*Chapter One*

Rouge Palace

            The sunrise came early, spreading pink-orange waves of color across the cloudless sky.  Coolness of a soft autumn breeze brushed lightly over the face of the sleeping elfish prince, whispers tickled his smoothly pointed ears.  Strands of maroon hair fell over the prince’s forehead and then finger-like wisps of gray gently smoothed them away. His young face held the hint of worry, brow slightly furrowed, lips pursed tightly.

            ‘Wake, young one,’ the whispers urged to him, ‘wake dear Prince Edro, he is in peril…’

            As quickly as they came, the whispers ceased, the gentle breeze left, and the sky was left clear yet somehow tedious.  Prince Edro’s aqua eyes snapped open; he sat up stiffly, lips parted as his gaze moved swiftly across the large stone chamber.  There was no one; the voice had not been a dream, though.  The Mother Spirit herself had just paid him a visit.

            “Gaia…” the prince murmured, swinging his feet from his bed.  Quickly, he dressed in the slate-hued tunic and slipped the golden circlet about his head.  It was far too early for any of the royal family to be awake, and Edro noticed that his chambermaid had not even come in yet. 

            With a push of the great oak door, the tall prince stepped out of his chambers and into the silent corridor.  No one lurked anywhere, the silence was eerie, and the prince felt a growing knot of anxiety in his stomach.  Usually the head maid was scampering about, on her way to rouse the others.

            Prince Edro heard the whispers echo through his mind, the word peril lingering there long after the other words faded. Who was in peril?  His feet carried him towards the East Wing, his steps quick and light.  The creak of a door met his ears and he halted, turning his eyes to the noise.

            Pulse quickening, the prince pushed the door open and laid eyes upon his father, the King of Rouge.  At first the elder elf appeared peacefully asleep, but as Edro released his sigh of relief, the king let out a groan.

            “Peril…it was him! O Gaia, not Father!” Edro exclaimed, rushing to his father’s side.  “Father, Father! Wake yourself, please!”

            The king’s eyelids lift, his aqua eyes dulled.  “O, my son…” a sigh left his parched lips. “I am in pain, my Edro…everything hurts…”

            Edro jerked his head towards the door, his voice ringing clear throughout the wing. “Aessele, come! King Falnor is ill! Hurry!”

            King Falnor sucked a sharp breath through clenched teeth, another painful groan escaping his throat.  His son patted his graying hair and kept looking at the empty corridor, calling and waiting.  Finally, a young raven-haired chambermaid slid into the room, arms full of folded cloth, blue eyes wide.

            “What was that, milord?” she asked her soft voice breathless.

            Prince Edro rose from the bedside. “Blast it, Aessele! Your king is ill, go and fetch the healer!”

            When the young maid just stood there baffled, Edro slammed his fist on top of the night table. “Go, you harebrained girl! Fetch the healer!”

            Dropping the cloths in shock, the maid took off down the corridor like a mouse, her cries for the healer filling the empty silence.

            Turning back to his father, Edro sighed heavily.  King Falnor winced in pain once more before speaking to his eldest son.

            “My Edro…how did you know to come?”

            “…Gaia came to me in my sleep, Father. She said someone was in danger…and here I found you. I hope it was in time…” the prince explained, wiping his father’s brow.

            Falnor merely nodded, finding it irksome to even speak anymore, his old eyes stared past his son.  Aessele returned with the healer and now stood at the door beside the blue-haired woman with translucent wings that forever beat behind her.  The healer woman was a faery, and as all knew in the land of Cora, these beings were best at healing magic.

            Without a word, the faery moved to the king and noted all his symptoms.  Her slender hand brushed over Falnor’s fevered brow as she turned her compassionate pale green eyes to the prince.

            “What is it, Linsa? Just a fever, right?” Edro questioned his face hopeful.

            Linsa shook her head with sorrow and spoke sadly.  “I am sorry, Prince Edro, but it seems the king had been ill for quite some time.  The symptoms must have just shown too late.  There is nothing I can do to heal him.”

            Before Edro could respond, another voice came from behind.

            “What’s going on? Why is everyone up so early?”  Edro’s younger brother, Prince Azure, stood at the chamber’s entrance and rubbed his face with his hands.  His dark blue hair was all askew and he still wore his satin bedclothes, which caused Aessele to turn away, blushing.

            The healer replied to the question that Edro had yet to ask, and acted as though Azure never entered the chambers.  “The King, I am afraid, is deathly ill.  All I can do is concoct potions to help ease his pain until his time comes to leave us.  I do not know how long he has but funeral plans may be appropriate soon.”

            Linsa stood abruptly and took her faery form, fluttering out of the chambers speaking softly to her self.  Prince Azure stepped beside his older brother, his eyes on their father who had turned his eyes to the window, breathing slowly.

            “Father’s going to die?” Azure inquired, somewhat confused. “He is the picture of health! He was fine yesterday!”

            Edro said nothing, but took one of his father’s hands and squeezed it gently before turning his back.  Of course he wished that Linsa was wrong, however the visit from Gaia with results like this only meant the diagnosis was true.  There was no escape from his father’s fate.  The King Falnor of Rouge would die and leave the throne to Edro.

            As Edro stepped into the corridor, he called back without turning.  “I am sending a rider to Uncle Talyn…Azure, call for Claria, I am sure she would wish to see Father.  Aessele, please gather the cloths you dropped earlier.”

            “Yes, milord,” Aessele murmured and as she bent down to pick up the cloths, Prince Edro vanished down the hall.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

Mora Palace

            The elfish guards posted at the two watchtowers caught sight of the rider speeding towards the gates of Mora Kingdom.  There had been riders coming to the Kingdom all day since dawn, and all had been turned away for King Talyn had declared that there would be no visitors. However, when the guards recognized the banner the Rider carried to be one embroidered by the Rouge Crest, they thought there should be an exception.  With an exchange of wary glances, the gates were opened to let the rider pass through. 

Slowing his horse to a walk, he raised his gaze to the guards, giving them acknowledgment as he entered the bustling city.

            Elfish maids lingered at the side of the streets, chatting and paying no mind to the rider as they held half washed clothes in the laundering bins.  Children ran back and forth and in circles, pushing and laughing.  Some of them were involved in a clever game of kicking a stone past a child and into a hole in the wall behind him.

            The rider passed them all with his gray eyes set on the large stone structure in the midst of all the buildings and clamor. The castle was more than large, that description would be an understatement.  Its girth was so consuming, that it covered most other buildings in shadow until at least a mile from its walls in all directions.  Towers and turrets jutted skyward as though reaching for the heavens, banners of deep purple and silver fluttered in welcoming regality to all who approached. The sight was breathtaking to say the least.

 Coming to a halt in front of the moat, he waved a Rouge embroidered flag to the guard tending the drawbridge.

            “Aye! I’ve come to see King Talyn with a message from the Prince of Rouge!” The rider stated loudly enough for bystanders to hear.

            It seemed as though the chattering stopped, the women gazing upon the rider with interest.  Did he just say that he had a message from Rouge? There had been no word from Rouge in at least a year, how curious that a messenger should show up out of the blue.  At once the speaking resumed all making guesses at the contents of the message for King Talyn.

            Slowly, the drawbridge lowered for the rider to cross.  His horse trotted over the smooth planks of wood, creating a hollow thumping sound.  The Mora guard led the rider under the iron archway and into one of the three courtyards where they were immediately met by another guard.

            “What news, Vincent?” the second greeted the first with a sharp salute.

            Vincent nodded towards the rider, “He has a message for King Talyn from the First Prince of Rouge.”

            “King Talyn is in the throne room. He is there to listen to the daily troubles of our people and is available to see visitors, though I do not know how welcoming he will be of an outsider.  Come rider, I will take you to him, but leave your mount here for Vincent, and he will water and feed the horse for you.”  The officer ordered and saluted as the other took the reins of the steed.

            The rider unhorsed himself and followed the guard to a pair of great burgundy doors, carved ornately with faces of nobility, which swung wide as bugle players fan-fared from a ledge above.  The throne room lay before them, immense with a plush purple carpet rolled from the door to the throne, and several paintings hung on the walls which had been gifts by some of Cora’s most renowned artists.  Ahead, King Talyn sat upon his throne, his gaze upon something to the left of him, though nothing and no one stood there.

            He appeared to be trying to make himself look very important as he perched upon the golden throne, rubbing his strong chin with a thumb and forefinger, lips pressed together in a somewhat thoughtful way. The golden throne was embedded by uncountable jewels and laced with such a rich colored wood that it seemed it might have cost as much as one of the castle wings. The jewel encrusted circlet about his head shone brightly, as though it had been polished several times in the last few hours, and his sapphire hair was glossy and braided down his back neatly. Soon, the king’s aqua eyes noticed the guard and rider coming towards him on the violet carpet, his chin tilting upwards, keeping his air of regality.

            “Ah, a messenger, I take it? Yes, your attire would make it so.” King Talyn spoke when they halted before him.  “What news do you bring me?  I hope it’s not from those magic users in Enil in need of supplies again.  I just sent them some six months ago.”

            From the worn riding cloak, the messenger pulled a piece of rolled parchment stamped with a seal of red wax.  Moving forward, he held it out to the king with a slight bow.

            “No, it is from your nephew, Prince Edro, your majesty.”  The rider corrected as Talyn took the parchment.

            Frowning, Talyn broke the seal and unrolled the letter.  “Oh what burden does my nephew bless me with?  I’ve so much to attend to.” He murmured, scanning over the words on the page.  “Does the prince require a reply, messenger?”

            “Yes, highness, as soon as you can make one.” The rider replied, nodding.

            “Very well.  Guard, take the messenger down to the kitchen and have Alicia make him a luncheon.  I will send for him within the hour.”  King Talyn waved them away without taking his eyes from the parchment.

            As the guard and rider exited for the kitchen, King Talyn raised his right hand and waved his fore and middle fingers.  A human man stepped forth from the shadows behind the throne, dressed in dark blue robes.

            “Yes, milord?” his voice was eerily soft.

            “It appears that my brother has fallen ill, Ivnoki, and is not expected to live.  Here, read this.”  Talyn held up the parchment to his advisor.

           

            Dearest Uncle Talyn,

                        I write with dire news- Father has become violently ill and our palace healer, Linsa, has predicted that funeral arrangements shall soon be necessary.  Perhaps if you paid a visit to your brother before his death, he can pass peacefully, as it has been a year since you last met.  I hope to hear of you soon, Uncle, time runs short.

                                                                  Your nephew,

                                                                                                Edro

            Ivnoki lift his eyebrows once he finished, turning his red eyes to Talyn.  “It does appear that way, yes, milord.”

            The king rubbed his chin once more, a faint smile on his lips.  Millions of possibilities ran through his sly mind until one jumped at him. “Ivnoki, this just may mean my dream can finally come true.  I can bring Rouge and Mora together at last.”

            His advisor drew in a slow breath, his wrinkled hands wringing at each other.  “You mean to discuss with Prince Edro about a joint ruling?”

            Joint ruling?  Talyn thought to himself.  That was not the phrase he was looking for, yet there could be no harm in offering a small proposal to his nephew.  He could offer a joint ruling, but would not mention how the power would be divided.  Talyn rose from his throne, re-rolling the parchment in his hands.

            “Ivnoki, go to the messenger and have him return to Rouge with this message: I shall visit my brother and his family, arriving early tomorrow.”  Talyn crossed the carpet and made way to the spiraling stone stairs of the North Wing.

            The advisor scurried away for the kitchen, his robes flowing behind him in velvet waves.  He could not help but wonder what exactly the king meant to discuss with Edro, and only hoped it wouldn’t result in what Ivnoki feared.

            Reaching the kitchen, Ivnoki smoothed his white hair and cleared his throat. “Alicia, where is the Rouge messenger?”

            A human girl of mousy brown hair and almond eyes stood from peeling a pile of potatoes, and then curtseyed slightly.  “There, sir, at the table in the back. He has eaten already.”

            “Thank you, dear.  You, rider!” Ivnoki motioned to him; “King Talyn sends you off with a message: He shall arrive early at Rouge Palace tomorrow.”

            The rider scrambled to his feet, taking up his flag and bowed quickly to the advisor.  “I shall go then, through the kitchen if it leads to the courtyard.”

            “It does.  Go then and safe journey.”  The advisor murmured and stayed only to see the rider out the door.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

RougePalace

            Footsteps echoed loudly across the great halls as both Prince Edro and Prince Azure walked it with long strides.  The younger brother flicked at the stubborn cowlick at the back of his head, sighing heavily.  The quiet was just too much for him, the rest of the palace still asleep or mourning for their king’s fate. 

            “Why did you write to Uncle Talyn?” Azure inquired of his brother, tired of the hush that fell over everyone since the day before.  “You know what he’s going to try and do.”

            Edro took a few more strides then halted, clasping his hands behind his back.  “And what would that be, brother?”

            The young elfish prince could hardly believe his brother’s words- he surely did not forget what happened the last time the two kings met, had he?  Even at age fourteen, Azure had intelligence enough to know that Talyn was a very sly and conniving person.

            “You know there is a reason why Father and Uncle Talyn have not met for the past year.  Why did you bother inviting him, tell me.”

            Turning sharply to face his sibling, Edro snapped in a low whisper.  “Father is dying, and Talyn is his brother.  He ought to pay his dying brother a visit before he passes; it’s the moral thing to do.  I highly doubt Uncle will even think of bringing up last year’s situation- it would be unheard of.”

            Azure scoffed, crossing his arms. He knew he looked childish, but that didn’t matter right now.  “Talyn would too do so…” ‘He’s done plenty a thing unheard of before’, he finished to himself.  He would not dare say it to his brother’s face, but at that moment, Edro had made a poor decision.

            Resuming walking, they both turned the corner of a long corridor heading for the entrance to the courtyard.  The room was large, once used for extravagant parties and dances, and now just used to entertain large groups of important people.  Not that very many came anymore. 

            As Edro reached the doors that opened into the courtyard, light footsteps pattered towards the brothers, carrying a tiny voice with them.

            “Wait! Wait for me Edro!”

            Both princes turned to see their sister, five-year old Princess Claria, standing before them.  She wrapped her arms around the ragged stuffed bunny she always carried and stared up at Edro with innocent eyes, her long maroon hair hastily braided down her back.  Claria dropped her thin arms, dangling the bunny at her side as she scolded her brothers.

            “You were going to see Uncle Talyn without me!  Every time we see him, he brings me a present.”

            Edro’s lips tugged into a smile, his sourness melting away.  “Of course we weren’t going to see Uncle without you, I thought you were still asleep and didn’t want to wake you, Aria.”  He murmured, using her nickname.

            The girl latched her hand to one of Edro’s as Azure pushed the doors open.  Bright sunlight streamed down upon the courtyard, breaking through fragmented puffy clouds in the blue-violet sky and illuminating the fallen leaves on the stones below it.  A smell of newly formed dew filled the air with the fresh scent of a wakened world; all remained peaceful as gentle breezes gusted past like a sleeping child’s breath.

            Then a roar reverberated through the land, wings flapped with a sound of leather against wind.  Then a second roar came followed by a thud on the ground, outside the castle walls.  Edro looked to his brother and sister with an upraised eyebrow and amused smirk.

            “Uncle Talyn is here, and precisely on time.  It seems he came by dragon.”

            “Obviously,” Azure retorted with a roll of his eyes as they walked to the iron gates.  “Leave it to Uncle Talyn to show off his perfectly trained dragon, riding in wearing his flashy riding robes.”

            The gate groaned in complaint as it was forced to rise from the stony ground, Talyn standing on the other side with his advisor, Ivnoki, dusting the king off with a small brush.  Talyn appeared impatient, and as soon as there was enough space, he crossed under the lifted gate to his niece and nephews, lips breaking into a broad smile.  Ivnoki hurried after him, eyes wide after their apparent wild flight from Mora.  Azure thought he resembled something of a frightened rat.

            Talyn spread his arms wide and spoke in a booming voice, as though he stood miles away.  “Edro!  It has been far too long, nephew.  You look good.” He looked at the second brother.  “Azure, you rascal you.  Still playing those tricks on the chambermaids?  Time to grow up, son.” And finally he rested his aqua eyes on the princess.  “Ah, and Claria.  Pretty as ever, just like her mother.”

            Edro managed a sort of smile while Azure and Claria exchanged puzzled glances.  Claria was only confused because her fun Uncle Talyn had not come bearing a gift for her, but Azure’s baffled expression came from something deeper than that.  Their uncle was being far too friendly for his tastes- usually on any occasion, Talyn kept with his characteristic of being impatient: sighing, asking the time, and quickly bringing any discussion to an end that had ceased to entertain him.  For some reason he now portrayed what and uncle and good king should be, but for how long?  A shadow of doubt lingered in Azure’s mind.  Could Talyn have changed over that one year?  It was not impossible, but it was unlikely.  Unfortunately, Edro seemed to take no notice to the change, and little Claria had taken an interest in chasing a butterfly about the courtyard.

            With the clanging of the closing gate, Talyn smoothed down his deep red robes and cleared his throat.  “Though good to see you three again, I am sorry it is under circumstances such as this.  Edro, I wish for you to take me to my brother immediately.”

            The eldest prince complied with his uncle’s wishes ands motioned for him to follow.  Talyn fell in step beside his nephew while Ivnoki, Claria, and Azure lingered in the courtyard briefly before lagging behind.

            As the five moved swiftly through the now busied halls and corridors, the shadow in Azure’s mind faded gradually.  Their uncle gave the impression that he truly was concerned for the well being of King Falnor and the children who would be orphaned soon.  He spoke of visiting more often and was willing to help Edro in any way possible if there were any problems during his rule of Rouge.

            Lucky for Claria, she was too young to really understand what was occurring.  Azure didn’t believe his sister had any clue what death meant, for she was only newly born when their mother, Queen Lora, had passed away.  For Edro and Azure, however, the memory still burned in their eyes.

            Queen Lora had been quiet and shy; a wonderful mother to her sons, and a loving and supportive wife to Falnor.  It was true that Claria resembled Lora, even at this early age.  The small princess had the queen’s wide, violet eyes and smiling face.  Azure shared the same blue locks with his mother- the origin of his name, while Edro at once point, had shared Lora’s kind and playful spirit.  The day that Lora died was calm.  The Mother Spirit, Gaia, came into the chambers with the wind, caressing the pained queen’s face before letting her draw her last breath and be still.  That was the only other time known to anyone that the faery Linsa could not save a life.

            Azure wondered how Gaia would come to take King Falnor when the time arrived.  Through the constant burning hearth in his chambers at his bedside, scorching his fair skin with a lick of fiery fingers?  Or through the window softly with the wind as it was for Lora?  The younger prince prayed silently to Gaia for the latter, he did not want Claria to witness a terrible sight such as fire leaping from the hearth over their father.

            Soon the king’s chambers were reached, the servant girl Aessele stood outside the doors.  She turned her eyes to Edro frightfully, expecting him to snap at her that very second.  When he tried to open the door, she stammered.

            “Oh milord, L-Linsa is inside at the moment.  She has requested for, for no one to enter until she has finished.”

            “Thank you Aessele, but Linsa cannot administer orders to me,” Edro replied curtly.  “You may leave your post,” he added with a very faint smile, “please take my brother and sister down to the dining hall and have the chefs fix breakfast for the three of you.”

            Aessele nodded and moved past him timidly, flicking her eyes to Azure and Claria nervously.  Edro pushed the door open, allowing Talyn and Ivnoki to enter first, before he shut the door behind him.