THE PRINCESS & THE PIRATE

Chapter 1: Life isn't a fairy tale...

The cold brisk air made her shiver and she wrapped her plain brown woolen cloak tighter around her petite frame to shelter her from the cold.

The market seemed busy today, she noticed, as she weaved her way amongst the people, tightly gripping the hood of her cloak to keep her identity hidden as she did. Farmers, weavers, bakers, and all types of craft makers lined the cobbled streets eager to grab the passersby's attention to flog their goods,  " here, miss, try one o' my pies, the best pies in the whole of Avlington they 're! "  A woman crooned as she pushed one of her greasy looking pies into Reanna's face.

" Thank you, but I am not hungry," Reanna replied declining politely as she quickened her steps, she had to complete her mission and get back before they released she was gone.

Reanna left the busy market square and ducked down one of the quiet and dimly lit back streets. 

She turned quickly to make sure she wasn't being followed, scanning her surroundings and confident that she wasn't she slipped down another darker side street and then took a sharp left. 

After another check to make sure she wasn't being followed she finally made her way to her destination and knocked on the solid oak door, awaiting entrance. 

" Who goes there?" A deep voice demanded from the other side of the door.

" A traveler, in need of sanctuary and who came from the green forest to seek it," Reanna replied with the correct phase and there was a small pause before Reanna heard a heavy lock beginning lifted and the door creaked open.

" Good evening Princess Reanna, it's good to see you," a large man that despite his kind smile and gentle appearance was as cunning and skillful as warrior replied.

" Maurice, it's so good to see you again too! " Reanna replied as she grabbed the man and pulled him into a tight hug. " And how many times have I told you ...stope calling me Princess, call me Reanna," she scolded lightly making the man smile at her in fatherly affection. 

" It doesn't matter how many times you chaste me to do so, you're a Princess so that's what I will call you. Besides, unlike your Brother you actually deserve your title- the people love you, even without knowing everything you risk to help them, you are our Princess and always will be," Maurice said as he reached up to gently pat Reanna's cheek. 

" You are kind Maurice and I am afraid you are correct about my Brothe,r his cruelty grows by the day as does his ambition...I do not know what, but I fear he is up to something." Reanna confided as she took his offered arm and they made their way to the meeting.

" He's cruelty is growing...his tax collectors burnt down eight farmer's cottages yesterday for not being able to pay the extortionate rise in taxes they demanded..." Maurice said making Reanna gasp.

" Maurice, I had no idea...I was aiding in the birth of the blacksmith and his wife's babe, was anyone seriously harmed?" 

" No your highness. The farmers hid their families when they saw the tax collectors on top of the hill. And the tax collectors might be thugs but it seems even they have the brains to work out that if they hurt the farmers... they won't be able to work and thus can not make money to pay your Brothers outrageous taxes. So since the farmers hid their families in time, they were not there to suffer the collector's wrath ... so the collectors burnt the farmer's homes instead." Maurice said with an edge of anger to his voice.

" I am so sorry the farmers and their families suffered so, the only small comfort that I have in hearing the news is that the farmer's families were not harmed...as homes can be replaced but families can not. I will pay the farmers affected a visit tomorrow in person to check on them and I will deal with the tax collectors in evolved personally, you have my word on that," Reanna said as she looked Maurice in the eye.

" I don't doubt it, your highness, just be careful...your Brother has increased patrol's and there is a reward out for your capture or at least the hoods capture...guard yourself, your highness." 

" I shall Maurice don't worry. For now, however..." Reanna said as she rummaged in the secret pocket in her cloak,  " see that this is distributed amongst the farmers and their families, it should pay for the materials to rebuild their homes, the purchase of furniture to furnish them and cloth for clothes for them." Reanna said as she placed a heavy bag of coins into her friend's palm.

" Bless you, your highness, for your kindness. I shall see they get it tonight, it will be most gratefully received," Maurice said as he guided Reanna through the doorway to the meeting hall where everyone was gathered.

" Good afternoon, gentleman," Reanna said as she nodded to the men gathered.

" Your highness," they greeted in unison as they bowed to her in a sign of respect.

" Please be seated," Reanna ordered as Maurice pulled out a chair for her at the head of the table and then sat at the other end.  " We have gathered here for our fortnightly meeting as the secret society of the knights of Avlington, to discuss the plague that spreads through our Kingdom, my Brother, King Quentin. " Reanna said as the knights quietened to listen to her speak, " I have only just heard about his tax collectors assault on the farmers and let me reassure you that they will be dealt with by me personally, I will not allow innocent Avlington citizens to be harmed- not whilst they are under my protection," Reanna said as anger radiated through her. " Whilst the tax collectors will receive punishment by my hands under the guise of the hood, I myself will appeal to my Brother to see if I can reason with him and in the meantime, I ask that you as my loyal men increase your patrols to protect the villagers from harm. " 

" What happens when the tax collectors come back? No offense your highness, as I know you're trying your best but your Brother is not a man that can be reasoned with in my opinion..." one knight said and the rest chorused their agreement.

" I can understand your doubts gentleman..." Reanna shouted to get them to quieten down again.  " I too fear my Brother can not be reasoned with and as the days pass... his cruelty increases meaning the time for action, instead of words grows closer. Our army is not yet ready for battle, however, many of the men still need more time to train and we need more gold for more weapons...my Brother is expecting a delivery of expensive goods and some gold next week, it is my plan that myself and a few of you intercept the cargo on route and steal it. We will, of course, distribute some of the coins to the citizens who need it and the rest along with the expensive goods we will sell in our neighboring Kingdoms, minus the Kingdom of Mecador of course, to raise money to buy weapons for our army." Reanna said making the knights at her table nodded in agreement.

" 'Tis a fine plan, Your Highness. But when does our army plan to march to war ?" Maurice asked.

" If the men are trained and we have the weapons needed then at my estimation we shall be ready for war by summer," Reanna replied 

" That is only a few months away, the men might be ready but will you be ...he is your Brother after all..." the knight to Reanna's left asked as the rest of them listened for her response.

" He is my Brother and the last family I have left, of course, I do not rejoice at the prospect of his death. However...I am the princess of Avlington and it is my duty to care for and protect the people of Avlington, a duty that I swear I will carry out until my last breath. I am aware that since my Brother has taken over as king that he has spread nothing but fear, misery, and cruelty throughout the Kingdom and I believe that we have given him enough opportunity to change his evil ways and I now see sadly that he will never do so. I do not love my Brother but I held hope that he could change into a King I could respect, sadly I now see that is never going to be the case and I must choose between being loyal to my blood and loyal to Avlington and it's people and I choose Avlington." Reanna vowed making every knight in the room bow their heads to her with respect.

" Very well your highness, it seems we will go to war by Summer if all goes well but until then what are your plans for protecting the people of Avlington?" A knight to Reanna's right asked.

" Well my plans are as follows..." Princess Reanna and her knights spent the next few hours around the table discussing their plans until the sunset and Reanna reluctantly bid her knights and her dear friend Maurice goodbye and headed back to the Palace- her golden cage.