Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week’s word prompt is grassy. My snippet is from a medieval romance featuring a knight and a lady caught in times of turmoil and war. I’m excited to work in my favorite reading genre. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.
Alis steepled her fingers against her lips and forced herself to consider. Had she included all articles of necessity in her hurried packing? Had she forgotten anything of import? She ran through items in her mind. Coin. Valuables. Food. Provisions would have to await word from her father, since he forbade their leaving the room. She nibbled at her lip. Unless she slipped stealthily down to the kitchen and handled the matter. Just then a vital thought creased her mind. Her hand automatically skimmed her gown where the jeweled dagger remained secured. Hailing from the north lands, her mother had been brought up to defend herself when needed and passed along a similar temperament to Alis at an early age. Two additional blades were in her keeping, including one her father had attained on crusade. Despite fearful glances from Agnes, she tucked the smallest into the bag she would keep near her and the other into one the rucksacks. From the foot of the bed she lugged forward a third bag. “Now your belongings, Agnes, and quickly.”
Agnes followed the direction of her mistress, while bringing up a topic obviously preying on her mind. “I fathom not your father’s message about a secret word.”
“Tis not common knowledge, Agnes, and must be kept between us. Understand?”
“Aye, Milady.”
“It follows suit with one of our diversions, not knights and rooks, but another where the prince or princess—depending whether male or female is the one marked—must hide…”
Agnes’ face lit up. “Oh, I well know the game. The other person must hunt and find the princess and deliver some manner of royal decree lest an evil doom descend upon the players. It is an enjoyable pastime out of doors in midsummer.”
“Even so. My father and I enhanced the rules with a secret word as a deepening of the intrigue. Over time, certain words came to mean certain things, and only the two of us would know or be able to alter the current word in use.” She brushed a palm over her cheek. “Now I believe he places a layer of caution upon his plan to see us safely delivered unto my uncle.”
Concern still evident in the furrowed brow, Agnes nodded her understanding and continued packing.
Alis moved to the narrow window. Men bustled around the keep, checking their stations and making preparations. Far out in the distance the silver stream where she had spent many a childhood afternoon glinted in the sun. No children swam today. None played in the dirt around the keep. No hounds kicked up moles from the grassy sedge. Today the outer world seemed a foreign place.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt grassy. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2019 Flossie Benton Rogers
Loved this snippet!
Thank you, Vicki!
Love the idea of a secret word. And I can feel her apprehension at leaving, yet her focus on preparation. You’re building the tension nicely. I’m looking forward to tollowing along on their journey.
I’m glad you can feel the tension. Thanks so much, Jean.
An intriguing snippet! Love the descriptions!
Thanks, Cathy!