Free Let Slip The Princesses of War by David Schenck Page B

safety or rest or advice, and they leave things for safe keeping, and sometime they come back, but more often they just do what people do and die and this useless junk accumulates.  I feel bad throwing it away.  The old owners always seemed to think it was so important.  Would you care to see my gardens?”
    And we did care to.
    After the tours we gathered again at the table and Tom poured us small glasses of a wonderful and potent wine.  As we sipped our wine, Tom stood to address us.  “Your Highnesses, and just a girl, thank you all so much for visiting with me.  It has been my custom since time immemorial to offer my visitors some small gifts before they depart my home.  I have something for each of you.  If you will allow me.”
    We all (well, except for Emily) protested that no gifts were needed, with many refrains of, ‘Oh, that’s not necessary.’ And ‘We should offer you a gift for your excellent hospitality.’ And things of that kind, but secretly we all wanted to see what kinds of gifts Old Tom would offer. So, we let him convince us.  Nobody was fooled. 
    He pulled over a large chest from a corner of the room and began to rummage through it all the while muttering to himself.  “Brains, no.  Courage, hardly. A bow and arrows to be used in time of greatest need, I don’t think so.  Ah, this is perfect.” He pulled out a scroll of paper. 
    “The first gift is for the smallest of your company.  Emily, you arrived as just a girl, which is a high and wonderful thing to be, but now you can also be a princess.  As king of this valley, I hereby confer upon you the title of Princess of the Valley!”
    Emily shrieked with delight and solemnly took the scroll from Tom. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and said, “But don’t forget to be just a girl sometimes.”
    “I won’t.  Thank you King Tom.”
    He rummaged some more in the chest, “Magic Cordial, no.  Genie in the lamp, no.  Ah!  Just the thing.”
    “Princess Sweet Pea,” He held out a pure white feather.  “Simply place this under your back and you will always get a comfortable night’s sleep, in a bed or in the forest.”
    Pea’s face lit up with, what I can only describe as, transcendent joy.  She ran to Tom and gave him a big hug. “Thank you!  It’s been years since I’ve had a good night’s sleep!”
    He returned to his chest. “Seven League Boots, no. Magic Carpet, no.  Ah.”
    “And for you Princess Cinderella, a single rose, which will never die or fade, that you may enjoy its beauty as much as the world enjoys yours.”
    I swear Cindy actually blushed!  She took the rose, which, somehow, was more beautiful than other roses, and gave Tom a quick kiss on one cheek, and then on the other cheek.
    Tom turned back to his chest.  He rummaged and muttered a long time and then finally lifted his head.
    “I’m sorry Queen Rapunzel.  I don’t have anything appropriate for you in here.” He held up a plain gold ring.  “Would you like this? It used to be a ring of power, but now that power has passed from the world.  I think it still does give the wearer some resistance to fire.  It used to turn you invisible, but no more.  Some funny little men, well not men exactly, more like proto-men, Homo floresiensis to be precise, left it here many years ago.” He tossed me the ring, which was surprisingly heavy for its size. I put it on my finger.  It didn’t feel like a ring of power, but it was pretty. “However,” He continued, “if your highnesses (and he winked at Emily and she beamed back at him) would consent to be my guests for the night, in the morning my gardens will provide a gift for you that I would very much like for you to have.”
    “Oh,” I began, “Thank you but I don’t need any…”
    But I never finished as Cinderella jumped in. “We would be delighted to be your guests for the night.”
    “Absolutely” Added Pea.
    “The Princess Emily agrees!” Said Emily in her most regal