Long ago, in a far away land (a whole state away), I wrote a story. A fairy tale, just for the fun of it, to make me chuckle and for the enjoyment of creating something. It was one of my first attempts at writing fiction. I am not going to subject you to that story as it was when I finished it. But now the book has been highly edited, and today if you subscribe to my email, you will find the edited tale popping up in Kindle format in your inbox. That’s right a story for free, just for signing up for something you can unsubscribe to whenever you choose!
There you go, that was my sales pitch, and the way to finish the story if you enjoy this snippet. Now on to a sneak peak of the work, Ye Tale of Two or How to Unmake a Dragon.
Chapter 1: Two Brothers Meet With Adventures – The Beginning
Once upon a time in a far away land, there lived an old king, named Pallentile the Third, who had two sons. His eldest son was named Henrextillee[1], and was a very sensible lad indeed! Though not averse to fun, Prince Henrextillee (or, as his brother had called him since he was able to talk, Henree) would rather spend his day in improving reading and strengthening exercises if left to himself. Thankfully he was not left to himself, for he had a younger brother, Tugentille[2]. Prince Tug (as he was fondly called by all who knew him, for his full name hardly fit the cheerful prince) was of quite a different sort then his older brother; he was fun loving, outgoing, and usually in trouble. Tug always meant well for, like his brother and father, he would never knowingly do wrong to any living creature, but somehow he never could stay out of trouble. There was the time with the butcher, when Tug had tried to help with the deliveries. Mrs. Packard received Mr. Felbert’s dog’s horse meat in place of her mutton, and Mr. Felbert received Mrs. Packard’s mutton on the jaw when Tug tripped over his dog. If Henree hadn’t stepped in and used his allowance to pay for the damage, I fear Tug would have received more than a dressing down from his father. It was usually Henree who set things right for his impetuous brother. They were great friends, even though they were of such different characters and looks (Henree was a very handsome young man indeed, while Tug had a very large head, was rather short, and had a nose which didn’t quite match his face; Tug was in fact a pleasantly ugly young man). The princes were as close as ever two brothers were, and the king loved them both dearly.
Now, it was the custom in this land that when its princes reach a certain age they are sent to find a maiden in distress to save and to wed. Henree had reached this age, and was duly given a sword, a white charger (a lovely stallion named Dexterous), blessed by his father, and sent on his way. By good fortune, or perhaps not so good as events will tell, Henree had not been searching for more than a week when he discovered an ugly black cottage deep in a forest. Being weary with riding, the prince dismounted and knocked on the door. A young maiden opened it almost at once. (She was not particularly lovely, having a nose that didn’t seem to fit her face, but Henree was used to such noses, and having lived with a beloved brother with just such a nose, he rather liked it.)
The maiden, whose name Henree came to find by and by was Adel, looked very surprised when she saw Henree standing there.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “You’re not the evil fairy!” It was Henree’s turn to look surprised.
“Where you expecting an evil fairy?” he remarked.
“I fear so,” answered Adel with a woebegone look.
“I beg your pardon, I don’t mean to intrude, but are you in distress?” asked Henree hopefully. He was not much on adventuring and was ready to return to his father and brother. And somehow even though he had just met her, the prince had an inkling this might be just the sort of maiden he would like for a wife.
“I suppose I am. I was out riding last week and was seized by an evil fairy. She’s quite young; it’s her first kidnapping, and she has no idea how to entertain a princess!”
“Would you like me to save you? Before you answer, know that you must marry me if I do. If we find ourselves in agreement on a few basic points, and your father approves, of course.”
“Do you want to marry me?” Adel asked with a pretty blush.
“Frightfully!”
“Very well then, I am yours to rescue!”
And that was that. Henree came inside and they waited for the evil fairy to return. Presently she did, and Henree informed her that he was there to rescue this maiden. Then he called Dexterous, set Adel on his back, mounted behind her and rode home. You see, in that land when a prince arrives to save a damsel, whoever has that damsel, whether evil fairy, troll, or ogre, must hand her over to him, if the damsel chooses to be rescued by that particular prince.
On the ride home, Henree and Adel found they were in agreement on what they considered “the essentials,” and also that each was quite pleased with the other. Tug and the old king were impresed that Henree had met with success so soon, and were delighted with Adel. They dispatched a message post haste to Adel’s father, asking for his permission for Henree to marry his daughter. Her father and mother came in person to answer this question, approved Henree very highly, and gave their blessing. The marriage was set for Tuesday (this being Thursday; things of this sort are done very swiftly there) and the invitations were sent out.
Everything was in fact, proceeding smoothly and happily when suddenly, Henree disappeared! He had planned to go riding with Tug and Adel, but he never arrived at the stables. The doorman had seen him leave the castle and begin walking in the direction of the stables, but he hadn’t noticed if the prince had arrived there or not. Dexterous was still in his stall, so Henree couldn’t have gone riding (he never would have taken another horse, if the choice was left to him). A hue and cry was immediately raised, and everyone searched high and low for Prince Henree. But by the next morning he was still not to be found. Finally Tug, his father, Adel, and her parents, all met in the great hall to discuss their plans. Adel was nearly distracted, she had never dreamed of being rescued by anyone quite as wonderful as Henree and now he was gone! Tug, in his usual bumbling way, tried to console her with such things as, “He’s probably just fallen down an old well and broken a leg of two.” Or, “I’m sure he’s all right! Of course, he’s never wandered off like this before and I can’t imagine his doing it if the choice was left in his own hands, but I’m sure he’ll turn up!” Which of course upset the poor princess even more. The old king finally put a stop to it.
“Well, if he doesn’t turn up,” he remarked to his youngest son, “you had best start being a bit more sensible, lad. You’ll be the next king!” As he had thought, that quieted Tug immediately. Tug had always been very glad he was the second son and wouldn’t have to worry about being king one day; the thought that he might have to after all made the young prince very thoughtful. “There’s only one thing to be done,” he thought, “I’ll simply have to go find Henree!” And with his usual impetuosity, he proceeded to carry out his idea. He leapt up, startling everyone in the hall, and ran up to his room to fetch his sword, monthly allowance, and cloak. He was so absorbed in planning his direction he didn’t hear his father ask him what he was about, and he didn’t think to tell him. He fetched his things, ran to the stable, leapt on Dexterous, and trotted away. Tug had no idea where he was going. He just had the general idea of riding about the countryside till he found his brother. He really was beginning to worry about Henree; it was not at all like him to disappear. “Now if it was myself missing,” thought Tug, “Father wouldn’t be quite so worried. Well, he would be worried for other reasons, I suppose. He and Henree would simply recall the times that I’ve wandered off during hunting parties, or at the town fair, or when–” His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a gruff voice, from somewhere near Dexterous’ ankles.
“I would ride home if I were ye, young sir!”
“What was that?” asked Tug, none to courteously.
“I believe it was a hedgehog, sire,” answered Dexterous. Oh! I beg your pardon, dear reader, I fear that I have not yet mentioned that in this land, the animals (and most of the plants) can talk just as well as you or I. Tug directed his gaze downward and soon discovered the speaker.
“I give you good day, master hedgehog! I beg your pardon, but I did not catch your saying of a moment ago,” said the young prince.
“I said, ye’d best turn back, the twain o’ ya, if ye’n don’t wish to be food for yon dragon!” responded the hedgehog. He gave a terrified snuffle, his little black nose trembling with the force of it.
[1] Pronounced, Hen-REX-till-ee
[2] Pronounced Tug-en-till-ay