The Princess and the Writer

CHAPTER THREE

Contrary to her friends' threats, Anne slept like a baby that night and woke up the next morning feeling exhilarated. She was still excited about her encounter with Walter the previous day. Perhaps that was only the beginning of a wonderful new chapter in her life. Perhaps he did like her for real. Perhaps something could come out of it all. She grinned all the way to school and only chuckled in response when Joseph asked her what had got her into such an unusual mood. She was determined that nothing would get her down that day.

Even Sandra noticed.

"Wow, Rich girl," she declared as they headed with the rest of the class to the library for their lesson. "You look really happy today. Why is that?"

"No particular reason," Anne replied. "I'm just happy."

Sandra could care less about that. She tripped Anne, sending her sprawling to the ground and walked on as the rest of her class chuckled. Anne composed herself as she picked herself up. She would enjoy this day regardless.

At the back of the library, in the furthest corner, Anne sat by herself. She spent the first half of the lesson reading and then finally, unable to resist the urge any longer, got out her special book and opened it to fill in another entry.

One day Nena and Teral were walking through the forest. It had been Teral's idea to do this; there was a beautiful place he had discovered that he wanted to show her. The princess was more than happy to accompany him because he had done this before and each time she had been amazed by the wonderful things he showed her and said to her. He held her hand as he led her through the trees, their conversation light and comfortable.

"You know," he said, "you are still to tell me about the book."

"What book?"

"The book of spells."

Nena laughed.

"You call it the book of spells too?"

"I have to call it something now that you will tell me nothing about it," Teral laughed. "In any case, you promised to tell me. What is it? Where is it? What does it do?"

"Yes I promised to tell you about it once we got married, not before," Nena told him. "When you become prince and protector of the people, then you will know."

"Alright. Fair enough. But I will share my secret with you."

"And what secret is that?" Nena asked with an arched brow.

Teral turned to her with a mischievous look on his face.

"I don't care about being prince. I only care about being yours."

Nena smiled as he took her hand. Before she could reply, a twig snapped and suddenly they were surrounded by the Baya people. Nadira walked to her with a smug smile on her face.

"I see you do not have the book of spells to protect you. A shame."

"Nadira," Nena looked at her calmly. "Have you finally come for what you have been looking for?"

"Yes," Nadira's eyes darkened, "your throne and your power. I'm in charge now."

Nadira pushed Nena over the ridge and watched as the princess tumbled down the steep slope over rocks and tree trunks until she finally fell into a wide pit.

"No!" Teral exclaimed.

He tried to go after but was held fast by the rebels.

Nadira smiled in satisfaction and headed for the Zuri clan with Teral and her people in tow. Surely anyone who went through such a tumble would be unconscious or at least much weakened by it. What could that princess do to defend herself now?