The Tribunal
by Donna L Martin
Jake drew in a ragged breath and looked around the almost empty room with his one good eye. "Softening him up", they had called it when the blows began. After an hour long inquisition, it was getting harder to remain alert. Jake felt his mind drifting as he glanced at the cloaked tribunal sitting on the dais in front of him. A disembodied voice floated across the room to where he sat handcuffed to the chair.
"How do you plead?"
How did he plead? Why, not guilty of course. How could they think he was capable of breaking into the sacred tower and stealing the Book of Secrets? Any fool attempting such a thing risked certain death by the very people he now faced. Only the elders of Mardoon were allowed to read from the sacred book and now it had disappeared. The only thing he was guilty of was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jake ran his tongue around cracked lips and tasted the saltiness of dried blood as he tried to work up enough saliva to speak.
"Not guilty, your Holiness."
He almost didn't recognize his own voice. Once again words seem to come from out of nowhere to echo throughout the room.
"You have been tried and found guilty by this tribunal of high treason. In one day's time you will be taken deep inside the forest. There the beast will determine your fate."
Jake tried one last time to escape the handcuffs but sharp pain searing through his left arm quickly reminded him it was probably broken. What chance did he have against the beast? Unless a miracle happened before tomorrow, there would only be one outcome in Jake's future...
***Okay, it's your turn! What happens next? Who stole the Book of Secrets? Will someone or something save Jake from the beast? Put your creative cap on and add a sentence or add a paragraph. Continue my story or start one of your own. Join the fun and see where this picture prompt takes us!***
Jake woke to find himself tied to a large oak tree. The forest was dark, but a full moon filtered through the gnarled leafless branches and cast frightening shadows! He'd barely had time to consider escape when a loud crashing sound came from directly in front of him. The beast was about to make its presence known. Jake drew his knees up, closed his eyes, and prayed as the monster drew closer.
ReplyDeleteOnly ten feet away the monster stopped and Jake opened his eyes to a bright shimmering green light that seemed to float beside the dark shadow of the beast. Jake squinted trying to get a clearer picture when the green light moved closer and the beast settled into place.
"You are an innocent harshly treated. Stand." The soft voice of a woman commanded.
In an instant his bonds were gone, his injuries healed, and he was able to get to his feet. He stood before the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She was green, her skin, her hair, her eyes, even her gown, and she was royalty, he had no doubt.
"My lady," he said and bowed before her.
This could be so much better, but I couldn't let another Friday go by without participating.
Hi Yolanda! ANY effort is a good one and I like what you did with the story. I'm so glad you chose to join the fun! Now don't stop...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
~Continuing from Ms. Renee's entry~
ReplyDeleteThe Queen of the Nymphs signaled Jake to stand up. "I can give you the power to have the strength of a legion of men, or the power to never be harmed physically, no poison can kill you, no wound is mortal, major, or minor. You become immortal. Which do you choose? May I add, you get an enchanted dagger with the former, and an enchanted sword with the latter. I say again: Which do you choose?"
Jake stood up. He thought. He wondered. He considered. He chose.
"To be immortal, my lady."
"As I thought you would. You chose fine. The sword is made from Wood-Iron, the heart of Ironwood trees, the blade of the nymphs. Wood-Iron can cut through anything natural, like stone, wood, and flesh, as easily as you can slice white bread. But keep in mind, Wood-Iron is not almighty - everyone and thing has a weakness. Wood-Iron cannot cut through man-made objects, like things of metal. The blade's name is Alluicious. Take care of it."
And then the Queen of the Nymphs handed Jake Alluicious and faded.
***
What'd you think? :)
Awesome, I think you've done a wonderful job! Thank you for considering my piece to write yours! Great fun, and could be an awesome story!
DeleteThanks! This was fun! :D
DeleteHI Erik! Why do I get the idea YOU like writing fantasy? Lol...great job!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Wow! that was brilliant Erik. I liked that you continued the theme from Yolanda's. Wish I had been here earlier, to post my appreciation. I am in awe of those who can write fantasy. Again, a great story.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! That was what I envisioned when I started my Flash Fiction Fridays...kind of like that childhood game where someone whispers something in one child's ear and then it's passed along the circle until the last child repeats what they heard...and it's not usually what was first said...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!