Long ago and far away (from what is now Pacific, Missouri) existed small city-states that for the most part coexisted peacefully. The small kingdoms lived of the work of the subjects and trade with each other. But in life there is always an exception and in this case it was the kingdom of Tree.
Like his father the king the young son and prince would be generously considered a barbarian. The kingdom had little in the ways of skills other than distilling spirits. To fund trade with the other city-states the kingdom would periodically lay siege on another city-state demanding ransom so they could afford to trade with the other kingdoms. Overall it was tolerated because the raids were spread around so one kingdom could live in peace for a decade or so and reap the benefits of the coin spent on their goods that had been stolen from another kingdom. Beside when forces beyond the area would try to invade it was a good thing to have the Tree kingdom on your side.
It was the kingdom of Amour’s turn to be in the sites of Tree’s wrath. Its aging king had once been a great warrior but age had taken its toll on him. But he insisted the city defend against siege and for a cycle of the moon they held on but supplies were dwindling and the merchants grumbled they could not sell their wares of fine footwear and beautiful clothing and they certainly could not eat them!
The king’s eldest daughter sent a courier to Prince Tree stating that his demands would be met if the city-state would be left unharmed. Her father was dying and too feeble to stop her from suing for peace. The courier retuned and told Princess Siss that because of the considerable expense Prince Tree had incurred in addition to his regular extortion (his words) he wanted the head of princess and her head taken at the on the guillotine in the square of the city-kingdoms’ Center of Justice, the city-state Liberty. If his demands were not met he would lay waste to Amour as an example to others.
Princess Siss sat down in despair. She told the royal courier “I never expected to die so young or in this manner but to spare the people harm I accept the offer. When do I go to him?”
“You misunderstand my lady. Even Tree would not demand the head of the direct heir to the throne. He is expecting your younger sister, Princess Barbaria!”
“Well that’s altogether different. I will inform the pampered little bitch. When does he want her…”
Princess Siss found her sister frolicking with her lady-in-waiting Dorothy.
Princess Siss says “I hate to interrupt your leisure but I have an important state assignment to discuss with you, Barbaria. Lady Dorothy, would you please excuse yourself?”
Dorothy began to rise when Barbaria said “Stay, Dorothy! Anything that you need to say can be said before her!”
Time is short and Princess Siss is in no mood for a fight. She huffs “Very well. I have reached an agreement to stop the siege of our beloved city.”
Barbaria was oblivious to the fact there was a siege and was not sure she knew what the word meant. Siss explained in addition to paying Tree’s extortion he demanded that Barbaria would be beheaded in the square of justice just days from then. Barbaria barely seemed shaken as she replied “I always thought your neck would be on the block before mine!”
Princess Siss did not bother to tell her sister that she was going to the guillotine that was used for common criminals and not the block reserved for royalty.
Dorothy exclaimed “If you are killing Dorothy you must take me also!”
Barbaria tried to talk her out of it but Dorothy said “What is a Lady-in-Waiting supposed to wait on if her lady is dead!”
‘Good point’ thought Siss and granted Dorothy’s request. Besides she always hated Dorothy for coming between her incestuous relationship with her sister Barbaria.
Tree
Like his father the king the young son and prince would be generously considered a barbarian. The kingdom had little in the ways of skills other than distilling spirits. To fund trade with the other city-states the kingdom would periodically lay siege on another city-state demanding ransom so they could afford to trade with the other kingdoms. Overall it was tolerated because the raids were spread around so one kingdom could live in peace for a decade or so and reap the benefits of the coin spent on their goods that had been stolen from another kingdom. Beside when forces beyond the area would try to invade it was a good thing to have the Tree kingdom on your side.
It was the kingdom of Amour’s turn to be in the sites of Tree’s wrath. Its aging king had once been a great warrior but age had taken its toll on him. But he insisted the city defend against siege and for a cycle of the moon they held on but supplies were dwindling and the merchants grumbled they could not sell their wares of fine footwear and beautiful clothing and they certainly could not eat them!
The king’s eldest daughter sent a courier to Prince Tree stating that his demands would be met if the city-state would be left unharmed. Her father was dying and too feeble to stop her from suing for peace. The courier retuned and told Princess Siss that because of the considerable expense Prince Tree had incurred in addition to his regular extortion (his words) he wanted the head of princess and her head taken at the on the guillotine in the square of the city-kingdoms’ Center of Justice, the city-state Liberty. If his demands were not met he would lay waste to Amour as an example to others.
Princess Siss sat down in despair. She told the royal courier “I never expected to die so young or in this manner but to spare the people harm I accept the offer. When do I go to him?”
“You misunderstand my lady. Even Tree would not demand the head of the direct heir to the throne. He is expecting your younger sister, Princess Barbaria!”
“Well that’s altogether different. I will inform the pampered little bitch. When does he want her…”
Princess Siss found her sister frolicking with her lady-in-waiting Dorothy.
Princess Siss says “I hate to interrupt your leisure but I have an important state assignment to discuss with you, Barbaria. Lady Dorothy, would you please excuse yourself?”
Dorothy began to rise when Barbaria said “Stay, Dorothy! Anything that you need to say can be said before her!”
Time is short and Princess Siss is in no mood for a fight. She huffs “Very well. I have reached an agreement to stop the siege of our beloved city.”
Barbaria was oblivious to the fact there was a siege and was not sure she knew what the word meant. Siss explained in addition to paying Tree’s extortion he demanded that Barbaria would be beheaded in the square of justice just days from then. Barbaria barely seemed shaken as she replied “I always thought your neck would be on the block before mine!”
Princess Siss did not bother to tell her sister that she was going to the guillotine that was used for common criminals and not the block reserved for royalty.
Dorothy exclaimed “If you are killing Dorothy you must take me also!”
Barbaria tried to talk her out of it but Dorothy said “What is a Lady-in-Waiting supposed to wait on if her lady is dead!”
‘Good point’ thought Siss and granted Dorothy’s request. Besides she always hated Dorothy for coming between her incestuous relationship with her sister Barbaria.
Tree
