1: The Unexpected Turn of Events
Princess Annalaise’s horse stomped on her head to kill her.
Coral Kingdom’s princess had been taking a slow ride through the forest with her new husband, Crown Prince Mateus of Emerald Kingdom, along with his personal knight and her three handmaidens.
The party had decided to rest beneath trees near an overhanging precipice. But, before any of them could react, the princess was thrown off her horse and had her head stomped on by its back hooves.
Mateus’s knight ran his sword through the horse, rendering it dead next to the princess and their blood staining the ground.
Everyone had galloped back to the castle with the princess’s corpse for the coroner. When Mateus burst into the throne room; his navy tunic, pants and ankle-boots stained, Emerald’s king sent his men away except for his wizard advisor.
The prince knelt at the dais: tuffs of blond hair draped around his squarish jawline as he kept his head bowed while explaining his dilemma.
“How could this happen?” King Reynard slumped in his throne.
Three months ago the people of Coral and Emerald celebrated a wedding and peace to a ten-year-war between the kingdoms.
“Father, I swear something spooked her horse; we couldn’t stop it.” Mateus’s blue eyes swelled with trauma.
“What happened to the horse?”
“Sir Bolen put it down.”
The king’s gray eyes narrowed as he cooled his tensions. He stroked his blond beard. “Her horse was a warsteed. This was no mere accident.”
“Place an order for the Justice of Eyre, Sire, I can have your Royal Guard investigate.” The king’s white-beard wizard wisely advised. His gray mage robes dragged along the flagstones to stand behind the throne.
“Then task the Eyre, Simon.” Reynard dangerously added, “Make sure they find a culprit or you’ll all face the block.”
“By your order, Sire.” The wizard appeared next to the prostrating prince, bowed, then vanished from the throne hall.
