DoSP Part 3, Uli's Diary

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Diary of a Spinner Prince

Part Three

Icy Season, Twenty, Hobgoblin Year

Life goes on. Everything seems to be a blur. It has already been a week since the tragedy, but it feels an eternity sometimes and other it feels like it was just yesterday. But nothing seems real. I went to work and drove all thoughts from my mind. I never rested. Only at night did I stop, then haunting thoughts filled my mind and I could not sleep. I was running myself down. Perhaps everything would have calmed down if it was not for Beatrice. She moaned and groaned all day, then cried and wailed about being an orphan. I broke the number two rule drilled into my head. Never shout at a girl. I came close to breaking number one and slapping her.

“What do you care about it?” I screamed, “You never cared for anyone but yourself!” I stormed off in a rage. But it felt lovely. At least she shut up.

Icy Season, Twenty-One, Hobgoblin Year

“Does she ever shut up?” my companion asked, as bound winter grain in bundles. I glanced over my shoulder. We were working on the edge of the field. Ellen and Miranda were trying to get Beatrice to heard some sheep, but she was screaming about dirt and filthy animals. The brat.

“No!” I growled bitterly. My companion started snickering. I glared and shook my scythe at him. He finally calmed down.

“I was just think how well our King, may his hair turn spotted and fall out, would do if he were her husband.”

“What is his name?” I asked, a spark of interest entering my mind.

“Maverik, curse him.” the boy, who was called Lindo, spat.

“You do not like him?” I asked.

“No, of course not.” Lindo said with a scowl, “He is selfish and greedy. His love of gold clouds his wit, and he is mostly like your sister.” A managed a small smile.

“How can I get him to take Beatrice off my hands?” I asked in a very unbrotherly voice.

“Tell him she can spin grain in gold.” Lindo laughed and went back to work. He may have put the whole conversation from his mind, but not me. I was coming up with a brilliant plan. I just needed to get Calvin to agree with it. He may have promised father to look after us all until we made it safely home, but even his patience and promise were being tested with Beatrice. She was simply unbearable. If I could get this Maverik to marry her, everyone would be happy, even Beatrice. Not to mention, since she would be Queen, she would have the power to get us home.

Icy Season, Twenty-Two, Hobgoblin Year

It was all settled quickly, Calvin, Beatrice and I were waiting to see the King. We simply all had to confirm that she could spin straw into gold. Since it was winter this would could not be tested and it would bring Beatrice under Maverik's notice. They were both appeal to one another if they were both equally selfish. Beatrice could be quite charming if there was profit for her.

At first things started out smoothly, as soon as Maverik heard gold was involved he sent for us. Calvin started the conversation as he had rehearsed.

“Oh handsome wealthy King of Balmor.” he simpered, “I have heard that you desire much gold and have brought my charming daughter to you. For her gift is a wonderful wonder indeed. She can spin straw into gold.”

“This is indeed a marvel!” Maverik cried. That was when everything went wrong. “Lock the girl up in an empty chamber with nothing but a bale of straw and a spinning wheel.” he cried.

“Wait what?” I gaped.

“Now hold on-” Calvin began.

“Throw the old man in the dungeons and turn the boy loose.” Maverik continued loftily, “If there is no gold in the chamber tomorrow, kill both the girl and man. If there is gold I shall prepare a fine chamber for the girl and beautiful dresses.”

“Oh yes please your majesty.” Beatrice simpered.

“No!” I hissed.

“Shut up Uli!” she growled under her breath, “You always try to ruin everything.” Seething in anger, I rushed out of the castle. I had made a fine mess of things, but not in the way Beatrice was thinking.

By nightfall I had burst into the hovel. Miranda was wiping the table and Ellen was washing the dishes. They both looked up.

“Where is everyone?” Ellen demanded. Calvin and I had not taken council with either of them over our hopes. We did not want to arouse the false hope of going home in them. I blurted out the whole story.

“And now they are both going to die.” I moaned in conclusion.

“Well, I am completely amazed.” Ellen gasped and sat down, “Never suspected that you were that silly.”

“I see no problem.” Miranda said calmly, “All Uli needs to do is slip into the palace and find her chamber.”

“Sure, I could scale a wall if I wished.” I muttered, “But Beatrice cannot. If I tried to get her out we are both sure to get killed.”

“Why would you want to take her out?” Miranda asked, “I thought you wanted the king to marry her?”

“He will not think twice about it if he finds no gold.” I growled.

“But you can spin the straw for her.” Miranda said.

“What?” both Ellen and I chorused.

“Remember the Genie?” Miranda sighed, “At the wedding only five months ago.”

“What about him?” I asked suspiciously.

“Beatrice wished to be married to a king before the year was up.” Miranda explained patiently, “She will obviously wed this Maverik soon.”

“And I wished to be able to spin straw into gold.” I gasped.

“If I recall correctly, you had just drank a whole jug of crayberry syrup that was saturated with extra sugar.” Miranda said dryly, “You could almost be considered drunk.” Ellen thought this a wonderful plan. I thought it a terrible one. I had no idea how to spin anything, let alone straw into gold.

Icy Season, Twenty-Three, Hobgoblin Year

For some reason both Ellen and Miranda thought it essential to our plot that Miranda not discover who I really was. But exactly at midnight we crept towards the castle. The front gate had a drawbridge that was pulled up with chains. Surrounding the castle was a small stream. Ellen and I waded across it then walked quietly along the edge of the wall to a side gate. Ellen knocked on it. I was not sure what her plan was, but she said I had to slip in the minute the opportunity presented itself.

A man in a steal cap opened the door and peered out. Ellen leaped out in front of him, snatched his cap and leaped into the moat.

“Hey!” the man shouted and plunged in after her. I waltzed into the guardroom. Two guards were playing cards at a table. I ducked behind a keg and crawled quietly past them. It had been way to easy to break in. I slipped out of the guardroom and found myself in a torchlit corridor. Compared to my home, Maverik's castle was rather gloomy.

Beatrice's chamber was not far from the guardroom. A slovenly hole if I ever saw one. I figured that I could easily spring her out after all if she kept her mouth shut. But there was still a chance Maverik would want to keep her if I left her. So I picked the lock, a skill Verek happily taught all his younger siblings. Beatrice was lying with her face on the straw bale sobbing hysterically. I shut the door, being sure not to lock it. I might need a quick escape.

“Why does the future bride of Maverik of Bal-a-mor sob?” I hissed in a high pitched voice being careful to pronounce the Kingdom exactly as the villagers did. Beatrice looked up with a little shriek. My costume consisted of a black puffy baggy cloth hat. A black ragged tunic that came to my knees, grey breeches and black cloth wrapped shoes bound with twine. Grey horsehair was glued to my upper lip and chin giving me an ugly scruffy beard.

“Oh who are you, you ugly old man?” Beatrice squealed.

“I am no one of consequence.” I hissed, “But why does a lovely maiden like thyself cry?”

“Because my horrid brother lied to the king.” Beatrice wailed, “Now he thinks I can turn this dirty straw into real gold!” she sobbed even louder. I was completely appalled with her. But perhaps I was not being fair. She was the one going to die.

“What will you give me?” I asked as I rubbed my hands together, “If I turn this straw into gold?” Beatrice straightened up.

“Oh would you, you dear little man?” she cried.

“I might or might not, depending what you give me.” I grunted. She took off her necklace and handed it to me.

“What about this?” she asked, “It is made with real dragonwire.” Now there was nothing I hated more then the dragonwire choker Beatrice wore. I would take great pleasure in destroying it.

“That will do nicely.” I said, “Now bring me the straw.” I sat down at the wheel.

Once seated on the stool I began to shiver. I had no idea what I was doing and that was not a pleasant feeling. Beatrice pulled the bale over to my side. I snatched up a handful and began to pump the pedal. My sister clasped her hands.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“Shut up!” I told her and poked the straw into the spinning wheel. I saw sparks and the straw turned to neat slivers of gold. I was so surprised that I almost stopped the wheel.

“More!” Beatrice cried and shoved another handful into my hands. By dawn the floor was covered with slivers of gold. I got the hang and figured if I held two pieces together I could actually spin it into gold threat. I had plenty of time to experiment.

I left Beatrice kneeling on the floor and tossing gold and sneaked out the door. I quietly locked it and went in search of a place to sleep. I surely would need to wait until night before escaping, so I would have to remain in the palace. I found a storeroom and went to sleep behind barrels of wine and sacks of flour.

Icy Season, Twenty-Five, Hobgoblin Year

What with all the flurry and excitement over the new gold there was people everywhere I was forced to remain hiding all night. But finally things were calming down today. I was sneaking out of the kitchen with a meat pasty when I heard two cooks talking.

“You know that girl.” one said.

“The one that was given the old Queen's chamber?” the other cook asked.

“Yeah, her.” the first cook said.

“What about her?” the second cook asked.

“Well, it seems the king wants even more. He told her he was going to kill her tomorrow if she did not spin two bales of straw into gold.”

“Poor kid.” the second cook said.

“So she is back in her cell again.” the first cook said, “But anyways we do not need to bring her anything to eat.”

I slunk back to my hiding place, cursing. I would not be escaping that night either. Poor Ellen and Miranda were probably thinking I was caught for sure. As for Calvin, who knows what happened to him. I sighed and ate the pasty. Beatrice surely did not deserve all this bother over herself. Many people deserved a fuss to be made in their honor, but not my sour shrew of a sister.

Icy Season, Twenty-Six, Hobgoblin Year

At midnight, I picked the lock of Beatrice's prison chamber and entered, She was sniveling on the floor again. Two huge bales leaned against the wall. I held out my hand. She took off her dragonwire bracelets. I dropped them in my pocket and sat down. A spun faster this time and did not attempt to experiment on different designs. I was afraid of not finishing before sunrise. But in the end I had no need to worry. I finished and escaped.

Icy Season, Twenty-Seven, Hobgoblin Year

I disguised myself as a servant and was able to go everywhere in the castle. I found the location of Balmor on a map which hung on the wall of an office. Balmor was located North West of Desolate Island, which was called Sandstorm. Kildimere was much further East. I had been right all along and the compos wrong, or at least broken. At least father had saved himself the trouble of admitting that he was wrong.

But this morning, I was listening around to make sure that Beatrice would be alright or if she would have to spin more. I soon discovered that Maverik had told her that if she spun straw into gold one more time, he would marry her. Our plans had worked! Beatrice was finally getting married. I very nearly jumped into the air and cheered.

Icy Season, Twenty-Eight, Hobgoblin Year

Yesterday I went to Beatrice at three hours before midnight, I wanted to ensure that there was plenty of time to do three bales. But I had underestimated Maverik. The whole room was full of straw. I could hardly believe my eyes. Beatrice sat in the corner in a fine dress smiling calmly. She was probably pretty sure I would come back. I scowled. There was no way I could finish this all in time.

“Give me something and I will get to work!” I barked.

“I have nothing left to give.” Beatrice said with a smile. I scowled and crossed my arms.

“Then no gold.” I said.

“I thought about it.” my sister said brazenly, “I am to be married soon if you spin all this gold, I think I shall give you my first born child.” My jaw dropped. Was my sister some kind of heartless monster?

“Um- sure.” I said, wondering if perhaps I had made a mistake.

I sat down and went to work. The wheel was going so fast I burnt my fingers several times. Beatrice kept bringing me more piles and pushing away the gold. By the time the sun had risen, I hurt so bad. I went out without a word and locked the door. I barely had time to slink into the shadows before Maverik and his entourage were coming down the hall. I could hear their excited squealing and felt pretty disgusted. I walked out of the Castle and did not stop walking until I reached my shack. Everything else was up to Beatrice.

Before I dropped onto the rough cloak which made up my bead I noticed that Calvin was in the room. Apparently he had been freed after Beatrice had supposedly spun gold.

“If we can get hold of some straw we can pay our own way home.” Ellen cried. I closed my eyes.

“No way!” I gasped, “Someone else can provide the gold. I went to sleep.

Icy Season, Thirty, Hobgoblin Year

Beatrice and Maverik were married today. The procession went right through the village. The Genie's wish had come true after all. She could have been married sooner if she had not left the Genie a lot of gray area. Calvin was less enthusiastic about going to the castle tomorrow.

“Last time I listened to you, I went to prison.” he told me.

“Yes, but that was stupid, this plan is solid.” I said, “Beatrice will even be in a good mood because she managed to get married.”

“I think Uli may be right.” Miranda said.

“I think Uli is wrong!” Ellen said bluntly.

“Why is that?” I asked red faced.

“She does not exactly like us.” Ellen pointed out, “None of us tried to be particularly nice to her.”

“What is she going to do?” I demanded angrily, “Throw us all in prison?” Ellen said nothing.

Frosterdays, Three, Long-Necked Bird Year

We ended up waiting three days before going to see Beatrice. Miranda and I convinced Calvin, but Ellen was as stubborn as ever. But when she found that the rest of us were going, she came too. We got in line to see Beatrice. Apparently there was a long line. She excepted bribes to ask Maverik things in their favor. I was very disgusted. But perhaps she had found a way to stop her husband from getting her to spin gold for him.

Calvin was first. He approached Beatrice and bowed low like everyone else had done before him. Beatrice scowled. Then she clapped her hands.

“Guards!” she snapped, “Throw these people, out!”

“Now wait one darn second!” I shouted and burst from the line. I was caught and dragged out. I could hardly believe my eyes. It took the tight grip of the guards to convince me. All four of us were tossed out without any ceremony. We were all dismayed. We were literally trapped. Without Beatrice's help there was no way home, since Balmor was an island.

Frosterdays, Four, Long-Necked Bird Year

I was on my hands and knees spreading mulch in the bluegrain beds with Lindo, Calvin and two other men, when Lindo's sister came taring through the fields trampling wintergrain and windberry bushes.

“Get out of the fields!” Lindo shouted as he stood up waving his hands wildly.

“Lindo, quick come home.” the girl shrieked, “Soldiers are attacking the village!” Calvin and I exchanged looks and headed for home.

I have a few grimy pages in my pocket and must quickly record what has taken place. I lost my diary when we were captured. I returned to the shack with Calvin and found the soldiers taking Miranda and Ellen prisoner. We started to fight and were captured too. We have been told that it is was the Queen's orders to put us to work in the deepest mines where we could never see the light of a day again. So Beatrice was as heartless and grudge holding as her uncle Won.

10 months later

Gray Time, Twenty-Four, Long-Necked Bird Year

On my seventeenth birthday, more then ten months after our capture the four of us walked back into the shack. The mine had amazingly run dry. While the slaves were being brought up and tagged for the mines someone had started a revolt and more then half the slaves had escaped. When we walked into the village our old friends surrounded us cheering. They were quite pleased that Maverik had lost not only a mine but several hundred slaves. They agreed to hide us.

When I walked into the shack, I found my diary, the pages scattered everywhere, lying face down on the floor. I quickly started writing in it. I am sure none of my brothers had it has bad as me. Shipwreck, stranded, father dying in front of me, and finally being betrayed by my own sister. I always knew Beatrice was my least favorite. Now I know why!

Gray Time, Twenty-Six, Long-Necked Bird Year

“I am done hiding from someone who owes her life to all four of us!” I shouted this afternoon, “I want revenge!”

“Revenge is wrong, Uli.” Ellen said glumly, “At least we are not giving her and the other wretch free labor any more.”

“Listen,” I cried, “The news is all over the village, that the Queen's baby is celebrating his first week as heir to Maverik.”

“So you are an uncle again, congratulations!” Ellen snapped.

“No, I am going to take that baby.” I said. The others all straightened up and stared at them.

“What are you talking about?” Calvin demanded, “You cannot go kidnap someone's child.”

“Ordinarily I would not.” I said with a grin, “But she promised to give me her first born.” I quickly explained the story.

“That is so terrible.” Miranda said softly, “The poor child!”

“We are doing it a favor!” Ellen cried, “Is that not so, Calvin.” the old guard nodded grimly.

“I am afraid so.” he said.

Gray Time, Twenty-Seven, Long-Necked Bird Year

I did end up scaling the castle walls after all. Like a thief in the night, I scrambled up the sheer wall. Ten months of scrabbling up and down rock faces one hand handed, while carving precious gems from stone and taught me a thing or two. I dodged guards, servants and nobles. I even saw Maverik. He was bragging about his son. A little boy. I wondered what the child's name was.

When I found Beatrice's room I burst in. She was in a rocking chair holding a lively bundle in her lamp. She was surrounded by laughing maids. They all stopped when I burst in. I was in full costume again.

“If one of you but raise thy voice, I shall turn them into a bloody toad!” I hissed. The maids froze.

“Oh please.” Beatrice whimpered softly, “Just go away!”

“I have come for my reward, oh princess.” I said with an evil laugh.

“I will call the guards if you do not go away!” Beatrice hissed.

“Careful lady.” I said, “You so much as breathe one word to the King I shall ruin your reputation! I shall tell him all the truth!” I was not sure what I was tarnishing her name about. It would probably only please the king if he knew her ancestry.

“Your highness.” one of the ladies whispered in terror, “This monster knows that you are from the Glitter-”

“Hush, speak no that name allowed. One of the King's spies may here.” Beatrice said with a shudder. She turned and gazed at me coldly. I was instantly excited. Could there be another reason for Beatrice's betrayal besides petty revenge?

“I know all.” I cackled.

“How you came to know that I am the daughter of the man who took the Glitterarian crown from my husband's people, I know not.” Beatrice said icily, “But this time I cannot buy my life!”

“I wont nothing!” I growled, “Except the child.” Beatrice tightened her grip on the child. I was beginning to relent. But how could I really back down without arousing suspicion?

“Very well princess.” I said, “I shall give you three nights.” I held up three fingers, “Three nights and three guess per night to guess my name. If you guess correctly, you may keep the child. If you fail on the last night, I will take the child and you shall never see him again.”

“No!” Beatrice whispered. I turned and left.

I slipped back out of the palace the way I had come. Then I went back to the shack and told the story to the others.

“You should have ransomed the kid with passage off this hole!” Calvin said. I smacked my forehead in disgust. I could not believe I had not thought about such a thing. I told them I would stay in the palace the next couple of nights to save on trips. So they should not expect me back for at least three nights.

Gray Time, Twenty-Eight, Long-Necked Bird Year

“Picoleas!” was the first name that greeted my astonished ears today. I stared at my sister in amazed wonder.

“Who names there child Picoleas?” I gasped.

“Then Renafordol.” Beatrice cried with a sob.

“Renaford maybe, but why dol on the end?” I demanded, “If that was my name, why, I would change it immediately!”

“Then Bestoronadike!” she wailed.

“You just wasted three guess!” I shouted and stormed from the room. Was Beatrice a complete nincompoop? Hopefully she would think clearer the following day. Well, on the bright side, if I did claim the child, at least I could sell him back in exchange for a ship.”

Gray Time, Twenty-Nine, Long-Necked Bird Year

“Bill!” Beatrice cried, when I entered the room. I stopped dead. Perhaps she was thinking clearly now. But why Bill, that was short for William.

“Not even close.” I said.

“Dick!”

“NO!”

“Robby?”

“Are you insane, all those were nicknames!”

Beatrice's maids whispered around her. I groaned. Was my sister a moron? Of course she was! I had figured that out yesterday.

“I should get three more guess, since I did not know nicknames counted.” Beatrice said timidly. I sighed.

“Go ahead.” I told her. She smiled.

“Zachery.”

“It does not start with Z or sound like z or anything like that.” I snapped.

“Xander!”

“That sounds like a Z.”

“Zeeruch!”

“I said no Zs!”

I finally just got up an left. My head hurt with the interview. In view of my nephew safety and future I was almost required to steal him. Surely he would be in terrible trouble if ever doomed to grow up in the care of my sister and her husband.

Gray Time, Thirty, Long-Necked Bird Year

I was excited to hear Beatrice's guesses today, as I was to be attacked by a nest full of bees. Lindo kept a nest of them in his house. I never went to see him again after that. I swear I am still covered with the stings. But enough of that. Beatrice looked up as I entered.

“Surely your name is Ariveilrealisdirebul.” she said.

“That is a girl's name!” I said dryly.

“What about Andrew?”

“No!” I sighed.

“Amen?”

“My name does not start with A.”

“Elcidor or Caspian!” she cried.

“Two guesses at once, wrong every time!” I

“Rumpelstiltskin?”

Inwardly I wondered just what dictionary Beatrice was using to get this horrible names. My hair curdled at the name Rumpelstiltskin, surely no one had ever named their child that. But I was sick of the whole situation. Yeah, lets go with that. I thought.

“Some old witch has told you!” I screamed and stomped my feet. I took great pleasure in throwing a tantrum.

“I got it!” Beatrice shrieked. Her maidens gathered around her cheering. I slipped out laughing at them. They were so stupid! They all deserved each other. But the poor little boy. I felt terribly sorry for him. Oh well, there was not much I could do without losing my sanity.

Icy Season, Five, Long-Necked Bird Year

I had it! I attacked the fields with my hoe, taring up grain as well as weeds. It took the combined effort of Calvin and three others to stop me. I was sure I had gone mad.

“Calm yourself!” Calvin shouted several times before I simply started to cry.

“I hate this place! I hate the hoe and the grain! I hate the king and the Queen's a moron! I hate this place! If we never came here, father would still be alive! If Beatrice hadn't made father mad we never would have come here!” Calvin took me to the shack where I was put to bed.

I did not sleep long. I got up and ran out. The others were holding some kind of council outside. When I came out, they looked at me warily.

“I am going home!” I said, “You all can stay here if you wish, I shall swim the Divide if I must, but I stay here!”

“What the heck is a Divide?” the villagers whispered as they gathered around. I turned and walked across the fields, through the pasture and marshes. I had my compos and used it backwards. I simply had to go South according to the compos, although it was really North. I had not been long in the marsh, when Calvin, Miranda and Ellen caught up to me.

“So yeah, lets go home!” Calvin said.

“I hate this place too!” Ellen said.

“I'm sorry.” I apologized.

“We should have walked out a year ago.” Miranda said. Side by side, the four of us headed home.

Icy Season, Six, Long-Necked Bird Year

We found a little boat tied in a stream, helped ourselves and rowed down the stream. After several hours the stream widened into a river, then ran out into a bay. We had reached the Divide. We rowed on, eating nothing but some wild berries we had collected while walking. Who knows if we would ever see the shores of the Glittering Island ever again, but at least we would die trying.

Icy Season, Nine, Long-Necked Bird Year

Praise the Heavens! Shore! We climbed ashore and were assisted by some fishermen. Fresh water and cooked food, as apposed to no water and speared raw fish. Calvin was already arranging our passage to the nearest civilized city. Guess where it was. War Camp! I was supposed to go there over a year ago! When the fishermen told Calvin that War Camp was the closest city, I burst into hysterical laughter.

Icy Season, Fourteen, Long-Necked Bird Year

We entered the War Camp city in the back of rickety carts of dried fish. To be honest, War Camp is not actually a city. At least not a proper one. The city is constructed of only pavilions and tents and covers an entire four miles of desert on the shores of the Divide. Father's soldiers train there. It also has a school. Boys as young as five are sent there to study arms and learn different fighting skills. I spent several years there. Madra does not care for the school though. She thinks boys should wait until they are eight years of age to begin studying the bloody history of weapons and how to add to the that history.

As we past the sentinels they stared. Men, boys, armed soldiers and slaves came out of the tents and pavilions and stared as we past. I imagine we were not a very pleasant sight. Also Miranda and Ellen would be the first women to enter War Camp in over a hundred years. We hopped out of the carts. Calvin stretched his muscles, then glared at the staring crowd.

“Slackers!” he snarled, “I fail on my inspection last year and you get fat and lazy!”

“It is Commander Calvin.” someone whispered, “Fetch Zeno!” I exchanged looks with my companions. We would have to tell him.

Zeno came running, half dressed in armor and carrying a razor, his face half shaved. The four of us went down on one knee.

“Hail King.” Calvin greeted him. Zeno dropped the razor.

“What happened?” he croaked.

“The King is dead!” I said. Whispers ran through the camp.

“Long live the king.” a few scattered voices managed.

Zeno did not have time to vent his surprise or emotions. I wiped the lather off his face with his sleeve and got to work.

“Bring food and drink for the travelers.” he ordered, “Rupert, Yaron fetch messengers and send them to the city immediately! Methinks that will stall the tide of rebellion.” Yaron was already writing a message on a piece of paper and Rupert ordering his horse to be saddled.

“Rebellion?” I cried, pushing away all food and drink that was being offered to me.

“You shall hear the story soon, once you have refreshed yourself.” Zeno said, as he stamped his seal on Yaron's letter.

“Hang refreshments, I am used to starving!” I shouted, “I want to know now!” Everyone stared at me. I had grown particularly loud since my adventure started.

“You sound like Beatrice.” Yaron said at last. I had to take a deep breath or I would have exploded in rage.

“Please try not to mention that traitors name!” Calvin said grimly, “We had enough of her!”

“Plainly there is more to the story then father's death.” Zeno said at last, “Come, Uli explain.” So I told everything. Nobody said anything, but Beatrice certainly received no praise. Then Zeno explained his side of the story. Not long after we had left Glittering City, also known as River City was caught up in a rebellion. Madra and Ester were held hostage in the palace. The city gates were closed. But then the rebellion sort of ended, the city gates opened and Zeno and the soldiers were able to enter. But the inhabitants claimed they were free. Madra and Ester were gone and no one knew how or where they had gone. Fiona had vanished too.

Icy Season, Seventeen, Long-Necked Bird Year, or Fox Year according to my people

Mounted on horses the four of us rode for Pearl city where the rest of our family were, except of course, for Madra and the girl twins, and father. We would never be all together again.

Icy Season, Twenty-Three, Fox Year

“What a horrible tale!” Verek said, “And we all thought you were taking it easy.” He put one hand on his wife's arm.

“Imagine if little Aladdin was forced to be in her company.”

“I feel sorry for her.” Jasmine said, “But you do realize that all the wishes true.”

“Mores the pity.” Verek said.

“Oh poor, poor Beatrice.” Anne said softly.

“Poor?” I cried.

“Nobody understood her.” Anne said.

“I for one could care less to understand her!” Deborah said cooldly.

“I understand her perfectly!” Xander spat, “She was just plain selfish!”

“Now Xander would you say the same thing to me when I acted that way?” Anastasia asked.

“You were never as selfish as Beatrice.” Xander cried angrily.

“Thank you dear.” she said with a smile.

“So now what?” Waylan asked, “How can we crown Zeno if River City is occupied by rebels?” We all exchanged looks.

“Uli, spin straw into gold, and buy the city back.” Deborah said merrily.

“Or simply find out what there demands are.” Zeno said wearily, “Perhaps we should just give the city back to the true king. The one father stole it from in the first place.”

“No!” Calvin, Ellen, Miranda and I screamed.

“What?” Zeno gaped.

“Do you know who they are?” Rupert asked.

“Maverik and Beatrice.” I sighed, “Can we just forget them! You will be doing the people of River City a favor if you reconquer them and get crowned. Trust me, I was there!”

Well, time will tell if Zeno will take my advice. Some people should never be king and that includes Maverik. Perhaps his son will be better, but I have my doubts.

Signing off with a Relief,

Uli of Glittering Island

To Be Continued

With

Diary of a Kidnapped Prince

Synopsis: 

The boy knows nothing about his past except from the hazy memories and strange dreams. But whenever the Snow Queen embraces him he remembers less. The boy is no fool and decides to write down his memories immediately, so he can remember them when all else fails. He has only two amusements in the cold palace of ice. Reading from the immense library and stealing looks in the Queen's ice bauble. But if only the people he has watched daily could speak with him in return. Perhaps then he would know who he was or why he was trapped alone with only the Queen. Does the answer lie with the strange women he watches whom he remembers in his dreams. The woman he named Mama? Or perhaps the answer lies in the Queen's own dark past.