Morning sunlight from the bay window of the palace sunroom dripped in golden reflections onto the faded title as Princess Samantha reluctantly closed her spell book. She rose from the plush daybed onto which she laid her book, and the silken layers of her sapphire gown draped swiftly to the Oriental rug like smooth waves to the shore. "Dear father, thou hast said as much before, and likewise I hath not the slightest hint as to whom I shall choose."
     The king shifted his slightly corpulent figure onto his other foot and switched the crystal scepter into his other hand, as he usually did when his mind was absorbed in conjuring a suitable lecture. "My dearest and only daughter, thou knowest the importance of such a decision as this, considering half of the entire kingdom will rest entirely in the palm of your husband�s hands. And the entire kingdom is, in fact, nearly�"
     "�Five hundred thousand square miles," thought Samantha. Not only had she heard this particular lecture from her father numerous times before, but she had also heard of this value uncountable times before from her World Studies instructor.
     "�Five hundred thousand square miles," finished the king. "It is, therefore, the most powerful, and I trust that whomever you choose to rule in my place will be noble and generous and�"
     "Handsome," the princess thought with an inner smile.
     "�Just and true," he finished. "He must understand that peace and balance should be kept with the surrounding kingdoms, not like that, that�"
     "Duke Flockingham of Bumblemoor," she offered.
     "Precisely," the king said with his nose turned up in distaste. "Who knowswhatthat boy would do if he possessed the powers of the kingdom? Raise the taxes sky high, enslave the peasants, force your mother and me to dine with the rats in the dungeon of the West Wing, and to you he would�he would�"
     Princess Samantha rose onto the tips of her pearled slippers and tenderly pressed her ruby lips against his tear-stained cheek. "Please do not bring tears to your eyes over the matter, dearest father. I promise to choose wisely, just as you wish. And Icertainlyshan�t choose that dastardly duke! Besides, this day is a fresh page that has yet to be written upon, and I myself have yet to meet the last of the suitors."
     The king blotted his eyes with a lace kerchief he removed from his breast pocket. "Then go thither, my darling daughter, but keep the words we have exchanged fresh within your mind."
"I shall, father, and I shall heed them true. Fare-thee-well!" she chimed as she drifted into the arched hallway.
     Embroidered tapestries flowed past her in a rush of silver and indigo. Only a quiet murmur echoed from the throne room.
     "�But I just think she won�t like me. Did you see the others? They seemed to have brought everything they owned. That�s why I�ve always been turned down before, and this is going to be no different."
     Despite what the princess had learned about snooping, she cleverly hid in the shadows of the half-open door as she peered into the bright room. She scanned the scenario and perceived only two individuals.
     "Lighten up, Braden," a youth encouraged. He sat on a wooden stool in the center of the room while the other paced about him. "You may not be the richest amongst them, but you�ve more sense than all of them together. They think they can win her, but you my friend, you can love her."
     The one pacing about the room stopped as he seemed to ponder upon the lad�s words. He carried no expensive possessions nor wore any elaborate robes. Only a simple golden circlet adorned his dark brown head.
     "Those are powerful words, Craig, but if she�s like all the other princesses, she�s not going to see the real me. She�ll just see a plain prince with hardly any lavish material belongings." He frowned at the ground and continued pacing. "Thanks for trying to enlighten me, but there�s just nothing you can do."
     Deep compassion for the prince compelled Samantha to step into the brilliant light. "Good morrow," she greeted once her eyes adjusted.
     The amble figure jumped a little and spun around at the sound of her crystalline voice. The expression he wore was somewhat disheveled. "Princess Samantha�" he mumbled vaguely. He deeply bowed and shot the lad a meaningful glance. The youth jumped from the stool and bowed a little as he hurried out of the room.
     "It is an honor to meet you," the prince said.
     "Likewise," the princess replied, and she lifted the hem of her dress to curtsy elegantly. "Please have a seat."
     He sat in a velvet armchair near the jeweled throne upon which she herself sat.
     The princess went on. "Please tell me about yourself, Prince�"
     "Prince Braden of Rubric," he replied. "I am eighteen, and my interests are playing the fife, occasionally traveling, and reading."
     "Have you enjoyed your stay at the palace?"
     Prince Braden laughed a little. "Except for the fact that my enemy is here as well."
     Princess Samantha rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, is it Duke Flockingham of Bumblemoor?"
     "You rang?" a coarse voice called from the doorway. They turned to face a horrible, grinning Duke Flockingham of Bumblemoor.
     Braden instinctively stood and gasped, "Duke Flockingham!"
     "Do I know you?" the duke flashed his beady eyes towards Braden. "Ah, yes. You look so much like your father."
     "You know you can not force the princess to marry anyone, especially yourself."
     "Is that an insult?" Duke Flockingham narrowed his eyes. "Do you mean to say that I have no control over women?"
     Princess Samantha lost her properness as she charged towards the duke. "You little�" But Prince Braden held her back.
     "Ha, ha. Temper, temper," Duke Flockingham teased as he wagged his stubby finger at her. "This is between me and the boy."
     "Boy?" Braden looked at him in disgust. "Is that what you think of me?"
     Duke Flockingham chuckled again. "Why, yes. A cowardly little boy whose father I killed."
     Braden�s face grew red, and he clenched his fists. "Forget the insults."
     The duke skipped around him in circles chanting, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
     "What do you want?" Samantha�s impatience burst Duke Flockingham�s mischievous bubble.
     He suddenly stopped and turned to Braden. "I want to challenge you to a race. Whoever wins�" His smile grew all the more sly. "�May marry the princess." And his voice transformed into an elfish giggle.
     "But we need Princess Samantha�s approval because sheisthe one who is choosing a suitor." Braden stared into her sky blue eyes. "Is that okay with you, princess?"
     Momentarily, she was perplexed. Then her worry lines cleared. She announced, "I hereby decree a race between Prince Braden of Rubric and Duke Flockingham of Bumblemoor down Old Blackberry Road in the forest, promptly at noon today. I will supply the necessary transportation on which you will race. The winner will marry me on the eve of tomorrow."
     Duke Flockingham smiled satisfactorily. "I will see you tomorrow," he smirked to Braden. Then he turned and stubbornly marched out the door through which he had come.
     "Why do you seem so sure that I will win?" Prince Braden asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.
     Princess Samantha smiled craftily. "You can ride my best steed, and I�m sure I can convince my wolf friend to lose for our sake if the duke rides him. Let�s go send a messenger to ask if he will, and we can tell father of the race." She laced her arm around Prince Braden�s and led him out of the room.

~*�*~

     From the tower overlooking the racetrack, Princess Samantha leaned over the railing as she accepted the red rose Prince Braden offered her as he sat upon the white stallion.
     "Riders, on your marks!" the king yelled above the commotion. Prince Braden and his steed strided proudly up to the starting line. The wolf struggled to balance Duke Flockingham�s heavy weight as they took their positions.
     "Get set!" The two animals stood solid like statues. Anticipation filled and stretched the moment.
     "Go!" The king waved the flag, and the horse launched forward. Prince Braden easily maintained his balance. The wolf began rhythmically pounding upon the dusty trail, nearly flinging off Duke Flockingham. Both creatures raced through the forest with enormous effort and speed.
     A tidal wave of cheering surged throughout the crowd. The yelling chirping, and howling of the audience echoed within Princess Samantha�s ears while she watched the prince and horse round the first corner.
     Deep in her subconsciousness, however, a feeling of dread surfaced. She followed the two competitors closely as they turned a sharp corner. Duke Flockingham nudged Prince Braden to the edge of the trail, and he could do nothing but slow down and let him pass to keep from tumbling into the blackberry bushes.
     Princess Samantha�s heart leaped into her throat as she observed the prince�s setback, and her father looked quite displeased.
     Duke Flockingham bounced merrily along despite the wolf�s straining and shaking frame. The wolf plunged mightily over the finish line before collapsing in a heap from fatigue. Prince Braden and his steed charged over the line less than a second afterward.
     Princess Samantha�s stomach sourly churned as she rose to traditionally announce the winner. As she approached the railing, she distinguished Prince Braden�s face from among the upheaval. They exchanged grievous glances, and she knew he had once again lost to Prince Harry.

~*�*~