The Silver Isles Kingdom

Book one: Fall of the Kingdom

Preface

A group of thirteen islands known as The Silver Isles, named for their abundance of silver flowers. A man who traveled to the islands fell in love with the strange plants and the islands and chose to live there. He didn't want the beauty for himself and sought for his friends and family to live with him there. At first many doubted a silver flower existed and thought him clever to call what they assumed were silver mines, flowers, and thought he wanted help to mine the precious ore. Many of them, surprised that he told the truth, decided to see what kind of plant it was and if it had any benefits. Others, however, disappointed in finding that there were no treasure mines, left and decided to remain home on their continent.

Eventually more people became drawn to these legendary plants and decided to live on the isles as well. Each island was large enough to fit an entire city on them. The largest and most central island became home to the new king, a grandson to the founder of the isles. The king, however, saw fit to be fair to his subjects and allowed them to live how they chose by allowing them to create a law that they all could abide. The people, to his amazement, decided they all could live in harmony by abiding to laws that he could create himself even if it meant that he would give them a heavy tax. But he saw no need to tax the people too much and asked for only two percent of all they had earned. The tax would only rise should there be a need.

The silver flowers had the unique ability to heal wounds and silver potions became popular among the people and became the prize product to sell to the main continents. Though it couldn't heal major injuries, like a severed limb, it could prevent the wounded person from bleeding to death. Those who could create this miracle potion were very skilled medicine men. However they sought the guidance of sages who were knowledgeable in creating medicines. These wise men, as they were later called, found that any potion or medicine could be made from the silver flower and the plant itself. The silver leaves, for example, became potions for lesser illnesses and pains, and many other potions were made to cure simple ailments.

While the kingdom lived in peace for several hundred years, the main continents soon became overrun by outlaws. Brigands, murderers, assassins, spies, and so on; these men despised their fellow countrymen. One such man was Veshua, a simple thief who desired the riches of The Silver Isles, to claim himself as their king and conquer them. However, doing so would only anger the people who were their allies, he would conquer the continents first.

All it took to bring down the first of the continents was an army of five thousand outlaws whom he managed to find in hiding or by freeing from prison. The small army gradually grew within a few years, and by conquering a city or kingdom at a time the first continent fell into his hands, it wasn't long until the second one fell to his grasp as it was an empire, claiming the throne of the empire was no easy feat, but when the emperor fell in battle, Veshua was given the throne to spare the people. Now no one could stop Veshua from claiming The Silver Isles Kingdom.

Chapter One

"Sire! A fleet of over two hundred ships are en route to our island!" shouted the general in a panic to the king.

"Then prepare our ships and ready for war! Get all of our men together and get rid of these invaders. Our allies have fallen, but we will not!" replied the king. The general carried the order as he was told.

"Sire, what of your daughter, Princess Alexis?" asked his Chief Minister.

"Take her to Lo Bon, that island is close yet far enough to send her away for safety and to bring her back," the Chief Minister left immediately to escort the princess to safety. "Colonel," the king continued, "assemble a group of men and signal Hagrath and Uthlia for reinforcements, this battle is going to be a long one."