Prologue

"Where is she?!" the queen screeched, "Do not tell me you allowed her to escape," she turned to the guards. They avoided her eyes in fear of receiving punishment from her majesty.

"My queen," one of them began, "we were standing watch the entire night. We heard nothing, and no one approached this door." Before the queen could reply, the door behind her opened.

"She is gone, mother?" a man stood by the door. His blue eyes stared at her majesty with a stoic expression, and they did not waiver when she turned to him with a scowl. Her expression softened though when their eyes met.

"Anthony," she said her voice turning breathy, "my dear, you should be with your father," she walked over to him and took his hands into hers.

He looked down at her still with a stoic expression, "His majesty told me to assist you," he answered.

"That won't be necessary. I can handle finding that mongrel, but I appreciate your concern," she smiled lovingly at her son, but he did not reciprocate it. He let go of her hands and walked further into the room.

"I wish you did not speak of her like that," he said. He walked towards the balcony as if inspecting it. He placed his hand on a glass pane of the door, "She is to be my future wife." Queen's expression darkened at this notion, but she cleared her throat and walked towards him.

"Yes, I apologize, my dear," she put her hand on his shoulder, "but do not fret, we will find her." She then turned to the guards, "There are only two keys to this room," she reached her hand into her sleeve and pulled out a small, simple key. "The other is with his majesty. Search the palace for the other key; if it is missing then someone within the palace must have helped her escape. Find them." The guards bowed and filed out of the bedroom. The queen turned back to Anthony, "We will find her, and she will be brought back here to you my son," she patted his head and made her way out of the room. When the door had closed behind her, Anthony glanced back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key same in shape and size as the queen's.

He stared at it his expression somber. "May the gods be on your side," he whispered and kissed the key's head.