Inn The Middle

Date: 7/18/2000
From: Tigs

Inn The Middle
Part Three

The Tiger followed the SpyMaster back to the Inn of the Tunnel. She watched him collect the NorseMan, the Valkeryie, the Magician, and the Russian. The small group left the strange town with two Inns and followed the road. "What is our quest?" the Russian asked.

The SpyMaster grunted his reply, "to escape our exile of course." The Tiger shadowed the group. She listened to their conversation and observed them.

"I deserve my exile," the Valkyrie whispered. Her mind drifted back to the warrior she had refused to claim. Her eyes looked at the Norseman.

"I should be in battle," the Norseman began his usual litany of his prowess as if it would make him more than what he truly was. His burly shoulders tensed as his voice rose with the words. The Tiger shook her head. About that time they came to a fork in the road. One sign pointed to the left and claimed that Hawk's Nest was 20 miles. The right sign claimed that Ash's Jump was also 20 miles away. The group looked at each other trying to decide which way to go. The Russian solved it by heading to the left with a purposful stride. "Where are you going?" demanded the Norseman.

"I go to find the Fairy Queen. She bound me here at my request. Obviously you are all here to get me to come out of exile." The Russian continued to stride ahead.

Eight hours later, just after the sun had set the group stumbled into Hawk's Nest. In the center of town stood a single large structure--Inn the Middle. "Great," the Magician muttered, "what kind of freaks are we going ot find in here?" The Valkyrie pushed him gently inside as she ignored his question.

The Bard sat quietly tuning his instrument at one table. Tiger sipped a mug of mulled wine. No one else was there. The SpyMaster looked at Tiger closely before detaching himself from the group who had drifted to a large table. "You are the Fairy Queen aren't you?" He sat accusingly in front of her.

For her part Tiger smiled gently. "Part of me is the Fairy Queen, but it was not I who exiled you."

"Then why are you here? Why are we here?" he demanded again.

"You are here, because you chose to leave your land." She shrugged as she sipped.

"The Valkyrie didn't choose this. Neither did the Magician." He was stubborn in his refusal to see her point.

"Silence did, you did, the Norseman did. Your choices affect others." She sipped again, "see the Bard?" The SpyMaster nodded reluctantly afraid that she was going to make a painful point. "His story cannot be told without all the characters. When you chose to leave you changed his story. When the Norseman and Silence left they took pieces of the others with them."

The SpyMaster looked surprised. "They weren't our friends. The Bard maybe, but the Valkerie? The Magician? You? You must be joking."

With an eyebrow arched Tiger continued, "we are all pieces of an intricate game. When one piece is removed the balance of the game board is altered. In order for your exile to end you must find a way to return the Valkyrie, the Magician, the Bard and myself."

"How can we do that?" The NorseMan had come to the table.

"That is up to you." Tiger smiled softly. "It's all about your choices.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

There are two more portions to this. Expect them later this week. The story will be finished by Saturday.

Keep the Faith.
Tigs

©Tigs 2000

WoooHoooo!!!! I love it!!!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: JessieMallory

I've been dying to see more of the story and you did not disappoint. Very well done!!! Looking forward to more, but unfortunately since I leave for vacation Friday morning I will have to wait a week to see the ending.

Looking forward to more,
Jess

Nice!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: Brand_S

Nice job, Tigs! You are awesome! Keep on writing! I can't wait to see how the rest of this will turn out!

S

Another nice chapter, motives revealed

Date: 7/18/2000
From: Sabre_Edge

No new characters to guess (except the locations Nest and Jump, but those are pretty obvious).

The plot has been revealed, interesting angle.

Keep up the good work, waiting patiently for 4 and 5.

SE

Phenix

Date: 7/18/2000
From: darkslider

Tigs:

This story is EXTREMELY well done. It's depth, symbolism and genius not only capitvate me, but hold me to this Bboard as a whole as well.

Superb work, and an EXCELLENT break from the X-Men Flood that we are currently immersed in.

An admirer,
-darkslider

Bravo!!!!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: dellyone

Tigs,

Nice writing once again. Thanks for posting another awesome installment. So this is about the choices one makes and the path each person takes as a result of and how one's choices affects other people.

Cool. Like a tapestry. Pull one thread and the entire tapestry falls apart. Reminds me of Next Gen episode Tapestry where Q shows Picard what would have happened if he didn't fight with the Nauscicans and gotten stabbed in the heart. That Picard didn't become captain, but was a LT I think. Eagerly awaiting another installment. Tigs, you rock!

dellyone

Ooooohh!!!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: Yeontoo

Dear Tigs,

I was hoping you would finish this, its very interesting :)

"...find a way to return the Valkyrie, the Magician, the Bard and [Tiger]..."

These 4 were exiled?

Wonder what the Val did to deserve exile, and what does "claim" mean here :)

The bard's story can't be told ...like he has no memory or he can't write the ending to the song cuz it ain't finished.

I'm guessing that the Russian left right after the Fairy Queen?

I'm also assuming our Norseman is feeling ...like he's getting out of shape for battles, and getting bored.

Spymaster's sin? ...hmmmm

Please hurry and post more. I would love to be able to write like this :)

Blessings
Yeontoo

Wonderful!!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: capaqu

What else can be said?
Looking forward to the next installment!

cappy

I really like this, Tigs.

Date: 7/18/2000
From: SouthernSlider

So well written. And thanks for reposting, to jog our memories. Looking forward to the next two.

SS

And where she stops?...

Date: 7/18/2000
From: EustiSlider

Tigs, this is wonderful writing. If I'm following correctly tho', the story can't be finished yet. Since the last two installments are this week, I must be missing something. Can't wait to find out what.

--Eusti

Very nice!

Date: 7/18/2000
From: DoctorQuinn

I like all three equally!
Beautiful pieces of art.

The good doctor

<Stochi sighs>

Date: 7/18/2000
From: Stoker_chick

*If only life were really a fairy tale, and beings were so adequately placed to live life searching for something, having a purpose.*

Tigs, if there is one philosophy that I truly live by it is that complexity is the key to intelleligent thought. You've nailed it, and combined it with an inspiring douse of unmatched creativity.

Thank you so much for continuing. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to the rest.

Peace always.

Stochi

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/22177
Nominated by EustiSlider