In a seaside village, North of Archeon
"C'mon Jess, hurry up, or we'll be late!"
Carla is rushing around the kitchen.
She shoves a croissant into her mouth, grabs her bag and is simultaneously lacing her boots, perfectly balanced.
Jess is sat shovelling fruits and pastries into her mouth as their mother clears the dishes from the table.
Jess's little hands grab for one last strawberry before the plate is taken to the sink.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Jess's cheeks are stuffed full and she shoves her hands under the cold stream of tap water, before grabbing her bag and following Carla.
"Wait, you two!"
Their mother pulls Jess and Carla back, smoothing down their hair, a last-minute taming of the frizz.
She herself grabs her trolley and they set off in opposite directions, after the busy morning.
The mother is off to the markets, already thinking of what dinner to prepare.
Carla and Jess power walk together.
They dodge two fishermen carrying nets across the bustling square.
There is a clock tower facing the sea, which Carla looks up at, just as it chimes, ringing 9am.
"Rats! We're late! Ms Hyatt is gonna have a field day with me."
Carla pulls Jess along behind her.
Just one more year of putting up with her teacher's scoldings before she gets out of this village.
Jess's short legs struggle to match the stride of her older sister's.
"Oh nooooo! Carlaaaaaaa, I forgot my homework!"
Jess stops in her tracks, her bag half hanging open.
Her voice draws into a natural whine.
Carla does not notice, marching on.
She turns around to check for Jess and sighs, going back.
"That's too bad! I told you to pack your bag the night befo-"
Carla and Jess have stopped at a short stone wall right next to the docks.
An overwhelming presence on their right side catches their attention and pulls their eyes out to sea.
They spot a hoard of massive ships which bob onto the horizon.
The whole square seems to still as the village folk watch the ships cut through the water.
The speed at which they parted the sea was an obvious indication of Silver technology.
The fishermen stop and stare, admiring the beautiful ships.
Even from this distance, their size is apparent. They are ornate, featuring the classic design of dark wood and gold.
The owners of the seafront market stalls gawk too.
Carla squints at the sails.
They were entirely black. All of them.
They moved as a wave of darknesss, filling Carla with a growing dread.
Jess's eyes light up.
"Is it Queen Kaida? Maybe she's coming to see us!"
Jess is instantly excited at the thought of the Red Queen visiting their small village.
YOU ARE READING
𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄
Romance[Completed - Book 3 of the Blood Court Series] ❝ You manipulated me. Did you think I would be happy? To see you sit on my throne. The throne you stole from me, while you let me die. Me...
