THE SHIELD OF LOCKSLEY

CHAPTER 24 part iii: DECEPTION AND ESCAPE

This is PAYWALLED.

Just so we all know that, going forward. But there was a new announcement when I opened this page, and we need to discuss this. All of us.

I want to do shit.

I hate it when I start reading someone’s post and just get into it, only to find out it’s paywalled. But putting that aside, I’d like to welcome those new readers to the story who have decided to up-grade. It’s a rollicking, raucous adventure, full of intrigue and betrayal. It’s what you’d have to count as the “End of Days,” for King Arthur. That doesn’t mean the story covers three days, or something like that. It does go through a season or two. There’s tragedy, as well as humour. One has to have humour in a story like this. That would be like trying to imagine The Three Musketeers without their servants.

You need it.

Anyway, this is Chapter 24, (the third part.)

Last week we discovered that Grummer and the others have had an adventurous life full of wine, women and…Shield Maidens? Well, I can’t really tell you more than that, but they (and by they I mean Grummer and Bedivere (Beddie as Grummer calls him), discover a certain someone has left the castle; Lamorak thinks Locksely knows where that someone is. Locksley honestly doesn’t know where she went, just that she went. She sent him a note earlier, telling him she was going to join a nunnery. He’s depressed that he’ll never see her again, but happy that she isn’t marrying.

But Grummer and Bedivere are pretty drunk by this time, and Grummer ends the evening by falling off the bench. Drunk. Bedivere and Lamorak look over at him, and then Beddie tells Lamorak they should finish their drinks.

That was last week in a Nutshell.

This week is a different part of the story. We’re almost to the midway point of the story here, but I haven’t quite finished writing it. I’m presently starting to write chapter 48. There are 52 total chapters. Problem with that is, some of the chapters are broken into sub-chapters, like this one. So instead of a year’s worth of reading, it’s more like a year and a half. Next October should bring it to a climax, but not a conclusion.

You did what?

I decided, this morning, that I have to use the next four chapters to tie up the loose ends and leave it with something that will make you come back for a sequel. I’ve decided this has to be a trilogy. I’m thinking the next one will be about Sir Tristan; King Mark, Modred, Agravain, and Gaheris; Palomides, and his niece; Locksley, and his Squire Brennis; Grummer and Bedivere, as well reports of the Holy Grail having been found by Galahad as told by Percival de Gales — Lamorak’s brother. Of course, forefront, will be rescue of the Queen by Lancelot and the threat of War.

So all the makings of a good story, I think.

All also want to say if you up-graded recently…I don’t tell the names of people that have subscribed to my ‘Stack. It’s just a thing I do. (Someone actually told me not to — a really good friend of mine — and since that time, I don’t kiss and tell.) Unless you don’t care, and you leave me a comment, and interact — I love it when people ask me questions about the story, or where it’s going. It’s like asking me questions about the plot. (There isn’t one, by the way. I’m just as surprised by the story as you are.) I’m using the Table of Contents I put up when I first started this story. I’ve actually stuck to it pretty close, and managed to make a good story out of it at the same time.

Remember, you can go to the links for the Chapters if you want to start from the beginning. After all, it’s only about 8¢ a day for the year. If you don’t want it for a year, rent it for a month at $10. The best part? It’s Canadian funds.

And future plans…?

I’m not going to lie to you and say I don’t want you to upgrade and read it. Of course, I do. And I want you to know that I’ve been thinking of new and creative ways to use this page.

I want to expand and experiment.

The FREE side of my page STORIES, AFTER EIGHT will always be FREE. Those are going to be long stories usually starting at around 10-12,000 words and that I’ll be letting out in pieces of about 1500-2000 words, but also reading them. They come out every Sunday morning.

I’m not the best reader, and I’ll be the first to tell you. I stumble over the words once in a while, but then, the readings are basically one take shots. I don’t do a lot of editing. I’ve been working at it though, going all Pink Floyd on them with sound effects. But if I stop because the phone rings, or someone knocks on the door, I have to start all over — “Let’s take it from the top! Okay. And…go!” The readings last anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.

And this is the part where I say I want to make it into a “show.” Maybe half an hour? Just basically talk about things…

But that’s the big question.

Are you willing to sit and listen to whatever I come up with? It’s not a live podcast, but more like a taped TV Show. (I’m thinking I can try making my own commercial! I have a “stop-action animation App I’m dying to play with.) The whole idea was that I was originally going to tie this page in with a new BOOK CHANNEL I had just started on Book Tube. And I was for a while. But I was unable to upload the videos once I ran them through iMovie, because I’m not that techie yet. I’m working on it. But now, Substack is offering to promote you on yet another format. Can you guess? You Tube. I don’t know how many people are going to be up in arms about it, and I don’t care, because I’m stoked!

I called my Book Tube BTC-TV Channel 3, although last week I called it 13. I might go with that. I can experiment and become a creative, which is a challenge of a different sort for me. (I have a Blue Collar background and limited computer training. I may have to take some classes.) I was thinking I’d like to do a travelogue of sorts, maybe with my wife if I can convince her? She likes to cook, and we like to visit restaurants here in Vancouver. And…someone living here locally is a retired broadcaster who, together with is wife, are foodies. Maybe we could meet other ‘Stacks here in the city? Or maybe cross the line and meet with someone my new friends down there?

So you can see, that at one point, the reading and the other parts are going to go their own ways. STORIES, AFTER EIGHT will remain free, but the rest of it? BTC-TV Channel 13, will have to get PAYWALLED.

I say, up-grade and watch me make it grow.

This is what using SUBSTACK offers you; all you have to do is reach out and take it. It might not be high-tech over here, but I have an iPad, and the wife has an iPhone. Together, we can film each other on Photo Booth and I can produce my own TV show!

In the meantime, read my serials. That will always be Wednesdays, just like STORIES, AFTER EIGHT will always be Sunday morning.

In the spirit of Christmas!

And make sure to…

And speaking of my SERIAL…