CHAPTER FIVE
It was the morning of November 7th,
and King Cartow and Queen Sita sat on their hard thrones, listening to the commoners’
requests, granting the easy favors, dismissing those who asked too much, and
yawning between people.
“I do wish I had thought to have our thrones cushioned…”
muttered the King after the 352 person had finally walked out.
Suddenly, as they were considering an old farmer's request for a
package of seeds, the little old lady they had hired to brush Celia’s hair
rushed into the throne room.
“Oh my
Lord, my Lady,” she gasped, a wild look in her blue eyes, “she’s gone…she’s
gone!” The king glanced at his wife.
She shrugged, and mouthed “Crazy?” The
king looked worried.
“Perhaps you ought to go lie down…” he began.
“No, my
Lord! Your DAUGTHER! She’s missing! We can’t find her anywhere!” The little lady ran her hands through her white hair in distress.
The king rose
hurriedly to his feet. “What? How do you
know she is not just in the castle?”
The maid gasped to catch her breath. “Oh,
oh, we looked everywhere, and finally the stable boy said he had seen her this
morning, walking out of the castle toward the Woods of Worden!”
“What is the
meaning of this?” shouted the king, looking wildly around as if someone besides the princess should be accountable for her actions.
Queen Sita fainted.
“I can’t say,
Sire!” gasped the old maid, though if you had watched her closely, you may have
seen a twinkle in her expressive blue eyes, despite the anxious look on her
face.
“Summon the army! Send them out to
find her! Scour the entire countryside, the woods, anywhere! EVERYWHERE!”
yelled the king, as the queen’s attendants waved perfume under her nose.
The army was called out in full
force, with King Cartow at the head, and started out to look for the lost
princess. The women of the castle ran around in distraction, telling every one
of the dreadful happenings, while the children, wisely realizing that no adults
were about to stop them, used the precious freedom very well indeed, sliding down the
great staircase banisters and having an grand time. If anyone had bothered to
watch the old maid, they would have been somewhat confused to see her chuckle,
and walk up the stairs toward the princess’ room. But no one did. Everyone was much too busy.
~
Amidst the tall trees, the King
of West Listra was having a bad sneezing fit. The weeds tickled his nose, and
caused his throat to itch, not to mention the continuous sneezing it induced in
him. He was not the only one. About half the soldiers were snorting and
sniffing, trying to keep down the sneezes, but not succeeding. The other half
was shushing the others.
“This is supposed to be a surprise attack…” grumbled
one man.
“The East Listrans will hear us from miles away…” others muttered.
One
faithful soldier, who had remained with his eyes fixed on the tiny window so
far away, gave a shout as a scrap of red fabric waved out the window. “There it
is! The red flag!” The message was swept away among the ranks, and soon the
whole sneezing army was on its feet, and tramping toward the castle that would
soon be theirs.
~
Leo walked briskly through the
forest, heading southwest, toward the Woods of Worden. The crisp dry leaves
crackled beneath his feet, and he swung his arms back and forth. After an hour
or so, he finally entered the Woods of Worden. He found one squirrel, but it was so tiny he
did not have the heart to kill it. He tucked it into his bag, where it promptly
curled up and fell asleep. He noticed a
clearing ahead. His pace slowed and his grip tightened on his bow. Something
was moving in front of him. He stealthily drew an arrow and crept closer. It
sounded large enough to be a deer…
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