In The Land Of MAI
written by Chloe Koutsoubeli
Sponsored and published in Greek by PIO (Press and Information Office) Nicosia Cyprus, 2008
Excerpts from the book, courtesy of Chloe Koutsoubeli & Publisher Press and Information Office, Nicosia.
Princess Tsourekaki
The young princess, whose hair flowed down to her waist like a stream of wild strawberries greeted her royal counsel of three.
Evenos, the proud, bodyguard to the royal family had dark glossy skin and always dressed in his country’s clothing.
The old, wise, long white haired and bearded, Elder-Ibram, pushed his daughters wheelchair into the throne room. His daughter, Phoebe, learned in mathematics, physics and chemistry.
the land of OL
The counsel reported to the princess news about the Land of Ol to the south and the Land of Dia to the north.
a devastating fire
In the Land of Ol, a fire, which started in dried straw, quickly spread burning, homes and land. Many perished in the fire and those left had no home and were suffering. They fled their Land of Ol and sought refuge in the Land of Mai.
welcome the neighbours
“Well, now how about the four of us go down to the galleys and ask the cook to make those wonderful pancakes that I like so much?”, suggested the princess with shining eyes and suddenly she was the twelve-year-old girl she was again.
the Land of DIA
In the neighbouring country of Dia, King Taxis rages and rages in the throne room.
His three sons, Pol, Em and Os, aged eight, eleven and thirteen respectively, once again feel like tiny and insignificant insects, ready to be melted by their father’s heavy tread. The truth is that luckily for them, as well as for the king, they are three husky, blond and fit lads who resemble each other, as well as the king.
the royal palace
It was then that Os, the eldest son, decided to visit the kingdom of Mai. From some merchants who travelled from one country to another, he learned that the princess Tsurekaki had accepted the refugees, who had been brutally expelled by his father, exactly ten years ago. He requested to visit the royal palace to speak with the Porincess.
Title
The first shock the young king experienced was when his black carriage crossed the land of Mai to reach the queen’s palace. The whole countryside was full of houses, some small and decorated with flowers, some resembling pagodas, some triangular, some diamond-shaped, some mushroom-shaped, and there was one that looked like a large carrot that it was painted red.
royalty meet
She gave him her hand and they started talking. He told her about his father’s kingdom, the kingdom of order and uniformity and discrimination, of how badly things had turned there, of darkness, violence and war.
Later, she spoke to him too and Os felt windows open wide in his mind and soul. When he got into the carriage to return home, Os was a different man.
