Chapter 1
1221 Words
Braelynn’s feet gave way as she was pushed back with her opponent's sword.
“Captain,” her general bellowed, “What is with you today?!”
The dirt on her uniform was quickly dusted off as she got up off the ground. Picking up her sword and she walks over to the bench on the edge of the arena where they were sparring. She starts to take off her protective gear and holds her head in her hands. Her necklace that she had since she was a child starts to gently twist in her fingers.
“I don’t know, General Denzell,” she says confused. “Maybe it’s the fact that we have been tearing apart kingdom after kingdom, city after city. And we had absolutely no reason or grievance with these other countries to give us motive to attack.”
Her general walks over and sits on the bench next to her.
“First of all,” her general said calmly, “you know you don’t have to call me general when we aren’t with anybody else, Brie.” “And second, you know I don’t like attacking these cites as much as you do, but you know we do it because the king commands it.”
“But Denz, it isn’t right!” she yelled. “Why do we have the right to kill innocent after innocent just because the king is power hungry!”
Denzell stood up quickly and put his hand over her mouth. “Control yourself soldier!” “You are lucky no one else is around if anyone heard you they would have your head,” he said as calmly as can be. He sighed and sat back down.
“Since I am your friend I will only warn you once more. We don’t question the authority of the King no matter how cruel and unjust it is. We are warriors, not politicians. We enforce laws, not make them up.”
She whispered to him angrily, “That still doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything. Does it?!” Standing up she turned around to walk to her home.
“No. You know that,” he said quietly, “But make sure you keep your opinions to yourself, unless you want your head on a stick.”
She turns her head back around and lets out a firm, “Fine.”
Her general stands up and walks over to her. “One more thing,” he says.
“What?”
“Could you come to the party tonight?”
She sighs. “You know party’s aren’t really my area of expertise.”
“But they could be.”
“Seriously?”
Denzell makes his eyes huge and round the way a puppy dog does when they want a treat. It looks really silly when you compare him to his supper tough general act. She really thought it was quite humours.
“It would really mean a lot to me. Come on, it's my birthday. Do you seriously want me to remind you everyday for the rest of our lives that you missed your best friend's birthday party because it wasn’t your ‘area of expertise’?”
Braelynn lets out a sigh. “Fine. But if I die tonight because I can't handle that many people in one space without killing them all, then I hope that you feel really really guilty.
Denzell starts fake crying. “That’s like the nicest thing you ever said to me. I have never ever felt more loved than I do at this moment.”
She punches him in the arm before saying, “Hush up you big cry baby. I gotta get going. I guess I am going to have to see you tonight. Bye.”
“Bye,” he says.
She walks off towards her home thinking what in the world she has gotten herself into.
Ryker sits in his office with his feet on his desk making images out of fire in his hands. Lately, he has been more stressed than usual. Taking on the role of King, isn’t exactly the easiest of jobs he thinks. His secretary is babbling on and on about the upcoming events.
“Next we have your sister's graduation from fae school. And don’t forget your parent’s anniversary is coming soon,” his assistant says, reading off a paper.
“You know,” Ryker says, “After 127 years of living, nothing ever changes around here. Like we never ever cool off. We're always so serious. We never let down. I just want to lose my cool, you know, like go to a party!”
His assistant sighs. “Sir, I told you months ago that your old friend, Denzell, is having a birthday party tonight at 8:00 sharp.”
“Oh no,” he exclaims, “I completely forgot. Thank goodness their Kingdom is a neighboring one. If I leave now on horseback, I should be able to make it around 8:05!”
He jumps up and starts to pull on his shoes. Thinking how it has been 11 years since he saw his old friend he rushes toward the door.
“Sir, don’t forget your coat and your sword,” his assistant yells, “you never know what is going to happen in the Kingdom of Adralinia.” His assistant starts to put on his cloak and hands him his sword.
“Thanks Andrew. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“It’s just my job sir.”
“Well I guess I will be off.” And the prince rushes out the door towards the stables.
Ryker makes it outside to the stables to see his little sister, Davina, tacking up her horse.“Hey little sis, what are you doing out here,” he said cautiously.
“I saw you in a vision,” she said quietly, “you were tacking up your horse so I assumed you were going on a ride. I thought I would go with you.”
Davina was different from the rest of her family. Instead of being able to control fire and turn into a wolf, she could see the future and turn into an owl. She got it from their mother, who didn’t have royal blood. Davina was a rarity. It had never happened in the royal family. Powers were always hereditary and the dominant trait for powers was always fire. That didn’t mean that he loved his sister any less. She was just special.
“Oh, sorry sis I was actually going to see my old friend in the Adralinia,” he said carefully.
“ I know,” she said matter of factually, “I really came to warn you.” “Tonight at this party, you will see the heir to the throne of Telaric.”
His sister's words shocked him. As much as he knew it was absolutely impossible, he trusted his sister’s visions. Every time he didn’t believe her, he would always be proven wrong. But seeing the heir to their kingdom's sworn enemies was a little much, especially because their kingdom's royal family was destroyed 21 years ago by Adralina, along with many others. Now Adralina rules over the rest of Telaric.
“How?! When?! Who?!” he said with urgency.
“ I don’t know,” she said confused, “it was very bewildering. I mean that was all I could see. That they would be at this party.”
As much as he loved his sister, that was all not that helpful. He really wishes she knew more, because if their sworn enemy was there he probably needed to come a little more prepared.
“Oh, and one more thing,” she said, “This person will be very important to you in the future. Stay on guard.”
“I will. Thank you sis.”
“Anytime.”
And with that he finished tacking up his horse and hopped on. He kicked his horse to go and galloped through the wind. Thinking of how this night would turn out.
- Writer
