The Shattered Crown

Chapter I

The fiery lights of the castle shone from its windows. Laughter from various men and women winded its way out of the castle's Great Hall, sending a strange music out over Golden Harbor. Within that hall, the greatest gathering of the year was taking place—the Feast of the High Houses.

It was not nearly as majestic or glorious as its name suggested; it was mainly just the Lord Protectors of each of the nine kingdoms getting together and feasting. Of course, King Eckbert was there as well.

Lord Athalos Greystoke was a shrewd man. Nearing seventy, he had been Lord Protector of Stonesky for almost forty years. He was seated beneath the Greystoke sigil—a crescent moon above a mountain. He was the only Lord Protector not accompanied by a wife or son—his wife never almost never left Greystoke Castle. He silently watched the high table. King Eckbert had no wife, for the Queen Corinne had died almost ten years ago of the wasting disease. He instead was accompanied by the three princes and their wives. Athalos scoffed slightly at them. Despite being an old ally of Eckbert, he disliked all three of the king's sons.

The eldest son, Prince Borin, was tall and thin. He was thirty-four years of age, and in Athalos's opinion, one of the most cunning men in Albria. Athalos found him pleasant enough to speak with, but often felt as if the younger man was thinking of fifty ways to kill him on the spot. He was married to Drina Wintercloak, the similarly-minded oldest daughter of Lord Jarcliff Wintercloak and Lady Mirabelle Giles. They had a daughter and two sons.

The middle son, Prince Carac, was thirty-one. He was shorter than both of his brothers, but the strongest. He was known as the Warrior Prince, a title well deserved. Fifteen years previously, Carac had sliced off the head of the rebel king of Zahria. He had been only sixteen at the time. He was married to Hermina Gordyn of the Breadbasket. They had one daughter, though there were rumors that one of their daughter's servants was his illegitimate child.

The youngest prince, Merek, was the one Athalos found the most pleasant to be around. Unfortunately, he was one of the most stupid people Athalos knew. He was slightly taller than Carac, with brown hair. He was thirty years old. His wife was Athalos's granddaughter, Beatrix. They had no children, for Athalos knew that Beatrix did not like being around the Prince any more than she needed.

"Lord Greystoke." Athalos looked around. He knew that voice. Finally, he found her. Lady Varina Giles. The wife of the late Lord Corden Giles, and mother of Lord Andar Giles, Varina was eighty years old. Athalos trusted her, though he knew she was a very shrewd woman, even in her old age. He rose to greet her.

"Beautiful as ever, Varina," Athalos said, kissing the old woman's ring.

"Don't flatter me, Athalos. We both know it doesn't work," she said brusquely. That was typical Varina. She was a proud woman Born into the family of a small Arborlandic Lord, she had spent her life climbing the ladder of power. She had married an uncle of King Eckbert when she was only fourteen, then after his death three years later, returned to the Arborlands where she eventually would marry Corden Giles.

"How is your family?"

The old woman grimaced. "My idiot son is trying to marry Seraphina off to Eckbert. I'm trying to talk him out of it. A sixty-one-year-old and a seventeen-year-old will never be a good match, even if it would make her the queen."

"I agree, that is...distasteful," Athalos replied uncomfortably.

"Oh, of course, I forgot. How's your wife? She's what, half your age? Less?" Sarcasm dripped from the noblewoman's speech.

"I—"

"Oh, do shut up." With that, Varina walked calmly back to the Giles' table.

Athalos was left entirely bemused. He had forgotten what it was like to talk with the Giles matriarch. Turning, he caught the eye of the Twins. His heart dropped as they came toward him. Aileen and Neelia Zuocco were the daughters of Lord Cadman Zuocco, who had replaced the rebel king as Protector of Zahria. Rumor had it that the twins were sorceresses who influenced their father's rise to power.