Chapter 1

No-one knows where the witches came from.

According to the stories, they just appeared one day in a great black cloud; like an angry flock of crows ready to pick us off one by one.

We would have all been lost if not for the Dwargr Kingdom in the mountains. They've guarded us, protected us, kept us safe from the evil of the Zauber. It is their way.

From their glowing Beacon fires that dot the night-sky to the fierce Hunters that search throughout the endless web-like ranges of the peaks, the Dwargr have protected the numerous human kingdoms in the vast valleys that dotted the mountains. Kingdoms like Draven. My home.

I am Princess Eira von Drava. And, this is my story.

SSS

"Eira? Eira!" Linde blew out an aggravated huff through her nose as she shook her head. "Where is that girl?"

Of course, she knew the answer before the words passed her lips.

For years, Linde had served as a Royal Guard, and had been made Commander only a handful of years ago. During those years, there was only two places the Princess of Draven used as her favorite hiding spots: the storerooms or the library.

And, since there were no arguments coming from the kitchens, that left only one option.

Marching determinedly down the main hall of Drava Castle, Linde ignored the knowing smirks from the nearby household staff. Everyone knew why the Commander of the Royal Guard was looking for the princess. And, it both amused and bemused them all.

Ever since the late Queen's passing, all those years ago, King Elric had tasked Linde with training Princess Eira in the fighting arts. Training Eira fought tooth and nail to avoid.

It didn't take long before Linde reached the thick wooden door of the library, knocking raptly on the solid surface.

"Eira?" she called.

After a few moments of silence, she knocked again. "Eira?"

Still nothing. However, the silence caused Linde to sigh as she banged louder.

"Princess Eira, I know you're in there," Linde announced.

"No, you don't," came the answer from the other side.

Linde shook her head in bemusement before she pushed open the door to the quiet room.

Silent as a tomb, the library was one of the few rooms in the castle spared the constant activity of daily life. It was also the more obvious of Eira's hiding places.

Simple in design but cavernous, all four walls were lined with shelf after shelf of bound books and tomes, only broken by the two large windows lighting the room from the main side wall. A small fireplace rested against the far end, unlit in the warmth of late spring.

A long table and a handful of chairs made a simple but comfortable setting for the room. However, they were all left unoccupied.

Only when Linde's eyes snapped to the wooden bench built into the large window did the tall woman spy the one she was searching for.

Slight and graceful in form, Princess Eira had the delicate features of her late mother, even her bright blue eyes. But, the raven-black curls that cascaded down her shoulders and back were only from her father. The stubborn set of her chin and pinkened mouth was his, as well.

Armor rattling in the room's silence, Linde made her way to the window and waited for her charge to look up from the book in her lap. However, the young princess was determined to ignore the woman before her.

"Your Highness," Linde sighed, tiring of the game. "You weren't at your lesson. You're avoiding, again."

"I'm not avoiding," the princess replied as she turned a page in her book. "I just thought I'd read for a time."

"Then, you're not busy," Linde started to reply.

"I told you, I'm reading," Eira interrupted, turning another page pointedly.

Linde lifted her eyes upward, as if beseeching any gods to hear her plea for patience.

"Your Highness," she tried, taking a different approach. "The King wishes you do this for him."

"My father isn't here," Eira countered, turning another page rather angrily.

"But, he will be informed if you skip your lessons," Linde replied.

"Only if you tell him," Eira answered.

Linde resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Princess Eira wasn't a warrior by any means. She wouldn't make a soldier worthy of any war. But, after the horror of the Queen's death, there was no blaming King Elric for wanting his only child to know how to defend herself.

If only said child would see it that way.

"Princess, the sooner we begin, the sooner we can be done with it," Linde reasoned. "Besides, these are skills you should know."

"Why?" Eira asked, finally giving up the ruse and setting her book aside on the cushioned bench. "Why should I know this? I spend all my time indoors, anyway."

"You may wish to go outside from time to time," Linde ventured.

However, the princess just cringed at the idea.

"With dirt, and bugs, and everything else out there?" she asked with a shudder. "No. I like it here, just fine. Where it's quiet, and clean, and people leave me alone."

"Unfortunately, the Zauber threat is real," Linde declared as she reached out to clasp the princess' wrist in her gloved hand before heading towards the door. "The witches are constantly spotted throughout the various kingdoms. You will need to go out once-in-a-while, especially as Queen. Otherwise, you'll forget what the sun feels like."

"Hot," Eira stated in that matter-of-fact way she was known for as she followed dutifully.

"The fresh air will be good for you," Linde pressed as they continued past those brave enough to watch. "Put some color in you."

"Yes," Eira answered blithely. "Forget the orchards that need pruning, or the herds that need counting. The princess needs more pink in her cheeks."

Linde sighed as she stopped abruptly in front of the door to the princess' chambers. How long was she going to dig her heels in over this?

"Your Highness—"

"Your Highness?" Eira asked, blue eyes widening. "Come on, Linde, it's me. You've been with me all my life. You know you don't have to be so formal."

Linde just shook her head. "Your Highness, this is important to the King. He wants to be sure you are prepared."

Shoulders slumping, Eira rubbed the back of her neck.

"I know," she answered. "I just…..hate it. I can't do any of it right. Years of practice and I'm still as bad as I ever was.
'It…..just feels like a waste of time."

Linde forced herself to steel her resolve against the excuse. The King wanted Eira to learn how to fight. It didn't matter that Eira was right in her estimation. And, the misery shining in her eyes showed just how right she was.

As far as fighters went, the princess had no skill. She was clumsy, still couldn't hold a sword properly to save her life, and grew too frustrated by defeat. In all the years of Linde's instruction, none of these problems improved. It was almost pitiful to watch her swing through her drills.

Unfortunately, that was beside the point.

"I will wait for you out here to change," Linde announced, causing her charge to cringe in defeat.

"Linde…."

"Then, you will follow me outside," the Commander instructed, her tone brokering no argument.

Irritation and acceptance battled in the princess' eyes before she finally walked into her room and shut the door soundly behind her.

"And, don't delay," Linde added. "I dressed you as a child. I'll do it again, if need be."

Linde just hoped that wasn't necessary. They were late enough as it was.

SSS

"Haearn? Haearn?"

The persistent banging rang in Bruna's ears as she tried to get the attention of her only grandson. For what had to be the fourth time.

'Really? How long was he going to be bent-over that smith block?'

Normally, the constant roar of the Royal Forge did her heart good, filling Bruna with pride to the brim. Afterall, nothing was closer to a Dwargr's heart than the mountain's fire. However, this time, the constant roar and clanging inspired only irritation.

"Prince Haearn, son of Lothar, do you hear me?!"

Immediately, the broad back before her froze mid-swing of his hammer, causing Bruna to stand in silent patience. Apparently, her grandson wasn't completely deaf to her presence.

Straightening to his full height, Bruna couldn't help but notice the three thick slashes that painted across her grandson's back from neck to shoulder-blade: the last remaining clue of their great defeat. But, despite this, Haearn was every bit a Dwargr Prince. 'King, really.'

Wide and broad of frame, he held himself in a quiet strength of mountain stone. His usually dark hair was brightened by the Forge fire's light he constantly stood before.

Removing the protective mask from his face, eyes as bright as the glowing embers and set in features too stern for his young age, turned in Bruna's direction.

"There you are," she replied warmly.

"My Queen," he greeted in the usual gruff formality he used when annoyed. "You needed me?"

Bruna resisted the urge to smirk at the flash in her grandson's eyes at the thought of interruption.

How much longer would he disappear before the Forge's fire?

"Does a grandmother need a reason to see her only grandson?" she countered, flicking a snow-white braid over her shoulder.

Haearn sighed, setting his hammer heavily on the table.

"What did Kaja do, now?"

Bruna chuckled in amusement at the reference to her other grandchild. Her grand-daughter was all kinds of mischief, to be sure.

"You're sister is not why I'm here," she replied as she stepped towards her glowering grandson. "Though, she is as active as ever, I came to see you."

"Grandmother…." Haearn muttered, causing Bruna to 'tsk' sharply.

"Don't start that," she scolded. "You know what season it is. What needs to be done."

It was the same every year since her son, Lothar, had died. With no King, the Council gathered yearly to wait for Haearn's announcement he would take his seat on the Dwargr throne. Till then, Bruna had held it with an iron fist. But with each year, that grip was getting harder to maintain.

"Not this year," Haearn announced, shaking his head. "You go."

"I will not," Bruna countered, causing her grandson to startle. "I have other duties."

"What….other duties?" Haearn asked.

"The human kings will be meeting soon," Bruna replied lightly. "I need to prepare for it."

"You have always gone to the Council, yourself," Haearn informed.

"And, isn't that a pity?" Bruna asked. "Especially since the true Dwargr King chooses to stay before the Fires."

"I am no king," Haearn replied as he turned back to the roaring forge.

"Not yet, anyway," Bruna answered bluntly, causing her grandson to freeze. "At least, talk to them. Give them a time, a hope that they can cling to."

"It's not time," Haearn replied stiffly.

"Then, you tell them that," Bruna countered. "They deserve to know, don't they?"

"There's nothing to tell," Haearn growled as he picked up the mask once again.

"Oh, put that thing down," Bruna scolded as she smacked her grandson's hand. "It will take you forever to wash as it is."

"I'm not going," Haearn argued.

"Your best clothes are already laid out for you," she continued, ignoring his protests as she turned on her heel towards the Forge's door. "The one with the gold border should do best."

"I'm not going," Haearn repeated.

"A guard will wait to lead you," Bruna added. "Otto if you like. Or another, you choose."

"I'm not going!" Haearn bellowed as he turned back to face his grandmother.

Unfortunately, the yell was swallowed by the Forge's bellows, for Bruna was already gone.