Mireille Pavane - The Princess & the Gargoyle

Synopsis

On the morning of the wedding of Princess Beatrice of the kingdom of Trasimene to the south of the brooding shadow of the Black Mountain, news was brought to the royal court that the feared one-eyed beast had broken free of his imprisonment and was rampaging through the land towards Trasimene. The beast was coming for Princess Beatrice, it was said, to avenge the loss of his right eye and the jewel she had stolen three years ago from the lair of the beasts in the Black Mountain.

But not all is as it seems in this fairy tale adventure about friendship and kindness, courage and honour, and the battles won by things other than superior numbers and might.

Can one recalcitrant princess save the kingdom of Trasimene from the evil at its gates?

Copyright & Warning

Copyright 2017 Mireille Pavane

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Apart from the well-known actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to current events or locales, or to living persons, is entirely coincidental.

Cover design Mireille Pavane

Licence Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 9781386329909

ISBN: 9781549505164 (Paperback)

Warning:

This story includes brief descriptions and scenes of violence, battles and torture which may be unsuitable for young or unsupervised children.

Dedication

To my friends (who may or may not have been tipsy) and their delightful offspring,

especially my goddaughter, L.

And to my parents, for the kaleidoscope of stories which filled my childhood.

Epigraphs

Ogni alba a il suo tramonto.

(Every dawn to its dusk.)

Gabriele dAnnunzio

Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires.

Macbeth, William Shakespeare

The Wedding Day of Princess Beatrice

O n the morning of the wedding of Princess Beatrice of the kingdom of Trasimene to the south of the brooding shadow of the Black Mountain, news was brought to the royal court that the feared one-eyed beast had broken free of his imprisonment and was rampaging through the land towards Trasimene.

No village had been safe from the beast. He passed through like a terrible whirlwind leaving terror and destruction, scorched earth and smoke behind in his wake. The neighbouring kingdom of Ossaia, home to the princess betrothed, Crown Prince Xavier, had had its grain stores, fields and the vanguard of knights sent to meet the beast decimated.

The beast was coming for Princess Beatrice, it was said, to avenge the loss of his right eye and the jewel she had stolen three years ago from the lair of the beasts in the Black Mountain.

King Theobald declared that the kingdom of Trasimene would stand and defend itself and the surrounding lands from any foe or nemesis.

Prince Xavier vowed that he would meet the beast in battle and slay him.

The courtiers, the noble lords and ladies and common folk all cheered, reassured that the combined might of two armies led by their king and his future son-in-law would vanquish the fearsome beast.

The princess, the youngest and the only surviving one of King Theobalds three daughters, said nothing. She took off her wedding veil and sent her handmaidens away.

When her betrothed expressed surprise at her gesture, she declared that she would marry the victor when the battle was over. Believing that this would double his triumph, the prince was satisfied and went to prepare for battle.