The world was engulfed in flames of hell. Men in armour were burning alive as they ran through the woods of Normark. The high stone walls of the mighty Hunfridsfort were melting, along with the watchmen on the walls.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAnhkrnJ4l
The great city of Eastport, known as the City that Never Falls, stood trembling by the Dawning Sea. From the tallest tower of Greenax Keep could Princess Kayla hear the howls of anguish afar and spy the line of blazing towns and villages, red in the midnight sky.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq2nqICC9q
The crimson of the horizon, set ablaze by hellfire, blended with the blood-soaked fields below. It was the doom for all lives in the Carthian Isles, for men and women, and elves and dwarves, from the northern snow land to the southern green plains.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf9e7uvqxz
Fire burst out from the eyes of the grimacing face of a red-fleshed man who stood on top of the hill of Greytor. When the skinless face turned, and the blazing eyes locked with Princess Kayla’s, an invisible force staggered her heart, stunning her body. Not even a strand of her hair could move, as the pure darkness and evilness cut through the air and stabbed into Kayla’s eyes…220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUl7Bpj88m
“I have come for you,” declared the demon.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg0whwJJnU
Kayla opened her eyes and sprang up from her bed. The dream was so vivid that she could hardly breathe as she was trying to determine if it was real.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR8uDvvvrE
But it was just a dream. At least Kayla attempted to assure herself so, as she gazed through the window of her chamber at the dark, calm late-night sky. The regal city of Shackerly lay before her green eyes. Faint torchlight shimmered in the distant watchtowers on the city walls. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ1kNWVyQp
As she was regaining her breath, a pair of quiet raps on the pine-wood door was followed by a whisper from a man, “Your Highness, wake up.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMebV8jTNr
The young princess instantly recognised the voice. It was none other than Sir Benedict, a loyal knight in her service.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yq1t4Qh2j
“What is it, Sir Benedict?” Kayla recomposed herself and asked.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmIekaQy2r
“May we speak in private?” Sir Benedict answered in a voice of urgency.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZxlS1qpTg
“Yes,” Kayla, in confusion, replied.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiA73Q2o2x
Sir Benedict carried a sheathed sword at his waist and entered the chamber. He turned his wrinkled face to Kayla, “My princess, I am here to escort you to the king’s chamber. We must not alert others.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhNJFLklou
“At this hour? Is something…” Kayla looked out of the window at the pitch-dark night and muttered. It was only when Kayla turned to meet Sir Benedict’s grim eyes did she realise the truth of the knight’s visit in the late night. Without hesitation, Kayla put on a long gown and followed Sir Benedict’s steps in haste.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6UFY3Bv3x
They jogged through the narrow hallways and arrived at the king’s chamber. King Chester, Kayla’s great-grandfather, who outlived his son and grandson, was lying on his bed, surrounded by a handful of physicians and maids, and some others.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP0uza2DdB
All bowed and made way for Kayla to the bedside. Kayla kneeled beside her great-grandfather and held his cold, skeletal hand. His face was pale, as if there was no blood or flesh beneath. A few strands of white hair fell from his spotted head. His eyes were lifeless, and he could not roll his eyeballs to look at the face of his heir.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmrBnsgjQ5
“Grandpa,” Kayla whispered to the old, dying king’s ear. She caressed his face and let out a tear.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUa2FZkcLF
King Chester let out a struggling wheeze but could not utter a word.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDHhdHD0fs
“Do something. He’s lived so long… he… he is blessed by the old gods… like Caleb the Immortal, and… and Mary the Longliver… He is one of the blessed ones…” Kayla turned her last hope to the physicians, none of whom dared to make a response.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveX4ZzCQjM
“My princess, His Grace has served the gods and the realm well. He has done his duty faithfully, and there is nothing we can do when his time is due,” intoned an old man from the shadow. It was Lord Aerion of House Vaughan who served as Chancellor in the Council of State.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW7ZYqUZro
“My, my…” At long last, the king summoned all the strength that was somehow left in his frail body and called for his heir.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFirqDnhXp
Kayla leant closer and placed her ear close to the king’s lips to hear his final words.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOGwDZPNY5
“My son… William,” the king’s failing voice uttered a strange name to Kayla. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1adFBH6Je
The young princess froze. She blinked several times as she for a moment thought she had misheard the king. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCyzaoBfEr
The king’s hand fell limply to his side, and his body lay utterly still. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oBfP2kCEE
Kayla’s eyes swept the room. Lord Aerion’s grave, troubled face made it clear that he, too, had heard the name of the king’s mysterious son. However, the old Chancellor did not hesitate as he knelt before Kayla and proclaimed his allegiance, “Long live Queen Kayla, First of Her Name, Queen of Shackerly and Eastport, Lady Paramount of O’Hoora and the Triarchy of Snow, and Protector of Serethia.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tanfyBj1M
Sir Benedict and the physicians bent the knee as well to their new queen after the long reign of King Chester, who died at last, at the age of 177.
“No one leaves this room,” without waiting for Kayla’s response, Lord Aerion arose and said, more like a command, though. “My queen, time is of the essence now. Sir Benedict, gather the rest of the councillors by the hour of the wolf. I will escort the queen to the council chamber.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPKekrjTEH
“My lord, I pledged to protect Her Grace. I shan’t leave her side.” Sir Benedict seemed wary of Lord Aerion’s command. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAcvDL5a1U
“I will be fine, Sir Benedict. Assemble my council,” replied Kayla after a moment of hesitation. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndZeoj1SWA
“Come, Your Grace,” Lord Aerion then asked the new queen to follow him to the council chamber, situated in the left wing of the royal castle.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VZKvkIRNk
While they were waiting for the arrival of the other councilmen, Lord Aerion sat beside Kayla and said softly, “Your Grace, I have served the king for my entire life in the court. It would be in the realm’s best interest to have me serving you in my current capacity.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jMTh42FNE
“If you have served the king for so long, had he ever mentioned to you that he had a son other than my grandfather?” Kayla queried. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeXpcbiUHo
Lord Aerion’s expression remained grave yet reassuring. “This William, I presume, is no more than an illegitimate child. He would have no right to challenge you, if that is what troubles you, Your Grace. But I shall investigate the matter should you require assurance.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJzNImKHIn
Kayla nodded, but her mind was still occupied. Her voice trembled, and her body shook, as she recalled her dream, “and I just had a most troubling dream. The, the Doom of Gaia, just as the scrolls describe, except it was not Gaia…”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3rLFPP9Gq
She continued, “It has followed us here, to the Carthian Isles.”220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQM5S8fH2i
and then Add to home screen.