HOME | DD

Description
Chapter One: The Riot Princess

The kingdom was created to save a queen. She was an empress without an empire. A ruler without a playground. Through betrayal and exile she had found herself in a new world with nothing. She needed people to lead, people that would listen to her and bow and scrape as they walked past. So, she found a man. A big strong man with money and influence. And an extensive track of land to the North of those snowy Aruvian Mountains. His name was Kaver Rensith.

Kaver was useful to this queen. He married her, falling in love with her deep green eyes and tumbling red hair. It fell in impossible curls, framing her slim face. And, when her thick pouty lips demanded a castle built on his winter estate, he complied. And when that castle acquired a hamlet, and then a village, and then whole towns, all springing up in the frozen landscape, he just smiled. Our queen had been played herself.

Soon, the great new kingdom of Mintser was created. Wars were waged, enemies fell, revolutions quelled, and the kingdom grew. It stretched from the far south, where sweet waves licked at hot black sand and native children ran around naked to the far north, past those snowy Aruvian Mountains where it all began. There sat the capital of it all, Haptull. The castle, once an intruder on the rustic countryside, now sat happy and content amongst a bustling city. Hawkers cried their wears, whores offered their services. Children laughed and parents shouted. The kingdom was alive and varied. New queens were born, and new husbands were taken. The Rensith dynasty lived on, husbands taking their wife's last name as this matriarchy grew. And soon another queen had another daughter. The kingdom was going to change her life in a great way. It had saved a queen from a fate worse than death, and now it is going to give a future queen something new. Something unheard of.

Her name was Clemence Rensith. Our little crown princess. The next in a matriarchy that ruled most of the known world. Her mother was Luana Rensith, great great granddaughter of that red haired queen with pouty lips. They never really got along, Clemence and Luana. They were either far too alike, or such polar opposites. No one could ever pin it down; mostly because no one could ever pin Clemence down long enough to get a strong hold on her personality. She was a flighty creature, her mind wandering and her feet skipping. More times than Luana would have liked she was found covered in mud, an unhappy frog peeking out from her tiny hands. Her father was Gregging Rensith, a brave nobleman who struck it rich when uptight Luana decided to take a chance on the daring, dark haired stranger from foreign lands. Their marriage was quickly ordered and even more quickly consummated, a first born in record time.

The kingdom of Mintser welcomed their heir with fanfare and great parades. The city of Haptull welcomed her with riots and fires. Revolution was spreading through the northern counties at the time of Clemence's birth. Citizens were angered with Luana's treatment of non-humans in the region. Oh, was that not mentioned?

Mintser Kingdom was located on the continent Cuvasia, the largest continent spanning the great world of Baeddan. Baeddan was a world with sugar sweet oceans and extreme continents. There was Cuvasia, the largest most varied and most populated during the Rensith dynasty; Halleli, a desert continent covered with nomads and witches; tropical Nagon with rare plants and animals; and Werden, a smaller version of Cuvasia but with greater mountain rangers and a very low human population. The planet itself was relatively small, dotted with tiny islands and filled with black beaches. Volcanoes from Halleli had managed to cover most of the world in volcanic ash at one point, so where moderate climates could be found the agriculture districts grew and flourished. Monarchies and dictatorships were the most common government, Democracy being difficult with the level of variety experiences in most populations.

Mintser Kingdom mainly dealt with other countries on Cuvasia, trying to avoid the greater world at all costs. The greater world was filled with all manner of creatures from witches and warlocks to animals that spoke and machines with souls. Luana was strictly a human, and she was keeping her kingdom that way.

Gregging prevented genocide. It took all of his wit, but he knew Luana would get no support. There would be an uprising, a revolt, a coup. Mintser had stags, witches, dwarves, talking animals, centaurs, dragons, elves, fairies, goblins, and many more creatures that existed in small pockets across the kingdom. Luana wanted all of them gone. She wished to create the first entirely human population. One without 'corrupted genes'.

And that was why there were riots. The ground, which was covered in snow eight out of twelve months, was snow free, an invitation. Clemence was born during the hottest month of the year, Abia. The heat, and the rumors that Queen Luana was about to cull all but humans sparked a match. And then, someone who would be more than a spot trouble for Clemence in the future, tossed that match onto a haystack coated in the highly flammable, and alcoholic, Wasater. Which, simplified, meant that the whole city erupted.

As Luana sat in her royal bedchambers, sweating and cursing, her entire body shaking with the effort of labor, Gregging was in the royal office, watching, through massive picture windows that were common in all of Haptull, as the black crowd grew closer. Summer had come. The roads were clear. No longer was snow stacked a story high. It was possible to navigate the city during the winter. Every snowfall was followed by rain in the night. Ice covered the streets, turning the snow into massive roads, gleaming ones that could blind you if you didn't wear your goggles.

There were legends that the first queen had sacrificed the virginity of her first-born daughter to guarantee that the snow froze in the winter. There were just legends though. Snow was always good for a kingdom. Not only did it make Haptull glimmer with a sparkling, icy beauty, but it did something to the people. It froze them, slowed them down. Eight months out of twelve people were tired but content, pleased to do the minimal to stay warm. So in the summer, when the three suns of Baeddan shone on Haptull, people could gambol and go free, warm and happy. They worked hard and in three months, the farms of Haptull produced as much produce as other farms managed in six months.

But they citizens weren't warm and happy now. They were hot and angry, enraged at their darling queen. They were armed and storming the castle, thousands of angry feet pounding on worn cobblestone, thousands of angry arms hoisting pitchforks, butcher knives, and torches. They were chanting the Luana's name, wanting to see the face of such a monster. But she was unavailable as she was at the moment giving the final push, welcoming her daughter into a world where rulers must make split second decisions.

"What do we do about them?" Gregging asked at the exact same moment his first-born entered the world. His back was to his advisors, his grey eyes on the mob. These were his people, and goddamn it if he didn't stop this madness.

"Well sir, aside from somehow dispersing the crowd, most likely in a violent way, there's nothing we can do." None of them knew what to say. Riots were tricky things. The fastest way was to just send some soldiers in and bash a few heads, but that could backfire, resulting in violence by the civilians, possibly even a death. No, they were playing a waiting game now. Would the crowd trickle down, burn itself out? Or would they be an attempt on the castle door?

The large oak doors suddenly burst open and a frenzied maid entered, her blonde hair matted to her face by a nervous sweat. "Your highness," she managed, curtseying low and gasping for breath, "Your majesty has just given birth. It is a girl." Gregging paused for a moment, letting a breeze from the still open door blow a lock of his dark hair into his face.

"A girl you say," his voice was low, his eyes still on the blurred faces outside. "So I have a daughter. And Mintser has an heir"  An idea slowly wriggled into his mind as the news registered. An heir, a daughter. Mintser had their new crown princess, she had a solution. His advisors watched in confusion as he ran from the room, ran from the mob, ran towards his wife. She was a sorry sight when he arrived, her light red hair knotted and damp. Her eyes were warm though, and the ragged breaths she gave were breathed directly on the small infant she held in her arms. Several other members of nobility, mostly women, were collapsed in the multiple chairs and sofas that filled the room, looking as though the birth had been a joint effort.

Luana looked up at him, light brown eyes gleaming with a love he had never seen before. It was a motherly love. "Look at her," she managed, snuggling the infant against her ample chest. Gregging walked over, a smile on his lips as his idea completed itself and sat in his mind, ready to be executed. "She won't cry, not even for me. But look at her smile."

And so it was, on the fifteenth day of Abia, a riot was ended by an appearance on a balcony. The star was a baby, one who hadn't even been in the world for two hours before she was helping her country. She was introduced as Clemence Forma Verstand Onni Rensith. She was the crown princess. As pitchforks fell to the ground and women gasped at the child an understanding was reached. No country with a future ruler as innocent as Clemence could ever kill or destroy. No country with such a shining future would ever be capable of crimes against living things. Clemence meant mercy, Clemence granted her kingdom her namesake.

Soon the princess was grown. Her life was a flash of luxury and kindness. A four year old Clemence, mud on her jade green gown, chasing a small frog through the gardens, her deep red hair flying behind her. Six-year-old Clemence discovered the stables and soon nobles could tell she was coming by the smell of manure and leather that followed her through the stately halls of the castle. Nine years old and she was a fan of the people, begging her nanny to let her ride around the city, laughing and playing with common children as imperial guards shifted from foot to foot, dust dirtying their usually impeccable black boots. At ten she developed a hatred for the fancy dresses she was expected to wear and made herself boy clothes, modeling them after the ones her four-year-old brother Opary would wear. Opary who would toddle around on velvet carpets, sweets stuck in his curling blonde hair, noble ladies pinching his chubby cheeks till he cried. Also at ten she also welcomed her sister, Yervise, into the world. As Yervise crowned, and Luana screamed, Clemence lay in bed, her thin body wasting away with a fever. Gregging ran from room to room and the city was hushed, holding their breath, praying for life in two rooms.

So the family was complete. Clemence, Opary, and Yervise. A flaming red head with sharp yellow eyes, a handsome blonde with baby blues that could move even his rock hard mother, and a frail brunette who's green eyes were constantly wide open, a perpetual look of shock on her face. Gregging and Luana spoiled them, making sure they knew no unnecessary hardship. They were subject to the usual method of torture for children though. Each had a private tutor, the three finest minds of the kingdom. Clemence's was a man from the far south of the kingdom, a man who waxed on about sweet waves that tickled the toes of dark skinned children who ran screaming to their large breasted mothers, demanding more aprison, a sour fruit with a large pit in the middle.

She grew up with this man, learning not only math and science, but also the history of her kingdom. She learned of the great war against the kingdom of Pasuv, an empire to the west of Mintser. Boys lined up from all over the kingdom, joining the great army that would march for months before they met at the Pasuv border and began to battle. It was over territory, as many wars are. Clemence and her tutor, who was fondly called Instructor, discussed the battle tactics and strategies, as well as the affect it had on the rest of the kingdom and how to manage it all. He really was her instructor, training her to be the next queen. Training her to watch four things all at once and be able to fix every problem she was presented with.

Soon she was all grown up. Or what she considered grown up. Fifteen year olds think they know everything. And fifteen year olds in line to inherit the throne of one of the largest kingdoms in the world are no better. They're actually much worse. She had grown, but hadn't really matured. After discovering at the age of ten that she hated dresses, she now walked around in men's clothing, her long legs in loose cotton pants, her large feet in tough leather boots. Instructor only laughed as she started to spend less and less time sitting around with her mother and younger sister, chatting to noble women about petty court gossip. Instead, she managed to convince Gregging to let her train with swords and bows, in combat and hand-to-hand fighting. She rode as well as any man in the court, and could hold her own in a fight. Not that a princess would ever need to fight.

There was a fire in Clemence, now referred to as Clem because Clemence was too girly. She needed to do everything she could, learn everything she could. There was no stopping her and no slowing her down. Hell, there was no catching her either.

"Where is she?" Mineta fussed, quickly walking down the long hallway as the early spring sun streamed in from the large windows. "Clem!" she cried once more, running a hand through her thick brown hair. "Clem!" Mineta, Clem's latest lady in waiting knew that the girl wasn't in the castle anymore. The strong sun had melted the winter's snow and everyone person under the age of thirty was experiencing a strong case of spring fever. The princess was no different.

Another noble lady, two curly blondes in tow strutted down the hallways, no doubt on some sort of important business. "Excuse me, but have you seen Princess Clemence anywhere?" Mineta asked, looking up at the woman. Mineta was a small woman, barely even a woman. She was only twenty, yet had been given the job of looking over Clemence. She was the daughter of a Duke, from the southern part of the kingdom. She had light brown skin and mahogany colored eyes, and Clem had taken to her instantly, begging for stories of black beaches and exotic fruit. But even though they were friends, Clem by no means followed her instruction.

The noble lady, knowing the authority little Mineta held gave a meek shake of her head, letting the sunlight glint off of her large earrings. "I'm sorry Lady Mineta, I haven't seen the Crown Princess anywhere." Mineta thanked her and walked away, cursing under her breath. Why must Clem always do this? Why did she have to be the responsible one? The sun was so warm, and the breeze that wafted through an open window was so tempting. Maybe Clem wasn't so wrong in leaving the castle. At the very least a stroll through the gardens couldn't hurt. The Queen wouldn't have to know. Or she would at least understand. She had been young once. Mineta thought she had at least. Oh where was that impossible girl.

Down in the stables, where the warm weather had brought about a bustle of activity, Clem stood in a stall resting her head against the shoulder of a large stallion. He was a flaxen liver chestnut, the blonde of his main and tail contrasting sharply with his dark brown coat. His name was Pazzo and he had the honor of belonging to the Princess. He also had the honor of regularly bucking her off, as he was only four and still didn't enjoy the saddle as much as Clem had hoped. He would be fine for days, weeks even. And then one day, as soon as both feet were in the stirrups, he would release, becoming a whirl of blonde and brown, with a dash of red, like a flame, at the very top. Nine times out of ten she would stay on, her teeth gritted, her eyes squinted. But every once and a while the flame would go out and she would tumble down onto the dirt.

"Why, Princess, what are you doing here?" a groom, a skinny boy named Faring had passed by the stall and seen her thick bush of red. It was a trademark of her, impossibly thick red hair that fell to her past her shoulders, impossibly straight and shiny, glinting like a flame in the sun.

Laughing Clem turned, giving the boy a smile as he bowed in respect. "Just saying hi to Pazzo, Faring. You'll make sure he gets some time in the paddocks right? He gets so bored in the stall all day." Faring nodded, running a hand down the stallion's thick muzzle.

"Of course Princess. Anything else?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Clem whispered, her eyes glinting as her face glowed. She didn't wait for a response, blurting out the rest. "I'm going into the woods. It's just so nice out, and I've never been. It'll be an adventure!" Faring laughed, shaking his head slowly at the excited girl.

"With you Princess, everything is an adventure. Be careful. And give my regards to Mineta. Poor girl, trying to keep a hold on you." Laughing, Clem left the stall, grabbing a canvas bag that was on the floor next to it. She walked out of the stables, tilting her head back to catch the sun on her face. Wearing tight tan breeches, knee high leather boots, and a filmy white shirt, she was the essence of beautiful youth. All of her was so young and fresh, so innocent and hopeful. And as she trotted through the castle gates and waved to the guards, tossing one of them a stunning smile, she seemed so full of potential that it almost hurt to look at her.

Walking through the streets of the city she pulled her hair back into a large ponytail, letting a few strands fall free and in her eyes. The city of Haptull was arranged so that the castle was at the very center of the entire city. To the South of the castle was the poorer part of the city and the Aruvian Mountains. Most trade came from over the mountains as to the north there was nothing except for the forest, and then the top of the world. So the South of the city was mainly a richer section, where nobility and rich merchants strutted through cobblestoned streets, stopping to buy sweet pies from carts.

In some places the road itself rumbled. Haptull was built over an underground river that flowed from North to South, right down the center of the city. In the castle there was a special room that allowed one to see the river. Irrigation ditches had been dug that allowed the river, which had its sources in the mountains, to flow to almost every corner of the city. Where the river was faster or stronger it was felt on the roads and children would often gather in these places with cups of water, watching as it slopped back and forth, shaking with the power.

Clem carried on toward the northern gates of the city, smiling and waving to people, as they happened to recognize her. In a city such a Haptull, unless Clem was dolled up and dressed to kill in a gown, everyone knew well enough to leave her alone. The royal family was constantly stressing independence in their children, and each had their own way of being left alone by their subjects. Normally she would stop and chat with some shopkeepers, or humor a group of children with a simple magic trick taught to her by Instructor, but today she felt an air of urgency. A level of importance. Something was happening today.

Like most young people, Clem found herself attracted to signs and fate. She loved the concept of love, although her somewhat cynical attitude would cause people to believe otherwise. Today, the wishful part of her was in charge, telling her that the air did smell of buttercups and the sun did feel like gold washing over her skin. Today, she was going to do something she had never done before. Something most people never did. She was going into the woods that were to the North of the city. And the farther she walked, the more she wished she had brought Pazzo.

"Oh, this wasn't such a good idea I guess," she mused, stumbling on a protruding cobblestone. "I forgot how large this city is."

"Princess!" came a voice behind her. She turned, and broke into a giant grin, waving both arms in an exuberant greeting. Trotting towards her was Faring on Pazzo, a smile on his lean face. "I figured you hadn't thought your plan out, and you'd be wanting him eventually."

"Oh Faring, you are marvelous!" Clem cried, kissing Pazzo on the nose and giving Faring a warm smile. "Thank you so much."

"It was nothing, Princess," Faring replied, sliding off of Pazzo and rubbing the stallion's neck. "Be careful. And make sure to be back before nightfall. Or at least be in the city by nightfall."

"I know, Faring." Clem slung herself over Pazzo's back, patting his neck as she did so. "Well, I'll see you later." And with a cluck and a squeeze Pazzo was off, leaving Faring to stand smiling in the middle of the cobblestone streets, feeling like he had just helped something very bad begin.