Chapter one

The Judgement of the Princess

            Princess Nala's coronation was viewed by thousands of villagers. 

Most from her homeland of Auria, but some rich nobles from other lands had come to see as well. The royal families of the three other lands of Australia, Strairan, Raintal and Lian, had also come. 

Nala's heart hadn’t stopped pounding from the moment she'd awaken that morning, to the time she had risen and walked down the palace steps and seen the smiling faces of her new subjects.  

Nala found herself in the midst of the royals, after the coronation they would naturally want to meet the new ruler. The main hall of Yarran was large but Nala felt suffocated by all the nobles. She was sure none of them knew the true story of how she had become princess and wondered what tales they had been listening to, and what they thought of her now. 

Nala curtsied to what felt like a fifty nobles until she felt someone step on her toes. She had been looking over her shoulder at the time and quickly turned back. The girl who had trodden on her was the last person in the line. She looked to be about Nala's same age but was a few inches taller, her hair was dark brown and let down in a curly mess. She seemed very different from the other nobles, she had dispensed with the usual custom of keeping her hair up at social gatherings, her gown was plain and a bright shade of red, instead of the regular colors of a coronation, purple, gold and white. 

The girl curtsied quickly and said, "sorry." 

Nala didn't know what to do except smile. The fixed smile she had worn all day melted and her smile became genuine. The girl’s appearance and general manner made her want to learn more about this girl. She saw her demeanor change as well. She relaxed her poster and grinned from ear to ear. 

They both curtsied again at the same time, Nala's much more graceful, “I'm Robina, sixth daughter of king Balkon of Starian". Nala noticed Robina's lack of eloquent speech and tried to act the part of princess "I am Princess Nala, ruling monarch of Auria" she said. 

Robina looked at her with a curious expression on her face. "I heard that you came from a distant land, that your father was a mercenary and killed the king. Then he used his spies in the castle to make himself king but you slit his throat with his own dagger and took the crown yourself". 

Robina said this all very quickly and Nala's heart sank just as fast. So this was what people thought of her? 

"That is not true!" said Nala still keeping her composer. Robina frowned as though she would have liked to make Nala loose her temper. "Well then what is true?" asked Robina. 

Nala tried to divert the question, not wishing to tell Robina of her true beginnings as a peasant. This girl had probably been taught to give orders by the time she could talk. "I don't know what you mean." "Come now," she said and she punched Nala's arm lightly. "There must be something in these rumors." 

Nala didn't know what to say to that. "Excuse me, but I must attend to my duties." She walked away from Robina looking around for something to do.