Parry, parry, riposte.
While Princess Charity was discovering the powers of the wishing stone, Prince Roderick was in the yard practicing his swordsmanship. Rod was an accomplished swordsman, so much so that he found his mind often wandering even as he swung his sword.
Riposte, parry, slash.
Today his thoughts were wandering to his sisters. They were both lovely women, though Charity's personality left much to be desired. However, it never failed to grate on him how much his father doted on them. He was the first born son and heir to the kingdom, but his father barely seemed to give him a second thought. He excelled at arts both administrative and martial, he was kind but not soft, just but not cruel, and while not a vain man Rod knew that the prevailing opinion of his future subjects was that he would make a great king. Perhaps greater than his father.
Parry, thrust, slash.
And yet his father was perfectly happy frittering away obscene amounts of the Kingdom's treasury on dresses, cosmetics, and rare perfumes for his daughters, while Roderick's allowance barely permitted him to buy a new practice sword when his previous blade was notched in combat the day before.
His mother was no better. He rather suspected that she would have preferred yet another daughter instead of a son for all the regard she payed his accomplishments. And why? The burden of rulership will be on me after those girls are wedded, bedded, and far from any responsibility thanks to their husbands and their fortunes. I almost wish... But wishing would do no good, he knew. Things were as they were, and if they were going to change he would simply have to redouble his efforts to impress upon his parents further.
Furiously, he came at his opponent.
Slash, slash, thrus-
Suddenly, his opponent was no longer there. Lurching forward from the force of his thrust, he gave a surprised yelp and looked frantically at his surroundings. The yard was no longer there either.
"You almost wish what?" Came a familiar voice behind him. He turned.
"Charity? Wh-what just happened?" Rod was baffled.
"I wished you here," She responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You...wished me here?" Rod repeated. What sorcery...?
"This sorcery," Charity replied. She replied, even though he had not spoken the thought.
"How? What? Did you just...read my mind?" Rod was beginning to have a very bad feeling about this.
"Yes. I wished for that too...oh, don't give me that look. I was careful. I only wished I could read your mind when I wanted, so I won't have your voice bothering me all the time."
Rod could only gape.
"You see I found this wishing stone," She held out her hand to him.
"Wishing stone...?" Rod repeated again. "Charity...perhaps we should have that examined by the court magician firs-"
"NO! You see, this is why I can't stand you, Rod. You don't think I can do anything for myself, just because I'm pretty! Well I can, and I know exactly how this works and how to use it without hurting myself. Now, you on the other hand..." She smiled. "Remember when that dreamy squire asked you about me and you told him I was a "spoiled, jealous bimbo"?
Yes, Rod was getting a very bad feeling about this indeed.
"No?" Charity continued. "Well I do. You know he never talked to me after that? Well I think it is time to even the scales don't you?"
"Charity-"
"Shut up!" She grinned evilly. "I wish..."
