Friday, September 21, 2012

Hirelings

Write On Edge: Red-Writing-HoodThis week we asked you to use the words “candlestick”, “scarlet”, and “library”, inspired by one of my favorite movies (and games) Clue: The Movie.




The three boys stood in the center of the room. They supposed it could have been called a library once. There were books, though so heavy in dust they could barely make out the edges, much less the titles. Tattered wall hangings were mostly hidden by ropey cobweb drapes.

The room smelt damp and moldy. No air moved, yet dust motes danced about in the light of a flickering candle

The old man, who claimed to be a sorcerer stood behind a wooden lectern, his face eerily lit by the same candle. The four foot candlestick it sat atop was intricately carved with leaves and beasts that twitched with each flicker of the flame.

He looked the boys over. Young street toughs, more full of themselves than sense. They chuckled loudly with false bravado. Sadly they were all he had for the task at hand.

Finally he addressed them. “You believe you can take on this quest? You are certain you can complete this task I ask of you? You understand, once you accept, there is no failure.”

One of the boys stepped forward, “We’re here, ain’t we. You said we get paid up front for this.” He looked at his friends for support, their nods urged him on. “Well, show us the money, then we’ll get the job done.”

“Will you now. Then you won't object to signing an agreement?”

The boy rolled his eyes, “Whatever, yeah, we can sign ,you just pay up front, like you said.”

“Very well, we shall proceed.” The sorcerer opened the book that lay on the podium and read the details of the contract aloud.

When he finished, one by one the young toughs stepped forward to sign. Each surprised by the prick of the pen and the scarlet ink that forged the geas and bound them to their fate.

16 comments:

  1. Oh, those poor boys have no idea what they're really getting into, do they? Great job on the prompt. I'd love to see more.

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    1. Oh they so do not. Silly boys.
      Thank you for stopping by :-)

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  2. Ooo. I like this. A great set up for one heck of an adventure.

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    1. Thank You! I did this just for the prompt, now I've intrigued myself, so I may have to explore this a bit more.

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  3. Nice! "More full of themselves than sense" is perfect for the type of undertaking that seems to be afoot here. I'd like to see where this goes!

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    1. Thanks! I may have to find out where it goes myself. (Perhaps Nano....)

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    2. Angela always finds the best bits!

      These boys are in for it, aren't they?

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    3. they are, I think they may find their way to nano...

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  4. Young thugs are often quick to make these sorts of decisions, and they never seem to end well!

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    1. Thank you! Exactly, bad decisions based only on personal gain. There may be lessons here.

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  5. I loved the old/magical world slamming right up against the undeniably now. And I was left very curious as to what the wizard needed to do so badly that he would stoop to such a low!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by!
      Yes, I've piqued my own interest here. I might have to get to know these characters better.

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  6. Makes me want to know what's next. Fabulous imagery.

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    1. Thank you so much! These boys are now hanging around in my head. Hope they'll tell me soon what's next ;-)

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  7. Never sign anything you have to sign in blood, boys! Would love to know what comes next.

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    1. Glad you stopped by!
      I'd say beware what you sign for creepy old sorcerers as well...

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