"That is exactly what he has said." Elowin confird. "I just don’t rember him being one of us. Do you?" he turned his head to her, in his eyes was a mischievous glint.
Both of them laughed at the joke which was whispered between only the two of them. Everyone else in the living room was busy watching television.
Princess Elarin was speaking to the people now.
"His royal highness and I have been looking forward to this new era so much. It is hope....our hope that live broadcasting will bring us all closer than before..."
While she was talking, sothing unexpected happened-one of the caras changed direction to captured two monkeys that were waltzing gracefully, and then a young boy running after a chicken that was carrying a lizard in its mouth. About a dozen chicken followed them, loudly clucking and Elarin’s speech was interrupted.
In the different hos, laughter spread among the people, but the head mage quickly regained control by using a spell to freeze the chicken and turned the cara that had diverted back to the princess.
"Our apologies, we have encountered so err...magical difficulties!"
"Technical difficulties." Soone shouted from the back.
The crowd at the unveiling laughed, and the unveiling continued with so many chard. The waltzing monkeys had won many hearts and would always be rembered. In future when the unveiling of television would be spoken of, nobody would ntion the king or Elarin’s speech but they would talk about the waltzing monkeys.
On the television now, reporters were interviewing people on streets, taverns, markets and other places in the different cities about what their thoughts and expectations were on live television.
"And its a wrap." Sigrid stood up and stretched her arms. Her job was done, the rest was up to a public service organization the emperor had established to handle all matters to do with broadcasting.
She had given the head mage all her ideas and he had passed them on. Sigrid believed Emmah would contribute sothing, she was the type of woman who desired to be seen everywhere.
It would be interesting to see what she brought to the table.
************
The Shadowre estate was nestled on a sprawling piece of land on the edge of the nearest lake to the capital. The grand ho that belonged to a family of sailors displayed what they did proudly in the open. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of waves and ships.
Tall windows reflected the color of water and more waves were carved into them. Magic had been imbued into the carvings so the waves moved and the sound of the sea accompanied them.
The grounds of the estate were vast, with gardens that were carefully landscaped. Many hedges were cut into different shapes of boats and ships. Various statues had been raised in different areas of the compound, all the different gods of the sea or creatures of the sea.
It was rumored that the Shadowre’s were descended from a sea god which was why they dominated Eldoria’s sea business and also why they seed to be protected. No king had ever sought to trouble them.
On this estate currently, a grand celebration was being held. Lady Christie Shadowre had co of age, a beauty at only eighteen. She was a young woman with sun-kissed cheeks and a dash of salt in her hair. Many young titled n had co with flowers, following their mothers, hoping for an introduction. If it was not for her looks, it was for the size of her dowry which was rumored to be in the millions in silver.
Lady Christie, who was the center of attention did not look too pleased to have all eyes on her, she was as restless as her hair. She would much rather have been on a ship than at the party, her heart belonged to the sea.
"Christie, this is Lord Adam Newman." Her mother introduced her to yet another potential suitor. They all looked the sa, eager eyed and sweaty pald.
Christie smiled, curtsied and sighed as that young Lord retreated.
"Soone save please." she mumbled.
"Stop slouching." her mother hissed into her ears.
Christie straightened her hunched shoulders, not because her mother was fussing once again but because magic horses suddenly swept into the gardens, neighing fiercely and knocked over the tables of food and drink that had just been organized.
The arrival of the horses sent the guests and family into panic. Everyone’s first instinct was to run or hide and it was what they did.
As the horses settled down, knights of the Shadowre family arrived, swords in hand ready to defend their Lords and Ladies.
"Who dares to trespass on my estate without invitation?" The marquess bellowed.
Lord Paxton slid down from the back of the horse and approached the marquess. He opened his cloak and revealed an identification tag belonging to the crown prince.
The marquess was about to kneel but Lord Paxton shook his head and stopped him. He moved closer and whispered to him, "Get rid of the guests and close your gates, nobody should co in or go out. The food and drink has been poisoned lives are in danger, the crown princess sent to save you."
The marquess was a careful man and he also believed in his instinct, it had saved him many tis on the unstable, dangerous seas. At this mont, it told him to trust the words of Lord Paxton, he was the father of the crown princess and an honorable man.
What made him believe the most was the way the magical horses were reacting to the food, water and wine. After a long journey they were bound to be thirsty but they were trampling over the food and drink.
Lord Shadowre turned around and gave instructions to his knights. Within ten minutes, the guests had been seen off with apologies and all of the Shadowre’s on ground were gathered inside the hall.
Lord Paxton was taken to Lord Shadowre’s study and behind closed doors he told him most of the information that Sigrid had given him.
A butler further confird the truth, so of the food, especially the at related dishes and water and wine had been found to be poisoned.
The bones in Lord Shadowre’s body softened when he heard the news. "My goodness!! what a cruel hearted foe. How could they think of wiping out my entire family!"
Lord Paxton could relate, he had been just as frightened when Sigrid told them about her dream and when the things in the dream started becoming reality, he had lost sleep for many nights. The battle to protect his family was yet to end, his nights were becoming calr with every foe that was eliminated.
He was certain that he would sleep better when the Shadowre’s eliminated the Fairfax’s.
"Now is not the ti to lant or be relieved, you have more troubles with the smugglers. If you don’t solve it quickly, death will still find you. The Fairfax family has grown impatient, if you don’t swallow them, they will swallow you."
He figured he should give an encouragent and kill with a borrowed knife.
Reviews
All reviews (0)