A Slip Of Darkness

Prologue

The sound of a baby crying reverberates off the white and gold walls of the bedroom, as a woman with raven hair presses the wailing infant against her chest. The palace is otherwise quiet, with only the cries of the newborn baby and the faint sound of lute music drifting in from the window.

The woman glances around furtively, and visibly tenses as the sound of footsteps draws near. She holds the baby closer to her in maternal instinct, fear etched across her sharp features and in her dark eyes. Every part of her stands out against the delicate white of the room, her midnight hair, her black eyes, her pale, moonlight skin, proving that she doesn't belong there. She wears a white dressing gown with gold embroidery across the neck and cuffs: a futile attempt to disguise her differences.

The door creaks open, and a tall man with golden hair walks in. He's dressed in a simple white tunic, with a heavily adorned vest and mantle layered overtop. The Royal Lucerbriar family crest, a lion reared on its hind legs between the two halves of the sun, stares unwelcomingly at the woman in the bed. His posture is regal and authoritative, suited for a king, but there's a glimmer of regret and guilt in his eyes. The woman's shoulders relax and she heaves a sigh of relief as he walks towards her, a glass of water in his hand.

"Ivius.." she croaks out, her voice hoarse and laced with exhaustion.

King Ivius lifts the child from her arms, and hands the glass of water to her. As she drinks, he sits on the edge of the extravagant bed and carefully examines the baby resting on his knee.

"It seems that she is more Eorian than Xeorian'' he murmurs as he takes in the child's white-gold hair and sparkling emerald eyes.

''She is beautiful.'' Lady Lutana says weakly, the childbirth having robbed her of most of her strength. She sets the glass back down ''Have you chosen a name for her yet?''

King Ivius nods. ''Etharen'' he whispers. The baby resting in his lap immediately stops wailing at the sound of her name-to-be, and looks up at her father with huge, shining eyes.

Centuries ago, the land of Faewell was one, governed by King Eoris and Queen Xiaralise. Together they ruled harmoniously, until they found that their views for the future of Faewell were no longer the same. The land and people suffered, and as a result, a war broke out between those who supported the queen and those who supported the king. The War of Stance went on, and Faewell was divided into two: Eoria and Xeoria.

Eoria went on to be governed by the Lucerbriars, and formed the Court of Light, while the Lunabriars ruled over Xeoria with their Court of Shadows. Now, Eorians and Xeorians look at each other with hatred in their eyes, and to be seen with one another is considered treason.

If anyone were to find out that King Ivius had a child with Lady Lutana, one of the most important members of the Court of Shadows, he would be killed, or worse, exiled.

However, the revel in the courtyard was serving its purpose well, distracting the members of the Court of Light from coming into the palace. All the maids and servants were given explicit instructions not to come to the third floor of the palace, and they were too occupied providing food and drink to the revel to question why.