chapter two

                                                       CHAPTER TWO 

 In West Listra, King Shardo was in a foul mood. East Listra had won the latest battle, and he was furious. The whole court was afraid to even approach him, for fear he may explode at them. So the Royal Serving Maid had left his hot porridge in the hall, not daring to enter his room, and the Royal Outfitters were too scared to come near him, and his Royal Firelighter and Window Opener were not to be found. This goaded the king into even fouler a temper. He was in the middle of a good yell (for he did enjoy scaring his staff while in a temper), when a firm tap was heard at his door. 

He left off yelling for an instant to bellow “COME IN!”, and took a deep breath to continue his howl, when he turned to see who had entered. He stopped. A little old lady, with pure white hair, dressed very poorly, in old, brown rags, was standing staring at him, with piercing blue eyes. “Um,” said the king, unsure of what to do.  He crept down under the bed clothes, suddenly aware that he was still in his pink and yellow striped nightshirt. He tried to pretend he was asleep. If only his royal outfitters had already come… 

“Hello,” croaked the old lady. 

“Hello…” muttered the king, trying to look sleepy. 

“I have a way for you to take the castle of East Listra,” murmured the elderly woman. 

“WHAT!?” yelled the King Shardo, leaving off all pretenses of sleep, and sitting bolt upright, unaware of the pink nightshirt, now. “How? How? Tell me!” he leaped from his bed, and grabbed the old ladies shoulders. 

“Ah,” she quavered, in her cracking voice, “You must gather all your men, every last one of them, and take them to the Grendeline Valley, just below the palace of East Listra on November 7^th. Then, wait until a red cloth is waved in the princess’ window. The castle will be deserted, except for women and children, and you will take it easily enough. Then lock all the doors. The castle of the Easterners will be yours!” she finished. King Shardo waltzed her around the room in a dizzying circle, then dropped her (leaving her to stagger in several small circles till she gained her balance back) and almost skipped out of the room. He stepped in the porridge bowl and left porridge footprints all the way down the velvet staircase as he rushed to inform his Secretary of War. 

“Two more days and the castle will be mine! The war will be over! I will have conquered! Just two more days, two more days…” he chanted, as he dashed down the hall. For today was the 5^th of November.