Desiree The Half Elf Princess Warrior: Keeper of the Rune

THE PROPHECY

CHAPTER TWO

     The city of Elysium stood near a mountainside, called The Laughing Peak, overlooking and surrounding a large, fortified building called Eynsworth Palace, a mighty and virtually impregnable stronghold. Or so it seemed. 

     Eynsworth Palace was surrounded by a deep and treacherous moat and thick, spiked walls, where for all intents and purposes were used to defend against raiders and other enemies alike. Located on the Isle of Lempon, a large island, and perched atop a mountainous cliff, looked over a lake to the north and a vast forest to the south. In the east laid the harbor, whereas another forest was located to the west. The palace was approached uphill via a wide cobbled road. From the outside, Eynsworth Palace, named after its owner Master Minion Eynsworth, who settled there a millia ago and forged a great army. 

     The stronghold gave the impression of being quiet from the outside, much like any other palace. Although, it was in the wee hours of the morning, nothing seemed out of the ordinary about it. Looks can be deceiving. 

     A faint flicker of light radiated from the window of one of many chambers within the confines of the immaculate fortress. Hardly noticeable at first glance, a person wouldn't suspect a thing if they didn't know where to look. The dim illumination originated from the palace library. 

     And yet, the perplexing activity in the reading room wasn't the only thing occurring under the cover of darkness: a lone figure, draped entirely in black stood in silence behind a bookshelf, watching covertly at what was taken place within the reference center, and out of sight of prying eyes. 

     A pair of oddly dressed teenage girl and boy were in the library, each dressed in identical dark attire as their concealed eavesdropper. It looked as if they weren't there cramming for extra credit or reading. Notwithstanding the fact that it was nearly daylight, nothing indicated that this was odd behavior. 

     On the contrary, the pair sat on the floor in the middle of the room. Four sets of candles were spread neatly around the both of them, providing the only source of light save for the streaming beams of moonlight filtering in through the many widows of the library. A white outline of a pentagram was sketched upon the floor just beyond where they sat. A goblet filled with water from a nearby spring laid at the young woman's feet, along with a wrinkled map and a small statue of a golden lobster. Increases were lit and surround the youthful duo, filling the air with an exotic aroma of fresh flowers and other plant life. Both teenagers each held a candle in preparation of performing a spell of some kind.

      "Cordy, tell me again," the voice of the young male queried. His high pitched voice echoing throughout the library. "Why are we doing this? You know, for clarification." 

     Ashby Constantine, the brother of princess Gardenia Constantine and the son of King Grigol Constantine, was a young wizard-in-training. He was new to the world of magic, having learned of his heritage in recent months due to the emergence of his innate abilities, nonetheless, he was fearful of his father finding out about his newfound power. 

     "Ash, please," the girl tossed back in a rather low hoarse voice. "All your questions will be answered soon enough. Just keep your voice down. I'm trying to concentrate. And besides, I don't know about you, but i don't particularly want to be discovered here this late after hours." 

     "B-but what if we get caught?" he said, a sudden hint of apprehension crept in his voice. "You know I can't afford to get kicked out. My father is a king y'know. He'll kill me. Some of us, aren't as lucky as you. Your mother is a member of the coven."