It was on the seventh day of the second fortnight in the month of blood that hell was let loose. Daella happened to find herself at the mouth of a mysterious cave which was carved out of the earth like a hole in the mouth of a demon. Inside the cave was blackness.She sensed an eerie feeling, warning her of the dangers that might lie in that darkness. It could be a beast who tears one into shreds or a ghostly demon who possesses one's soul and takes charge of their body. But the princess feared no man, not even her own father. What else could be waiting beneath all this darkness that could be worse than a man? Such were the thoughts that shaded her reasoning.So she headed into the cave. An action that would bring forth the fulfilment of a prophecy. A great prophecy which had eluded fulfilment for more than two hundred years.In the hall of prophecies, on the isle of witches far beyond the white mountains, written by the hands of the gods with the ink of destiny, plain for all to

When the lords had gone, King Morrys called for the princess. When she appeared in the throne room, the king was seated on his high throne.When he was meeting with his council, he sat amongst them, on the round table that was at one side in the throne room. But now he was on his throne, elevated above every other thing in the throne room.Heaven only knows what thoughts were going through his mind as he waited. Did the princess actually free the beast? He shouldn’t ask directly. No, he would not.Princess Daella announced herself as she appeared through the great doorway which was always open. She walked slowly towards her father but when she saw the look on his face, she stopped. “I heard you asked for me”, she said, while bowing.“I did,” the king lifted up his gaze. “Our family have always been the heroes of these lands right since the time of Arnold in the days of Albane. We have always being the ones to restore peace and calm when there is turbulence.”“Of course, your majesty”

Ever since the soldiers of Meredith had been lurkng around the old palace, the Vailesh soldiers had been on guard. They had suspicions that Meredith might be planning an invasion and so their general sent a message to their king.King Horon received their message and he shared in their suspicions. But word had been spreading in Vail that the red king was loose in Meredith. The traders from Meredith that came through the sea had been selling those stories along with their goods. How the blue moon had burnt away the grave of the red king. How the red birds had lifted his body in the sky for all to behold. How the princess of Meredith had flown with him away from sight.Everyone had their own story to tell, each one different from the other. False stories they all could be. The king of Meredith was not one to trust, he had always coveted a chance to override Vail. To be the greatest of the four lands. Wasn't that why he hated the wizards for pledging to keep balance? This could be his s

"A time of fear! A time of horror!The one in red, the one of colourHe seeks our bows and longs our lordHe deems our souls and wants our blood"The songs of the moon were first heard in Vaile before they found their path across the little waters to the highlands of Meredith, the rainbushes of Hailey, and the plains of Hayden to be sung by maidens and be heard by the young Saes. To be taught by traders and be learnt by children. The verses grew in length with every person who recited them, and new words came into its lines everday. Indeed, it was a dynamic work of literature with no soul having a right to its originality.While its lines sang in the markets at the time of the moon, the primelord waited patiently in Meredith, coveting his thoughts. The four kings debated days long on the right course of action, along with the wizards of the reach, the witchmother from the isle and other men of magic, while the crowned prince rode eagerly to Maeve. Prince Daerys and his men rode cont

"I am Ul Thera, son of the previous grand wizard, and guardian of the red orb.""Why have you come into Meredith?" Daerys asked as he kept a fixed gaze on the wizard who seemed to wear a smile. "I have been walking the other lands for the past few years, minding my own trouble and keeping out of this territory," Ul Thera continued, "But I could not ignore the pull of strong magic that I felt as I passed around this land. We all know Meredith for her laws, believe me, the presence of magic within her territory was worth the trouble."The prince rose and made his way back and forth. Should he even listen to a wizard? What if the plague was his doing? He stopped and faced Ul Thera again. "And what have you found?" The wizard rose as well, "It is poison!" He said, "One among the breeds of flowers in Maeve has been poisoned with sorcery." "Poison.." The prince muttered after him, as well as the other men who were in the room with them. "How is it?""Sa Trodden had asked the same question