Acariana

Prologue

Marcurio leant forward in his chair, folding his arms and placing them on the long table in front of him. The hour was late and the meeting he was currently in had gone on a lot longer than he'd initially anticipated. Looking down the table, a stern expression on his face, he addressed his company.

"Does anyone have anything else that they wish to discuss that doesn't include those barbaric werewolves?" He asked, impatiently. These kinds of meetings bored him to no end. Everyone shook their heads in response to his question, terrified to speak another word.

"Good, we'll end the meeting here." Getting to his feet in one swift motion, Marcurio was stopped in position as a heavy thud on the rooms wooden double-doors cut through the silence. Eyes narrowing, he waved for a man in uniform to open the doors.

"Sir, Asket is here to see you." A man in the same uniform as the previous one entered the room along with a small and crooked old man.

"Asket," Marcurio nodded at the old man who tilted his head in response, "I'm just about leave, I'd prefer if whatever you have to say could wait til a later date."

"I'm afraid, my Lord, that it cannot wait." A grimace spread across Asket's face as he thought about the news that he was about to lay on the leader of the Koniglich – a clan of highly respected sorcerers and rulers of the land of Acariana.

With an icy and exasperated look Marcurio waved the rest of the men out of the room, leaving just him and Asket alone.

"What, may I ask, is so important for you to disturb me at this hour?" Marcurio sat back in his seat at the head of the table and gestured for Asket to take one beside him.

"It's not what sire but whom." Asket rubbed what little strands of hair he had left on his head and took a seat at the table.

"Explain yourself Asket, I don't have the time nor patience to play riddles with you."

"I'm afraid that I had the most unfortunate vision. It involved a young girl and a rather unnerving marking on her left hand."

Marcurio stood up at this, anger and fear boiling up inside of him.

"A hybrid?"

"Yes, my lord. I couldn't distinguish what marking she had nor could I clearly see her facial features as she was wearing a hooded cloak." At this Marcurio slammed a fist on the table.

"How is she alive?" He asked upon composing himself.

"That I cannot tell you." Asket sighed. His extraordinary abilities as a seer had earned him the title of 'Oracle' along with a prestigious place in the Koniglich court. However, the vision that he had just recounted to Marcurio had been a faded and blurred one. The first one he'd ever had.

"Was she alone?" Marcurio asked, his eyes narrowing at the thought of the hybrid having accomplices.

"Yes, as far as I could tell."

"Good. It will make her easier prey."

"I understand. Would you like me to inform Asher, sire?"

"Yes. Tell him that I want the vermin disposed of." Marcurio spat out.

"Is that all?" Asket stood waiting for permission to leave.

"You are dismissed"

Marcurio waited until Asket left the room before he stood up. How had a hybrid survived the Great War? Or, more importantly, where was she hiding?