1 Kingdom Ivory

Chapter One

Nature, was always beneficent to Kingdom Ivory and summer, was absolutely deluge.

Flowers were profuse and in full bloom, with lush fields and rivers, reflecting the tremendous, cerulean sky.

Amidst the usual bustle of people in the markets, children dallying around in their little groups, women singing away as they were doing their household chores;

Abernoir, the Ivory capital was alive in all it's beauty.

Sarah Ivory, loved meandering through the hustling, Abernoir.

The crowd looked grateful and pleasantly surprised to catch her sight.

The sixteen year old princess was in disguise as usual, but people recognized her, because Beige Primevelt who was the Captain of the guard, and her trainer, had appointed a recruit, personal knight for her.

His name was Zen Carnell, he wasn't bad, but his "duty" was bothersome.

Sarah was a princess and she knew her obligations, but there was no need of flashy display.

Zen was in full Royal guard regalia, with a huge royal longsword strapped at his waist and his gait itself, was intimidating.

There was no point in any kind of disguise, so Sarah cast of her cloak and draped it on her arm.

She was wearing a teal coloured tunic, which highlighted her dark skin tone, and a pair of high boots.

Her hair were braided, but were all coming undone and were falling over her face in small black locks, fluttering in the wind.

"Could you not march so vigorously, it is startling the people!" she exclaimed, at Zen.

"I cannot help it princess, I've not been trained to walk leisurely." he said, in an obvious tone.

"Alright." She said, a bit surrendered, "but at least fall in step beside me."

He looked aghast, "I cannot walk next to a princ-" Zen was cut off, when she grabbed his arm and heaved him forward.

"Please, behave like a normal human being." She remarked.

"Following orders is humanoid." He grumbled pouting.

She rolled her eyes at him, even though he complained and looked absolutely indignant, he obeyed what she said.

She had planned to go out alone, but Zen refused to let her have her solitude.

"So you were raised in Abernoir?" She asked, initiating a conversation.

"No, I was born and raised in Asterette," he said, finally sounding normal, "I came to Abernoir when I was your age, because my father had abandoned us." He said without emotion. Asterette, was the neighbouring city to the capital and it was very busy, as it was the port city of Ivory.

"Abandoned you?" She asked, suddenly feeling bad for him.

"I'm glad he did, he was a terrible man, who abused me and my mother all the time." He said plainly.

"I'm sorry." Sarah said. "I'm twenty four years old now, you don't need to be sorry for me." Zen smiled.

"You are very young, for being a qualified recruit enough, to be appointed as my knight." She said thoughtfully.

"Are you doubting my capabilities, Your Highness?" He asked, with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"Certainly not, you were appointed by Beige himself, that is enough proof of how accomplished you might be." She said brightly.

He looked proud.

Sarah chuckled, at his expression.

"I'm glad Beige chose a knight, who at least responds with emotion, unlike him." She remarked making Zen laugh.

"Captain Primevelt is very expressive, in my opinion." He said loyally.

"Especially, when he is absolutely disappointed at you, for failing to throw daggers at the aim for hours." She said, helplessly.

Sarah wasn't very good at weaponry and swordplay, she was more interested in reading and writing.

She loved to write, she was always searching for stories and legends, for she wanted to be a queen, who was a renowned novelist.

"Sarah!" reverberated a voice, from behind them. She new that voice well, and turned around reluctantly, to find a boy, mounted on a Royal horse, with a displeased expression.

It was Victor Ivory, her elder brother, and he was not happy to find her loitering around.

Where, Sarah had a rosy brown skin, hazel eyes and lustrous wavy, black hair;

Victor, had aquamarine eyes, russet brown curls and honey tanned skin.

Sarah was pretty herself, but she always thought her brother looked more, appealing.

Victor was twenty two and looked almost, exactly like their father.

He would have been looking handsome even now, had he not been frowning at his sister.

"Need I ask?" He proclaimed.

"Victor, I was unimaginably bored, and in my defence, I have a shiny knight tagging along." Sarah said cheerfully.

Zen didn't look content at being called shiny, nor was he pleased, that he was caught being lenient.

"You need not tell father of how you met me in the middle of the market." She pleaded.

"I won't, but you are heading back right now." He said very elder brotherly.

"Not like I have any other choice." Sarah grumbled and turned on her heel, causing Zen, to stumble after her.

Even as she was walking back to the castle, everyone greeted and bowed at her, despite the fact that she had asked them not to do the latter.

She was loved by the Ivory people and she wanted to stay in their company more but it was not always possible.

Sarah and Zen had just crossed the huge iron gate, heading inside the colossal, castle which was obviously, Ivory White in colour.

The Castle itself, was a monumental piece of architecture.

Although, Sarah actually lived there, she could never stop marvelling, at how dreamy and beautiful her home was.

Everything was going fine, until she spotted a tall, well-built figure at the foot of the marble staircase.

It was Beige Primevelt, her Trainer and the Captain of the Royal Ivory guard;

and he, looked wrathful.