Chapter one

 

“I want that tower finished before I fall asleep tonight, soldiers!” the General screamed.

 

Soldiers and builders scurried about the construction area, frantically trying to get the last block in place on the tower. I sat on a boulder with my hands on my knees, watching the pathetic sight before me. The king wanted his fort finished before the beasts attacked.

 

“Cassim, my boy. I am leaving you in charge. I want you to make sure they don’t mess up like they did last time.” General Krandoris spoke.

 

“Yes sir” I replied as I snapped off a lazy salute.

 

I was always like that. Ever since I was a kid, I loved taking my fathers swords and running around with them. I grew up to be a great swordsman too. Every year, I was proclaimed as the kingdoms most honorable knight.

 

My purple hair and skin, along with my sharp, pointed ears made me stand out in the crowd. I was half elf, half human. My father came from a secret tribe that nobody knew about until I was born. They lived in the Kaskadian Mountains, hunting and protecting. They come out every once in a while to see the great magician, Merlin, and teach him. Yes, Merlin was taught his skills by elves.

 

I didn’t know of any other elves in any kingdom, except my father and I. My mother was a lady, one of the courts finest. She aided the queen in getting ready for special events. Her style and taste was known all the way from their small kingdom to the great ocean, miles away.

 

The kingdoms only problem was war. There were creatures in the forest that detested humans. Sadly, the king had built his kingdom right on top of their land, so that just got their tempers going. So far, there had been around seventeen attacks from the beasts, and they had only been there for two years. I was a big part of the war, since I was the one who racked up the most kills.

 

As I watched from my boulder, the young ladies of the court started pouring out of the castles doors. Beautiful Madeline was leading the small parade of ladies, as always. Her long brown hair sparkled in the sun, and her graceful walk was ever so soft. I watched her as she walked towards me, and my throat dried up like a raisin.

 

Madeline had always been the object of my affections. Since we were just learning how to walk, I had fancied her. She was always kind to me, but then again, so was everyone else, but she was a special kind of nice. She always talked to me in the kindest voice, and just one look could make me blush.

 

She was now standing right in front of me, staring.

 

“Hello dear Cassim. Would you know where General Krandoris would be? I must find him to tell him something important.” She said so softly she seemed to outdo the wind.

 

“Uh, yea. I think he is in the workers hut, going over the plans again” I managed to mumble out. My words were sticking to my tongue, despite my feeble efforts.

 

“Why thank you, Lucas”

 

As she walked away, I couldn’t help but notice how every soldier reacted to her presence. They all bowed down to her as she walked, ignoring the attempts by the ladies to make conversation. The just went down on one knee, with their heads bowed. When she shoved the curtain aside on the workers hut, and walked softly inside, they rose again and went back to work.

 

“You there!” I called to a youthful face on one of the soldiers.

 

“Me, sir?” he replied.

 

“Yes you, come here. I want to speak with you.”

 

The soldier walked nervously over, shuffling his feet, trying to look casual. He stopped abruptly, almost running into my knees, snapping a crisp salute.

 

“What can I do for you, sir?”

 

“Why is it you all bowed to Lady Madeline as she walked by?” I asked, confused by the action.

 

“But, sir, do you not know?” the young soldier asked, shocked.

 

I stared at him, confused. Did I not know what? What was I not informed of?

 

“Sir, it was discovered that she is the daughter of the king. She was the princess her entire life, but no one knew it. They revealed it several hours ago.”

 

“Princess? But...but… she was Lady Madeline ever since I knew her. How can she be a princess?!” I asked, rhetorically.

 

I was shocked! How could this be? I had dreamed of marrying Lady Madeline for years now, and I knew I had the chance if I became a great swordsman. Now that I had the title, I was going to ask her father for permission to marry her. Now that she was proclaimed royalty, I could never marry her. She would have to marry prince from another land and go there to live with him, since she was the only child of the king.

 

“Leave me now, soldier. Return to your labor!”

 

“Yes, sir. But if I may ask one thing.”

 

“Yes, yes, what is it?”

 

“Do you fancy Princess Madeline?”

 

“How dare you ask me that! You have no right to know such a thing!” I responded furiously.

 

“Begging your pardon, sir, but t’is just a question. It is possible too, for marriage. You must please the king first though. Be a hero in a great war, and you will earn the hand of Princess Madeline.” The soldier said mysteriously.

 

“How did you…”

 

“Do not ask, just follow the advice,” he said as he walked away, back into the crowd of sweaty workers. Grasping a rope, he climbed up to the second floor of the tower and disappeared inside, ready to work for his king.

 

I was shivering with excitement from the news. What if the soldier was right? Did I still have a chance with Lady… err…Princess Madeline? Bounding from the boulder, I rushed towards the second in command.

 

“Soldier, you are now in charge. I have important business to attend to. If General Krandoris returns, tell him that I went to the king to ask him a pressing question that will affect the war and kingdom.” I quickly said.

 

Dashing off before the soldier could return an answer, I raced up the muddy path into town. My sword bounced painfully against my thigh, but I paid no attention to it. I would have to repair it after. Racing through town, people stopped in their tracks, staring at me as I rushed by. Many of them had begun to remove their hats to bow, but I was gone before they could touch their heads.

 

Bounding up the steps of the unfinished castle, I tripped violently on something on the ground. Falling forwards before I could catch myself, I landed face first on the steps. Slowly and painfully, I lifted myself onto my hands and knees, turning around as well to see what had caused me to fall. There on the ground was a bruised creature, one that I had never laid eyes on in my life.

 

It was a miniscule, onyx, furry thing. It lay there on the hard steps staring at me pitifully. Its eyes were lighting blue with sharp black slits for pupils. It looked like a deranged cat, but with ears like mine. The paws were massive, with sharp silver claws. Not grey silver either, but silver like a sickle melted down to a liquid. Its tail was short and stubby, so much that ne wondered if it even had a tail, or if it was just a tuffet of hair.

 

“So you’re the beast that made me trip so hard. Where did you come from?” he asked, while reaching gently towards the small beast. It purred slightly as his hand stroked its long fur. Carefully wrapping his hands around the torso, Luke lifted the small creature and held him in his arms as he stood up. He became aware of small bruises all over his body.

 

“Now aren’t you the little devil? What are you doing here? I’ve never seen anything like you!”

 

A small presence started creeping into his conscience. A monstrous thumping pounded his head. Suddenly, feeling like a cart ran him over at full speed, a wave of images flashed in his mind’s eyes. A large forest, a clearing, and then a gathering of shadows, each different sizes and shapes. They were discussing something that he couldn’t hear. Planning something. The voices grew, and he realized that they were planning a war. They were the beasts in the mountains, the ones that they were fighting. They said that humans were evil and had to be exterminated. They had vampires, werewolves, evil witches and wizards, even some of the trees were on their side.

 

Just as quickly as they had come, the images disappeared. Heart pounding, he raced up the remaining flight of stairs, and into the Great Hall. The creature had its head buried in his chest armor, shivering violently. Dashing past the servants and nobles, he headed straight for the kings room.

 

Hidden behind the thrones, the kings room was meant for only the highest ranked in the kingdom, but he absolutely had to get in there and warn the king. Skidding to a halt in front of the guard, he tried desperately to explain why he needed in. All his words seemed to slur together and the guard watched him make a fool of himself. Finally getting the right words out, the guard agreed, but the “cat” had to stay with him. Luke frantically agreed, shoving the beast into the guard’s arms, the rushing inside the room.

 

The king was resting by the eating table, with his gigantic belly bulging more than usual. His eyes were snapped tightly shut, twitching slightly. King Marcus Wolfbang was always eating. He sometimes ate more than the entire kingdom put together, but he was a kind-hearted king. He would go to battle for his people any day.

 

Luke stood at the entrance awkwardly, his hand on his sword. He cleared his throat loudly, with an echo that bounced about the room. The king jumped awake, looking around quickly as though he had just been struck by lightning. When he spotted Luke, he laid back into the pile of pillows, smiling.

 

“Lucas! Welcome! What brings you here?” Wolfbang boomed, gesturing to a seat near him.

 

“Your majesty, I have terrible news. The creatures are planning another attack on our kingdom.” Luke stared at the seat, repulsed by its fluffiness, and its softness. He was the type of guy that preferred a throne.

 

“And how is it that you have come by this information?” the king asked

 

 “To be honest, I was just outside that castle, when a sort of vision happened. I saw what I said, and I swear to the gods that it is no lie.”

 

“Very well, we will shorten the working soldiers, and increase the guards. You may leave now” the king replied, waving him away. The guard entered with the creature in his arms, and lead Luke out the door.

 

“You will take this beast with you, and make sure that it never steps near the royalty. It is a sin to endanger their lives, and we will need them for this war if we are to survive” the guard said while handing the beast to Luke in disgust.

 

Lucas swiftly snatched his “pet”, and strode out the great oak doors. Rushing down the steps, he was about to turn towards the construction area when he ran into general Krandoris. The general’s face was bright red with fury, and it seemed like steam was exploding out of his ears.