Once upon a time there was a peaceful kingdom where life was good. It was a little country forgotten by its powerful neighbors and their incessant wars. A lovely little piece of land where lived a great many people, and every day they enjoyed the bounties bestowed upon them by the earth and sky. Of course, there was a king, Alain and Adrien (his ugly sons who were nonetheless kind, helpful boys), a grumpy queen, Cécile (the bathroom-hogging princess), and Anne. Pretty little Anne. Anne, who sings to the rising sun; Anne, who lights up the king's nights; Anne, who speaks to the birds... Anne who opens a tavern where all these characters gather.

No doubt about it, life in the Kingdom was good! The tiny territory had been at peace for years. Every day, folks gave thanks for their good fortune and praised their King who ruled over them with kindness... Until one day, when Princess Cecile discovers her father's dark secret, and the Kingdom's peaceful future is thrown into the balance. Their only hope is Anne, the cheery innkeeper; François, the lovelorn blacksmith; and one shell-shocked little bird. Will they manage to save the Kingdom from the nefarious characters lurking in the shadows?

Aaah, the Kingdom, that peaceful land where life is good. A place forgotten by its powerful neighbors and their incessant wars, where the subjects enjoy the bounties bestowed upon them by earth and sky. In short, a perfect nightmare if you happen to be an arms manufacturer. Who needs a battle-axe when the most vexatious enemy around is a talking songbird or catty rival? Master Marcel, proprietor of the local forge, may have found a way to increase demand for his weapons, but when his fear-mongering gets out of hand, it's up to Anne and François to save the day.

What do Emile the beleaguered housecat, Thibault the royal dwarf, François the lovelorn blacksmith, a flock of loud-mouthed sparrows, and the great Maestro (formerly known as Barnabé the Stumblebum) all have in common? They all come around to Anne's tavern when they need a pick-me-up, a hiding place, or a sympathetic ear. Anne's benevolence, banter, beauty, and barley-beer are a balm to all... but that doesn't mean she'll take any bull! She's the charismatic constant in these six tales of the adventures and follies of some of the Kingdom's lesser-known (but no less colorful) cast of characters.