House of Zodiac

Prologue

"Another one has been found," Daanva announced, as he entered Valeria's candle lit chamber.

Valeria, who was sitting on a cushioned chair, looked up at him, placing her book of histories on her lap and asked, "Where was the other one found?"

"In the north of Ki Territory in a small town called Hokuyama." Daanva replied, concerned about the welfare of his queen.

"What is his house?"

"The Goat. He's only a boy no older than twelve."

"When Hanz the Lion was that age, he could already defeat a hundred men single handedly," Valeria replied with a frown, as she approached Daanva. "I don't care how old the boy is. I want to know if he's going to be a threat to my daughter and to her kingdom."

After a moment of silence, Daanva uttered, "I don't know. Only time can tell, your Majesty."

"Be sure to keep a close eye on The Goat. The Ram and the Bull are at war with one another in Ki Territory. Should that boy choose a side, he'll force us all to chose a side."

Valeria turned away, and walked toward the open balcony that overlooked the sleeping city under the moonlight. Stars sprinkled over the midnight sky, reflecting in the black ocean. The air was hot and dry, with little particles of sand that came from the desert beyond the city.

"Thousands of years ago, twelve warriors with immense power gathered to eliminate the Abyss. They granted peace to this world. Twelve kingdoms were formed, but over time the only six of them survived: the Lions, the Scale, the Twins, the Bull, the Ram, and my house, the Scorpion. The other houses were to be lost forever. Now after three hundred years, the lost houses are returning in the midst of a war. What do you make of that?"

Daanva kept a stern look as he joined Valeria on the balcony. "We shall see."