Chapter 1- Prince Fendrel
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Shut it, Meek."
"Fendrel, this is dangerous."
"Look!"
Fendrel pointed a gloved finger towards a small pixie resting in the leaves. Its hair was golden like the sun, its wings thin like a butterfly's. Fendrel licked his lips and stared at the sleeping pixie hungrily.
And then a girl came barreling through.
The pixie's eyes fluttered open, and she quickly flew away. The girl smiled in satisfaction. She was dressed in a red cape, a leather tunic over a white robe, a black belt with a long sheath, wool stockings, and boots.
"Don't hunt pixies. They're innocent," the girl said, facing the two hidden men who squatted behind a tree. Fendrel leaped out and pulled out a sword. On its handle showed a symbol of royalty, causing the girl to hesitate in the participation of a duel.
"Who do you think you are?" Fendrel snarled, foam practically bubbling at the corners of his mouth. The girl threw her head back and laughed heartily.
"My name is Alyse! And you might you be?" she asked, grinning.
"I am Prince Fendrel! Commoner, how dare you stand up to me?" he barked, pointing his sword at Alyse's nose. Meek stepped out and placed his hand on Fendrel's shoulder.
"Apologizes, ma'am. I'm Prince Fendrel's attendant, Meek Plisdaki," he said, bowing. Alyse let out a huff and looked away.
"I accept your apology. What I'm after is an explanation for why a prince isn't in his castle and rather out hunting pixies."
"Pixies sell for a lot of money," Fendrel said.
Alyse pulled out her sword and cut off the ends of of Fendrel's hair. She narrowed her eyes. "You're a prince. No one needs to be corrupt for money at your rank."
He said nothing and stroked his hair. Meek gasped.
"How dare a peasant stand up to the prince of Laurence?" he yelled. The girl took out a small band of sinew and tied her brown hair up.
"The prince of Laurence is a joke, and you know it, Meek Plisdaki."
Fendrel swung his fist at the girl. She blocked it with her forearm.
"Weak," she whispered. "And I'm not a peasant, you fool."
Meek glanced at her sword and saw the symbol of royalty to the neighboring kingdom on the handle. His eyes widened.
"You're Princess Alyse of Mindor?" he gasped.
"Just wait! Why are you in my kingdom?!" Fendrel shouted.
"I'm not. You must have been so distracted by that pixie that you never realized it"-- She put her sword in its sheath and turned away--"You're in my territory now, Fendrel."
Fendrel's eyes widened, and he scampered off, squealing in fear. Meek followed behind him.
"Meek, darling!" Alyse called out. "Wait a moment!"
Meek slowed down and looked back at her. Fendrel kept racing to the horses they had tied up. Alyse smiled and put a hand on her hip.
"Meek, I'd like to make you my attendant."
He paused and turned around. "I cannot abandon Prince Fendrel," he muttered.
"Seriously? He doesn't know the first thing about being a prince."
YOU ARE READING
The Castle Built From Gems
Fantasía"Princess! You're being summoned!" "By who?" "Your father." The princess turned on her heels and jumped out the window. After being established as a major disappointment to the royal family of Mindor, she refused to see the king. She hated him. In t...
