Fairytales Slashed #06: Fairytales Slashed: Volume 6 by Propps Angel & Bard Sandra & Miller Sasha L. & Harrison H. R. & Jean Diana & Jensen Remy

Author:Propps, Angel & Bard, Sandra & Miller, Sasha L. & Harrison, H. R. & Jean, Diana & Jensen, Remy [Propps, Angel & Bard, Sandra & Miller, Sasha L. & Harrison, H. R. & Jean, Diana & Jensen, Remy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MM, Anthology, Gay & Lesbian, Literature & Fiction, Fiction, Gay, Lesbian, Genre Fiction, Lgbt, Gay Fiction, Lesbian Fiction
Amazon: B00VN77HY6
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2015-05-06T05:00:00+00:00

The White Cat

H.R. Harrison

The old king looked out at the courtyard, watching his three sons going through their sword drills, and was suddenly struck by a terrible realization. He had three strong, intelligent, and charismatic sons. And he was only one old man. Should the idea be planted in their heads, whether by chance or by nefarious purpose, he could easily find himself deposed long before his proper time.

So he returned to his wing of the castle, and he began to plot.

*~*~*

That night, at the evening feast, the king made his announcement. "My dear sons, I have grown old, and too soon the time will come for one of you to take my place.

However, as you are all suitable candidates for the throne, I have a proposition for you. You shall all undertake three quests, and whosoever is the most successful shall win my crown."

The eldest frowned, but his brothers rejoiced. The second brother because he wanted the throne for himself, but the youngest cheered for a different reason. Always he had been the baby of the brothers, always sheltered, always forbidden from anything even slightly dangerous.

But this, this was a call to adventure!

"For one year, I want you three to seek out the finest little dogs to be a companion to me in my old age.

Whosoever brings me the sweetest, prettiest dog shall be declared the victor."

As the brothers left to their quarters to prepare for their journeys, the youngest, whose name was Yufitri, was busy deciding where it was he would go. Instead of going to his wing, he went out into the town and found the merchants' tents. "Where should I travel to find the little dog my father seeks?" he asked them.

He received many answers, but a sallow-skinned man with dark, clever eyes smiled and said with an accented tongue, "I know many breeders of companion dogs in the north, across the sea. I would be happy to take you there, my prince. For a price, of course."

After haggling over the cost, Yufitri agreed to meet the merchant at the docks come week's end and returned to his home. He packed quickly and lightly, making sure to bring his heavy wool coat to ward off the biting chill that he could only imagine the sea and northern lands would have.

His brothers had decided to travel east and south, so Yufitri was quite happy with his decision. At the end of the week, the three brothers agreed to meet at the river's mouth in one year's time, so that they could return to their father together. They embraced and wished each other well. The two elders saw the younger to the docks, where they waved at the departing ship until it was fully out of sight.

Yufitri was ecstatic during the journey, asking the merchant many questions about the ship, the sea, their destination—anything he could think of. By the time the ship landed, a little over a week later, the merchant was quite happy to be rid of him.