Agh, it seems there are a number of little errors throughout this book, sorry I'll do my best to get rid of them but as I'm writing whenever i have the spare time its very hard to find the time, grr, stupid exams and revision...Anyway, thanks for reading so far, this is still essentially the prologue, there will be action, fighting and whole armies being destroyed! Trust me! But this is in it for the long run, in the mean time please review sometime:P

Chapter Eight -Sara

To the south east the massive city of Brimshare lay across the land basking in the late morning light. Boarded on the east side by the sea (where the city's mighty armoured navy rested) and on the west by the mighty Evendale forest Brimshare was securely placed at the end of a large peninsula and surrounded by a tall stone wall. Open paved roads split the city into evenly placed blocks of cream white buildings, here and there the roads opened up for a park or green common, the markets were bustling and the citizens bustled about as numerous as ants.

At the centre of the city rising above it all into the azure sky was Brimshare Castle. A mighty construction several hundred feet tall the main castle 'block' was surrounded by four crystal towers glinting in the light, at the centre of the towers rose the central building with another crystal tower, taller then the others it rose like a diamond in the sky basking Brimshare with its sheen.

Inside the castle building itself in one of the highest chambers Princess Sara Lightbythe 3rd heir of Brimshare and its kingdom made the final adjustment to her pearl and cream dress and looked at herself in the ornate mirror and sighed again.

She wasn't meant for such a dress, it exposed both her arms leaving them bear and a generous neck-line made her feel very exposed and somewhat uncomfortable.

Seventeen she decided was too young to wear such a thing, maybe a fully grown lady of the court would be able to wear it comfortably but she wasn't at all comfortable with it…but her mother, Queen Viola Lightby had asked her to wear it for the evenings theatre performance.

Moving away from the mirror she went and opened the window allowing a breathtaking view from the castle down over the city, right below her she could see the large open field outside the castle walls; the stadium was already erected in a semi-circle for the entire city to watch from if necessary.

Sara moved back away from the window leaving it open to allow a refreshing breeze to flutter in and ruffle her dress, she loved the play but had read it so many times it was ingrained in her head, still to see a theatre airship would be worth going for alone.

Sitting on the bed she thought again of the tens of thousands of people that would be there, all the high born men and women of the court and her mother the queen…it had been a while since she had appeared in public, she had spent nearly two long years in mourning after her husband and Sara's fathers death leaving the council of twelve to pick up the day to day running of the kingdom. It had been a hard time for Sara but worst yet had been the unpleasant rumours of the queen and another man seen around the castle who had appeared shortly afterwards, Sara had yet to confront her mother on this, she had become more distant over the last few months.

She looked at the mirror once more; the only thing she liked about herself was her long black hair that swept over her back, luxurious and thick in the light it glistered like the finest ebony. Apart from that she wasn't so sure about the rest; she wasn't as tall or slim as she would like to be and her breasts were awkward and forever in the way, she tired of how people constantly stared at her and that was probably why she was uneasy of wearing such a dress as this one in front of the whole city…

She heard a rap at the door. "Princess, princess?" The call echoed through the mahogany door.

Sara almost wanted to curl up back in bed under the silk sheets, that would be her loud and ever vigilant bodyguard Sir Galamore Artoir of house Atones, a royal knight at arms but in Sara's opinion he was just a loud, faithful blunderer. If she asked him to jump off a cliff he would do it without thinking, if she used scissors to modify a dress he would argue endlessly at the dangers of using such sharp objects and he would insist on doing it himself…and destroy the entire dress with his attempts.

Despite that Sara knew he was a competent fighter and the queen himself had knighted him, however his high position in the queen's guard was more likely due to his birth house then anything. He was second only to the Queens Royal General Helen Richards of House Ivy, the highest ranking royal house, General Helen which some called the 'White Knight of Brimshare' kept close to the queen at all times and Sara had heard the legends of her fighting prowess and her fierce loyalty to the royal family.

Galamore's calling brought her back to the real world. "Yes come in." She called back remaining where she was, Galamore would never dare to let his eyes stray.

The door opened and Galamore marched into the room, Sara stifled a giggle. Galamore was dressed in his royal dress armour, armour that was worn for occasion rather then function, it was lustrous silver and every centimetre of it was covered with ceremonial frills, a mighty broadsword sat astride his back, his head was left bare, a fine mop of ungainly blond hair half covered big blue eyes, his face always reminded Sara of one of the kitchen hounds begging for sweets.

"Princess you look fantastic!" Galamore gushed his eyes staying on her face. "Surely both noble and peasants alike will be blow away with you're beauty."

She sighed but she did feel a grin forming at his earnest expression, that was probably why she was happy to have him around her, his comical antics and expressions did bring a touch of colour to an otherwise formal, trapped life. "Thank you Galamore." She replied calmly when a sudden mischievous idea came to her.

Lifting her skirts somewhat to allow her quicker movement she smoothly sidestepped Galamore and moved out through the door onto the castle corridor carpeted in ornate red, paintings and artwork adorned the walls on either side and several maids were moving about dusting and cleaning and they curtsied as she went by.

From behind there was a crash and the clink, clink of armour and Galamore came blustering after her trying to keep up in that suit of armour, unable to quickly stop he nearly ran into one of the poor maids.

He jogged up alongside her as she moved swiftly along. "Princess Sara where are you going?" In between puffs of breath. "I came on the queen's orders to check if there was anything you need, I'm quite sure she did not mean to let you roam off right now."

"Does my mother have the right to bar me passage around the castle?" Sara replied continuing to move quickly forcing servants to quickly dart out of the way staring at the odd pair.

"It's for your own safety princess." Galamore managed back, his favourite words.

"Well I'm just going to see over the preparations for tonight's show from the balcony on this floor." Sara replied turning right down a fork in the corridor. "That's all."

"But…but the commoners will see you." Galamore again his face going red now with the exertion of keeping up with all that heavy armour on.

"Not from this height I doubt." Sara reminded him but she did feel a tinge of fear at that, in this dress and all but there was no time for second guessing, she came to the end of the corridor and slid aside the glass double doors leading onto the balcony…

She looked down again at the preparations; Galamore puffing came up alongside her and looked all about as if searching for hidden assassins.

"Galamore calm down." Sara urged. "Enjoy the breeze."

Galamore looked down at her (he was a big man). "Princess I must always be on guard at all times for your own safety, many a brigand or rouge would gladly kidnap you to hold you to ransom, why the crystal itself that you wear could encourage thugs to attempt to mug you!"

"What thugs, brigands or rouge?" Sara smiled back at his serious look, her hands unconsciously went to the crystal at her neckline, her mother had given it to her three years ago and she still wore it, the crystal was unique and one of a kind, apparently it was something that had been handed down the Brimshare royal line for a thousand years.

"Oh look, is that the theatre ship?" Galamore suddenly changed tact as he pointed with one mighty mailed gauntlet out across Brimshare.

Turning Sara followed his gage to see coming across the tall trees of Evendale Forest the theatre ship in question.

It was a mighty, mighty airship indeed, huge turbines turning lazily in the warm breeze, the ship began to slow as it came over the city of Brimshare its vast shadow crossing over the city Sara could see tiny people's faces turning to the sky as the ship glided over.

All of Brimshare would be out tonight Sara reminded herself again feeling her stomach clench as the ship continued over the city. Finally the theatre ship came just outside the castle holding position about the massive grass plain with the amphitheatre seating already in place.

Then the airship descended slowly so that its curved front faced the seats, the ship touched the grass softly and its turbines slowed to a halt. Then with a mighty sound of pistons, turbines and wheels that could be heard even up here on the balcony the front of the airship began to open up. It was quite an amazing site; the entire front quarter of the ship was winched up by the towers until it was completely vertical. Now facing the massive rows of tiered seats was a double stage and below an orchestral pit, a complete theatre on the move.

Sara remained on that balcony for much of the afternoon as well, she watched as people from the airship disembarked and began working to get everything ready for the evening's presentation.

Finally she turned away as the sun began to set, she had a few things to get ready before moving on, Galamore plodded behind her like a faithful dog, it was only a matter of time now.

The stage was set, and now the play would commence.

Galamore - He's kinda like Stiener from Final Fantasy like Sara is a bit like Garnet, but both have subtle differences...