Quondam

Prologue

     "Please, my lord," the peasant cried, throwing himself onto the floor. "I'll do anything! I'll be your servant. I'll give you all I have! I'll-" The old, grungy man was silenced by a wave of a royal hand.

     "There are no exceptions." The Emperor said quietly, looking away from the old man, who began to sob. "Guards. Take him to the dungeons. His execution will take place tomorrow."

     The old man's blue eyes widened as he began sobbing harder. "But my kids- my family-"

     "Now."

     Two guards stepped forward, their dull garments sweeping the floor behind them. The Emperor stood up and watched, his gray gaze cold. His short, brown beard was finely trimmed, and his hair reached his shoulders. He stood in front of a throne in a long, expensive looking room.

     The guards dragged the peasant away, and the Emperor was left alone once again. He walked slowly down the hall, blocking out the cries of the old peasant man, his robe billowing out behind him. Lost in thought, his face remained cold and expressionless as it always had been since he was young.

     Suddenly, a woman burst through the door, her hair wild and her face stricken with shock.

     "Sir, my Lord, Your Highness, my-"

     "Speak."

     The woman caught her breath. "Yes, of course," she laughed nervously, brushing down her      dress. "I- I have some news."

     The Emperor raised his head and gazed down at the flustered woman. "Why have you come, and not the messenger?"

      "Ah, well, you see-" the woman's voice caught in her throat, and she swallowed. "The messenger- he's- he's been-"

     "Spit it out."

     "The messenger has gone missing." 

     The two stood in silence. After a minute had passed, the woman coughed and said, "Sir, Your Highness, my Lord- that was not the message I was sent to deliver."

     "What, then?"

     The woman hesitated. "Your prisoner- Glor-"

     The Emperor's eyes narrowed in fury. "Do not speak her name, or I will have you killed."

     She nodded quickly and hesitantly continued. "The girl has gone missing as well."

     The Emperor didn't move. The two humans stared at each other. They were the same species, but they had so many differences. One could basically control the world. The other could control only an animal. One had all the riches in his world. The other had nothing but a hut to live in. One had power, and the other had nothing. The Emperor's gray eyes pierced into the hazel ones in front of him as he took a deep breath.

     "Go," he muttered, turning around, his robe spinning behind him. "Gather my soldiers. Send them here. Now."

     The woman nodded, taking a step back. "Yes, sir, and I hope you-"

     "Now!" he shouted, his eyes ablaze. The woman breathed in sharply and spun around, scampering out of the room.

     The Emperor began pacing the room. His breathing became ragged as he clenched his fists, controlling his breath.

     The girl has gone missing as well.

     The words echoed through the Emperor's mind over and over again, until he had to shake his head to keep them out. He gritted his teeth together as he remembered.

     "Gloriana," he breathed, his voice shaking, "I will find you. I will gather an army. A wave of soldiers, all thirsting for your blood. You have much to fear, little girl. I will hunt you down. And I will destroy you and everything you believe in."

     The Emperor's gaze turned to the opening door.

     The girl has gone missing as well.