Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
He had a point there.
All four men began to inch closer, circling around me, closing in.
“The fact is, Zelladine, I think it will be a long…long…long time before we have finished thinking of reasons to punish and pleasure you,” warned Troylus.
“And we are duty bound to see this task through,” reasoned Regin.
“Well, well,” I said with a dramatic sigh. “It looks as though we are stuck with each other.”
Sigmun nodded, playfully looking despondent. “Alas, I believe we are.”
“Well, if we are going to continue our little game, I should continue to play my part,” I said with a mischievous smile.
Raising my arms high above the water, I flicked my wrists and disappeared….with their clothes and horses.
I cannot wait to see what my punishment will be this time!
EPILOGUE
“Your highness,” formally intoned Hrafn. “Your highness!” he called out louder.
It was difficult to hear him over all the laughter as I ran from tree to tree, peeking around the dark branches trying to spy the men.
Gripir, Regin, Sigmun, Troylus and I were playing a very naughty game of cat and mouse. Each time the cat caught the mouse, they were allowed to remove a layer of clothing. The only problem was it was four against one, and I was not allowed to use my powers. So not fair!
“Your highness, I must speak to you,” called out Hrafn.
Ever since meeting the kingsmen, my life was now filled with new experiences, both painful and pleasurable. I was loving every moment of it. Unfortunately, I was having so much fun with my men that I had been shamefully neglecting my duties. It was all Hrafn could do to get me to focus on something other than them. I really should take pity on my poor friend.
“Yes, Hrafn, what is—” I stopped with a shriek as Gripir grabbed me around the waist from behind and was at once removing my sash and playfully biting me on the neck.
Laughing and out of breath, I cried out, “Halt! Halt! We are torturing my poor Hrafn.”
Each of us stopped our game and moved to the small feast that was laid out upon some rocks. Roast beast, wine, fresh berries. Grabbing a flagon of wine which was offered to me by Regin, I turned my full attention to Hrafn.
“Yes, my pet. What is it you need to speak to me about?”
“It is the wolves, your majesty,” said Hrafn with a much put-upon sigh as he ruffled his sleek black feathers.
“What about them?” I opened my mouth and Troylus tossed a sweet ripe berry into it.
“They are terrorizing the entire forest. Everyone is at their wit’s end. The huntsmen can no longer take their pranks and Theodora is threatening to turn them all into toads if they don’t stop knocking on her cottage door and running away.”
Since meeting my kingsmen, I no longer felt the same animosity toward the mortals of the kingdom as I once did. It was no longer as much fun tormenting them with the dark force, so I sent it away. Besides, the wolves had been beating the dark force into submission for several generations now, so it was all becoming rather boring. The only problem was that now, with no dark force to fight, the enchanted wolves had become restless. They had taken to playing silly pranks on the others in the forest and picking fights with the huntsmen.
Hrafn cleared his throat. “Theodora is threatening to turn you into a toad as well if you don’t reverse the wolves’ enchantment.”
“Is she now?” I chuckled. Theodora did not have that kind of power, but it wouldn’t stop her from trying. It was actually a blessing that Red had not yet learned it was I who was capable of reversing the curse imposed upon the wolves long ago, not Theodora.
“Very well. Tell Red and the wolves to come to me later today, and I will reverse the enchantment.”
“But not Snow! They can’t bring Snow,” said Gripir, his arms crossed over his chest.
I turned a questioning look on him.
“Every time Snow visits, she brings more of her cooking. I’m tired of choking it down just to be polite,” he replied with a stubborn tilt of his chin.
“You heard the man, only Red and the wolves.”
Hrafn bowed his head and flew away to do my bidding.
Turning to the men, I clapped my hands. “Let the game begin again!” I said, laughing with frightened glee as the men slowly began to circle me, a determined glint in each man’s eye.
I did so enjoy playing with my four kingsmen!
The End