Legends Lost: Amborese

Prologue

A cold mist settled in the air. Queen Rosina stood in the palace gardens, staring at the vast sea before her without really seeing it as fresh green leaves floated around her feet in small swirls, scraping against the marbled stone she stood upon. Her troubled mind rested elsewhere.

"You wished to see me," said a voice.

"Yes, Clymorus," replied the queen. "You were here in my time of grief and kept the lands of Tesnayr from falling into disarray. I wish I could thank you for it, but I cannot. It has come to my attention that you have abused the authority I have given you to further your own ambitions. You have until midday to leave Tesnayr."

"You seem different, your highness."

"Yesterday I awoke from a long sleep. I went among my people for the first time in several months. There I saw them starving, suffering from lack of basic necessities. You have lied to me, Clymorus. All this time I have allowed your words to cloud my mind from the truth. I opened the storehouses. From this day forward my people will be allowed to live as men."

"My Lady, I have only ever served you," said Clymorus, his voice taking on a dark tone.

"Served me?" Queen Rosina whipped around to face the man she had once trusted. "Was it my wish that you burn the grain fields or slaughter the people's livestock? How is instituting a famine serving me? I will spare your life, but you are forever banished from these lands."

"You cannot do this! You will not be rid of me so easily," Clymorus threatened.

"Take him away," Queen Rosina ordered. Two guards approached Clymorus, but before they could lay a hand on him, he freed his sword and cut them both down with three strokes. Shocked expressions covered the guards' faces as they slumped to the ground. Terrified, Queen Rosina watched, forcing her stiff legs to shuffle backwards, unable to comprehend that the man who had comforted her after her husband's death was capable of such a horrific act.

"How could you?" she whispered.

"I did not spend all this time in this rotten hole kissing your feet just to have you throw me out," spat Clymorus. "I had hoped to be able to use you, but since you decided to overcome your grief you are of no further value."

"You will never get away with this." Pain coursed through Queen Rosina as Clymorus shoved his steel blade through her.

"I already have," he whispered in her ear.

Warm blood surrounded the queen, cradling her as she lay paralyzed on the cold stone. Something shiny caught Clymorus' eye as her head lolled to the side, exposing her creamy white neck and the heirloom she had always worn. He bent down and yanked the necklace free, clutching in his gloved hand, a satisfied, and coveted, expression clouded his face. "Good day, my lady," he mocked her as he walked off.

Queen Rosina lay, helpless, on the ground, clutching her fatal wound as she felt life leaving her as blood poured from it. A marigold-colored orb drifted towards her as though carried by the soft wind. She watched it with half closed eyes as the orb hovered inches above the ground for a moment before transforming into a lady with flowing, curled brown hair that wrapped around her shoulders and slender waist, mirroring a sash and gazed upon Queen Rosina with sadness.

"Help me," pleaded the queen, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Help my people."

"I cannot," said the woman, with genuine sorrow, "but it has been decreed that you shall have a second chance. But not as the Queen Rosina." The woman waved her hands and a golden light engulfed the dying woman, filling her with warmth and energy before it dissipated, revealing a gray cat with tan markings on its face (that mirrored eyebrows) and chest. The cat glanced about, confused. "From this day forth," said the mysterious lady, "you shall be called Sposa."