CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Heara was pulled out of her trance by a distant knocking. She lifted her eyes.  In the doorway of her Reading Nook , in a splendid red and white uniform, stood a number 8 servant.

“The King asks permission to see his daughter. He is to come here now.”

“Umm, okay.”Heara responded.

The servent stepped aside and in came the King of Hearts. He was not a tall man, yet robust, with a long red robe lined with fur and a crown on his head.

“Hello, father!” Heara said .

“Good day, Heara!” he said cheerfully. The servant had disappeared.”Excited about Coronation Day?”

Why did everyone keep asking her that?

“Yeah, I guess.” Heara replied.

“You don’t sound so.” The King said, reaching for a book. ”Are you all right?”

“No, of course not! In three days time I’m going to marry a man I haven’t even met and take the huge responsability of a queen! Of course I’m not okay!” Heara blurted out.

“Now, dear, you will meet the prince tomorrow. And I know it’s not easy to take on such responsability, but remember, you won’t be alone!”

“Oh, yeah, I’ll be with the man I’ve met a day before my wedding!”

“Heara, listen, if you don’t want to understand it, fine, but please don’t do anything to spoil it for your cousins.”

“I won’t, father, I promise”

“Good. And Heara” he added. ”try to find something fun about Coronation Day, all right?”

“Yeah” Heara said.

“Good. Have a good day, Heara.”

Heara mumbled something.

“What, dear?”

Heara hesitated, then said “Good day.”

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

James hadn’t yet recovered from their earlier discussion, yet Joey tried to chear him up in all posible ways:

“Maybe we could go over some roofs and then do an epic jump? Or how about a big old market prank? Or… I know, I know, let’s sneak in somewhere, maybe the barracks, or some snob’s house, or … I know!  The Palace!”

“Yeah… I guess I never seen the Palace.” James said thoughtfully.

“Yay, hey, Jack ! Can we go sneak in the Palace?”

“Sure, but which one? There’s four, you know… Wait! I have an idea!  How about a contest? Each of us chooses a castle and the one who brings more loot, wins.”

“Great!” Joey said.

“You’re on.” James answered.

 

 And so, each of them chose a castle.  Jack chose Picks, Joey chose Treffles and James chose Hearts.