"The Pickpocket Princess" by Ashley M. Erwin

The king rushed down the decrotive corador in an unorderly state. His red coat was ubuttoned and his nightcap sat cockeyed on his deep brown curls. His vast blue eyes never wavered and his large feet never paused as he impatiently flung aside the attendants that were trying to banish his beragled aperance. A massive clock struck the hour as he pushed open an ornatly carved door.

Peering through the cloud of midwives and well wishers He saw his wife, small in the center of a huge bed. Her wavy bond hair was plastered to her head and her sea green eyes were open wide with pain.As the king held her hand she drew blood with her clawlike fingers. Screams poured forth from her mouth and died every few min. as each contraction took hold.

Soon however her screams were replaced with those of a newborn. As the king rejoiced and paraded his new daughter in front of the crowd his wife smiled saddly. She lay back on her pillows and closed her eyes.

"What!"

Queen Sarati exclaimed,

"It is just that way , my queen, Your brother the king has had a child."

"How could this happen! My brother's child was suppose to have been stillborn,How can the child that grows within me inherit the throne with that, that THING alive!"

Sarati screamed. She sunk back on the couch.

"Oh how I hate the laws my ancesters put into practice. That a brother and sister rule together and the first one to have a child that lives has there children rule the kingdom, is so pathitic! I am the firstborn and I am the stronger ruler!My line should be the one to rule ! Not my week halfbrothers brat!"

"There may be a way to keep the child from being a problem...."

The spy sugested trembling on his knees.

"How? I have lain awake many night thinking through the same problem and have come up with nothing what so ever that wouldn't end in failiure. How could you think of something on the spur of the moment and have it work?" She scoffed.

"It will, my queen, Trust me."

He smiled as she gave him the slightest of nods.

King Luka held his child. She was a beughtiful baby with his hair and eyes. She was so small that she almost fit into the palm of his hand.

A tear ran softly down his cheek as he thought of his wife. The birth had been a hard one and Lelia had not survived.

"King, Hear the words of the Immortal One!"

Luka spun around to face the speaker.There stood Eli th Messenger of the Immortal One.

"What? Eli?! How did you get in here? All the doors and windows are locked!"

"Luka, you should know by now that locks mean nothing to me."

Eli said in his soft rich voice.

"Yes."

said Luka,

"But it is still disturbing!"

"Just be glad I'm not a theif."

Eli teased

Luka groaned

"why did you have to remind me?"

"To make you think. The message from the Immortal One will do the same."

"Well...Get on with it my good man!"

"Hear the words of the Immortal One! The child you hold in your arms you shall never name. Before the week in out she will be but a memory to you. But do not dispare, even though you lose your child and the child of your sister lives, yours will be the line of the throne!"

“What ? Eli that made no sense at all! What are you talking about ? You explain that to me right now.”

“Those are the words of the Immortal One, Heed them.”

“Eli I’m asking you as a friend to explain exactly what you mean! I mean come on !”

“I must go.”

“Eli! I order you as king of Kendrina to explain it! Eli? ELI!!!!!!!!!!!!”

But Eli had vanished into the night.

“What a stupid thing to say! “

Luka thought

“How can my line rule if my child is gone and the Queen’s child lives? My child is gone…..”

Suddenly he bolted to the door.

“Get me the captain of the guard, FAST!

“Your idiotic ‘plan’ is going to fail.”

Sarati remarked coolly at the spy who was back on his knees.

“The plan is watertight, my queen.”

“King Luka has placed his personal bodyguard around the child! Night and day she is guarded. When could you possibly strike?”

“On the road to West Shipton. Because of ancient tradition he will take the babe there for her naming and dedication ceremony.”

“But that road is completely in the open and the whole way is lined with villages! And the guards will still be there!”

Sarati picked at her gomer fruit.

“The king has indeed anticipated an attack and has taken precautions. He is sending the child through the mountain passes not by the usual way. He is sending a wax figure of the child by the usual way, under heavy guard so as not to reveal his plan to possible assains.”

“Hmm…”

Sarati smiled and tossed the half eaten fruit across the room.

“So how many guards does my fool, half brother, “

She spit out the words

“have around the brat?”

The spy looked her strait in the eyes

“None!”

Marika held the princess close to her.

Her soft large hands formed a protective cushion around the child and her small grey eyes were filled with care.

“Hush little baby sleep till dawn,

Baby sleep as we travel on,

In my arms you’re save and warm,

May Immortal One keep you from harm.”

She cooed at the fussing baby.

“Tonn? She won’t stop! Could you slow down a little more?”

She called out the window at the driver of the coach.

“I’ll try, but if we’re late the King will have out heads!”

Tonn called back. He straitened up and slowed the coach even more. This was slow dangerous work, but it was well worth the money he was getting paid. He smiled as he thought of the ring he would buy, and Marika reaction when he gave it to her. It had to be perfect, she deserved the best engagement ring money could buy. A sudden doubt hit him. What if she wouldn’t have him!

“Thank you honey!”

He heard Marika yell.

Nope she would be his forever, he just knew it. He slumped back with a grin on his face. The road got bumper again.

“TONN!!!”

He rolled his eyes and sat straight again.

“What the…..”

He had seen a shadow move on the mountain above. He narrowed his eyes to see better against the glare of the sun.

Suddenly a sharp pain shot through his chest. He fought for control of the coach but fell to the ground, dead.

Aris watched Tonn fall. From his position on the rocks above the pass he could see that his arrow had pierced the man’s heart, killing him before he even hit the ground.

This was not the kind of job Aris liked. Killing children. Why oh why did he ever get involved with Lord Basculla?

He watched as the coach zigzagged toward the edge of a cliff!

Marika screamed as she saw Tonn’s body flash past the window. Clutching the baby tight she tried to open the door , to no avail.

The coach sped even faster as the horses panicked at Marika’s screams. They flew over the edge and began their fast decent to the sea, far below.