First 5 Pages May Workshop - Noser

Name: Ann M. Noser
Genre: YA fantasy, 60,000 word count
Title: Desiderata


Prologue – To Find the Perfect Girl

Wesley’s hands trembled as solutions in glass flasks percolated. Yellow, orange, and green fluids coursed through tubing and collected in glass beakers.

Please be a match.

The collected samples of hair from the prince and the maiden in question, curled together in a small cauldron upon the tripod. Wesley carefully added the distilled concoctions, turned up the flame underneath, then stepped back.

I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

The cauldron steamed in the sweltering laboratory. As the experiment rose to a boil, Wesley’s heart raced.

She could be the one. Then this would all be over.

Wesley’s unruly hair fell into his eyes. He swiped the damp strands away before extinguishing the flame. He watched the solution cool as sweat ran down his neck.

Please be red. Please put an end to this.

The fluid continued to bubble for a long while, turning from purple to pink to...

Red! It’s going to be red! Finally—I am saved!

With a loud belch, the solution curdled and turned black. And stayed that way.

Wesley dropped his head in his hands.

I better warn that sweet girl before Duncan gets a hold of her.



Chapter One - Garden Secrets

“Shoo, or you’ll be our dinner!” Maria hoisted up her long skirts and raced towards a deer savoring her garden.

The deer’s head popped up, ears quivering.

Maria picked up a half-eaten apple and lobbed it far over the deer’s head. “And stay out!”

The animal hurried after the luscious apple.

“You weren’t trying to hit that poor creature, were you?” Anna set down her gardening tools.

“No, but I should’ve.”

Anna shot Maria a reproachful glance. “It’s just hungry, after all. You know what that’s like, don’t you?”

“Don’t scold me. I gave it an apple, didn’t I?” Maria picked her way to the edge of the garden and fussed with the rusty hinges of a broken gate. “We’ll have to fix this if we want to keep those pests out.”

Anna glanced around and whispered, “You know what they say in town about our garden, don’t you?”

Maria snorted. “What do they say, Anna? That it’s a pity to see a noble family reduced to selling berries to get by? That it must be magic we can grow anything in here with our fence in shambles and a broken gate?”

Anna smiled. “At least that much is true.”

“Well, magic won’t help us with this gate. Come over her and give me a hand. Or two.”

Both girls grappled with the broken gate. Finally, after much sweating and swearing (both on Maria’s part, Anna did nothing of the sort), Maria gave the gate a final heft and slid the bolt back into place.

Maria grinned. “That’ll keep those thieving buggars out!”

“But look at that poor deer.” Anna nodded towards the dejected looking creature, gazing longingly at their garden. “It still looks hungry.”

“You’re ridiculous!” Maria wiped at a dirty spot on her gown.

“And look at you!” Anna gasped. “Mother will have a fit! Your dress has rents and stains all over it!”

“I know it. Oh, bother, there’s no point.” Maria stopped fussing with her gown, glanced at the deer, then sighed. “At least I can make someone happy.”

Maria put her hand to the gate. It opened with a rusty creak. She stepped forward, moving towards the pine forest that surrounded their modest, crumbling estate. Once she reached the deer, she settled down cross legged, facing it. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and brushed her open hands slowly back and forth just above the scraggly grass and weeds. After a moment, small shoots of hosta leaves sprouted forth from the ground. Maria repeated these motions until a dozen full-grown plants were formed.

Anna scanned the horizon. “Stop showing off, Maria. What if someone sees you?”

“Who would see me? We can’t afford gardeners or stable help anymore. There isn’t anyone out here but you and me.”

“I hope not. You know what they say about us in town.”

“Nothing, Anna. They say nothing. No one even notices us anymore. That’s what comes from being poor. Now come on, we’ve got work to do.”



Chapter Two – The Prince Needs a Wife

“Oh, my dears,” gasped red-faced Mother Leon as she burst into the library. “I have such news for you!”

Her nap interrupted, Maria rubbed her eyes and glanced around the wood-paneled library. Anna leaned over her father’s shoulder as he sat in his favorite forest green chair. She giggled and pointed towards the map book that lay open on his massive wooden desk.

“Girls?!” Mother Leon’s eyes bulged as she flapped her hands.

Maria yawned and stretched in the window seat. “Yes, Mother?”

“The prince is coming!” Mother Leon gasped.

“Here?” Maria eyed the cluttered bookshelves, worn furniture, and faded tapestries. The prince had been touring Desiderata for the past year in the search for a suitable wife, but Maria had never thought he would come to their home.

Mother Leon sighed. “No, of course not, dear. He’s been invited to the Pekipsies’ estate for their annual Summer Festival.”

Father Leon glanced up from his large book of maps. “They’re the only family around here with enough gold to impress royalty. Your mother almost married into the Pekipsie family. Did you girls know that?”

Mother Leon shook her head. “No need to dig into the past, dear. I’m more concerned about the future.” She turned to her daughters with a gleam in her eyes. “Anna’s 15, the perfect age to be presented! And Maria…well, you’ve already been seen at several functions, and…” Mother Leon cleared her throat. “Maria, step forward, please.”

She left the window seat and stood before her mother’s watchful eyes.

“What on earth happened to your dress?” Mother Leon shook her head. “You’re more careless now than you were as a child, I swear!”

Maria’s cheeks burned as her mother turned to Anna, who somehow still looked perfect—as if she hadn’t just battled the local wildlife and the dilapidated garden gate.

“Anna, my dear, your hair glows like the sun and your waist is smaller than mine was at your age.” Mother Leon circled her youngest daughter like a cat. “Let’s see what we can do to make you look your best at the Festival.”

Anna turned frightened eyes towards her older sister. “Help me,” she mouthed.