Chapter 4

The War Begins

While Arianna and Francesca were having that heart-to-heart, in two other bedrooms of the Fortezzan palace, chaos was about to break out. Om and Ari were in Om's room, planning their first prank against Davide and Niccolo. This may sound like an odd thing for them to do on their first night of seeing each other in forever, but they had to be prepared, for there was a long standing prank war between the girls and the boys, and Om and Ari wanted to win this year.

"How 'bout we go to the kitchen, get some of those Green Peppers that your uncle Frabzio gave Aunt Franny and mix it in with the boys' breakfast?" Om suggested.

"Nah that won't work to well, Davide actual like those freakishly spicy things" retorted Ari. "Ooh, I know, what we could do, or at least what you could do. I have observed that my brother, as weird as he is, likes you. And I mean likes likes you. So, we could dress you up all fancy smanchy and have you pretend to like like him back. Then, when you get him alone, you could smash a pie in his face, or something like that." Om looked horrified. "That's not even the best part. While your off distracting both my brothers, I can go into there bedchambers and look for diaries, and other incriminating stuff, plus short sheet their beds and steal there underclothes." Om still looked horrified. "Oh come on, you know it will work, and once we have the blackmail, we can use it all summer. Just think of the possibilities!" Om did and started to look like she agreed with the idea but then, realized the implications of Ari had said.

"What do you mean Davide and Niccolo like me?" Ari just grinned and jumped, up so Om wouldn't catch her.

&

Becca and Beth walked home to Becca's. Beth had already called home and told her parents that she was going to a friend's house. Mr. and Mrs. Latham were okay with that because they would be gone anyways. On the way home from a delicious dinner at Becca's, Beth stopped at a shop that said 'Mr. Mortimer's Antiques.' A display of swords caught her eye. After practice today, Becca said she should get a sword, for the meets. Beth knew she probably meant a fencing sword, not and old fashioned one, but the old sword seemed to call at her.

Beth entered the shop and was immediately hit by the amazing scent of fresh baked biscuits. Chocolate peanut butter biscuits, her favorite. Before she could go through the bright red painted door that the scent seemed to coming from, a deep voice said "Why hello there, child. How may I help you?"

"Well, two things. One, I was wondering how much this sword costs. And two, could I have one of those biscuits?"

"Why sure, here you are," the deep voice, who she later learned to be Mortimer's, said and handed her a biscuit. "That particular sword costs 45 euros."

Beth's face fell. She only had 30 euros on her, and she really wanted that sword. Mortimer, noticing the look of disappointment on her face, said, "But the student discount is 28 euros." Mortimer had no idea why he said that, but he felt that this girl really needed this sword.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome. The student discount does come with a requirement though, and that is that you have to come have tea with me every Saturday. Capesh?"

"I got you, sir."

"All righty then, be on your way. I would think your parents would be wondering were you're off to at such a time."

"Yes, sir," Beth turned to leave and when she was almost all the way out she turned around and said, "See you Saturday."

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An expert from Davide Di'Chimich's diary

June 12, 1607.

Today, we went to Bellezza and visited Aunty Ari and Uncle Luciano and Om. Ari and Om had a great time, sneaking off to the practice channels to pretend to be mandoliers. Niccolo and I found them and a huge splash battle started. Something random that I noticed, but Om's hair looks really good wet. Isn't that weird? Mine certainly doesn't. It sticks up in random places and makes me look like the exotic birds in Uncle Frabzio's merincary.

July 14, 1607

Well, we're home. There won't be much peace though, for all our uncles and cousins and fake uncles and cousins and all our aunts (ugh, hide me! They always mob me and preen me) are coming to visit. This is good 'cause I wanted to talk with Falco about university. That's right, in a years time, I will be starting University at Padavia, with Uncle Frabzio's son, Falco. Padavia claims to have the largest university in Talia. I just hope they have a lot of extra money for repairs, cause Falco and I can get a little wild and accidentally blow stuff up. Also an advantage of Padavia, is that Om will be right near there in Bellezza. It's strange, but I seem to be thinking more and more about her recently. Why, the last time we were in Bellezza we went to the Marriage to the Sea, and I couldn't stop looking at Om. She looked gorgeous in the blue silk gown her mother had forced her into. Well, got to go! Davide's therapy is ending soon, and I have to go fence with him.

&

Ari grinned evilly. She knew about Davide's diary, and now that Om had agreed to her plan to distract him, she could find it and have tons of blackmail on her older brother. But first, she must rest and fell into her canopy bed (Francesca insisted that she must have at least one thing girly in her room).

Did you guys like it?

Was it horrible?

Do you have any idea for pranks?

Disclaimer: I am not British nor is my name Mary. Obviously, it's not mine.

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