The Keeper's Curse

Prologue

Prologue

The brilliant orange and red of the rising sun was just starting to break through the window when Queen Ashlyn Draconis rose to the sound of her crying children. Her husband still laid sound asleep as she stood over the wooden cribs, smiling down at her two children. They were barely a week old. She had only come up with their names yesterday.. As she cradled her son in her arms, rocking him slowly, she moved to the balcony to look out on her kingdom.

Today was the Naming Ceremony, and people were already flocking to the palace. In the streets below, people lined the cobblestone streets slowly shuffling their way towards the palace. They were all hoping to be able to gain a spot in the Throne Room later today. Something as simple as her children's names had brought hundreds of people to the citadel, nobles and villagers alike.

Just as she placed her son back into his crib, her husband stirred in bed. His yawn echoed through the room as he rubbed the sleep away from his dark blue eyes. Kyle Draconis, the King of Priasien, went to rise to help his wife, but she just held a slender finger to her lips, telling him that everything had settled.

"I could have gotten that," he whispered.

"When you get better hearing, I'll believe that."

Compared to Ashlyn's hearing, Kyle Draconis was basically deaf. Since her children had been born a few days ago, Ashlyn had been the one to jump from the bed to the aid of her children. Her husband had woken moments later every time and came to help, but he had never been the first to hear the cries of their children.

"People have already started to gather."

"You've made them wait this long," he responded. "I am more surprised they did not start knocking on the palace doors days ago, darling. If I was a villager, I don't think I'd be too happy about having to wait for the Everwoods."

They had waited the extra days to ensure that the Everwoods, the ruling family of Aurean, were able to attend the Naming Ceremony. Having them at the children's Naming Ceremony was a must for Ashlyn Draconis. They were some of the oldest friends Ashlyn or Kyle had, and not having them there would have felt wrong.

Speaking of the Everwoods, she hadn't greeted them yet. She had heard their carriages come in late last night, but she had decided that sleep was more important. There were a few things that she wanted to speak to them about before the Naming Ceremony, but their conversation was going to have to wait until afterwards.

Grasping her shoulder gently, Kyle leaned into her and smiled down at his children. His baby girl stared up at them, the faintest smile plastered on her small face. Beside her, their son was already back to sleep and sleeping soundly for now.

"Look at them," he muttered, she could feel the smile on his lips. "They are going to be amazing for Priasien."

#

The servants had pulled her golden hair back with many braids, placing ruby red pins throughout her hair. They then quickly dressed her in a long, flowing gown for the Naming Ceremony.

Priasien Guards already lined the walls of the Throne Room, alert and ready for any threats. They all bowed their heads to her as she entered the room, taking a seat next to the cribs. The servants had wrapped both children in gold and blue knitted blankets. Somehow they had managed to keep her son asleep while they moved him down to the Throne Room. Her daughter was finally asleep now too. She just hoped that both children wouldn't fuss until after the Naming Ceremony was over. She quickly dismissed the servants, telling them that she would stay with her children until the Naming Ceremony started.