In the mystery and detective fiction genre, who do you think is the greatest sleuth?
Also, who is your favorite detective in literature?
Shout out to Susan St. Pierre for her excellent response to last week’s prompt.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
(Written 4/16/21 – Hey Writer Bugs! It’s been a stressful week for me. So I decided to repost this old short story I wrote back in fiction writing class, in 2016. Don’t judge, every writer starts somewhere. Appreciate your early work, they’re a representation of how far you’ve come as a storyteller. Keep writing my friends! – Love, Lady Jabberwocky. )
The Tale of a Boy and a Mermaid
[Part One]
[Part Two]
“I have an important task for you, lad,”
The knight commander was intimidating, over six feet tall with a thick beard and a scar on his forehead. Behind him was the kingdom of Eros’ flag, a deep purple with the emblem of a griffon, wings spread proudly. “I’m sure you have heard of the recent number of casualties out at sea, correct?” Many ships coming into port were either facing horrible storms or being sunken by unknown forces. Some in the village believed it to be a mermaid’s doing. “Take this message to the water’s edge tomorrow morning. Their messenger should meet you half way”The message was a scroll in a glass bottle, sealed tightly with a cork. “Is this…A declaration of war, sir?”
“Just negotiations,” The commander replied shortly, placing a large hand on by shoulder. “This will be a test, to prove if you are worthy of becoming a true knight someday,” He shooed me away with a wave of his hand. “Now, go attend to your other duties”.
I bowed and took my leave, examining the glass bottle in my hands. My brown leather boots shuffled along the dirt path that led to the stables. There were three large stallions, the noble steeds of the warriors of Eros. I began to brush one of the horse’s smooth coat. The sound of metal feet stomping towards me broke me from my daze. Sir Roger entered the stable, removing his helm. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, most likely returning from sparring.
“Have you finished with my sword?” Sir Roger approached me, removing his gauntlet. I nodded quickly. “With haste, mouse” He said impatiently. I dropped the brush and went to retrieve the knight’s sword. Yesterday, the blade was splattered with blood after a day’s quest. Now it shined like a sunbeam. I returned with the sword tucked into it’s leather sheath a moment later. “What do you have here?” He asked, examining the scroll in the glass bottle next to my satchel.
“A message I must deliver,” I informed “Tomorrow morning, to Crescent bay”.
“Well then you’re as good as dead, little mouse,” He laughed. “Have you ever seen a Mermaid before?”
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
“Excuse me, kind sirs. Could I borrow a moment of your time?” A plump gnome woman approached a table with three half orcs clad in leather armor. Cradled in her arms were three cork-topped bottles, filled with burnt orange liquid. The opal ring on her finger winked at the weary adventurers. “I’m selling home brewed health potions.”
The group exchanged looks, grunting and crossing their arms. “100 gold for the whole lot.”
A sigh in surrender as she glanced over her shoulder. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything but… See that fellow over there?” Stationed at the lonely table near the tavern door was a figure wearing a dark cloak and a crow like mask. He appeared to be entranced by the lute playing bard across the room.
The trio of warriors leaned closer, now intrigued. Her tragic tale of woe began. “Would you believe it? A bolt of lightening set his house on fire. Left his home a pile of ash.” After setting all three vials on the table, she dabbed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. ” Left his face severely burned and hideous scarred. 100 gold per bottle would greatly help him get back on his feet.” Coins clattered onto the table.
….
Hooking her arm in the crook of his elbow, the two strolled into a secluded alleyway, embracing the shadows. “Severely burned and hideously scarred,” He mocked while he counted the coins in the pouch. “You really laid it on thick this time, Poet. Those poor fools.” His cape enveloped her, eyes faintly glowing silver behind glass windows. Autumn leaves skittered across cobblestone streets.
For a brief moment, the opal ring shimmered. Her entire body transformed. A sly grin spread across burgundy lips as she snickered like a conniving witch. Lavender painted her skin. On both sides of her head, ram horns curled. No longer a mere gnome, but a roughish Tiefling.
“The world is built on poor fools.” Poet kissed the beak of his mask, her devilish tail swishing like a pendulum. “Come along, Endymion. We need to make a new batch of Poppy flower tea.” With her masked companion trailing behind, the charlatan disappeared into the night.
“On to the next town.”
————————————————————-
Since our DnD is suspended until further notice, I’m reposting this short story I wrote during quarantine. Inspired by the game and characters my boyfriend and I plan to play, someday after the pandemic.
Stay safe and stay healthy out there, everyone.
Lady Jabberwocky
This is BEN-G567. Robot of Earth.
1,340.50 miles to target.
Total duration of flight since launch: 199 days, 20 hours 36 minutes. 24 seconds. 25 seconds.
986.72 miles to target. Energy levels sufficient.
Probability of successful landing: 95%.
Incoming unknown mass. Brace for impact. Impact. Emergency. Emergency.
Plutonium power source damaged. Leak detected. Wheels down.
This is BEN-G567. I am lost.
Navigation damaged. Current distance from target: Unknown.
Propulsion engage. Engine failing. Repeat. Engine failing.
Entering planet atmosphere. 100 miles to target.
Probability of successful landing: Less than 5%. Landing preparation sequence activated.
This is BEN-G567. BEN-G567 programmed to endeavor and discover. Spare jets engaged. Accelerate.
Lost. Lost connection. Lost.
On our first date, we found a fountain in the middle of New York City.
How lucky we were.
Tossed our coins in, made wishes. I wished for happiness.
Something even more wonderful happened.
We two individuals became us. Together.
Partners. Outliers. Player One and Player Two.
That was almost ten years ago.
We have shared laughter and tears and smiles.
Forged adventures in the mundane.
Made love in thunderstorms.
A comfortable kind of affection, like soft clouds to land on.
All from two characters in a story crossing paths at the right place, right time.
How lucky we are.
With Valentine’s day coming up, I wanted to write about love. Call me a hopeless romantic, or a sap, either one. Inspired by my wonderful boyfriend, Michael and our relationship. He has know idea I’m doing this (Surprise honey!). We will be spending the weekend ordering takeout and having a movie night at home. Sounds perfect to me.
How are you spending Valentine’s Day? Lemme know in the comments. I’m genuinely curious, what with a pandemic and all.
Stay safe and keep writing!
Love, Lady Jabberwocky
Sometime after the pandemic….
“Hey, look what I found.” She pulls out a crumpled mask from the bottom on her purse. “Remember those days?”
“How could I forget?” She cringes, inspecting her face in the mirror. “The mask acne.”
“The struggle to find toilet paper?”
“The orange president?” They laugh together.
“And all that hand sanitizer.”
She gasps. “So much hand sanitizer.”
“I’m still trying to lose that quarantine fifteen. During lockdown, I ate nothing but cereal and pizza pockets.”
“Those were crazy times, huh?”
“Crazy doesn’t cut it.”
“But we got through.”
Linking arms, they return to a crowded party.
Is this a great short story? Probably not. But it is a reminder, that eventually, this pandemic will end. And when we get through these crazy times, who knows, maybe we’ll laugh about it someday.
For now, stay safe. Wear a mask. Social distance. Take care about one another.
Keep writing, writer bees!
— Lady Jabberwocky
“I love wintertime, Mama.”
“Do you?”
“Uh-huh. I like how the snow sparkles.”
Curled up in their den, the mother watched her child and the snowfall. A forest of evergreen trees coated with a thick layer of shimmering white. The little one skirted the entrance of the cave, sticking his forked tongue out to catch snowflakes. Icicles hung like jagged teeth above them.
“Can I catch one someday?” Claws reached for the sky. Snowflakes instantly sizzled, melting against red scales. “And keep it until the springtime comes?”
The dragon mother smiled at her youngling, “Of course you can, dear heart.”
I’m currently buried under a pile of snow, thanks to the nor’easter that just hit New York. This story was inspired by that blizzard and from watching the snowflakes from my window.
Happy holidays everyone! Stay safe and keep writing!
— Lady Jabberwocky
Invent a holiday. What are people celebrating? What are the traditions of the holiday? Think outside the box with this one.
There were so many great responses to last week’s prompt, I can’t pick just one entry. So shoutout to aphrahope, Priscilla Bettis, melissamyounger and Josie Cole.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
Share your favorite line/scene/excerpt you’ve written during this year’s National Novel Writing Month. And if you don’t want to share your work, that’s fine. Talk about your favorite part of NaNoWriMo.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
The main character of your NaNoWriMo project stumbles across a secret passageway. Where is the entrance and where does it lead?
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
