Prologue
Tiernan
I jolt awake, drenched in a cold sweat. Gasping for air, I feel a tight sensation on my wrists, and I look down to see them tightly fastened by rope around the metal bars of the bed I'm lying on. I try to kick my feet only to find my ankles tied the same. My head pounds as I rapidly scan the room trying to remember where I was and how I got here. The room is dark and cold. A tiny window rests near the ceiling on the wall directly across from me, admitting the only light source, which barely helps. Water from the recent rain drips down the rough gray stone wall into a growing puddle on the cement floor.
"Struggling will only make it worse"
I look up towards the sound of the voice and find a large shadowy man approaching from one of the corners of the room. The figure is dressed in a dark green cloak with a light cloth shirt and dark pants underneath. His shoes clack on the floor as he walks closer, almost to the same beat as the dripping of the water. As the figure approaches me, he removes the hood of the cloak to reveal the same dark curls and olive skin that I have. I roll my eyes after I lock eyes with my own brother.
"Arden, you can't be serious with this," I say, jerking my arm against the force of the rope in an attempt to relieve the tightening pain it's putting on my wrists.
Arden rolls up the sleeves of his cloak and cocks his head to the side, "This is for your own good." He sighs and looks at me the way he always does, confused and angry. Arden and I have never gotten along, and I don't believe we ever will. Though we look alike, our personalities and behaviors could not be more different.
"Just let me go and we can talk," I say pleadingly, my voice cracks slightly as he stares over me mockingly. A smirk forms on his face as he crosses his arms over his chest. He is two years younger than me, yet he towers over me. I tug on the rope binding me again. A thought crosses my mind as the attempt falls futile. I wish I had spent more time in the training rooms building my strength instead of devoting all my time to my kingdom classes. Now look where my classes have gotten me.
"Did you see it this time, brother?" Arden's voice echoes in the small room. "Did your visions show you this moment? Your crown will soon be mine."
My head aches as I recall the vision I had the day before. Our beloved kingdom Thyadale has fallen. Stricken with blood, rage and disease. My own brother is seated on the blood stained throne that should be mine. These visions, once only a birthright, now a curse that made Arden reek with the violent fumes of jealousy. In our family, the first born is granted magic, meant to help and protect us as we stand to take the throne. But this magic does not protect against the waves of greed and the hunger of power. Our uncle had first fallen into the act of rage that was his brother, our father. Jealousy consumed him until his death.
"Thyadale will not bow to a wicked king," I say through clenched teeth, "I will make sure of it even if it's the last thing I do."
Arden laughs as he continues to stand over me, "Thyadale will bow to strength, to a king who is not lost in dreams and fairy tales. You, brother, are nothing more than a shadow. You have always preferred your books to battles, didn't you? I have been working to earn my place while you play pretend. When have your visions lied? You will be nothing when I have secured the throne." The heels on his dark boots pop on the cement floor as he moves away from the bed.
I glare at him as he speaks, "This isn't about strength, Arden. How could you betray your own brother this way?"
"I do not care about brotherhood, Tiernan. Father has always favored you but the people, they cheer for me." His golden eyes glint with pride as he motioned to where I was lying, "I'm not going to kill you right now, if that's what you're thinking. I need the kingdom on my side." He pauses as he makes his way over to the door in the corner of the room, "I'm going to let you rot. Let the people forget about you. They will see me for who I am and not notice your absence."
I spit on the ground as he turns to leave. My meek attempt at defiance crumbles as I watch him walk to the door. Each step echoing through the small room.
He goes to open the door before pausing, turning back towards me as if he were to say something else. I look at my brother as he looks at me for the last time before walking out the door. His expression hinted slightly at doubt, and for a short moment, I see him as I did when we were young, when my visions were just visions. When we still acted like brothers. Before I have the chance to speak, the door slams and I am left alone, still bound and helpless in the dark cold room as the weight of betrayal settles. The rain picks back up, and I hear it as it hits the glass on the window. As I watch the water drip to the floor, I realize that the only company I have left is the rhythmic drumming of the rain and the chilling certainty that my fate is now entirely my own.
