PROLOGUE
Nightfall falls upon the kingdom, but these are the last days of a doomed empire.
The wet, desolate streets of the city rested in silence as the starry black sky wept over it.
The water in the portholes shimmered by the glow of the bright, yellow street lamps. The small, green trees on the roadside swayed as the strong breeze hit them.
The cool monsoon air carried a sweet moist scent like a candy shop.
A man screeched out from his window and cursed at the noisy children who went mute immediately.
A few lights flickered open through the windows and nosy neighbors looked out to inquire.
She rode into town in the late evening, hoping for a room at the local inn. The sights of the dark city mesmerized her, as she took a deep breath in the cool breeze.
She should reach her destination anytime now.
Her horse neighed fondly as she stroked his mane. “A few more minutes, lad. We will be at the place soon.” She whispered to her horse, just as she turned a corner into an empty street.
And then she saw it. The local tavern, silhouetted like a black mass near the huge oak tree.
“We are here, lad.” She smiled, dismounting from her horse.
She walked to the tavern’s entrance along a cobblestone street and reached a thick wooden door that separated the inn from the street.
Such security was necessary if the tavern wanted to attract wealthier patrons.
She looked at the name plate of the tavern. The Roc’s Nest.
The tavern was dark, smoky and dimly lit with lanterns hanging from the walls. She had to bend her head to enter inside the bustling hall.
The bartender was screaming out for drinks while several groups of men chattered at the top of their voices.
Within seconds, she’d crossed the hall and halted before the bartender. “A beer, please.” The bartender looked down at her for a few seconds, his eyebrows rising up.
“Never seen you here before, young lady!” He boomed, stroking his huge beard.
“I’m new here, sir.” She grinned, tilting her head slightly. “Of course, of course. Welcome to The Roc’s Nest! I am Roc, the owner and the bartender.” He announced, bowing slightly and flashing his pearly white teeth at her.
“Such an honor to meet you, Roc. The name’s Felize.” The woman nodded, bowing too. “Beer for the young lady!” Roc barked at one of his assistants, who immediately rushed off to get the beer ready.
“So what brings you here, my lady?” Roc questioned, waving at a random man a few tables away. “I am headed to Jahraq.” Felize replied, taking a seat opposite to Roc as she crossed her legs.
“Lord, have been traveling for almost five days now.” She sighed, closing her eyes briefly. Roc blinked at her in surprise.
“You are headed to Jahraq? I heard times are not good at Jahraq right now.” He said, scratching his beard thoughtfully. Felize’s eyes snapped open immediately.
“What do you mean, the times are not good?” She repeated curiously, sitting forward in her seat. “Well, since this is a popular tavern, I have heard many people gossip.” Roc mumbled, looking around at the crowded place.
“Roc, man, join us!” An elderly man called out to him cheerfully, a few tables away. “Be there in a minute, Bryan!” Roc boomed back cheerfully, just as Felize’s beer arrived.
“Thank you.” She told the assistant, sipping the drink with a satisfied smile.
“Can you elaborate?” She asked Roc. “I heard that the King is very ill and that he is not even getting out of bed nowadays. It is the Queen who takes care of him and stays by his side all day and all night.” Roc said in a low voice.
“And?” Felize prompted. Roc looked around gravely before lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Promise you won’t mention this to anyone?” He whispered nervously. “You have my word. I will never open my mouth.” Felize nodded sincerely.
“I also heard that the enemies are secretly entering Jahraq and are plotting to kill the King and take over the entire territory.” Roc explained. Felize’s eyes widened in shock.
“Is that true? So that means the King is in danger?” She whispered back gravely. Roc shrugged, leaning back. “Who knows? These might even turn out to be rumors. I don’t poke my nose into royal matters, you see.” He sighed, getting up.
“Now, if I may take my leave, Lady Felize.” He grinned, extending his hand out to her. “It was a pleasure.” She smiled, shaking his hand, watching him trudge off to a table of gambling men.
And that’s when she felt it. A pair of hawk like eyes. Watching her from somewhere.
Felize stayed silent for a few seconds. She slowly slipped her hand into her waistpocket. Her fingers immediately brushed the tips of two folded parchments tucked safely inside.
She smiled to herself in relief, before turning around and scanning the entire room. Her eyes finally fell on a hooded woman, seated at the far corner of the tavern.
Felize’s entire body went rigid. The woman was looking right at her. Felize felt highly uneasy as she finished drinking her beer. Ten minutes later, the woman was still staring at her.
Fine, she’d stared enough. Felize got up stiffly from her seat, walked to Roc’s assistant and handed him the silver coins for the beer.
Then she turned on her heel and was about to march straight to the hooded woman when a loud crash echoed throughout the tavern, startling all the people.
“What was that?” Roc boomed, jumping up from the gambling table as a sea of people started screaming and running outside the tavern. Felize looked around in alarm as she too joined the crowd of people running outside.
The cool sea breeze whipped at their faces as people jostled and pushed each other to get a glimpse of the source of the crash. “There!” One of the men shouted, pointing at the Moonhaven sea port.
Yes, the famous Moonhaven sea port. The Roc’s Nest stood facing the brimming sea port, another reason why it was well known. Moonhaven was Jahraq’s head port, the main passage route for travellers and trading.
Moonhaven is littered with smaller harbours, on the coast and in creeks and attached to riverine settlements. Vessels were continually shuttling goods such as Cornish tin and foodstuffs like grains, to more exotic products like dates from the Barbary coast, or Castilian black soap.
Felize stood on tiptoes to look towards the direction the man was pointing at.
Under the full moonlight, she could make out the silhouette of a group of soldiers shouting commands and marching. Marching right towards the Roc’s Nest.
“Soldiers approaching! Make way, make way!” Roc barked at the people, who murmured and jostled each other again and moved back to make space.
Felize had to save herself from getting trampled as she got pushed to the far corner, near a large oak tree. People were mumbling and whispering excitedly as they watched the group of soldiers approach them.
The first leading soldier stepped forward and cleared his throat.
“We’re here to announce that some important dignitaries are about to arrive to this port soon. So we request the people to make way for them and clear up the tavern immediately!” He announced grimly.
People’s whispers grew more excited after this. “Dignitaries?” Roc repeated in confusion, stepping forward. “But who are they?”
“Look.” The soldier said, pointing at the sea. All the people, including Roc and Felize craned their necks to look back at the sea. There, far away among the sea waves, three huge ships were sailing towards the Moonhaven port.
Felize gaped at the sight of such enormous ships silhouetted under the moonlight. As the ships sailed closer, huge gasps and screams broke out among the crowd. Felize looked at the ships closely.
The centre one, larger than the others carried a huge red flag billowing in the wind. And the flag bore the symbol of a tiger. Felize’s heart rate sped up at the sight. No...this couldn’t be.
This just couldn’t be! The tiger belonged to only one family.
The Cadogans.
Which means....it was the Cadogan Brothers coming.
For a brief second, Felize’s eyes locked with Roc’s shocked ones. A sudden tapping on her shoulder made her spin around. The hooded woman was standing there, smiling at Felize slightly.
