Flash Fiction Friday: Week #36

Amy C over at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take. 


And here is picture prompt #36:

The Marking, Part 5
Visions
By Michelle Greathouse

“Why would my people, as you call them, destroy the village to rescue me?  You must be mistaken.”  Chance stood and began to pace, crushing the vegetation beneath his heavy boots.

“What I see is the future Chance Strong, but the future is always changing.  We have time to stop the destruction of the village.”  Ren stood and offered his hand to Talah, who ignored it and jumped to her feet.        

“Ren, thank you for coming - but you must leave now.  Send a message if needed - but you can’t risk being caught.  You know how many women want you to father their children - and you swore you’d rather die than be forced into stud service.”

Chance looked at Talah and Ren as if they’d lost their mind.  “Stud service?  Is that what you wanted me for?”

“Not now Chance - and no.  I just wanted to mate.”  Talah missed the assessing gaze Ren sent Chance’s way.  He had never known Talah to show the slightest interest in a man - why this one?
 
Ren promised once again to be careful, gave Talah a hug, nodded to Chance and began the long journey back home - hoping that his vision would not come to pass.

Talah and Chance resumed their jog back to the village.  The sun was shining bright as they reached the guarded entrance and Warriors opened the massive wooden doors to let them inside.

Without a word to anyone, Talah led Chance to her quarters and ushered him in to the cool interior.  “Stay here until I come for you.  There is food and water for drinking - I won’t be long.”  She left without giving Chance a second thought.

When Talah reached the Queen’s quarters, she nodded to Azar and Dwen, and waited for Dwen to announce her.  Once given permission, she hurried inside and found Margred breaking her fast.  “You have returned my daughter, how was your Hunt?”

Talah proceeded to tell her mother of the vision she’d had.  “You have never had a vision Talah, why would you have one now?”  Before Talah could answer Margred, Dwen entered.  “Excuse me please, but Brinald is requesting an audience.”  Margred inclined her head.  “Allow her in.”
 
Brinald entered and immediately sat, without invitation, and took an apple from Margred’s tray.  Biting into the juicy fruit the witch chewed and swallowed then placed the remaining apple into one of the huge pockets on her robe.  

“I see a woman in slumber - but even in sleep she plots murder.  She is not a Warrior, does not confront her foe face to face with honor - but schemes and sneaks.  This woman wants more than she is entitled to have - and she will not hesitate to kill to obtain it.”  Here Brinald looked to Talah.  “She wants your man.  But he has refused her advances and that has infuriated her.”

Brinald paused, took the apple from her pocket and bit into the fruit.  Talah turned to the Queen, “I have no man - does she mean Chance?”  Brinald laughed.  “He became your man when he stopped being number five.”

Queen Margred hid her smile.  “Bring Chance, he may have insight into who this woman is and why she would want to destroy our village to get to him.”

Talah knew a dismissal when she heard one, she inclined her head to the women and opened the door to leave.  “Talah, tell Dwen I need her.”
 
Talah relayed the message to Dwen and headed to her quarters to retrieve Chance - she hoped he would have the answers they needed.
 
The End
Word Count: 605

A little progress was made - not as much as I'd hoped, but I had to work the picture in and this is what I came up with.  :)  Hope you like it.

Have a great weekend.