1 Prologue

The Northern Castle of the Empire, the year 507, 12th day of Rose, Summer.

Koraline Demacia, Queen of the Deirdren Empire, paced the floor of her study. Reports littered her desk, and she had one grubby piece of parchment in her hand. The news was not good. Her Southern Port, Varsa - far to the southwest of the capital-had been the Men of the Grey's latest target. Even from Aurora (The capital of the Deirdren Empire), it would take a month to get there. Residing at Attrition castle far to the north, it would take months to get there, even if she traveled alone. She seethed. How could they be in the North in force, but still have a militia large enough to devastate her southern port? Without the ships, they cut off major supply veins that supported the southern part of the empire. Sending goods over land would take far too long and would be costly. Dangerous. Kora would be lucky if a quarter of the supplies she sent reached their destination. Bandits thrived on caravans that took the southern road. She pulled a long rope in the corner of her study, and a bell rang. Kora tossed the parchment on the desk, turning to study a map on the far wall. If the Men of the Grey had developed a Navy, this was going to be war, nationwide. She had too many regions under the rule of the empire- it would split the land for sure, and without the unity of the armies-The Deirdren Empire would fall. A knock at the study door announced the runner she had summoned.

"Bring me General Ikalla, it is urgent. And please ask Helena for some willow bark tea on your way out." Her head was beginning to throb. The runner bowed and was off. Pulling pins from a small satchel, Kora began to mark possible hiding places along the coast, big enough to tuck a Navy away. Marking the destruction of Versa - Kora paused. Tears filled her eyes, and she took the briefest of moments to grieve for the people she had lost today. She could still see the images that she had seen in the wind. The destruction was absolute. Varsa was one of her favorite places, she had grown up in a village close by. The people were kind and always ready to share a meal. The culture there was not found anywhere else. Her moment of grief had started to turn to anger, burning in Kora's throat. The Men of the Grey would not get away with this. She wished desperately for her father or her brother, but knew she was alone in this. The last of the Fae. Another knock on the door announced General Ikalla. She was a large woman, from the rainforests far in the southwest region of the Empire. Dark skinned, with tattoos on her arms-she was tall, reaching 6'4. Long braids fell down her back. Reaching for the grubby parchment, Ikalla held her hand up to wave her off.

" I received the report, your grace. What are you thinking?" Ikalla was the only real friend Kora had left. Kora could see the anger in Ikalla's eyes.They had grown up together, in Ikalla's village, and no news of her family had arrived. They suspected the worst, and Kora sympathized with her. They had both lost loved ones, today. Kora motioned to the board and began to point out various locations along the coast.

"They must have obtained a navy force of some sort. We need to locate this as soon as possible. I need information, Ikalla. The entire port was destroyed. No survivors. The place was raised to the ground." Kora's anger was in full force now. They began to discuss strategy when yet another knock from the door arose. Thinking Helena had finally brought the tea, she called for them to enter holding a stack of parchment closer to the window to see better. When Ikalla moved to bow, she knew it was not Helena with the tea. Sliding on a mask of cool indifference, she turned to see who the arrival was. Her steward, Terrance, was standing in front of a handsome man with black hair, slicked away from his face. He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

Terrance and the guest bowed low, and she bid them to rise, her curiosity peaked.

" Who is our guest, Terrance, it's highly unusual to bring newcomers straight to my study." She nodded to the gentleman, who nodded his head too, as if he also felt this improper. Normally, guests would be brought to the audience chamber, where they would wait for her arrival. This was her personal study, she was not in any proper attire, simply a gray shirt and breeches, soft leather boots from her morning ride.

"I beg your pardon, your grace, but this is a guest I knew you would want to see right away." Terrence sounded urgent, and quickly ushered the guest in. He left just as fast, promising refreshment. Where was Helena and her tea? She sighed and gestured for the man to sit. As Kora moved around the desk to have a seat herself, Ikalla took her place as guard beside her.

"I apologize, I didn't catch your name … Lord?" Kora probed, wondering what this pretty boy that Terrance had would bring him right to her rooms. The man bowed low and waited to sit until Kora had.

" My name is Drew Sinclair, and I heard you were looking for new intelligence on a mutual enemy. " He grinned, motioning to the map beside her. Ikalla and Kora looked at each other, before Kora leaned forward. Suspicion began to grow, even as his eyes dazzled her.

" How can we help you, Sir Drew?"