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"Ok, I can't do this to you," Luke said while putting his horse to a hault. "The king isn't looking for a new princess. He wants to conquer a very powerful kingdom which name slips my mind. He needs allies first. He plans to sell all the girls as slaves and entertainers to the possible countries. Run far away...and don't come back."

Maria hurridly

Not five seconds later after her mother broke to her the terrible news, someone was rapping on their door. It was a young knight no older than 15 at their doorstep. He had brown hair that looked like it belonged to a prince, not a night. Maria smiled, obviously he was here to take her away but then she realized that he would not be with her for long. There would be many long tiring days ahead of her.

"Hello there," he said. His voice was smooth and pleasant. "I am here to take Miss Kavarada De Brooque to the castle."

Maria felt a wave of relief pass through her, her name was Maria not Kavarada. "There is no one here by that name sir," Maria said.

Mrs. De Brooque looked like she was going to faint. "Darling, I'm sorry but erm, your name isn't Maria, well you middle name is but your real name is Kavarada."

Maria was shocked. She never knew that. Now she felt stupid, especially in front of a very attractive knight. "Well, let me go get my things..." What a stupid thing to say. I haveno things. Well at least I can say goodbye to my sisters.

"I am sorry but we must leave immediatly. King Nrovahen is holding an assembly for all the girls. Everything you will need will be provided at the castle. Now please ride behind me on my horse. We have to leave now before the Kiros start coming out. We can't tarry."

Maria ushered herself out the door. She most definatly did not want to run into a band of Kiros. Kiros were almost like a bear and wolf hybrid. They were ferocious animals. They were especially hard to kill because they had a camoflaguing power that could make them invisible for a few seconds at a time.

Maria hopped behind the knight. They started riding down the streets. "Excuse me," Maria questioned. "I don't even know your name or how old you are?"

The knight, without turning around, said, "My name is Luke, I am 15 years old. And you are Kavarada and 14 I believe?"

"Call me Maria."

Maria felt completely relaxed for once. But what would an honorably knight want with a poor peasant like her? She would have to wait to find out...because the luminous lights of the castle were glowing in their way.

"...Maria, I am so sorry!" Mrs. De Brooque broke down in tears. She fell to her knees and burried her face in her lap. "I...I we're broke. Absolutely no money. And what's worse is that the King has requested something. Curse that b*****d...oh sorry girls. Maybe it would be best if you went to your room and played checkers or something." as soon as the girls left she continued. " Maria we were suppossed to have a son...every poor family is...but not everyone does. the king needs them to serve as knights and soliders. He is sending you away along with the other oldest maidens. You will serve Princess Yara as a servant or work in the court. He will choose one girl to become a queen and rule over the country, Bask Mari. The cost is Fifty rupees and we don't have that. We can't have you go into that castle. The winner will be chosen on wealth, not merit. Tonight you must leave and never come back."<p>
"Where do I go mother?"<p>
"Away...far away..."

The eldest daughter, Maria braided her sister Elizabeth's hair. Maria was 14 years old and Elizabeth was 12. Her othere sister's Nirah 8, and Shichiru 7 were playing a game of checkers, the only board game they owned. Elizabeth was the only daughter that went to school. She was preparing for Youth Girls of Kassala's annual pageant. Maria was in the pageant last year but could not continue school after that because it cost too much money. Instead Maria spent five hours a day washing dishes at the local bistro. (btw Maria looks like my avatar but in a peasant dress).

Suddenly the door burst open and a rush of freezing air swept accross their faces. Mrs. De Brooqu entered. "Girls," she said, I have some news..."

It was the begining of one of the coldest winters that ever touched the Kasala Kingdom. Snow was layered like icing over the hills and valleys. It was so cold and stormy that no one even bothered to shovel their pathways. Food was scarce, only the most affluent families could afford servants to fetch them food. Just because it was cold outside doesn't mean that people weren't enjoying themselves. Their homes were warm and toasty, all except the poorest who couldn't afford the luxury of having a heater. They had to resort to old fashion fireplaces.

One family in this situation was the De Brooque family. They were a poor family with a fancy name.

Ok my name is Olivia and I love many things. I have been playing violin for 9 years and I practice at least 2 hours a day. I am in almost all advanced classes and will start taking AP classes by my sophmore year so i have tons of hw