A white horse stood on a hill in Scotland, overlooking a great green plain. His nostrils flared bright red and his sides heaved with labored breathing. His rider spurred his ribs and he walked on, shaking his creamy mane.

"Get up, Banshee," the rider said from under the cloak, which hid its face in shadows, even in the mid-day sun. Banshee whickered deeply in protest, but the slap of the leather rein on his neck pushed him into a gallant trot.

Down the slope he trotted, his ears pinned back and his feathered legs stretching to cover ground quickly. That was the rider's highest priority, move quickly and get as far away from the castle as possible. An old tree caught the attention of the rider, who slowed the great steed with a gentle jerk of the reins and steered him closer to the charred, gnarled are you doing? Banshee thought in his deep voice. The rider halted the horse a few feet away and slipped off, landing on its feet and lowering its hood.

His face was a deep, dark red and his dark hair nearly matched, it was only a shade or two darker. It was cropped short in a new age, more human way. The man's eyes were a sickly yellow-green, and they were keened on the massive tree. His strong jaw was set hard, and only gave enough for the man to mutter a 'don't move' to the milky , what are you doing? the stallion asked, his thought more whiny than concerned. He didn't want to be anywhere near the tree, it stank of death and black magic. Just like the castle. This is backwards, Prince! We should be going away from this smell!

Hush, Banshee! the prince thought back, his tone a mixture of fear and annoyance. He crept closer, his hand slowly going toward his gold-hilted sword. His boot squeaked on the flagstones surrounding the tree, making the horse shy slightly and a raven fly up from the tree, to which the white stallion shied again, backing up a few steps and eyeing the tree with fierce blue eyes.Prrriiiinnccccee. Priiinnce Miiiiinoosssss.

The prince stopped, the sword hilt firmly in his grasp.

"Who's there?" he demanded, golden eyes searching the empty tree and flagstones. All was silent, even the wind held his breath. For what seemed like ages, the prince stood, eyes on the tree, barely exhaling.

The sound of a rope being pulled taut shattered the silence, followed by the sharp sound of bone snapping. From the ancient treetop fell a body, hung by the neck, its eyes popped and its jaw ripped to one side. Blood oozed from its ears, nose, and gaping mouth. Ten or fifteen ravens took off, out of the clutches of the tree. The prince, in his momentary surprise, squeezed his eyes tightly shut. When he opened them, the body was replaced with a sun-bleached closer, Prince Minos, and I will tell you of things to come, it whispered in a voice like the wind.

The prince considered for a moment, glancing back toward the white horse, who was cowering several feet away. An emotion, he couldn't tell if it was bravery or blind stupidity, compelled him forward, to speak to the skeleton, who was now staring at him with hollows where its eyes used to be.

"What do you mean, perturbed spirit?" Minos asked, straightening and stepping closer to the seek your sister, the Warmonger, do you not? The skeleton inquired.

"Aye, I seek the girl known as Radequdais. What business is it of yours?"The girl you seek is hidden from your father, just as you hide from him. If you are to find her, you need to travel to the human cities of America. Only there will she be found. But beware, Prince. She will not become your father's Warmonger. Mark this, she will stop at nothing to take the righteous path, and she will kill the king in the process. Go to her, seek your own redemption. So it is written, Prince.

The prince blinked, a sort of fury building in him. If this was a trick of the king, so help him God, there would be hell to pay and devils to appease for the king's is no trick, Minos. It is written, in the stars. The skeleton's voice faded, leaving the dry, lifeless bones to the harsh Scottish weather.

Prince Minos turned, glancing once more at the skeleton, and then walked to the stallion. He patted Banshee's neck with a kind hand, looking east, toward the hidden castle, and then west, toward American, and hopefully, his sister.

"Radequdais, I pray you, guide me and protect me, War-Queen," he said into the wind. He mounted the to, my liege? The stallion asked, shaking his mane.Across the ocean, to the new world.

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Introducing telepathy and the unicorn(that doesn't have a horn). Banshee = Love. ^-^