There is power here, and danger, in this place where the world ends. Edges have that force. They tempt you to conjure with magi and demons, liminal creatures that belong to no realm and both.
“Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair,” I intone, not in the least self-conscious, since the beach is deserted.
The waves recoil before my majesty. My walls hold.
History, which sweeps away all, will remember me only as the mad king, but I am so much more.
.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Liminal – a word not often used. But one that makes me swoon. If only pertrichor sounded as sweet.
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Thank so much
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Here is a king who knows his worth.
History is kind only to those who write it!
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Round the decay of that collosal wreck, boundless and bare, the level sands stretch far away
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Dear Neil,
What will historians write about our time? Well written, evocative piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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“He knows his power is nothing besides that of God.”
Forever since the time of Canute and his North Sea empire, really mad men try to rule their countries with disastrous results.
Since instead of ”simce the beach”.
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And where would we be without a history chock full of mad men?
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I did my own “where the world ends” story, but quite different than yours. Well done.
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Thanks so much, James
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What a wonderful write, Neil. Historians do love to bring out the not-so-glorious parts, don’t they?
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Thanks so much, Dale. To be fair, Canute was a wee bit strange
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Isn’t that a prerequisite, once you’ve reached the top… or to get to the top?
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At least he had the satisfaction of knowing there was more to him than met the eye.
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He did indeed
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He was certainly operating outside the confines of royal behaviour as we know it today. Personally, I like a mad King. So refreshing. Nice piece, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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I am with Sandra. I like a mad king. Good story, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jilly
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Neil, I just finished watching, “Vikings: Valhalla” which has King Canute in it. I wonder is that the same Canute you are writing about? I see that tallest piece of driftwood as the king, surveying his realm. Nice piece of writing!
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Thanks so much, Jade. Canute was King of England, Denmark and Norway. He is remembered as having tried to command the waves not to advance
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You’re welcome.
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Second time someone’s mentioned Magi this week, I’m going to have to google now! Good stuff
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Sorry to be educational
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It’s a good thing, think I’ve got a record by Utopia strong (Steve Davis, the snooker player’s band) called song of the Magi. It’s pretty out there!!
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It’s called Alphabet of the Magi, just checked, worth about £100 on line!
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A great one Neil! Wonderful phrases- ‘belong to one realm or both’.
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Thanks so much, Clare
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History tends to forgot those who aren’t mad or power hungry, so one might as well go for it.
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Sadly, Canute was deeply power-hungry and history has largely forgotten that
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Such ego! Well told.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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The big if is that he will be remembered if there are any survivors left.
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Luckily, there were
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I do miss the waves and the sea, so now I command the hills and mountains to lay down flat, so I may walk easily. Of course they ignore me,🙂
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Actually, Canute was a king of great significance, holding three crowns
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Fabulous Neil
Such a sense of majesty here. Such poetic language too!
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Thank’s so much. Laurie. He may be a little too full of himself, but he has a point about history
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