Twelve Missing Shoes
Every morning, twelve locked princesses wake with their dancing shoes worn through. The soldier sent to expose them discovers why they risk everything to dance. Adapted from the traditional folktale ‘The Twelve Dancing Princesses.’ This resolution is newly written.
Every morning, twelve locked princesses needed twelve new pairs of shoes.
Every sole was worn through by dancing.
No one could explain how they left the room.
Three nights. Solve it, and choose your reward.
Many had tried. All slept through the mystery.
Rowan wanted no crown and certainly no bride.
He wanted the small farm promised to whoever succeeded.
On his way to the palace, he shared his bread with an old traveler.
She gave him a cloak the color of rain.
Wear this, and no eye will keep you.
That night, Princess Amara brought Rowan a cup of wine.
To an easy watch.
He poured it into a plant when she turned.
Then he lay still and pretended to snore.
I do not like this one.
He is asleep like the rest.
Amara tapped the foot of her bed.
The mattress rose, revealing a staircase.
Rowan pulled on the cloak.
And followed twelve pairs of unworn shoes underground.