Trunk of Alexia

By Judy Lunsford

This volume includes the full adventures of Sally and her friends with the fairy made Trunk of Alexia.

Starting with Sally and the Buccaneers, where Sally meets new friends and family and battles pirates in her first adventure in the Trunk of Alexia series.

Following with Sally and the Marauders, where Sally and her friends get separated on their way to the palace at the center of the kingdom.

And concluding with Sally and the Sorcerer, as Sally battles the evil sorcerer in order to save the kingdom and her friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Lunsford
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463747650

Judy Lunsford

Born and raised in California, Judy now lives in Arizona with her husband and Giant Schnoodle. Judy writes with dyslexia and a chronic illness & is a breast cancer survivor. She writes mostly fantasy, but delves into suspense, horror, romance, and poetry. She has written books and short stories for all ages. You can find her books and short stories at your favorite online retailers.

Book preview

SALLY AND THE

BUCCANEERS

CHAPTER 1

THE TRUNK & THE PRINCE

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Sally was downstairs watching TV. She couldn’t find anything she wanted to watch, so she clicked off the television and wandered upstairs. She peered into her room and sighed. It was only nine o’clock in the morning and she was bored already. She and her mother had moved back in with her grandmother at the beginning of the summer and Sally was already missing her friends. She was dreading starting the sixth grade alone at a new school.

Sally wandered down the hallway and saw a thin rope hanging down from the ceiling. She looked up to see what it was attached to. She pulled the rope gently and the ceiling opened up to expose a ladder that emerged from the attic and slid down into place in front of her. She looked up in to the dark hole. Tentatively, Sally climbed the steps up the ladder and peered into the darkness. As her eyes adjusted, she could see another string hanging in front of her at the top of the ladder. She pulled the string and several light bulbs illuminated the attic.

Sally stepped up into the attic and looked around in the dim light. There were only a few things scattered here and there. A couple of cardboard boxes marked Christmas were stacked in the far corner along with the box that held her grandmother’s fake Christmas tree. An old mannequin stood in another corner covered with dust. A few paintings were leaned up against the far wall, their frames broken and cracked. But in the center of the attic was a large Trunk. A full-length mirror was standing next to it, propped up against a support beam.

Curiously, she walked over to the Trunk. It was made of old wood and had a simple design that looked like a braided rope embellishing the edges. A seven-pointed star looked like it had been burned into the top. Sally ran her fingers over the design and felt the grooves in the wood.

She leaned over and pulled opened the Trunk. She stood staring at its contents before she removed any items. She had never seen any of these things before. There was a pirate’s eye patch, a sword, a princess gown, fairy wings, a pair of lace up shoes and a few other things she could dress up in. She pulled a few things out of the Trunk to look at them and then decided on the long floor length gown. It was pale blue with lace and pearls around the neck and sleeves. She smiled happily and pulled it on over her jeans and t-shirt. She spun around in front of the full-length mirror and watched as the gown billowed out around her. As she looked down, she lost her footing and fell backwards into the Trunk. She landed on the remainder of its contents with a thump and the lid slammed shut.

She was frightened for a moment, sitting there in the darkness with the smell of old clothes and mothballs around her. She struggled up and gently lifted the lid. She gasped as she looked out from the crack between the lid and the Trunk as she saw a tree in front of her. She lifted the lid a little more to discover that she was in the middle of a dirt road surrounded by a forest.

A voice from behind her suddenly called, Abigail!

Sally turned to see four men dressed in red uniforms on white horses galloping towards her. They slowed to a stop when they saw her.

Young Highness, what are you doing out here in the woods standing in a Trunk? a young man with blonde hair asked, sounding confused.

I don’t know, she said, looking down at the Trunk.

We have search parties spread out all over the kingdom to find you.

What? she wasn’t sure why anyone would be looking for her.

The man that had been speaking dismounted and approached her. He seemed friendly enough. He was tall with shaggy blonde hair and was probably in his early twenties.

Young Highness, if you please? he held out his hand to her.

As she took his hand, she noticed a seven-pointed star emblazoned on the chest of his uniform. He pulled her into a tight hug. Sally stood there stiffly until he released her. He looked at her strangely for a moment. He then helped her from the Trunk and lifted her up onto his horse and climbed on behind her.

Sally grabbed the front of the saddle as the horse took off.

They rode until she could see a castle in the distance. It had seven towers that seemed to reach up to the sun. Sally could peek around the horse’s head and see the castle, as it loomed larger and larger before her.

Is that your castle? Sally asked.

That’s our southern castle, he answered.

Is there a northern castle? she asked.

He laughed. Yes. The palace in the center of the kingdom. You know that.

I do?

Yes, he laughed again.

How big is the palace? she asked.

It makes this castle look small.

Wow, Sally was impressed.

As they neared the entrance, a drawbridge was lowered and Sally and her escorts rode across the bridge onto the castle’s grounds. She looked down and she could see that part of the drawbridge was damaged beneath them as they rode across. Eight guards dressed in the same red uniforms as her escorts welcomed them into the garden leading to the castle doors.

The man behind Sally slowed their horse to a stop and dismounted. He helped her down from the horse and then stood in front of her at attention.

Sally stared up at the blonde man and the others who joined him in a line in front of her.

What are you doing? she whispered to the man.

We are waiting for you to dismiss us, he whispered back with a wink.

You’re dismissed? Sally said, a bit unsure.

The men retrieved their horses and took them to the stables. A guard came and took the horse that belonged to the man that rode with Sally and started to lead the horse away.

Please have word set to the king that we have found Abigail, but Layla is still missing, he said to the guard leading away his horse. The guard nodded.

The blonde man stood before her and looked down at her.

Why do you have that star on your uniform and the others don’t? she asked.

It means that I am a member of the royal family, he answered with a puzzled look. You really don’t know who I am, do you?

No, Sally shook her head.

Dear princess, I am your older brother, he said sadly. What did they do to you?

You’re my what? Sally asked, her eyes widening.

I’m your oldest brother, Arthur. He paused. You were kidnapped by pirates late last night. You and your friend Layla. You were in the garden together waiting for the fairies to come and they raided the garden and took you both. I thought we would never see you again. When we set out on a search for you, we found you in the middle of the road in that Trunk. How did you get there?

I was in the attic, she started.

The attic?

Yes, Sally explained. I was at my grandmother’s house and I was in her attic.

I’m sorry, princess, he said sadly, kneeling beside her. Our grandmothers have both been dead for years.

No, Sally was growing frustrated. "Not your grandmother. My grandmother."

Arthur frowned at her. I think we need to take you in to see the doctor.

No. I’m fine. Sally thought for a moment. Take me back to the Trunk.

What? Arthur was surprised at her suggestion.

I need to show you something, Sally said. And you’ll only believe me if you see it for yourself.

I think we need to get you to the doctor.

Please, Arthur, Sally begged. Just take me back to the Trunk.

Arthur looked into her eyes and sighed. It’s not fair, he said. I can never say no to you, Abby.

My name isn’t Abby.

Of course it is, Arthur said.

No, my name is Sally.

Arthur frowned at her again. Your name is Abigail.

I don’t think I’m who you think I am, she said.

I don’t think- he started.

Sally cut him off, Just, please, take me back to the Trunk.

Arthur turned to another guard and instructed him to get some horses.

Thank you, Sally sighed.

The guard came back with four horses and a second guard. Arthur hoisted Sally up into the saddle of the smallest horse and then climbed up onto the one beside her. Arthur made a clicking noise and his horse started down the path to the drawbridge. He led Sally’s horse by the reigns, and the two guards followed closely behind.

Why do you think you were at your grandmother’s? he asked, breaking the silence.

Because I was, Sally said simply. My mother and I just moved back in with her recently. They said that right now being with family was important.

Arthur shook his head. I should be taking you in to see the doctor, not out into the forest.

Don’t worry, Sally said. When you see what I have to show you, you’ll understand.

Arthur looked at her doubtfully.

After what seemed like a long ride, Sally could see the Trunk in the road up ahead.

There it is, she squealed, pointing at the Trunk.

I see it, Arthur said.

They rode up to the Trunk and Arthur dismounted from his horse. He glanced at the Trunk doubtfully and then helped Sally off her horse.

Sally ran over to the Trunk and opened it up.

See? she said.

All I see is a bunch of junk, Arthur said, looking inside.

No, watch, Sally climbed inside and closed the lid.

Arthur looked at the guards. They shrugged slightly as Sally opened the lid.

Nothing happened, she said, genuinely surprised.

Of course not, Arthur said. It’s a Trunk.

No, Sally whined. This isn’t right.

It’s time to go back, Arthur reached for her hand.

I put on this dress, and then fell into the Trunk. And then I was here, she mumbled, pulling away from him.

Abby, Arthur said softly.

My name is Sally, she said.

Sally looked down into the Trunk and saw the eye patch at her feet.

I know! She grabbed the eye patch and put it on, covering her left eye with the black material.

Take that off, Abby, Arthur frowned. That’s not funny.

Now watch, Sally said, sitting down and closing the lid.

Sally sat in the dark for a moment, waiting for something to happen. She lifted the lid, half expecting to see Arthur still frowning at her.

But Arthur wasn’t there. Sally lifted the lid higher and looked around. She was on the deck of a wooden ship, surrounded by pirates.

CHAPTER 2

THE BUCCANEERS & THE PRINCESS

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What are you doing in there? a deep voice growled.

Sally turned in time to see a large man, dirty and smelly, as he grabbed her and yanked her out of the Trunk.

And what’s this? The pirate pulled the eye patch off of her head. Are you playing pirate now?

No, Sally whispered.

What’s that? he shouted. I couldn’t hear you.

Sally stared wide-eyed at the pirate.

Take her back down to the brig, he ordered.

Another pirate came over and grabbed her by the arm. He roughly guided her to a door that led down a set of wooden stairs into the dark. He picked her up, slung her over his shoulders and descended the steep stairs.

How did you get out? he asked.

How did I get out of where?

Don’t toy with me, he said. I tried to be nice to you and your friend, and this is how you repay me?

But I’ve never met you, Sally said, as he