{AN: Sorry everyone who is following this! I've reread some of it and I'm noticed really shoddy work here, so I've pulled the two chapters I've posted so I can do a rewrite. I will also be working on a timeline so that this can go up quickly. Thanks for your understanding. For now, we get the teaser Prologue.}

Bright and Beautiful

Some call it magic, others name it a curse, and still others sorcery. No matter the name it is rare, and dangerous. Not all powers are tamed so easily.

A large, sprawling city was nestled into the coastline, enjoyed the late autumn colors. Many ships sat at port, ready to launch with their cargo or busily unloading the goods brought from beyond the reach of foot travel. Weseltown was a major center of commerce for the northern world, and many countries desired a post there. Well, all but one.

"So the Duke was beaten by Arendelle, huh?" Looking up from the scrap of parchment that had been passed to him, the prisoner of Weseltown grinned. "He couldn't have liked that. Looks like he'll have to find other people to exploit," he laughed as the parchment burst into flame and the small wooden hatch to his cell was locked shut again. Sitting calmly in the dark, the young man laughed as a bright, snapping light lit up the four stone walls.

"Sir, what can we do? We've lost our major trading partner." The Duke's skinny frame bristled at the man's words.

"I know that, you simpleton! What do you think I've been doing these past five months?!" he shrilled.

"The Queen has rejected all letters and envoys. Arendelle has locked us out completely."

Abruptly, the Duke stopped pacing and straightened. Yes, the Queen (and her sister) were the reason Arendelle and Weseltown no longer did business. If those two were no longer in Arendelle . . .

But who could do it? He had plenty of strong men in Weseltown, capable certainly of dispatching two young women. But the Queen was a sorcerer. The Princess would be easy, but then the assassin might get caught . . .

The Duke knew he needed someone strong enough to kill the Queen and her sister, and get away without being connected to Weseltown. Who would be that careful?

Standing outside a massive stone door, the Duke took a deep breath, and opened the tiny wooden hatch in the center. "I have a proposition for you." He said imperiously into the darkness beyond the stone.

In the heavy silence, a voice rang back. "And why should I do anything for you . . . Duke?"

The skinny man took a deep breath. "Because . . . if you do this, I will let you out for good." He listened to the silence for a few moments. "You can go back to your family, you can be free."

Silence. The Duke drummed his fingers anxiously. It was a wild card idea for certain, sending this boy, but with the right persuasion . . .

"What's the offer?"

Gleefully dancing in place, the Duke went up close to the hatch. "Kill the Queen and Princess of Arendelle— don't get caught!— and come back. Then you will be free to do as you please."

As the Duke watched the dark square in the stone, a flick of light illuminated a pair of dark eyes set in a pale face.

"I'll do it."

As the ship faded from sight, the Duke walked with his attendants back to his castle, a wicked grin on his wrinkled face.

"Your Grace? Will he really be allowed to free if he is successful? You know his family—"

"Oh don't worry. The boy is desperate enough to do it. And when he comes back he will be freed . . . permanently."