The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
The Sentinel
What is your business here?
Despite the quiet menace in the voice, I am, in truth, relieved to hear him eventually speak, being unsure if he were indeed flesh and blood or carved from the dark wood of the twisted trees or even hewn from the grey rock of this wretched land.
Just passing through, I tell him. Headed for Garngad, eastern settlement of the Glescayins.
Another long silence follows, during which he remains utterly still.
You may pass. The woman stays.
I bristle, my impatience replaced by anger.
I think not. We arrived together, we leave together.
More silence.
You may pass. The woman stays.
Do not mess with me, I snarl, I am on an urgent mission. We must go on together.
Again he takes an eternity to respond, then points a long arm to the east.
Then you must go round the Kamze Mountains, and not through.
Pah!
I urge my horse forward with my knees, but it tosses its head, legs rigid.
What magic is this? I cry. Lift your evil spell before I draw my sword on you!
He says nothing, so I dismount in fury.
I stand before him, my blade inches from his throat.
And now, at last, he raises his head, and I see ancient eyes of clear blue ice.
I stumble backwards, reaching for the horse’s head.
I am afraid as never before.
Trembling with humiliation, I lead off towards the east.
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Like the others, I found the tone palpable, the menace immediate.
I also admire the tone/style/era-voice (not sure the technical term).. a sense of the epic (as in poem)… like the middle verses in Led Zeppelin’s ‘Ramble On’
Thanks, Clark, I think you caught everything I was trying to convey.
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you know a song called ‘Ramble on’…
Intense! An epic tale expressed in so few words. Skillfully done!
Thanks, Susan, much appreciated.
You ought to have learned by now. Women only bring you trouble. Wise to just move on.
I learned that long ago, dear Lady, but I guess I just prefer trouble to boredom!
Edge of the seat stuff. A terrific tale that gave me the shivers!
Very kind, Keith, now get out of that draft!
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Skillfully imagined and delivered, CE.
Thanks, Doug, glad it worked for you
Chilling tale: there’s the easy road thru and alone, or a longer one, more exposed if you want to stay paired.
As the ancient Gods and Mick decree, you can’t always get what you want…
And perhaps, Liz, the woman is the reason for the journey, so his choice is just fight or flee.
I thought Mick and Keef were the ancient gods…
I”ll take your word for it! 🙂 Author’s prerogative.
A story that radiates the haunting mystery of the ages.
No extra words to stall the build up of tension.
It left me shivering.
PS I did like the place names!
Thanks, Jenne, I did try to make it timeless.
Shivering is good, and the place names are, of course, an in-joke for folk from our beautiful homeland.
Giddy-up!
Chilling to the core, that little spot on my small of my back is tingling.
It’s a good thing it’s morning here; were it night, I’d climb back under the covers and hide from that thing.
You have the knack, C.E.!
Jings, Nancy, I like chilling and tingling!
If only…
😉