Soul

Chapter I

Ten Years Earlier

    A YELLOW GLOW fell over the thrown room. Finally the sun was setting. Father would be home soon. The usual cream-colored bricks that were the walls of the grand room were shown gold under the setting sun, casting the room in an amber glow that made the white pelted thrown before me even more stunning and all too tempting.

     "Please Mother? It would only be but a moment. I won't harm a thing. I promise."

     She shifted her gaze from the tall west-faced window towards me. At first she only grinned. But in the time that she faced me, I had the chance to notice just how breathtakingly beautiful she was in the golden light. Long shadows hung perfectly on her face, accenting all of her best features, her slim nose, full lips, soft face. The light wrapped around her body accentuating the slender shape of her body. Her black hair shined from the suns dying touch, her ivory skin shown bronze. Though what I noticed most was that the light failed to disrupt her most beautiful feature. Her eyes. They were emerald. Greener than any forest you could ever imagine, and they were on me now.

 She spoke in a gentle voice.

 "Chinira, darling, you are seven years old now. Think, in ten years you will have a thrown of your own to sit upon as you please. You have no business in mine."

     I frowned. "But mine will not compare to yours, Mother. How many white stag even exist anymore? I doubt that Father could hunt one in ten years in order to give me a thrown just as yours is."

    "That may be so, however I have never sat in my mother's thrown. You shall not rest in mine, my sweet."   

  It was worth the attempt. 

     Mother's gaze was on the window again. I didn't miss the hurt in her alluring eyes as she turned away from me.

     That concerned me.

      "Mother?"

     "Yes, Dear?"

 She didn't turn to me, her eyes stayed on the window.    

 "Are you well?"  

   "Oh I am just fine Chinira, Darling. I am only waiting for your father. He should have returned by now."    

  My breath caught in my throat.  

   "Do you think he is alright, mother?"    

 "Oh I'm sure he is fine, my sweet." She gave me a small smile. It did not reach her eyes.   

   Now I too was in a trance-like state staring through the window at the almost-settled sun. I had heard the stories that passed between the servants and maids as they sauntered through the halls. Stories of Agor, our neighboring kingdom, that the king who ruled there was never content, that he wished he could steal my beloved home of Hastor to feed his relentless greed. Though my father has avoided conflict with Agor for many years, he still grew wary at the mention of the Agorian King's name.     

      There was no doubt that this was the reason for mother's worry. From what I've heard through the whispering halls, father was doing business in Agor for the past couple of weeks discussing trade with the king and townsfolk.      

     Mother must have noticed my silence, as she turned to me once again and pulled me to her chest.  I leaned into her embrace and for a moment we stayed that way. The only noise shared between us was our heartbeats. Though my mother's body was stiff with concern, her heartbeat remained steady.      

     She was always such a strong woman, and an even stronger queen. I'd only dreamed of being half the queen she was someday.     

     Mother lifted a hand and stroked my pale curls. Finally she broke the silence.