There Are No Children In The Castle

By Hank Florentine McLoskey

Short story. Receiving news of a child-eating ogre, the young knight errant Cedric embarks on his first quest. Alas, things are not as straightforward as they might seem....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hank Florentine McLoskey
• Release date: Aug 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301391158

Book preview

THERE ARE NO CHILDREN IN THE CASTLE

Hank Florentine McLoskey

Copyright 2013 Hank Florentine McLoskey

Smashwords edition

He makes his home in a stable at the bottom of your orchard?

It was not the answer Cedric had been expecting. The old queen’s milky blue eyes betrayed the faintest hint of irritation, even as she pursed her withered lips in a fashion that suddenly and vividly reminded Cedric of a cat’s arse.

Yes, she snapped. A stable. He is my son’s guest, although the distinction between ‘guest’ and ‘hostage’ is somewhat blurred. He is being held in surety so that we might sleep easy in our beds while my son fights the Malacians. What of it?

Well, it is just that I… Cedric’s words trailed off into silence.

He had not been sure what to expect, but it had not been this – not this gloomy gray keep, perched on a cliff top so that it overlooked the dark and stormy sea below, the wind moaning ceaselessly about its four walls, nor this court of ancient, withered folk in their tattered finery, their hair white or gray, their legs