Chapter Two

We gathered the crew and set off to sea shortly after we loaded all our new supplies onto the boat. I knew that we had to go back home. My Uncle would be expecting me, and the council would want to punish me for going on my little excursions. They always hated the fact that I would leave without a word and travel to the different Isles. They say that a princess must stay put and do absolutely nothing. They didn't understand that I was still looking for the beast that murdered my parents. Some say that a neighboring kingdom sent an assassin to kill them, and some say that a shifter killed them out of hatred. Either way I've been sailing around to each Isle looking for clues to how they died, and have come up empty handed. The crew starts to get into a rhythm as we sail towards the Central Isle. It will take a week or so depending on the weather, but we know the way.

Once we arrive at the main port, we quickly dock and start loading our things off. Everyone is tired and exhausted from the long travel, but we still manage to get everything done. Exhausted my crew heads to the nearby tavern to see if they have any leftover bed rolls. I want to accompany them, but Verra drags me towards a stable instead. We buy two horses and ride off towards the castle. The castle stood at the very center of the biggest island, the Central Isle. Once we made it to the gates we were immediately let in, and the gate clanged loudly behind us. A guard brought us up the castle and into the throne room where my Uncle sat on the throne talking to a council member. "Oh my niece, I am so glad to see you" he boomed sarcastically from the throne. Next to me Verra bowed, but I didn't move an inch. I had never bowed to my Uncle, and I never would. "I hear you are going to war again Uncle" I said defiantly. "Ah word travels fast then" he claimed proudly. "I will be throwing a ball tomorrow night to welcome our allies, you should join me in welcoming them. I made sure to mention that you were looking for a husband" he said the last part with a wicked smile. I stood there stuck in place, and found that I couldn't find my voice. I didn't want to get married and I didn't need to get married. My Uncle was just taunting me to get a reaction out of me, I told myself. He's just a greedy man that wants to have power over you. He grew impatient and frustrated that I wasn't answering "You will go to bed then. Tomorrow you will go to the ball and dance with all my allies sons. I demand it" he said, and then waved me off like a annoying fly.

That night I didn't sleep well. I was too fixated on my Uncles words to sleep. I would dose in and out, but then his wicked smile would pop up and I'd wake up. Eventually I fell asleep and became restless as yet again the nightmare played out in my head, but this time a dark looming figure stood behind my parents smiling at me. I woke up to the sound of maids moving around my room. I had forgotten that I was back in my royal quarters and shivered at the thought of being back in the castle. I had a maid fetch me some clothes, and she came back with a handful of beautiful dresses. She helped me into the most simple one and arranged my hair up with extravagant pins. She also put some kind of tacky makeup under my eyes "it will make you look more awake your highness" she explained when I tried to stop her. "The King is waiting in dining hall. He has asked you to join him for lunch" she explained.

As I made my way to the dining hall I was joined by Verra who was wearing a more beautiful dress that was a dark blue with white lace on her arms. "Really? Is that the best the maids gave you?" she exclaimed while looking me up and down. I looked down at my dark green simple dress and shrugged "it fits me doesn't it?". She sighed and we continued on to the dining hall. When we entered i saw my Uncle first, he was sitting at the head of the table on a chair that was twice as tall as everyone else's. Then I noticed the guests surrounding him and scowled at him. He had invited the royal families from the neighboring countries to lunch.

I counted three kings. The first was a fat and happy king that wore a blue military outfit. He had a very skinny woman in a light blue dress to his right. She had a small pale face and golden hair that was cut short. The second king looked more like a tall toothpick and had on a red vest with black trousers. He had a small woman to his right who had on a crimson dress. She looked like the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen, she had the most delicate features, big brown doe eyes, and red painted lips. The last king was big and muscular. He had on a black military outfit and had no one at his side. He scared me the most because of his eyes, they were as dark as night as he watched me approach the table and take my seat next to my Uncle.

He didn't acknowledge me until he was done talking to the fat king. Turns out his name was King Forn, the toothpick was King Harold, and the dark one was King Tortique. Uncle was talking to King Forn about military strategies, and when he was done making his point he finally turned to me. "This is Princess Jasmine. I hope that you will excuse her tardiness this morning. Have no fear she will still meet all your sons during the grand ball this evening!" He said this joyfully as if I were some game or prize to be won. I found it disgusting, but kept my face apologetic as I looked down at my food as if in shame. They continued to talk as I took small petite bits of food from my plate, and to my right Verra did the same. We ate in silence until Uncle dismissed everyone saying they needed to get ready for the ball.