Akidi a little kick. ‘“The Princess and the Thief”,’ he whispers. She looks at him for a minute, not understanding, but
then she nods and clears her throat.
Her voice squeaks, ‘Okay.’ She takes a deep breath and tries again. This time her voice is loud and stronger. They can hear her at the next fire..
‘Once upon a time, an evil king lived in a beautiful palace that overlooked a very poor city. The king would go through his country, and anything that he liked he would just take. He would
steal the food right off a poor man’s table and eat it right in front of him. He didn’t care if the man died, as long as the king got exactly what he wanted, nothing else mattered. The
same went for people.’
Soldiers chuckle. I think I can feel a couple scowl, but it’s hard to see in the dark.
‘One day, the king was travelling through farm country and he saw a girl working in the field. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Of course, she was just a maiden and he was
an old fat king, but that didn’t matter. He ordered his servants to take the girl and bring her back to the palace. He didn’t talk with her parents, he didn’t even ask the
girl’s name. Which was White Lily.
‘Quickly, a wedding was planned and all the rich and important people were invited, but no one poor was allowed to come. Even the girl’s family wasn’t allowed to attend. The
night of the wedding, the bride’s father stood at the palace gate and beat on the stones, weeping, for he could not see his daughter on her wedding day. Passing him, a whole parade of
servants brought in sumptuous and exotic food from all over the world. Another parade of servants carried in expensive gifts of gold and luxurious cloth.
‘All these riches were, of course, tradition at such a wedding. The evil king already had several wives, but none were as beautiful as White Lily and he was sure no one else had a wife so
beautiful. He really wanted to show her off, even though he still hadn’t thought to ask her name. He just called her New Wife.’
That earned a few laughs. One soldier got slapped on the back by a couple of others. ‘She’s talking about you!’ Laughter rippled around the fire.
‘As the presents and the feast were brought in, the entire town came out to watch. Many were so poor they couldn’t believe their eyes, and thought their hunger was giving them
hallucinations. One man who could believe it was named Black Tiger. He was the fiercest and fastest thief in the world. He once fought five royal soldiers by himself, making jokes about them the
entire time.’
More cheering. ‘Yeah!’ ‘Fucking badass!’ I catch sight of the Captain at the edge of the circle of firelight. I can see the flame in his eyes, looking at Akidi. His arms
are crossed. I know Akot has seen him too.
‘When Black Tiger saw all of the wealth that was being brought to the palace, he couldn’t resist. Just as the sun set, he snuck over the outer wall and crept past the guards. Then,
using special claws he had made himself, he climbed the wall of the palace. Up and up he went, until he came to an open window. He leapt inside and found himself face to face with the most
beautiful woman he had ever seen.
‘White Lily had been crying because the wedding would start soon and she didn’t want to marry the evil king. When Black Tiger demanded her gold and jewellery, White Lily stood up and
said, “Okay.”
‘But she didn’t take them off – Black Tiger didn’t understand.
‘“Take me,” White Lily explained. “Take me far away from the evil king and I’ll wear all my jewellery and you can sell it and buy your own palace.”’
‘He’s going to fuck her so hard!’ More cheering. ‘The bitch wants it bad.’ Can I see the Captain smiling?
‘This wasn’t what Black Tiger had expected, but she was so beautiful that he couldn’t refuse. He made a rope out of blankets and threw it out the window so White Lily could
climb
then she nods and clears her throat.
Her voice squeaks, ‘Okay.’ She takes a deep breath and tries again. This time her voice is loud and stronger. They can hear her at the next fire..
‘Once upon a time, an evil king lived in a beautiful palace that overlooked a very poor city. The king would go through his country, and anything that he liked he would just take. He would
steal the food right off a poor man’s table and eat it right in front of him. He didn’t care if the man died, as long as the king got exactly what he wanted, nothing else mattered. The
same went for people.’
Soldiers chuckle. I think I can feel a couple scowl, but it’s hard to see in the dark.
‘One day, the king was travelling through farm country and he saw a girl working in the field. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Of course, she was just a maiden and he was
an old fat king, but that didn’t matter. He ordered his servants to take the girl and bring her back to the palace. He didn’t talk with her parents, he didn’t even ask the
girl’s name. Which was White Lily.
‘Quickly, a wedding was planned and all the rich and important people were invited, but no one poor was allowed to come. Even the girl’s family wasn’t allowed to attend. The
night of the wedding, the bride’s father stood at the palace gate and beat on the stones, weeping, for he could not see his daughter on her wedding day. Passing him, a whole parade of
servants brought in sumptuous and exotic food from all over the world. Another parade of servants carried in expensive gifts of gold and luxurious cloth.
‘All these riches were, of course, tradition at such a wedding. The evil king already had several wives, but none were as beautiful as White Lily and he was sure no one else had a wife so
beautiful. He really wanted to show her off, even though he still hadn’t thought to ask her name. He just called her New Wife.’
That earned a few laughs. One soldier got slapped on the back by a couple of others. ‘She’s talking about you!’ Laughter rippled around the fire.
‘As the presents and the feast were brought in, the entire town came out to watch. Many were so poor they couldn’t believe their eyes, and thought their hunger was giving them
hallucinations. One man who could believe it was named Black Tiger. He was the fiercest and fastest thief in the world. He once fought five royal soldiers by himself, making jokes about them the
entire time.’
More cheering. ‘Yeah!’ ‘Fucking badass!’ I catch sight of the Captain at the edge of the circle of firelight. I can see the flame in his eyes, looking at Akidi. His arms
are crossed. I know Akot has seen him too.
‘When Black Tiger saw all of the wealth that was being brought to the palace, he couldn’t resist. Just as the sun set, he snuck over the outer wall and crept past the guards. Then,
using special claws he had made himself, he climbed the wall of the palace. Up and up he went, until he came to an open window. He leapt inside and found himself face to face with the most
beautiful woman he had ever seen.
‘White Lily had been crying because the wedding would start soon and she didn’t want to marry the evil king. When Black Tiger demanded her gold and jewellery, White Lily stood up and
said, “Okay.”
‘But she didn’t take them off – Black Tiger didn’t understand.
‘“Take me,” White Lily explained. “Take me far away from the evil king and I’ll wear all my jewellery and you can sell it and buy your own palace.”’
‘He’s going to fuck her so hard!’ More cheering. ‘The bitch wants it bad.’ Can I see the Captain smiling?
‘This wasn’t what Black Tiger had expected, but she was so beautiful that he couldn’t refuse. He made a rope out of blankets and threw it out the window so White Lily could
climb
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