Newfound

By Yuané Dickson

When a young girl named Kate Grace finds out that her noble father planned an arranged marriage for her, to the prince, on her 18th birthday, she decides to run away. Her mysterious new friend , Eric Summer, decides to follow her, and she finds out something that could put his life in danger. He was from Fordess, a rival land of Kates. Eric introduces Kate to an interesting man, Sir Stephen, who uncovers a shocking secret that Kate didnt even know about herself. She was the Lost Princess of a forgotten kingdom, Arainia, of which Stephen was a knight. Stephen told Arainias story and convinced Kate that she had to take back what was rightfully hers. Together Kate, Eric, Stephen and an extraordinary army has to fight through the obstacles Kates fake father and the boy that would have been her fianc throws at them. Kate finds out that there is much more to the world than what youre used to and unexpected things happen when you trust in the people you love. Only problem is that those unexpected things can be for better or worse, and luck isnt always on your side. Yet hope is the the only thing she needed to get through their war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Feb 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482805185

Yuané Dickson

Yuané Dickson is a passionate young South African who wrote this initial book in her first year of high school. She loves the idea of creating and escaping to places through music, books and art. Yuané has been a big fan of fairytales and fiction since she was a little girl, and reads everything as a metaphor or with some symbolic meaning behind it. The work of C.S Lewis has especially inspired her to write.

Book preview

PART 1

Out of place

CHAPTER 1

T he town was swarming with busy people, running into shops, greeting happily. Finally I reached the bakery. I pushed open the door and the warm smell of fresh bread made me hungry. A familiar voice greeted me as I came closer.

Good afternoon Mister Felix, how are you? I replied.

Good as always Miss Kate. How can I help you today? he cleaned his hands with his apron and looked at me with an excited smile.

Helen asked me to come down and see if you have a fresh loaf for breakfast tomorrow, I ran my eyes over the trays of fresh bread.

Well, I was just about to bake some! You can go, I’ll take the loaf to Helen as soon as I’m done.

Thanks Mister Felix, I appreciate it.

People really give Alison, Andrew and me special treatment. I wouldn’t say I don’t like it, but it’s not who we are they give special treatment to, it’s because of the person our father is. I said goodbye, left the shop and walked around the corner. People walking or riding by knew where I was heading and their shaking heads and rolling eyes put even a bigger smile on my face. I walked past an old woman, the librarian, Mrs. Tills. She carried a basket full of new books.

She stopped next to me and said, with an almost threatening tone in her high pitched voice, Are you going to that wretched place again, Miss Kate? I bet your father doesn’t know a thing! It’s high time one of us tells him! But in the meantime, she put her hand on the first book she saw and handed it to me, This is all about those nasty woods, and why you should not be wandering around there!

I took the book and said, There is nothing enchanted about that place, it’s the most beautiful place in Withrone and you’ll never enjoy it. But I will be sure to read the book, thank you. Goodbye Mrs. Tills.

I smiled at her and kept walking. None of them will ever go and tell my father. They’re too scared to even pass him without looking down at the ground. I spent most of my childhood in those woods and learned to love them more than anywhere else. If the people just knew… I headed to the waterfall, Dewdrop Falls, the most spectacular sight ever. As I entered the woods I felt, as though I’d come home. My feet moved directly towards Dewdrop Falls as I opened the book and read the first page. It was about things people claimed to see here. I’m not one to believe fiction, written or spoken.

I looked up as the normal sounds of the waterfall and birds singing, blended into the most perfect sound. This time something was different.

A young guy, my age, was admiring everything around him. I stood frozen in my tracks for a few seconds, then gratefully realized he hadn’t seen me yet.

Quietly I moved off the path and slid in behind a tree. I watched him closely. He was definitely handsome. He smiled slightly and his short black hair stood up in different directions. He was well built, a farm boy, maybe?

But I knew he wasn’t from Withrone. No one from here would dare to step into the woods. He turned to where I was, and I pulled back behind the tree in panic. I closed my eyes and held my breath, only opening them after a short while. Slowly I peered out from behind the tree.

He was gone. I looked around and got back on the path searching cautiously. I shook my head.

Maybe this place is enchanted and he was just a figment of my imagination. I turned to go home, choosing not to confuse myself more with this place today, and dropped the book at his feet as I walked right into his chest. I stumbled back a few steps, catching myself and I stared at him for a second.

He was standing in front of me, frowning yet smiling at the same time. He picked up the book, looking at me the entire time, and held it out to me.

His beautiful brown eyes smiled.

What on earth are you doing? His voice was beautifully deep. I reached out and took the book, dusting off the cover.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped. It felt like a stranger had walked into my house without knocking.

He smiled brightly, confidently and said, Oh, just wandering around. Nothing in particular.

Who are you? I heard myself ask without thinking twice. He hesitated a bit and then said,

Eric Summer, and for effect, bowed dramatically, And you are? he asked. I paused and smiled slightly.

Kate Grace, it’s a… pleasure to meet you, Eric. I meant it. It’s not every day you meet someone new in Roseville. Or someone like him. Especially not here, at my waterfall.

He nodded, still with a smile, and replied, The pleasure is all mine.

He definitely wasn’t from here. Normally people flinch or their eyes fill with fear when they hear my surname, the same as that of Leonardo Grace, the king’s First Knight. Feared by everyone. Silence fell for a while, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. The calming sounds around us made me feel safe. As I always do here.

I should go, it’s getting late, I said and smiled gently, Do you have a place to stay?

He looked surprised but then said, a bit unsure, Yes, I do, thank you… Kate.

Why did the slight pause between the thanks and my name made my heart jump?

That had never happened to me before.

Goodbye Eric.

He took the path I came from, towards town, turned around and gave a wave and smile as he left. I took a different path, towards our house. As I walked slowly and thought about what had happened. It haunted me the rest of the night. I tried to act normal in front of everyone else but I felt relieved to be alone at the end of the evening. I closed my door behind me and walked to my bed. As I fell back onto it, I let my thoughts run free for a while. The image of his smiling face formed in my mind and I bit my cheek to keep a smile from my lips.

CHAPTER 2

T he cool morning breeze blew through my hair as I stood on my balcony and looked over Roseville, towards the castle. Dad never talked about the king or queen or anything about the castle and the knights. I have always wondered, since I was a little girl, what it would be like to live there. Something in me loved the idea. A continuous beep sounded from inside. I took my time, striding over to the stupid device on my dresser, hitting a button causing a hologram to pop up in front of me.

Not surprisingly, it was my dad’s face appearing, Morning Kate, I want to inform you that I will be coming home soon and that you should come to town the moment you get this message, he announced. These things were so annoying and impersonal to me, but luckily it only came through while I was at home (I wasn’t allowed to take the device out in public) and I rarely sent or received any. It’s the way my father and his knights communicate, and our family are the only ones who actually know about it. Dad once told me that there were scientists somewhere in the castle who created all of these clever inventions. I rushed out on the balcony again, looking at the castle one last time and saw a carriage coming down towards town. The two horses pulling it was a light bay and a black. I ran down to the kitchen, where I knew I’d find Helen, quickly greeting her, I announced loudly that I was going to town and started to run. Dad would be furious if I showed up late.

I don’t blame him, really. Its happened once or twice in the past, because I took my sweet time.

As I reached town the carriage had just stopped and people had already started to crowd around it. I slowed my sprint down, pushed through the crowd and stopped as if I’d been here for some time. The horses neighed when they saw me and I stepped towards the bay coloured one.

Hey Dawn, I whispered and I ran my hand over her soft muzzle, sticking my other hand into my pocket and finding a sugar cube. Dawn gently ate it off of my palm. The black horse nudged my arm and I patted his neck, getting another cube.

Don’t worry Midnight. I didn’t forget about you, I said and fed it to him I looked around at the villagers staring at me.

Morning Miss Kate, the coachman said. I smiled at his nervous face.

Morning Patric, can I take them for you? He shook his head nervously and then said,

No thank you, Miss. I’ll take them to the stables for you.

I knew exactly why he was so nervous. My Dad had climbed out of the carriage and was waiting for us to finish the conversation.

Good morning father, I said and walked to him. Though his voice and tone could make anyone else shudder, it was normal for me.

Good morning, already had breakfast? he asked. The question wasn’t a surprise at all and I replied, his small talk boring me,

No, not yet. I’m sure Helen is ready.

Good. I want you to meet someone, he said and walked to the other side of the carriage. The door opened and a man with a serious expression stepped out. All the spectators bowed low immediately, as did my father.

Everyone except me.

He was tall and had light hair. About half a head taller than me so it forced me to look up to meet his eyes, dark blue pools with a strangely cruel, cold look chiseled into them. He bowed down low and said,

I am Prince Matthew the Fourth, son of the king of Withrone.

His formal air made me uneasy.

For a few seconds I didn’t know what to do and looked over to Dad to look for help. He made a small gesture downwards with his head and I frowned slightly.

Then I remembered. I made a uncomfortable curtsey and said, Kate Grace, nice to meet you… um, Prince.

Prince Matthew will be staying with us for a while, Dad said. I thought that my ears were playing tricks on me. Staying with us?

Yes, Dad answer coldly.

Great. What an honor, I hope princey realized I was being completely sarcastic.

Coachman, give my daughter the horse, Dad ordered.

Poor Patric almost had an heart attack and quickly did as he was told. He handed me Dawn’s reins with shaking hands and I took it thankfully.

Thank you Patric, I said and gave him a smile.

Kate, you may go home. The prince and I have some business here. We will not be long, then we will have breakfast, Dad said and I nodded.

I mounted Dawn and said before I left, "I will see