Prologue

The Guardian Elise walked silently through the cave; her small light barely penetrated the darkness. She stopped before a set of symbols etched into the cave’s wall. Raising the light a little higher, she read what the symbols spelled. It was a prophecy about what was to come.

A new species of Guardians
Will be brought forth in this world
When the three moons eclipse the two suns
Turning the night into a sea of red.
This new Guardian will be borne
When a dragon and a
Guardian’s supplicant mate.
Great love and even greater sacrifice
Will forge her being.
Her fate will decide whether to bring
Life back to this world or allow
Darkness to envelope and destroy every living thing.
She is to be the first of this new breed,
But also the worlds only hope of survival.
She will be known as, Lady Knightingale.

Lowering the light, Elise stared up through the small hole in the roof of the cave. The moons’ eclipse of the suns had already begun. Watching the eclipse, she wondered who was birthing the child of the prophecy. She was saddened at this thought, knowing it should have been her daughter, Crystal twenty years ago. She was but a supplicant then and never knew of the prophecy, but she had fallen in love with a dragon and borne his child. He never knew she was with child when he sent her away, telling her not to return to his kingdom. Nor did she ever dare to write him and tell him of his daughter. She sighed as she lowered her face.

Turning to the entrance of the cave, she nodded at the figure hiding in the shadows. The woman hurried to her side. Her name was Kaitlyn and she was Elise’s lost love’s younger sister. Kaitlyn had never left her side after they were both sent to the Floating Isle of Dawn Crest, by Elise’s ex-employer, Halley. Elise was happy dragon’s blood flowed through Kaitlyn’s veins; it meant she would live as long as her, if not longer. She did not want to lose her only friend.

“Do we search out the child, Elise?”

“Not yet, there is more we must read inside this cave. Lady Blue had said there was another prophecy here that intertwines with Knightingale’s fate.”

“I do not know this language, how am I going to be of any use to you?”

Elise reached up and ran her hand over the top right hand side of Knightingale’s prophecy, a picture formed as the dust fell away. “She had said this picture, or one similar to it, will be engraved above the other. If you see it, let me know.” It was a picture of a heart with a scroll wrapping around its midsection, the symbols engraved on the scroll spelt out, Guardian Knightingale.

“As you wish.” Kaitlyn ran further into the cave, her own small light bobbing before her through the darkness. Elise once again looked up at the night sky, the eclipse was almost complete. They did not have much time to find the child before others realized she was being born tonight. Lowering her head once more, she followed Kaitlyn further into the cave.

In a lone hut in the middle of a small forest, Marsh cried out in pain. Sweat poured down her face and covered her body as more fluid flowed out between her legs, but the child refused to follow it. She had borne two children before this one, a son and a daughter, but neither birth had been this difficult. She hoped the child was well. It didn’t kick or move much during the months of her pregnancy. She pushed again, glad for her husband Nal’s reassuring grip on her hand.

Marsh did not truly understand why he was here; he was still extremely upset at her for what she had done. She never meant for it to happen, but happen it did and this child was the proof of her betrayal to him. He hardly looked at or talked with her during the entire pregnancy once he found out the child was not his, nor would he share the same bed or even room with her. He had even left the house and didn’t return until several months later. Perhaps he had finally forgiven her.

She cried out again as the pain intensified and her stomach cramped more violently. Moments later, she barely heard the midwife state she could see the head. Miya, her oldest child, ran a cool, wet cloth over her forehead. It felt good against her fevered skin. A few more hard pushes and she finally heard the crying of the child. She smiled in relief, it was healthy.

“It’s a boy,” the midwife said cheerily as she began washing the babe. She stopped for a moment and stared at the birth mark on his shoulder, it looked like a heart with something struck through and across it. Shaking her head, she bundled him up within the soft, hand-woven blanket Marsh had spent most of her free time making. Dark blue eyes stared up at Marsh as the midwife handed her the babe. He definitely took after his father if he could already see. This was confirmed when she looked at his small hands. His nails were curved and pointed as a predator’s claws were.

As she kissed his forehead softly, Nal placed his hand on her shoulder. She raised tired eyes to his. “May I hold him?” He asked quietly. She smiled as she held the babe out to him.

“You can hold him whenever you desire, Nal. He is your son.” A strange expression crossed his face as he took the child. He was quiet while he stared down at the small form in his hands. He then turned his attention to her.

“Yes, he is my son.”

Within Lakita Kingdom, two figures wearing dark robes, rushed through the halls of the castle. Each carried a small child in their arms. The mistress of the castle had just given birth to the twin girls, but knew they would not be safe within the kingdom. Especially since the first born twin, Nicoletta bore a birthmark of a heart with a scroll across the midsection on her stomach, just above her belly button. She knew of the prophecy surrounding that birthmark, but she wasn’t willing for it to come true.

Knowing what would come to be, she told her most trusted maids to take the babies away, to separate them and let none know of the first’s birthmark. Outside the gates, the maids mounted their waiting horses, and sped off in different directions. Cama carried Shawsa, the younger twin, and was heading for the small village of Helmmia. While Samantha carried Nicoletta, and raced for the magical gate within the Woods.

Samantha knew once she entered the Woods she would never be able to return again, but the child’s safety was more important than her life. Perhaps she could find a way to make the gate stronger and enter it with the child, instead of sending her through alone. That way, she could raise Nicoletta and keep her from this destiny as her mother so desperately desired.

It was midnight within the small village of Castia, but the blacksmith, Gareth, was set in finishing both swords before dawn. Putting his hammer down on the anvil, he brought the back of his hand up to wipe the sweat from his face. He then stared down at his first creation. It was a broad sword, on its hilt he forged two dragons standing back to back. Between their heads and wings was a small crystal ball. On the blade itself, he had etched a cunning fox. The entire sword was made out of Spirit Metal, not just one of the Metals, but all of them.

Gareth smiled as he started back on the unfinished sword in his hand. Both swords were going to be made out of all of the Spirit Metals and would be his finest works. He was having difficulties on the second sword, but it was to be expected. Considering he was forging two different swords that would fit together as one. This way when the wielder used it, he or she could use the blade as a strong two handed weapon, or allow them to split and have two short swords. Both hilts ended in half of a howling wolf, when put together the wolf would be whole.

Ten hours after he begun the second sword, he had finally placed it next to the first. He smiled brightly, both were pieces of art and showed great craftsmanship. “Only a certain Guardian will ever be able to wield either of you.” He reached out and ran his hand over the newest sword and hilt, as he said: “You shall be known as the Dragon Master’s Sword.” The blade glimmered slightly in the light of the forge, as if it accepted the name. Running his hand over the second sword in a similar manner, he stated: “And you shall be known as the Sword of the Guardians.”