As he dug into the brown soil, pulling out carrot after carrot, James began thinking of when he should start planting the apple seeds he has.

I should probably do it now. That way, they’ll grow in time for autumn.

It was a warm, sunny, spring day in the Kingdom of Rosepost. The combination of the chill of the wind and the heat of the sun felt like heaven. The kingdom was filled with people of many shades, sizes, and ages. All could be heard chatting about outside James’ fenced farm as they carried on with their days, whether it be buying food, returning home, playing in the streets, or whatever the residents decided to do.

James’ farm was just inside the entrance to the kingdom, blocked off from the dirt road that connected all buildings in Rosepost so nobody could damage his crops as they walked by. His house, still located on his farm, was further back on his property, made of wood and roofed with stone tiles. It was a small house, but it was big enough for him and maybe one other.

I should probably take these to the market now, pondered James, picking up the wheat-woven basket of carrots as he stood up.

He was enjoying the day so far. He was able to work peacefully and undisturbed. The only things he wasn’t too happy about were his soil-stained white skin and the dirt in his curly brown hair. But there wasn’t much he could do about that, so he continued as though it wasn’t there.

As he walked down the dirt path that weaved through his crops to reach the exit of his farm, he could see three of the kingdom’s knights walking by his fence. It wasn’t unusual to see knights walking by. It is their kingdom too after all. But what baffled James was that all three of them entered through the gate. Each of them wore silver helmets, breastplates, and greaves with a sword tucked in a leather sheath on their wastes.

What could they possibly want? I don’t think I’ve done anything illegal. I pay my monthly 5 silver coin property tax.

James sat the basket of carrots back on the ground as the knights approached.

“Can I help you?” James asked, shaking some of the dirt off his hands, his brows knitted.

“King Rosepost requires your presence at the castle.” loudly stated one knight.

“You will come with us immediately.” demanded another.

James froze in place. “What could he possibly want with me?” he stammered.

“You will find out when you get there,” rudely said the other knight. “Come with us, now.”

“You’ll have to find someone else.” responded James, picking up his basket of carrots once again. “I have done nothing wrong, so there’s no need for my presence there. And I have somewhere I need to be.” he said as respectfully as he could, with a smile.

He began to walk past the knights, doing his best to ignore the offended looks on their faces.

As he squoze past, two of them aggressively grabbed both his arms and yanked him back, causing him to spill and drop his basket of carrots.

“YOU’RE COMING WITH US,” rudely yelled one knight, spitting on James’ face a little.

“Didn’t your parents teach you to obey the king’s men?”

“I don’t have parents.” James answered, irritated that all his carrots were now spilled all over the ground and disgusted that there was spit on his face.

As the knights forced James out of his farm and into the busy streets of Rosepost, James wondered what the KIng needed from him. He had never been called to the castle before. He had never even been close to the castle.

This is why I don’t hope for good days. They always get worse somehow. Whether it be rain or something just completely out of the ordinary. Something always ruins my day.

The knights barged through everyone walking down the streets, holding James’ arms with a tight grip.

“Move!” fiercely demanded the knights as they pushed and shoved, men, women, and children out the way.

James was shocked by their behavior. You’d think they would have a little respect for the woman and children at least, he thought.

“Sorry.” he quietly said to a woman who he was quite sure was pregnant as the knights violently moved her out of their way.

Their aggression was unneeded. The peasants of Rosepost Kingdom were not uncivilized and violent. King Rosepost trained his men to look down on peasants and treat them like animals. In his eyes, they were worthless and nothing but decoration to make his kingdom look nice. He cared not about their well being, even if there was a food shortage or contagious disease.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“What do I need to go to the castle for?” James asked the knights once again. They didn’t respond. Not even a glance came from them.

Eventually they reached the castle. The castle, currently housing the Rosepost family, which consists of King Rosepost and Princess Rosepost, was a large, square, two story, stone brick structure with 2 spires built into it; one in the back and one in the front. The pointed roofs of the spires were bright red and shining in the sunlight.

I’ve never seen it upclose before, James thought as the guards forced him through the big brown doors of the castle, passing by four more knights who were guarding the doors.

Inside the main room of the castle was a large, circular, cream colored rug laid on the dark wooden tiled floor. A golden chandelier holding many wax candles swung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire room. There were more, human-height wooden doors in the room, leading to other rooms.

The knights guided James through one of the doors, stepping on the rug as they walked, which felt like soft fox fur.

Stairs now stood before James and the knights, leaving behind the sound of the chandelier creaking as it swung.

“Upstairs, peasant.” a knight demanded after they let go of James’ arm.

“Is he up there?” irritably asked James, tapping his finger against his thigh.

“UPSTAIRS!” screamed another knight.

James sighed, shook his head from side to side in disbelief of the knights’ rudeness, and proceeded to walk up the wooden stairs, each one creaking as he stepped.

“WHO ARE YOU?” James heard from in front of him.

Startled, he looked up and saw King Rosepost sitting on his gold, red-dyed leather cushioned throne.

King Rosepost was old, fat, and frail-looking. His beard was long, white, and matted like unkempt wool. He wore a polar bear fur scarf with purple streaks over his thick, red, royal robe. A bejeweled gold crown sat on his head, hiding his lack of hair.

“I- er- you called me here.” shakily answered James, a tad bit nervous.

The King paused for a moment, staring at James.

Does he not remember? This is why old men shouldn’t sit on the throne. They can barely think for themselves. Let alone move without needing help, thought James, running his fingers through his hair.

“Ah,” began King Rosepost with his crunchy, stale voice, “James, is it?”

“Yes, your Highness.” James slowly replied, inching a little closer to the throne.

“Ah, yes. If you haven’t heard, which I’m sure you haven’t given your low title, my daughter has been kidnapped.” stated the King, coughing through some of his words.

“Kidnapped by who?” questioned James, ignoring the King’s comment about his position. He was a little shocked by this new information. Who would kidnap the Princess? She isn’t even an adult yet.

“You know our neighboring kingdom, the Dark Kingdom?” the King asked.

“Unfortunately, yes.” James answered, wishing he could just go home.

“Their ruler, Lord Darkstar, took my precious daughter. I need you to retrieve her for me, if you will. Well, you don’t really have much of a choice,” King Rosepost stated, not showing a single expression of worry or despair. “Go get my daughter. Now, please. She is probably terrified.”

James went cold.

“You want me to do what?”

“I want-”

“You literally have an entire army of capable men but yet you want a farmer to do it?”

“Well, they’re of a higher standard than you. It’d be a shame to lose any of them. You’re strong. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, right? It’s not like you have a reason to live. Such a poor life you live.”

James now went hot, the skin on his face a flaming red.

“How can you be so cruel?” he shouted, squinting his eyes. “Why don’t you just go do it yourself?”

The King nastily coughed with shock. “RETRIEVE MY DAUGHTER NOW, YOU WORTHLESS ANT!”

James took a deep breath, his heart rate increasing every time he looked at the King.

“Can I at least have a sword?” he sighed, crossing his arms.

“Ask the knights for one of theirs.” the King answered, stroking his beard.

James bowed and turned around, heading back toward the stairs.

“Also,” James began before he walked down, “everyone knows you only adopted the Princess because you can’t have children of your own. No woman is dumb enough to sleep with that,” James shockingly stated, eyeing the King’s oversized body. “You should try to actually take care of your daughter. She’ll be eighteen soon. I’m sure she would choose to live among us peasants than with a fat boulder who's been glued to the throne ever since she was a child.”

James hurried down the stairs as he heard the king gasp and violently cough many times. He felt a bit proud that he stood up for himself.

He stuck his hand out in front of one of the knights that brought him there.

“I need your sword.”

“Take it, nitwit.” the knight sharpy said, quickly taking his sword out its sheath.

James grabbed it and walked out the big wooden doors, stepping back into the general population.

“Excuse me.” he uttered to many people as he headed to Rosepost Kingdom’s exit.

It’s a good thing I paid attention during geography in school, James reflected once he exited the kingdom.

He scratched his scalp before. It’s going to be a long day. He then walked around the tall stone walls of the kingdom and headed south.