Prologue

The castle was aflame. Of this, she was certain- she could smell the smoke, hear the frantic clanging of bells as guards rushed to try and douse the fire. It had started in the south wing, so there was still time. There had to be time.

She clutched the cloth-wrapped bundle in her arms closer, wincing as a small cry echoed through the corridor. She smoothed the fabric until a tiny face was visible, making small comforting noises while continuing to move. Around that corner, down that stairway, into that alcove. Past that statue, through that hallway, up and down and around. Running, running, running. From the fire, from the danger, from the truth.

From the knowledge that this wasn't an accident.

She skidded to a stop in front of a plain stone wall, deep in the servant's quarters of the palace. Fingers fumbling for the hidden latch, she breathed a sigh of relief when a small section of the wall swung open. Pressing a kiss to her daughter's head, she lowered the baby into the nook and shut the door.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "Someone will find you, darling."

And then she ran, tearing back through the halls like someone possessed. Running, running, running again, until she hit a dead end and had to stop. Had to turn and face him.

Him.

The man who had killed her family.

The man who had destroyed her oldest daughter.

The man who had seemed so nice, so trustworthy, until it was too late and everything came crashing down around them.

But as he stepped forward, as he growled and threatened and told her she would die, she thought of her baby, warm and protected in her little hiding place. She thought of her baby, soon-to-be-found by someone who would care for her. She thought, 'not her. He won't get her.'

And as the last life drained from her body, Edaline smiled.

Chapter One: Run

Sixteen Years Later

Dex bent his head over the tiny metal wire, twisting it to fit the hole in the top of his wind chimes. He'd made two sets of these, out of copper. He'd had to lift the metal out of the armory, but it was barely enough to make a dagger and he doubted anyone would notice. Besides, they made such a lovely sound when shook.

The other end of the wire ran through a tiny box he had crafted. It was cylindrical, similar to the contraption one attached to the leg of a carrier pigeon. Two hinges on the side allowed a tiny door to be opened, the space inside the perfect size for a few matches- or, Dex hoped, a note.

Now if he could just-

"Your Majesty!" Dex's head flew up as he hid his project in his lap, meeting the eyes of his manners tutor with what he hoped was an innocent expression. Dame Alina didn't seem convinced.

"Are you paying attention? This is vital to your impressing the prince. Not that I think you'll do a very good job," she sniffed, "But you should at least know something so you don't fall flat on your face during introductions."

Dex nodded, biting his lip to keep from saying anything. Dame Alina certainly didn't keep her disdain for his family a secret, and her constant barbs were less than gracious. But she knew everything about everyone and more, so Dex often found himself subjected to these lessons whenever an important guest arrived at the castle.

"Now," Alina lectured, "The royal family of Glen has been in power for the last century. They're some of the most prestigious people out there. Which means that your family," she said, stalking closer and fixing him with a stern look, "who have only been ruling for the past sixteen years, need to make a good impression. So-"

She clapped her hands, making Dex jump in his seat. Alina glared at him. "Let's see if you remember the ancestry of the Vacker family. Starting with Fallon, go."

"Um." Dex said, frantically trying to remember the names Alina had gone through just last week. To be honest, he hadn't paid much attention- was it really likely that the prince would demand to see him list the Vacker's (admittedly impressive) lineage? Now, of course, he was regretting it. "Fallon, um, Orem, then, uh, Luzia?"

Alina gave a long, drawn-out sigh. "Why." she muttered. "Why am I subject to this."

Dex blinked. "Sorry, is that wrong?"

"Luzia was Fallon's sister," Alina growled. "She never ruled the kingdom. It was Fallon, Orem, then-"

"Excuse me," called a quiet voice from the doorway. Dex turned to see the blond head of his best friend peeking in. Alina raised a condescending eyebrow.

"Yes?" she asked, in a voice that said this had better be good, because I have much better things to do than talk to a servant. Sophie gave a small smile and dropped into a curtsy.

"The queen wants to see Prince Dex," she answered. Alina gave a small huff.

"Well. We'll pick this up later then." Dex nodded, standing up and stuffing his project into his pocket. He followed Sophie out the door, breathing a sigh of relief once they were out of Alina's earshot.

"Thank you for saving me," he said. "I don't think I could take another lecture on how great the Vackers are."

Sophie snorted. "Are you sure? You don't want to know the enlightening story of how Harlin Vacker fell off a horse when he was eight?"

Dex snapped his fingers. "Harlin! That's who I was missing. I said Luzia instead."

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Dame Alina must have been annoyed. The Vackers are like her gods."

Dex laughed. "Honestly, I don't understand why she hasn't gone to live in Glen. She doesn't like us very much, that's for sure."

"Yeah, but didn't she get banished?" Sophie asked. Dex stopped short and whirled to look at her.

"What?"

"I heard two of the maids talking the other day. Apparently she tried to stop the most recent royal wedding because she had a crush on the king."

"That's… kind of insane." Dex shook his head. "It makes sense, though. And hey-" he elbowed her- "You overheard gossip? Are you the rumors person now?"

Sophie chuckled. "Well, someone has to be, now that Marella's-" she fell silent. Dex sighed.

"Yeah."

They walked for a few more seconds before Sophie asked, "Do you think she's okay?"

"I don't know. But she's stubborn. Wherever she's gone, she'll be back."

Sophie bit her lip. "I hope so."

They stopped in front of a large wooden door, and Sophie jerked her chin at him. "You'd better go."

"I know. But can you stop by my room after dinner- or whenever the welcome festivities end? I want to show you something."

Sophie nodded, turning heel and running back to do whatever her chores were. Dex didn't envy that girl- sure, she didn't have to sit through boring lessons all the time, but she also was constantly working. He wondered what that would be like.

Letting out a long breath, Dex pushed open the door and entered the throne room, soft blue carpet crunching under his shoes as he walked. Silver-and-blue tapestries hung from the walls, making the whole room seem both colder and warmer.

At the other end of the room was a large dais with six thrones- two large and on the tallest step of the platform, the others on each side at a lower elevation. These smaller thrones were unoccupied, but in the bigger ones sat the king and queen.

"Darling," his mother called, gesturing to his seat at the side of her throne. Dex sat down, perched on the edge of the cushion so he could see both of his parents. Kesler, peering around his wife, grinned at him.

"How was your morning?" He asked. Dex shrugged.

"All right."

Juline tilted her head at him, an odd look in her eyes. "The prince will be here soon," she said in a searching tone. Dex nodded slowly, and his mother sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Dex, you know that our kingdom isn't doing well."

Dex nodded again- anyone could tell that by looking out the window. The crops were failing, there had been a mysterious chain of fires, and he'd heard of ten riots in the last month. 'Not doing well' was a severe understatement.

"People are angry because their lives are in danger. They think we're not doing enough to help." Juline continued. "Add that to the fact that most of our subjects didn't like us in the first place, and it's… not looking good for our regency."

Dex twisted his hands in his lap. He knew all of this, but hearing his mother say it in such a defeated tone wasn't exactly reassuring.

"But." Kesler said, raising an eyebrow at Juline. She nodded.

"But," she said, "The Vacker family is one of the most popular ruling families in the world. If we can align with Glen, we will be in a much better place."

Juline reached for Dex's hands, squeezing them tight. "And I know that it's going to be weird, but please, Dex. Try. This could really, really help us."

Dex took a deep breath. "Okay," he said. His parents enveloped him in a hug, smiling and laughing and thanking him. But as he smiled back, Dex had a sinking feeling that this visit wasn't going to go well.

Fitz slammed his last card down on the carriage seat, hand reaching for the pile of cards in the middle just a second after his best friend. Keefe smirked and pushed the larger pile towards him.

"Too slow," he sang, waving his hand of cards in the air- a hand, Fitz noted, that was substantially smaller than his own. Fitz sighed, picking up his cards and shuffling them halfheartedly.

"Can we just say you won?" he asked. "We've been playing for hours."

"I mean," Keefe shrugged, "if you want to forfeit. You know what you have to do."

Fitz rolled his eyes. "Keefe Sencen," he said in a dry tone, "with the power invested in me by the kingdom of Glen, I hereby dub you the best cardplayer in the world."

Keefe winked. "Dang right."

Fitz didn't respond, absentmindedly turning a playing card around and around in his hands. Keefe kicked his ankle.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"What do you think he'll be like?" Fitz said. "The prince, I mean."

Keefe blinked. "I don't know. But you're just here for an alliance thing, right? It's not like you're required to marry him."

Fitz gave him an unimpressed look. "You have no idea how politics work, do you?"

Keefe grinned. "Nope! I-"

A sudden knock on the front of the carriage interrupted him, the coachman turning around to call, "We've arrived at Haven Castle!"

Fitz leaned out the window on his side, staring up at the huge structure in front of him. He was no stranger to big palaces- he lived in one, after all- but Haven Castle was like nothing he had ever seen. Pale stone spires rocketed up hundreds of feet into the air, a blue flag with the kingdom's emblem- an eagle perched in a tree- flying from each one. The whole thing seemed to have an air of delicacy while still being strong.

It was, for lack of a better word, beautiful.

They were fast approaching the long stone wall which surrounded the castle, and Fitz felt a jerk as the carriage stopped and the coachman hopped out to speak with the guards at the entrance. The doors of the wall were opened, and Fitz felt them begin to move again. He took a deep breath, preparing for the introductions and inevitable festivities that would follow. This kind of 'alliance,' he knew, prompted all sorts of parties. Chances were, this was the last time he'd have peace for a while.

And behind him, the heavy wooden doors of Haven Castle thudded closed.

*Laughs nervously* So, that prologue came out a tiiiiiny bit darker than I intended. Oops?

Comments/questions are always appreciated!