Falling Kingdoms - Prologue + 3 chapters

Chapter 1

Sixteen years later

PAELSIA

"A life without wine and beauty isn't worth living. Don't you agree, princess?" Aron slung his arm around Cleo's shoulders as the group of four walked along the dusty, rocky country path.

     They'd been in port for less than two hours and he was already drunk, a fact not unduly startling when it came to Aron.

      Cleo's glance fell on their accompanying palace guard. His eyes flashed with displeasure at Aron's proximity to the princess of Auranos. But the guard's concern wasn't necessary. Despite the fancy jeweled dagger Aron always wore on a sheath hanging from his belt, he was no more dangerous than a butterfly. A drunk butterfly.

      "I couldn't agree more," she said, lying only a little.

      "Are we almost there?" Mira asked. The beautiful girl with long dark reddish hair and smooth flawless skin was both Cleo's friend and her older sister's lady-in-waiting. When Emilia decided to stay home due to a sudden headache, she'd insisted that Mira accompany Cleo on this trip. Once the ship arrived in the harbor, a dozen of their friends chose to remain comfortably on board while Cleo and Mira joined Aron on his journey to a nearby village to find the "perfect" bottle of wine. The palace wine cellars were stocked with thousands of bottles of wine from both Auranos and Paelsia, but Aron had heard of a particular vineyard whose output was supposedly unparalleled. At his request, Cleo booked one of her father's ships and invited many of their friends on the trip to Paelsia expressly in search of his ideal bottle.

      "That would be a question for Aron. He's the one leading this particular quest." Cleo drew her fur-lined velvet cloak closer to block out the chill of the day. While the ground was clear, a few light snowflakes drifted across their rock-strewn path. Paelsia was farther north than Auranos, but the temperature here surprised her nonetheless. Auranos was warm and temperate, even in the bleakest winter months, with rolling green hills, sturdy olive trees, and acres beyond acres of rich, temperate farmland. Paelsia, by contrast, seemed dusty and gray as far as the eye could see.

      "Almost there?" Aron repeated. "Almost there? Mira, my peach, all good things come to those who wait. Remember that."

      "My lord, I'm the most patient person I know. But my feet hurt." She tempered the complaint with a smile.

      "It's a beautiful day and I'm lucky enough to be accompanied by two gorgeous girls. We must give thanks to the goddess for the splendor we've been greeted with here."

      Watching the guard, Cleo saw him briefly roll his eyes. When he noticed that she had seen him, he didn't immediately look away as any other guard might. He held her gaze with a defiance that intrigued her. She realized she hadn't seen-or, at least, noticed-this guard before today.

      "What's your name?" she addressed him.

      "Theon Ranus, your highness."

      "Well, Theon, do you have anything to add to our discussion about how far we've walked this afternoon?"

      Aron chortled and swigged from his flask.

      "No, princess."

      "I'm surprised, since you are the one who'll be required to carry the cases of wine back to the ship."

      "It's my duty and honor to serve you."

      Cleo considered him for a moment. His hair was the color of dark bronze, his skin tanned and unlined. He looked as if he could be one of her rich friends waiting on the ship rather than a uniformed guard her father had insisted accompany them on this journey.