AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Theimmortalarerarelyforced to consider the cost of life is death. So it went for the gods and goddesses of Valmere. The five immortals found themselves content to simply exist without constraints of time or burdens of death. Centuries passed and the divine siblings fell into a pattern of levity and revelry. As all beings are wont to do, restlessness began to settle in the oldest god. A longing began to build. A need for purpose. An aching for validation.
And so it was that Lucius, the eldest god, created the people that would grant him the peace of immortality. Lucius reveled in his creations, watching as they lived with the fierceness of the sun, never to be deterred from their need to survive and make their mark.
The youngest goddess, Serephina, watched with awe as she took in the struggles that plagued the mortals. It was not their suffering that called to her, but instead their determination and capacity for love. She rejoiced in their triumphs and mourned their losses as if they were her own. In all of immortality, Serephina had never felt the burning of life more than the time spent watching over Valmere’s inhabitants.
Not all were pleased with Lucius’ creation, and discord began to fester among the three middle immortals. Lera, Adrius, and Agratious looked down at their brother’s creation, and saw the death and destruction the humans wrought upon each other. Disgust and bitterness began to take root in the immortals until they resented their brother for taking it upon himself to create change where there had only been perfection.
The three embittered immortals conspired to put an end to their brother’s creations once and for all. Seeing the discord his creations had caused among his siblings, Lucius resigned himself to the loss of his legacy. The goddess Serephina, who was different from her siblings, and with a fire few possessed, rallied her courage, knowing that an immortal life would no longer sustain her.
Too long had she watched over the mortals of Valmere learning to love and live. In one broad stroke of the magic living within her, she spread herself across the mountains, oceans, and plains of Valmere until her magic lay like a blanket over the people.
When Lera, Adrius, and Agratious discovered their sister’s betrayal, anger quickly gave way to vengeance. For, while each sibling held great power, their magic could never be used against one another. Through Serephina’s actions, Valmere was forever untouchable by her siblings.
Drained of her power, Serephina no longer held the magic that once flowed through her immortal body. Forced to reconcile the existence of their brother’s creations, the other immortals cast Serephina out into the mortal lands. Her sentence was to live and die among the volatile humans whom she had loved enough to sacrifice immortality.
Lucius understood the just anger of his siblings and watched as Serephina was relinquished to his creations, but the eldest god vowed to watch over his youngest sibling for her sacrifice and for the love he still bore for her.
Thus was the creation of Valmere.
Chapter 1
Theroarofthewind was all the comfort Wren Hayden craved as she peered out at the mountains far in the distance. Her eyes narrowed, trying to see up into the mountainside where she knew the royal family of Kazmir lived. She wondered what it was like to grow up knowing the world was at your beck and call. Raising her hands in front of her face, she studied the hard lines of her hands where callouses had formed over the years. A hollowness built in her stomach as she shoved her hands down, knowing that she would never understand what it meant to live a life of leisure.
Hollowness soon gave way to irritation as she silently chastised herself for taking her aunt and uncle’s kindness for granted. She was lucky to have a home and a family to love. Being only a toddler when her parents died, her situation could have been very different. She could have been forced into an orphanage or left on the streets, but instead, her aunt and uncle had taken her in and loved her. Whatever fantasy she created in her head was nothing to the reality of safety.
Her thoughts were torn from her by the sound of her name being called. Pushing up on her arms, her hands sank into the soft grass and came away with remnants of dirt. She wiped her hands over her brown wool dress with an exasperated sigh.
The morning sky was pink with the promise of another day as Wren trampled down the hill to where her home lay, chimney already smoking. Her aunt was never one to waste time. As soon as she opened the front door the smell of fresh bread and bacon greeted her.
“It’s about time you found your way down here.” Aunt Kate didn’t bother to turn from the stove as she stirred her creation vigorously. “Set the table and then make sure your cousin is awake.”
It was one of the things Wren loved most about her aunt. She never minced words and you always knew exactly where you stood with her. Not wasting time, Wren quickly set the table with four plates. Aunt Kate turned around, setting a bowl of golden rolls between them. The smell that wafted from them was like comfort and happiness.
“Don’t—” Her aunt’s warning was cut short as Wren snatched a roll and stuffed it in her mouth.
Aunt Kate sighed, but as she turned back to the stove shaking her head, a small chuckle escaped her. Despite the lightness in the interaction, Wren could see how tired her aunt was. It seemed like there were new lines appearing on her face daily and she had begun to notice gray strands interwoven in her long blonde braid.
Turning towards the stairs and through a mouth full of food Wren said, “I’m going to get Georgie!”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Her aunt reprimanded though there was no bite to the words.
As Wren climbed the steps, she heard her aunt mutter something about her being practically feral. Georgie’s door was cracked open and despite the light pouring through his window and into his eyes he still slept soundly. Red curls surrounded a pale, freckled face relaxed in sleep.
Her heart swelled at the sight of him and it seemed almost a sin to wake him, but then again she wasn’t prepared to explain to her aunt why Georgie wasn’t at breakfast. Wren crouched down next to Georgie’s bed and gently pressed on his shoulder.
“Georgie. It’s time to wake—”
Georgie’s eyes flew open, showing off the amber color. “Wren?” While his eyes seemed wide awake, his voice was clouded with sleep.
“Your mum sent me to wake you up because you slept too late.” She tickled him, earning her a barrage of giggles.
“Will you read me the dolphin book?” he asked through his laughter.
Wren sighed, dropping her hands to her side. “You just woke up.”
“So?” He asked in the way only a six year old with no concept of time could.
