Three Word Thursday #28
Welcome to Three Word Thursday #29. This week, joining the quondam obscure word-list, we have quibbleism; obrumpent; & temeration. We also have a whole list of perspicacious writers. If you enjoy reading my story, leave a comment then click on the names of the other players and go see how they used these bygone words. You’ll be entertained (and possibly educated) all at once.
The 12th Knight of Strawberry Fife
Striking a Deal
Evaard sat in a chair and offered his foot to the boy. “Son, do you know how much your wages are?â€
Vernal obediently tugged on his master’s boot. He answered with obrumpent pride. “Seven cents a week, sir. One penny a day. And I am to be paid every seventh eve.â€
“Yes,†Evaard agreed. He wasn’t found of quibbleism so he spoke bluntly, “But the Steward will deduct your room, board and clothing from that at 4 cents per week.â€
The boot popped off Evaard’s foot and sent Vernal plummeting backward. Luckily he tripped over the cat and fell short of plunging into the fireplace. He sat on the dirt floor with Evaard’s boot in his lap and repeated. “Four pennies a week?â€
Evaard held out his other foot. “Three meals a day at the castle, your bed, and your uniform laundered weekly.â€
Vernal climbed to his feet, paused to check the ponask, then approached Evaard’s other boot. This time the boy made certain he wasn’t aligned with the fireplace before he tugged, and the cat, safely under the bed, made certain she wasn’t aligned with the boy.
“Is there no way I can lower the bill?†Vernal asked.
“There’s nothing you can do about the laundry,†Evaard said. “But if you do the butchering and the cooking you can take your meals here. And there’s a lean-to outside you can sleep in until winter, then you may want to rethink things.â€
Vernal removed the second boot without mishap and set it on the floor beside the first. “And what is it you’ll charge me?† Despite the temeration in his voice, his gaze met Evaard’s proudly.
Evaard smiled. It was a wise question. The boy had promise. “I expect you to work hard, do well at your lessons, and not make me regret taking you in,†he said.
to be continued
story archive
~*~
The 3WT #29 words will be: Â obstrigillate; ossifragant; & mariturient
Got it? Good! In that case: Your story is due on:Â Â September 24th, 2009
22 Comments
Poor Vernal! That’s what my kid went through last week when she got her first paycheck LOL.
Ok, I’m tired of missing the fun. I’m *definitely* in for next week.
.-= Susan at Stony River´s last blog ..Links and Fun Stuff for Writers =-.
Pffft…famous last words
.-= Thom´s last blog ..What Does Your Least Favorite School Subject Say About You? and a Math Quiz =-.
Thom ….
[shakes head, shrugs shoulders, wanders away]
Susan — welcome! And ignore that leaking bag of hot air!
This sounds like typical employment law in the UK nowadays 🙂
Enjoying this.
.-= Anthony North´s last blog ..MORE CHANGES =-.
Tony — over 50% of ones wages going back to the government doesn’t seem so odd anymore, does it?
Oh, the school of hard knocks! Sounds like some valuable lessons are being learned though!
.-= Melli´s last blog ..Thematic Photographic – Urban…. and Stuff. =-.
Melli — with more to come!
The characters are forming up nicely. Little bit of humor and an act of kindness all prove interesting. Looking forward to wherever it is we are going.
.-= Dr. John´s last blog ..Quilly’s Trophaeal Words =-.
Dr. John — so am I — and we’d get there faster if I was allowed to post longer excerpts!
Your knight looks like the kind that will obstrigillate evil and still be kind. Just as long as he is not out there slaying dragons we will enjoy the story.
.-= Fandango´s last blog ..Quilly and More Words =-.
Fandango — I’m pretty sure there is a dragon in this story. I wonder if you know him?
Well at least Vernal got one boot off without mishap. Cheap knight if you ask me. 7 cents a week…pffft.I would demand a raise or take a hike LOL I am enjoying this story but I would go to the labor board and bitch about the wages I tell ya
Actually, Thom, that was very generous pay for medieval Knights. Most risked their lives for room and board!
That’s a smart cat, and Vernal doesn’t seem like the kind of boy who makes the same mistake twice. He is worth at least five of those weekly pennies.
🙂
I sure hope all is well in Quilly’s world lately.
You are a gifted writer.
.-= Jamie Dawn´s last blog ..Older, Possibly Wiser & Definitely More Agile =-.
JD — seems to me a smart cat wouldn’t have been under the boys feet in the first place! 😉
And life is treating me well, thanks.
FOUR pennies a week?
yes, the cost of living nowadays!!!
.-= Jientje´s last blog ..Sepia Scenes, Paper Work =-.
Jientje — when I was a kid, four pennies bought 8 pieces of candy!
Wow…I am in awe of you, that’s for sure!
.-= Melissa B.´s last blog ..Repeat Offender =-.
Why?! The big words? Pft. You can use them, too. Just click on them for the definition and use it as your guide as you compose. It really is easy and it makes one look so brilliant!
Let’s hear it for little guys who have to deal with stinky big feet! Yay! I’m enjoying watching this develop.
Do I need to shorten mine? Give less info each week? The dragons keep saying it is too long and you said, “if I was allowed to post longer excerpts.”
I can do shorter…and drag the story out longer…Just LMK!
.-= Southlakesmom´s last blog ..Three Word Thursday =-.
Seems that Vernal finally got a good deal after all 🙂
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