her mother. “And we just might see him today. We’re all going to cheer for the king when he rides from his ship. I’m sure the prince will be there to greet his father.”
Later that day, Nell and her family walked toward the wooden docks on the far side of the castle hill. The sea air was crisp, but the promise of spring made a small thing of the cold. It seemed like all the people of the kingdom had assembled to see their king again. Ten years had passed since his campaign began, and with no news of him during that time, many feared the fleet had met with disaster. Their faces pale with worry, it was easy to spot the wives and children of soldiers who sailed so many years ago. Many on the street murmured about what became of the other ships, since only a fraction of the fleet had returned.
As the family neared the port, more and more people crowded about. The great vessels were already at anchor down at the docks below. “Come on,” Chase said, “I want to get a closer look at the king’s own boat.” He led them down a winding, cobblestone road packed with people, horses, and dogs. Armored knights rode through the crowd on their steeds, making sure King Reginald would have a clear path up to the castle when he came forth. The queen had already been driven down in the royal carriage, and now she waited for her husband before the ships. It would not be long before the king would take his first step back onto home soil, and ride from the docks with his lady.
Deftly Chase guided his wife and two daughters all the way down to the edge of the water. Few could hope to get any closer. Nell craned to glimpse Queen Pharisij, but couldn’t see the carriage with so many people jostling in front of her. Instead, she stared up at the confusing mass of cables and cords stretching from the masts of the ship. How could anyone know what they were all used for? Men ran back and forth on the decks, readying horns and scarlet banners, making final preparations for Reginald’s appearance.
It was then that Nell noticed an unnatural thing scurry behind the busy deckhands – a hunched smudge upon the afternoon light. From the back of the ship it crept, passing through sailors as though they were smoke. The specter stopped at the side rail and scanned the crowd, looking like a grossly fat child in a pig’s mask. Pincer-like hands snapped at the air before its belly, sifting through invisible strings. It surveyed the cheering masses, and slowly its eyes came to rest upon Nell.
She at once felt something tug at her chest. Then, as if by some unseen filament, Nell was yanked forward to the edge of the road.
The thing let out a long, belching screech, but nobody in the crowd seemed to hear except for Nell, who covered her ears in revulsion. Horses lining the road shied and bucked at the sound however, and riders everywhere struggled to retain their saddles. Distracted by the odd creature, Nell didn’t notice the blaring trumpets or the powerful voice of the herald. She didn’t see the cascades of royal color spill down the sails, nor King Reginald’s wan and frowning face look upon his people again.
The crowd roared as their king limped down the ramp and onto the pier. Though the man was haggard beyond his years, his exotic queen, standing statuesque on a carpet of spun gold, smiled to see him just the same. She waited for her husband in a shimmering sapphire gown, her hand extended elegantly for a kiss.
Nell had sorely wanted to see this woman from another land, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the pig specter lurking up on deck. After a long period its shape began to waver, and with a final snort it slipped like a wisp of silk into the gray water of the port. Nell felt the life return to her limbs as it disappeared.
King and queen now reunited in their carriage, the horns played a fanfare and the parade back to the castle lurched into motion. A knight in dusky armor led the entire procession. Unlike the rest of the knights
Later that day, Nell and her family walked toward the wooden docks on the far side of the castle hill. The sea air was crisp, but the promise of spring made a small thing of the cold. It seemed like all the people of the kingdom had assembled to see their king again. Ten years had passed since his campaign began, and with no news of him during that time, many feared the fleet had met with disaster. Their faces pale with worry, it was easy to spot the wives and children of soldiers who sailed so many years ago. Many on the street murmured about what became of the other ships, since only a fraction of the fleet had returned.
As the family neared the port, more and more people crowded about. The great vessels were already at anchor down at the docks below. “Come on,” Chase said, “I want to get a closer look at the king’s own boat.” He led them down a winding, cobblestone road packed with people, horses, and dogs. Armored knights rode through the crowd on their steeds, making sure King Reginald would have a clear path up to the castle when he came forth. The queen had already been driven down in the royal carriage, and now she waited for her husband before the ships. It would not be long before the king would take his first step back onto home soil, and ride from the docks with his lady.
Deftly Chase guided his wife and two daughters all the way down to the edge of the water. Few could hope to get any closer. Nell craned to glimpse Queen Pharisij, but couldn’t see the carriage with so many people jostling in front of her. Instead, she stared up at the confusing mass of cables and cords stretching from the masts of the ship. How could anyone know what they were all used for? Men ran back and forth on the decks, readying horns and scarlet banners, making final preparations for Reginald’s appearance.
It was then that Nell noticed an unnatural thing scurry behind the busy deckhands – a hunched smudge upon the afternoon light. From the back of the ship it crept, passing through sailors as though they were smoke. The specter stopped at the side rail and scanned the crowd, looking like a grossly fat child in a pig’s mask. Pincer-like hands snapped at the air before its belly, sifting through invisible strings. It surveyed the cheering masses, and slowly its eyes came to rest upon Nell.
She at once felt something tug at her chest. Then, as if by some unseen filament, Nell was yanked forward to the edge of the road.
The thing let out a long, belching screech, but nobody in the crowd seemed to hear except for Nell, who covered her ears in revulsion. Horses lining the road shied and bucked at the sound however, and riders everywhere struggled to retain their saddles. Distracted by the odd creature, Nell didn’t notice the blaring trumpets or the powerful voice of the herald. She didn’t see the cascades of royal color spill down the sails, nor King Reginald’s wan and frowning face look upon his people again.
The crowd roared as their king limped down the ramp and onto the pier. Though the man was haggard beyond his years, his exotic queen, standing statuesque on a carpet of spun gold, smiled to see him just the same. She waited for her husband in a shimmering sapphire gown, her hand extended elegantly for a kiss.
Nell had sorely wanted to see this woman from another land, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the pig specter lurking up on deck. After a long period its shape began to waver, and with a final snort it slipped like a wisp of silk into the gray water of the port. Nell felt the life return to her limbs as it disappeared.
King and queen now reunited in their carriage, the horns played a fanfare and the parade back to the castle lurched into motion. A knight in dusky armor led the entire procession. Unlike the rest of the knights
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