The Mysterious Separation by L.R. Patton

Author:L.R. Patton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dragons and danger, magical kings and kingdoms, historical fairy tale adventure and quest, epic fantasy fairy tale retelling, middle grade literature with magical creatures, Arthurian tales and fables, Nursery rhymes with fairies and shapeshifters and wizards and swords and sorcery
Publisher: Batlee Press
Published: 2016-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

Decisions

STANDING in his throne room, alone, without even the company of his page, King Willis thinks. And when King Willis thinks, at least when he thinks without the help of the magic mirror propped a few paces from the throne and, now, covered with its scarlet curtain, he sometimes gets ideas. But the ideas of King Willis do not always make sense, as is the case with this one that has popped quite forcibly into our king’s brain.

He will ride to the village.

Yes, he will ride to the village.

He will command the people to let his son go. Surely that will work. Surely, once they see their king making an effort, they will know that they should not dare cross him. He is their king, after all. He is their ruler.

So though King Willis has never saddled a horse himself, though he has never, in truth, ridden a horse at all, he pulls one from the stables, buckles the saddle as best he can figure and climbs on. It takes him five tries, dear reader, to swing one leg over the horse, and he nearly gives up before that final time. But then the leg catches, and King Willis is able to slide himself atop the back of the horse, who is none too pleased, truth be told.

King Willis flicks the reins, as he has seen Sir Greyson do, and the horse begins forward, groaning with every step, for King Willis, remember, is a quite heavy man. He is not so heavy as he was days ago, since Cook has disappeared, but he is heavy all the same.

The village people have never seen King Willis on a horse. They have never seen him in the village, either. They hear the horse’s steady steps, from their place beneath the ground, but what they hear more is the groan of his horse. And this is what causes them to grow silent and turn their eyes upon Sir Greyson, who has only just told them about the Huntsman.

They do not emerge from their secret hiding, however, for they want nothing of what waits for them outside this magical door. And, besides, this place must remain secret.

Were it Queen Clarion who had traveled this road, it might, perhaps, have written a quite different story. The people might have eased her heart a bit. They might have made their demands in a gentler, kinder way. But Queen Clarion has taken to her bed, much like many of these parents took to theirs after their own children were stolen from them. She will not remain there, of course, but we must, for now, allow a mother her grief.

“Someone is coming,” Sir Greyson says.

The people suck in their breaths. “Who?” Cora says.

Sir Greyson shakes his head. “I do not know,” he says. “But I will go.”

“I shall go with you,” Cora says. She turns to the people. “Stay here. Remain as quiet as you can.” The people nod, and Sir Greyson and Cora emerge through the secret

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