This takes place in the same place as Nessa’s Story (see my other question) but this Prologue is a bit closer to the main story. If you were wondering, Rethe is the village where Nessa has lived since the Alliance burned her childhood village. Though David and Nessa don’t meet until after the war, they pass eachother and the cool thing is that all of the lives of the people in this series come so close together but they never cross paths. So here is the Prologue for The Elven War: David’s Story.
David Rogik strolled imperiously down the steps of the stone castle in Mathedonia. Several servants stopped and kneeled as he walked by. But never mind them, he thought. Uncle Saefas wishes to see me. David ignored the great stone fountain of his Uncle, though on any other day he would have stopped to admire it. After his father, the king, was slain David’s Uncle saefas became the regent until David became the king in just a few months, when he turned sixteen.
And David liked Uncle Saefas much more than his Father. His uncle spoiled him, treating him like a pig waiting for slaughter, though David politely refused the fattening meats and lamb and stuck to his vegetarian meals. Perhaps looking at the fountain won’t hurt much. I am early, after all. And the fountain was beautiful. It had been expertly carved of the finest marble. His uncle sat stood on the water, wearing a magnificent robe and crown. Kneeling before him was a pregnant woman and her peasant child, an elf with ragged and torn clothing and drooping ears, and a faerie with sagging wings. A slain centaur rested by his uncle’s throne, and a lovely young maiden was sitting on the chair of his throne, and a lord and his wife were on the other side.
David finished his admirations and set off again, trotting up the stone stpes carpeted in red trimmed with golden fabric. He reached for the lock on the door but was repelled by a silvery blue wall. He strained his ears, but no such luck. Cursed listening spell. David inhaled deeply and ruffled his messy blonde hair. Unfocusing his sea blue eyes, he waved his hand once over the door, mixing a blue magic the color of his eyes with his uncle’s advisor’s listening spell. It was a trick he had learned from his older brother before he had gone off to war and gotten himself killed. David repeated the motion several times before the silvery blue was overpowered by his deep carribean magic.
The listening spell was now his. David pressed a short ear up to the door and listened.
“So it is set?” David recognised the voice of his uncle.
“Yes. The invasion plan is done- by this time next year we will have completely capture the elves.” David recognised the second voice- Rafel, his uncle’s chief advisor.
“And then-”
“And then the faeries will have no choice but to surrender. And they will give up their powers. They’re happy, but not stupid.” David frowned slightly, but smiled again when he imagined his uncle stroking his brown stubble.
“And if they refuse?”
“We’ll rip their wings off if we have to.” David’s jaw dropped in shock as he heard the laughter of several men and one wife, though his uncle was not amused. Uncle Saefas had always told him they were planning to help the faeries find rescue and guidance after the evil elves had corrupted their minds.
“And the boy?” This was a new voice belonging to a man David had never met before. Rafel spoke again.
“He should be here any minute. My listening spells are incorruptible.” David smiled mirthlessly. “And the boy’s stupidity is incorrigible. He never would think to try the trick his brother taught him.” David’s smile vanished into thin air as the men laughed again.
“And I will give him a mission to be an ‘ambassador’ at the elven village Rethe, and the next day my troops will ‘accidentally’ storm the place, leaving my poor nephew trampled in the confusion.” David’s mind went blank- he didn’t even hear the men’s laughter, louder than ever. All he could hear was the blood pumping in his veins as he ran in his robe back to his room.
Attempting not to vomit up his lunch, David packed his most comfortable country clothes. He brought a few books and potions with him and he slid open his amulet box and dumped the contents into his riding bag. David grabbed a map of Alcarin and stepped out of his tower.
David mounted his white horse Dayne swiftly and kicked him in the back. He tried to whisper, “Sorry.” but nothing came out. David swallowed the lump in his throat and rode all the way to the docks.
He held out a handful of gold and said to the potbellied man in front of the boats, “Get me to Rethe as fast as you can.”