A Princess, If You Please: Gregor’S Dilemma

By Mark H. Ottoson

Are you misunderstood?
No one believes you?
Do you hurt, and no one seems to care?
Meet Carolina.

Do your parents disapprove of your friends?
Are you overwhelmed?
Do you dread the future?
Meet Gregor.

And share their story
Book One in the Corinthian Trilogy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781462401475

Mark H. Ottoson

After experiencing the Iraq War in 1991, Mark Ottoson left the US Army in 1993. He and his wife of twenty years live together with their five outrageous children near Salzburg and the foothills of the Austrian Alps. His hobbies of reading and writing helped create this first novel.

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Copyright © 2012 Mark H. Ottoson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Illustrations by Christina Ottoson

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ISBN: 978-1-4624-0146-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0147-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012938427

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 9/10/2012

Contents

The Persons:

Day One: Saturday

Day Two: Sunday

Day Three: Monday

Chapter 1:     The Homecoming

Chapter 2:     The Face of the Enemy

Day Four: Tuesday

Chapter 1:     Gregor’s Dream

Chapter 2:     Rude Awakenings

Chapter 3:     An Ugly Encounter

Chapter 4:     Preparing for the Worst

Chapter 5:     Instructions

Chapter 6:     Supper for Two

Chapter 7:     The Council

Day Five: Wednesday

Chapter 1:     A Storm before the Calm

Chapter 2:     Morning Rituals

Chapter 3:     An Audience with the King and Queen

Chapter 4:     Seeking the Future

Chapter 5:     The Commander’s Table

Chapter 6:     Paging through the Past

Day Six: Thursday

Chapter 1:     A Good Morning

Chapter 2:     A Change in Plans

Chapter 3:     A Secret Made Known

Chapter 4:     Strange Counsel

Chapter 5:     A Prayer

Chapter 6:     New Developments

Chapter 7:     Preparations

Chapter 8:     Departure

Chapter 9:     Last Words

Chapter 10:     Engaging the Enemy

Day Seven: Friday

Acknowledgements:

Chapter 1: The Captain’s Command

A Princess, If You Please

princess01new.JPG

The Kingdom of Tal

For Guggi, my wife and best friend

We make war that we may live in peace.

—Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC), Nichomachean Ethics

If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

—Moshe Dayan (1915-1981)

The Persons:

King Frederick and Queen Isabella, rulers of the Tal Kingdom

Prince Gregor, their son

Princess Anna, their daughter

King Andreas, Prince Gregor’s grandfather

Manfred Weber, Prince Gregor’s mentor

Konrad, Prince Gregor’s servant

Sir Martin, King Frederick’s secretary

Doctor Eder, King Frederick’s doctor

Commander Speer, commander of King Frederick’s guard

Mrs. Speer

Martina, Queen Isabella’s maidservant

King Heinrich and Queen Andrea, rulers of Balom

Princess Gudula, their eldest daughter

King Sergio, ruler of Corinthia

Prince Rupert and Prince Karl, King Sergio’s sons

Carolina from Corinthia

Day One: Saturday

princess02.jpg

The queen waited until Prince Gregor looked into her eyes.

And bring me back a princess!

Konrad hurried only when something was wrong. That Saturday morning, Prince Gregor watched his servant dashing through Salem’s conjested streets.

Sir, I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Konrad said breathlessly. Have you heard the news?

Konrad, you always greet me after a ride with that question, said the prince. Don’t you know I don’t want to be bothered?

Konrad bowed his head.

The prince ambled ahead of his servant toward the palace. Is it news about the Corinthian ambassador who gave Father and the Tal Kingdom so much trouble?

Konrad caught up to the prince. Sir, apparently the same ambassador stirred up even more trouble in Corinthia. They’ve burned two bridges at the border!

Whatever for? asked the prince as they turned the corner and faced the palace in the capital city’s center.

Konrad shrugged his shoulders, and the prince strode ahead toward the palace steps leading to the main entrance. As the irritated prince bounded up the steps two at a time, his servant scampered up the stairs behind him. Sir, the queen sent me to find you.

Gregor hesitated at the top of the stairs and looked through the open doorway to see Sir Martin, King Frederick’s secretary, speaking to several councilmen in the Great Hall.

Gentlemen, we aren’t taking this lying down, said Sir Martin.

Is King Frederick fit to rule? a councilman asked.

Or that son of his? inquired another.

Sir Martin’s eyes met Gregor’s, before the secretary stalked out of sight.

Gregor turned to Konrad who had also reached the top step. Does my mother want me to put out the flames myself, or have the bridges already fallen into the Pertua River?

Konrad swallowed. Sir, she desires—

Tell her she can find me in my rooms, Prince Gregor said over his shoulder as he entered the palace. And resume your duties.

In your chambers, said his servant. Very well, Sir.

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Shortly thereafter Queen Isabella found Prince Gregor slouching next to his chamber window with a majestic view of Salem’s southern city walls and the abundant countryside beyond.

My son, the queen addressed her only son, your father and I have been discussing the future.

You mean my future, the prince said.

The queen glided across the room and stood by her son. They observed the wide plain that stretched away toward the towering mountains to the south in Corinthia.

When the queen touched his shoulder, he sensed a twinge of worry, though her voice remained controlled. Your future, she said when their eyes met. And ours.

I know what you are saying, Mother. You’ve been nagging me for weeks now. Is Father that ill?

Queen Isabella pursed her lips.

Gregor rolled his eyes. If we need a strong alliance against the Corinthian threat, just form one, he said.

Alliances formed in healthy days are toilsome enough, the queen said. They require a strong resolve and competent leadership.

But there’s Father! the prince protested.

Your father would have difficulties attending the tedious negotiations. She crossed her arms. The most expedient solution requires—

My marriage with a foreign princess, complained the prince. But couldn’t Anna be the one to wed?

The queen frowned. In two months, when your sister has returned from across the Great Sea to the Tal Kingdom, it may be too late.

But Mother, I detest a marriage of convenience!

She squinted her eyes. I’ve learned to love your father. Just as you will learn to love your future wife. She forced a smile. And she, you.

Sensing her resolution, the prince rose and gave his mother the respect she deserved. Mother, I am sorry. He took a deep breath. "We can send a courier to the