Day 19 of my FB Advent Calendar, now onto the final week! 19 This time is full of Christmas Wishes About what is lodged in Santas sack? Mrs Santa will launch him with gentle kisses To deliver gifts to each Jill and Jack. 19 Hungry Herd (Story so far: the band of five animals escaping the Farm, have sheltered in a field of cabbages until midnight, making their way down a country lane, to cross a fearsome dual carriageway to a nature reserve beyond.) The merry herd moved on down the cabbage field intending to get across the main road before dawn exposed them to view. It was a cold and frosty middle of the night, the gate from the field coated in hard icy frost. As Tarquin lifted the heavy metal latch, he had visions of his beak sticking to it and being stuck fast, an object of ridicule to be discovered in the morning and processed for someones dinner. He shuddered at the thought, which only made his stomach rumble as it groaned to be fed. It seemed incredible, just three days ago he was an intensively-fed turkey, with an unlimited supply of tasty pellets to eat whenever he felt like it, plus refreshing cool water on tap. Now he was sipping ice-cold gritty liquid from muddy puddles after breaking the icy crust with his beak. He had sampled lamb and pig pellets, a long time ago it seemed, neither of which agreed with him, and was forced to eat salads, which he hated. However, although the single Brussels sprout he munched for breakfast, in imitation of Tinas dainty dining, was marginally less revolting than most leaves, it did little to fill him up. Around the houses, and down an alley they went, before entering the lane where they found a dusting of snow on the ground, but the roadway was quiet, for now devoid of terrifying traffic. Lola skipped ahead of the tiny herd, bleating a song of her own fashion, upbeat, chipper, lifting the spirits of the band. Kelly behind, still wary, glancing behind, scared of the loud vehicles that usually go by so fast. Tina encouraged her to press her gangly legs onward despite the slippery pavement under hoof. Paul ambled on, his heavy body wobbling on stout legs, breathing heavy with effort, wanting to sit down every few steps, and losing interest in sniffing at every post. Tina glances at Tarquin, worried about him, normally so idiotically buoyant, he was silent, sullen. Hey, Tarq, she called softly, whered you disappear to last night? When I stirred youd gone. I followed an owl, hoping to find some food he knew about but the barn was locked. Saw that cat again though, the Carpenters Cat. He stopped a dog from eating me. Oh, Tarq, are you alright? Yeah, he replied, no damage, except Ive never been so frightened before in my sheltered life. I felt, well, a bit useless, really. Hey, mate, Paul pipped up, we wouldnt have got this far without you. Youre the best gate-opener I know! Well get through, you see. Yes, Tina agreed, without you being brave and resourceful, I would still be in the clutches of that horrible Farmers Wife. Who knows, I might have been plucked and stuffed by now. That doesnt bear thinking about, Teen. No, but I think it every time I feel low and need to force myself to make it to the next part of our journey. And it looks like were almost at the road. Ahead they could see the main road but even in the dark the traffic was already heavy, with lights flashing by every few seconds, going faster than a hawk. Within a couple of minutes they were right up to the highway, at the end of the lane, crouching behind a high garden hedge. Tina did a quick scout around and reported back. There are two rows on each side of a wide grass strip in the middle. There is a low fence either side of the grass, Lola and Paul will go under and well try and hop over. There are gaps in the railings on both sides, so we must aim for these gaps or well be trapped and run over. But the two rows on this side all go right to left, consistently, so we should make it to the grass in the middle - That grass looks yummy, Kelly murmured, Im ready for my breakfast about now. I cant see! Little Lola jumped up and down, but the level of the road kerbs was too high for her to see across. Itll be too dangerous to stop there, Kelly, soothed Tina, wed only need to wait for a gap in the other rows, this time they are running from leftover to right. If we dont remember that, well, well just have to stick together and remember. Wait, Tarquin said, when I spoke to the owl earlier, he mentioned a safe way to cross the road. Further up the road to our left there is a ramp leading down to a pathway that passes under the road. It comes out next to the nature reserve. A pass under, that would be perfect, Lola said. Underpass, thats what Oliver called it. Wed be safe going that way. He said lots of the smaller animals like mice use it and feel so secure at the other end that he snaps them up for breakfast. How big is that owl? Lola was concerned. Only big enough to catch mice, Lola. Tarquin assured her. We better hurry, the dawns coming. Paul noted. They all looked to the eastern sky, visibly with lines of orange highlighting the bases of the clouds. Come on, Lola, to your left and keep moving, said Tarquin, suddenly energised, lets get under that road to the other side and try and find something for breakfast! To be continued. 19 THE CHOCOLATE ROSE (Story so far: Prince Arrik leads the uprising against his uncles Regency. Having laid siege to the Palace, Arrik needs to rescue Elvira from imprisonment in the tower and his cousin Thad in the infirmary.) Arrik started to climb, using a sloping buttress to begin with. At the top of the buttress, the tower was near vertical. He found plenty of handholds in the masonry, though. About halfway up the tower, some of the stone used was poorer quality than the lower blocks and the surface crumbled away in his hand and he almost fell. He steadied himself, as his foothold from his soft leather boots remained secure. It was almost completely dark by then. He didnt want to look down as the torch lights from the castle besiegers would affect his night vision. He moved right until he felt more solid stone under his fingertips, at a place where there was more shelter from the prevailing weather. There was some lichen growing here too, where sheltered from sun and wind. He grinned, climbing the mountains back home, he was used to moss and lichen on the stone and his confidence grew once more and he continued his climb upward steadily and surely. He was unarmed except for a small knife, his trusty sling and a pouch full of selected pebbles, and a heart as big as a mountain. Eventually Arrik reached the window sill. He peered in. He saw Elvira lying on a palliase. Her eyes were closed, so he thought at first she was asleep. As he squeezed through the narrow unglazed window, she started, instantly alert. Arrik? How? Shh, El. I am here to rescue you. The door is locked and double bolted on the other side, there is no way out through there. He would have to change his plans, there was no way he could bring a force of men up here, they would be trapped. Fine, Ive brought rope enough to carry you down from here. One of her wrists was tethered to the bed post by a leather thong, which he cut. She struck a flint and lit a candle, to amplify the light from the dying embers in the fireplace. I must get to Thad, she insisted, I am worried for him. His wound opened up again during the journey and he may not survive his being moved for long, without me to care for him. Of course she needed to go to his cousin. Arrik realised that this beautiful maiden, who had made such an impression on him, now had her heart set on the better man. Thad was not only Arriks best friend, he was taller, much more handsome with his dark hair and stronger build. A bookworm prince was no match for a dashing knight, especially one so gravely injured in brave and righteous battle. Arrik could not hold any grudge against his dear cousin, who had as recently as earlier today declared he was prepared to die for his Prince, in defiance of his powerful father. Arrik would never deny the happiness of the two people he loved most, he just couldnt. He is in the infirmary next to the kitchen. Arrik said. The cooks fleeing the palace said as much, and confirmed that Thads lifes in grave danger. Elvira looked out of the window, and gasped, seeing the rope trailing all the way down to the ground. I cant believe that you climbed all the way up here on your own. Well, I had to rescue you, he grinned, and in turn I needed you to save poor Thad. The kitchen is down there, round to our right. The infirmary is the extension on the end of the cookhouse. Can you get us down there from here? No problem, Ill cut off a piece of this lighter rope and tie us together round our waists. Youll have to put your arms around my neck and hold on tight, although if you do slip, the rope should hold you safe. He cut off the rope a length equivalent to a span of his arms, which he draped over his shoulders for a moment. He tied the end of the long rope to Elviras solid wooden cot, which was bracketed to the wall. He tested it for strength, it didnt move under his weight. Then he pulled Elvira to him, looped and tied the spare rope around them. She was almost as tall as he was. She raised her arms and held them around his neck. They were so close that Arrik could taste her sweet breath on his tongue. Arrik had to force himself to breathe normally. You know what they are saying, Rik, she looked into his eyes, they want to burn me in the morning ... as a witch. I know, El, I heard on my way here and I couldnt bear to let that happen. I think it is true, though, my mother was a witch. She was killed by the Count when he first took over the kingdom. He murdered all the witches, he was proud to declare as much to me earlier as we came here. I was only a child at the time. She continued in a whisper, You know that the people believe that he murdered your father, too, it being no accident. He separated you and the Queen. He wants to rule the kingdom and he will kill you if you get in his way. Not if I kill him first, El. Arrik grinned defiantly, Reading between the lines, El, I think my uncle killed his wife and child first, to leave himself free to marry my mother once hed murdered my father. He has a lot to answer for. First we must save poor Thads life. Aye, well go to him now. To be continued. **** Look out tomorrow for day 20 of my FB Advent Calendar — its getting so close!!! ****
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 04:48:33 +0000
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