The young daughter of the Fairy Queen is abducted by a belligerent neighboring state to make the Fairies fight them to get her back, and what happens after that.
Most people cheer the daring deed, but the Chief Necromancer’s omens predict disaster.
Meanwhile the Fairies hatch a plan to bring the stolen child home. Part One.
Page 1:
“Who would steal a child to start a war?
It seemed like a good idea to us. We are a warlike country,
happiest when fighting. Our economy and culture feed on conflict.
We have fought most of our neighbors more than once.
Only the Kingdom of Fairies refuses to fight us.”
P.2:
“We recently abducted the daughter of the Fairy Queen to make them fight us to get her back. We hope that once they start fighting, they will develop a taste for it.
The abduction is hugely popular here.”
Pp.3-4:
(Left to right)
“I brought a Sugar Leaf for the fairy child, my kids love them,
but she can’t have it.”
“They are keeping her on a native diet.”
“Bad PR for us, if she gets sick!”
“We snatched your kid, that’s what we did! Just try and get her back!”
(Fairy spies, gloomy amid the general glee)
Pp.5-6:
(Left to Right)
Two Illuminators! / They warn of moral decay.
The Chief Necromancer predicts disaster.
“Return the child with apologies!”
“Your spirits are full of hot air! / We have the little girl and we’ll keep her!”
Pp.7-8:
(Left to right)
“The child is exquisite! / I must have her, no matter what it costs.”
“You have been cleared by the highest authorities.
The child is yours.
Her spirit animal goes with her.
She is too young to look after herself.
Hire a good nursemaid and double your security.”
P.9:
The Fairy Queen mourns her child.
“I hear my daughter crying out for me, / but I cannot reach her.”
“Take heart, we have a plan…”
“Please trust us. It is going to take some time, but we will get her home.”
“She is our child as well as yours.”
Page 10a (The Hidden Title Page):
The Stolen Child
by
China Marks
2017
Part One