Ironhollow 25

Goldie led them through the dirty streets of the Lower Levels,dust clouds rising up from their feet as they walked along.
Goldie ducked into an alley, and the Castrilli's and the Porters followed silently. Goldie pushed aside an empty dumpster with surprising strength, revealing a trap door set into the dusty asphalt of the street. Removing a rusted key from her pocket, she slid it into lock, and turned it. She lifted the trap door, pulling out a metal bar from the shadows and propping up the trap door.
Slipping into the shadows of the tunnel, Goldie whispered over her shoulder, "Follow me, and stay close. You don't want to be caught down in the catacombs if you don't know the way."
The four girls followed her, knocking aside the metal bar. The trap door slammed down after them.

New Character!

Check out the Characters page for more info on Goldie Harris!
I'm pretty sure she'll turn out to be a regular character for the next few posts, not sure how long she'll stay in the story.
Enjoy Wordsmith!

Ironhollow 24

Goldie's house was the oddest thing the Porters had ever seen.
Instead of a fireplace, a primitive fire-pit sat buried in the floor, surrounded by what appeared to be chairs with the legs cut off.
From the low ceiling hung flower pots and rusty wind-chimes. But the walls were among the strangest: Goldie had apparently vandalized her own house, streaks of bright neon and entire walls filled with two doubling words: Operation Iron.
Paisley pointed this out. "What's 'Operation Iron'?" she asked. Goldie's eyes narrowed. "Something the council of the Lower Levels concocted a while back."
Arden stared at Goldie. "There isn't a council for the Lower Levels." She said slowly. Goldie smiled sadly.
"Yes, well, maybe not an official one. Operation Iron is- actually, I'll let the council tell you. I'll take you to them."
Goldie led them to the door.
"I still don't trust you, but I gotta ask; do you know anything about this Operation Iron?" Arden asked Victoria, who replied, "I've heard whispering's of it, but nothing more. I'm in the dark as much as you are."

Ironhollow 23

The metal door swung open. The person who stood in the threshold stared at them. She was short, with choppily cut chin length hair, so black it was almost purple. She was skinny, as if she definitely did not have a reliable supply of food, and her eyes were an unsettling icy blue. She stared a moment longer, before breaking out into a wide grin.
"Victory!" She exclaimed. At first, the Porters were confused. What did this girl mean by Victory? Then they realized. Victory, for Victoria.
Victoria smiled genuinely. Never before had Paisley seen that.
"Everybody, this is Golden Harris." Victoria said.
"Call me Goldie!" She said in a slow, hoarse voice. Goldie turned towards Poppy.
"What's up, Poppy? How you been?" She asked, in the same slow voice.
Poppy smiled, but said, "I'm good, but we have to ask..."
Victoria finished. "We...need to...hide out. At your place."
Goldie's grin widened. "Mmm hmm? Hiding out from the cops?"
Victoria blushed. "Er, no. Norshiren soldiers, actually."
Goldie lost her happy, bubbly exterior. She paled.
"They're in the city?! Impossible...I heard the sirens, but..." She forced another smile, "Uh, go ahead,  come in. I'll be leaving tomorrow, into the pine forests. The invasion has....begun."

Ironhollow 22

The four housemates climbed tentatively out of the cellar, inching open the door of the carriage house to peer outside.
"They're gone." Arden whispered. They darted swiftly out of the carriage house, then crept along the side of their house.
"There's smoke in the sky." Paisley gasped. It was true. Smoke drifted across the dark sky, coming in plumes from fiery buildings.
They crept slowly along the shadowy street. Victoria led them.
"We're heading towards an old friend's place. They'll welcome us, and I know the Norshirens will never find us there." She said, wincing when her foot hit a fallen garbage can lid.
Arden raised a suspicious eyebrow. "What kind of 'friend'? And why would the soldiers never find us?" She asked.
Victoria shrugged uncomfortably. "Oh, you know...Their home, it's, uh, pretty unknown. Down in the Lower Levels."
"Does this 'friend' have a name?" Arden muttered.
"Goldie. She's an old friend of mine. We go way back. Ah, I still remember the time we robbed-" She stopped, and Arden shot an aggressive glance her way.

The reached Goldie's house in twenty minutes. Her street was shadowy and dirty. Litter was scattered across the cracked pavement, and every house was broken down. Goldie's house was vandalized crazily. Bright neon images adorned the brick walls.
 Victoria knocked.

Ironhollow 21

Paisley again- 

We're currently down in the cellar, beneath our old carriage house. We just heard the surprised shouts of the Norshiren soldiers when Poppy's firecrackers went off. 

It's so strange to look at Poppy or Victoria and know that they're...criminals.

What will Arden and I do? How could we let them stay in the house?! 

I don't know. Just trying to think about it makes my head hurt. And I- wait, we hear something above, in the carriage house! 

I can hear them talking to each other in Norshiren. It's so silent down hear. The only sound is my pen scratching against this paper. 

I think their gone. We don't dare speak. Not yet. 

Arden is getting up and looking through a hole in the low ceiling, straight up into the carriage house!

"They're gone." 

 I am putting this journal away now- we need to get to a safer place. I'll write again when we get there!

P.S still haven't told Arden that I took her place as the family business Initiate. I'll tell her once we're at a safer location!



A Note From The Author Of Wordsmith- You can expect an evening edition! 

Ironhollow 20

After Poppy and Victoria's explanation, Arden and Paisley were prepared to hand them over to the authorities. They were, however, slightly hindered by the Norshiren soldiers on their porch.
Arden peeked out the window. The Norshiren soldiers were obviously on the verge of kicking down the door. "Were are the soldiers?!" Victoria gasped, wringing her hands.
Poppy scrunched her brow. "If they were coming, they would be here by now." She  said, clearly resigned to their fate.
"Looks like we're about to become hostages." Victoria said gloomily.
Paisley's mind raced. "No. There's an old service door in the back, I think it was used for servants. It leads to the old carriage house. We would have maybe a forty foot dash ahead of us to the carriage house, which lead to a cellar where we could hide. Are you guys up to it?"
Surprised at her sister's canny at escapism, Arden now wondered how many times Paisley had used this unusual and surprising skill.
"I think we all are. But first we need a distraction for the soldiers," Poppy said thoughtfully, "I have some firecrackers in my room! I'll set them up around the door, and they should go off right around the time they open the door!" She raced off, up to her room.

Ironhollow 19

The Porters stared at their housemates.
"What?" Arden whispered.
Victoria stepped forward, and Arden and Paisley stepped back from her.
The Castrilli's sat down on one of the couches. "Our mother died of illnesses and our father died in the Military when we were both pretty young. What we didn't know was that they had been retired famous criminals, and...well, we followed in their footsteps, it seemed right, since we'd just lost them. We've only ever done minor things, like burglary."
The Porters stared at them. "Why in the world would you do that?!" Paisley demanded, shocked and bewildered.
"I....don't know. I guess..." Poppy couldn't seem to finish, so Victoria stepped in. "We didn't know what else to do. And...it seemed almost like a way to honor our parents."

Ironhollow 18

The Castrilli's looked shocked beyond words.
Victoria shook her head stubbornly, "No. I don't believe this. Norshire is peaceful, and Amira's closest partner in trade. I can't..." She closed her eyes, trailing off.
Poppy started up. "This is completely impossible! Norshire wouldn't do this! I-" a horn interrupted her.
Paisley looked up sharply, "Isn't that..."
Poppy finished for her. "The battle horn of Amira."
Victoria looked out the window, then gasped at what she saw. "N-Norshiren soldiers. They're on the streets, and coming this way..." Victoria glanced at Poppy meaningfully.
"Do you think...?" Victoria whispered. Poppy hook her head strongly.
"Impossible. They couldn't know..." She said.
Arden and Paisley looked questioningly at them. "What's going on here?" Arden asked.
Victoria and Poppy exchanged a quick look. Victoria cleared her throat. "We don't have much time. There...There's something you don't know about Me and Poppy..."
Poppy finished for her, "...We're kind of...wanted criminals."

Ironhollow 17

Poppy was high up in a tree in their front yard, spying on all the gates to the Artisan's Branch. Two fast moving figures were racing towards them.
Squinting, she focused on their faces. Arden and Paisley! She thought.
She waved from her position, and the sisters tentatively waved back.
She leaped down, coming to the gate to meet them. "Well, whats it like out there? Who are the invaders? How long until we're infiltrated?"
Arden looked uncomfortably at Paisley, who shuffled her feet in the fallen leaves.
"Er, let's go inside and talk about this." Arden said quietly, leading the younger girls inside.

Victoria rushed into the den where they were standing. "Well? Whats happening?!"
"Oh, well...Um, as far as I can tell they haven't reached the city yet. The Officials think they'll heading to the Lower Levels first, when they get here, that is."
Poppy looked annoyed, "But who is attacking?!" She demanded.
 "The Armies of Norshire." Arden said, visibly wincing.
Victoria looked as if someone had kicked her in the gut. Poppy in sucked her breach, then exhaled sharply.
"But, that's impossible. Our...our homeland."

Ironhollow 16

Arden and Paisley pushed through the crowds of panicking citizens, fighting to get the main gate that led the the Artisans Branch. 

The gate was shut when they reached it, and Arden called up to the gate operators. 

"They aren't at their posts!" Arden said angrily. 

Paisley ran towards the ladder that led to the operator's tower. She climbed up, shouting down, "Don't worry, I'll open them up!" 

When she reached the control panel in the tower, she was unsure of what to do.

"Why don't they label these things?" She muttered, running her hands along the unfamiliar controls. 

Spotting a bright red switch, she flipped it up. An alarm beeped through the Artisan's Branch. Cringing, she flipped it back down, stopping the alarm. "Oops..." 

"Nice going!" Arden shouted up impatiently. 

Finally, she hit a round green button, and the gate opened.

She climbed back down to Arden, who was already jogging towards the open gate.

She fell in step with Arden, and the two girls ran home, the sirens screaming in their ears. 

A Note From The Author Of Wordsmith- Sorry for the late post! You can expect an evening edition tonight! 

Ironhollow 15

Paisley stepped out of the interview office, into the square. The sound of the sirens hit her like a horse.
Now regretting her running off, she searched desperately for Arden. Catching a glimpse of her sister's red coat, she stumbled forward, and said, "Arden!"
The red coat turned. It was an elderly woman, looking annoyed. "Oh, sorry, i-" The woman hobbled away. No one really had the time to speak during an invasion.
"Paisley!" someone hailed from behind. Paisley turned to see Arden jogging towards her.
"There you are! Honestly, why would you run off like that?!" Arden scolded.
Paisley just took hold of her hand, dragging her in the direction of the Artisan's Branch.

At the house, Poppy had taken out her weapons.
Don't get the wrong idea, she's not some child psychopath, she's a Military Initiate, and they supply their most trustworthy Initiates with emergency weapons.

(I know what you're thinking 'Wow, that's totally safe, giving children weapons.' Well, don't blame me, i didn't make it up. Oh wait, i did.)

She handed Victoria a pistol. Victoria squeaked and dropped it. She took instead a billy club. "You realize that i won't actually use this, right?" Victoria said.
"Fine. Give it here." Poppy took the billy club and the dropped pistol, placing them back in the with the rest of the weapons.
"Fine, no weapons. But we do need to protect ourselves if this is an invasion." Poppy said. She practiced a couple punching motions. She was okay at hand-to-hand.
Victoria shook her head. "You're reading way to much into this. Maybe their storm sirens, ever think of that?"
Poppy shook her head. "I didn't have to. Look out the window. Not a cloud in the sky. Besides, the storm sirens sound way different. Trust me, we are under attack."

Ironhollow 14

Paisley had just been accepted as a business Initiate when the sirens rang.
Arden was mingling halfheartedly at the banquet. She immediately ran to the nearest Ironhollow Official.
"Are we under attack?!" She demanded breathlessly. The Official nodded, his expression hidden under his helmet.
"Yes, an invasion from Norshire. They've been battering our northern front with naval attacks, and- why am I telling you this?! I have a job to do!" He ran off, leaving her standing among the yelling and shouts of the square.

Paisley sat across from a young woman in an airy, brightly lit interview office. For the last thirty minutes, she had been answering questions and taking tests, now it was almost over.
"Well, Miss Porter, you are nearly a business Initiate! I just need to be sure of one more thing. Are you ready?"
Paisley nodded confidently.
"Alright," The young woman continued, "From what you've said of your older sister, i understand she has been studying as a Business Initiate as well?"
Paisley nodded. "She just graduated a few months ago. Is that important?"
The young woman raised an eyebrow. "Er, you do know that only one individual of a family may be in the business branch. Due to a lack of workers in the Military and Artisan branches, we passed a law a few years ago limiting the amount of Business-people to a maximum of one in a family."
Paisley was too excited to fully understand, or even hear, what the young woman had said. She just nodded.
"U'm, alright. So, am i a business Initiate?" She asked excitedly. The young woman smiled.
"Yes Miss Porter, you are."

Ironhollow 13

Victoria sat, depressed, on her bed.
She had been contemplating going to the banquet, but now that the Porters were going...
It was quite awkward, sharing a house with someone you don't know. To Victoria, the only way to avoid awkwardness was to avoid the Porters.
Poppy wasn't as concerned about how strange it was to be living in someone else's house, and yet it's kind of your house as well, and... Very complicated.

Victoria's door opened. Poppy poked her head inside. "We should have a party!" she said, a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes.
Victoria rolled her eyes, throwing a pillow at her little sister.
Poppy dodged it, plopping down on a chair in the corner of the room. "Oh, come on! We would just be inviting some people over, nothing huge!"
Victoria held back a smile. She shook her head, "You're crazy, Poppy! We are not doing that!"
Poppy looked vaguely disappointed, but she forgot her idea as soon as she had come up with it.
"So, what should we do?" Poppy asked, placing her index fingers on her temples as if in deep thought.
Victoria shrugged.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens screamed through Ironhollow.
Victoria and Poppy looked at each other. The sisters knew all to well what this meant.
   "Ironhollow is under attack."

Ironhollow 12

Well, it seems there are a lot of journals in this house. 
This is Poppy Castrilli, by the way. 
I recently realized that the Porters, our housemates, both write in notebooks, and, not that I'm copying them, have decided to as well. 
A half hour ago, the Porters, Arden and Paisley, left for some banquet in city square. 
I'm a Military Initiate, and,  i must say- i totally rock at it! 
My sixteen (almost seventeen) year old sister is an Artisan, and she was contemplating going to that banquet, but at the last minute she decided not to. 
Victoria is extremely shy, and no doubt she would have gone to the banquet to see friends and have good food, but then the Porters decided to go, and it completely dropped off her calender. 
Only Victoria and I know this, but i suppose it won't hurt to write it down in here- We're cousins of the royal family. Direct cousins, and, judging by some digging I did in some legal books a few years back, we would be able to go visit them, perhaps live with them, at our leisure! I'm not sure who made up such a strange law, but it doesn't matter.
Victoria and I (mainly Victoria) decided a few months ago that we wouldn't 'abuse the freedom' we have to go and visit them, so we've decided to only go stay there if there is an absolute emergency. It also provides a great safeguard for me if Victoria dies or goes insane something, because then it can serve as a home for me, and they wouldn't be able to object! 

Ironhollow 11

Arden quickly dressed in a black and white dress she had had for ages, and threw on some shoes, rushing down the stairs to see Paisley waiting in her black dress. "Well, I guess we should get going!" Arden said.
Paisley gave her a weak thumbs up.
It was true, there was an Artisan banquet, and Paisley was planning on attending; but only after she had interviewed for the role of Business Initiate.
You might wonder, why would a fourteen year-old girl want to switch from art and drama and creativeness, to join politics and debate and all that boring stuff? Well, Paisley's answer would be: "Business opens up so many options, and I really am good at it! I can't turn something like that down."
The Porter sisters stood next to the door, an awkward silence settling between them. Arden was suspicious. Why would care-free, restless, lively Paisley want to sit through hours of speeches, surrounded by a bunch of important people eating expensive food? She decided to let it slide.

Later, after they arrived in the city square, Arden lost sight of Paisley, who had called over her shoulder, "Uh, I have to go...do something important. Or something. Bye!"
Paisley ran down a hall, pushing past people until she reached a glass door etched with 'Interview Room'.
She opened the door.
A woman looked up from a desk. "Are you hear for the interview?" She asked.
Paisley nodded. "Yes, I'm Paisley Porter. I'm here to interview to be a business Initiate."




A Note From The Author Of Wordsmith- Sorry for the late post! Easter Sunday- pretty busy!

Ironhollow 10

Paisley stumbled down the stairs and through the hall, wobbling dangerously on high-heeled shoes. She had gone out shopping a few hours previously, and had purchased a 'sophisticated' outfit, including a sleek black dress, the high heeled shoes, and assorted silver jewelry.
Attempting to sneak past the kitchen and den, she made a run for the front door. She stumbled, falling to her knees as one of the stiletto heels broke off.
Muttering angrily, Paisley snapped off the other heel and stood, kicking off the shoes.
Before she could escape back up stairs to throw on a random pair of flats, all three of her housemates came from various places in the house.
"Paisley, what...?" Arden looked bewildered as she scanned her little sister from head to toe, taking in the black dress, the jewelry, and the discarded footwear on the floor.
"I'm, uh...going to an Artisan's banquet!" That would serve as a believable cover story.
"Oh, why didn't you say so? We'll come with you!"
Paisley barely held back a groan. There went her chances of getting to her interview.
  What interview, you might wonder? Her interview to finally become a business initiate.



A Note From The Author Of Wordsmith- I know that the story-line is kind of slow right now, but soon, in the coming posts, things will get exciting. One hint: "War is coming."

Ironhollow 9

Hello, it's Arden again.

It's been two days since the Castrilli's moved in, and we've barely seen them. 

I've occasionally heard Victoria in the kitchen when I'm in the den, but usually they stay out of sight.

Paisley has been acting strange recently. I saw her checking street maps, tracing her finger along a route to city hall. And she's been neglecting her Art; instead, i found her reading a book about politics. What fourteen year old is into politics? 

This is bound to be a short entry; I have to talk to Paisley about her responsibilities as an Artisan. 

If she doesn't do well, that could lead to a whole lot of problems. 

Oh, here comes Paisley! 

I'll be sure to write later- I'm getting the hang of this 'journal' thing! 

Ironhollow 8

Paisley here!
Just a few hours ago, some official showed up at our door, dumping some housemates on us!
The younger one Poppy, is around my age, maybe a little younger. She's very...complex. She seems like she could be fun if she wasn't so shy.
Honestly, its so much easier to be outgoing, as long as the person you're talking to is. If their really shy, like Poppy, then you have to act shy to make them more comfortable.
Arden seems to be dumbfounded on how to handle this situation. I mean, what do you do when you suddenly have to share a house with some you don't and who is really shy and awkward when you try to talk to them??
Anyway, on the subject of the new house, I've already personalized my room.
I've put up pictures, posters, and I've already painted one of the walls blue, for an interesting accent wall.
Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty creative. I know what you're thinking: 'if you're creative then why do you want to be a business initiate?'
Well, I would answer 'a creative mind is essential in any field of work!'

Will write later! -Paisley
P.S I'm planning on going to the city hall  to see about switching to a Business Initiate!

Ironhollow 7

Inside Poppy's new room, Paisley hovered awkwardly near the door, unsure of whether or not to leave. Poppy did not show much emotion as she gazed around her new unfamiliar room.
Although the Porters would never come upon this information, Poppy's new room was far better than her previous livings, and although it was smaller than her sister's Victoria's, she was already warming to it.
Poppy turned to Paisley. "Thank you...Um, what would you like for me to call you?" she asked nervously.
For a moment, Paisley was caught off guard by her distinctive accent, but quickly recovered, smiling and saying, "Oh, feel free to call me Paisley."
     "Again, thank you. And...you can call me Poppy."

Ironhollow 6

The Castrillis stared at the Porters. 

The Porters stared back. Finally, Paisley broke the silence.  Gesturing to the younger sister, Paisley said, "Poppy, right? Here, I'll show you where to put your bags." She led Poppy down the hall to the two vacant rooms. 

Arden stared at her feet. Then, lifting her head resolutely, she suggested, "Um, I can show you where you'll be staying, uh, if you want." 

Victoria nodded silently. 

She led Victoria down the hall, in the direction their sisters had gone. 

Two doors stood side by side at the end of the hall, and judging by the sound of muffled conversation coming from the left door,  Arden opened the right door. 

She had not had a chance to look inside before, and she glanced around briefly before making way for Victoria to squeeze by, her suitcases knocking against her legs.

"I guess the only 'rules' are basic privacy. And, you know, staying out of each other's rooms and stuff..." 

Victoria nodded. "Thank you, Miss Porter." 

To Arden, her voice sounded as if from Norshire, the neighboring island to Amira. To us it would have sounded french.

"Oh, you can call me Arden." 

New Posts

Since I enjoy writing these posts, I've decided to start writing more of them, and on a few days of the week (not all of them), I'll post one in the morning and one in the evening.
The evening ones might be shorter than my usual morning ones, but I'll try to make them just as interesting!

Ironhollow 5

Arden was sitting on one of the plush patterned sofas, staring into the flickering fireplace when a sharp knock sounded at the door.
She opened the large french doors to see three people standing before her. One of them was a woman wearing the steel gray uniform of an Ironhollow official, and the others, two girls, one around Paisley's age, one around Arden's.
The official smiled falsely. "Hello, are you Arden Porter?" She said, in the tone most people reserve for small children and deaf people.
Arden rolled her eyes. "Yes. Why?"
The officer's cheery smile widened. "Well, you didn't think you'd get this gorgeous house all to your selves, now did you?" She laughed loudly, "This is Victoria and Poppy Castrilli. Your new housemates!"
Arden's jaw dropped.
Paisley wandered in from the kitchen. "So, whats going on?" She said, her mouth full and a sandwich in her hand.
Paisley's eyes flicked from her sister to the two girls and the official standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Um, I'll be in the den..." Paisley said, shuffling away.
"What do you mean 'new housemates'?" Arden demanded.
"Well, due to some overpopulation down in the Lower Levels and the Business Branch, we're squeezing some of the citizens into the larger houses, so that we can deal more efficiently with housing situations."
"But i-" Arden started to protest, but the official cut her off. "Miss Porter, you don't really have a say in the matter." The woman said, her fake smile widening to an absolute grin.
"Well, Miss Castrilli, your bags are on the porch. I'll leave you and your new housemates to assign rooms and 'ground rules'. Ta ta!"
She walked off the porch, climbing into an automobile, and drove off.
The Castrillis stared at her.
   Arden gulped. "I, uh... I guess you should come in."

Ironhollow 4

Paisley wandered around her large room.
Arden had already taken the liberty of setting up an easel and placing a pile of sketchbooks in the corner.
When Paisley had asked her about it, Arden had smiled cheerfully.
"Anything for the Artist in the family!"
It made Paisley grown silently. She was good, maybe even great, at Art, but she wasn't remotely interested in it.
She still remembered the day, six years ago, when the law had been passed in Westerdale that, to 'keep up the towns heritage', at least one person from every family must become an Artisan, regardless of previous career options.
It had been just over a year since their parents had disappeared, and Arden had no choice but to make her smart, business savvy little sister join the Initiate ranks of something she knew nothing about.

Ironhollow 3

Well, I've decided to follow Paisley's lead and start writing in a journal. 
I'm Arden, by the way. I'm seventeen, and- well, i guess that's not really important. Anyway, right now I'm sitting on the floor in my new room, in our house in the Artisans Branch. 
It is rather exciting, being in a new place with such new things to do and see, but unfortunately, i do not have the time for much frivolity and such, I have to concentrate on getting a job and making sure Paisley has suitable mentors. 
I would imagine being an Artisan is exciting and fun, i would guess, but whenever i even mention her future as an Artisan, Paisley seems to turn green. 
I'll never understand her, or why she takes such interest in my Business work. Perhaps she's trying to be a good sister or something...? 
Like I said, I'll never understand her, or at least not any time soon. 
Well, i guess I'll describe our new house- 
It's beautiful, with vaulted ceilings, shining wooden floors, four bedrooms, a luxurious kitchen, and a grand den, with a fireplace big enough to parallel park a carriage in. 
It's almost as amazing as the High Branch houses, and I do not know why they gave such a house to an unimportant teenager and her little sister. 
Maybe I'm reading to much into this; maybe everyone in Ironhollow has a house like this. Then again, casting my mind back to when we glimpsed the Lower Levels, i know that that can not be true. 

Ironhollow 2

Hi, Paisley here. Arden and I are currently on another train leading to the inner wall, where we'll finally be in Ironhollow! I am so excited, I've never been out of our home town before. 
My hometown, Westerdale, was small and relatively unknown. Most of the people there were Artisans, and it was law that at least one person of every family had to be an Artisan, so I didn't really have a say in the matter. 
Although now that we're in Ironhollow, where the laws are different, i might be able to switch to a Business Initiate, which is what i really want to do. 
Right now, Arden is extremely nervous. She's humming, and she hates humming, so she only does that when she's really agitated. 
I asked her what the matter was, but she's not interested in talking, she just keeps humming. 
I'm going to have to cut this short, since the train is starting to slow down.
Oh, i can see Ironhollow! It magnificent, with domed buildings, spires and airships floating in the sky. 
I just caught sight of the lower levels. Smoke rises from blackened chimneys, crowds choke the streets and i can hear the noise even from our elevated train tracks that lead to the Artisans Branch. 
Well, i have to put away my notebook now, but I'll write later, 
-Paisley Porter

Ironhollow 1

 

A train moved sluggishly along the tracks. Paisley Porter sat on the cracked leather seat beside her seventeen year old sister Arden Porter. The sisters were on their way to Ironhollow, the capital city of the country of Amira.
Their parents had disappeared when Paisley was seven. They had boarded a train. They never did get off.
Paisley and Arden were never told exactly what happened, although they could tell by the sympathetic look in the police officer's eyes that the explanation would not be a happy one.
Yawning, Paisley wiped at the foggy window, hoping to get a glimpse of Ironhollow. But all she saw was the rocky landscape of Amira. Tall mountains rose a few miles away, their towering peaks shrouded in wispy clouds. Ironhollow was huge city, nestled in a valley of equal size, surrounded by protective mountains.
Suddenly, the train squealed to a stop. Glancing out the window once again, Paisley saw the outer wall. It was thirty feet high and wrapped around Ironhollow in a full circle, although four miles from the city itself.
That is why it is called the outer wall.

The inner wall is forty feet high, and it took years and years to build. The country's most important people live in what is called the High Branch, the most successful and beautiful part of town. Then there is the Artisan Branch, for people who craft and work with their hands. Also is the Business Branch, the Military Branch, and the Construction Branch.

Unfortunately for the Construction Branch, they get the worst living conditions; houses in the slums. Usually they are people with prison records, bad bloodlines, etc.
Paisley contemplated these things as the conductor strolled through the aisles, checking papers and tickets.
After they were cleared, Arden led the way as the sisters struggled to push their way through the crowd, joining the line that led out of the train, down the short steps and up to a brick building.
Soon, after a few minutes of waiting, it was their turn. They entered the building and stood before a wooden desk on a dais.
 Behind the desk sat a woman with steel gray hair wound in a tight bun. She stared severely down at them.
"Names?" She demanded.
Arden swallowed nervously. Her hands shaking, she answered back .
"A-Arden and Paisley Porter."
"Impressive bloodline?" The woman asked.
As Arden answered the remaining questions , Paisley clenched her hands and desperately hoped not to be placed in the Construction Branch.
"Young girl," The woman addressed Paisley directly, "Were you an Initiate in your previous town?"
Paisley nodded. "Yes ma'am. Of the Fine Arts." she answered.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. That must have cost your parents a great deal."
Arden closed her eyes for a moment, memories flashing in her head. "I...I am afraid our parents died a few years ago. The city government has been housing us and paying for our education ever since. I myself was a Business Initiate, and we traveled here so I may receive my Career choices-"
The woman raised her hand. "I did not ask for your life story, Miss Porter." She said dismissively.
Arden blushed. "Y-yes, ma'am."
"I am placing you in the Artisan Branch.You will receive your entry papers at the door. Move along."
As they exited the room Paisley pumped her fist.
The sisters smiled at each other.
        "We're In!"

Welcome!

                   Welcome to Wordsmith...
        
 Wordsmith is a Story Blog, meaning i won't be blogging about my day or anything like that, but instead be posting small story entries. Whether or not I'm a good blogger, i don't know yet, but I love writing, so i figured I'd do this.
New entries will be posted everyday, I'm not sure on an exact time yet, or even if i will schedule one.
If i can not get in an entry every day, i will attempt to post two the following day.
 Note that i said attempt, meaning i may not be able to at some points.
By the way, a good blog to read is Author Me (also on Blog Spot), by a friend of mine.
   
Wordsmith's first Story Blog will follow the story line of fourteen year old Paisley Porter and her seventeen year old sister Arden Porter. They live in the country of Amira, and more specifically, it's capital city Ironhollow.
 The story will be presented by switching between third person narration and journal entries by the sisters.
   Hope You Enjoy Wordsmith!