chapter five

(chapters one, two, three&four) 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

It was the morning of November 7^th, 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…

chapter three & four

(first and second chapter)

CHAPTER THREE

“Leo!” called Aria, his mother. “We really need some more meat. Would you mind going hunting soon?” Leo nodded, adding one final rub to the new bow he had just finished. He was a tall boy of eighteen, lean, energetic, and quick. His hair was blonde, bleached even lighter by the sun. 

“Yes mother. I‘ll stay out until I have caught enough for a few meals.” 

 Aria smiled. “Thank you, my dear boy. I don’t think we could get on without you. And…if you could…” she glanced down at little Mary, who was playing with a straw doll, and lowered her voice. “It’s Mary’s sixth birthday tomorrow, November 7^th, you know. If you see some late berries or anything nice…” 

Leo smiled, and nodded, picking up his knife for whittling rough arrows. “Your father’d be proud of you,” added his mother, quietly. Leo looked back, and half smiled, then exited the cottage to start making his arrows. 

Father. Leo hadn’t seen him for 5 years.  He had fought for East Listra, and been captured. At least, that was what they always hoped. Locked up somewhere in West Listra. Who knew, though? He might be dead, by now. Leo wished for the thousandth time that he was free to go fight in the East Listran army. He could help turn the tide. East Listra would win the war! His father would be found, and released, and his mother would be happy, his sister would grow up with a father… Leo shook his head free of daydreams, and focused on his task. Where to find some good sturdy wood...

CHAPTER FOUR

The morning of November 7^th was bright and clear. The sky was a pale blue, and clouds floated lazily through it, watching the leaves and grass rustle gently, while the lakes and rivers sparkled in the sun.   The world seemed peaceful and calm. But many plans were afoot..

In the castle in East Listra, the princess put on her green cloak, took her bundle of food, and set out to find the Woods of Worden, which she had found, lay near the middle of East Listra.

In the fortress of West Listra, the king led his entire army out to cross the border between West and East Listra. They would hide in the trees bordering the Great River, and wait for the fateful red cloth to wave from the window of the castle.

In the village to north of the East Listran fortress, Leo set off at the crack of dawn, hoping for good luck and a lot of meat. “I’ll try the Woods of Worden. Haven’t been there in a while,” he said to himself, as he whistled a cheerful country tune, and walked purposefully off toward the woods.

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.