olume 0 by Maggie Lynn Negrete
olume
by Maggie Lynn Negrete
0
for Stephanie who woke the sleeper & aboveall, my family who taught me everything
All rights reserved Copyright 2014 Maggie Lynn Negrete No part of this book can be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the USA. For information address: PenWorks Publishers 395 Mcduffy Hollow Road Van Etten, NY 14889 penworkspublishers.com ISBN 978-0-9768575-8-7 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ontents Story of Princess Dara part 1 ..... 6 part 2 ..... 30 part 3 ..... 54 part 4 ..... 78
Story of Princess Alva part 1 ..... 18 part 2 ..... 42 part 3 ..... 66 part 4 ..... 90
the story of
rincess ara part 1
6
ne fair day before the summer’s end, a shooting star & a burning oak marked the birth of the new Princess of Robles-Dara. Her mother, a powerful diviner & gentle ruler knew that her child was born to bring harmony to their troubled kingdom, so she summoned her faerie court.
he will have great mastery over the magical craft.
She will see many lands & peoples.
She will be blessed with great wisdom & sound judgment. She will hold no fear in her heart.
he King & Queen made sure that her gifts were well developed by bringing the best scholars & practitioners to prepare the young Princess Dara for her destiny. They took great care to keep her from the dangers beyond the castle walls- lest her innocence be spoiled.
ausing from her studies, the maturing & restless Dara pondered a future outside. I am so bored of reading of the world! Of hearing about all the great things I will do! They seem to be merely dreams. I’d rather this were all a dream & that when I awoke, adventure would be waiting!
rincess Dara received her wish & promptly fell into a deep sleep. The poor malcontented princess had forgotten her own great power and cursed herself to await adventure while dreaming.
the story of
rincess lva part 1
18
hortly before the winter solstice in a kingdom of great warriors, the queen, belly waxed with child, sought solitude outside the palace. There in the moonlight, the queen gave birth to a daughter- Alva. As the great stag lept before them, the new mother died.
he queen’s ladies-in-waiting knew that if the princess were discovered, she would be killed for only sons were born to the warrior king. So, they hid her femininity and swaddled her in the garb of her brothers. They prayed that her mother’s spirit would protect Alva from harm.
he King welcomed his son & mourned not his passing wife. What a strong and ruthless soldier my son must be! For even at birth he shown no mercy & made his first kill! Ye shall be Alvin, my son of the forest. Prophecies depict your great knighthood & journeys far beyond this kingdom. May ye always carry the sword of the dark cresent.
very day, the King had little
Alva
train
for
knighthood- the bow, the sword, the lance & shield. An avid woodsman & rider, she was quick and nimblebesting her elder brothers despite her age & frame. Although a friendly child, Alva kept her time alone & her secret close.
t night, Alva’s nurses advised her on her true identity & taught her the magical craft. They knew that soon, at the blossom of her womanhood, she would have to flee, & they would no longer be able to protect her.
the story of
rincess ara part 2
30
tricken with grief, Dara’s father tried everything to wake her. He worried that dark magic was afoot & consulted the ancient texts. Myths of true love described the power of one kiss. Desperate, the King brought suitors to Dara’s bedside.
irst to arrive was Gareth, a knight from the southern islands known for his strength & chivalry. As he kissed Dara, her eyes fluttered open. Dara! I am your true love!
I will defend your honor valiantly & you shall live in
my fortress protected from the evils of this world. Afterwhich, Dara fell fast asleep.
ext to arrive was the Prince of a distant kingdom known for their riches & culture. When he kissed the Princess, her eyes fluttered open. Princess Dara, I am your true love!
Let me take you to my castle, far from this troubled
kingdom where you will be my queen & mother to my heir. Afterwhich, Dara fell fast asleep again.
ast to arrive was Abed, a bard respected for his prose & erudition. When he kissed the Princess, her eyes fluttered open. Princess Dara, awaken!
I am your true love!
I will write you a poem of love every morning & we shall spend countless nights in my library together forever. Afterwhich, Dara fell fast asleep for a third time.
fter
witnessing
their
daughter’s revival & return to slumber three times over, the King & Queen gave up looking for suitors. Consulting her cards, the Queen saw that only the arrival of the prophecied stranger would rest Dara from her slumber. Then, Dara’s destiny would be set in motion & the fate of the kingdom would rest in her daughter’s hands.
the story of
rincess lva part 2
42
hen Alva’s brother discovered her true sex, he ran to his father’s side to expose her. The King was torn by his love for whom was once his favorite son but knew what the prophecy foretold if a daughter were born to the Dark Crescent. Lorcan, we must be discreet.
No man shall know of this treachery. Fear not- your
loyalty shall be rewarded by your sister’s punishment. I will have a daughter of Robles yet!
orcan entered Alva’s quarters & explained his father’s ruling. My sister, I have revealed your true identity. Always, you best me in sport & in father’s eye. Now, I have won his favor! You shall be my servant & tend my horses until you come of age. Then, we shall marry, & I shall ascend to the throne! He instructed that Alva’s nurses would be burned for the supposed murder of Alvin, alongside all of Alva’s possessions.
hile Alva was taken & chained in the horses’ stable, the kingdom mourned the passing of the youngest son of the Dark Crescent. A great funeral was held with feasting & ceremonial hunts. On the final night of the wake, Alva could see the light of the fires where her nurses burned rising above the castle walls.
uring the daytime, Alva was unchained & brought to he castle to serve her brother’s every need. She scrubbed his quarters. She bathed him. She brought him food & drink. She sang & entertained him. She heard no end of his superiority.
t night, Alva was bound to the stables & cared for the horses as her only friends. Barely resting, she diligently practiced her sword & sparring skills, waiting & praying for a chance to escape.
the story of
rincess ara part 3
54
s Dara slept, she dreamt-not of things beautiful &
bizarre
but
of
nightmares. Beasts of all manner chased her ceaslessly through the Dream Realm. Suddenly before her, the Queen of the Dark Cresent appeared, holding back the veil into the Realm of Guardians where the supposed gods of the material world resided.
he Queen of the Dark Crescent instructed Dara that she would be awoken three times & tempted to change her fate. Each time she must return to sleep to retrieve a wand & a sword & then return to the Realm of Guardians. If she should fail, Dara would remain asleep forever, & her destiny would never be fulfilled. Dara felt another’s presence and awoke.
hen Dara returned from waking, she found herself nestled beside the skeletal remains of the Queen who held tightly to a poplar wand. The dessicated flesh & damp earth left the air heavy with putrid vapors. Clutching the wand tightly to her breast, Dara felt herself go faint & was awoken.
hen Dara returned from waking the second time, she occupied the vacant coffin of Alvin, Prince of the Dark Crescent. Alone lay an iron sword. In the darkness of the grave, Dara grew to know its every scratch & seam. For what felt like a thousand years passed with Dara suspended between the Dream Realm & that of the Living.
fter the third awakening, Dara had returned to the Realm of the Guardians & presented the wand & sword to the Queen. The Queen directed Dara to the Realm of the Captured Souls. There, she would find a man with a young face & silver hair who could act as her guardian. I am being summoned. I pray that soon you may awake. Goodbye, Dara. We shall meet again.
the story of
rincess lva part 3
66
he King of the Dark Crescent summoned Alva & commanded that she pass the last months before her presentation to court in the woodland fortress. As a token, he gave Alva the necklace that her mother wore on the day of her presentation. I shall be proud for you to wear it & one day the crown.
eep in the woods outside the castle, Alva was joined by a lady’s maid & two guards. The old woman sought to prepare her in the roles & responsibilities of her new position while the guards never left her side. Suddenly, Alva was treated like a proper princess; feather beds instead of hay, someone to prepare her bed and meals, & yet, she still felt like a prisoner.
he only visitor that came within the fortress walls was a merchant woman bringing garments in the fashion of Robles. For just a moment while Alva was alone with her trying the dresses, the strange woman gave her a small vile of poison- one that would bring swift death with a single drop. Once you are married to your brother, kill both him & your father.
Become queen.
End the madness of the Dark Crescent.
s the sun rose on Alva’s 21st birthday, she was greeted at the gates of the castle as the supposed Princess Dara of Robles. There, before the lords & ladies sworn to serve the Dark Crescent, Alva was betrothed to Lorcan, & their marriage set for the next full moon.
fter her presentation, Alva realized that there was no escaping her sentence to marry her brother. Neither could she bring herself to poison her kin despite the years of servitude. Seeing only one option, Alva rode out to her mother’s grave, prayed & lifted the vile to drink.
the story of
rincess ara part 4
78
,
lone, Dara found herself surrounded
by
the
Guardians of every culture, creature & magical place. In silence, they lead her to a giant, golden griffin whose wings openned to reveal a doorway of pure light.
emembering her lessons, Dara knew that what lie beyond the portal must be what the scholars called the “Void”the Realm of pure energy where a soul’s destiny was determined. The Void was the only passage between the Realms, yet Dara would be the first living soul to enter.
ara closed her eyes and filled her mind with thoughts of the man the Queen of the Dark Crescent descibed. She stepped into the portal & felt herself consumed by the energy of the Void. When she opened her eyes, Dara was esconsed in darkness with the hollow sound of chains. In the distance, she could see a pale figure.
s Dara approached the figure, the man raised his head & requested her silence as he spoke. I am Tam, a monk from the Order of the Rlung. It is my honor to be your Guardian, but my soul can only be summoned in the presence of my body- that which the Dark Wizard possesses.
am raised his hand to Dara & showed her the ring that had enslaved his body & soul for centuries. The Dark Wizard can only be beaten by knowledge & sacrifice, little princess. Now, awake.
the story of
rincess lva part 4
90
rom a bright flash of light emerged the Queen of the Dark Crescent, Alva’s deceased mother, with a sword & wand in hand. She lowered the poison from Alva’s lips. Take these instead & ride to the Castle of Robles. There, you must awaken the sleeper. Be strong, my love. Your journey has only begun.
lva mounted her horse & ran north towards her mother’s
birthplace.
As the Queen had described, Alva felt the tug of the stone in her necklace against her chest, drawing her to Robles- towards her destiny.
s night fell, Alva drew cold & followed a line of smoke to a small cabin. Curiously, the symbol of Robles was etched into the knob of the door. Hoping it a sign of safety, Alva knocked & a familiar face answered. I was not expecting to see you so soon.
here stood the merchant woman who had given Alva the poison weeks prior. She introduced herself as Gwin, a Sister of the Waxing Disc, a sect of the Order of Robles made of those who chose to leave the safety of the citadel. We will supplant the Dark Crescent & restore power to the people of this land.
t first light, Alva rode until she found the lake that Gwin had describedencircled by mountains & a row of ancient oak trees. Standing at the base of the single tree which had been burnt down to a charred stump, Alva could see that the waters of the lake were only a guise for the Castle of Robles.
he
nd
for now
Special Thanks to the Kickstarter Backers Who Brought the Princesses to Print Jim & Sandra McPeake, Harrison Maxwell Siegel, Jen Saffron, Patricia Mathews, Anne Mulgrave, Cyndi Nieto, Melisse Osterman, Anthony Parks, Steve Schlick, Constantine Kousoulis, Scott Sierzega, Rowan Swarny, Meneely Townsend, Emma Wickline, Amelia Green,William Halpin, Breck & Nate Hunt, Jenny Johnston, Lara Mann, Angela Secreet-Dopudja, Naeem Martinez-White, Jonathan Hemmis, Samantha Calvano, Guy Franks, Jackie Rochmann Yasky, Tina Rose, Amy Seslowsky, Jeffrey Betten, Emily Antenucci, Apoidea Apiary LLC, Jessica Lee Bartley, Sophie Batchelor, Andre Constello, John DeGore, Keith Devries, Zach Dorn, Shelby Dosser, Elizabeth Grover, Anna Hale, Sondra Hart, Michelle Holzworth, Marquise Hopson, Gretchen Anne Jacobs, Katherine Jarvis, Kristy Johnson, Garret Jones, Madeleine Joyce, Camila Kelsoe, Donald Joseph Kingsbury, Lars LaPann-Johannessen, Melissa Larrick, Tasha Lennhoff, Paula Levin, Lilia Levine, Alden Lowe, MABO, Mike Madsen, Jane Manchon, Rachel Masilamani, Laura McLeman, Erik J. Meyer-Curley, Tara Molesworth, Dan Notaro, Paula Och, Kaitlin Osterman, Trenton Ruth, Brandon Schmersal, Rob Searfoss, Nicole Shero, Suzie Silver, Connor Sites-Bowen, Julie Sokolow, Lizzee Solomon, Heather Starnes, Scott Steinhauser, Erin Subramanian, Joyce Tan, Stephanie Tsong, Ben Voytko, Marcel Walker, Nicole Wyland, Nathan Zoob, Jeanne, Meg Prall, Dane Adelman, Stephanie Neary, Tiffany Wilhelm, Lucy Cantwell, Carlos Elizondo, Charity Sperringer, Di-Ay Battad, Maxwell Beehner, George Edward Brown Jr., Jason Chandler, Matthew Charney, Lorraine DeGraffenreidt, Riley Greene, Jessica Heberle, Amanda Jones, Phyllis Kim, Nick Marino, Carissa Nadine, Shelly Ni, Nathaniel Ott Homer, Rigel Richardson, Megan Shalonis, Ivette Spradlin, Selina Strasburgher, David Turner, Eleanor Tuttle, Max Ward, Mary Winghart, Laura Zorch, Heather Barfield, Miranda Grace Edwards, Jess Gold, Andres Gutierrez, Brett Isaacoff, Lalita Russ & Elize Simon.
dventuring Princesses relates the stories of Princess Dara of Robles & Princess Alva of the Dark Crescent & their destinies to save the kingdom from magical tyranny. Yes, Adventuring Princesses gives agency to its female characters in hopes to provide more positive female role models while still enjoying the genres of fairytale & epic literature. Volume 0 chronicles the princesses’ individual childhoods up to the day they meet & begin their adventures.
Maggie Lynn Negrete is a native of SW PA & a Vassar College alum. She is dedicated to nurturing the creativity of children & adults as well as furthering her family heritage of printers, illustrators & civic custodians. Her major influences include transcendental shamanism, Precolombian cultures, Art Nouveau & classic sci-fi, horror & fantasy. Visit her online at mgglntcreates.tumblr.com or check out more Adventuring Princesses at adventuringprincesses.tumblr.com