The Princess' Pauper

By Anna del C. Dye

Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman

Princess Zinnia’s father is frail and won’t last long on this earth. However, she is a woman in a kingdom where she has power only if a man is by her side. She means to change this even if she has to die for it. Before she can, she has to find a man who will let her be queen and avoid the Vizier burying her.

Kirill’s parents separated when he was five years old. The queen, his mother, took him to the country manor where he grew up as a privileged child in the country.
However, at twenty years old, his kingdom is taken and his father killed without the prince seeing him.
To top it all, the enemy wants his head and he and his brother are on the run. How can he help his kingdom regain freedom without proof he is the heir and without a coin to his purse? Still, after he turned into a human torch, who would want a scarred leader anyway?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna del C. Dye
• Release date: Jan 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215593639

Anna del C. Dye

Anna was born in the extreme South along some famous beaches. She grew up with four other siblings being placed in the middle. Her mother died when she was six and she found a new mother in her husband’s mother and loves her dearly. She accredits her mother-in-law with teaching her many things in life.The green eyed, brown haired author moved north to marry her husband Rodney and has resided in Utah since then. Her husband, a native of Idaho, met her in her hometown. They fell in love and she came to Utah on Christmas Eve to be married two weeks later. They are the parents of three princes and a princess.Early on in her life she showed an affinity for sewing and took classes that rewarded her with the opportunities of doing costuming for the cast of four musicals, which she enjoyed immensely. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and understands some Portuguese.Some of Anna’s writing recognitions:She received the Editor’s Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry and had her article entitled A New American Mother published by Desert Saints Magazine. Her short story entitled Amerine—Fairy Princess wan an award in the Oquirrh chapter contest and was published by Kalkion Magazine. Other articles about family and relationship have been published frequently in the MOMS CLUB® of Salt Lake Valley-West.

Book preview

Chapter One

The Vizier’s Proposal

Princess Zinnia, your father is in poor health and the healers have little hope for his future.

Is that right, Vizier? I must go see him immediately.

Cassia, her lady-in-waiting and best friend, followed the tall but unusually slender figure as he moved toward Zinnia. The princess found it fascinating how her friend reacted to the man’s mere presence. Disgust, fear, no that wasn’t it.

The princess lay in her late Mother’s daybed in an antechamber. Unsuccessfully, Zinnia had hoped the Vizier wouldn’t find her. Her open book clattered to her feet when she stood, though her long, loose brown braid didn’t move from her shoulder. Cassia, however, didn’t change her position to retrieve it.

It is unheard of for a princess to visit her father’s chambers, My Lady. The vizier picked up her book, closed it and looked at the binding before he handed it back to her.

Why, Vizier, because I’m a woman? Have you forgotten that, if my father dies, I will be at the head of our kingdom?

Zinnia’s temper was getting hotter by the moment and she hopefully gazed at the cold drinks Cassia held in her hands.

That is also unheard of, Princess. However, I may have a solution for you.

The loose skin on his face didn’t move with his effort to talk. He had been Vizier for many years. Zinnia had never liked him as he seemed too cold and calculating in his demands of their subjects.

Not now, Vizier. I must go to my father in case he needs me.

As propriety demanded, Cassia followed her, which helped ease her dislike of the man. The vizier made the hair of her neck stand on end, especially when he stood behind her.

As you wish. May I remind you that when the king dies it will be too late to have this conversation.

The princess stopped, turned to face the fifty-seven-year-old man dressed in his sumptuous red gown edged by gold thread.

What are you talking about? Too late for what?

If your father dies without a male heir, the chancellors may give the crown to your cousin, Kaffir.

Zinnia had turned eighteen just a few days before and knew much about the reign of her father. However, not too much about their subjects, on account of her being a woman and her father didn’t see a reason for her to get involved with such matters.

You are wrong Vizier; father won’t let that happen. He is aware that Kaffir would take us to war and kill our people on a whim.

Now, do you see why we need to talk?

Her curiosity got the best of her since she had asked her father about the subject many times before. He, however, had never answered her.

What is your solution to this dilemma, Vizier?

You must marry, Princess.

What? both girls exclaimed.

Since Zinnia is the princess, Vizier, she is free to choose any possible match that her father may suggest. Still, we have to consider that our king isn’t in a hurry for her to be married. Zinnia smiled at her friend’s supporting words.

Nevertheless, Lady Cassia, the chancellors will never take the crown away from her if she has a husband at her side. Surely you can see the wisdom of that.

Zinnia’s stomach twisted in two at the thought of a forced marriage. Her friend must have sensed it and covered for her.

And how do you propose for this to happen, Vizier?

Lady Cassia, I offer myself at the princess’ service.

You? Why, how dare you propose me with such…

Cassia stopped the princess by a simple touch of her hand, which reminded Zinnia not to say something she would be sorry about later.

I don’t see any other solution, Princess. You must marry me, that way our kingdom will be ruled by one of us. Not by a foreigner that knows nothing about our culture.

I appreciate your concern, Vizier. She modified her tone with the man so as to not look bad-tempered in his eyes. However, your proposal won’t be necessary. Father has arranged for my future and the family chosen has been approached.

That should stall the man until she could figure out what to do to prevent the old goat from making wedding plans.

I wasn’t aware of any such arrangement, Princess Zinnia. May I know the name of the man you will marry?

Zinnia looked at the man, and the thought of him touching her made her sick. No matter, she needed to be cool tempered and proper if she was going to get anywhere with him.

All at the right time, Vizier. Father will want to announce it when the family has sent their answer.

And is this man … of our culture, Princess?

As I said before, Vizier…, Father will let you know when he sees opportune. Now, if you will excuse me. I must go to him.

Chapter Two

The Attack

To the south of Asen and the princess’ problems, lay the realm of Khazaris. Their traditions and clothing were quite different from those in the princess’ home. Kirill’s happy life ended when his father, the king, summoned him to a meeting after fifteen years of silence between them. However, when he left his horse at the castle doors his only welcome came from men with drawn swords, which they didn’t mean as a salute. He moved swiftly behind a tapestry inside of the massive doors, until he could figure out how to get a weapon to defend himself. Was this his father’s idea of welcoming him back?

As he watched how the guards defended his father’s residence from strange soldiers, seemingly unsuccessfully, he wished he had brought his own sword. However, if his father’s guards were defending the castle, their aggression wasn’t meant for him. Why would a fight be occurring in the castle?

He eyed a dead man’s sword, lying close to him, to see if he could get to it before anyone noticed he was there. At that moment, his best friend’s, Jami’s, dark curly hair appeared from the other side of the room. He motioned for Kirill to wait and stay hidden. What was Jami doing there? He had left him in the manor, a couple of hours away, earlier that day.

Jami disappeared from the room and reappeared at his side to whisper, We need to leave, Kirill. The king has been killed and you will be next if I don’t take you away from here.

Screaming of the injured and metal clashing against metal surrounded them, though Kirill couldn’t make sense of what he saw or what Jami had just told him.

The king can’t be dead, Father, Father…

The prince tried to go find his father, but Jami stopped him with a strong hold on his arm and his lips to Kirill’s ear.

Silence. His hot breath assaulted him and stopped him from uttering anything else. You’ll bring all of the soldiers on us and I can’t protect you against so many.

Jami’s true, yet somber, words sank in deep at the realization that Kirill would have the death of his friend on his shoulders and that didn’t sit well with him.

Come, Kirill, let’s get away from here while we can.

He followed his young friend, as his mind played with images of his former life in the palace when he was a lad. After his mother died a year before, he expected his father to call for him, yet he never did. And when the king’s messenger showed up at the manor a couple of days before, it took him by surprise … enough to take two days to oblige.

Jami, shouldn’t we help somehow?

How, Kirill…? We aren’t prepared to defend ourselves from such power. They want blood…, your father’s and yours, if they figure out who you are. I vowed to your mother to keep you safe.

The enemy entered the front doors, so Jami walked Kirill to the back of the room and through the kitchen to a side door. The smell of fresh bread penetrated his senses, while the memory of his mother’s desperate words to his father years ago echoed in his mind. They came as clearly as if it had happened that very day.

I can’t and I won’t. You can have me killed if you want, otherwise my baby will grow up close to me.

The scene came from his mother and father’s quarrel the last day he saw them together.

Then the five-year-old Kirill had wondered why his father would want him to grow up without his mother. At the same time, his chest had puffed out a little to know his mother had refused the king’s command on his behalf.

He had followed his mother that morning, but had been distracted by the archers practicing behind the courtyard and missed part of their argument. When he caught up with her, his parents were squabbling with raised voices in such a scene as he had never witnessed before.

You are mad. If you leave this castle, you’ll never come back.

So be it…. However, I will take your son with me.

Fine! After all, how do I know that he is m…

Kirill could still hear the sound his mother’s hand made when it contacted his father’s face. It was an act that no one had ever hazarded before.

How dare you?

In the growing silence, his mother’s steps sounded loud as she hurried out of the room, crying. With her hands on her face, she didn’t notice Kirill standing by the door.

Kirill peeked into the room, to see if his father would follow the queen, but King Leonas stared at his son in contemplation. He turned suddenly to exit, accompanied by his head chancellor and the room sat empty.

Feeling alone in the ample hall, Kirill had turned to follow his mother to her chamber, two floors up the marble staircase. He ran up them and forgot his resolve to set in his memory the different scenes portrayed on the wall hangings he passed by.

Her room door sat open and he stopped to gain back the rhythm of his heart before he peeked from its threshold.

Kirill, we’ll leave to the country manor as soon as your servant can get your things ready. You’d better go help him and make sure you don’t forget anything, because we won’t be back, his mother’s greeting sent a chill to his small heart though he couldn’t figure out why.

Yes, Mother. Is Father coming with us too?

It will be just the two of us, son. Now let me be…. I need to get ready too.

At that moment, a pain hit his ribs as he felt Jami’s hard right arm stop him from going any further. The unexpected blow brought him back to the palace’s corner where they hid at the moment. The sounds of voices came to his ears, as some men dressed in foreign uniforms ran past the two watchers.

Are you all right, Kirill? He wondered what expression he had on his face to alarm his friend so.

I don’t know…. All this is most confusing and I’m at loss of what to do to fix it.

Jami glanced toward Kirill as a new fight broke out close to where they hid. Jami tapped him on the chest to urge him to go forward while the men were busy with each other.

Keep low so the bushes can conceal you and don’t make a noise, the labored murmur sounded urgent. While they took a few steps at the time, Kirill’s mind again sent him to the past.

Once in the country, he found more freedom than in the palace and he soon loved the place. Making friends was quite a bit harder, but three years later he had concocted a plan.

Mother, may I take care of the chickens, geese, and ducks?

They are quite plentiful in the lake next to our home, aren’t they? Why would you want to do that, son, it’s messy and hard work?

If I help them with the animals, they’ll be my friends.

I see. Well, why don’t you ask the servant who takes care of them if you can help with the chickens first? If you like doing that, you can add the ducks and so on.

Thank you, Mother. He had hugged her.

Kirill, I would like you to be friends with Jami. He needs an older brother, and you can teach him all you know.

Oh, Mom. He isn’t my brother and is just a baby. I can’t play the same games with him that I can with the kids my own age.

He is three…, you are right. Though, he looks up to you and you should take that responsibility to heart.

I’ll play with him after supper…, I promise.

Life was happy in the new home, though he wondered why his mother never mentioned his father to him again. He also worried that his father would come to get him anytime it pleased him to take him back. In those years, not many people came from the palace, and none of those who did spoke about the king.

Come, my friend, we are close to our freedom. I’ll take you to a safe place. We’ll come back when the chancellors and palace guards have restored our government.

Jami’s words once again brought him back to the present, as they hid behind the extensive stables.

I should have seen my father when he asked me to, Jami…. Why did I take so long to make up my mind?

Right now, there isn’t anything you can do about it but stay alive. That is what your father would have wanted.

He really didn’t know what his father wanted for him. Though, Jami’s comment gave him hope that his father thought of him sometimes. That kept him moving past the corral and onto the lakeshore. There were always canoes there, and on the other side, for the use of the palace’s occupants to cross the water at their leisure.

Once settled into a comfortable paddling pattern, Kirill’s thoughts returned to his time in the country manor at his tenth birthday. He had grown a head taller and had reached his mother’s height. He had been so proud of that fact. However, what had him crowing was the fact that he could keep the stack of wood full all winter.

Kirill, your shirts are tight across the chest and arms, they are giving way at the seams. What have you been doing to yourself?

Nothing, Mother.

I see. She had smiled at him. I suppose that we’ll have to make you new shirts. Son, you have been most agreeable and have taken your place as head of our family without complaint. I’m proud of you and the young man you have become.

Thank you, Mother. I like this life … much more than the castle. Will we ever return to that life, Mother?

I won’t, son. But it is your heritage to assume the kingdom one day.

I will enjoy this time for as long as I can, then.

That may be, though, you need to be instructed, or you are going to forget all your schooling and that won’t do for our future king.

Oh, Mother. No instruction is what makes this place better than the castle.

The day you stop learning, son, is the day you will be dead.

What do you mean?

That you are always learning and that there are many ways to learn. In the castle, you would have to go to your tutor’s study and sit for hours every day. Here you have learned by doing them, not stuck in a room.

I never saw it that way. I’ve learned to care for and raise chickens, ducks, and geese, all in the field.

And that is all good. Except that you have not used your letters at all. When you are the king, you’ll need your letters more than your knowledge of how to raise fowl.

I see what you mean, Mother, but how will I use letters here?

I have contracted a tutor for you, to help with that. He will practice your letters three days a week, though he and you will decide where this instruction will happen. He will also teach you to defend yourself.

I get to use swords and arrows?

We’ll see. You must promise to respect weapons at all times if you want to use them, especially near Jami.

I promise, Mother. Thank you.

He hugged her and turned to leave when she added, Now, about Jami?

He helps me take care of the fowl.

That is wise of you. However, I wonder if you would enjoy your learning better if he joins you in your studies? Not the letters yet, but the rest. It won’t be all your classes, nor the whole time, since he will get tired of the lectures.

He learns easily and has turned out to be a great entertainment on cold winter nights. Jami always did most things Kirill asked him and he had grown fond of the boy. Yeah, I think that would be fun, Mother.

The tutor proved to be most accommodating to Kirill suggestions, which made for fun learning and many excursions. As soon as spring came, the servants taught him how to plant and protect the new plants from the early morning cold. Jami followed Kirill, dumping water on each plant with a cup while Kirill held the bucket.

Their history, old treaties, some etiquette, and Kirill’s favorites, sword and archery lessons, resumed after lunch.

The arrangement had proven to be the pattern for some five years until finally Jami had turned ten years old. He knew pretty much all Kirill did, though, he only started lessons on weapons recently and then only after many pleas to Kirill’s mother.

One late summer day during history lesson, Kirill discovered a bunch of horses up in the mountains. They were exquisite beasts that roamed free at all hours of the day. Kirill wanted to capture the animals. He went to the horse master of the manor and convinced him to teach him all he knew about horses.

Every morning he went over, since in winter he didn’t have to care for plants, to apprentice with him. Three years later, the horse master consented to help him capture some of the animals.

By now, Jami, at thirteen, had become Kirill’s best friend, even though he rounded eighteen. They did most things together. However, the horse trainer didn’t let Jami come when they spent the best part of two weeks studying the horse’s routine before they built a corral to trap them.

Kirill, are you all right…? Jami broke into his reverie. You’ve been too quiet, which I appreciate, believe me. However, we have left behind most of the fighting.

I should have been with my father when he died, Jami. He lowered his head. I haven’t seen him for many years, and I don’t even know why. Now, I’ll never know, since both of my parents are dead.

Let’s regroup and decide what our next move is, safely, away from here.

He wanted to see me, after all these years and I let him down.

You would have died like him, Kirill. Believe me when I say that you are better for our kingdom alive.

Yes, I suppose you are right. After a small silence except for the rippling of the water, Where are you taking me?

Over yonder, in that pasture, we should be safe there for a while. We’ll get a horse in that hut you see and then move farther away from here.

Good. I don’t want to complain, but we must have walked half the kingdom before we got to the canoe. Why not stay here for a while to see what happened in the castle from the distance?

I don’t know that here is far enough, Kirill. I don’t know how dangerous it is for you to be the king’s son right now.

I haven’t been in the castle for more than twelve years, Jami. Do you think anyone will recognize me?

They got out of the canoe and walked toward a small hut over a hill. The place was well-kept and two children played in the back, though the lack of means was obvious.

Nobody mentioned you during the day I visited the place, that is true. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t recognize you. Listen, we are here, so let me do the talking. You stay behind so no one can see you up close. We don’t want to alert anyone to where we are going, just in case.

You make sense, Jami. I’m a bit too shaken to think straight right now.

Good day to you, sir. We wonder if you could sell us two horses?

I only hav’ one animal fer you, I hav’ to keep one fer my planting.

Do you know if we could get another horse around here?

It depends on which road you’re taking.

Jami looked at the prince and he shrugged his shoulders in answer.

That way. Jami pointed to the west side of the road, where nothing but empty lands stood.

No horse da way. If you follow the river bend you may find some in a day or two. The clean, though ragged, man pointed the opposite way. All ranchers need money and will sell a horse to get it.

We appreciate your help. Would a silver coin be enough for the horse? The man’s eyes popped open.

Most kind of you, sirs.

The man left and came back with a middle-aged chestnut with a rope about its neck. Her’ you are.

Kirill mounted first and Jami jumped up behind him, then they left.

I’m glad we don’t have our fancy clothes on. It would be harder to do business with anyone looking like lords.

The only fancy outfits I had were too small for me fifteen years ago, Jami. I doubt I could put them on, and mother didn’t want me to attract anyone’s eyes, so she didn’t make me more. We are about two hours from our home in the country. Why don’t we go get our things there and rest? A good night’s sleep will clear our minds to make sense of this attack and the death of my father.

What if the enemy, whoever they are, are already there?

We’ll be careful and won’t approach if something is amiss.

I don’t know, Kirill. They could be looking for you.

I’ll take responsibility if they find me, after all I’m the oldest. Come, let’s go home, if only for one more night.

In silence they travelled the empty road to the country manor, perhaps for the last time. The steady pace they settled their horse in helped Kirill return to his memories.

He found himself thinking of the week his horse tutor helped him make a corral between two hills, leaving a long corridor for the horses to gather. They also made another gate to trap the horses in it. With everything in place, they waited for the horses to stick to their pattern that day. This meant that they would settle on the closest side of the trap after dinner.

Are you sure you want to do this Kirill? I don’t have time to take care of all of these horses if you change your mind later.

Yes, I’m ready. I’ll help you with everything, I promise.

All right, remember not to move too far from me or they will escape between us when they panic.

The wind changed directions and his tutor cried, Let’s do it before they smell us and we lose them.

They had run their mounts so hard Kirill’s teeth had hit each other a few times before he found his mount’s rhythm. Their screams, the banging of metal pans, and the branches tied to their horses did the rest. When the stallion saw the dirt produced by the humans, he believed them to be too many to stay. He neighed and was followed by the whole bunch of them turning in a wild trot away from the pursuers.

Within a few minutes, the horses had entered the trap. But when the two of them went to close the gates, the stallion and two mares had dashed almost on top of them, scaring Kirill onto his rump and half to death. As he sat on the ground, calming his heart, Kirill watched as his tutor went to his half of the gate to close it.

Kirill, help me close the gate before they all change direction and charge us. We won’t be able to stop them.

He hurried to raise his half and settled it between the two studs ready to receive it. Sorry. For a moment I thought he would kill me.

Their purpose in that mad run was for us to follow them so the rest of the horses could get free, though killing us would be a way to help the rest of them be free.

Then, we aren’t following them?

No, it’s better to have a bird in your hand than fifty flying. We’ll keep all of this bunch safe, have a good night’s sleep, and rest our horses.

It took well over eight months to get the horses ready to be sold. The horse tutor trained one horse while Kirill worked on another at his side. That way he learned under the watchful eye of the horse master.

At the beginning of the following spring, they sold the animals. Kirill made the man very happy by giving him half of the money and his thanks. While training, he had returned to the country manor on weekends only. However, driving the horses to market had taken three weeks. When he returned to the manor, his mother’s companion told him she had passed away during the night.

What happened, Lady Samery? Mother was fine three weeks ago.

She developed fever and no one could break it. Last night she passed away quietly, Sire.

Why did no one come to get me?

"We weren’t sure where you were, Sire…. Nor are there many servants who are able to handle