Prologue

Introduction

Angostin was one of two continents. The only other was separated by a wide sea flowing from and into the ocean that encompassed the islands. Angostin was also the rather redundant name of the inhabitants of the continent. Though lacking in imagination concerning another name for their continent, the Angostin were an intelligent and sophisticated people. Despite this, the Angostin was in a perpetual state of war. Flouting their best efforts, much of their knowledge had fallen to the ravages of the war. Including the cause and beginning of the eternal conflict. Even oral histories, ceaselessly recited at firesides, had forgotten the initial hostilities. Brave soldiers, from noble battles ferociously fought, faded and died again. There were too many stories to remember, and as new ones were spun, old ones died out. And as they died, their heroes died their final death. Surviving failing memory was a quality of only their hatred for another. As bright as a forge fire, and twice as deleterious, it burned steadily. It did not dim, and did not magnify. It merely persevered. Equally illogical in this respect were the objects of their hate.

Detrenin, they were named, their continent Detren. Inhabiting the eastern continent, they were similar, and markedly dissimilar. Linguistically, their cultures had much in common save the actual language. Culturally, they differed only in customs. In etiquette each was to the other quite unprecedented. Physically, the difference was drastic. Each people had easily identifiable characteristics. Centuries of each nation shunning the other had made the gene pools specific to each continent. Marriages of mixed nationality were unheard of and doomed. Tall and fair were the Angostin, their chiseled features distinguished. Divergently, the dark eyes and hair of the Detrenin were set in a softer countenance.

They were, in short, opposites.

(POV: Arymilla)

Ingenuity notwithstanding, the Angostin found themselves faced with quite the dilemma. Their Princess, a lovely child of some sixteen years, happened to be not at all as lovely as they wished. Her silver hair was lustrous and glossy, her features chiseled, and her eyes stunningly lavender. This was not the respect in which they found her lacking. It was her mannerisms. At present, for example, Arymilla of Angostin was in trouble again. It seemed to her she usually found herself in trouble for one thing, or another, if not both. And, in truth, she was.

At least I may take comfort in that I have never twice been found in the same act, she thought. This was not, of course, to say she had never repeated an act. She had merely never been caught in it again. She had developed the most sound strategy of ruminating about her missteps. Due, in all likelihood, to their ward, her guard had become a covenant of master tacticians. In fact, had they not been an absolute necessity in regard to his daughter’s safety, King Leodhram would have given them each a command and made use of them. However, they were an absolute necessity in regard to his daughter’s safety, and thus they themselves retained a measure of safety.

Arymilla’s present fall from grace happened to be entirely unavoidable. Loneliness, if not a common ailment of princesses, then not an usual one, had solidified its hold on her long ago. She quite simply could not remedy the sheer overwhelming feeling of loneliness. The acceptable personages her age were quite irritating. Their selfish thoughts revolved on matters she found sickening and uninteresting. Thinking to visit her carefully garnered friend in the city, she had proclaimed she would take a carriage ride through the city. Once in the city surrounding the royal fortress, she had proceeded to escape her guard. Unfortunately, they had treated her disappearance as a kidnapping, initiating an immediate curfew, and door-to-door searches. However, it also happened to be the day of her birth. As can be expected of loyal subjects, they were celebrating. Upon seeing the advancing soldiers, a stampede gathered momentum, as can similarly be expected of crowds approached by soldiers. The dear Princess’s defense was that her guards were manipulative. They had received several warnings that if they did not choose only one of their number to accompany her, she would abscond. The drastic measures and subsequent consequences were intentional. She even managed to cleverly draw attention away from the cause of the guards’ manipulation of the crowds. Nevertheless, her keeper, who managed to retain sight of the original argument, remained assured it was her fault. In Lini’s opinion, the guards were blameless. Furthermore, the scant circle of friends she had managed to accumulate from earlier outings had dissipated. They all knew her identity. Knowledge of her identity led to inevitable awe of her. To heap insult on injury, her guard ensured her companions would alert them the minute she was seen, The injustice she found overpowering. Contrary to popular opinion, she was not a porcelain doll. She would not shatter if allowed the slightest bit of freedom.Of course, being dressed and primped as one was rather deterrent to being seen otherwise. Arymilla was nothing loath to appear as a lovely apparition, she merely disliked the style and manner in which they dressed her. Were she ever to board a seafaring vessel, it would sink from the weight of her jewelry. If she were allowed control of one aspect, however, she would choose to control the rouge and other applications. No one in their right minds would voluntarily wear such concoctions or so much. As it was, she immediately removed it at the first opportunity, convincing her two handkerchiefs were never enough to keep on oneself.

Dressing wasn’t the only thing she had come to dislike due to the manacles of court. Needlework, for example, she had loved. However, doing it in the presence of maliciously prattling excuses for ladies was, in her opinion, an effective torture method. Thus, she started to detest it, to the distress of her guard. It was known to calm her, and she was known to need calming quite often.

She imagined what she felt was akin to suffocation. As the days wore on, the protective measures placed around her increased. After each addition, she had another argument with her father. Though they had enjoyed a measure of rapport in her younger years, the rift between them ever widened. The long weeks he spent away at war were starting to be almost a relief. He couldn’t understand, and she couldn’t understand why he couldn’t understand. The latter of which he did happen to understand, yet could not understand why he was the only one. Pondering all this as she lay entrenched in her four-poster bed, she couldn’t help but wonder why she was so utterly alien.

Wearied by the events of the day that so nearly broke her heart, Arymilla fell asleep quickly.

(POV: Elessari)

On the continent of Detren, there were many anomalies. One such anomaly happened to be one of the most ancient lines of nobility. Five children had the reclusive House of Elessari. The eldest and youngest two were twins. The eldest pair consisted of High Lord Diarmid, heir of the house, and High Lady Liadan, whose intended occupation would have horrified her fellow nobles. Physically, as well as mentally, they were very similar. Both had dark hair with varied highlight colors that swept back easily from their faces. Short for a lady, Liadan's tumbled down to the middle of her back. Brushing his shoulders, Diarmid's hair was a more normal length for a Lord. Not quite angular, their faces, like their siblings' were a tad less soft than most Detrenin. Also unusual, their eyes were a soft pink. High Lady Numa, the prim middle child, found at thirteen she was far more mature than most assumed ere they met her. Her eyes were a deep forest green, more normal for Detren, yet utterly stunning. The point most of her fellow Detrenin noticed about her, however, was her very Angostin vivid red hair. Identical High Lords Sean and Seamus, the mischievous eleven year old twins, possessed glossy chestnut hair. Their eyes, however, were a muted grey somewhere between the extremes common to the two continents. Were the common masses of nobility to meet them, the reputation of the Elessari for the unprecedented would be upheld sublimely. Diarmid, at sixteen, was expected to succeed his father to the High Seat of their house. Liadan, a cunningly fiery soul, intended to be his general-at-arms. Numa would succeed their father in respect to healing expertise. Sean and Seamus completed the power bases as future eyes-and-ears. They would be Diarmid's link to the general populace.

To round the oddities, Detrenin nobility tended to prefer a restrained, and logical approach to life. The High Seat of House Elessari and his household preferred something else altogether. One example of the disruption of such a lifestyle was the younger twins’ insistence on unusual pets. These they gleefully used to exact revenge upon those whom unwisely angered them. The extent of the unusual nature of their pets defied all reason. Far and wide the young brood of Anyar Elessari were renowned for rumours of revolutionary ideals. Despite this reputation, little was known of the reclusive youths. They did not visit Court, or the royal castle, but seemed to shun social events. Some even went so far as to claim they were being hidden. Others seemed uncertain of the actual existence of the children. Very rarely were they seen even at the few events of the dwindling House Elessari.

On this particular day, however, matters were not quite so carefree as usual. One cause may have been the unusually restless mood of the aforementioned pets. A most disturbing state of affairs on a good day, today happened to be a stressed day. King Leodhram and his entourage were to arrive, and court was to be held in the largest ballroom on the morrow. The occasion was the official coming-out ceremony of Diarmid and Liadan. In truth, it was the introduction of all the children into Society.

I am rather apprehensive of this, Diarmid thought. We must be present. This is to be our emergence. As high-ranking nobility expected to merge with the king’s line, the excruciating torture of intense boredom inevitable in court is our cup.

It is not meant to be a punishment. Liadan thought back. We merely find it one.

The balls are a condolence. It is said they contain the epitome of gentility. Numa thought dreamily. Forgotten are all quarrels and petty squabbles. Minstrels play, and the dances continue till the morning! Oh, you will look splendid, Liadan, Diarmid!

Liadan, Diarmid, Numa, Sean and Seamus were speaking in a mind link. This form of communication was most often available only to twins or soul mates. More gifted personages were able to speak directly to others’ minds. It required a person more gifted still to spy on the thoughts of others. To a group of such gifted personages was the ability to enter into a link in which only their ‘spoken’ thoughts were revealed. If one was exceptionally powerful, they may even open another’s mind to reveal all. As a measure of utmost importance, all nobility, and royalty in particular, learned to shield their minds at an early age. For many, it became second nature. And although rare, all five young Elessari had inherited the highest form of the gift from their mother.

It was quite instrumental in coordinating pranks and hiding conspiratorial conversations, as they were currently doing.

The slightly unwelcome interruption came in the form of their mother’s cool mental voice. I would be exceedingly disappointed if this communion was one of a rebellious nature.

We would not wish to disappoint you. Liadan elected to answer. We do not intend any such instance.

False word play would also disappoint me. Lady Protea was justifiably wary when her children chose Liadan as their voice. Charismatic as all of her children were, Liadan was particularly demonic in respect to soliloquy.

Would I provide my own mother with false intelligence? Liadan was truly in her element.

Do I not have enough intelligence, that you must provide me some? Are there any plans whatsoever that neither I nor your father would wholeheartedly approve of?

There are no plans for any such activities. Liadan surprised her mother with a straight forward reply.

There will be no untoward or potentially embarrassing happenings? Even in the mental link, relief was evident in Lady Protea’s voice.

You are persistent. We must credit you for that,-

Liadan. Her mother interjected warningly, relief entirely absent.

I relent! We may or may not have a strategy. Liadan admitted reluctantly.

Forget all plans and strategies! The High Lady Protea of House Elessari admonished.

Needlessly, as the plans of the galaxy would prove. The measure of mischief and mayhem afoot was far more than her bored offspring had the heart to wreak.

Author's Note: Okay, so due to the unavoidable realistic quality of life, I have not updated nearly as quickly as I'd hoped. Or really been on FictionPress at all for a few months. I would love to say I am certain that will not happen again. Instead, I will ask all my lovely readers to tell me how they liked the new version as opposed to the old version. The change gets a bit more noticeable in the following chapters.

About the vocabulary. I sometimes read the dictionary just for fun, and I did so right before I revamped this the first time. Since, I have tried to normalise it several times. It just doesn't seem to work. :( But it isn't too bad, is it?

Reviewer Recognition:

Oh, those wonderful people that review! I love them, I really do.

SnakeYukin: I'm afraid, dear, I don't agree with you on POVs. I love to see stories from all angles. I have, however, made it a little easier to deal with the switches, I hope. As for the characters' physical descriptions, here you go! Dandy as...Lords and Ladies, aren't they? :) Unfortunately, you weren't too mean on your review. ;P Better luck next time!

KirbyVictorious: I'm glad you love the telepathy as much as I do. I didn't restrict it to between twins like you did with Everan and Kamile. I'm not sure I know what you mean about showing you how the people are, though. Do you mean showing their attitudes? If so, then that comes as the story progresses, and you see more of them. Thanks for reviewing!

MidnightblueAurora: Nice name. I love the Aurora Borealis! Here is the revamp, hope you like it as much as the original. And the confusing POV changes are hopefully fixed.

Slayer of Evil 17: Glad you like it! Character development is definitely one of the reasons I decided it needed a revamp, so yes, that will receive attention. As for why the continents are at war, nobody knows! smiles diabolically

Dani P: I'm not entirely sure parentheses are a sign of weaker writing, but I have removed them. Sometimes, such as when used for comedy, they enhance writing. I was not, however, using them for comedy, so it didn't apply.