The Queen's Guard

Chapter 1

She was the most beautiful baby to have been born into the royal family. Striking light blue eyes with fair skin and hair as white as snow, she was the star that guided her kingdom through what would be the toughest times throughout history. Esteri was only ten when her brother ran away. She could see the hatred he held for her, those icy blue eyes of his were always narrowed at her. She never understood why he hated her, he was to be king, and her, well she would be pawned off to some other kingdom. Years had passed since her brother's disappearance and it was only on days like this that she remembered her brother Iysso.

It was a bright sunny morning a gentle breeze moving throughout her room cooling it from the rising heat. Her curtains rustling as the wind played with the white fabric. It was calm, birds calling to each other, and the gentle twinkling of leaves were the only sounds she could hear. Her mind began wander slipping into the hidden corners of her memory, picking out the special moments that were forever lodged there. Some were happy memories but others were not. I was one of those memories that floated to the surface causing her to recollect that fateful evening that changed her life forever.

A young girl about ten was seated looking out of her window just watching the village below. Bakers, merchants and shop keepers prepared for the coming night and most had closed their stalls and were headed back to their families. The sky was slowly turning to night with a haze of pinks, yellows, oranges and purples, each melting into a layer behind the clouds dotting the sky creating a spectacular scene. Her white hair took on a honeyed glow from the sun as it sank below the mountains in the distance. She had closed her eyes feeling the fading warmth from the sun kiss her face before it retreated for the night. Her face was flushed with the warmth still heating her cheeks when she heard a pair of rushed footsteps. Esteri turned to listen as the steps moved passed her door and down the hall. Curious she crossed her room only her gown making a whisper as she crept to the door. Pressing her ear to the solid oak door she strained to hear the slapping footsteps against stone, they must not have moved to far down the hall for they stopped and she could hear another door being pushed open. Sliding her hand to the cold metal handle she pulled wincing as the door jerked open with a groan. Peeking her head out of her room she cautiously stepped out into the cold barren hallway. A few doors down a stream of light trickled out onto the grey stone, dust swirling just above the cold floor. She recognized the room to be her brother's and inched forward keeping her back against the wall. Small ears straining to catch any sounds from inside the room, she slowly made her way closer hoping to catch a glimpse of what might be going on inside.

"Gaston?"

"Come, hurry Iysso. We haven't much time. Your horse is saddled and bags are packed."

"Wha... What"

"Let's go, the guards will be here any second now, please Iysso, let's go."

Esteri was puzzled and wondered what Gaston meant. The hunt was tomorrow so why were the horses packed and why was he in such a hurry to leave. She could hear rushed movements and items being knocked over in haste. Brows furrowed she tipped her head to listen for anymore bits of conversation but nothing, only two pairs of footsteps walking towards her. Heart pounding, she pressed herself against the wall and quickly looked around her long hair swaying with the movement.

No guards, no servants not even the dogs were around nothing to be seen or to hide with. She was bound to get caught by Iysso and his friend Gaston, so in a split-second decision she ran down the corridor to the king's chambers. Sprinting down the hall she almost barreled into two enormous black dogs guarding the king's room. One of the dogs curled its lip back showing the teeth of a killing machine, large canine fangs dripping with saliva was enough to scare anybody but Esteri stood her ground. The other took a step towards her with his head lowered, his brown eyes staring into her own light blue ones. They were both very lean and tall, most of the dogs here only came to about calf height on most men but these two were at least hip height and taller than the king when they stood up on their back legs. She knew these dogs, they were her father's prized dogs, Chaskel he called their kind it meant something special to our people but I can't remember why. Wherever they were death was a possibility and they only protected royalty, it was said that they were bred to protect only those who had pure blood.