The Lost Sigil; Dawn of Light

Chapter 1: Eda

The light had faded from the kingdom. Not even the ever-present sunshine could help the people see brighter days. Silence that loomed over the city became so loud that the birds 'chirping could no longer be heard. All because on that fateful afternoon, Queen Bethah was found on her bed stiff as a board and no longer breathing. Her body was an ashy grey colour, her hair, strands of steel and her eyes, filled with grey of smoke, could no longer be closed. She had been turned to stone.

News of the queen's mysterious death did spread fast and far. "The Llards are being killed off one by one! Soon none will be left for sure." people started murmuring as they were now convinced that the royal family was under a curse and so was the entire kingdom.

In the outskirts of the city, Queen Bethah's older sister, Mildred was anguished upon getting the news. She wailed loud enough to cause the ground to shake but no one dared to comfort her.

"What did you get yourself into? You silly girl..." Mildred sobbed. "I told you no...not t...not to get involved with them," she continued sobbing. It was just a year since Ronald the Warrior king was declared dead, together with their twins Aring and Jetra. The only one left was the eldest son Thomas, who would carry on the Llards' name as he takes his place on the throne.

"Those foreigners! This is their doing. Or are they looking for ..."

Mildred stopped crying for her sister when she remembered of the only treasure she had left, her daughter and the dangers that she would face if she did not act in time.

"EDAAA," Mildred called out for her only child. She could only imagine the kind of pain that Bethah had gone through and cringed at the thought of losing her own.

"EDAAA," Mildred called again but still no reply.

"LUCIUS," she called and a middle-aged man who had skin that was darker than most and a rough beard which was best preferred shaved, answered.

"YES... my lady" Lucius ran to meet Mildred who was in her chambers. The room was big and spacious. A post-bed was at the farthest end from the door with a huge wardrobe and dresser to the right of the bed, a desk and a small table surrounded by chairs did sit close to the windows on the left. The white colour and sweet fragrance that filled the room was pleasant but the feeling was nowhere near. Being called to the room was never a pleasant event for all that lived in the manor and Lucius trembled as he entered.

"Have you seen Eda?" Mildred asked bearing great urgency in her voice that masked the stutter she had from crying.

"I...I...I...haven't s....s...seen her, my lady, perhaps she's at the... "

"She is at the academy, isn't she?" Mildred interrupted. She was angry. "That girl never listens."

"We were tending the horses l...l...like you said, b...but she left me and went for a walk... a ...about an hour ago" Lucius defended himself with a slight drop of sweat trickling down his head.

"Take Alon and go find her. I need her back immediately." Mildred ordered.

"Bu...but my lady, I...I...don't need A...A... Alon... to go to t...to the Academy" Lucius pleaded but Mildred was having none of it. She was well aware of Lucius' troubles with animals but her need for Eda was greater than any petty squabbles between Lucius the caretaker and Alon the mutt.

"What if she strayed elsewhere?" She said as she left her room heading outside her manor.

Mildred was no longer her usual self and she could not help it. She felt more bitter, more demanding but completely terrified. The thought that kept on running at the back of her mind was that someone or some people were practising forbidden sorcery once again and she knew that she would be the next victim if she did not act quickly. Mildred headed towards a grave whose tombstone had the name of Jonah Adnea, her father. Like a mad woman she took a shovel and began digging up the grave. All her employees just looked on as they witnessed the mental break-down of their master.