Chapter 2

Librona’s soldiers traveled north towards Alryn, the capital city of Librona where the castle of House Sloan stood tall at the northern border. They galloped their horses through the waking and unaware city, following the cobblestone streets up the hill and through the front gates of the castle grounds, stopping only when they reached the front courtyard. The captain of their battalion slid off his horse as they came to a stop and bowed his head to King Sloan as he trotted down the stone steps of the castle.

“There has been an attack on Talmond,” the soldier explained. “One of Scarletta’s witches.”

King Sloan’s jaw clenched. “What are the damages?”

“The city is in ruins. Everything is destroyed. There are many civilian casualties as well.”

“Where is the witch?” the king said between his teeth.

“It just vanished. I have dispatched my men to search for it.” His tone changed, hopeful. “It appears to be weak.”

King Sloan turned his gaze to the horizon. The corner of his lip pulled slightly. “That means nothing,” he hissed. “Do not underestimate Scarletta’s power.” He turned his attention back to the captain. “We must be proactive in weakening Scarletta’s defenses. Find that witch and destroy it.”

The soldier bowed to his king, then mounted his horse once more. He shouted to his troops, ordering them to begin their search through the kingdom of Librona. They took off at a gallop through the city and towards the distant forest that marked Librona’s southern boundary. The forest of Do’lor was large and dense. Not only did it make travel difficult, but it also deterred the southern kingdom of In’audis from providing any assistance to Librona in their war against Scarletta.

Librona's only other neighbor and ally remained to the north of them; the seaside kingdom of Asmar. While the kingdom aided them in the past, they quickly withdrew after the death of their beloved king. The kingdom refused to help their southern ally as their own kingdom struggled to remain afloat under their young ruler. With no other heir, their focus was to keep their kingdom alive for as long as possible.

King Sloan stood on the steps of his castle, gazing over the waking city. The kingdom struggled in their war against Scarletta without an ally, especially after Asmar pulled out of the war. King Sloan never doubted King Rowan's decision, but they were crumbling under Scarletta's reign of terror, and Asmar would surely be next.

He absentmindedly stroked his beard, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Over the years, King Sloan couldn't help but to slowly lose hope in their war against the red-haired witch. He didn't know how much longer his kingdom would last; the odds did not seem to be in his favor. His stomach churned as his mind turned to his wife and children. He never wanted his children to grow up in a world where war threatened their home. He would keep them safe at any cost. Perhaps King Rowan would let them stay in Asmar while the war raged on in Librona. Surely even he couldn't hold King Sloan’s children responsible for the demise that had befallen Asmar.

King Sloan headed inside the castle as the sun came out from hiding beyond the horizon. With Scarletta's attacks still on his mind, he made his way towards the tactical room. Regardless of their situation, he had a kingdom to run and to fight for. He would fight to the very end for his kingdom, but not blindly. He needed a plan. He needed to ensure his family's safety and he needed to prepare his army for battle. Not only that, but he needed to warn the other kingdoms of Praecanto. Should Librona fall, there was no doubt in his mind that Scarletta would turn her attention to them. She would not be satisfied until the world of humans was no more.

King Sloan stopped as he walked through the empty throne room. He gazed up at the banners that hung above the red, velvet throne and felt a sudden wave of defeat wash over him. Scarletta needed to be stopped, but with each passing day, that seemed less and less possible. He couldn't bear to think that he could be Librona's final king, but his options were dwindling rapidly.

Images of his father played through his mind as his gaze fell to the throne before him. As a child, when he wasn't at his father's side, he sat on that very throne, pretending to be the king. “Sloan, a king must be fair and just,” his father would say to him. “Sometimes the solution isn't clear. Sometimes things aren't black and white. The world is gray, Sloan. It is your job, as the future king, to bring the color into the world. Do not be quick to judge those who have made mistakes.”

He had always looked up to his father. He strived each and every day to be a king his father would be proud of and to continue to earn respect for the Martel lineage. His father never gave up, nor should he. He would fight for his kingdom, even if it meant fighting to the end. He would fight to bring the color back into their gray world.