Chapter 1
“Mother! Look! Father...” Fearful began to exclaim. Her father, Anxious, was a logger for Prince Iniquity. This winter was the coldest the capital of the Land of Enslavement had ever seen, and the slaves’ rations of wood were not enough to warm their small shacks. So, when five-year-old Fearful saw her father come home with an extra armload of wood, she started jumping with excitement.
“Fearful!” Anxious reprimanded with a stern but frightened look. Fearful flopped down onto her mat looking dejected. She didn’t understand why her father would yell at her so when she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Anxious, where did you get that….” Dreaded Horror, Fearful’s mother, started to ask but was interrupted by BANG! as the door flew open and let a cold gust of air in.
“Logger, you are under arrest for stealing Prince Iniquity’s wood! For that Prince Iniquity, ruler of the Land of Enslavement, has ordered your arrest!” a big black guard growled. He grabbed Anxious’s arm, forcing him to drop the wood, and started dragging him out the door. Overseer swooped in then and gathered up all the wood, even taking the family’s normal meager ration of wood. He left with an evil chuckle.
“NO! Please no! Have mercy!” Dreaded Horror sobbed, running out into the snowstorm after the guard, grabbing his arm.
“Mercy! Hah! This lazy wretch doesn’t deserve mercy!” The guard ripped his arm away from Dreaded Horror and stomped off, leaving her sobbing in a drift of snow.
Little, terrified Fearful stood in the doorway staring after the disappearing forms of the guard and her father. From that moment on, terror of everything ruled her life. There was rarely a moment she could remember not being scared of everything she said and did.
“Fearful! Are you okay?” Scaredycat’s voice broke through Fearful’s dreaded memories.
Fearful looked over at her friend as though for the first time. “I can’t get the memory of seeing my father being dragged off that freezing night out of my mind. The next day, it was snowing really hard and still they called all the slaves to the marketplace. When everyone was gathered there, they stripped my father and started beating him unmercifully. Then they sent him away with other criminals to the logging camp, where they were to work harder than even the slaves,” Fearful mumbled, trying not to cry.
Scaredycat squeezed Fearful’s hand comfortingly as they walked back to the palace gardens. Overseer had blown the horn to call the end of lunch break. So back to the rows of beans Fearful and Scaredycat went for a long afternoon of weeding.
Fearful had only known Scaredycat for a year, but the two had become fast friends within just a few days of meeting. Scaredycat was such an understanding person. She was a tall black girl of very few words, but she was one Fearful could depend on when she needed a comforting hug or just someone to cry with.
The two knelt down and started ruffling through the bean leaves looking for weeds and the little bugs that would destroy the beans. A row behind them Fearful’s two other friends worked, jabbering on about nothing in particular. Every once in a while, Scaredycat would make a comment, but Fearful was completely silent, which was unusual.
Once again, Fearful’s past flared up in front of her to taunt her. “No! No! Mother!” Fearful screeched as guards pulled her mother away from her. Her hazel eyes bulged out in terror as she ran after the guards trying to grasp her mother’s outstretched hand. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces. They couldn’t do this to her! They couldn’t take away her beloved mother!
“Little Rose! Little Rose!” Fearful’s mother cried out, struggling against the guards. It should have seemed odd to Fearful that her mom was using her father’s new name for her, but she was so terrified by the sight of the guards dragging her mother that the name change did not register. Her mother’s struggling was in vain.
Fearful finally fell into a heap on the ground, sobbing as she watched the guards carry her mother off to the palace dungeon to await an inevitable execution. She couldn’t take it anymore. How could she live when her mother was gone?! Her mother had been the one who had been Fearful’s stronghold. Her mother had made things seem somewhat safe. Nooooooo!!! her shattered heart cried. You can’t do this to me!
King Holy One! How dare You let this evil one do this to me! You aren’t loving! If You truly loved my mother...Fearful started ranting in her heart to the king her mother had run away to see. She had gone to find out for herself if he was as wonderful as Fearful’s father claimed. Just last summer Fearful’s father had run away from the logging camp to King Holy One, ruler of the Land of Promise and had become one of his ambassadors. Since then, he had come back to visit Fearful and her mother a couple of times. Each time he came with stories of this wonderful King Holy One.
How could this king Fearful’s father claimed to be so loving and caring now let her mother die like this? It wasn’t fair! You can’t do this to me! Fearful’s heart cried. She banged her fist into the ground as tears slipped down her dusty cheeks and onto the bean leaves. She felt like she had lost everything!
“Fearful, you better get back to work! Overseer’s starting to watch you awfully close,” Scaredycat whispered into her ear. Fearful shook her head, trying to get rid of those dreadful memories. It had been several months now since Prince Iniquity had tortured her mother to death, and she was still finding herself getting whipped for idling when the memory would overcome her.
Fearful would have been a gorgeous young woman if it wasn’t for the apprehension that marred her beauty. Thick, raven black hair hung straight down to the middle of her back. She stood at four feet, ten inches and was extremely petite. Her eyes were round, big, and the color of hazelnuts, and they would have sparkled if it wasn’t for the terror that clouded them over.
Yet, her fear-filled world was soon to be turned upside down:
“Fearful, get over to Prince Iniquity’s right away!” came the harsh voice of Overseer from the edge of the gardens.
“Yes Sir,” Fearful called, horror in her voice. She ran to the dark, foreboding palace of Prince Iniquity.
She wondered what she had done wrong now. She shook with dread as she ran past the flower gardens that lay between the vegetable gardens and the palace and stumbled through the servants’ door to the dark and eerie dwelling of her hateful master, the one who had caused all her heartache and grief. Her heart hammered away in her chest. She hated being called to the Prince with all her might. He was a hard and cruel master, often calling in a dispensable slave for the pleasure of hearing the poor soul wail as he had him or her tortured and then beheaded. There was even rumor that he hung the heads up in his bed chambers as adornment. Others said that those were poor wives’ tales to keep children in check, but…Fearful was not so certain.
One of the Prince’s high officials met her in the hallway that led from the slaves’ door to all the different rooms the slaves might need to go to carry out their duties. “Prince Anointed One has come to see you.” A worried, grim look replaced the man’s usual evil sneer.
“What does He want with me?” Fearful’s mouth dropped open in amazement. The official only glared and turned to lead the way. The only son of King Holy One had come to see her?! Was this bad? The Land of Promise was said to be far away. Why on earth would Prince Anointed One come all that way, through all those dangers, just for her? To get there one had to travel across the Desert of Choice. Almost everyone she knew said it was a treacherous journey filled with bandits, sandstorms, and the chance of dying of thirst.
Also, the very name of these royals brought dread and hatred to Fearful’s heart. This was the One who her mother had gone to see, and it was He who had not saved her. Had He come to play on her affections only to throw her away like her mother? He hadn’t cared about her mother, so why would He want to see her?! Still, she knew she couldn’t disobey.
The high official led her through dark hallways and up a frighteningly steep, winding, and dimly lit staircase. Fearful put her hands on either side of the staircase so she wouldn’t fall. Her heart started to pound uncontrollably and her hands to shake of their own accord.
After what seemed like hours, they came to the top and went down another gloomy hallway which came to double doors. The man opened these to reveal Prince Iniquity sitting on a throne at the other end of an immense room filled with all his courtiers. The man led Fearful up to the throne. She bowed obediently, but as she was doing so, she noticed something strangely familiar out of the corner of her eye. When she looked up to see what it was her heart jumped for joy, for what she had seen was the edge of the birthmark on her father’s hand. He was standing among the courtiers. A man in princely robes stood beside him. That must be Prince Anointed One, Fearful thought to herself. Yet, not even the dread of seeing the One who supposedly had come to see her could keep her from rejoicing over her father’s presence. She did wonder why her father was with the Prince, though. It must be because of his new job, she decided, not giving it much more thought. She was too happy about seeing him to wonder about that.
Prince Iniquity’s voice broke through her joyful thoughts, causing her to cower. “Fearful, this prince thinks you should have an opportunity to choose between serving in my kingdom or His Father’s kingdom. He will take you through the desert, after which you can make your choice.” His voice was grating and horrible. Fearful had seen even the strongest and bravest of his warriors go weak in the knees when he got angry with them. She didn’t have to look up to know he was glaring at her.
“It’s the law of the universe that nobody can be denied this right,” Prince Anointed One said, stepping out of the crowd and standing beside Fearful. His voice was so gentle and kind, but also so commanding that it surprised Fearful. This incited curiosity in her as to who this prince was, but she didn’t dare look up or Prince Iniquity’s wrath would fall on her. Even the youngest slaves knew better than to look up at royalty.
How can the One who let my mother be killed sound so kind? Fearful asked herself. She wasn’t given time to ponder the question long, though. “Look at me. You have until tomorrow to decide if you want to go with Him and see what is so good about Him. Got that? You must finish today’s work, and if you’re not packed and gone by sunup, you’re in the fields. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind!” Prince Iniquity dismissed her with a threat.
“Yes, Sir,” Fearful said, her voice quivering with terror. She quickly bowed to Prince Iniquity before turning to her father and Prince Anointed One. “Good day, Your Highness. Good day, Father,” Fearful murmured with a curtsy. She dared to look up at her father. He gave her a loving smile and nodded. She then turned and ran, for she’d rather weed a thousand rows of beans than be in the presence of Prince Iniquity. He had a mean, hawklike nose, pale skin, shoulder-length blond hair which made him look like a wild beast, and those cruel, cold blue eyes could almost kill.
She ran down the steps, for her fear of Prince Iniquity was greater than her terror of falling. The sooner she could get as much distance between herself and him as she could, the better. She, for once in her life, actually skipped back to the gardens.
“What did you do?” Prideful asked, looking over her shoulder at Fearful with her haughty green eyes.
“Nothing, Prince Anointed One came to see me.” Fearful fell into her place beside Scaredycat.
“Really? Is He as cruel as some say?” asked Scaredycat timidly.
“I don’t know...I don’t think so,” Fearful said after a moment of thinking, but then she caught a glimpse of Overseer out of the corner of her eye. “Overseer is, though. Let’s get moving,” Fearful exclaimed. Fearful picked up her speed and started picking the weeds with a vengeance, for Overseer had started paying close attention to her and her friends. He was starting to curl up his whip so it would be ready for use. Other than Prince Iniquity, the most horrible thing was Overseer and his whip.
She’d been the victim of Overseer’s wrath and his whip a couple times, and it was like a ghastly nightmare. Overseer’s wrath came in second only to Prince Iniquity’s, and that was a close second. Overseer’s evil green eyes seemed to be able to read one’s deepest thoughts, and his dirty, unruly sandy hair, his unshaven face, and his dirty, sloppy clothes gave him the appearance of a wild man. If it was possible, he was uglier than he was scary.
Though Fearful was exhausted, she forced herself to work as hard as she could to finish the last two rows of beans. She hurried herself on by thinking about the nice cool water they would find at their shack and a meal to partially fill her empty stomach.
Finally, Fearful and her three friends, Scaredycat, Prideful, and Boastful were finished and headed for the little hut that was their home. They walked in silence because they were all exhausted. Once they got to the hut they ate their supper and went straight to bed.
The next morning Fearful jumped up off her and Scaredycat’s mat after a sleepless night. She rushed through breakfast and packing her few belongings in a skittish eagerness, with only the dim gray light of early dawn to see by. She wanted to get out before the sun rose so she wouldn’t be stuck here. She hated living in fear all the day through. She knew there had to be something better. Maybe serving in the Land of Promise was that something. Oh, how she hoped that it was.
“How’s my Little Rose?” Fearful looked up from the bundle she was packing when she heard her father call her by his nickname for her. She found herself looking into her father’s sparkling brown eyes that were illuminated by the lamp he held and almost felt safe.
“Doing okay, I guess.”
“Good. Prince Anointed One, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Little Rose, and her friends, Dancer, Servant of Joy, and Mighty Warrior.” Fearful’s father pointed to Prideful, Boastful, and Scaredycat, calling them by his nicknames for them. “And this is Granny, Dancer’s grandma, who’s taken care of my daughter for me since my wife died. Girls, Granny, I’d like you to meet His Highness, Prince Anointed One.”
During this whole introduction, Fearful looked down at the floor. She shuffled her feet across the dirt floor and tried to keep her hands from shaking, something they did when she was nervous. Is He glaring at me? Why would He be coming for me? He has such a kind voice, it’s almost like it’s calling me to trust Him, but could it just be a disguise? A barrage of questions assailed Fearful.
“Little Rose, look at me.” Fearful timidly looked up to see two strangely kind, gentle brown eyes. She gasped to see the love that poured out of them. She had only seen that kind of devotion in her grandparents’ and her parents’ eyes. It wasn’t a romantic love, but something much deeper. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. The voice possibly could have been disguised, but such a pure, sincere charity flowed from His eyes that surely they couldn’t be masked. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” The Prince rested a strong hand on her shoulder, a kind smile playing on His lips.
“Your Highness, might I be so bold as to ask a question?” Granny asked shyly.
“Ask Me anything.”
“I’m truly happy for Fearful, but why did you choose her over all the other girls in Prince Iniquity’s kingdom?”
“My Father gives everyone the choice to come serve us, but I came for Fearful in answer to her parents’ fervent pleading. I will come for the others in due time if I’m wanted,” Prince Anointed One said, looking at each of the girls in turn.
What! He said “parents”? Why on earth would Mother be pleading with Prince Anointed One to come to me? Besides, she’s dead! Fearful was so confused!
“What makes You any better than Prince Iniquity?!” Prideful scoffed.
“Prideful!!!” Granny and the girls gasped in horror at her disrespect that could get her killed.
“Ah Prideful, must you always make everything difficult for yourself?” Prince Anointed One murmured, giving a sad smile. She glared back with a look of defiance. He shook his head mournfully and turned to Fearful. “We need to be heading out.”
Fearful slowly nodded her head and looked at her friends, wondering how to say good-bye. She hated to leave them. They were her only friends and had become family to her. She felt a bit guilty for going without them even though she knew they would also get a turn.
She finally hugged each of them in turn and whispered her good-byes. She came to Scaredycat last, having a hard time keeping from crying when she looked into Scaredycat’s sad and dejected eyes. “I love you, Scaredycat!” Fearful exclaimed, hugging her longer than she had the other two.
She then said good-bye to Granny, who gave her a kiss on the forehead and wished her well. Once her good-byes were said, she picked up her bundle of belongings and turned to follow her father and the Prince out. Excitement started to well up within her. She was going to a new land where she hoped she would be free from the fear that breathed down her neck every waking moment. Oh, how slow Prince Anointed One is in getting out of here! Will we be able to get across the border in time? she worried as she followed Prince Anointed One, who seemed to be letting the donkeys pick their own ambling pace.
She never would have admitted it, but it seemed that she had held her breath the whole day. She was afraid to hope, yet longing that her hope wouldn’t be destroyed. She didn’t quite understand it but felt it with all her being.
“Sir, may I ask what is to be expected of me?” Fearful asked, trying to keep her mind off what Prince Iniquity would do to her if he decided not to allow her to go. Prince Iniquity was renowned for changing his mind in a split-second.
“During this journey, you will be expected to cook and to run errands I need you to go on. Your most important job, though, is to learn who I am. Does that sound fair to you?” Prince Anointed One looked down at her inquiringly.
Fearful had to fight to keep her jaw from dropping. That was an odd question! Why would a prince ask a slave if they thought something was fair? Since when did royalty care about what a slave thought?
“Sir, that’s not my place to say. What You assign me to do I will do!” Fearful exclaimed in astonishment.
For all that holding of breath and apprehension, they got out of the boundaries of the Land of Enslavement way before the sun peeked its head up over the horizon. Still, she was afraid that Prince Iniquity would come after her. She kept looking behind her to see if he was coming.
“Father, I’m overjoyed to have you with, but why are you coming along?” Fearful asked. They had stopped for the noon meal and Prince Anointed One had gone off to wash up, so she took the opportunity to ask the question that had been on her mind.
“I’m actually on the King’s business. You and Prince Anointed One are going the same direction, so I’m just traveling with you for a ways. In a couple days, I will be parting with you. There is a small village whose inhabitants have started to waver in their allegiance to the King. I am being sent to encourage them,” Ambassador of Trust explained.
“Why did Prince Anointed One say that both you and Mother were interceding with him to come to me?” she asked, for this question had been burning in her heart as well.
“That, my dear, is not for me to answer.” Ambassador of Trust nodded toward Prince Anointed One, whose back was turned to them. Fearful blushed. She was scared to ask him.
