Chapter1
Tori
Thesky was shrouded in mist.Itwas the mostIcould remember seeing in over two hundred years.
Iwalked through the palace courtyard, filled with fruit trees and climbing vines that threatened to overcome the white marble walls.Itwas only due to the arduous work of a small army of gardeners that they were held back.Unlikemany other parts of thePearlKingdom, where drought and famine seemed to be growing more common, the plants of the palace always seemed to thrive.
Mytwin brother,Jun, walked with me, unusually silent.Hecould normally be heard singing.Hissong varied depending on his mood, but it was always beautiful, like the first sound of rain after a long dry season.Ialways joked with him that the leaves themselves would turn to listen, but he never seemed to find that very funny.
Hissilence today spoke more to me than any words could.
“What’swrong?”Iasked him.Junnever did well with polite, indirect questions.
Heturned to me, and still said nothing.Buthis eyes were puffy with harsh circles, and his gaze pained, containing a worry greater than anyIcould remember.Ireached out and grasped his shoulder gently, “Jun, what’s wrong?”
Heshook his head, “Icannot say sister, but the day feels…wrong.Perhapsit's just the weather?”Themist had been unusual, butIhadn’t given it much thought.Junalways gave these things too much attention.
“Areyou worried about the petitions today?Ican go in your place.”Hefinally broke into a smile then.
“Don’tact like you are doing me some big favor, sister.Iknow you love holding court, and you knowIhate it.IfIhave an excuse to be gone,Fatherwon’t be able to find a reason to deny you.”
Hewas right, of course.AlthoughIdon’t know whyIbothered anymore.WhileIloved the opportunity to knock some of these petty lords around, it seemed court always ended with me upsetting my father.Ihad once dreamed of proving to himIcould be the heir to thePearlKingdom, but that dream had long since died.Luckily,IhadJun, who had saved me all those years ago.Buta daughter’s craving for her father’s approval would always linger.
Junabsolutely despised his title as heir.Hewould much rather be left alone to his music.Recently, it seemed the only person he enjoyed being around was me.Ismiled sweetly back at him.
“Me?Takeadvantage of your hatred of court?Never.Justlike it was always in your best interest to let me copy your work with our tutors growing up.”Iknew my smile was wicked, stretching between my long, pointed ears, butIsaw some of the worry fade from his eyes and it made my heart glow.Intruth,Junwas the only person in this whole damn courtIreally enjoyed being around, too.
Thoughwe were brother and sister, we almost looked identical.Weboth had tan skin from theNiatansun.Weboth had the dark hair of our mother and father, although he grew his out long as was traditional, whereasIhad cut mine short in a small act of defiance in my youth.Weboth shared the dark grey eyes that mimicked the sky on this misty day.Wewalked together without saying a word, butIstared into the face that was almost a mirror to mine, so similar that it was almost funny the gods had decided to make us brother and sister.Almost.
Wemeandered through the gardens until we came upon an ancient cherry tree.Ithad always been my favorite to climb as a youngling, the branches the perfect distance apart.Junwould often sit under the tree asIclimbed, singing or reading me a story.
Ithought back to another misty day.Itwas nearly two centuries ago when the tree was young, and so were we.
* * *
Junwas reading quietlyunder the tree, whileImade a ruckus in the branches.Thatwas until a few of the noble boys approached, swinging their wooden swords.
“I’mgoing to beHadeon; you beAbraxas.”Theboy’s name wasKalim, the son of one of the fae nobles.
“Youalways get to beHadeon!Iwant to be the hero.Youcan beAbraxas,” saidSano, another noble’s son.
“Noway, besides,Abraxasis the better swordsman, you should be excited.”
“Noway,Hadeonslayed at least five dragons, he’s obviously the better fighter.Youjust don’t want to be the bad guy.”
Theycontinued to bicker as they approached the shade of the tree, and then they spottedJun.
“Look,Juncan beAbraxas!”Sanosounded quite pleased with his idea.
Thefirst boy gave a sinister laugh that would have fit the darkKingAbraxasvery well. “Noway,Jun’sway too much of a pussy to be a fighter.Betterfor him to playMalech.”
Jundidn’t even look up, rooted to his book.KalimstruckJunon the arm and he dropped his book with a wince, “Betterrun, dragon.”
Isaw red.Idropped from the tree betweenJunand his attackers, “Leavehim alone!”
Fora moment, both boy’s eyes widened, thenKalimlaughed again, “Getout of the way,Princess, we’re having fun.”
Ispread my arms wide, “Isaid leave him alone.”Theboy gritted his teeth and raised his wooden sword to my chest.
