of years ago. Before man came to rule the earth.”
“More stories,” Elissa said.
The prince allowed himself to smile. “They are our legends. The stories are passed down from one generation to the next. But they are not just children’s stories. They are stories of our people.”
“What is that,” Elissa said, pointing at what appeared to be a large cat.
“It is called a tiger.”
“It looks like a cat, but with very long teeth. And much bigger.”
“That I have seen.”
Elissa snapped her head around. “A cat, that big?”
“Not alive, but its pelt. A trader from the far west came through some years ago selling furs from animals such as this. My father purchased it and he is now, in fact, sleeping underneath it. And it’s really not a cat. It looks like one, but the trader described it as a ferocious beast.”
“Like your dragon?”
“No, of course not. A dragon is much more dangerous!”
They continued walking through the plaza, chatting about the rest of the sculptures and not much else. Elissa actually found the prince’s company enjoyable, which continued to surprise her. He had always been portrayed as a stoic soldier who killed Karmons indiscriminately. She did find him a bit stiff, but he smiled just enough and was just pleasant enough to be likable. And that scared her. She knew that at some point, she would have to really consider whether or not their kingdoms should be joined by marriage and if she actually liked him, it might make the decision that much easier. Or harder.
As they were admiring a sculpture of two swans facing one another, a young page, underdressed for winter, came running up to them. By the time he had reached them, he was out of breath, so it took him several tries to spit out his message.
“The king,” the boy said, gulping for air. “They say his life is failing. You are to come at once.”
Prince Toknon, without another word, took off running for the palace, leaving Queen Elissa and the page standing underneath the twin swans.
***
The page took it upon himself to lead the queen back to the palace. As soon as they reached the palace, an older gentlemen apologized profusely for the prince’s quick exit and guided them through the palace to the king’s chambers.
A number of people were standing outside, talking in hushed voices. As soon as the queen approached, they all became silent and turned towards her.
A young lady stepped forward and whispered to her, “The prince has requested that you join him in the king’s chamber.”
Toknon rose from the king’s bedside as soon as Elissa entered. His eyes were red and tears stained his cheek. She found it surprising and actually attractive that he had been crying over his father’s health.
“Is he…?” Elissa asked as delicately as she could.
“He is awake. Come. He wishes to see you.”
Elissa slowly stepped forward. The door behind her closed, and she glanced back at it. She was all alone, except for the prince and the king. She felt uncomfortable in the presence of the king, which she knew was silly. She still found it odd that she was the ruler of a kingdom.
King Lorraine was propped up by a large, fluffy pillow. His face was winkled and worn, and his skin had an ashen tint to it. His eyes were as red as Toknon’s, but not because he had been crying. His grey hair had been trimmed short and was brushed back. He lifted a hand from under the covers, which Elissa took.
“My lady,” the king said with a scratchy voice. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I trust your father is well.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He continued slowly, almost painfully, “He and I never met, but through messenger. I can say he is a good man. I wish it were he that had paid a visit to me. Please tell him he should come once the snows are gone.”
“He remembers little,” Toknon said with a whisper.
The king
“More stories,” Elissa said.
The prince allowed himself to smile. “They are our legends. The stories are passed down from one generation to the next. But they are not just children’s stories. They are stories of our people.”
“What is that,” Elissa said, pointing at what appeared to be a large cat.
“It is called a tiger.”
“It looks like a cat, but with very long teeth. And much bigger.”
“That I have seen.”
Elissa snapped her head around. “A cat, that big?”
“Not alive, but its pelt. A trader from the far west came through some years ago selling furs from animals such as this. My father purchased it and he is now, in fact, sleeping underneath it. And it’s really not a cat. It looks like one, but the trader described it as a ferocious beast.”
“Like your dragon?”
“No, of course not. A dragon is much more dangerous!”
They continued walking through the plaza, chatting about the rest of the sculptures and not much else. Elissa actually found the prince’s company enjoyable, which continued to surprise her. He had always been portrayed as a stoic soldier who killed Karmons indiscriminately. She did find him a bit stiff, but he smiled just enough and was just pleasant enough to be likable. And that scared her. She knew that at some point, she would have to really consider whether or not their kingdoms should be joined by marriage and if she actually liked him, it might make the decision that much easier. Or harder.
As they were admiring a sculpture of two swans facing one another, a young page, underdressed for winter, came running up to them. By the time he had reached them, he was out of breath, so it took him several tries to spit out his message.
“The king,” the boy said, gulping for air. “They say his life is failing. You are to come at once.”
Prince Toknon, without another word, took off running for the palace, leaving Queen Elissa and the page standing underneath the twin swans.
***
The page took it upon himself to lead the queen back to the palace. As soon as they reached the palace, an older gentlemen apologized profusely for the prince’s quick exit and guided them through the palace to the king’s chambers.
A number of people were standing outside, talking in hushed voices. As soon as the queen approached, they all became silent and turned towards her.
A young lady stepped forward and whispered to her, “The prince has requested that you join him in the king’s chamber.”
Toknon rose from the king’s bedside as soon as Elissa entered. His eyes were red and tears stained his cheek. She found it surprising and actually attractive that he had been crying over his father’s health.
“Is he…?” Elissa asked as delicately as she could.
“He is awake. Come. He wishes to see you.”
Elissa slowly stepped forward. The door behind her closed, and she glanced back at it. She was all alone, except for the prince and the king. She felt uncomfortable in the presence of the king, which she knew was silly. She still found it odd that she was the ruler of a kingdom.
King Lorraine was propped up by a large, fluffy pillow. His face was winkled and worn, and his skin had an ashen tint to it. His eyes were as red as Toknon’s, but not because he had been crying. His grey hair had been trimmed short and was brushed back. He lifted a hand from under the covers, which Elissa took.
“My lady,” the king said with a scratchy voice. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I trust your father is well.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He continued slowly, almost painfully, “He and I never met, but through messenger. I can say he is a good man. I wish it were he that had paid a visit to me. Please tell him he should come once the snows are gone.”
“He remembers little,” Toknon said with a whisper.
The king
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