Dragon Princess

By G L Steuart-Muirhead

All is not what is seems...Who are the heroes? Who is your enemy? Is everything you are told the truth or are they just convenient lies?

These are the questions that two heroe have to answer as Marnie and Ants seek to save their country from evil and the lies. They go on a perilous journey to poisonous mountains, cross the paths of dragons and fight battles against insurmountable odds. This is an adventure where Marnie and Ants discover some truths about themselves, and their world.

All is not what it seems in Clanmeister...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Jul 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483673165

G L Steuart-Muirhead

Grant Steuart-Muirhead is an award winning teacher in New Zealand. For over twenty years he has taught students from age 7 – 18 years. Regardless of age, Grant appreciates that everyone loves a good story. This is his first novel and one that should reach all those who love a good adventure and wonder if everything we are told is the truth. Grant is a teacher of history and economics. He lives his wife Karin and two children in Wanganui, New Zealand.

Book preview

1

The hall smelt of ancient oak and new polish. In fact the hall sparkled with the elbow grease of a hundred servants. The brass chandeliers glistened and shields used in a hundred battles gleamed. For today was a very special day.

The portraits of past headmasters looked down on the hall with approval. The juniors sat at the front. They stood out not only by their size but also by their gowns of green. The seniors of course sat at the back, their gowns a deep, dark blue.

. . . as deep and dark as the seas of Cranborne… Professor von Hamburger had once told the assembly.

It was Professor von Hamburger who spoke now to the hushed audience. His voice was deep for such a small man. It echoed around the hall so all students could clearly hear before his voice reached the galleries where the parents sat with proud smiles. They were of course the parents of the students whose names were being called. These parents were as a rule the generals, princes, dukes and the wealthy of Clanmeister.

Marnie Struddle’s parents were none of these things so they sat up at the gallery shadow struggling to hear and see what was going on. Despite this Marnie looked up and caught a glimpse of them. Her mother sat tight lipped and expressionless. Her father’s face revealed nothing but disappointment as another name was read that was not Marnie Struddle.

. . . Abigail Starreacher…

The hall echoed with applause as a pretty young thing started her long walk from the back of the hall to the stage. Abigail’s mother dabbed her eyes with motherly pride with a handkerchief made of the finest silk. Her father’s chest covered with the most precious jewels puffed a little more.

Marnie noticed her parents squeeze a little more into the shadows.

Abigail at last made it to the stage. She curtsied to the king who stood in front of her smiling, before placing the Gold sash of Morlock around Abigail’s fine young neck. The Gold sash of Morlock was the finest honour a student could receive. Abigail smiled without surprise at receiving the honour. Of course no one else was surprised.

She curtsied once more and then joined the other seniors at the front of the stage where they beamed approvingly at Abigail. For Abigail was one of them: she was pretty, rich and from a family whose roots could be traced back to the times of Morlock himself.

Or so it was said.

Marnie Struddle looked at the golden hair and perfect features of Abigail Starreacher. She squirmed. Marnie’s own hair was a mousy brown, and her nose an upturned stub on a face that held curiously large eyes: one blue, one green.

. . . Marvin Mandrake…

Another name was called that of course that was not Marnie Struddle. And then another and then another and then finally Professor von Hamburger stopped as all the seats on stage were filled.

Marnie Struddle sat at the back of the hall and felt tears well in her eyes. She contemplated a miserable year ahead. Marnie had not been chosen to wear The Gold sash of Morlock. She was expecting this. Her family was not important; they were poor and Marnie had few friends. Other students had little in common with Marnie, and she had little in common with them. They spoke about sports, important families and could remember word for word what was taught at school. That they did not understand anything seemed not to matter. It seemed the important thing was to remember tripe and pass tests.

Marnie thought this was all absurd and she once said this. Everyone was shocked. She was sent home from school in disgrace, and on her return had hardly ever been spoken to since.

The ceremony at last finished. Marnie jostled her way to the courtyard outside the great hall and met her parents. They looked at each other in silence. What could be said? She wore no Gold sash of Morlock as she expected. Even her parents had expected this. But somehow they had hoped for a miracle.

I never received a Gold sash myself, Marnie Struddle’s mother at last spoke.

That she stood alone from the other parents seemed to add to Mrs Struddle’s point. She looked sadly at her daughter and dabbed at a tear with the sleeve of a threadbare dress.

Her father just shook his head sadly.

The sun captured the glint of gold and gems from the costumes of the earls and dukes and merchants who hugged their sons and daughters. They then examined the Gold sash around their children’s necks and told stories of when they wore such sashes themselves.

I thought that at least you would break this family tradition, Marnie’s father said.

I’m sorry, Marnie mumbled.

Of course you are, her mother sighed and her eyes welled a little with tears.

Her father grunted unconvinced. Instead he just stood wishing he was not here to share this disappointment with his daughter.

I really am sorry, Marnie said desperately to her father.

I don’t really think you are, said her father.

Of course I am. No one wants not to receive the Gold sash…

But here we are Marnie. Another Struddle who emerges from this day… he waved his arms around in frustration, . . . sashless.

You know why because I told you over and over again…

Her father was getting worked up now.

You and your never ending questions, he said bitterly It’s not the questions that are important it’s the answers. Questions just annoy people

His voice carried across the courtyard. One or two groups of dukes and princes looked over. They saw they were a family of no importance and they ignored them again. The Struddles were use to being ignored.

I’m sorry, Marnie said again, I’ll try to… I’ll try to…

To be honest Marnie was not quite sure what she’d try to do. For Marnie Struddle loved asking questions.

Maybe you’ll try a little harder this year, Marnie’s mother smiled.

We need to be going, grunted her father We need to get home while it’s light.

Marnie knew what her father really meant was that there was not much point hanging around his daughter who was such a disappointment.

We love you Her mother kissed on the cheek Don’t be late.

Her father grunted once more, and then they turned and disappeared into the noise of laughter and handshakes and hugs. It was not their noise so they moved with urgency into the courtyard and out of view.

Marnie Struddle now stood alone. She felt miserable.

A boy stood also alone. He was not however miserable. He stood by himself leaning against the ancient brick of the school hall surveying the scene before him. With hands in pockets and a smile he watched the excitement of the students who wore the Gold sash. He wondered if he should care or even feel a little disappointed. He found he did not.

Horatio saw Marnie standing by herself and peeled off the wall and wandered over with a cheery smile and still his hands in his pockets.

Marnie saw him walking towards her and groaned.

Cheer up, Marnie, the boy chirped It could be worse.

How? Marnie replied.

They could have given me a Gold sash. I am sure that would have made you even more miserable than you look now.

Horatio Marmaduke Clandermeister or Ants as he was better known, looked at Marnie with a foolish grin.

Marnie looked back at Ants. He was right; to have Ants receive a Golden sash ahead of her would have been the ultimate insult. Ants was always near the bottom of the class, and his was the last family to pay their school fees if they did at all. And his father had the most horrible job in the world. She shuddered at the shame of the Clandermeisters.

You and your family are a disgrace, Clandermeister, Professor von Hamburger would boom to anyone within earshot.

That was why Marnie couldn’t stand Ants. He was too much like her.

Not that Ants had any interest in his studies. Ants would much rather daydream about other things such as the time when it was said his family was really important. Marnie had no time for such dreams or dreamers and therefore had no time for Horatio Clandermeister. No one knew why he was called Ants. But Marnie felt it appropriate as she considered him an annoying little bug.

I’m glad I’m didn’t get a Gold sash, he chirped.

How can you say that?’ Marnie moaned, That’s ridiculous. Everyone wants to wear a Gold sash…"

I’m not everyone, replied Ants, and that’s why I don’t want to wear some stupid Gold sash.

You’re weird. Marnie huffed.

We’re seniors who do not wear a Gold sash, she went on We’re lower than the Juniors. At least they have the hope of wearing a Gold sash. Now we don’t even have that.

Who cares about a Gold sash, shrugged Ants It’s a piece of cloth for Morlock’s sake. It doesn’t change a thing.

Besides, he gestured to the crowd of admirers around Abigail Starreacher, Do you really want to spend the year hanging out with the likes of Abigail Starreacher."

Marnie had to admit she didn’t. The young beauty sensed Marnie’s misery. She looked over and smiled a smile of contentment Abigail was a horrible girl. But she said nothing. She hated to think that Ants maybe was right. Marnie walked off in the direction of home. Ants jogged beside her. Marnie wished he didn’t. She just wanted to be alone.

In fact I’m looking forward to this year. I’ve got a funny feeling that something really strange is going to happen…

That’s because you are really strange, muttered Marnie.

That I don’t want to be like Abigail Starreacher or Marvin Mandrake doesn’t make me strange…

Yes it does, snapped Marnie It makes you strange and a pain in the…

Where Ants was a pain suddenly became unclear. Marnie’s voice trailed off as a roar immediately silenced the courtyard.

For a moment a thousand eyes widened and five hundred mouths gaped in total silence and confusion.

The roaring increased in volume and then the ground began to shake. The grass in the courtyard rippled like the sea and thousand year old pathways cracked like eggs. And then five hundred mouths found their voice and the screaming began.

Generals who boasted of their bravery ran into buildings, dukes who spoke often of their power whimpered like children and fine ladies who lectured on control and manners screamed like frightened chickens.

And then the roaring stopped and the shaking stilled.

The distinguished citizens of Clanmeister gasped the warm air in absolute fear. Professor von Hamburger looked on at the frightened scene.

Everything was going perfectly to plan.

2

Dukes and generals began to shout pointless orders once the shaking had stopped. They hoped if they made a loud enough noise and waved their arms with some sort of authority then everyone would forget that only moments before they had acted like startled geese.

This way, a general shouted at Marnie and Ants.

Don’t go that way you fools, a duke sneered back and waved them in the direction they had come.

So for a while the people in the courtyard moved from one corner to the next. They seemed pleased that someone else was taking charge even though they were, in fact, going nowhere.

This is ridiculous, Ant grumbled.

For once I agree with you, muttered Marnie.

They broke from the crowd and despite the shouts from a captain of their certain doom left the cracks and chaos of the crowded courtyard. They left the ivy walls of the school and turned into the cobbles of the street. They lived close to each other but had never walked from school together before. This had always suited Marnie. But for the moment it suited her not to be alone even if it meant walking with Ants.

The king’s castle shadowed the school grounds as did the fine houses of the dukes, generals and the important people of Clanmeister. Of course, Marnie and Ants did not live here.

They followed the cobbles which weaved and dipped down into the pockets where well-to-do merchants traded and lived. Their houses were not grand but tidy and strewn with the colors of the rainbow. Normally the streets heaved with shoppers and merchants who shouted their wares. But today the streets were nearly empty. The shaking had even shaken people’s desire to shop.

Marnie and Ants did not live here either.

The streets dipped and narrowed into the shadows. Houses were crammed together and the walls flaked and dogs barked as they rummaged through rubbish. Puddles gathered in the street even though it had not rained for weeks. This was the poor part of Clanmeister. Cast in the shadows and a world away from the polished wood of Clanmeister School.

This is where Ants and Marnie lived.

Marnie lived in a small house crammed between a tannery and a butcher. She had got used to the smell, but very few people could bring themselves to visit the Struddles. Ants lived further around the corner on the outskirts of the city. It was, in fact, the furthest house from the castle. This use to make Ant’s mother cry when she once remembered the days where things were so very different.

Ants was about to say goodbye. Marnie prepared herself to say nothing. But then they heard a voice.

There’s mischief about, the voice said.

A man had spoken. It was difficult to say whether he was speaking to them. He paced up and down outside a house that leaned dangerously onto his neighbour’s. He turned and saw Marnie and Ants and smiled.

He was an old man. His silver hair hung down to his waist and his wrinkled hands carried a hundred brown spots. But he was tall and his shoulders still looked strong and his smile showed a full set of white teeth.

There’s mischief about, he repeated, Did you feel the shaking?

Of course, Ants replied, It just about knocked us off our feet.

It’s just the beginning, the man smiled at them.

You mean there will be more? Marnie asked.

Of course there will be, he laughed.

You seem rather pleased about it, Ants answered.

The old man laughed once more.

It means that it’s all coming to a head, he replied.

What’s coming to a head?

The mischief the man replied.

He opened his mouth as though he was about to explain. He then shook his head and shrugged.

What mischief?

Marnie and Ants, be patient, he smiled, I am sure you will find out very soon.

How do you know our names? Marnie asked with a frown. She had lived in this neighbourhood all her life but had never seen the man before.

Unimportant, the man waved off the question, The important thing is that I know your names and the mischief has arrived. That is why I have come.

Who’s doing this mischief? Marnie demanded, Is someone responsible for this?

No man is responsible for the shaking, the old man said "We’re not