As the Stingers advanced, brandishing their spray cans, the living carpet of brightly-coloured insects stirred and started to hiss; realising their potential plight, Lobelia whipped out her wand and fluttered skywards, circling over the blue-clad troops, and showering them with sticky streams of gossamer which rapidly transformed them into papery cocoons; the more they struggled, the tighter their bonds became.
Satisfied the opposition had been neutralized, Lobelia descended gracefully to the ground and nodded to Bethany; the insects fell silent, turning to face the palace doors where the Owl-King stood, seemingly transfixed, while Mr Eyre let out an audible sigh of relief.
Adjusting her hairband so that her golden curls flowed more fully around her face, Bethany let her feet guide her to the palace threshold, all the time reminding herself of what she’d been told by her new friends at the welcome feast. She halted before the Owl-King and tilted her head back to look up at him.
Fixing him with a big, blue-eyed stare, she stood on tip-toes and beckoned to him; bending awkwardly, the Owl-King stooped down and listened as she whispered to him. Moments later they entered the palace together, the doors swinging shut behind them.
Written in response to two challenges:
Di of Pensitivity 101’s Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: HEAD, PAPER, BAND
Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: GUIDE
Bryony, Bethany and Mr Eyre first appeared in my historical fantasy fiction novel, Following the Green Rabbit. They’ve been begging to go on another adventure and now they’ve got their wish!
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing, Michael! 😊
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😊Always with a great pleasure, Chris! 🙂 xx Michael
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Now these are intriguing developments.
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Bethany’s a brave one
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She is! And you’re a great story teller.
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Aww, Sadje, you’re very kind. 😊 Thank you!
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You’re welcome my dear friend
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I’m beginning to believe!
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👍🏼
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The plot thickens again! 🙂
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Too right!
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I love your style of writing! Looks like I should catch up on the earlier part(s).
But just from this, I get the gist and it’s going BEAUUTIFULLY
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Thanks so much, Sam!
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Ah…………………… looking forward to next week!
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Me too, Di! 😊 I wonder where the prompt words will lead…? 🤔
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I’m working on next week’s 3TC!!!
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Sending synchronistic vibes…🤔🤨😄
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ooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh
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oopsie… found that one in my spam!
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No problems!!!
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Hmm, did Bethany charm or threaten the Owl-King? I’m leaning toward charm.
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Who could resist the golden-haired child?
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That’s what I suspected. 🙂
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Hmm, does this mean they made friends with the Owl-King? Maybe he will turn out to be like the abominable snowman in the Rudolph Christmas special we used to watch here as kids…🤔☃️⛄️
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Could be… 😉
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Ooo, very interesting. I love the imagery of the living carpet and the cocoons. Excellent chapter, Chris!
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It must be a splendid sight! Thanks, Susan 🙂
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It is indeed! Looking forward to the next one–no pressure.
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Ha ha, no problem!
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Ohhh, I think we’re about to reach a compromise. 😁
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Could be, Deb!
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Your beautiful imagery leading us towards a resolution perhaps? You keep me in suspense by not revealing what Bethany said to the Owl King. Nice.
My mind flew away on a tangent, wondering if the stingers would blossom out of their cocoons into heroes!
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We’re certainly moving in the right direction, Jenne. That’s an interesting thought about the cocoons, especially since they were created from faery gossamer. 🤔
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I’d love to know what she whispered to him – I guess I’ll just have to wait!
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‘fraid so, Keith!
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The depth and breadth of your imagination always amazes me.
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Thank you, Reena! That’s a lovely compliment. 😊
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I like your description of Lobelia disarming the Stingers. It seems there will be some secret negotiation between the Owl-King and Bethany. Looking forward to the next part.
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Thanks, Frank, it’s always handy to gave a faery on your side!
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Nice
Such a seamless ramp up of the tension at the end.
As to imagery… “…the living carpet of brightly-coloured insects stirred and started to hiss;”
(Two words: Ewww!)
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Thanks very much, Clark. 🙂
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Perhaps peace, a truce, a good future for the citizenry — waiting for next week!
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Definitely steps in a positive direction. Thanks, Mimi!
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I had the same reaction as Clark to “… living carpet of brightly-coloured insects..” lol
Wonderful imagery, Chris. What a tease of an ending! Looks promising 🙂
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Thanks, Denise, I’m sensing a positive outcome.
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Tumbling along behind you…am enjoying this journey so much!
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I’m so pleased to hear that, Liz!
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Wow. First she neutralizes the insects, then tames the Owl King. What did she say to him?? Clever to have not told, to leave us wondering.
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I’m wondering a bit, too. I can see them speaking, but I can’t quite hear them yet!
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There’s always next prompt.
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😁👍
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Nice post
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Thank you!
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That was quick action by Lobelia, Chris. It seems as if Bethany and the Owl King might just sort this out.
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Oh to have a faery on your side!
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Brilliant images I had of the
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(continued, oops, heavy hands today)… insects hissing, and the stingers being neutralised and made immobile like that. Jenne’s thoughts that they might emerge as heroes is tantalising!
I wonder what she whispered to the Owl-King… a trick, a charm, a dare, a game of chess lol, or… a remarkable secret that even the Owl-King could not resist!! Excellent cliff-hanger, Chris!
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Thanks, Ford. I like Jenne’s idea too. I think we’re going to have to eavesdrop on Bethany and the Owl-King next time to find out that secret!
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[…] Previously […]
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