The Storyteller - ONC 2022

Chapter 10: Storyteller

Lying on the red couch with her eyes closed, Amy could hear footsteps approaching. Maybe it was Marion. She was so thirsty, and her head was starting to ache.

"Are you sure that's the Storyteller?  I remember her being a lot taller." 

"Who else could it be?"

Amy could easily overhear the two men talking somewhere close by. Obviously, they thought she was asleep.

"Go away Marion, we don't need your services."

Amy quietly sighed. There go her chances of getting a drink.

"I thought you were going to make sure she didn't return." The voice was so muffled, it sounded to Amy like he was eating a mouthful of grapes as he spoke.

"I tried, but the King had... other ideas." The second speaker's tone was cold and heartless. 

 "Aren't you supposed to control his ideas?" Grape-Mouth complained.

"Usually, they fall immediately under my spell." It might as well have been an unfeeling stone talking. "But this child - he just doesn't listen." 

Amy only just managed to stop herself from laughing. That was King Lyle to a T.

"We have to prevent the King from talking to the Storyteller, do you hear?  If she even learns about the boy's proposal for turning this kingdom into his own amusement park, we are doomed.  The magic she weaves with her stories could easily prevent us from ever taking over the throne." Grape-mouth sounded like he really hated the Storyteller.

"I will not fail " Poison dripped from each word.

"Make sure you don't." Amy just caught Grape-Mouth's last words as they walked away.

Amy's eyes opened immediately. 

Taking over the throne? 

 She had to tell King Lyle.

 She sprang to her feet, there was no one around.

"Amy, thank heavens you're alright!" Amy jumped. Her face full of shocked surprise. Aunt Penelope had just appeared in front of her.

"How did you do that?" Amy gasped as her aunt hugged her/ tightly.

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you? King Lyle will not get away with this." Her aunt looked so worried. 

"Aunt Penelope I'm fine. Really, I am." Amy interrupted. "And don't be too hard on King Lyle. I think he's got bigger problems to deal with." Amy's troubled expression caught her aunt's attention.

"What do you mean?"

Amy repeated what happened, feeling relieved to have told someone who would know what to do about it.

"So that's what this whole kidnapping was all about?" Aunt Penelope didn't look so angry now.

"King Lyle did say he wanted to talk when he got back from his council meeting."  

"Talk?" Her aunty looked at her strangely. "Didn't you tell the King that you weren't a Storyteller?"

"I did! But he wouldn't listen." Amy didn't really understand what was so important about being able to tell some silly stories. It's not as though they really mattered.

 "Aunt Penelope, are you the Storyteller they keep talking about?" 

Her aunt nodded absentmindedly as she stood just staring at Amy. 

"You know, this could work to our advantage." She finally said. " When King Lyle gets back, I want you to pretend you are a Storyteller."

"Me? No way. I can't!" Amy shook her head, walking backwards until she bumped into the couch. "I'm hopeless at telling stories." She sighed, flopping down onto the red lounge. Her head resting in the palms of her hands. Her headache annoyingly increasing.