 Hans Christian Andersen is as famous as the Brothers Grimm. Born in Denmark in 1805, he was a poet, author and playwrite. His fairytales are his most famous works and they include The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen and The Ugly Duckling.
Like the Grimm brothers, few of his stories ended well. The Little Mermaid did not end up with the handsome prince, instead he married another and she threw herself into the sea in despair. Other stories like The Little Match Girl have an equally sad end. He is revered in his home town and the statue above is dedicated to him. Hans Christian Andersen had a troubled love life and he passed away in 1875 from liver cancer. He will always be remembered for his fairy tales.
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 1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
Snow White And the seven dwarfs. I always liked that one. 2) What makes your story unique? It has become a funny revers-harem story where Snow is a bad-ass sexually prolific princess, the wolves are vegan, the stepmother is a doll and the prince is gay. There were so many options I really had to reign myself in to make sure that I didn’t include every single fairy tale character into the one story. I had a blast writing it. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? Cinderella, because she wins in the end, despite all the issues she has to go through, and I like the idea of a fairy godmother. 4) Who was your favorite villain? The Beast in Beauty and the Beast. I like the big surly types. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? This is a standalone in the fairy tale retellings. I generally write dark Urban Fantasy. Though I really did have a lot of fun writing this story, so you never know. I just might have the fairy-tale bug now. I liked combining the fairy tale with shapeshifters; my usual genre. It was also a lot of fun to do a humorous story instead of my usual dark fantasy.  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
Angela Kulig (my co-author) decided on Aladdin, but not the Disney retelling. A dark and twisted retelling of our own. We joined a shared world called, Never After Tales, and the cover, Angela K. chose (because it is gorgeous!) and then asked me to co-write with her. As for me, it was simple: one of my little sister’s favorite movies was Aladdin, and the opportunity to retell it in a way with shifters and mystery and intrigue, where a princess doesn’t need saving? Well, that was our idea of a fairytale worth retelling with its own spin: a princess as the hero. 2) What makes your story unique? It’s unlike any Aladdin retelling ever told. As I mentioned in the previous question, Princess Cyra doesn’t need saving, she can save herself. But, there are things that come about she doesn’t foresee… and, she has a power passed down to her from her mother. A sacred power through an amulet. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? Cinderella. I watched it over and over with my mamaw (grandmother), and she just loved the little mice. She collected ceramic figurines of mice, and to this day, they’re still on her wooden shelves in her kitchen, although she passed in 2011. Most of my greatest childhood memories are with her, and watching Cinderella when I was little, singing along at her by my side while we folded laundry, or she just hugged me close. I miss her. 4) Who was your favorite villain? Now, as an adult, I have to say Maleficent, although she’s truly not a villain. She made up for her evil ways in the end. But it would have to be her. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? It’s standalone, but it can be read with all of the other books in the Never After Tales collection, and in any order.  1) What fairytale have you chosen to retell and why? My first fairytale retelling is my version of Little Red Riding Hood as a response to Angela Carter’s own retelling called The Company of Wolves. In The Girl with the Red Hood, I give my vision of feminine power when faced with male predators. I love Angela Carter’s rewritings and retellings of fairy tales, but this one caused such a reaction in me, because it angered me that the girl would give herself away so easily. Turns out, her version was hitting too close to home… but it prompted this story that I love. 2) What makes your story unique? I would say the style. It’s quite dark and gruesome, as fairy tales used to be, but with a bit more details in the horror department. Also, my treatment of wolves is quite unique, as I give them their real purpose back. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? It has always been Little Red Riding Hood, and somehow, I’ve always known that wolves could never be so big and bad – only humans can. But the foundation of the tale and its morality have always rung true in my heart: beware of men who can’t control their urges, because they’ll do you wrong and say it was your fault for dressing up like a woman of little virtue… Well, I’ve twisted the morality to fit it to the reality anyway! 4) Who was your favorite villain? In old fairytales, I used to love the old hag that tries to eat Hansel and Gretel. But my favorite villain ever in a fairytale retelling has to be Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She’s so grand and sassy, big and bold! 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? This one is a standalone short story, but I have other retellings in the work, about Sleeping Beauty. I’m preparing a collection of short stories where I will rewrite and retell the tale from every angle, much like Angela Carter has done before. I want to find out if this tale can survive the age of #MeToo, from the kiss stolen without consent to the lesser known version of the tale in which the princess is actually raped while she sleeps…  The Girl with the Red Hood Excerpt
Some say that wolves are cruel and cunning creatures; that they will not feel remorse or even compassion when they rip open the throat of their innocent victims; that they actually take pleasure in killing and mutilating. They say that wolves’ eyes glow red in the light in anticipation of the blood they yearn to spill; that they lurk in the dark, just out of sight, along lonely streets or forest paths, waiting for lovely young women or candid children to pass by, lusting for their silky flesh. Wolves are deemed to be subordinates of the Devil, spawns of Evil, companions of nightmares and mates of shadows, murderous beasts. Their howl can pierce the bravest most righteous man straight through the heart and make him doubt of his own sanity and virtue. It can freeze the fiercest army in its charge and make a slaughterer waver in his chopping. It resounds with the memories of long forgotten times fraught with darkness and folly, when humanity was not yet a concept and the animal was within us all. *** Bio: International author born in Switzerland of a Dutch mother and a Romanian father, Jude Cocaigne finds her calling after binge reading all of Terry Pratchett's work. Fantasy is her realm, with dashes of romance and a bit of horror at times. Her first published piece (in the CEA Greatest Anthology Written, aimed at a Guinness World of Records), the short story The Girl with the Red Hood, is a retelling of a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood by Angela Carter. Drawing on Carter's original idea, but adding gruesome details and an even deeper twist, Jude Cocaigne unleashed her talents and her voice. Her next published piece, a novella called The Elf Girl and the Prince (in the limited edition boxed set Once Upon Another World), is a dab at romance and fairy tales of another kind, and introduces Ze World, a planet in which many more adventures will take place in the near future, as a Fantasy series is already in the making.  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
The Dragon Princess is Sleeping Beauty (with a subtle dash of Frozen) The Siren Princess is Little Mermaid (with a blend of Peter Pan) The Beast Princess is Beauty and the Beast Book 4 is Snow White (coming summer 2020) Book 5 isn’t really a retelling in the typical sense, but follows the villain throughout the series (coming fall 2020) 2) What makes your story unique? My fairytales aren’t typical retellings the way others see a retelling, which is why I say “reimagined” on my covers. For example, with Sleeping Beauty, the princess (Elisa) is the dragon, the prince has narcolepsy, and her and her sisters are based on the three fairies. In Siren Princess, Odette is the Ariel character, but she’s a pirate with a love/hate relationship with James Hook. Scuttle is her BFF, and so on. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? Does “The Hobbit” count? Haha My favorite is Beauty and the Beast because it’s the first story I had hear where the prince and princess actually fell in love. Bell was the first strong Disney princess I had seen (and she wasn’t even a princess until she married him!). 4) Who was your favorite villain? If we’re sticking with Disney villains, I adore Hades. If you want to be technical with Marvel now being Disney, Loki. But from fairytales I like the witch from Snow White. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? As you saw above, The Forgotten Kingdom Series has 5 total books (book 4 will hopefully release in June, book 5 hopefully August).  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
I chose to retell the Grimm fairytale "All Kinds of Fur." It goes by many other names but the gist of it is that a runaway princess always wears a fur coat to hide her identity. Under the employment of a prince, she dresses in three beautiful gowns during his balls and he vows to learn who she is. My version takes the coat and dresses and turns them into different forms someone takes in order to exact revenge. I've always been interested in Irish mythology and wanted a new way to tell this awesome fairytale using that. So my version is about a hellhound who is chosen to kill a human king for revenge and is given different forms to let herself get close to him, including that of a young woman. 2) What makes your story unique? While I see many stories that reference the fae out there, I don't see many that try to adhere to the true mythology of the old stories. I try to weave the original flavor of ancient Irish beliefs into something relatable today. It's a challenge but totally worth it! 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? "All Kinds of Fur" was always a favorite of mine, but I also loved reading the story of King Thrushbeard, the king who pretended to be a poor man in order to humble his proud princess bride. The way they fall for one another and become so compatible is great, and I love the transformation of the princess from a horrible person into someone humble and hard-working. In fairytales, it's usually the men who have to change, but this was a fun turn on that. 4) Who was your favorite villain? As a kid, the archetype of the Wicked Stepmother always scared and intrigued me. Here was a woman who was supposed to love and protect you and she ended up being the most dangerous thing in your life. I always found that dichotomy so fascinating. Of all the Wicked Stepmother, I have to go classic and say Cinderella's stepmother is so delightfully horrible! 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? This book is technically a standalone, but it is in the same universe as other Irish stories I plan to publish after this. They all fall under a series/universe that I call The Golden Court and feature stories throughout Irish history and mythology. These characters in "She of the Many Skins" do come back in other stories so stay tuned!  No fairytale heroine would be complete without a worthy adversary. Who is your favorite fairytale villain? Who stands out the most?
This is our list of the top five villains - 1) Maleficient - While the recent films have painted her as a hero rather than a villain, there is no doubt that Maelficient makes a great foe. She is powerful, strong and she can turn into a dragon! 2) The Evil Queen - The original Disney villain, she is vain, heartless and wants her precious stepdaughter dead. Though she doesn't get the ending she deserves in Disney, she does lose when Snow White is awoken by the prince and they marry. 3) Ursula - The sea witch claims to want to help poor mermaids to find their bliss, but we know she likes to trick them and keep them for herself. Ruthless and cunning, she is brought down by Prince Eric when he spears her with the broken hull of his ship. 4) Lady Tremaine - She keeps her stepdaughter as a slave, making her clean the house and wear rags, but Cinderella gets the last laugh. An ambitious woman, she is all about appearances. 5) Cruella De Ville - She turns puppies into fashion items, does it get anymore evil than that? A fashion icon, she has no trouble in resorting to extreme measures to look good.  1) What fairytale (s) have you chosen to retell and why?
Snow White. People used to compare me to her when I was a child, always remarking how good she was and how that made her even more beautiful. Deep inside, I always questioned those arguments and asked myself: what if Snow was a regular flawed human being? Then came the opportunity to tell that story, and of course I jumped on it! 2) What makes your story unique? It’s the fact that Snow is an imperfect woman. She’s faced with the loss of her parents at a very young age and that scars her heart, transforming her into a wary person, unable to open her heart completely for fear of being hurt again. At the same time, she’s a woman who lives on the edge and wants to experiment all life has to offer because if there’s one thing she’s learned is that life is too short and everything can go away in a blink. Then, of course, we have The Seven, a posy of rebel mages who defied the rules of Magic. Forced into a mercenary life, they’ve set their lair deep in the Black Forest, where their paths will soon meet Snow’s. There is more than meets the eye to Prince Ashton Charming. He’s become somewhat of The Seven’s protégé. Ashton’s secrets have cast him out of his home, Thorn Hall, and may threaten Snow’s purpose to defeat The Evil Queen. Snow, Charming, The Seven… my perfectly imperfect characters struggle for redemption. They want to make right out of their curses. And who knows? Maybe they will. You can download Chapter One of Ash and Snow here: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/KUH7FqFO And watch the book trailer here: https://youtu.be/eLTBJc3S3l4 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? Sleeping Beauty. I’ve always rooted for the bad guy. The aesthetic of Maleficent’s realm and her as a character always appealed to me, and it still does. Look for this retelling in my Cursed Kingdom’s series soon! 4) Who was your favorite villain? Maleficent. She’s everything an empowered woman should be: mighty powerful, determined, assertive… and can turn herself into a dragon if the occasion calls for it! Lol. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? Ash and Snow: The Curse of the White Throne is book one of the Cursed Kingdom series. I can tell you the name of book two. “Belle and Beast: The Curse of the Black Keep” which is in the works at the moment.  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why? Queen of Clockwork (https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Clockwork-Wonderland-retelling-Fairytales-ebook/dp/B081XZNMZH/ ) is the first of four books set 18 years after the hapy ever after of the Alice in Wonderland story. These four books can be read as a standalone series but are also part of an epic 52-book Kingdom of Fairytales series, set in the after ever after of twelve different fairytales. I wanted to be a part of this amazing project with J.A Armitage and a bunch of other authors, because it is a really different way of bringing these stories to readers—one book per week, one chapter per day, for a whole year. It’s possible for readers to follow along with the story in real time. When I came on board at the beginning of the project, I chose the Alice in Wonderland story to retell, because I love the craziness of Alice in Wonderland, as well as the silliness and the imagination of the original version. The original story provides plenty of latitude to take it and make it your own. 2) What makes your story unique? In my story, Alice is a secondary character as the story focuses on her daughter, Miss. Ivy Rowntree. Ivy is an inspector charged with upholding the city’s strict esthetic code, a legacy of the late Queen of Hearts. Her true passion lies with making pocket watches—she’s never met a watch she couldn’t fix, or a puzzle she couldn’t solve. I love Ivy—she’s smart, she can’t leave a puzzle alone, and she won’t stop until she finds the answers she’s looking for. The genre is steampunk—a sub-genre of fantasy inspired by 19th century Victorian-era industry and steam-powered machinery. As a reader, I love steampunk and I’ve always wanted to write a story within the sub-genre. An Alice in Wonderland retelling really lends itself to steampunk—the characters have impeccable manners and style, the world contains plenty of crazy inventions, but the story retains the craziness and silliness of the original, and I’ve added a dash of magic, too! 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? When I was young, I loved the Disney version of the Little Mermaid. I remember watching it when it first came out (that probably dates me!!) and I wanted to be Ariel. I loved the romance, but mostly I loved the world-building and the idea that whole cities of mermaids existed under the sea. However, instead of the way the movie ended, I wanted the prince to be granted a tail and go to live under the sea with Ariel, not the other way around! 4) Who was your favorite villain? Villains are often underappreciated, but I love a well-done villain! I’m always interested in the backstory of a villain—I love to work out what makes them tick. As a villain, I really like the Queen of Hearts, because she’s unpredictable, illogical, flippant and whimsical, with absolutely no regard for the lives of others. To me, this seems like a very dangerous combination. It’s hard to outsmart someone when you don’t know what makes them tick, or what they will do next, or what they will do to the next person who might just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a writer, it is fascinating to imagine her backstory and why she would have become the way she is. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? There are four books in the Queen of Clockwork series:
These books can be read as a standalone series, but is also part of a larger Kingdom of Fairytales story that started with Queen of Dragons (a Sleeping Beauty retelling): https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Dragons-Sleeping-retelling-Fairytales-ebook/dp/B07YF55N8S/ I’m not done with fairytales yet! I’m also releasing another book next year in 2021 as part of Enchanted Kingdoms: a limited edition twisted fairytale anthology (https://books2read.com/enchantedkingdoms/ ). This set contains 20 retellings of different fairytales by different authors. I’m contributing a retelling of Aladdin. I’m really excited for about this project as I get to work with another bunch of great authors and proceeds will go to Puzzle Peace United, a children’s autism charity.  Zara Quentin is a YA fantasy and fairytale author of female-led stories of action and adventures set in fantastical new worlds, usually with a sprinkle of magic and a dash of romance. Zara loves reading, travelling, strong coffee and dark chocolate. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children, and can often be found exploring the wonderful worlds of her imagination.
 Leo
The sights and sounds of Farrador were more interesting than I expected. I wished I could have leisurely explored the countryside, though the unrest along the fae-human border didn’t allow it. Bethonia needed an alliance quickly. Too many lives were at risk, and my father was counting on me. However, my guardsman and I had traveled fast with barely a rest over the past two weeks. And, since the castle was in sight, and it was such a beautiful day, there wouldn’t be any harm in strolling through the market for a while before we announced ourselves. It would give me a break to relax and clear my thoughts before I began negotiations. All business and no play or some such saying came to mind. “The castle is right there, Leo. Let’s go, get this meeting over with, and then you can come back and explore on our way home. It’s why we’ve come so far, isn’t it? The faster we prove that the fae king won’t allow his daughter to marry a human prince, the faster we can be on our way.” Brom’s complaints were abundant, but I’d learned to ignore them throughout the years of our friendship. “The sun is shining, there’s beauty everywhere. Enjoy a few minutes of this with me. There’s no harm in taking in the sights. Smell that fresh bread!” I draped my arm over his shoulder, which was easy since he was a good four inches shorter than my six-foot frame. “I’d rather have gone to the border and earned our glory in the battles, too. But, if duty is about to string me up onto the gallows of marriage, I will enjoy a bit of the journey before I hang.” Brom sighed with a shake of his head. “Just try to behave yourself. We don’t know the customs of this fief. The king may not take kindly to you flirting with all the maidens.” I’d already stopped listening. His argument was always the same. “Hello, there.” I greeted a youthful woman with a basket over her arm. She had beautiful lilac-colored skin and opalescent wings rested down the back of her dress. Let Brom say what he wanted, but every lass enjoyed a compliment. I lingered at a table filled with intricately carved jewelry. Several pieces had dazzling stones that in my homeland only nobility could afford, yet there they sat, as trinkets. I examined a brooch perfect for my mother. My usual charming smile in place, I asked for the price. An older gentleman in the booth, whose horns curled around the sides of his head like obsidian glass, answered me. “It’s fifteen jarmas, my kind sir.” “A fine price. Would you be willing to accept Bethonian coin? I’m traveling and have not exchanged my funds into fae currency as yet.” “Few humans enter our realm for commerce. Unfortunately, that means their coin doesn’t have much value here. If you see the numalari who presides over the market, he may help you.” “Thank you, that’s most helpful. Would you mind pointing me toward this individual?” I found the fae to be fascinating and polite. Though I often saw a gleam in their countenance which I suspected was excitement from seeing a human, since relations between our realms had become rare. “You see? We can’t even buy lunch. Let’s head straight to the castle,” Brom whispered as I moved to the next stall. I saw no reason to alter my plans. “I’ve never seen you two here before, are you new to town?” A voice rang into my ears as if an angel had spoken from heaven. Turning, I met the smiling face of a fae maiden who appeared near my age. Sparkling sapphire eyes mesmerized me so much I couldn’t find my voice. It took a sharp jab to my ribs from Brom before I shook myself out of the daze. “We are indeed. My friend and I are on a journey through Farrador. It’s most fortunate we stopped by this market today.” “Oh? Why’s that? Is it so different from the markets of Bethonia?” There was an air about her unlike other maidens I’d met. She held her shoulders back with confidence and met my gaze as strong as any man. “It’s the most impressive I’ve seen. Full of wonder and beauty that’s unparalleled in my travels so far.” She didn’t shy away at my obvious attempt at flattery, but arched a brow and smiled wider. “Is that so? I don’t see that you’ve made any purchases yet for being so impressed. You should try Miriam’s cava rolls, they’re delightful.” She pointed to a steaming tray of rolled pastries sitting on a table in front of a rotund woman with a goatee. A grin, missing several teeth, greeted me with what I assumed counted as a curtsy, when I glanced at her. Quickly greeting the merchant, I returned my gaze to the fair-haired maiden. “It seems I need to meet someone called the numalari to have the proper payment first.” “Hmm.” The woman twisted her lips and shrugged at the merchant. “Handsome, but penurious—how sad. Allow me to purchase one for you, they’re my favorite snack, and it would be a shame for you to miss out on them.” She handed the woman three coins from the pocket of her skirt before I could stop her. “I assure you miss, I’m fully funded. It’s just that my coin is from the human realm.” I took the warm offering she handed me while I made my protest. She leaned around and handed one to Brom as well, though only gave him a quick nod before returning her attention to me. “That’s good to hear. I’d hate for you to get into any trouble. The fae lands are not safe for the unprepared. How long will you be our guest?” “We haven’t decided yet,” Brom mumbled with his mouth full. “Our itinerary is open. I like to make sure I have time for whatever may arise. Do you have any suggestions for what entertainment we should take in while visiting?” Truthfully, we had to get to the castle, but I could spare some time for the woman in front of me. The maiden strolled toward the next booth, and I followed. “You seem like a man who can find his way into many entertaining situations.” She nodded a greeting to the next merchant and held up a hand, seemingly to prevent the woman from speaking. The gesture was one of authority and piqued my curiosity. “I’ve been remiss and haven’t introduced myself. My name is Leo, and this is Brom.” I swept my hand toward him without looking. “I’m his—” Brom stumbled to finish his sentence after I threw him a quick glare, “Friend.” I preferred to speak with the lass as an equal. Dressed in our riding clothes, there was nothing to identify my royal status, and I wanted to keep it that way. “It’s nice to meet you both.” She flashed another grin. “I’m curious what brings a human on such a lengthy journey? It can’t be just to sample the street food.” My pulse raced while I studied her elegant neck and pertly pointed ears. The question she asked nearly escaped me, and I stuffed my mouth with pastry until I remembered what she’d said. “I’m hoping for an audience with the king.” Brom grumbled, but I saw no harm in giving my intentions to an innocent young woman. “How do you propose that will happen? There’s so much unrest along the borders of our lands lately, he might find it suspicious that a random Bethonian appears on his doorstep.” She surprised me. I found it refreshing that she had such an intellectual observation. Most maidens I’d spoken with didn’t have the least concern about politics. I hesitated with my answer because suddenly the truth of my mission became an anvil on my chest. Before I said anything, though, the merchant scurried out from behind her table and took hold of the maiden’s arm. “You must go now, miss.” The woman’s eyes were wide and insistent. The maiden scanned the area and gasped, then hurried away without a word. I swiveled my neck each way, searching for what startled her. “Wait! I don’t know your name!” I tried to follow her, but every towns person seemed to have an instant need to step into my way. She ducked around a booth, and I lost her in the crowd. “That was interesting,” Brom said next to me. “I wonder what made her run off so fast?” On my right, the crowd thinned, and two soldiers appeared. They seemed as frustrated as I was by the peasantry’s movements. “That’s enough excitement for today, don’t you agree? We should speak with them about an escort into the castle for your meeting with the king.” Brom sighed, sounding relieved. It was impressive that my friend was an excellent swordsman because he wasn’t much of an adventurer. Though I didn’t argue about leaving. My desire to speak with any other female had dissolved into nothing. I’d speak with the king, but what I needed to know was the name of the beguiling maiden. Ettie It was a familiar drill and all the townsfolk knew it. Whenever father discovered I wasn’t in my rooms, he sent guards to search for me. The villagers helped hide me so often they had it timed like a dance. Sweeping me into their fold each time, and helping me disappear back to the castle as if I never left. Leo shouted as I slipped out of sight. Enjoyable as the conversation with the handsome traveler had been, it was best that I didn’t dwell on his lovely cornflower-blue eyes any longer. It was necessary to hurry back faster than usual. Father was more insistent that I stayed hidden away since he had arranged my betrothal. I didn’t agree to the wretched marriage, nor would I. Father wasn’t acting like himself lately, and this commitment was the biggest clue something was wrong. We’d had many discussions over the last few years regarding letting me choose a husband for myself, if I married at all. Then suddenly, after one meeting with his former advisor, I was engaged against my will. It fueled my desire to exert my independence. In the village, everyone treated me as an equal, and understood that I deserved to experience the world around me. I wished I had time to stop and speak with Amara at The Wooden Bridge. The owner of the tavern had been like a mother to me since I’d never known my own. We could discuss the reasons a charming human had shown up in our realm. When I spoke to Leo of the border disputes, I divulged nothing about the attacks happening on the Western seas. Threats were coming from too many directions lately. Anyone who arrived uninvited to the castle would not be welcomed by my father. “Ettie, wait!” I hesitated at the next corner and waited for an all-clear signal from Tamar, who watched my escape route from her window above the livery stables. After she waved me on, I rushed down the alley on my way to the inner keep wall. I hurried between cottages to stay out of the open until I was at the wall’s ivy-covered break. Moving the leaves carefully aside, I slipped through, making sure nothing looked disturbed. Once back inside, I hustled to the kitchens where the maids had created a hidden area in the dry goods pantry for me to change. That’s where I had left my gown. “Princess, there you are!” Maude fanned herself with a shaky hand. “I was in the village as usual, what’s the fuss? I expected to stay later than this. Why did father send the guards?” Maude hastened me to the secret room and helped me untie my apron. She then held my gown in the air, ready to slide it over my head after I slipped out of my simple frock. “There’s a visitor expected who the king doesn’t trust. He became very upset when he found your room empty. He even started ranting that someone might have kidnapped you.” “That’s absurd. Why is he acting so strangely?” I decided not to tell Maude about meeting Leo. “Your father has been ill-tempered since his meeting with Rothbart.” She’d seen it too, then. I wiggled the gown into proper position, and Maude laced up the back. My hair was still in its braid, and I worked on letting it loose. As soon as Maude finished with the laces, she took over for me. Her expert fingers had my hair unbound in no time, then reformed into the proper style with only the front pulled away from my face. Just enough to allow the points of my ears to show. “Thank you.” I spun and raced to my room, but Maude called me back. She cradled my silver tiara in both hands like a fragile baby bird. “Don’t forget this!” “Oh, right.” I grabbed it from her and squished it over my head to rest above my brows. When I made it into the passage that led from the library, I slowed to a calm, collected walk. Anyone who happened upon me would have to believe my story—I’d been reading all afternoon. At the end of the corridor, the grand staircase leading to my rooms was on the right, but voices came from father’s meeting chamber to the left. The place where he did business when he didn’t want the court’s audience. For a second, I considered rushing to my bedroom, and waiting for a guard to find me. Then I’d listen to him harp on how he’d searched everywhere and couldn’t have missed me. Sometimes I enjoyed watching the pompous aristocrats, who clamored to join father’s guard, bluster and turn crimson. But I enjoyed knowing the workings of my kingdom more. Father may have seen me as nothing more than a negotiation tool, but I intended to prove I was as capable as any male heir would have been. For that, I needed information. I rushed left on my tiptoes to avoid noise on the shiny tile floors. In the hallway, I pulled on a gilded frame surrounding a life-sized portrait, exposing a secret door. I slipped into the hidden walkway and pulled the door closed behind me. Passageways built into the castle walls for the royal family to escape during troubled times, also led to superb listening locations for any who wished to stay informed. I found the small hole, just big enough to see through with one eye, that hid within a swirl of the ornate wallpaper in father’s chamber. The view made it easy to see the massive chair, raised on a dais where father sat higher than anyone else. It wasn’t his throne, that was far grander, it was just a symbol that he was the ruler and anyone speaking to him wasn’t. “It’s a shame you came all this way. If you’d sent word earlier, I’d have had time to reply and saved you the trip. My daughter has already been betrothed to a fine gentleman from Aclanor. His alliance will ensure the seas are free from pirates and our borders will settle into a peaceful coexistence once more,” father said. I twisted my face and had to squish my cheek into the wall to get a view of who he spoke with. If the visitor would just step closer by two feet, I could see him. It was so frustrating. I should have been inside the room, not peering through the wall like a snoop. “That’s certainly a beneficial arrangement, sire. One can hardly argue with it.” I knew that voice. Though I needed the man to speak a few more words to figure out where I’d heard him before. “It will please my father to know you’ve made a good union that will protect you against all enemies. We had a terrible experience once when a trusted advisor negotiated a deal on our behalf, yet turned around and sold his loyalty to pirates for a prize he deemed more worthy. It’s comforting to know this won’t happen in your lands. We make alliances now where each side has the same benefits and risks.” I gasped, then threw my hands over my mouth as I rolled and pressed my back against the wall. The chamber became quiet while I held my breath. Father sighed. “I’m sorry you had such troubles, but I’m positive we will not experience such an ordeal.” He paused, then continued in a louder, more scolding, authoritative tone thrown my way far too many times. “Princess Odette’s arrangement is sealed. She’ll be married by week’s end.” Oh, no, I would not! It was bad enough for my father to speak of me like produce being sold at market, but the conversation was with the enchanting rapscallion knave I’d wasted a cava roll on. He was the prince? All the men who thought they had a right to plan my life were about to find out how wrong they were. |
 
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About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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