Flash Fiction Friday (15 A)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

As I could not decide which story to continue with this week and asking for help from the few readers who play along with me here left me still in a tie, I did two this week.  Do you you enjoy.  Stop back for the 15 B.

The Image This Week:

This story follows the Bloody Queen from two previous Flash Fictions:

A Fathers Daughter ~ part 1, Part 2

By: Melissa

We ride as fast as we can toward the aged castle of my fathers, now my deranged sisters home. My three secret guard and myself, off to the hidden entrance and then my sister.

Suddenly there is a buzzing in the air and instantly one of my guard falls off his horse to the ground. I turn my head fast enough only to catch a glimpse of something long sticking from his neck in front of him. An arrow. I duck closer to my horses neck, gripping his dark mane in my hands with the reins.

I should have known she’d have her rowdy band of misfits waiting for us. She knew of this secret entrance too, from years ago we use to use it to sneak off and play in the woods and meet peasant children pretending we weren’t the dangerous kings daughters. But that was a life time ago, we’re different now.

As we barrel closer to the edge of the wooded line we see them standing there waiting for us. Their hawk caws to his master, announcing our nearing. The bowman raises his longbow again for a killing blow from distance. The man who bothers me, not the scar faced one hidden in his cloak with the large glowing sword. The one with the staff. He looks to calm. Waiting.

The next arrow bounces off the guards armor beside me. We have to get through here quick and unscathed to do what we planned - to get to my evil little sister. The unsettling men fan out. The bowman who was in front now falls back, then rushes forward to the broad man with the staffs side with a sword in his hand now. The cloaked man stands guard on the mans right. Their swords are brought to the ready in front of them, planning to cut us down as we gallop through.

My horse stumbles as does my guards horse to my right. Damn. Trip rope. I jump from my horse as practiced as a child, but the guard in all his armor’s not quick enough and gets pinned under the horse. The last man of my guard still on horse jumps the rope and rears his horse up at the bowman with the tall horse kicking its hard hooves at the bowman. The bowman brings his sword up cutting through the brave horses chest. But in doing so leaves himself open for the horse to kick out at his head, down he goes with a dull thud and his holler is cut short.

The cloaked man starts towards me as I hear his partner go silent. I stagger to my feet after the world was just spinning and try to catch my balance. But there is no moment to wait. The man comes at me with his cloak flying behind him and as I drop my stance leaning forward to withstand some of the blow of his charge an armored man comes from the side. The guard I had thought down and trapped under his horse was up and to my rescue. They are rolling on the ground where the large swords will not be useful. This is a fight of who will come up with the dagger first. They grab at each others arms trying to pin the other and loosening a hand to grab for the knives they have hidden on them.

I turn my eyes to the man still standing with the staff, now warding off my guard man with ease and boredom etched on his face. Down the guard goes with a whoosh of air that looked like a water ripple. And my guard lays still as ice on the ground.

Then I realize the scrapping to my side has stopped and the cloaked man rises, tapping his booted toe on a rock as he walks. I see a glint of silver as it disappears back inside the toe of his boot. Sly, these men.

They walk closer to me, I step back not wanting to be caught. But where is there for me to go. No horse, no guard. Two men coming at me, one a magician the other a master thief no doubt with knives stowed all over his body.

The magician says, “Loy, don’t harm her. We need her. I think time is starting to catch up with her.”

Loy asks in a rough voice sounding as scarred as his face, “What to do then?”

I turn to the Magician and see the glow at the top of his staff. Not able to pull my eyes away I hear him say, “Queen Isabella, relax. Sleep. All is well and safe.” as my body goes limp and sags to the ground.