Cover image for post Castle On The Hill, by Mnezz

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Castle On The Hill

TARIN wiped the tears from his eyes. His sister flicked his nose.

— ‘‘Ow!’’ He cried.

- ‘‘There was a bug on your nose.’’

He stared at his step-sister. How he wished he could turn her into a pig with just one look.

She shook her head and exclaimed, ‘‘Mother says she needs you to head to town to buy a tray of eggs.’’

Tarin smiled, but then looked down at his feet. His step-mother only took care of her daughter. As for her other child, Tarin, she never took care of him, ever.

She did not even provide him any meals. He had to go dive into bins to check what folks had thrown away from their plates, or bowls.

As he dragged his feet on the muddy ground, he heard the sound of horses neighing. The horses galloped at top speed and nearly charged in Tarin’s direction.

One of the knights on a black stallion had pulled the reins and the horse leaped right over Tarin’s bent back. He gasped in awe at the spectacle.

The knight felt pity for the lad and asked him if he had a home. Tarin shook his head.

And at that moment he went to live in a grand cottage not too far from the castle over the hill. He sighed and looked in wonder at the majestic stone castle on the hill. Maybe he would find a way to at least walk through the gates and see the castle’s interior.

Tarin worked for the knight and one day, the knight said to him, ‘‘I will take you with me to see the King.’’

The lad smiled and felt his heart skip a beat. This was a dream come true.

As soon as they walked into the castle gates, Tarin spotted a figure moving in the shadows. It followed them into the palace and marched to the kitchen.

The King had invited the knight for a feast. Tarin bowed his head and greeted the King. The King laughed and said, ‘‘Thank you for the wonderful respect you have shown. I see the knight has taught you well.’’

Tarin froze in shock at all the food brought out for the feast: a boar that had an apple in its mouth, a grand rack of ribs, an enormous bowl of grapes, a small pack of chèvre, steamed cabbage, & a drum of rum.

The King raised his hands and told the group, ‘‘Let’s feast!’’ Tarin spotted the figure lurking in the shadows. He heard a voice whisper, ‘‘O, King of Mead. See how you lead. Your people are in dread. They plead for more bread. Now take a bite, of the flame from spite. You will see~ once you take it- and be turned into a bee.’’

Tarin rushed to the King’s side and told the King not to drink or take a bite of anything. The knight and the rest of the guests all gasped. Who was this lad to say such a thing to the King?

Then from the shadows, the figure appeared before everyone. Some folks screamed when they saw the face of an old lady who looked as if she had been woken up from the dead. Her face was so pale and she looked like she had no flesh left on her bones. It was just a skeleton and body of skin left.

Tarin pulled a blade from the side of the apple in the boar’s mouth. He dashed at full speed and sliced the blade across the old woman’s throat.

She laughed as she disappeared in a puff of smoke. The smoke grew and covered the whole palace. Folks dropped down to the ground.

Tarin coughed and covered his mouth. But the smoke had already entered his lungs. The King placed his hands on his head.

The moment he dropped to the ground, his crown slipped off his head & rolled to the side. Out of the smoke, another figure appeared.

Tin coughed and coughed. The figure walked over to Tarin and flicked his nose.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp5vcuMIlk