The characters are from Sentinals Banished, the 5^th book in the Sentinal series- though these events are all made up for the #12DaysOfTurvywriting challenge and are out of sequence and do not exist in the book.

Chatacters:

Leyarille is Jerrol and Taelia’s daughter, born at the beginning of Book 4, Sentinals Across time. She is now 17, as is Jared, Alyssa and Jennery’s second son.

Marianille and Birlerion are Sentinals, and step-brother/Step-sister.

Niallerion is a sentinal and Marianille’s husband.

Dec. 12: Wildcard: Evening Service

“That was never a Darian,” Birlerion said as they walked through the temple gardens.

“You got it though,” Leyarille replied with a laugh as she snuggled in the warm shawl Jared had given her.

“I’m a good guesser.”

“You were just throwing words out there,” Marianille called from behind them.

“That’s because her miming was so bad!”

“Well, how would you have mimed a Darian?” Leyarille asked.

“Not by prancing about on my toes!”

They all laughed and slowed as they reached the temple entrance. Waiting their turn, Leyarille shivered as other people entered. Birlerion wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she snuggled into his side. “It won’t be long,” he reassured her. “We used to live to the north of the city, it used to be quite a walk through the streets, but good for working off the dinner.”

“Ma used to think she was feeding the whole town,” Marianille agreed.

Birlerion chuckled under his breath and stepped into the temple. He smiled at the frisson of welcome that rippled through the air and led the way to a row of empty seats. They all sat, loosening their cloaks as they stared around at the candle lit interior. Alcoves were festooned in greenery and berries, candles cast a warm golden glow over everything and the white marble glistened. The statue of the goddess Lady Leyandrii watched over them all, her arms full of flowers and fragrant evergreens.

“It’s so beautiful,” Leyarille whispered.

Birlerion inhaled the fresh green scent of the evergreens and spice, a hint of roses mingling with aroma, and he smiled at Leyarille. Her silver eyes sparkled with happiness and he relaxed as the service began and music filled the vaulted ceilings.

***

“Lady’s blessings on you,” the Father said, as they filed out of the temple after the service.

Everyone was silent on the walk home, lost in the music and the atmosphere of love and belonging.

“An exquisite end to a beautiful day. May the New Year be just as wonderful,” Marianille said as they arrived home. “Welcome to our home and the New Year,” she said as she flung open her arms and embraced each one of them as she welcomed them over the threshold of her home. The air was soon filled with cinnamon and fruit as Niallerion heated up the mulled wine they had left ready for their return.

They all raised steaming glasses. “Happy New Year!”

The characters are from Sentinals Banished, the 5^th book in the Sentinal series- though these events are all made up for the #12DaysOfTurvywriting challenge and are out of sequence and do not exist in the book.

Characters:

Leyarille is Jerrol and Taelia’s daughter, born at the beginning of Book 4, Sentinals Across time. She is now 17, as is Jared, Alyssa and Jennery’s second son.

Marianille and Birlerion are Sentinals, and step-brother/Step-sister.

Niallerion is a sentinal and Marianille’s husband.

Dec. 11: Games

Marianille glanced around the room and laughed at the sprawled figures dozing in the mismatched chairs they had borrowed to have enough for everyone.

“This is no good! You can’t sleep the day away.”

“I can’t move,” Jared groaned.

“You shouldn’t have had thirds,” Leyarille said, poking his stomach.

“Don’t,” he moaned.

“Let’s play ‘Mimes’. I have some cards here. You have to select a card, and then act out the word on the card, and we have to guess what the word is. No speaking or you pay a forfeit! That’s not too energetic, but it should wake you all up.” Marianille moved a small table into the middle of room and placed a stack of cards on it.

“I’ll start.” She picked up the top card and laughed. She held up one finger.

“One word,” Niallerion said.

Marianille hugged herself and elaborately shivered.

“Cold,” Jared said.

She wiggled her fingers in the air and then pretended to scrape something together in a ball and threw it at Niallerion.

“Hey,” he protested as Jared shouted ‘snow’!

“Well done.” Marianille pointed at the pile of cards. “Your turn.”

Jared grumbled, but he levered himself out his chair and took a card. He frowned at it. “How am I supposed to mime that?”

“Break it down,” Niallerion advised. “How many words?”

Jared held up two fingers and then two again.

“So, two words. Second word.”

Jared scowled at Marianille and then straightened and curved one arm in front of him and stretched the other out and then started stepping around the room.

“A bad dancer,” Birlerion called.

“That’s not one word,” Niallerion said with a laugh. “Dance.”

Jared scowled at Birlerion, nodded at Niallerion, and then clasped his hands and drew them apart.

“Dancing,” Marianille said.

Jared tapped his arm with two fingers and then one.

“First word.” Marianille leaned forward.

Jared huffed, then mimed a circular shape then kicked it.

“Ball, no Ballroom Dancing,” Leyarille shouted.

“Thank goodness,” Jared said, and gladly sat back down as Leyarille rose. “And I am not a bad dancer.”

The evening progressed with much laughter and teasing.