In this series, I will take the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com and craft a short piece of creative writing around it. My goal is to embrace the meaning of the word in some unique way, all the while trying out different styles, rhythms and characterizations. It is as much an exercise in creativity as it is an exploration of grammar. Enjoy!
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By Alex Seise
“Dahn’t leht thohse distuhnt ‘uns rile ye up.” The burly man with the long frizzy beard spoke with a distinct rustic gruffness as he slammed his hammer against the red hot rod on the anvil. “There’s nahthin’ te be arfraid-uh.”
He turned, brandishing the flattened hot steel. It had cooled a bit since leaving the flames, losing its red glow, but waves of hot air still radiated over its surface. Even without its glow, it was warm enough to light kindling with a brief touch.
Outside the blacksmith’s shop, a crowd started gathering. They trusted Old Miles Gunnigan for his metalwork as much as his battle prowess. The legions spotted in the distance meant something; the people hoped he could shed light on exactly what the sight portended.
Gunnigan plunged the hot steel into a water bath, sending a wisp of steam into the air and a hiss through the crowd. A young girl clasped her hands to her ears to avoid the loud intrusion.
“Ah’ve seen mehny battl’s,” said Gunnigan, the dripping flat steel in his right hand. He tossed it gracefully to his left, making note of the material’s deftness and balance. “Yah’ve nahthin’ te fear if ye can see the enehmays cohmin’. It’s the ‘uns ye can’t see that ye’d be right to be frettin’ o’er.”
