The Princess and the Frog

By Renee Frey

In a short retelling of The Frog Prince, a princess is traumatized by her past and withdraws from her group of friends. One day she happens upon a frog who rescues her favorite locket from a watery demise and Princess Zirailla befriends him. The Frog, a trapped Prince himself, uses her friendship for his own benefit.

Authors 4 Authors Content Rating

This title has been rated 14+, appropriate for teens, and contains:

• intense violence

• moderate language

For more information on our rating system, please, visit the Authors 4 Authors Publishing website.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors 4 Authors Publishing Cooperative
• Release date: Jan 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644770337

Book preview

The Princess and the Frog

a retelling of The Frog Prince

Renee Frey

Authors 4 Authors Publishing

Marysville, WA, USA

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

©2019 Renee Frey

First published in Of Legend and Lore: A Collection of Fairy Tale Retellings ©2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher, except for use in brief quotations as permitted by United States copyright law.

Published by Authors 4 Authors Publishing

1214 6th St

Marysville, WA 98270

www.authors4authorspublishing.com

E-book ISBN: 978-1-64477-033-7

Cover photos by Richard Kasperowski and Rebecca Mikkelson.

Cover design by Renee Frey.

Authors 4 Authors Content Rating

This title has been rated 14+ appropriate for teens and contains:

intense violence

moderate language

For more information on our rating system, please, visit our Content Guide.

Table of Contents

Title

Authors 4 Authors Content Rating

The Princess and the Frog

About the Author

The Princess and the Frog

The locket slipped from Zirailla’s fingers, tumbling over itself as it rushed toward the deep water of the well.

No!

In an instant, the dark depths of the well faded, and the past resurfaced, trapping her in the worst memory ever.

No! she cried, struggling against the chains binding her tiny wrists. The blond soldier holding the chains jerked her back.

A jeer resonated through the crowd.

Kill her!

Off with her head!

Zirailla’s lower lip trembled. Why did these pale strangers hate her family?

Her mother was led forward by another soldier, this one with fiery hair. Despite shredded clothing barely covering her body, Zirailla’s mother held her head high.

Mommy! Zirailla screamed.

But her mother didn’t turn back. Guards gripped her elbows so tightly that their knuckles turned white. She didn’t fight them, didn’t struggle. She kept taking each step, deliberate and strong, climbing the piecemeal staircase up and away from her daughter and the other prisoners.

Zirailla looked around, wondering where the other Tukolairans were. A sea of angry pink-skinned soldiers clad in cold blue uniforms filled the courtyard.

They can’t just stand by and let these barbarians slaughter us!

Her mother stood on a hastily built set of scaffolding, chin raised in pride. Zirailla reached for her mother, but the soldier yanked the chain again, dragging her to the ground.

Kneel, queen!

Zirailla’s mother shook her head.

The soldier commanding her twisted his mouth in anger. Then eat dirt! He raised his right hand and struck her with a blow so strong, the Queen’s