It has been ages since the great disaster that crippled the FOFAF Empire and the Gred are still recovering from the aftermath. King Laufeng is faced with the fact that he must name his heir and provider her with as much protection as possible. Life can be so unpredictable ...
Chapter 1: Interuptions
“The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 14:35
Early one midsummer day, a young pup was playing outside in front of her father’s home. There were several other pups with her. Surrounding the young lady was a hoard of young cubs, varying in age from two to nine years old. Not far away more pups had their hands full taking care of pucs, the rascally little infants of the Gred. It is and always was the duty of the pups to take care of the cubs and pucs. The pews smiled listening to the children play as the day continued. The queen stepped outside to watch the children for a little while.
“Greetings, milady,” said one of her servants.
“My daughters?” she asked.
“They are with the younger cubs, ma’am.”
“I see,” replied the queen as she headed towards the older of the two girls. Among the Gred it is sometimes hard to tell the nobles from the common folk. This girl was completely white – white as snow – which is a rare color for a Gred as they are normally gray and red.
“White Wolf, stop playing,” she began, “It is time to come in and get ready for tonight. You come, too, Silk.”
“But, Ma’zy!” the young one protested.
“Silk, now!” snapped her mother.
“Yes, Ma’zy?” said little Silk, trying to milk it.
“Silk Ga’ra’zi!”
“Yip!”
Silk fled into the palace and her sister walked beside her mother.
“Ma’zy, are you alright?” asked White Wolf.
“Yes, my sweet one.”
The two entered the palace to find Silk standing beside her father, the king, with her ears back and tail tucked. The four continued further into the palace and then went to separate rooms to bathe and dress for the ceremonies later that night. Silver Moon, White Wolf’s twin sister, had been in her bathing room since lunch and it was nearly dinner time.
All three girls knew that something important was going to happen, but they didn’t know what exactly it was. But, each had their opinion.
I know Da’zi is going to take us somewhere special tonight, thought Silk.
I know Da’zi is going to name me heir to the throne, Silver Moon thought and stood up a little more proudly.
Someone important is coming over … or something of importance is going to happen tonight, thought White Wolf.
They were only partially right, but they didn’t know that.
“Girls, hurry up,” their father hollered.
“Coming, Da’zi,” called the girls.
“Dinner time, young ones,” he said as they entered the dining room. The cooks had laid out another fine spread for the royal family, with all of the family favorites.
“Dinner is served, Sire,” said the head cook, who was a close friend of the king. As they began to eat in silence as usual, the king and queen looked at each other.
“Should we tell them, Rosalita?” asked Laufeng.
“Tell us what, Da’zi?” asked Silk.
“I don’t know, Laufeng … it might be a bad idea.”
“Ma’zy!” Silk whined impatiently.
“Da’zi, what is it?” demanded Silver Moon.
“Young lady,” warned her father.
White Wolf looked from one parent to the other and sighed, going back to her food. Most of the servants had disappeared from the room when the royal family had started their meal. The king and queen smiled at their daughters.
“Since I have no sons, I have to name one of you as my heir,” said Laufeng as he smiled at the girls, but before the king could continue an arrow flew in through the window – causing everyone to panic.
Silk began to wail from that moment and continued to cry as Rosalita snatched her up and fled the room. Silver Moon froze in her seat as she stared at the arrow. White Wolf ducked under the table and attempted to find a better place to hide. Laufeng drew his swords and shouted “SPEKA!”
“Sire, we are investigating it right now,” said a nearby soldier who had his own swords in hand.
“Get my family to safety and then report back to me.”
“Yes, Sire. Come on, princess Silver Moon,” said the soldier, leaving.
Laufeng prowled the palace grounds, looking for signs of trouble.
“Sire,” said one of the soldiers an hour later, “The queen and Princesses Silver Moon and Silk are with three of your best warrighters. We are still looking for Princess White Wolf.”
“Chokai, Chokai!” called White Wolf from behind a statue.”
“There you are young one. It is safe, now,” said Chokai. He was the second in command of the warrighters and White Wolf’s closest friend.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she crawled out and went over to the old warrior.
“I think it was just an accident, but you’re safe. Come; let me take you to your mother. Then, I need to report to your father.”
“Chokai, is everyone alright?”
“Yes, my princess.”
“That’s good. Cho, what do these statues stand for?”
“May I tell you tonight?”
“Yes.”
While the two had been talking, they walked to where the four best warrighters were protecting the rest of Laufeng’s family.
“Chokai, thank you,” said Rosalita as she hugged her daughter.
“You are very welcome, milady. Princess White Wolf, I will come to do your request just before sunset if I am able.”
“Thank you, Warrighter Chokai,” replied White Wolf as the warrighter bowed and walked away.
Laufeng was near the gates when Chokai found him an hour later.
“My good and faithful, Chokai, speak.”
“Your eldest hid in the Hall of Honor. She has requested a lesson from me tonight – after what you have planned.”
“That’s my girl. Find someone to do the same with Silver Moon.”
“Yes, Sire. I will ask Silvia to do it.”
“Where is Lone Wolf and his two friends?”
“Still hunting, Sire.”
“Very well, you are dismissed,” said the king.
A few minutes later, Laufeng and his family continued their meal with the warrighters.
“As I was saying earlier, since I have no sons I need to name one of you three as my heir …”
“Sire, I didn’t realize that it mattered to you or not you had a son,” said one warrighter. All of the children clapped their hands on their ears as the king exploded.
“Silenta! Of course it does not matter. I am teasing my daughters,” thundered the monarch as most of the warrighters growled. The insolent warrighter fell silent, bowed, and fled the dining hall. The king might have done nothing to him, but his comrades would.
“Fola!” snapped two badly scarred warrighters. Only White Wolf of Laufeng’s children was unafraid of them.
“Silk is too young and has an older sister better suited for the throne,” continued Laufeng but was cut off.
“How do you know she is not better, Da’zi?” asked White Wolf and then quickly said, “Sorry, Da’zi.”
“My sweet one, interrupted me,” said the ruler pretending insult.
“Your sweet one,” growled the queen amid gales of laughter, “Hurry up, and stop teasing them.”
But before he could continue, he was interrupted once again – this time by the appearance of a warrighter and his shame faced son.
“Forgive us, Sire, but my son has something to say.”
“I am sorry, Sire!”
“Son!” warned the boy’s father.
“The arrow was mine, Sire … I was practicing and got turned around,” said the nine year old cub.
“Be more careful, child. You could hurt someone if you are not careful. It was a good shot, though … What?” said the king. The queen was giving him a frosty stare, while the children giggled.
“Thank you, Sire,” said the boy. He bowed and left with his father soon after.
“I have chosen my heir,” said the king, causing complete silence, “I have chosen, White Wolf. She has all the qualities of a good queen.”
White Wolf blushed while Silver Moon threw a tantrum. She threw everything within reach, not caring if anything got hit. Most of the stuff was caught by the warrighters who were nearby.
“Silver Moon Ga’ra’zi, enough!” snapped Laufeng.
“Why her; I would be the better queen!” wailed Silver Moon. Laufeng got up and promptly paddled her tail end. Many of the warrighters nodded, satisfied at seeing justice being done.
After dinner, Laufeng and his family went out onto one of the balconies to speak to the assembled Gred.
“People of the Gred Kingdom, I have picked the heir to the throne – and she is White Wolf.”
“Hail, Princess White Wolf Ga’ra’zi, heiress to the throne!” chanted the Gred causing the girl to blush. Silver Moon pouted.
“Now, I need to go tell our allies and you are coming with me White Wolf – you too, Silver Moon.”
“But, Da’zi, Chokai was going to tell me about the statues near the warrighter’s hall,” protested White Wolf.
“I know and we are leaving tomorrow. Silvia, take Silver Moon and do the same.”
“Yes, sire,” bowed the female warrighter.
“But, Da’zi, I don’t want to go!” protested Silver Moon.
“Too bad, Silver.”
“I am going to talk take Silk and go shopping,” said Queen Rosalita as she left with their youngest.
“Uh-oh. There goes one of my treasuries,” teased the king, who had to dodge a hat which his mate had thrown at him. The stunned owner just stood there, waiting to see what would happen next and then he politely thanked White Wolf when she handed him his hat.
The two girls went to their rooms to pack for their journey. Chokai and the two scarred warrighters would be accompanying them to the other lands. Also, there would also be fifteen servants and thirty soldiers. This trip would last a few months.
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16
Chapter 2:
COMING SOON
