Knightingale [THE FIRST DRAFT.]

PROLOGUE

"Where our story starts in the kingdom of Eyocahn."

[ THIS BOOK is available illustrated on my KOFI @/2ndstarart ]

Eyocahn was a kingdom of wonders. Around every turn a new surprise lay, waiting to catch its unsuspecting prey. Nestled in the north of the continent of Owhain, a great palace lay in the centre, its lower quarter guarded by an ever-growing forest in which lush entangling vines climbed its stone walls. The northern quarter, surrounded by winding waters, was a popular destination for those of the trading persuasion. Many 'temporary' settlements were erected at the kingdom's conception which worked as trading points for those across the oceans to trade herbs, spices, meats, and various other materials. Eyocahn's offer: Protection.

Under the rule of King Killian the Inflamed, aptly named for his unique penchant for burning down entire villages, Eyocahn had the largest and most impressive arsenal of weapons and armour the nations had to offer. Those who knew the right people, in the right places could get their hands on different pieces here and there to sell to the highest bidder. Those who couldn't do so, sold their services as mercenaries in trade for room and board, leaving their lives in Eyocahn behind.

Killian's reign of terror allowed his kingdom to be safe from its rivals, and yet simultaneously made himself its adversary. His people detested him, burned straw look-alikes in their streets, and revolted outside the palace. These acts of rebellion were met, not surprisingly, by the wrath of their target. The population of Eyocahn declined rapidly whether Killian had them burnt, or the citizens left for their own good.

Throughout his reign, when the kingdom was at its lowest, the bachelor king married. A fair (and far younger) lady from Crahka; much to both kingdom's delight, for Crahka gained political power whilst Eyocahn - or much rather, their king - gained a woman to hang at his side just as she was instructed to do so.

Not much was known about the King's wife, she was scarcely seen and even less heard, but the one thing that was known was her beautiful daughter Saraphina.

The day Seraphina was born, the kingdom saw a light that shone brighter than her father's burning effigies. A beacon of hope for the strong, yet crumbling kingdom. She grew up in the public eye, yet away from her decaying father. With every year her grey eyes shone brighter, and an extra skip was added to her step, whilst his eyes turned milky, and his bones started to rot. It was as if she stole the light from his soul. He passed before she was thirteen.

There's a small detail about the princess that one shouldn't forget when describing her, which is the fact that she, once the day's sun shone its full rays upon its kingdom, sprouted feathers and in a glimmer of light, transformed into that of a lovely white swan. The people believed she was like this from birth, a mighty power cursing her for her father's actions, yet that didn't make the people of Eyocahn love her less. For she brought a great and immense power that overshone her father and as the only heir - she soon became Queen.

Being Queen of a kingdom such as Eyocahn with its stand-still of population, declining weapon quality and on the brink of war, at the start of her adolescence, was nothing less than a difficult task. Her mother was out of commission too, of course; a woman contrived to serve men her whole life couldn't live on without the man she was directed to love, she has remained in her chambers until this day.