Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
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TITLE: Dead in the Nick of Time | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lyn Churchyard
02/19/08 -
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He’d complained, diplomatically of course, to her Grandfather, Aldwin, Duke of Berwick, but the Duke simply laughed. “Caedemon my dear chap, she only does it because she’s fond of you.” Caedemon knew differently and there existed between them, a love-hate relationship; she loved to goad him and he hated it.
Daif, the stable boy stopped in mid stride. “Storm be comin’,” he said sniffing the air, “Bad ‘un too.”
“How can you tell?” Jess asked dropping from the roof to land softly beside him.
Daif pointed towards the horizon where thick black clouds took on an evil green color even as they approached.
They turned at the sound of a horseman galloping into the compound.
“Daif, go home to your mother. Jess, get inside.” It was Luc, Jess’s tutor and Knight Protector.
Daif needed no second invitation and took off like a frightened rabbit.
“But Luc...”
The knight reached down and swatted Jess’s behind. “I said now Jessamine”
She fled towards the castle.
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Edward Calderman looked at the pulsating dome and smiled.
It was going to work!
He tucked the gun into the inside pocket of his jacket, opened the door of the dome and stepped inside. Mist filled the interior of the dome as he operated the control panel, there was a bright flash and Calderman was gone.
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Luc’s spurs jangled against the stone floor as he entered the great hall. “There is danger approaching.” He said as he threw his cloak unceremoniously on the table.
“It’s just a storm.”
“No Caedemon, it is not just a storm. I had a vision last night; the storm brings...” he spun around to face the doorway as lightning flashed around the archway.
Luc reached for his sword and gasped in pain as it dropped from his fingers and clattered noisily onto the floor. His arm felt as if it were burning with the very fires of hell, and he stared in surprise at the blood seeping through his shirt sleeve.
“What manner of devilry is this?” demanded the Duke rising from his seat in anger.
“Sit down old man and shut up”
Chancellor Caedemon stared at the stranger in disbelief – it was like looking himself. The stranger was ten years younger yes, but the likeness...
“Who are you?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
“He is your kin Caedemon, from a time not yet.” said Luc through gritted teeth.
Edward Calderman bowed slightly to Luc. “Good good.”
Jess suddenly appeared in the doorway, her eyes widening in fear as she saw Luc’s blood soaked shirt. “Luc!” she cried and ran towards him.
The stranger’s hand whipped out and caught her by the hair. “Well, well, what have we here?” he asked, pulling Jess closer and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“Leave her!”
“You,” the stranger said, ignoring Luc and waving his gun at the Chancellor. “Give me the map of the castle; the real one.”
Caedemon hesitated for a moment then said: “It is in the library.”
He moved towards the door and as he passed Calderman, he grabbed Jess out of his grip and threw her in Luc’s direction.
Calderman slammed the Chancellor into the wall, “The map; NOW!”
“The map is not here, I sent it to Furness Abbey a year ago.”
“Then you’re no further use to me.” Calderman aimed his gun at the Chancellor.
“You would kill your kin, because you are thwarted – that would be unwise.”
Calderman laughed as Luc continued. “God’s vengeance will be swift.”
A shot rang out and the Chancellor slumped to the floor, the light fading from his eyes as death sought and found him.
“You have killed yourself.” Luc said dispassionately as Calderman began to tremble violently. The gun fell through his fingers which were now no more than shadows.
“What’s happening?” His screams echoed around the room, trailing off as he continued to fade and then was gone.
Jess buried her head in Luc’s shoulder and sobbed. He held her close “Shhh, it’s all right child.”
The Duke of Berwick knelt by the Chancellor and gently closed his eyes. “Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.”
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Footnote:
Psalm 144:4 NIV
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Great writing.
I'd like to see more of these characters in an extended story. :)
What a story!! Even though it seems this is a Much larger story, you managed to encapsulate enough of it to make us understand what was going on and nail the topic on the head. Great job. And I Loooove how the title fits in so beautifully!!