June

Issue 45

    A vase shattered near Sir Gillard's feet.  The shards, bouncing from the chamber's stone floor, welted his hand and rang the greave he strapped upon his shin.
    "Your Highness," he shouted, looking up, "what in the five underworlds was that?"
    Princess Adelaide stood before him, arms crossed, wearing her powder-blue, crinkled morning gown.  Her waist-length auburn hair, uncombed and unbraided, frizzed out around her.
    "You weren't paying attention to a word I was saying," she shouted back.
    Sir Gillard breathed deeply, his light mail marking the contours of his bulky shoulders and upper chest as they expanded.  In a much lower voice, he said "I'm trying to prepare for battle, your Highness.  I ride shortly."
    "But we haven't had a proper conversation in weeks.  I just want to speak to you and hear more than a mumbled reply as you think upon your next task."
    "Things have been busy around the castle, you know that."  He reached down and resumed fitting his greaves.  "We had the delegation from Went last week, then I had to help the steward with the new stores.  You know your father expects much of me."
    "And what should I expect of you?  A kiss on the cheek as you ride off to battle and another as you collapse exhausted into bed at night?"
...


First Appeared in Forgotten Worlds, October 2006