Schism

A beautiful princess is held in a remote prison by her mother, the Queen. A grotesque ogre stands at guard in eternal vigilance. Aldwin, just entering manhood, is sent to the prison to repair the roof. The young man is sadden by the mistreatment of the young princess and is determined to right the wrong perpetrated by her evil mother. How can Aldwin defeat the ogre and save his new love from a fate worse than death? And, what secret does the princess harbor?

Schism is a short story 4,500 words long.