The Toll Comes Due: Siblings Grimm, #2

By Rei Rosenquist

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called the City of Cities. A kindly King and Queen presided over it and saw to it that all was good and well in their kingdom. But try as they might, badness crept into their beloved city, poisoning it, alley by alley.

The Queen wishes for two children who might save the City of Cities.
The wish, granted. A trick, played.
Can the City of Cities still be saved?

Turn the pages of this epic retelling of an old favorite tale to find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rei Rosenquist
• Release date: Sep 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215990810

Rei Rosenquist

Rei Rosenquist first remembers life as seen out the high window of a hotel balcony. Down below is a courtyard, swarms of brightly dressed tourists, the beach. The memory is nothing but a blue-green washed image. Warmth and sunlight. Here, they are three years old, and this is the beginning of a nomadic story-teller’s life. Over the years, they have traveled to many countries, engaged many peoples, picked up new habits, and learned new languages. But, some things never change. For them, these are stories, food service, and traveling. These three passions have bloomed from hobbies, studies, and jobs into a way of life. These days, Rei can be found in between Tokyo, Kailua, and Bellingham, Washington pouring beautiful latte art, baking off a batch of famous savory scones, and cozying up with a laptop to obsessively write mountains of dark speculative fiction. You can find Rei’s stories and blog at reirosenquist.com. You can also reach them via email at [e-mail] or connect via Facebook (Rei Rosenquist), Twitter (rylrosenquist) and Instagram (rylrosenquist).

Book preview

ONCE UPON A TIME

…t here was a kingdom called the City of Cities. A kindly King and Queen presided over it and saw to it that all was good and well in their kingdom. But try as they might, badness crept into their beloved city, poisoning it, alley by alley.

They watched in horror as the City of Cities grew too fast. Like an unnatural fruit, soon to spoil. In the streets, humans fought humans for more, clawing at one another's faces tooth and nail. Industry pushed against the city walls, reaching out soot-blackened fingers to devour the nearby natural world. Soon, factories were belching smoke, swallowing the sky whole without pausing to chew. The Queen and King tried to stop it. Decrease human industry. Create sustainable practices. Tried to give both humans and the wild world a fighting chance. But no. The humans were greedy, hungry, and they did not want to be told no or hold back.

So, one day, the kind Queen made a wish.

I wish for two children, the queen said to a golden star on a cold, dark midnight.

And what kind of children shall you have? the star asked, bending down.

Both with skin as dark as night, lips of rose red, and eyes of stone. One shall stand sturdy and tall, unwavering like an ancient oak. The other small, lithe and fast as a wolf. One with hair as dark as space itself, the other with locks like snow.

You shall have them both, the star promised.

The queen dreamed in the quiet of her heart that these two children, opposite and lovely as they would be, would reunite the world.

But, on the day of their birth, the star deceived her!

On the promised day, the queen only gave birth to one stunning child. Hair white as snow, lips red as rose, eyes cold and hard. Already the little child's body was solid as the hardest wood. The queen loved this little babe with all hear heart, but at the same moment, she was quite distraught. For where was the second one? Her little child with hair like night? Her little one who would be as fast as the hungry wolf?"

The queen carried her babe to the window, leaned out and asked the star. Did you not promise me two babes?

The star laughed as stars are wont to do. Indeed. And so, your dark haired child has been born! Oh happy day!

But where? To Whom?

"I sent the child to be born in the furthest reaches of the