to hunt and fight, or the hard work it took to keep a tribe alive in the desert. Baskets had to be woven, clothing had to be sewn or repaired, leather had to be molded into waterskins or saddles, tents had to be pitched and broken down. There had always been so much to do. Aysel had to wonder if her hands had ever been soft.

“Aysel?” Malai called.

“Ah, I’m sorry,” Aysel said softly. She could feel Leonidas’ eyes on her, but ignored them and the sympathy they held. “My mind wandered again.”

“Hold my hand, then,” Malai ordered. “So it doesn’t wander too far.”