Chapter 1: The Palace
A young woman walked through the small village of Reigh, which sat on the outskirts from a palace. Her black hood covered her unique features as she passed by the market where merchants were trying to sell their goods, the smell of baked bread wafted in the air making her stomach growl. She left early in the morning without breakfast so that she could make it to and back from the forest in time before her mother would awaken.
As she carried the herbs, she picked up from the forest in a wicker basket, she wandered through the crowded streets, the noises of the hustle and bustle of village life making her smile. She made her way back towards the palace, which was well protected with high walls, a gatehouse, towers that were heavily guarded and behind them a long, beautiful bridge that went across the river Stye.
Just before approaching the guards, an old, tattered piece of paper nailed to a tree stood out to the side, catching the lady’s attention, it read:
By orders of the King, the following acts are FORBIDDEN:
- Conjuring magic
- Holding any form of magical instruments and/or books
- Speaking Muranthian (the elvish tongue)
- Holding any books or paintings made by the elves.
- Holding any possessions made by the elves!
It is against the law and anyone found doing any of the above will be punished accordingly.
Next to the notice was another paper with drawings for anyone that could not read. Sighing to herself, she wondered how they were meant to get along with the elves when the people of the kingdom were already petrified of them, petrified of the beings that they were ignorant about. She moved past the tree and towards the guards who stood before the gatehouse, they straightened their backs and moved their spears in front of the entryway, blocking her passage.