Chapter 1

Melancholy Floods

In the beginning, light wasn’t so hard to find. Life wasn’t so hard to live with, and men weren’t as cruel as they are now. I’ve found that love exists as rare as the tide rolls into the shore, although no one seems to accept it. I remember a day when it was easy to find society bearable, but that day no longer exists, and life no longer makes sense. I was born to one of the richest and most powerful men in our nation, and was showered with gifts, beauty, and luxury, but never realized these gifts were not only from the Lord, but the satin sheets and golden chairs were also financed by the poverty-stricken taxpayers of Siril. My father was the King. He was the most fabulous rulers the Sirilian People could remember. He was a historic monarch, who never would be forgotten, but for some reason that was not enough for me.

It had rained for days. The floods seemed inevitable, and I don’t know why my father, King Raphael the Fourth, did not prepare for it. I took advantage of his faulty foresight.

“Allow me to wander the streets, father. The rains will cease soon, and Tanc and Rand will be with me.” I laugh to remember my naivety at this time. Daughters of Kings are raised to believe their protectors are invincible, I know better than to believe that now.

My father allowed it, and I pulled my favorite crimson cloak about my shoulders and over my head and embarked on my journey with my pale horse, Morning, as my guide, not to mention my shadows, Tanc and Rand, one following – the other led the way both men palled with weaponry to protect me, but why I needed protecting, I could not seem to understand.

The rain mourned above, and I shuddered with the thunder. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. My fears soon subsided as we came upon a little boy huddled underneath a closed market’s portico, shivering in the cold. I quickly removed the blankets I had packed, and wrapped it around the trembling boy. He grinned with comfort.

“I believe there is some unfortunates this way, Your Highness,” Rand, the leader, directed me to a dark alley, and my body instantly flooded with warning.

“I don’t see anybody, Rand,” Tanc hesitated. I wasn’t the only wary traveler.

“I do.” Rand left his horse at the entrance to the dark passage, and took it upon himself to lead Morning.

I was openly shivering now, but it was not from the cold. A heavy burden flooded my being as we entered this black road, and I did not want to continue any further. “Rand, I would rather return to the main road.”

“We are almost to the other side, Princess,” He tried to comfort me, but there was a tone in his voice, that made me forget his oath of loyalty.

“I want to turn around this instant.” I commanded.

“We are there.”

I glanced around; there was no end to this fearful tunnel. My eyes were still palled with black, and my cheeks were frozen from the cold as more icy raindrops fell between the thin crevice above us where the two buildings did not quite meet.

I heard the sound of feet shuffling in every direction, and then the most fearful sound of all. A loud thump followed by Tanc’s cry of pain, and then silence.

A gloved hand gripped my shoulder. “Is this the woman?” A raspy voice demanded.

“Yes. I will inform the King immediately of her disappearance,” Rand’s disloyal voice reported. “My payment?”

I vaguely heard the jingling of coins over my pounding heart.

Then everything went black.