The Crossing

Prologue

"My Lord!" squealed an anxious messenger. She knelt before the king of Ro'hish and gazed at the floor that had thick vines peeking through the tile. The messenger, Pip, looked up with fearful blue eyes. 

"Sir Reuven!" she gasped, recovering from the flight of stairs she had to shoot up to see the king. "Non-Torrents have breached our walls! They are attempting to get in the castle as we speak!" 

Reuven stared at his quivering messenger. Her light blue skin and black petals that served as her hair seemed to quiver too. The Kingdom of Ro'hish was no normal kingdom. This was a kingdom where non-human creatures thrived. Reuven arose from his throne, giving Pip a hand motion to follow him. She did. 

The king that looked like a slim, withered tree with no leaves led his messenger to a small box. He opened it and placed something shiny in her gloved hands. 

"What is it, Sir?" Pip asked thoughtfully, shutting her hands tight as if the item would leap out if she didn't.  

"A weapon of Acquiesces' own production. It is unfair for me to ask this of you, but I need you to find Lupus and bring this to him. Go now." He answered and the messenger dashed out as soon as he finished speaking. He strode out to see the captain of the Non-Torrent injuring a black centaur guard of his. 

"My Lord!" he whined when Reuven commanded that they yield. 

"I said yield, Qumran." Reuven repeated. Immediately, the captain whirled around to the people behind him. 

"Yield! We will not attack surrendering forces! Tell Acquiesces we need her up here." he ordered, much to the surprise of Reuven. 

"Thank you, sir. That was--" Reuven began. 

"What are your statements, Reuven?" the captain cut in. 

Before he could reply, a mermaid-like woman made her way toward him with a sinister frown. A part of her face was melted and irregularly drooping downward. Her eyes were a cold gray and her skin was light green. The ground she traveled on rippled like water.

"We meet again, Reuven." she said crossing finned and scaly arms. Reuven decided to get straight to the point. 

"Acquiesces, spare my people and my castle, my life, and my land is yours." he pleaded in a stern tone. 

"Not until you give back what you've stolen from me. My ring for their lives." 

Reuven chuckled. 

"Oh, Acquiesces, you ask for what you'll never have..." he said gently.

"It's already gone."