Time of the harvest festival – The twin gardens tale.
The garden is pristine as she strolls along the East side. The pumpkins are especially robust this season. They will be the perfect size by the time the harvest festival begins. Princess Anna walks to the Royal eyepiece mounted near the apex of the terrace. Prince Stephen’s garden should have an equally robust pumpkin harvest. However, before she can reach the enchanted eyepiece, an unexpected voice calls her attention in the other direction.
“Doth Your Ladyship find the view of the Kingdom across the river, pleasing to the eye?” the gentleman is walking up the path alongside the West side of Princess Anna’s garden. She jumps, but she would know that voice anywhere. Princess Anna turns and rushes to greet Prince Stephen.
Time of the Harvest Festival
Miss Anderson is a reasonable woman. In fact, she is one of the most generous donors on the town council. Hadn’t she been the one to suggest and finance the harvest festival? Which is also how she gained her position on the town council. As it turns out, that was the easy part. Things that are unaccounted for, are the hard part. She aims the gun at the cowering man on the ground. He should be old news. She hadn’t expected him to duck. In fact, she’s not really fond of this method of assassination. The old days of the sword and the spear were better. Execution was more personal.
In her zeal for her old ways the disguise she wears slips just a fraction. However, as one of her wings slips free, the expression on Wesley’s face changes from fear, to utter shock. She quickly regains her composure; and Wesley tries to move further away from her and the gun pointed at his head. Miss Anderson pulls the hammer of the gun back, and this time uses both her hands to aim it. Time seems to stand still, as Wesley stares into the barrel of the gun.
Interloper
Detective Roy Thomas arrives at the hospital within ten minutes of leaving the station. It takes him another five minutes to locate hospital security and gain access to the command center. From there he views the most recent footage from the hospital security cameras. His hunch is strong. Therefore he isn’t surprised when he finds what he’s looking for on the video feed. Miss Anderson is here already. The parking garage.
Detective Thomas leaves the command room immediately and radios the patrol units stationed just outside the main entrance. However, he doesn’t make it ten paces before hearing the gunshots. Now he runs. Out the emergency room entrance and down the sidewalk to the parking garage entrance. He rounds the crossing barrier and sprints into the garage. A moment later he comes to Wesley’s truck. The driver’s door is open. There is no one around. He pulls his sidearm and cautiously moves around the empty truck.
Just seconds later he finds them. Miss Anderson has Wesley cornered, and the gun aimed at his head. Not good he thinks, as he raises his own gun. Then for the first time in his long and storied career, Detective Thomas sees something he’s never seen before. Miss Anderson pulls the hammer of the gun back and as she does, she changes. Scales form at the back of her neck and her torso seems to elongate as an enormous leathery wing unfurls from her back. Terrified and repulsed, Detective Thomas fires his pistol, emptying the clip.
The Harvest Festival
Princess Anna walks beside Prince Stephen and they move along the upper terrace toward the Harvest Festival. The river flows into the setting sun and the effects on the river are mesmerizing. “You still haven’t told me why you are so far from your Kingdom. Not that I’m complaining of course”, she smiles up at him then looks away into the setting sun. Prince Stephen smiles back, his eyes warm and kind. Yet Princess Anna senses those eyes are hiding something deeply troubling.
“I have traveled extensively over the last few weeks and am here bringing news of all that I’ve found.” Prince Stephen takes her hand and they begin making their way to the Castle. “I wish I were bringing news that the enchantments which keep our kingdoms apart were no more. Not only is there no progress against the curse, but also we have an even more dangerous problem.” He pauses as they make their way into the Castle. It is the time of the harvest festival and Princess Anna is expected to attend.
“Of all the things I could have imagined would threaten our Kingdoms, I admit I didn’t see this coming.” She walks beside him as they make their way to the throne room. “Are you sure of your information? Because I will have him placed in the dungeon by nightfall.” Princess Anna isn’t surprised to learn that High Counselor Prolesus is a spy. Furthermore, she would like to place him in the dungeon herself.
Discovery
“It might be best not to tip our hand at the moment. Especially at the Harvest Festival. As yet it isn’t known that we know of the betrayal. We can reasonably anticipate that Prolesus will have some way to communicate with his master. However, without knowing who we are dealing with, the threat will grow.” Prince Stephen looks at Princess Anna with deep concern, “They have already sacked the Kingdom of the Great Forest. And the rumors are that it began from within.”
As if on cue the Royal trumpets sound and the Harvest Festival grows quiet. Then a great clamor erupts from within the Castle grounds. Suddenly the Captain of the guard and a troop of his best soldiers appear, as more and more trumpets sound. Prince Stephen steps in front of Princess Anna as the entire kingdom sounds the alarm. They are under attack.
Thank you for reading! Like, follow and share The Frog Journal on X @1finja1 – and on The Frog Journal Facebook page click here. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay up to date on new content and updates.
All original stories. Download in seconds, new titles weekly. The Frog Journal e-book shorts.
