PROLOGUE

The morning was crisp and the air carried the scent of recent rain. Dew drops on flowers glistened from the rising sun. A clear stream was gurgling with small silver minnows darting here and there. Nearby the stream lay a tattered tent. A man crawled through the flap on the tent and walked over to the beautiful stream. The man was exceptionally tall and muscular. He crouched down and rubbed water on his face, the droplets landing on his beard. The man was in his early twenties but the beard was deceiving. He had long knotted brown hair and he had thick eyebrows. His brown eyes looked up from the stream in the direction of the mountains which lay far beyond the valley.

Hundreds of miles away on the mountains rested a huge fortress. The castle beyond the massive walls was made of white marble. The castle blended in with the surrounding snow caps making it nearly invisible. There were four watchtowers in front of the castle with two others on the sides and inside each watchtower lay a pedestal with a huge gem on top. The red gems gleamed and glinted in the sunlight and there was a soft mystifying glow coming from within. A soldier wearing hard leather armor and a helmet was standing guard nearby. The soldier was slumped against the tower wall sleeping. The castle had a sinister silence to it and was suddenly interrupted by a blood-curdling scream. In the topmost tower of the castle, a man was being flogged. He kneeled in a puddle of his own blood not only coming from the lashes in his back but from his wrists and ankles as well. His shackles were so tight that the skin was chafed and torn open. His piercing cries were so loud that literally all other sounds were blocked out. The flogger stopped hitting him and the man replaced the screams with pain-filled whimpers. A couple of feet away a hooded figure was sitting on a throne looking over the peasant.

"So, are you ready to talk yet?" the figure said, his voice was low and had an enormous amount of power in it. The peasant on the floor shook his head because his throat was raw.

"Well then," the figure continued, "what can you tell me of a woman named Kaenu?"

The man struggled to speak and all he could manage was, "don't know". At this the figure was enraged although he looked indifferent. His cool nature hiding the malice in his eyes. The hooded figure gestured to the husky guard leaning on the wall to kill the man. The guard grabbed the man by his chains and started to drag him. The man mustered one "no" as the guard took him outside to one of the balconies. The guard held him over the edge and he dropped him. The peasant hit a shard of ice protruding from the snow and split in two. Back in the tower the new general came into the room and stood at the foot of the steps to the hooded figure's throne.

"Soto, did the peasant tell you anything?"

Soto just looked at him lost in thought. The General, feeling Soto's eyes on him, looked away at the room. The room was large and cavernous. There was a great ancient rug that covered most of the stone floor. Old books lie on shelves lining the wall to the right of the room. Parchments were stacked on a heavily lacquered desk littered with quills, ink bottles, and a pair magnifying glasses. Heavy draperies hung in front of the balcony entrances shutting out all sunlight.

"No, he was useless." The general focused his attention back on the throne. Soto's voice seemed to be strained.

"Well then, I'll send out the Shiers." The general turned on his heel and was about to exit. There was an odd crackling sound and in a split second Soto was standing right behind the general.

"How dare you speak my name as if you are my equal! You are no friend of mine, you serve me! You will always address me as your lord." He roared.

"Yes, my lord." The general said shamefacedly.

"I am the one who makes the orders here." Soto continued, "I highly advise you to keep your tongue in line. I will NOT tolerate impudence from such a pathetic excuse of a man, especially from one who has the audacity…!" He bellowed. "Speak to me like that again and even death won't bring you comfort." he whispered menacingly through clenched teeth. Soto's very breath left a slight burn on the general's neck. The general knew very well what Soto was capable of and glancing at the pool of blood on the floor reminded him of what happened to the old general a long time ago. The general was yet again about to exit when Soto grabbed his arm and swung him around so they were face to face. The general could clearly see Soto's face and he was horrified.

"I did not dismiss you. Have you no respect for your superior?" When the general failed to speak Soto smacked him across the face with such force that he sent the general flying. The general yelped in pain as he collided into the stone wall. There were three large gashes on his left jaw. "Do we understand now?" He said softly as if to a child. The general nodded.

"Next time you won't leave with mere scratches." Soto was disgusted by the general's tears. "Leave."

"Y-yes, m-my lord." Just talking caused searing pain.

Exiting the room, the general tripped over himself as he quickly walked away with his hand to his face. In another split second and crack Soto was back in his throne and after sitting in eerie silence for several minutes he got up and walked over to the desk signaling the guards to leave. He picked up a map and sat back down on his throne. Looking over the yellowed parchment he said,

"Where are you Kaenu?"