Detective Liam Niles: The Diarium of Lady Tauna Drake- Second Edition by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

At the banquet…..

Pastor Drake, dressed in a king’s attire, walks down the hall to welcome his guests.

Liam, dressed in a white peasant shirt, jabot, black jean pants tucked inside his long boots. He walks up to the pastor “Good evening King Drake.”

Pastor Drake addressed him. “Liam. Is everyone ready? Where is that daughter of mine?”

Tauna, dressed beautifully adorned in a gold belt, maiden gown, her hair fixed elegant, her face, beautified rose blushed. “Right here father.”

Liam Looked at her in even more interest. “You look lovely.” He took her hand, kissed upon it.

Tauna gave him her lingered consented look of ‘thanks’. Quickly saw his top button unbuttoned. “Here, let me help you with that.” She takes her fingers to push the button through the button hole, pulls back.

Liam checks his button with his finger. “Thank you, Miss Tauna.” His eyes locked with hers.

Tauna smiles at him.

Dayn, looking very intently at them.

Pastor Connor, focused. “I also will have monks from the monastery as guests to a sacred sacramental of faithful fellowship goodwill. Keep in mind, they will come with their rituals.”

Bren’s attention peered out the window. “Ah, and here they

are.”

Pastor Drake’s attention suddenly turned to the arrival group of monks in highly fashionable robes at the foyer’s door, as they enter into the foyer. “And here are the guests for a fortnight.

Pastor Connor led the way with Bren to the great hall. everyone ready?”

Liam reshifted his hands behind his back while treading the corridor. “Blimey. Quite virtuous for monks.”

Tauna looks at him with enchantment. ”You’ve quite thorough yourself, in your investigations.”

Liam looks at her with the corner of his eyes. “Let’s see how thorough later love. See you in the chamber court of spies.” He invites her inside the great hall with gentleman reverence.

Tauna, gives him a slight grin, then enters into the great hall.

In the great hall, a gathering amongst everyone at a very long medieval table commenced. Their dinner platters already laid out for them, they began to eat their meals.

Tauna sat quietly dabbling her food with her fork, not taking any bites, sets her fork aside onto her plate, then glanced at Liam, seeing Liam glance of his mesmerized stare of her beauty verses deducing her earlier demeanor.

Bren, sitting opposite at the table of her. “Tauna, you’re not

eating your food. Are you not well.”

Tauna directly looks at her. “Yes mother, I’m fine. I’m just not hungry.”

Bren gave a strange expression. “Our Tauna not hungry?

That’s the first.”

Pastor Drake shifted in his seat. “Pre wedding jitters, that’s what it is.”

Bren in caring view. “It’s amazing what love does to people. You can’t eat, you can’t sleep.”

Pastor Drake looked at Tauna. “Yes and this love with produce an heir to Chivalry Chapel.”

Liam quietly listening intently to all the comments with seeing her expressions, from despair of Dayn, to her father’s daughter of protection, then back to him for reassurance.

Dayn following Liam and Tauna’s look at each other.

Pastor Drake, Finishing up his meal. “I know what we can do. Tauna, entertain us. Choose your partner in dance with that, you know, that dance.” Waving his hand loosely.

Tauna’s mouth open. “What, now?”

Bren admonished. “Tauna, please do, you’re so beautiful at

it.”

Tauna briefly views everyone in the room. “Ok.” She takes her last glance at Liam, gets up from her chair, walks to the middle of the open spaced floor and stands looking at all. “Detective Liam Niles, Will you please come dance with me.”

Pastor Drake and Bren looked at the detective with everyone else.

Liam looks at the pastor and Bren.

Bren Signals with a go ahead-nod to him to do it.

Dayn gave a look of disdain at Liam.

Liam looks back at Tauna. “Alright.” Stands up, walking over

to her.

Pastor Drake gives a questionable expression. “What’s this all about? She usually has Dayn dance with her.”

Bren turns to him. “Connor, she’s not fifteen anymore, she’s

an adult woman. See her expression on her face, she’s becoming smitten with him.”

Liam, a little uneasy. “Tauna, I only know some dance moves. I’m sure you’d rather choose someone else.”

Tauna gave a reassured glance to him. “No Liam, I choose you. Don’t worry, I’ll lead the way.”

Tauna and Liam in position. The music began softly as Tauna led Liam into many intricate moves, one step forward, one step backward, held hands high, then he recognized the third step, then took over leading her into another dance step, placing their arms over each other’s heads, then lower them, as they rotate their winding momentum side by side, as the music’s high notes slowed down to a halt. They looked mesmerized with each other. The room silent.

Bren began clapping her hands, as the others did.

Liam and Tauna smiled at each other on the way back to their seats.

Dayn grabbing her arm gently, adamantly stared at her. “Why didn’t you ask me to dance?”

Tauna halt with answer. “Because I didn’t.” She went to her chair and sat.

Bren held her hand and gave her a big grin.

Pastor Drake, with pride. “Well done. Now Liam, did you find the ring?”

Liam answered in attention. “No Sir. Tauna and I only found a skeleton key just inside an old loose brick from the fireplace in this fellowship hall but curiously that led outside.”

Dayn sat in brooding annoyance. “How can anyone find that ring amongst all those layered bricks is beyond me.”

Liam keenly Observed Dayn, then veered back at the Pastor. “Pastor Drake, Could you tell me more about Sir Drake?”

Pastor Drake sat straighter. “As the legend goes, in 1586, Sir Knight Drake, after his loyalty to the queen of England, sailed to North America bringing his gold with him, in hopes of becoming a noble of this castle.

Dayn sat more annoyed. “Look, some say he met his demise here in this castle, or just wounded in battle, his wife and child by his side, some say he never made it back to claim his fortune. That was then, WE are here now.”

Liam, sternly. “Yes and that’s why we’re searching for the lineage heritage that you call fortune!

Dayn stared with contention at him. “I too have an ancestor that came here at the same time of Sir Drake. His name was Sir Knight Blackwood. He is also of worthy notice. He may have been your Sir Knight’s nemesis. I wear the wyven dragon pin with honor.”

Pastor Drake, with patience. “Thanks for the reminder Dayn, however, we do need to focus on finding the ring. Enough of this, let’s have some fun.

Dayn, entertain us with your sword fighting. Go on, choose your competitor among one of us.

Dayn glances at Tauna.

Tauna quickly averts away from him uninterested.

Dayn stands up to prepare by standing in the middle of the room, poised straight. “I challenge… Detective Liam Niles.”

Liam looked straight at him. “Ok. Why not.” He stood to walk over to Dayn.

Dayn wryly stared at him while taking his sword. “Let’s see what you’re made of besides your sleuthing.”

Liam gives a very optimistic expression, takes a sword, meets him in middle room.

Dayn whips his sword at him without warning.

Liam suddenly parries back at him in defense, with a clink sound. “You’re good.”

Dayn whipped it at him again “Detective Niles. Do you like younger women?”

Liam parried at his sword again, with another clink. “You mean Tauna? Yes, I like her very much.”

Dayn, whipping his sword again. “You two were gone for quite awhile today.”

Liam, another clink. “Yes, quite awhile, in our investigation. I believe in righting a wrong, don’t you?”

Dayn, with a wry look. “And what do you mean by that?” Whips his sword at him again.

Liam parries his sword against his with a louder clink sound. “You know. Like having justice for unjust things like deceit and premeditated thievery.”

Dayn winced as he struck harder at him. “And what are you claiming Niles?”

Liam struck harder at his opponent. “That you know well where Sir Knight Drake’s ring is. Or at least the location of it. Let’s say….the mantel’s brick.”

Dayn Hurled his sword at Liam’s head in threat.

Liam Quickly shielded his head with his sword with a loudest

hard clink, as they both held equally cross swords held against each other.

Liam snared at him. “I’m watching your every move, don’t mess with me, for I will break you, and don’t think I won’t.” He pushed him away with a warning gesture.

Pastor Drake’s head up high in acknowledgement. “Well done!” clapping out loud along with others, as he and Bren raised their wine glasses in acknowledge to Liam.

Liam, sitting next to Tauna at a long wooden table, overhears in observation of others’ conversations.

Dayn inserted. “Tauna. Are you aware of the room,

chancery?”

Tauna, with full attention. “Yes, It’s a room rarely visited. It’s just on the other side of the chapel.”

Dayn continued. “Legend says, Sir Knight John Drake’s effigy is hidden somewhere in the chancery along with his sword.”

Liam observing from his table, watching and listening to Tauna while keeping his attention on Dayn like a hawk. “In the past, kings and their knights have been known to hide their swords from their enemies?”

Dayn smirked at Liam. “Yes, Niles, I have known that fact. Totally obscured from view, but yet under ancient chipped paint.” Sitting at a distance, with embitterment at him.

Liam, observed him in keenly deduced silence.

Dayn, assertive. “How long will you be in Pastor Drake’s residence of service?”

Liam looked keenly at Dayn. “Long enough. Pastor Connor Drake had assigned to me in his service to him, to find the ring of Sir Drake.” His arm rested on the table, he held his glass of Guinness near his mouth.

Dayn inserted again. “ I bet it’s quite convenient to have Tauna around you in search of many answers to clues. Perhaps Tauna and I can collaborate together in finding the sword. And Detective Niles, it would help you to focus more in your investigation to find the ring.”

Liam, observing him in silence, then intervened. “Thank you Mr. McConol. I’m sure we will find the sword. Now, please excuse us. Tauna, shall we dance.” He takes Tauna’s hand escorting her to the middle of the room. “Tauna, I know where the sword is. We’re going to confiscate it before he does. Please prepare for my thorough shameless behavior. I’m about to provoke a reaction.” He suddenly yanked her close at himself in sensual aggression, took hold of her head with both hands, embraced her with an aggressive kiss on her lips boldly.

Tauna places her hand upon his chest in enjoyment.

Liam pulls away from her with a smack from her lips.

Tauna, astound. “Why did you do that?”

Liam, in quick response. “Because I wanted to.”

Dayn whips his napkin down on the table with fury. With a wry look of disgust, he pulls away from the table to leave the room.

Liam sees Dayn leave the room. “Thank you love. Now, to find the sword.” He takes her hand, leads her out of the room following him out into the foyer, then inside the sanctuary.

On the sanctuary’s rafter, a thurible pendulum of fire freely swings back and forth across in ceremonial ritual, in commemoration the monks’ celebration as monks stand in line in humble prayer to god.

Liam and Tauna, hand in hand, inconspicuously tread past each column then halts to observe Dayn in avoidance around the crowd of people and the swinging pendulum. Then sees him stepping away from an unattainable door in frustration, going back to his room. Satisfied with proof, he held her hand tighter. Liam, poised for a sprinting run through. “Sir Drake’s sword. It’s hidden, or rather, it’s encased within the effigy.” Hold tight, we’re going after it. You are good at timing, right?”

Tauna steps forward to see the thurible pendulum swinging toward them, then away from them. Giving him a straight dignified look of seriousness “ Oh you’re not serious? Are you serious? Really?” As she kept staring at the coming and going swing of the fiery ritual. “But in what way? Run with it, or….”

Liam, adventurous. ”There’s only one way to find out.”

Tauna, on high gear. “There’s a double meaning in that!”

Liam, seeing the timing of the thurible pendulum swinging toward them, then going upward high into the air, in command, he quickly moves forward. “MOVE!!!” As they swiftly ran inward toward the center, the thurible once again, began to swing back down toward them, a heated swooping sound of spewed incense engulfed the room chased after them as they ran faster across the mid room row, were about to leap out from it, Liam grabbing her out of harm’s way, making it onto the other side, then halt next to a door with a wooden sign with the words: ‘Chancery’. Raised his brows. “ Are you ready to retrieve?”

Liam and Tauna opened the door, crept inside, shutting the door. Entering further to observe the room, the atmosphere filled with spiritual ambiance as they proceeded to take their steps toward a stone memorial. While approaching the effigy image, the sun’s rays beamed its light upon a depiction of an ancient knight from medieval times. As they approached the image closer, they proceeded taking more steps around the stone, sliding his fingers around the stone’s parameter, then stop for a last look at the depicted face.

Liam signaled. “Right. Let’s do it.” He grips his hands tight onto the edge of the stone, inhaling deep breath, then hoist himself on top the stone, sat, grabbed her hands to lift her up with him, swung his body toward the effigy, then began to search with his fingers for any indentations around the depicted sword carved image. Feeling around the edges, they heard voices of the priests coming near. He waved his hand in front of her to halt for a moment to check with a view at the closed door. Her long auburn hair dangling to one side, she joined his cautious paused stare. Not hearing anymore, he proceeds further once again in search, as she follows him. A bright glimmer showed through the small nook as the ray of light shined upon it. Taking his fist, he bashed upon it, as a small piece stone broke loose. Then another and another, as he took his fingers to break off more. Repositioning themselves, they wrapped their hands around the revealed hilt as they lifted upwards with all their might and strength, pulling hard, gritting their teeth as it finally popped out of its casing, the remainder of small stone pieces flinging to the floor. In awe, she sat looking at the depicted face once again. Liam’s accomplishment on his face. “Let’s get out of here.” Placing the sword onto the edge, they dismounted, jumped onto their feet. Retaking the sword, they commenced toward the door, opened it quietly, peered around in secret, closed the door to begin their walk back to his room. Half way back, a sly smile expressed upon their faces, sword by his side, they effortlessly entered back inside the room, closed the door. The mission completed.