Chapter One
“You are never to go near the tree which lies on the outskirts of the Kingdom, my dear.”
Sunlight glistened through the drawn curtains spreading life throughout the room and warming every inch of it. The cream colored walls that were once darkened with shadows that had been chased away by the coming morn. A woman who looked no older than the age of thirty sat propped up in her bed with two young girls pressed into her sides staring up at her curiously. Her hair was a soft auburn brown curled and braided, the braid being tossed over her shoulder and played with by her younger daughter. Her eyes were pools of topaz though with a hint of emerald expressing every bit of love as she stared down at her eldest daughter who shared the same colored eyes as her father. The woman could see every bit of herself in her daughters from her hair to her olive-colored skin and even in their faces. Leaning down to press a soft kiss to her eldest daughter’s head, she hugged her youngest daughter closer before stroking their hair.
“Mother, what is so special about that place? Cara and I are allowed to go everywhere else but no one will allow us to go there.”
Isabella, the eldest daughter, scrunched up her nose in slight curiosity and her lips turned downwards into a scowl that always seemed present on her face. It was true that the children were allowed everywhere else in the kingdom, as long as a guard was present, but no one not even the villagers would prompt the girls to wander towards that landmark. Cara nodded with her sister’s argument and folded her arms trying to scowl in her sister’s likeness though failing miserably.
“We are princess Mommy, so we should be able to go anywhere that we want.”
Cara’s rebuttal was less motivating than Isabella’s but in her own mind it was golden. Their mother, Queen Minerva Moretti, was a kind woman though she was feared for her protection towards her daughters. There would be no woman or man foolish enough to attack them as long as their mother reigned. The villagers treated them with the utmost kindness though not out of fear but of respect and joy. Minerva let out a soft sigh before hearing a knock at the door, a small smile formed on her lips as a woman poked her head through the door timidly. Upon his entrance, Cara squealed in delight and slipped off the bed racing towards her while Isabella followed after her albeit much slower. The woman was nowhere near prepared for the giggling bundle that leapt at her and fell to the floor holding Cara close to her so that she wouldn’t be hurt by the impact. Isabella helped pry her sister from her and held out her hand with a soft smile.
“Good Morning to you as well, Princess Cara, Princess Isabella.”
Isabella nodded her head while Cara bounced and gave her sister an excited grin. This woman was a favored one especially to the younger princess who never failed to try and ‘get’ her when she entered the room. Her name was Lady Cai, and she was almost as important as their mother. She held the title of ‘Fianna’ which was only given to those whom proved themselves worthy by the Gods. Isabella never truly believed the tales of those who gained the title of ‘Fianna’; they were said to have gone to the highest mountain in the Vales region and slay a beast who dons snow. However, Cai was far too goofy to even do a task like that and the way that she communicated with Cara along with the antics that they got up to, Isabella couldn’t even begin to believe it.
Nonetheless, Cai rose to her feet and all of the timidness that had been shown vanished showing a face of bravado and a playful nature with mischief shining in her eyes. Fair-colored skin that was marred with scars, an X-marked scar on her cheek engraved in along with several traveling down her neck and to her shoulders that were exposed due to the lack of armor. Her hair colored a dark crimson red was pulled back into a ponytail sweeping against her mid-back, and her bangs were swept to one side. Though what Cara loved most about Cai was her eyes, they were depths of chocolate brown and Cara would often say that she could see things in Cai’s eyes. The little girl would revel in talking to Cai because the emotions that the woman would convey would reflect in her eyes and create little shows for the little girl. Isabella found it ridiculous because she couldn’t see it even when she made perfect eye contact with Cai.
