Rated [M] for violence, alcohol/drug use, sexual themes/content, mild language, etc.
Prologue
Queen Ralena stood in the castle gardens overlooking the ocean. Talyn was a city by the sea, and a beautiful city at that. It was rich, trading heavily across the Redcap Sea to the nearby islands and other lands. They had once done fine business with Dornhaven as well, merchants traveling up the Continental Highway to sell silks, aromatic herbs, delicious fruits, and other luxuries. That had dwindled in recent years however, once that brat who dared call himself King rose to power. The thought of the boy put a bad taste in the Queen’s mouth as she stared over the red waters far below.
“Pardon me for intruding on your thoughts, My Queen,” came a voice from behind. Ralena smiled as her chief advisor came to stand with her.
“You are never intruding, Felris,” the Queen greeted warmly. “On the contrary, I could use the company.”
“I am glad to give it,” Felris answered with a smile. They had been close friends for almost a decade, and, beyond that, the elderly advisor had known the young Queen since her birth. “What troubles you, Your Highness?”
Ralena glanced at him, and for a moment he could tell there was little on her mind that didn’t trouble her.
“Besides the ongoing squabbles between the kingdoms and the complications with our dear friend King Lornas, that is,” Felris amended with a patient smile. Ralena chuckled.
“Besides that? Look,” she beckoned, waving a hand toward the sea. The castle stood at the top of the cliffs overlooking the beach. It was at least a thousand foot drop from the garden, but the land gradually descended in the west toward the bay where the city docks were. The salty ocean breeze carried the aroma of the exotic plants in the castle gardens. It was generally a peaceful place.
But something was wrong.
Felris looked down at the Redcap Sea as commanded. It was typically a very calm body of water, and though it was the color of blood--for reasons still under speculation by scholars--it was teeming with life and had always been a lifeline for Talyn. But in recent days, it had been angry, its tides reaching new heights, its crimson waves beating mercilessly against the cliff-face. Even now, as the Queen and her advisor looked out at it, it seemed to grow more turbulent, red waters crashing over the piers below. Even from this height they could hear the splintering of wood. Dark clouds brewed on the horizon, the white-purple lightning visible from where they stood.
“It does look as though rough weather is ahead,” Felris conceded. He glanced at his Queen, at the wrinkle of her brow that indicated she was quite concerned. “But that is the risk of living by the sea,” he added, studying her face. “Storms are always going to loom on the horizon.”
“No,” Queen Ralena said quietly, knuckles white from how she gripped the corner of the stone facing. “This is something worse. Something much worse.”
Meanwhile, in Irys...
Draedyn stood at the bar in the Peddler’s Rest Inn in Irys, leaning on the counter with her chin in one hand and the pommel of her sheathed short sword in the other. The barkeep, Reynold, stopped in front of her, looking about as much like a barkeep as Draedyn deemed possible: round beer gut, dirty white apron, balding and busy wiping a mug with what she hoped was a relatively clean washcloth.
“Well how do you do, Drae?” Reynold greeted her with a friendly grin. “I was wondering when you’d be stopping by again. Had some ruffians causing a ruckus yesterday that coulda used a broken bone or two.”
Draedyn grinned and slid a copper across the counter. “I can’t always be around to hold your hand, Reynold,” she responded wryly. “Besides, didn’t Cisco take care of it?”
“If by ‘take care of it’ you mean give ‘em a stern finger-wagging then sure, he took mighty fine care of it for all of ten minutes. Soon as he left, they were back to yellin’ and cursin’ and grabbin’ at my poor barmaid like they’d never seen a woman before.” Reynold huffed, slightly flushed at the memory.
“I am sorry, Reynold,” Draedyn apologized with a disarming smile. “Though you must realize that we can’t just beat up everyone who causes a fuss. It would be bad for business. Hope they didn’t give Lisette too much trouble.” She glanced around briefly as she spoke, but considering it was midday, the inn was relatively quiet. Lisette, the barmaid, was serving a table in the corner, and seemed no worse for wear.
“Naw,” Reynold replied, sliding a mug of pale ale across the counter. Draedyn took it with a nod of thanks. “They mostly just patted her rump and made a few indecent comments. She’s pretty used to it.”
“Well tell her I said she can take it out on Cisco if she wants,” Draedyn said with a wink, taking a swig of her ale and looking over at the door as she heard it open.
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