Thronegarden Andrew Dickerson (the little red hen ebook TXT) 📖

“None of us will be getting what we want unless that great monster is defeated,” the Lady cursed.

“Together we can both get what we want,” Red Eye ventured.

The Lady turned a wrathful eye on the quivering Sprite who knew he had gone too far.

“Do you think I need your pitiful assistance?” she said, dripping venom.

While the truth may have been one thing, Red Eye was quick to say the other. “Of course not, Your Greatness.”

Snatching up a handful of loose stones, the Lady scattered her detritus into the lake. Red Eye who had been expecting the missiles to fly in his direction breathed again as he witnessed a face appear in the disturbed water.

“A girl,” the Lady repeated, staring at a vision of Damselfly revealed in the magical waters.

“Perhaps I will help you after all,” she murmured. “Thank you, Wise One,” Red Eye scraped.

“For this task I will send my personal favourite.”

The Lady revealed a necklace hidden under her unkempt hair; it was decorated by six precious gemstones although three were blackened beyond recognition. Plucking a vibrant fragment of jade from the chain that hung around her neck, she carelessly tossed the treasure into the lake. Red Eye could barely watch for fear of the Lady’s dark magic. If her power did not chain her to the lake, there was no doubt that she would be ruler of Shadowgarden, and perhaps beyond. A green glow emanated from beneath the water as the Lady’s disciple answered her summons. Slowly, a figure emerged from the depths, and Red Eye shrunk away in terror. A woman, wasted away by the water’s touch, stood before them with shining green eyes in a face made of clay. She swayed like a puppet, her body little more than a vague form of humanity.

“There you are, my beauty,” the Lady boasted. “I have a task for you.”

The figure waited breathlessly for her instructions, only those gleaming jade-green eyes revealing any sign of cognizance.

“Find this girl with red hair and bring her to me,” the Lady ordered.” Let’s see how she handles a member of my Clay Legion.”

Red Eye was already fleeing from the scene on legs that were barely strong enough to carry his lean frame; whatever evil he had loosened from those mysterious waters was best left far behind.

Damselfly and Buttontail felt relieved at leaving their dreams behind as they passed through the Garden Gate into the Shadowgarden. The princess immediately noticed the heat as she looked up at the setting sun, and Buttons almost jumped out of his skin when he caught sight of his own giant shadow.

“I don’t like this place,” the scared rabbit prophesied.

“Perhaps they’ll have something new to eat,” Damselfly teased.

“I am famished,” Buttons added predictably. “Even my shadow is practically fading away.”

Buttons’ complaints were shortened as he realised that a band of Sprites had been travelling towards the gate just as they had arrived and were now surrounding them.

“I definitely don’t like this place,” Buttons insisted.

Damselfly considered whether they had enough time to escape through the gate before their enemies could stop them. Unfortunately, there was nowhere else they could go that would allow them to continue their mission. The war band was made up of six Sprites, all wielding makeshift weapons. One carried a spear made of two separate pieces of wood tied together by rope and another a rusty knife. Damselfly grabbed Buttons who instinctively flinched and attempted to fly away using her magic fairy wings. Unfortunately, the lead Sprite thrust his spear at them, and although the princess dodged the blow, it did not stop the sharpened point from tearing her right wing and effectively grounding them.

“Don’t kill them,” a Sprite with one red eye interrupted. “Jinx will want to question them.”

Damselfly was frightened although she tried to put on a brave face for Buttons, who was shaking in her grasp. Then they all felt the ground shake and from over the ridge a dozen cavalrymen charged downhill, scattering the surprised Sprites in all directions. One rider caught Damselfly’s attention as he rode the most magnificent white horse with grace and strength, leading the charge fearlessly. Once the Sprites were chased off, the soldier slipped from his mount and came to check on them.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, we’re fine,” the princess replied.

“Speak for yourself,” Buttons argued.

The soldier appeared unsure what to make of the talking rabbit before laughing heartily at Buttons’ tirade of woes, and Damselfly found herself instantly warming to him.

“My name is Delridden,” the soldier introduced. “It means Rider from the West.”

“I am Damselfly and this is Buttontail,” the princess responded without thinking.

“Princess Damselfly?” the soldier queried.

Trapped by her slip of the tongue, Damselfly nodded shyly, hoping she had not misjudged the stranger.

“Perhaps we should keep your identity between ourselves for now,” he suggested kindly.

The other men were different in almost every way to Delridden; their skin was natively darker although little was visible as they all wore a headscarf, balaclava and long black tunics, which reached all the way to their cured boots. They sat upon squat ponies rather than the beautiful white stallion that Delridden claimed, and they seemed content to speak amongst themselves, excluding Delridden. The young soldier, who was perhaps thirty, had a noble face with a strong jawline, long straight nose and surprisingly warm eyes. When he smiled his eyes seemed to join in, and Damselfly felt safer than she had since leaving home.

“What is your horse’s name?” she enquired.

“Winter,” Delridden spoke with obvious pride.

The pure white stallion was at least two hands bigger than any of the other steeds, his mane was immaculately kept and his eyes seemed to show a sign of understanding that was almost human.

“He is beautiful,” Damselfly proclaimed, stroking the horse’s head.

“Does he bite?”