Thronegarden by Andrew Dickerson (top rated books of all time .txt) 📕

whenever possible, mainly because of her twin daughters, Celeste and Coral, who were the only other children in the royal apartments. Unfortunately, the twins took every opportunity to bully Damselfly, teasing her about her bright red hair, or her freckles and even about having no friends.

“I remember that day,” Damselfly reminisced.

“No one would play any of the games with me except Old Nana and she always lets me win like I’m a baby.”

“That’s not true, pumpkin, you have lots of friends.”

“Just one more story, Mum, please,” Damselfly begged. “Tell me about how the gardens began or the legend of Bakka.”

“I think it is time for sleep now,” the queen repeated.

“Tell me the story of the Children of the Moon. I haven’t heard that in ages.”

“Daughter,” her mother screeched in a familiar tone. “You know your father banned anyone from telling that tale. Now go to sleep and dream of wonderful things.” Damselfly knew it was pointless to argue any further. Her mother was sensitive about such things, although Old Nana would tell her stories that would make her father furious if he found out.

Queen Etherelle left her daughter’s bedroom with one quick glance over her shoulder. She could still make out a delicate silhouette in the half light and it almost brought a tear to her eye. Pulling herself away from the room, she determined to do something that would bring a smile to her daughter’s lips. The loss of time had brought stagnation that could be seen physically in the cracked stone walls and emotionally in those that saw in each day a repetition of the last. It was especially difficult on Damselfly because there were so few children for her to play with. Such problems were hard to solve though Etherelle had decided firmly that her daughter would have a birthday party to remember. The corridors of Castle Thrane were long and grey with signs of neglect showing regularly. Things had seemed so different when they first inherited the castle after exiling the Fairy King. With the loss of time and her husband’s brother declining into lunacy, a great burden had fallen over their family. Handel had always been a caring father. There were times when she would catch him sitting by their daughter’s bed at night watching her sleep or standing guard at her door even though the entire royal guard was only a disturbed cry away. Now there was a distance between Handel and Damselfly that went beyond duty. In truth, Queen Etherelle had to admit that the void existed between them too; her husband was now more like a stranger, only seeing his chief advisors Luyna and Orion ahead of even his own family. Queen Etherelle was loved by her people for her fair beauty and patient grace yet when something needed doing, she was not afraid to enforce her will. Steeling herself, she entered her husband’s private chambers. Unsurprisingly, Luyna was the only person occupying the room. Luyna was almost as fair as the queen with flaxen gold hair, feline yellow eyes and a blue dress that shimmered like moonlight as she moved. There was something about the sorceress that just felt off, whether it was the shiftiness of her eyes or the crook of her smile or even the sharpness of her laugh that put people on edge. Queen Etherelle felt a chill rush down her spine as Luyna turned to regard her with those sultry eyes. Recalling Damselfly’s words, she rallied her will and spoke firmly.

“I need to see Handel.”

“The king is indisposed,” Luyna replied automatically. “Perhaps I can be of assistance, my lady.”

Luyna’s tone made it quite clear there was nothing less she would rather do than help, but the queen was determined.

“I want to throw Damselfly a birthday party,” Queen Etherelle announced.”

“Really,” Luyna responded with little enthusiasm.

“That’s right,” Etherelle demanded, bringing a flash of displeasure to her adversary’s eyes. “I want it to be the greatest birthday party anyone has ever seen with presents, entertainment and a huge feast.”

“Such grand arrangements will take time to prepare,” Luyna stalled.

It was strange to talk about the passing of time when the sun never traversed the sky, the clocks never ticked and no one grew visibly older. When the Fairy King had destroyed Death’s timepiece and stopped time, even he probably never realised the extent his sabotage would affect the Kingdom of Fable.

“I want everything done by the time my daughter wakes up,” Queen Etherelle ordered.

For the first time, Luyna revealed a sign of real uncertainty to pass her features; the paling of her skin made the crescent-shaped birthmark on her face shimmer slightly.

“That will surely be impossible,” Luyna remarked.

“You could ask Handel yourself,” Queen Etherelle suggested. “Whatever you think, I know my husband loves our daughter more than anything else and I am sure he will support me on this matter.”

Luyna scowled momentarily, knowing that she was cornered before retaining her usual benign countenance and agreeing to the request graciously.

“I will raise the whole castle to help with the preparations,” Luyna acquiesced.

Queen Etherelle smiled triumphantly although the cold look in the sorceress’s eyes made her tremble. Still, she had won this battle and she would not show her fear.

“Also make sure your daughters are nice to Damselfly.”

With that, Queen Etherelle swept from the room leaving Luyna to glare at her receding skirts, a flicker of light charged across the sorceress’s fingers.

Rat was an orphan who lived in the many secret rooms and lost passageways of Castle Thrane. At ten years old, he was still rather small for his age with wild black hair and ragged clothes covered in dust from his latest excursions. Rat survived by carrying messages, news or information throughout the many levels of his home. He knew not only every inch of the castle, but also those who dwelt within the stone walls,