Prologue: The Fall of Renais     Chapter 2: The Protected

Chapter 1: The Escape

I awoke to find Altha grazing in a meadow. Seth was asleep with his head sunk on his chest, and my head was on his shoulder. Our arms were still tightly wrapped around each other. For a moment, half asleep still, I studied his face. His thick, dark, red hair brushed my face, but I saw his striking profile; sadness filled his mouth and closed brown eyes. I closed my own eyes for a moment, and then opened them hurriedly.

Rather alarmed by our… intimate position, I wriggled. Seth started and woke, grunting. When he realized where he was, he gasped and blushed.

“Please, forgive me,” he said quickly, also alarmed.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I said, sliding to the ground to allow him to dismount and begin setting up breakfast. “You were tired. It was all completely unintentional.”

“As you like, Princess,” was his only answer, and I knew he was not going to forgive himself. I sighed inwardly. Stubborn man.

Seth found some firewood, and I made toast and tea – simple, and good for a journey. That was my opinion, anyway. Then, we continued riding, going more slowly so that Altha did not get tired out. I was forever pointing out different beautiful sights in the bright day. The sun shone brilliantly in the cheerful, cloudless blue sky. Around every bend was something new.

“I’ve been here often, but the times I came were mostly flying with Tana. One has a completely different perspective on the ground, and as I recall, yet another view while walking. Oh! There’s the waterfall of Clover Village!”

Near to lunchtime, we came to the castle of Border Mulan. I was happy to be in Frelia – I was friends with most of the young royal families on Magvel, and Princess Tana of Frelia was not an exception. My dear brother often had tension with her brother, Prince Innes, for Innes had high goals and viewed Ephraim as more of a rival than a friend.

Anyway, we drew over the hill above Castle Mulan and stopped. Grado soldiers were crawling over the landscape.

“Oh, Seth, look… ” I pointed as my voice trailed off in shock. Continue reading →

Chapter 1: The Escape

Prologue: The Fall of Renais

My name is Eirika, Princess of Renais, daughter of Fado and twin sister of Ephraim, the crown prince. I have turquoise hair and matching eyes, which, eyes being eyes, seem to have a higher content of blue. At least, that’s what my maidservant tells me. I wear long red boots, a short white dress, a red tunic over that, a short white cloak, and red gloves, and in troubled times like today, yellow armour. On the breastplate is embossed the royal crest of Renais. On my left hand I wear my most precious possession: a bracelet that my father gave to me.

My father’s kingdom was under attack from our good friends of Grado. This bizarre atrocity had been continuing for less than a week, but our provinces fell swiftly and our very castle was, at the moment, beseiged. To compound my worries, my dear brother was missing. He’d gone off to fight Grado as soon as the first word came…

I raced down the stairs from my chambers and into the throne room.

My father was giving instructions to General Seth, the youngest of our paladins at age 22, five years older than I. His mare, Altha, pawed the tiles nervously. Something bad was happening; horses were allowed in the throne room, but only in the most dire of need.

“You must see her safely to Frelia,” my father commanded, and I knew instantly he was speaking of me. Frelia was another neighbouring kingdom.

“Yes, Sire,” Seth answered, bowing his head. Then, he glanced up and looked at me. Continue reading →