Links to the original post and the story so far (in order) can be found in the Tale of Two Pizza's Archive Post
The majority of the guards returned to the gatehouse, but two of them guided Delilah onward, she heard the heavy gates clang shut behind her and began to feel nervous. Why were there so many guards? And bothering the Baron at this time of night? Something is wrong! She jumped as one of the guards spoke.
"Leave your horse here," he said, gesturing to a hitching rail against the side of what was obviously the stables. "He can drink from the trough and someone will be along with some oats shortly. He's a fine animal!" The words the guard spoke were kind enough but sounded gruff and forced. Delilah looped Jet's reins over the rail and patted his neck, reassuring him that she would return.
The second guard gestured her onward impatiently and she fell back in step with them. They led her along a road between small houses that were interspersed with rows of solar panels. She could see the Barony itself ahead of her on the hill. They seemed to be taking her directly to see the Pizza Baron! Her nervousness grew at that thought. She had been hoping to meet Danny Rupert, to thank him for his kindness all those years ago, to repay him somehow for so long... But... Seeing how heavily guarded the place was, knowing it was her own father that was plotting against him... She couldn't help but think about all the stories of how ruthless he was. No, I will not believe that of the man that treated me with such compassion. Even if the stories are true- there is always a reason for his actions. Besides, I am here to WARN him! The folio of fathers plans will prove it! She patted the folio where it was still stuck securely in her belt.
It struck her suddenly as they passed under a streetlamp lighting their way up the hill with the harsh white of an electric bulb. The whole place has electricity! Every house has been lit the same way! No flickering lantern light or oil lamps! It was an awesome display of what the Barons here had accomplished. Everywhere Delilah had ever been electric light had been a rarity. Most Barons saved what electricity they could generate for themselves. Yet here Danny Rupert provided this luxury to all of his people. It reassured her. She knew he had contracts with other Barons to supply their estates with power, but none of them had extended that luxury to their citizens the way the Solar Baron and Pizza Baron clearly had. If they cared for their citizens like this then surely the stories must be exaggerated.
They were close to the Barony now and Delilah could see two figures waiting for them at the front of the building. Neither of them appeared to be Danny Rupert.
"This is her? The so called Delilah Busket?" Barry asked the guards. They nodded. "Go tell Danny," he motioned for his companion to go inside then fixed Delilah with a piercing stare.
"She rode right up to the gate and claimed to be lost... some story about being out riding with her "stablehand"" the guard replied wryly. "Get the truth out of her if you can Barry, with Otto, the bandits, and everything else that's happened lately some of the boys are talking about war!" He shook his head as he spoke.
"Lets hope it don't come to that mate!" The second guard said grimly, "The Baron'll steer us right, he always does. I'm not sure what to make of this one Barry, she seems innocent enough but what the Fruit Baron's daughter is doing showing up at the gates with a cock and bull story like that... well... I guess that's why Danny sent you Barry, to get her to tell us the truth of it!" He turned to Delilah then and flashed his teeth at her. It wasn't a smile."Barry'll take good care of you Delilah Busk... et." The delay before he added the "et" crushed her.
They had known who she was from the start, and now that she had tried to deceive them it would be that much more difficult to convince them of the truth. No more games she thought.
"You are right of course. I am the Fruit Baron's daughter," she said quietly. "I came to warn you... I have something for Danny Rupert." With that she carefully pulled out the folio and offered it up to Barry. "I... I stole this from my father earlier tonight. By chance I stumbled upon a secret meeting and... well... just look at it." Delilah had no idea what was in the folio, she hadn't taken the time to read it between running from her father and his men and the excitement of riding alone with Henry. Barry opened it and his eyes widened as he scanned the first page.
"Bring her! NOW!" He said curtly, then turned and led the way into the Barony. The two guards grabbed her firmly by the elbows and steered her inside.
She had been taken to an empty room and pushed inside by the grim faced guards. Barry had shouted instructions at them as he practically ran down the corridor ahead of them, folio in hand. That was hours ago now. She had briefly explore the room. An old metal desk with empty drawers except for a blank notepad and pen. A hard wooden chair. A bookshelf with a random assortment of titles- many of them from after the fall. A narrow, uncomfortable looking bed that she had resisted lying down on. She was exhausted and knew that if she allowed herself to collapse on the bed she would fall asleep no matter how uncomfortable it looked. There was no window. She paced rather than succumb to sleep.
After a couple of hours she heard voices in the hall. She moved to the door to listen. It sounded like the guards talking to someone.
"Rachel! Who's that you've brought back with you! Don't tell me you rounded up more bandits!"
"Never mind who it is. He's headed for the cells! Where's Danny, I need to give him my report!" Came the muffled reply.
I wonder who they could have captured! Delilah thought as the voices faded. She tried to open the door and was unsurprised to find it locked. She walked back to the bed and finally sat down. They'll have to speak to me about the folio soon, I wonder where Henry is?... What's taking them so long! Her thoughts grew sluggish and disjointed as sleep began to overtake her. It took only moments for her to fall sideways and into an exhausted but uneasy sleep.
The rules for this week remain the same as previous weeks!
I'd like to continue building on the story of the Pizza Baron and his post apocalyptic world. Each week I'll pick a winner that becomes the next piece of the story and wins 20 $PIZZA and a 5 SBI sponsorship from me. I may award additional prizes if I feel multiple entries expand the story well.
Each week I'll write a post announcing the winner and then I will write another chunk of the story and open it up again for the next weeks competition. I'll compile the winning entry for each week. If we reach a conclusion of the epic tale of the Pizza Baron I'll divide another TBD amount of PIZZA among all the winning entries throughout the whole story and publish the finished story here on Hive with all the contributors as beneficiaries. If this goes well we might have the first open source blockchain novella on our hands! 😂
The first weeks contest established a secondary storyline that may be tied back into the main plot if you so wish!
Bear in mind this is an experiment as well as a competition so we will see how many entries I get and how well it goes!
Rules:
Entries must be more than 200 words but less than 1000.
Entries must use the hivepizza tag
Entries must comment on this post with the link to their entry
Entries must fit in the world/scenario that has developed from the previous weeks contest(s). You are free to develop characters, introduce new ones, invite aliens to the feast, I don't care as long it makes some kind of sense in the context! The Pizza Baron should remain relevant to the plot!
(I've named it a Tale of TWO Pizza's for a reason HINT HINT)