Book One: His

Prologue

As I sat in the corridor of the medical hall waiting for news on my ill mother, I chatted with one of the guards. I hoped by doing this, she would let me in and see her. I had a feeling she wouldn't live much longer and that upset me. But the people of Palendoor showed no weakness. So, as the princess and future queen of Palendoor, neither could I. 

The guard went on and on about her family and how dearly she missed them. Of course, this was typical of any guard we had. They always wanted a day out of the castle to visit their family. But, that was their problem. We did not make them become guards, they signed up for it. 

As she kept talking, I began thinking. What if I were to let her out of the castle for one day to see her family and in turn, she lets me in to see my mother. "Kristine, how would you like one day out of the castle to see your family?" I asked with a smile on my face. Her face lit up, "Really? Oh could I pick the day? My son's birthday is coming up and that would be an excellent surprise for him." I smiles brighter, "Yes of course. I'll make arrangements...if you let me in to see my mother for a few short minutes."

The guard stayed silent for a moment, "Alright, fine. But you have to be quick. I don't want anyone seeing." She whispered so no one would hear. "Don't worry, Kristine, I know my mother is dying. I will be queen, and when I am, if you get into trouble, I will get you out of it because you've helped me." I smiled one last time before walking into my mothers medical room. 

Even though we lived in a castle and the walls were made of stone, we were in the 21st century and highly advanced. More advanced than any other human civilization, that's for sure. There had been nothing that we couldn't cure. Until my mother. She was hooked up to machines that were barely keeping her alive. There was a nurse taking her blood pressure when I walked in. "Excuse me, miss?" I said softly. She turned quickly. Oh, Princess Adamaris, you gave me a scare there." She laughed, "How can I help you?" 

"Please, excuse my ignorance for I do not expertise in the medical field but, why can't you cure her? We have the cure to every known illness." I said, a little embarrassed. "That is the thing, Princess Adamaris, this illness it not know. I've talked to the doctors, other nurses, even researchers, in attempt to find a cure, or at least what this illness is but with no such luck." She sighed, looking at my mother longingly. "I wish we could find a cure. She's a great queen." The nurse said. "Me too, I don't think I'm ready to be crowned queen just yet." I said softly, almost sadly. 

"There's no one that has any idea what this illness is?" I asked once more, there had to be a cure somewhere. The nurse shook her head then paused, "There is one man who thinks he may be on to something. It's far fetched but... we have nothing else right now. Perhaps you should go speak to him." She suggested. "Alright, who is it?" I asked, very eager to see this man. 

"It's Zoltan. Your uncle." She said happily. My uncle was one of the greatest researchers out there. He was known to finding cures to multiple illnesses such as the hardest types of cancer to get rid of completely. I smiled, "I'll go right away." I said happily. 

I rushed out of the room and down the medical hall towards the researchers wing of the large castle. My combat boots echoed throughout the hallways as I ran.

This could be it. They could save her. I was never fit to be queen. I grew up as an only child, destined to become commander and chief of the army. My mother was supposed to have another child, so they could become queen. Not me. I was supposed to be the head of the army, and now I still can be. 

I reached the research lab and hesitantly walked in. "Uncle?" I called. I saw his head pop up from behind some fancy equipment. "Addy!" He called. He walked over to me and wrapped me in a bear hug. "It's been a few weeks. I suppose your here because words got around that I might be on to something, eh?" He chuckled. "Yes, actually, I am. What is it?" I asked, intrigued of what possibly could be making my mother ill.

"The people of the Pastures. When you were a little girl, I would sneak out there and study them. I've seen their own people die of very similar symptoms." He said quietly, the lab was filled with researchers and it wouldn't be good if this information got around the castle and around town. "Well, if it was all the way in the pastures how did it get in our castle walls?" I asked. 

"I dunno. The only thing I can think of is if they somehow planned it. Gotten an ill person near and spread it purposefully. As an attack." He said even quieter. It was possible, we've never had complete peace with the people of the pastures. We've tried to reason with them, each time they responded with an attack. The past twenty years was somewhat peaceful. But if this was an attack, that would mean full blown war. You can not attack the queen and expect the people to be okay about it. 

"Let's say this was an attack. How would we react?" I inquired. "Well, I would talk to them first, but that could be dangerous. I would say question them about it, get them to confess. If they do, then we attack. War breaks out. If they don't and deny everything, they are either lying or maybe they didn't do it." He said. "Alright. I'll contact them. Have you found a cure? Or maybe a treatment for it?" My uncle shook his head. "No, I'm afraid it's too late for that. From my research, she'll be gone in a few hours." He said sadly. 

I sighed deeply. "Okay, I'll contact them and get everything into place." I said and walked out with my head held high and my shoulders back. I could feel eyes on me as I left the research wing. No one throughout the castle liked how I wore tight fitting battle clothing versus my dresses that the traditional princess would normally wear. But no one would ever say it to my face. 

I walked to the opposite side of the castle, to the war room. I entered the room with perfect posture and with respect. When I was spotted, everyone stood and saluted me. I nodded and they took their seats again. I walked to the front of the room with everyone's gaze on me. 

"I know that it is not official for me to be the commander of this army until I am twenty five in a few months, but I hope that you will accept me as a consultant of yours for the time being." As I began my short announcement, a soldier in the back closed the door. "Now, my uncle, a famous researcher, has reason to believe that we can not cure the queen because she has an illness that is unknown to us that comes from the people in the pastures. If that is true, we must act on our defense. No one else can catch this illness. We will call the people of the pastures and have a video meeting. We will talk to them. If they admit to doing such crimes, we will be forced to act upon them and attack. That means war." I said loudly.

Someone pulled up the large screen in front of the room to begin the video meeting. I turned to watch as the people of the pastures answered the call. A short gray troll appeared on the screen. "Ah, people of Palendoor. To what do I hold the pleasure of speaking to my life long enemies?"

"People of the pastures. Nice to see you again. We just have some questions on how the queen of Palendoor has become ill with an illness known only in your land." I said rather loudly. 

"Well, you get right to the chase don't you, but what can I expect of the people of Palendoor, always so feisty. Yes, we have infected your queen with an incurable virus. The question is, people of Palendoor, what will you do about it?"

"This means war, Vinnie Tyrel. This means war." The video call ended. "Alright soldiers, lets plan an attack. We are going to need soldiers on the edges of the walls of Palendoor. They are probably already planning another strike. We'll also need to make it inside of their walls. Attack from the inside." I stated. 

We must not show fear. It was war, after all.