The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[RaiaDraconis]

Yipes! This...is definitely NOT a good development!

[chetanhaobijam]

Oh my, now what's going to happen to Ben if he lose the time machine. Maybe he will remain there forever, just joking.

[Schipperke]

Thanks for the comments, Raia and chetan.  Right about now, I think poor Ben is probably wishing he had found himself in a different game with a different Watcher.  And not for the first time, either.   

[simaholic^]

Poor Ben, he really is in trouble now. Maybe he can get to the time machine in time.

[Schipperke]

Poor Ben, he really is in trouble now. Maybe he can get to the time machine in time.

It's a nice thought, simaholic.  But I'm afraid Ben's troubles are just about to get worse, as you'll see in the update right after this.

Thanks for the comment! 

[Schipperke]

Lost!, Part X

Diary Entry

I felt sick.  My time machine had been destroyed.  I certainly wasn't going to be able to find another one in this place and time, and there was no way for me to get home without it.  I remembered Griselda saying that I had come here to meet my destiny, and a cold chill ran through me. 



Was this, then, to be my destiny, shackled to one of the few women I'd ever met that I couldn't stand?  I was still numbly trying to take it all in when I saw Mordred and Sir Percy setting out on a morning ride.



Sir Percy was saying to Mordred, “Do you really think you'll be able to find that former servant who stole the horseshoes?  Surely he'll have gone to ground somewhere by now.  And after all, it was only a few horseshoes.”



Mordred spoke sharply to his horse, “Forward, Satan!”



Mordred continued, “When I stand on Satan's back, I can see for miles.



“Rest assured, I'll find the varlet who dared steal from King Mordred!  And when I do, he'll feel my arrow in his back.”

As if I needed a reminder of how Mordred treated those who dared cross him.  But Mordred and Satan were heading in my direction.  I scrambled to get out of their way and saw Princess Elaine crossing the bridge over the castle's moat.



She hurried over to me.  “Thank the Watcher I've found you!  I stationed a page near the road to the village to watch for the real Giacomo.  The page just reported that Giacomo's carriage has been seen at the tavern on the other side of the village.  He and his servants are taking breakfast in the tavern.  They'll be here within the hour.”



Well, that tore it.  I could either stay and wait for Mordred to sentence me to death, or I could run and hope somehow to evade him.  I told Princess Elaine I was going to have to flee.

“You are my protector!” she insisted.  “You must take me with you.  Please!”



There was no time to argue.  “Come, then!” I exclaimed, and off we ran.

[JudesSims]

If I haven't said so before, your writing always captivates me. Your stories are wonderful and this one is no exception.

[RaiaDraconis]

Agh, cliffhanger! How in the world is our Ben going to pull himself out of this one, I wonder.

Riveting, as always!

[chetanhaobijam]

Oh my, now what. He sucessfully escape the palace/place with her or face Mordred's sentence. Can't bear this cliffhanger.:|

[simaholic^]

Where will he go? Poor Ben, he better run fast!

[Schipperke]

Thank you very much for the comments, jude, Raia, chetan and simaholic!  I really appreciate your interest in Ben and his adventures.  And now, here's the next update.

[Schipperke]

Lost!, Part XI

Diary Entry

We ran and ran.  How far would we get before Mordred caught up with us?  I kept flashing back to his comment about the horseshoe thief and imagining the feel of Mordred's arrow in my back.  The shadows were growing long and I was almost exhausted when we came to a small monastery.  The monks were tending their orchard and vineyard.  I had to rest.  Maybe the monks would give us sanctuary or at least something to eat.



The abbot came over and bade me welcome.



“Greetings, friend!” he said.  “From your garb, I surmise you must be the new Court Jester.  I am happy to meet you.  Might you favour us with a sample of your music?”



“I'm sorry, but I haven't come to perform for you,” I panted as I tried to catch my breath.



I asked him if I could speak to him privately on a matter of great urgency.  He raised his eyebrows but said nothing, beckoning me to follow him inside.

I looked toward Princess Elaine, to invite her to join us, but she was talking with one of the young monks.  Whatever they were talking about, they both seemed totally engrossed.  She didn't seem to notice me going into the monastery with the abbot.



The abbot led me to a small cell-like room furnished with nothing but a rough wooden table and chairs and a single bookcase.  “My office,” he said.  “Nobody will disturb us here.  Now, tell me, friend, what is distressing you?”



“I'm not really a jester,” I told him. “I'm a traveller from afar.  I lost my way and now I can't get home because my special travelling vessel has been destroyed.



“Princess Griselda has decided she wants to marry me but I don't want to!



“The real Giacomo has just arrived and by now King Mordred knows I'm not who I claimed to be – I had to flee.  Princess Elaine doesn't want to marry King Mordred and she insisted that I bring her along.  But I have no place to go!  Can you help us?  Can we have sanctuary here?  Will you hide us?”  I put my hands together in a pleading gesture and waited for the abbot's reply.

[chetanhaobijam]

Waiting for the monk's reply. The monastery looks fabulous.

[Schipperke]

Waiting for the monk's reply. The monastery looks fabulous.

Thank you chetan!  I know I'm not much of a builder, so I really appreciate you saying that.   

[RaiaDraconis]

I hope that the abbot can be trusted...