Atlantis 2: A Queen to Be

Chapter 2

"Mom please, It looks fine. I'm going to be late." Maximus said. Anna was overly obsessing on his appearance for his date with the princess. "It's not everyday that one of my sons has a date with a princess. I'll not have you showing up to the palace in common street cloths. You must be dressed like the king you'll soon become." She said demandingly. "You're going to have me looking more like a court jester in this." he said holding up the suit she had picked out for him. "I think your father looked very handsome in that suit when we got married." she said in an almost insulted tone. "I'm not wearing a suit that is older than I am." he said. "Watch your tone with your mother boy." Janta interjected. "Yes father. I'm sorry mother." Maximus said. "He does have a point though. They just don't dress like that at court anymore Annastashia." Jerl said. "Father please do not call me that. Anna suits me just fine." she said in an almost growling tone. "But that's your name. Annastashia Louise Shipperman was the name your mother and I gave you when you were born." Jerl said matter of factly. "You named me after a shrewd woman that I cannot stand and a boat that mother dragged your drunken carcass off of while she was in labor with me." Anna said venomously. "Don't you take that tone with me. I'm still your father." Jerl responded. "I am also the woman of this house who just had triplets and future mother of a king so I'll say what I please in me own house." she all but yelled at him. She had a look on her face that would make the mightiest of gladiators concede. Jerl turned and headed for the door stopping for a moment beside Janta to say, "She's just like her mother. Good luck old friend." then he went out the door and down the street.

During the argument between Jerl and Anna Maximus and Janta managed to slip out the back door. "Now here. Take this and stop by the flower cart there at the edge of town and get something pretty for her. Girls like that sort of thing." Janta told him handing him a few coins. "Girls?" Maximus said puzzled. "She might be a princess but she is still a girl nevertheless." Janta said. "Oh. Right." he said clueing in on what his father was saying. He threw on his jacket and said, "Do I look ok?" "I believe you look just fine. Mind your manners. Be respectful at all times. No showing off. The Royals don't get into a bunch of horsing around."Janta advised. "Yes sir." Maximus responded. With his father's blessing Maximus headed of to the palace.

(Page 7)

As Maximus was walking past a local tavern on the edge of town he heard a loud ruckus going on inside. There was the sounds of glasses breaking, wooden chairs crashing and just as he was about to head twords the door a man came flying through it. The man landed with a thud at Maximus's feet. Then another man came flying through as well landing on top of the other one. Next Jerl came half flying half scrambling through the door almost toppling over Maximus but Maximus managed to move out of the way. "Grandfather what's going on here?" Maximus asked. "You might wanna ask me that while we run." he said grabbing Maximus by the shoulder and giving him a shove just before another man came flying out the door landing on top of the other two. Just then a woman came out the door and looked Jerl straight in his eyes. Hate is to nice a word to describe what could be read in her eyes as she looked at him. "Still on your feet I see." She said venomously as she headed twords him. Her fists already balled up and ready to swing. Jerl threw his hands up defensively and said "Now honey is that any way to behave in front of our grandson?" The woman stopped dead in her tracks. "Our what?" she asked looking at him like he just dropped a bomb on her. "Our grandson. Maximus Banderman. Annastashia's oldest son and if I may brag a moment the future king of Atlantis." Jerl said proudly. "Of all the lies in all the land..." she had began saying. you could see the rage building with in her as she spoke. Jerl looked at Maximus with terror in his eyes "Now we run." he said quickly as he took of running at a full sprint down the road with Maximus right behind him.

After they were a few blocks away and Jerl was sure she hadden't fallowed he stopped running. He was bent over with his hands bracing himself on his knees trying to catch his breath. "Wooo They just don't build em like that anymore." Jerl said laughing. Maximus looked at him as though he was a raving lunatic. "Who was that?" Maximus asked. "That my boy was none other than Alonna Moon Shipperman. My wife and your grandmother." Responded Jerl. "I thought she was dead." Maximus said. "Well your mother and her had a bit of a falling out before you were born and so I'm not surprised. If there's one thing those two can do its hold a grudge." said Jerl. "I'd love to hear more but I've got to go." said maximus. "Ok. Later then." Jerl said as Maximus left.