Tamora Pierce owns the entire universe of this story, all the characters,
the world they live on and the very air they use to sustain life. Only the
vague plot and dialog I have attributed to TP's characters in this tale
belongs to me. I freely give my permission for Tamora Pierce to use any or
all of the plot/story/dialog/concept if she so desires in any way she
desires.
I do not own the Teddy Bears Picnic.
Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in anyway they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
Chapter 14
Trip to Green Acres
Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar were standing on the steps of the Citadel.
"Anyone know where Green Acres is?"
"Yes Briar, we go out the north gate and follow the seawall north about ten miles. You will like the area, the land is fertile and plant growth is abundant." Sandry told him.
The Duke came out just as Oama and Kwaben, Sandry's regular bodyguard came up with a squad of the Dukes best guards and a large wagon of supplies.
"Uncle, we don't need all this."
"Yes you do, think where you are going, anyone there from the rule of Frantson may be holding a grudge against any of you, for what has happened. A few guards will ease my mind. I'm thinking of doubling your regular guards to four."
"Uncle!" in an exasperated tone.
"Don't uncle me. You are heir, and since the ball everyone knows it. You are now going to be approached by people who hope to use you to influence me. Also some people feel irrational dislike for people in positions of power. So be careful of new acquaintances and don't try to evade you guards."
"But the supplies?"
"Reports I'm getting from Green Acres indicate they will be needed."
Oama and Kwaben led Sandry's horse Russet and horses for Tris, Daja and Briar.
As the group exited through the Citadels north gate, Kwaben barked, "Chocise, Nimogern out as scouts, Rambow take the point, Konan you're rear guard." The named guards spread out and took up their positions the rest of the squad fell in behind Briar and Tris with wagon behind them.
The sun was shining, birds singing and the pace easy, all in all it was a nice day for a ride.
Tris heard something and spurred her horse up beside Briar.
Briar was humming.
"What are you humming?"
"New song I heard at MUSIC."
"What is it?"
Briar started singing.
"If you go down to the woods today, You're sure of a big surprise"
"If you go down to the woods today, You'd better go in disguise "
"For ev'ry bear that ever there was, Will gather there for certain, because "
"Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic. "
Tris slapped Briar on the shoulder, "Stop that, as a singer you make a good bricklayer."
Briar grinned at her and went back to humming.
Sandry, riding beside Oama glanced over at her and commented, "Interesting young man that Rambow."
Oama looked back at her and rolled her eyes.
"Yes a very interesting young man."
"He has been a warrior most of his live, joined young and worked hard to get to where he is. He is part of the last rotation of army soldiers to come in a month ago. He has a reputation of going in against all odds and coming out on top."
"Rotation?"
"Yep, your uncle started it a couple of years after the pirate attacks, he felt that all of his guards and soldiers could benefit from a chance of duties. So all but a select few get to go and see new places and have new tasks to perform, about a third of the troops are cycled each year."
"And Konan?" with a glance over her shoulder,
"Same thing," quietly, "We call him the Barbarian behind his back."
Sandry looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"He does not appear the be interested in anything but fighting and girls."
"Men!" Sandry said with a grin. Oama nodded.
Behind them Kwaben just shook his head and stayed silent.
Briar was examining the fields they were riding through with a puzzled expression.
"I don't understand," he told Tris, "This if fertile land but it going to weeds, why is it being neglected?"
Tris pointed to the right, "That farmhouse looks abandoned."
Briar called ahead, "Kwaben, who owns the land is this around her?"
Kwaben turned in his saddle and answered, "We have been on the Green Acres estate for the last mile. The estate fortress is about four miles ahead."
The condition of the fields did not improve as they approached the estate's fortress, a few farms had house gardens but no money crops were being grown.
When they finally came in sight of the estate fortress it was not built in a circle as was the Citadel it was a square of high castellated walls surrounding the central manor, the wall stood behind a dry moat, and enclosed about 15 acres. A round tower stood at each corner with battlements on top. Crossing the drawbridge they entered the gate through a tunnel that had numerous murder holes in the roof. Once inside the walls the manor could be seen as well a structures built against the interior of the wall running completely around the open area that surrounded the manor. There was a general air of neglect about the scene. The captain of he guards sent by the Duke on the evening of the ball greeted them with enthusiasm,
"Lady Sandrilene, Oama, Kwaben are we glad to see you, I was beginning to think the Duke had forgotten us."
There was a general air of relief, among the original group of guards, to see the new guards dismounting.
"We sure need the supplies," Said Captain Kuster.
Sandry came over, "Captain, what has happened here? This place is a disaster."
"My Lady, there only a couple of older retainers left, they stayed because they had no place to go. From what they tell us, Baron Frantson taxed his farmers to the point they all packed up and left. For over a year the Baron had been maintaining a façade. They were selling off everything, the animals, even art and furnishings to get the funds to maintain a false appearance of wealth."
"You said that a couple of older retainers are left?"
"Yes a elderly cook named Julia, and Alfred, a head household servant who was in charge of the food service, care of the silverware and the deportment of the other servants."
"I want to talk to them." Said Sandry.
"Briar, why don't you take a couple of guards and do a survey of he estate lands. Tris and I will check out the Manor and Daja if you will check the forges, stables and other buildings. Take a couple of guards with you."
Daja looked at her in surprise.
"You heard my uncle on the steps, I get protection, you get protection."
"Let's get to work, we have a report to make
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Appendix Chapter 14
For the full text of The Teddy Bear's Picnic use your search engine to search for Teddy Bear. Then click on "The Teddy Bear Page" the full text is on the bottom of the page, and the tune plays.
Remember, when you read this I am using the same spell as Tamora, I'm writing in Imperial and the magic spell is enabling you to read in your native tongue. So some of you are seeing miles, feet and inches and some are seeing Kilometers, meters and centimeters. And moon cycles are translated into years, months, weeks, days, etc.
Educational, possible test material.
Castellated - Furnished with turrets and battlements with a serrated top edge.
Battlements - A defensive or decorative parapet with indentations.
Murder Holes - Medieval castles were entered through a short tunnel with holes in the ceiling, from a room above boiling oil, arrows, crossbow bolts and all manner of nasty thing could be used to prevent entry to the castle proper.
Sample test questions.
Identify the following.
Nimogern - Name scrambled, warrior of the Chiricahua Apache
Chocise - Name scrambled, warrior of the Chiricahua Apache
Rambow - Name altered
Konan - Name altered
Captain Kuster - Name altered
Define façade
What Hero of Comics, Books and Movies had a butler named Alfred.
What American cooking expert, author and television personality noted for her promotion of traditional French cuisine, was named Julia.
I do not own the Teddy Bears Picnic.
Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in anyway they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
Chapter 14
Trip to Green Acres
Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar were standing on the steps of the Citadel.
"Anyone know where Green Acres is?"
"Yes Briar, we go out the north gate and follow the seawall north about ten miles. You will like the area, the land is fertile and plant growth is abundant." Sandry told him.
The Duke came out just as Oama and Kwaben, Sandry's regular bodyguard came up with a squad of the Dukes best guards and a large wagon of supplies.
"Uncle, we don't need all this."
"Yes you do, think where you are going, anyone there from the rule of Frantson may be holding a grudge against any of you, for what has happened. A few guards will ease my mind. I'm thinking of doubling your regular guards to four."
"Uncle!" in an exasperated tone.
"Don't uncle me. You are heir, and since the ball everyone knows it. You are now going to be approached by people who hope to use you to influence me. Also some people feel irrational dislike for people in positions of power. So be careful of new acquaintances and don't try to evade you guards."
"But the supplies?"
"Reports I'm getting from Green Acres indicate they will be needed."
Oama and Kwaben led Sandry's horse Russet and horses for Tris, Daja and Briar.
As the group exited through the Citadels north gate, Kwaben barked, "Chocise, Nimogern out as scouts, Rambow take the point, Konan you're rear guard." The named guards spread out and took up their positions the rest of the squad fell in behind Briar and Tris with wagon behind them.
The sun was shining, birds singing and the pace easy, all in all it was a nice day for a ride.
Tris heard something and spurred her horse up beside Briar.
Briar was humming.
"What are you humming?"
"New song I heard at MUSIC."
"What is it?"
Briar started singing.
"If you go down to the woods today, You're sure of a big surprise"
"If you go down to the woods today, You'd better go in disguise "
"For ev'ry bear that ever there was, Will gather there for certain, because "
"Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic. "
Tris slapped Briar on the shoulder, "Stop that, as a singer you make a good bricklayer."
Briar grinned at her and went back to humming.
Sandry, riding beside Oama glanced over at her and commented, "Interesting young man that Rambow."
Oama looked back at her and rolled her eyes.
"Yes a very interesting young man."
"He has been a warrior most of his live, joined young and worked hard to get to where he is. He is part of the last rotation of army soldiers to come in a month ago. He has a reputation of going in against all odds and coming out on top."
"Rotation?"
"Yep, your uncle started it a couple of years after the pirate attacks, he felt that all of his guards and soldiers could benefit from a chance of duties. So all but a select few get to go and see new places and have new tasks to perform, about a third of the troops are cycled each year."
"And Konan?" with a glance over her shoulder,
"Same thing," quietly, "We call him the Barbarian behind his back."
Sandry looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"He does not appear the be interested in anything but fighting and girls."
"Men!" Sandry said with a grin. Oama nodded.
Behind them Kwaben just shook his head and stayed silent.
Briar was examining the fields they were riding through with a puzzled expression.
"I don't understand," he told Tris, "This if fertile land but it going to weeds, why is it being neglected?"
Tris pointed to the right, "That farmhouse looks abandoned."
Briar called ahead, "Kwaben, who owns the land is this around her?"
Kwaben turned in his saddle and answered, "We have been on the Green Acres estate for the last mile. The estate fortress is about four miles ahead."
The condition of the fields did not improve as they approached the estate's fortress, a few farms had house gardens but no money crops were being grown.
When they finally came in sight of the estate fortress it was not built in a circle as was the Citadel it was a square of high castellated walls surrounding the central manor, the wall stood behind a dry moat, and enclosed about 15 acres. A round tower stood at each corner with battlements on top. Crossing the drawbridge they entered the gate through a tunnel that had numerous murder holes in the roof. Once inside the walls the manor could be seen as well a structures built against the interior of the wall running completely around the open area that surrounded the manor. There was a general air of neglect about the scene. The captain of he guards sent by the Duke on the evening of the ball greeted them with enthusiasm,
"Lady Sandrilene, Oama, Kwaben are we glad to see you, I was beginning to think the Duke had forgotten us."
There was a general air of relief, among the original group of guards, to see the new guards dismounting.
"We sure need the supplies," Said Captain Kuster.
Sandry came over, "Captain, what has happened here? This place is a disaster."
"My Lady, there only a couple of older retainers left, they stayed because they had no place to go. From what they tell us, Baron Frantson taxed his farmers to the point they all packed up and left. For over a year the Baron had been maintaining a façade. They were selling off everything, the animals, even art and furnishings to get the funds to maintain a false appearance of wealth."
"You said that a couple of older retainers are left?"
"Yes a elderly cook named Julia, and Alfred, a head household servant who was in charge of the food service, care of the silverware and the deportment of the other servants."
"I want to talk to them." Said Sandry.
"Briar, why don't you take a couple of guards and do a survey of he estate lands. Tris and I will check out the Manor and Daja if you will check the forges, stables and other buildings. Take a couple of guards with you."
Daja looked at her in surprise.
"You heard my uncle on the steps, I get protection, you get protection."
"Let's get to work, we have a report to make
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Appendix Chapter 14
For the full text of The Teddy Bear's Picnic use your search engine to search for Teddy Bear. Then click on "The Teddy Bear Page" the full text is on the bottom of the page, and the tune plays.
Remember, when you read this I am using the same spell as Tamora, I'm writing in Imperial and the magic spell is enabling you to read in your native tongue. So some of you are seeing miles, feet and inches and some are seeing Kilometers, meters and centimeters. And moon cycles are translated into years, months, weeks, days, etc.
Educational, possible test material.
Castellated - Furnished with turrets and battlements with a serrated top edge.
Battlements - A defensive or decorative parapet with indentations.
Murder Holes - Medieval castles were entered through a short tunnel with holes in the ceiling, from a room above boiling oil, arrows, crossbow bolts and all manner of nasty thing could be used to prevent entry to the castle proper.
Sample test questions.
Identify the following.
Nimogern - Name scrambled, warrior of the Chiricahua Apache
Chocise - Name scrambled, warrior of the Chiricahua Apache
Rambow - Name altered
Konan - Name altered
Captain Kuster - Name altered
Define façade
What Hero of Comics, Books and Movies had a butler named Alfred.
What American cooking expert, author and television personality noted for her promotion of traditional French cuisine, was named Julia.