Elder Mage Marianna told me step three years ago, under the shade of the Morwater Tree. I saw it sometimes in my dreams: my home village, there in the treetops. Before the royal soldiers came to destroy and wreak havoc on our people. When I married the prince (step one, according to Marianna), he allowed me to keep some ashes of the Morwater Tree in a small urn on my dresser, on my side of the bed...

Step One: Marry the Prince.

Step Two: Murder the King and Queen.

I wasn’t at all prepared for Step Three.

Step Three: The King and Queen weren’t Dead....

Instead, I focused on getting away with step two by throwing out the goblets full of poisoned wine just in case the investigating mage tries to oust my crime with a poison trace spell. Last night, the night I’ve spent so many nights dreaming of came true.

I poisoned my in-laws.

It happened like this. I came to their quarters with my husband in tow, insisting that we all drink together to celeb...

Step One: Marry the Prince

Step Two: Murder the King and Queen

I wasn’t at all prepared for Step Three.

“Have you lost your mind, Arnold?!”, I screamed. Arnold slowly backed away.

“I don’t really see the problem?”, Arnold reasoned. I shoved the list on his chest.

“Step Three: Invade the Kingdom of Sabel!”, I recited from memory ,”Are. You. Out. Of. Your. Mind!?” I poked him in the chest a...

The plan was simple, although not easy.

First, she’d marry he prince of Argal.

Then she’d commit a little covert regicide and take the throne.

She wasn’t prepared for Verris to fall into a bloody civil war.

An ocean away, there was nothing she could do but hear how her people were slaughtered by the winter frost and starved of any freedoms.

She had been the princess of Verris, but as the...

I wasn’t supposed to fall in love, this wasn’t supposed to be step three. It was supposed to be kill the prince and rule the kingdom. Now I’m stuck at step one with no clue what to due. He can never find out my first plan, I will lose my head if he does and I’d much prefer it staying attached to my body. This is a disaster. I’m not meant to rule beside a husband, I should be the one with the power...

The day after my victory was complete, I was sleeping more soundly then I had in years, when I was nudged awake by my husband.

“Pardon me, my dear,” Prince Walter said. “But there is business you need to attend to.”

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “What? I’ve conquered the kingdom, what else is there to do?”

“Well…as you recall, you killed my parents after we got married.”

“Ah yes,” I said. “Ste...

There was no point in hiding the blood all over my hands, all over my nightdress. There was no mistaking how it was the same blood that now drenched the bedding of the king and queen, no way to avoid the gaze of my husband, the prince, standing in the doorway, staring at me.

It didn’t matter. My work was done, my revenge complete. Step one: marry the prince. Step two: murder the king and queen. I...

“I won’t do it! I can’t! You said step three would be easier than the first two.”

“What do you mean it’s not easy? It should be a piece of cake for you. You have to remember we sent you here on a mission. This is how you prove your worth. We’re all counting on you Eleanor.”

I really wish she’d stop telling me that. It’s bad enough I have all this pressure on me, but now learning what step three...

Step One: Marry the Prince.

Step Two: Murder the King and Queen.

I wasn’t prepared at all for Step Three

There are three steps that I must complete to obtain absolute power. The wise woman has told me so already.

I have already consumed the potion. Dark blue, swirling with misty grey and whites and frothing over the top. Tasting like rotting frogs, mouldy river beds and grass that is long over...