Invigilation, and Inspiration.

I love invigilating certain exams.

AQA Applied ICT a-levels have what is called 'controlled conditions' exams which take place in sessions, over 20 hours, on computers. We have a lovely assessment room with a tutor's computer so I get to sit for 3 hours, invigilation, but with time to write, catch up on work, check out forums etc. Bliss!! No teaching, no pressure.

Anyway, this morning I have already marked 5 papers. Updated my learning materials and got prep done the rest of the day. Now I can have 30 mins me-time. I am working on a story; like many of my stories it has been inspired by a piece of music. In this case 'Soul cages' by Sting.

In the song, based on a norse/saxon myth, a creature imprisons the souls of sailors in cages under the sea. A young man tricks the creature into getting drunk on wine and, while the 'fisherman' sleeps, the lad swims down and releases souls.

My story will end up having little relevance to this, but it illustrates how one idea can spark a thousand others. In my story a world weary battlemage, sick of the death and destruction he has caused, rides home with an army from a 10 year war. They ride through a village where, ten years ago, my mage spent a few days preparing to head north to the wars. he had a fling with a village girl. No the girl, a woman, pleads for his help as her daughter has gone missing.

Rook, the mage, dead inside and numb from war, refuses to help, even when Sara, the girl, reveals the daughter is his child.

The long and the short is, Rook unwillingly is drafted in to help by his commander, they face a foe, a renegade mage from the enemy side of the war. He is sealing souls into crystals which he can use as power sources.

Rook refuses to fight, but offers his life instead of the daughter. He is a much greater prize. The evil mage agrees but the daughter, who has inherited Rook's magic, tries to fight. Rook realises how much alike he and his daughter are, finding a purpose to live, he slays the mage and dedicates his life to teaching his daughter to user her powers for building, not destroying.

You can see some elements carried through from the legend, but not much.

It's interesting how stories form. I myself am often bewildered as to where a story comes from. Sometimes I have to drag them into shape, sometimes they arrive fully formed in my head.

Anyways, there we go. Back to writing.

Take care.

FS