Curse of Rogues (The Ardeias Chronicles BOOK 2)

Chapter 1

Regarding the updating status of this book, please read this: http://www.wattpad.com/9829651-heir-of-runes-the-ardeias-chronicles-author%27s-note   (or go to the author's note at the end of the first book, Heir of Runes)

Chapter One

"I don't take you as a fool, Raina Preston."

She knew that voice. The cold, soft pitch tinged with the accent of the Pulchra. She knew it like she knew the jagged scar on her left shoulder. The voice that gave her the scar in the first place. Her father, Adrien.

"What do you take me as?" The dream-Raina spoke through the bars of a cell to a pair of dark black eyes on the other side.                                        

Adrien was silent, and then his dark silhouette began to quiver as a low chuckle sounded from his throat.                                            

"You are not the rightful heir, my dear daughter."                        

"I am not your daughter. Not really."                                

Adrien's eyes narrowed. "I may not have raised you, and you may not bear my name. But you carry my blood."                                            

Shrill laughter sounded throughout the cell, and Raina forced herself to wrench open her eyes from the dream. The faint splatter of rain against glass brought her back to the reality of her palace chambers, back in the center of Ardeias's capital city of Circa. The shadowy outline of a window was to her right, the sun just above the horizon, streaks of water running down the glass panes.

Raina's fingers tightened around the ivory sheets, her nails digging through the fabric as she tried to calm her thudding heart. Her mind was still foggy.                         

It wasn't a first; being able to be cognitive while dreaming. She had first discovered the skill the night she had gotten back to Ardeias from her trip to see her step-father Robert a few weeks prior.

Her dreams were always the same. Adrien was a consistent character, as was her friend Jarl, one of the former guards of the palace that was captured in a raid by Adrien's followers, the Revolters. The dreams were confusing and terrifying, and normally on a morning like this Raina would awaken from her nightmare and immediately leave her room to go tip-toe into Erik's, as he would always help her try and decipher that night's message.                     

But this morning was different. Raina didn't exactly know why for sure, but there was a feeling at the back of her mind that paralyzed her with fear. A feeling so dark and sinister that she knew was some sort of connection with her father.                        

She was not the rightful heir?                                        

Raina already knew why the dream-Adrien would say such a thing. He didn't believe Raina was worthy of being the dominus de gemmis. That was obviously clear. The new aspect of the dream was the setting. Usually the dreams were in the dark. Only voices could be heard. She had been in a jail cell. Behind bars. Adrien was talking to her through them. What could that possibly mean?

Raina uncurled her fingers from the soft bed sheets and pushed her body up into a seated position, lying back on the pillows. The rain still poured from the sky outside, showering the palace grounds. Raina turned to her bedside table and opened the drawer, searching. She lifted the broken piece of wood on the right side of the bottom of the drawer and pulled the item she was looking for from its hiding place.