Free Write - The Drawing

A black and white drawing of a French village from the Middle Ages, a very different prompt.  

Rick's Free Write 

"To your posts, men, " yelled the village elders. “The pirates are attacking!”

Francois and Petr, best friends on rue des Sarcelles, raced through the streets, dodging men with swords and bows, women carrying babies to safety, and dogs barking in the excitement.

Argelès-sur-mer had never been attacked by pirates before.

Fortunately, the village had just finished constructing the stone walls, towers and gates to make it a completely enclosed city.

But the pirates, French Protestants, and their allies, the Moors led by Barbarossa, had come prepared with catapults to hurl large rocks against the gates and ladders to scale the walls.

From the ramparts near the Mer Gate tower, 10-year-old Francois and Petr watched the battle rage. Rocks, lances, flaming arrows, hand-to-hand combat with swords and knives, the Argelesian men (and a few women) fought ferociously for their homes.

Some died. Others were badly injured and were taken to the eglise for aid.

But the walls and gates held. The pirates and Moors moved on.

Centuries later, the village still stands.

D-L's Free Write

Cynthia knew the minute she walked into the Parisian antique story, she had to have the drawing. She'd been here many times before, knew the owner well.

André came out to greet her. "Lovely isn't it? Represents the 14th century. Perfectly preserved." 

Cynthia examined every line of the drawing, the mountains, the towers, the walled city. She was almost afraid to ask how much it cost. She didn't want it for her antique shop back on Cape Cod. She wanted it for over her bed.

"The village still exists," André said. "You can go by train. About five hours."

She knew she would. She had to walk in those mountains, wade in the sea, walk in that village. She could extend her trip to France. It wasn't like her to be impulsive, but why not?

Julia's Free Write

Summer vacation; school was out and the family off to their cabin.

Said cabin was up a small, dead-end road, had three separate levels of lawn, and woods on two sides, never mind a very small stream along one side.

In short, a child’s adventure land.

Although there was a sandbox; an outdoors fire pit and enough “toys” for any kid, the woods were a major attraction.

Young as they were they never went very deep, just enough to scare themselves, especially as night fell.

So much of their day was spent outside.

Today, however, was a gloomy, rainy day so their attention turned to the cabin on the middle lawn.

Creek…

Getting the door open was spooky enough, but inside the cobwebs and rustles had them almost fleeing.

No, can’t lose face. Looking around they saw a tube.

Outside they opened it only to discover an ancient map: oh the joy.

Maybe there’s a treasure hidden here on our land!

Rick Adams is an aviation journalist and publisher of www.aviationvoices.com, a weekly newsletter reporting the airline industry  top stories . He is the author of The Robot in the Simulator. AI in Aviation Training.  

Visit D-L.'s website  https://dlnelsonwriter.com, She is the author of 15 fiction and three non fiction books. Her 300 Unsung Women, bios of women who battled gender limitations, can be purchased  at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/300-unsung-women-d-l-nelson/1147305797?ean=9798990385504 

Visit Julia's blog. She has written and taken photos and loves syncing up with friends.  Her blog can be found: https://viewsfromeverywhere.blogspot.com/