Chapter VI of "A Darker Story"

Chapter VI (6)

Appropriate for all ages!

Chapter VI

            King Malicis smiled out at the land. The villagers were scurrying to get ready for the contest. Foods had to be made, clothing had to be prepared, the village had to be arranged properly, so many things to do, and only a day to do it!

            Malicis turned back into the castle and reflected on how well things had been going so far. Rose, who had always seemed so distant, had made friends with the new guard. Thorn had only been a guard for a few months, but had already grown to be liked by everyone in the castle. He was an interesting leopard, he had to admit. He always had strange tales of mystical lands that everyone in the castle would gather around to hear.

            “Daddy! Daddy!” Malicis swung his head around to see Rose running towards him, followed closely by Thorn. The King gasped as he saw what Rose was wearing.

            Rose smiled as Malicis gaped over the beautiful gold silk and a diamond tiara. Rose hopped around. “Do you like it?! Maddy made it. Thorn gave her the idea. We kept it a secret from you so you would be surprised. She shook her body and stared at her father. “Did it work?”

            Malicis shook his head to come back to reality. “It’s amazing!” He grinned at Thorn and motioned for him to come with him. “You’re part of the wedding planning committee.” He glanced at Rose. “Go relax. Read. Tomorrow’s a big day for you!” Rose nodded and bounced away. Malicis turned to Thorn as they walked together. “She’s so happy.” He breathed in and looked Thorn straight in the eyes. “Thank you. For cheering my daughter up.”

            “No problem,” Thorn replied. “I want to thank you for making me a guard.”

            “Ha!” Malicis laughed. “You killed a general in a gory, bloody way. Of course you were going to end up a guard!”

***

            Thorn inspected the rather boring layout of the grand wedding. It was missing so much. He leaped up and interrupted Malicis in mid-sentence. “No!”

            Everyone turned and looked at him with shock, even the King. Thorn trotted up to Malicis and put a paw on the parchment. “For Keyla’s sake, this is a royal wedding. It needs… decorations!”

            The smallest guard was the first to ask, “What is a… deck-er-a-shun?”

            Thorn groaned. “Okay,” he murmured. “Guess I’ll have to show you.” He nodded to the king. “Get all your best sewers and woodcutters here at the castle.” Thorn rubbed his paws together. “It’s time to spruce up this wedding.”

***

            Five snow leopards stood in a line, each looking quite calm for someone who was about to compete in a potentially fatal contest in order to win an unknown princess’s paw in marriage.

            A massive roar quieted the murmuring of the crowd, gathered around a huge stretch of field. All turned their heads to see King Malicis, waiting for the attention of the villagers from many different kingdoms.

            He cleared his throat, and in his loudest roar, began to announce the contestants.

            “From the Shining Star Kingdom, Prince Talon!” A light brown leopard with matching eyes stepped forward, flashing a princely smile as the entire portion of light brown leopards went wild.

            “From the Golden Spruce Kingdom, Prince Tiger!” The red leopards cheered as the red leopard dipped his head.

            “Prince Harold from the Fallen Angel Kingdom!” A blue leopard’s smile was met by more cheers, this time from the blue leopards.

            “Prince Yellow from the Black Sun Kingdom!” Yellow leopards cheered for their yellow prince.

            “And finally, from the Wooden Claw Kingdom, Prince Silver!” A handsome silver furred prince was cheered for by the silver furred leopards.

            King Malicis grinned. “And now, the first round of the game!” He looked down at the princes. “I’d tell you what you have to do, but that ruins all the fun, doesn’t it?”

            The princes were roughly shoved into a door. They heard shutting and locking as they were faced from all sides with eternal darkness.

End Chapter VI 

Also, lots of kingdom members seem to have had their journals and therefore pasts discovered. I feel sorry for those who have, and I wonder if maybe I should just burn my journal.

-Frost