A Kingdom of Dreams

By M.L. Ruscsak

Three short stories for leave just a bit of mystery before bed

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trient Press
• Release date: May 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201071660

Book preview

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

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2020 by Trient Press

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of

$250,000.

Except for the original story material written by the author, all songs, song titles, and lyrics mentioned in the novel Passions of the Heart are the exclusive property of the respective artists, songwriters, and copyright holders

Trient Press

3375 S Rainbow Blvd

#81710, SMB 13135

Las Vegas,NV 89180

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address above.

Orders by U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers. Please contact Trient Press: Tel: [phone];  or visit www.trientpress.com.

Printed in the United States of America

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Ruscsak, M.L

A title of a book :A Kingdom of Dreams

The Kingdom

of Dreams

A Storybook Collection

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M.L. Ruscsak Kingdoms & Secrets eBOOK Cover FINAL j

Kingdoms

and

Secrets

A Legends of the Mind novella

By: M.L. Ruscsak

Edited by: Chyenne Lyons

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

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2020 by Trient Press

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of

$250,000.

Except for the original story material written by the author, all songs, song titles, and lyrics mentioned in the novel Passions of the Heart are the exclusive property of the respective artists, songwriters, and copyright holders

Trient Press

3375 S Rainbow Blvd

#81710, SMB 13135

Las Vegas,NV 89180

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address above.

Orders by U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers. Please contact Trient Press: Tel: [phone];  or visit www.trientpress.com.

Printed in the United States of America

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Ruscsak, M.L

A title of a book :Kingdoms and Secrets

As a fan of all things fantasy, I tend not to looks as a story as everything that is said is truth. Not every action has happened as those around remember it. Thus, are the makings of my series Of Lite and Darke.

Yet when opportunity presents itself I can see no better option then try to obtain it. So, upon finding this query for submissions I began to write a simple young adult fairy tell. Blending elements of Cinderella and the original Grimm Brother’s tale Allereirauh.

Adding my own spin on two classics. Adding mages and hints of danger, I created this new story.

I do hope that you enjoy.

-  M.L. Ruscsak

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Prologue

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Terrified, she ran through the castle that was already ablaze. Outside a massive army was shooting quivers burning all that they touched. The citizens screamed and terror. The castle mages trying to deflect the threat. Her husband... the king... was still held up somewhere within the stronghold. If the fire didn’t consume him the smoke or the invading army surely would.

... Or at least she could hope. Who would have thought the man who had stolen her heart was only interested in ruling her Kingdom? 

It didn’t matter anymore. It couldn’t matter. All that did was that she the queen was safe. No one knew that she was still within this castle. None knew the king's sole heir and his queen would use this chance to escape. 

In haste she darted to her wardrobe closet. She had but a few precious minutes to pack only what she could fit into a single rucksack. Only a few fleeting minutes to obtain a few pieces of jewelry that she didn’t want to leave behind. The ring of the queen. All three of her tiaras. But it was her clothing.... Each dress heavier than the next. Dresses that she couldn’t leave behind. One made of Emeralds, another made of diamonds. One of Rubies and the last Gold.

Four in total. 

If she wore them out of this castle, she would surely be captured at once. Forced into a life that she was trying to escape. It was a good thing that she allowed her maids to store some of their personal belonging with her closest.

Slipping the heavy patchwork fur cloak over her dress she would look like nothing more than a humble servant fleeing the burning castle. Rushing back to the door, she scanned the   corridor. The glowing light of the fire still far enough away to ensure her safety. It was still far enough away from the royal nursery. Still far enough away to rescue her daughter.

Slipping into the nursery she glanced down at her newborn daughter. Little coughs escaping her lips.

Come to mama, we’ll flee this place and never look back.

Picking her baby up, she pulled her close to her chest, creating a strap in order to carry her under the cloak. 

A hurried attempt to pack, but a few items and they were gone. Racing to the servants’ entrance. Racing to the escape tunnel that would take them to the shore. Somehow, she would gain entry to one of the merchant ships. Somehow, she would take her baby someplace that hadn’t witness war. Didn’t see the suffering of its people. 

Somehow, she would find the life that she had only dreamed of.

Chapter 1

18 years later

Alyssa hurried home down the cobbled streets. The baker and his wife stepped out of their tiny shop to wave to her. Good day. She smiled back to them.

The baker’s wife smiled at her trying to get her to come inside. How is our lovely Alyssa today? Off exploring?

It was true that she often ran off into the forest to find some grand adventure. But not recently. Not since her mother had taken ill, and it was now up to her to earn the money to keep them both alive. Not today. Bye, I must be getting home, or my mother will worry. She called over her shoulder trying to smile.

The people around her meant well. They didn’t mean to cause her heartbreak. But no one within this city had ever been kind to her mother. Perhaps they had been jealous of her rare beauty and blond hair. Or perhaps they thought her a witch with the ice blue eyes. The reason hadn’t ever mattered.

But she was Alyssa. Just a child that everyone had watched grow into the tall, thin lady that now stood before them. A child that was expected to oh so soon find a husband that could provide for her and settle down.

The thought alone made her sick.

How could she ever settle down when there was a vast world yet to be seen?

Pushing the small cottage door open, she called out, not seeing her mother sleeping in the narrow bed, Mother, I’m home. She continued into the cottage ready to stoke the fire. I think the baker is hoping to match me with their son. You know, the one that can’t keep away from their sweets.

No answer, and the cottage was much too quiet.

The hairs on her back began to stand on end. Something wasn’t right.

Her mother’s chest was pulled away from the wall. A single piece of fine parchment lay on its lid.

Slowly she shuffled over to it. Even slower, reached for the parchment. Where had the such fine quality paper came from? Surely nothing that they could ever afford.

Still, she read the words. Read her mother’s careful handwriting.

My darling daughter,

I hope you do not think ill of me after reading this, but I cannot bear to say these words aloud.

For your entire life I have lied to you. Maybe I thought that I was protecting you from a fate worse than the one you now live. Or perhaps it was my own selfishness that kept you here ... that had kept you from the adventure that you seek.

For that I am truly sorry for the hurt that I have caused you. I cannot make up for the past, but I can give you the future that you deserve.

Within my trunk is everything that you will need. But be warned do not let any see what you now have for they will try to take it from you. This is not a warning from your mother, but a warning from your queen. Queen Annibell Elixia Dovros. Wife to the former King of Axilodale."

Axilodale? The kingdom that was said to house a powerful, mystical king. The King and his castle had burned nearly to the ground... eighteen... years... ago...

No, it couldn’t be. Her mother couldn’t have...

Then again, her mother had never told a single soul where she came from. No, she had only eluded to saying that it had taken her nearly a year to reach this village deep with the kingdom of Merrock. The only non-magical kingdom that she knew of.

The only kingdom that had yet to see war, or fathom.

Not yet finishing the letter, Alyssa carefully opened the trunk. A fine dress made of gold laid simmering on the top. Gold coins, gems and so many ways that could have bought a better house... could have bought the medicine that her mother had needed. Coins to buy...

No, her mother had hidden these things long ago, and it was