Prologue
Prologue
It was a bright, cold April day, and all the clocks were striking thirteen.
“Our country’s landscape is beautiful; impressive architecture, relaxing hot springs and frozen lakes are just a sliver of Avolire’s charm. Avolire is mainly covered in deserts and has a warm climate, leading to a scattered population.
The people of Avolire mainly live off farming, weaponsmithing and crafting. Despite the number of people, most live in small hamlets.” Mrs. Tarrerk read as we all bore ourselves to death. I felt a slight poke in my side, pulling me from my trance of agreeing to whatever Mrs Tarrerk said. My best friend, Zriris, who took a significant risk by possibly interrupting the class, was also the teacher’s daughter, so her punishment would last much longer.
She passed me a ripped piece of paper folded up nicely. In it read: “I am incredibly bored and feeling quite demotivated. I have no pride in my mother or my plan to improve our situation.”
On the back of the inscribed paper, I wrote a short note and handed it back: ”You have my attention.”
“Narsir is at our school now, right?”
“Yes, he’s also lecturing about something I’m supposed to care about. As the crown prince, he needs to pat the masses.”
“The CROWN PRINCE is here, and he might want to greet his sister.”
“Well, perhaps.”
“Inform him about my mother, and he will tire immediately. Possibly even feel pity on your circumstances.”
“He might not want to be dragged into such circumstances. But he came here voluntarily and will leave with a rescue mission.”
I wrote an even more minor note and handed it to my guard, who had probably already witnessed the converse. She quickly stepped into the hall and returned nothing but a second later.
“Who can tell me the beginning of our great land?” Mrs Tarrerk asked the room. “Your Royal Highness, do you know the answer?”
What met my eyes was a pair of glasses the size of my fist, highlighting every detail of her naturally small grey eyes. “Our county was founded by the great Queen Elvina, whose parents were assassinated, so she’d had to flee her homeland.” Every word I spoke was not my own; teachers, preachers, and every parent had told them a thousand times before. “She left with nothing but her wits and musical talent that taught her she was a natural leader. She found the beautiful county and formed it in her name.”
Mrs Tarrerk nodded in approval, “Very good, Your Highness.”
A stern knock on the door revealed Narsir in his black suit with golden leaves around the collar. “Hello, Mrs.” He spoke with an authority I had never heard him use. “I’m Narsir Raviron. May I borrow my sister and her friend?”
