Questioning the Princess Before You Take Off
The Black Void - Episode 651
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"But that doesn't make any sense," you say. Her story doesn't quite match
what you expected from King Omer's speech in the square (38), and you
fear this might be a trap.
"I know." Princess Annabelline is in a pouty mood, you surmise. "I know, I know, I know. He does it because he hates me. I know he does. He's always been mad at me, every since I was a child, because I wasn't a boy. Since then he's tried to marry me off to, oh, I don't know, nineteen suitors. Pompous, ugly, stupid, jerks. And all because he wants someone to treat as a son! I hate him!" "But that wasn't what I meant!" you cry. "The king promised that whoever rescued your mother would have your hand in marriage. That person can't be all that - " You are interrupted; you suspect you would have been interrupted sooner, but the princess is a little tired. "My mother? You dare call that conniving witch my mother? My real mother died when I was six. The fat oaf married that harlot Estelle a year later, and she's had him wrapped around her little finger ever since. (mockingly) Oh, Omer darling, could you get me another diamond necklace? Oh, Omer darling, could you order another shipment of that excellent wine we had last night? Oh, Omer darling, could you find another goldsmith to make another ring for my little finger? She's bankrupted the treasury, taken over control of the servants, and kept me in this tower for fifteen years! I hate her! You know those tales of evil stepmothers my mother told me when I was young? Those were nothing compared to this!" Princess Annabelline breaks down sobbing. A guard opens the door before you can hide yourself, and unfortunately you're not quick enough to subdue him. "Who's this?" he asks. "The only (sniff) person who will listen to my story! The only person in this whole (sniff) castle that cares! So just (sniff) get out of here! Go!" "I just wanted to make sure you were all right." "I'm all right! Now go!" Princess Annabelline's rage seems to be building up. You'd open your mouth to tell the guard to be careful, but you don't want to attract any more attention to yourself while the attention's on the princess. "But your father said - " "I DON'T CARE WHAT MY FATHER SAID!" Oh dear. She's snapped. "But - " "OUT!" she yells, pushing the door open, shoving him outside, and slamming the door shut. "Now, where were we?" she asks calmly, as if the action of opening and shutting the door had been cathartic. "Well, I was just trying to clear up some inconsistencies in your story. Now can you listen to me, without going ballistic like you did with the guard?" "I'll (sniff) do my best." "All right. You said that your idiot father keeps making you marry ugly, stupid men against your will. But he said that he'd marry you off to whoever rescues Queen Estelle. Someone like that can't be all ugly and stupid." "I guess you're right. But I don't want anything to do with anyone who owes his allegiance to my father and so-called mother." "Also," you continue, "you said that the queen was your stepmother, but King Omer said you were his and Estelle's child." "I told you, she's had fifteen years, twenty maybe, to warp his mind, and none of the townsmen have enough guts to challenge the truth of any of his statements. Now, can you please, please just take me somewhere far away, where I can be free from lunatic parents and idiot suitors and stupid guards? Look, I even packed!" She takes a knapsack from under her bed. "All right, all right, if you're that desperate, let's go." You try to make it sound uninterested, but spiriting away in the middle of the night with a beautiful and willing princess is sounding more and more interesting. You whisper to her, "I'll take you somewhere few people from this area have ever gone, where beautiful women don't spend their days cooped up in towers listening to ugly suitors." You think of the girl who worked two floors above you in the high-rise, who you were certain was being stalked by her rather ugly boss, but conveniently decline to mention it. You're more concerned about how you're going to get to where you know you want to go. "W-where is that?" "The other side of the black void."
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unknown adventurer
4/10/2005 10:29:23 PM
Extending Enabled
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