Charlotte and the Kingdom of Starsha

Chapter 10

Charlotte screamed like a little girl. Well, she was a girl but the scream was just too girlish. She covered her hands over her face and prepared for the worst, but then she heard the sound of metal hitting the ground. She slowly looked over her hands and saw the soldier standing before her. His sword was on the ground beside him and he was looking at her with humor in his eyes. His laugh was loud.

"BWHAHAHA-HAHA!!! Oh I say! This poor creature cannot fathom the tip of the blade! She chose to stand in front of it! Marvelous for anyone to resort to their own death for fear of scraping their knees along the dirt in the attempt to dodge!"

His friends laughed and jested at Charlotte with disbelief in their eyes. Charlotte turned red and tears started to well up. She tried to control them, but anger and fear kept them there.

"Oh look, Tis' a tear I see streaming down your face? What? I presume it is the nature of women to be so sensitive on such fun," he retorted with a smirk.

Charlotte felt a sudden urge to strangle him, but fear held her back. There was no telling what this soldier was capable of doing. So she stood with all her might and let her tears fall. 

The commander appeared riding his horse with fury in his eyes. "May I remind you, Prince Castan, that we are here to fight the enemy, not the queen's commission! I presume you recall the fate of which you will see if I see no cooperation from our dear prince..."

Prince Castan pursed his lips and stood in silence.

How can a prince just take this from a commander? Aren't princes normally in control? 

The prince sighed and turned towards Charlotte. "My apologies," he said with a faint hint of sarcasm that was oblivious to the commander. "Twas not my place to frighten you. Pray, accept my apology."

A PRINCE IS FREAKING APOLOGIZING TO ME!!!WTF!!!

Everyone looked at her, "Uh, I accept your apology...your grace..." She feverishly found words to piece together. She saw the prince's friends snicker behind him whereas the prince looked at her with cold, dark eyes. It was a look that could send anyone screaming, but Charlotte stood her ground and stared right back. I am not a coward!

"Places men. Let us accomplish this journey by sunset. We are but a few moments away from the castle gate!"

The men stopped talking and goofing around and fell back into their previous lines. Charlotte scrambled over to her horse and lifted herself on the horse. She was not going to feel like a weakling any longer in front of the men. 

The soldiers started to march again and Charlotte drifted into her thoughts

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Charlotte shivered and stared out the window at the trees as they passed by her in a flurry of green. She clung to her backpack as if it was the only thing that was keeping her on the ground. Her mom had offered her breakfast, but she was too nauseous to even eat a piece of toast.

Her mother was driving with ease and was glancing at her nervous daughter. She sighed.

"Your friends are still going to be there, Charlotte. Think of it as a new building, not a new school."

"Why did they have to shut down my school mom? What was wrong with it?"

"Charlotte, the building was older than anyone who is still living. It wasn't safe anymore."

Charlotte turned her head to the window again and pondered. "If all they did was just build a newer building, how come another school is going to be there?"