Kingdoms of old

Prologue

A/N: Mention of death/murder, murder, depictions of blood (Wow and in the first chapter too- No, wait- This is only the prologue-)

Alistair sighed as he walked through the halls of the old castle Ampindere Fort. Tonight he was to attend a mandatory meeting for all the great lords of this land. A land of enchantment and illusion where creatures of all kinds lived, some in harmony and others hostile.

Every century the rulers of each kingdom were to travel to Ampindere Fort in peace, even if war was raging between two of the kingdoms, to unite together and strengthen bonds between allies and perhaps establish peace with enemies.

Alistair was a fairly young king, his family had perished when he was just a boy, and the responsibility that weighed upon his shoulders was a burden he had had to carry for years. Many doubted in his ability to rule, and perhaps it was that they did not see it fit for a child to be king. Or perhaps they hated him for what he was, a half-demon. 

Although he was only half, many feared him. He only had half of his father's blood in him, and so his magic was much weaker than rumors said to be. Alistair paid no attention to rumors, he believed them to be a silly waste of time. After all, why believe in something that most likely is false? 

As Alistair approached the great doors of the chamber in which the meeting was to be held he pondered, "If all kingdom rulers are to travel from all over this land to this one castle, then how do they make the journey? Certainly it would be too difficult to traverse?"

"Why do you think these meetings are only once a century?" spoke a voice. Alistair quickly turned to see who had answered his question. A phoenix swooped through the window, quickly transforming into its human form by the time it had landed on the ground. Alistair stood, amazed.

"What's the matter, boy? Never seen a phoenix outside of stories?" the phoenix asked, slightly amused. The phoenix may have looked almost human if it weren't for the fiery hair and the glittering scarlet and gold wings on its back.

"My apologies, I was not expecting an answer." Alistair replied after regaining composure, still gazing at the phoenix in awe.

The phoenix chuckled, "So I'm to assume you are King Alistair? I have heard many a good things about you." 

Alistair nodded as the phoenix walked up to him and ruffled his hair slightly. Alistair made note of the phoenix's hand being unusually warm. Perhaps it is because phoenixes posses the element of fire, along with dragons and a few other creatures. 

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance King Alistair, I am Eliseo, ruler of the phoenixes," Eliseo said as he removed his hand from Alistair's head. "Now then," Eliseo walked past Alistair towards the great doors, "Shall we attend this meeting, King Alistair?"

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The air was tense inside the meeting chamber. Eliseo had offered Alistair to sit by him, and after seeing the all the death glares the other rulers were giving him, he gladly accepted. As Alistair looked around the room he realized just how many great lords there were in this land, the table at which he sat seemed to stretch for miles. 

"Looks like a certain someone is missing," growled a werewolf that had to be at least three times Alistair's size, they seemed to be losing their patience.

"It must be Goddess Inari again," said a dark elf who had to sit on a stack of books to reach the table.

"Al'vays late like usual," muttered a vampire, he had a slight accent which intrigued Alistair.