Chapter 1
“Long ago, before you were born the kingdom had devolved into chaos. It was in this chaos that the original royal family was slaughtered. Everyone wanted the throne for themselves. Families turned on each other, brother against brother. Blood was no longer binding. Instead blood had filled the streets, and was a reminder of those who failed in their quest for power and had fallen. It wasn’t until our family arrived, that the kingdom finally witnessed true power. Before our family, this kingdom had never experienced the power that a magic user has. It was because of this power that the kingdom elected our family the throne. We have been the royal family ever since. Each king or queen is more powerful than the last and we use our magic to keep peace and prosperity in the realm.”
That story was one my mother told me often growing up, to remind me of my duty as princess and future queen. Always be on task, never wander. Harness your strength and always hold your head high as a princess should. It’s been centuries since the kingdom had fallen into chaos, and our family still ruled. No one dared try to go against magic when they themselves possessed none. For generations, magic has been a skill that only the royal family possessed. Our subjects followed both in awe and fear, though we have never used our magic against them in our reign. We never needed to, regardless of their reasons-be it fear or loyalty- they obeyed.
Childhood came and went and now I sit at the age of eighteen with only memories of trying to fulfill my duties as a princess. I would like nothing more than to state that I did so with flying colors; but the harsh reality was I was lacking in a very important aspect of my duties- Magic. It is no secret that the mystical abilities ran through my veins, I was just… weak. For years my mother and father were convinced I was ill. I shouldn’t be so magically deficient. “There must be something wrong with her.” they said- scouring over every piece of history my ancestors left, for some kind of explanation, some way to fix me. Yet they would find nothing, no answers, no cure. Just the overwhelming disappointment they felt in their chests each night as they lay in bed. Though I was not ill, they had been right about one thing - there was something wrong with me.
I stared at myself in the reflection in the mirror as our servants fluttered around me; making sure that not a single strand of hair was out of place. The red hue would stand out against my pale skin no matter how rosy they made my cheeks. The pink colors they placed around my eyes made my green irises stand out, but they left my lips the natural red they were. “Naturally perfect. A princess mustn’t try so hard to look just right.” my mothers voice flitted through my head.
“It’s time to get into your dress, Princess.” My handmaiden Valerie said; making sure to keep her head angled down. Not daring to look me in my eyes as she addressed me. If it were simply her and I alone, she would stand more relaxed, as Valarie had been my handmaiden since I was but a child. Valarie was the closest thing that I could call a friend. But there were others around and if word got back to mother or father that she dared to treat me with such casualty, I don’t think I would ever see her again.
“Of course.” I said.
Then with the elegance that only comes from years of training, I stood from the vanity and allowed my corset to be tightened and stepped into the soft green fabric of the dress that was chosen for me today. As the princess, all choices were made for me; what I ate, what I looked like, who I spoke with. Nothing in my life was my own, I was merely a chess piece on my parents board. Going where I was told, always following orders. Though I was taught how to rule and make the hard decision for the good of the kingdom, I was always scared that when the time came for me to make the hard choice, that I would fold under pressure. For how could they expect me to make life changing decisions for my kingdom, when I couldn’t even decide what dress I would wear? But I could not wallow in my insecurities, I have to be strong.
Hold my head up, never back down, be a princess strong and proud. That is what I must do. Once the last knot was tied I walked through the castle halls until I made my way to the meeting chambers. Valerie walked in front of me to open the large wooden doors, and there, sat at the end of the long mahogany table was my father and to his right sat my mother. Both sat with perfect posture, looking straight ahead. If I didn’t know any better I would think they were strangers, to the naked eye they did not look like a couple married. Nonetheless I went forward and joined them .
“Good morning, mother. Good morning, father.” I greeted, taking my seat to the left of my father.
“Good morning, Cybele.” Mother returned.
It wasn’t until the last of the servants had made themselves scarce that my father spoke. “We’ve arranged for you to be wed.” he stated, voice deep and gruff.
“What?” I couldn’t contain my gasp as it fell from my lips. There was no greeting made, no easing into it with light conversation. He acted like he was merely stating a well known fact.
“In 2 months time you’ll be wed to prince Xander from the kingdom of Nivia, across the mountains .” This time it was my mother who spoke. Same as father, they spoke as though they were merely stating facts.
“Prince Xander?” I questioned. “He’s nearly 10 years older!”
Prince Xander was a name known for many miles, the stories of his exploits-in tavern after tavern, brothel after brothel- were ones that could make even the filthiest sailor cringe. What were my parents thinking, marrying me off to such a man? Were they that ashamed that they saw fit to sell me to a life such as that of prince Xander’s wife?
It was then that servants entered the room trays of food in hand. In my shock I had almost forgotten my fathers seemingly never ending hunger. Even in moments like this he’s always looking to stuff his face. Sat on the table were different cuts of meats and desserts; the entirety of it could barely be called a meal.
“We heard word that the Nividians were planning on starting a war with Vitalis.” father stated. “Creating a union between you and Xander not only expands our reach and borders but also spares our citizens from fighting a pointless war.”
I held in a scoff as I watched my father gorge himself. “So what if the Nividians declare war with us, we could squash them with ease. We could take their land by force if we so desired.” I argued. ” Would you rather expose our kingdom to a war that would waste resources and take lives? Families broken? Would you rather bear the weight of a child crying out for a father that may never come home simply because of our choice of your suitor?” mother scolded. As if she truly cared about family. I knew that just weeks before, they had been discussing taking Nivia for themselves, just as I suggested. This was simply the easier choice. For them at least.
I knew it was a dream, a fantasy I should have known better than to have indulged; but the hope of marrying for love was one i had wanted nothing more than to be a possibility- a future- though looking at my parents’ unwavering faces I knew this was but another choice I was not allowed to make. I would have slumped in defeat, were I not a princess of my mothers making. Instead I could only sit straight and nod my head.
“Prince Xander and his parents will be arriving tomorrow.” mother stated. “What time?” I asked quietly. “They should be here by the time the clock chimes ten.”
So soon? If we were to be wed in 2 month time, why the rush? What were they hoping to accomplish? With Xander’s reputation I would be surprised if he didn’t arrive here drunk and seek comfort in one of the many young maidens we had staffed here. Certainly wedding arrangements could wait, it wasn’t as though the bride or groom had any decisions to make anyway. i doubted Xander’s parents dare let him make decisions such as these since he was often too drunk on beer and wine to pick the dirt from his nails.
Soon the chiming of the clock bells signaled the changing of the guards. This also meant it was time for my father’s meeting with the head watchman. Part of me wondered if the watchmen and the guards already knew of our guest’s soon arrival, or if they too were in the dark until it was too late to change course. Either way, arrangements had to be made to welcome the royal family of Nivia. However that job fell to my mother, rather than me.
“May I be excused?”
With a dismissive wave of their hands I stood up to take my leave. After the doors shut behind me, My hand maiden Valerie was by my side at once. She still kept her head down because no doubt we still had eyes on us. I walked back to my chambers with my head up and face blank. No one made a move to break the silence, that is until Valerie and I shut the doors behind us. Only once we were alone did Valerie speak up.
“How did the meeting go, Princess?” she asked, pouring me a cup of tea.
“Apparently I am to be wed,” I stated, trying to clear the tightness from my throat. “To the prince of Nivia.”
“Prince Xander?” she gasped.
“The very same. His parents wish to declare war on us otherwise.” I say, the defeat slipping into my voice. I wanted nothing more than to break down in tears. “How am I supposed to marry him?”
She handed me the tea cup and sat beside me. “With beauty and grace.”
“No amount of grace in the world would allow me to learn to love a man like him.”
“Who said you must love him?” she asked. “Marry him to fulfill your duty, but do not force yourself to love him.”
It’s times like this that proved that Valerie truly understood my duties, sometimes I thought she understood them better than I did myself
Before I could respond we were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Princess Cybele,” a guard on the other side called out “The queen says it’s time for your studies.”
" Please let her know I’m on my way.”
Setting my cup down I took a deep steadying breath and bid Valerie good bye. I almost decided to stay back-hide from the future that awaited me beyond those doors- but mothers wrath was something I needed to avoid. Exiting my chambers I made my way through the winding halls of the castle until I found myself outside the giant wood doors decorated with shiny gold carvings. To a normal person they were nonsense, but to me- my family- they were beautiful representations of the magic every generation has possessed. Each generation is stronger than the last, though each person has a power unique to them. They cycle through over and over again each gift growing stronger each time it resurfaces. Mother’s unique gift was light, creating it, controlling it. According to my mother the next gift in the cycle was heat, though I think that her and father would just be happy if I had any gift, because that would mean I wasn’t broken.
“Cybele,” My mother’s voice called out. “I know you’re out there.”
Opening the door I saw my mother sitting at a desk surrounded by candles, both burning and not. She didn’t even bother looking up instead she opted to shoving a candle in my direction. “Light the wick.” she said. “Just the wick.”
Everyday was like this, we spent hours trying to trigger my gift. Carefully I picked up the candle and focused on the wick. Envisioning the tip glowing red and burning hot, I tried to extend the heat from inside me to the candle. The wick began to smoke ever so slightly and I could feel the excitement of the possibility of success. I looked up at my mother hoping to see her watching with a hint of pride in her eye. Unfortunately in doing so the smoke that had brought me hope disappeared.
“You lost concentration.” disappointment was written all over her face. She didn’t even try to hide it. “Start again.”
“Mother-”
“I said start again, Cybele.”
“We’ve been doing this everyday for as long as I can remember,” I started.
“yet we have never gone past this point” mother interrupted. “now start again.”
I’m not sure how long we stayed there; mother sitting, watching me as I try and try and try again to light the candle -to please her, to make her proud of me -but just like every day before nothing ever came except the tiniest little bit of smoke.
Just as I was about to focus on the candle again, a guard I passed on my way here came bursting through the door. I was so surprised, I almost dropped the pillar of wax in my hands.
“Who do you think you are?” mother demanded.
Looking at the man in the doorway, I couldn’t help but take note of the way he seemed to be gasping for air. His blonde hair stuck to his forehead from sweat, and he had a frantic look in his eye. Just from looking at him I felt my stomach sink and my heartbeat pound in my ears due to panic and fear. But what did I have to fear? The only one scared was him.
“My deepest apologies, your majesty,” he stated, chest heaving. “but the castle is under attack. ”
At this my mother finally stood from her seat behind the desk. “Have they infiltrated the front gates?”
“Not yet, but they were very close when I left.” The guard answered, straightening up as my mother came closer.
“Cybele, follow me and stay close.” She said. The guard was the least of her concerns.
Grabbing my wrist she began pulling me through the halls, the guard following close behind with a sword drawn and eyes shifting trying to remain vigilant. Looking at my mother i noted how this was the most scared I had ever seen her. All my life she always seemed unfazed, calm in crisis, level headed. Powerful.
“What can you tell me of the attackers?” she asked as we turned a corner.
“Not much,” the guard spoke. “Everything was normal until this heavy darkness came flowing over the front gate, after that it was nearly impossible to make anything out.”
Hearing this my mother paled, her eyes became unfocused and distant. She began muttering to herself. I only picked up on a few words- “no” “impossible” and “it can’t be her.”- nothing made sense and both confusion and fear was growing more and more inside my chest. Something about this entire situation led me to believe this was the only the beginning. A beginning that scared me.
