Prologue: The Fall of Renais
My name is Eirika, Princess of Renais, daughter of Fado and twin sister of Ephraim, the crown prince. I have turquoise hair and matching eyes, which, eyes being eyes, seem to have a higher content of blue. At least, that’s what my maidservant tells me. I wear long red boots, a short white dress, a red tunic over that, a short white cloak, and red gloves, and in troubled times like today, yellow armour. On the breastplate is embossed the royal crest of Renais. On my left hand I wear my most precious possession: a bracelet that my father gave to me.
My father’s kingdom was under attack from our good friends of Grado. This bizarre atrocity had been continuing for less than a week, but our provinces fell swiftly and our very castle was, at the moment, beseiged. To compound my worries, my dear brother was missing. He’d gone off to fight Grado as soon as the first word came…
I raced down the stairs from my chambers and into the throne room.
My father was giving instructions to General Seth, the youngest of our paladins at age 22, five years older than I. His mare, Altha, pawed the tiles nervously. Something bad was happening; horses were allowed in the throne room, but only in the most dire of need.
“You must see her safely to Frelia,” my father commanded, and I knew instantly he was speaking of me. Frelia was another neighbouring kingdom.
“Yes, Sire,” Seth answered, bowing his head. Then, he glanced up and looked at me. Continue reading
