Wednesday, April 20, 2016

A-Z Challenge Day 18

Posted Thursday April 21

My collection of neglected words now has six beginning with the letter R:-
Rubican. adj. of a horse, black or red with specks of white.
Rulley n.a four-wheeled flat wagon used for carrying goods.
Rudstay n. Strap over a horses back to which a wagon can be attached.
Redoubt n. rough and temporary fortification.
Rideau n. a ridge or mound used for defence.
Robinet n. cannon 




The messenger leapt from his rubican mare and handed the village headman a rolled parchment. It was not favourable news. He sounded the tocsin, and the men of the village ceased their labours and assembled in the square. They were to prepare for an invasion by a renegade group of turncoats from a township to the north. With all due haste they fetched a rulley. Using heavy leather rudstays they appended four fine stallions. After heaving a robinet and a collection of weapons aboard they started to trudge up the steep incline to the redoubt on the rideau. 
*
Come the dawn, the sky above the vestiges of the village was thick with black smoke. Its men had been taken, their women and children left to fend for themselves.

And so the die was cast for nations across the world to this day.




You can check out my A-Z posts thus far  by clicking  on a highlighted letter!
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31 comments:

  1. Interesting words. My friend is a big horse fanatic, so I wonder if she knew the two equestrian words.

    ~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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    1. I wonder? I have no idea if the words are still used in equestrian circles today.

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  2. How sad their brave endeavor didn't save them from being overrun! Hat's off to you, for your clever work. Happy AtoZing!
    Revisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!

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  3. Not a good end to their work in preparing; I feel for the women and chlidren.

    betty

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    1. It's a familiar story to this day.Cheers betty.

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  4. And so the die was cast
    for centuries to come

    A remake of the same story again. The strong and vicious would wage war on the neighboring country and extend their influence. The downtrodden were cast by the wayside. Peace is sacrificed and even now it is still elusive. Very true Keith!

    Hank

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    1. Hank, thanks so much for dropping by and for your poignant words.

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  5. Powerful ending line. "Rideau" - such a nifty word.

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  6. Another great tale of death and daring!
    Did they manage revenge or reconciliation all those centuries later?
    AJ at Ouch My Back Hurts

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    1. Glad you liked it Aj. I was thinking of the atrocities that go on today across the world with that last sentence.

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  7. No less than five words woven into the story - excellent stuff!

    Susan A Eames from
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  8. Gulp. That doesn't sound good for the women and children.

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  9. What's a robinet? Don't know that either.

    Loved the way you end this one, though it doesn't sound good for the people concerned at all.

    Nilanjana.
    Ninja Minion, A-Z 2016
    Madly-in-Verse

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    1. Well spotted! A robinet is a cannon. I've added it to the lost. Thanks Nilanjana

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    2. Thanks for clarifying! Six uncommon R-words woven into a tale. That calls for a Round of applause. Brilliant job!

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  10. Well done although a frightening story. Sounds like some rambunctious rabble in that village. ;)

    @Kathleen01930
    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge

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  11. So much packed into so few words, common or otherwise. Well done! I'm forever amazed by what you create.
    Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
    Happy blogging!

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  12. Sad that it ended that way!! Learnt a lot of new words today. Thanks Keith!

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  13. Their sons might get their revenge :-). Great words and story :-)

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  14. Hi Keith - that was the way of the world wasn't it ... have you been to the Redoubt here in Eastbourne? Those are wonderful words ... and I didn't know them ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I'm regularly passing it and I've been to quite a few functions inside over the years. I had never thought about the word redoubt until now. It hardly suits the little fort. What happened to the tank?

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  15. Quite the collection of words today... with the very wisest ones being your conclusion. What would have the world be like if war was never invented?
    Josie
    from Josie's Journal

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    1. The world be a very different place. But for better or worse I know not.

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