Abi_Hebb

Grace Melarin was once a normal 22-year-old woman. That changed pretty quickly after the murder of her Mother, Brother and Sister.

Falael Wyndir was once a prince. That changed when the rest of the royal family of Asharia was killed, leaving him an orphan and in a precarious position since he was small.

Rinomve is the nephew of the woman that handled the deaths of the Melarin and Wyndir families. He is the current crown prince, and he hates the fact that he stole the title from his best friend, Falael.

What will happen when these three worlds collide? Will wrongs be righted, or will all of Asharia suffer for it?

Shadow's Kiss

"Do you think that Grace is okay?" Falael asked, as he and Rinomve stopped for a short break on the last day of their journey.


"Brother, in the entire time you have known her, have you ever known Grace to not be strong enough to handle herself?" Rinomve asked, opening one of the wineskins.


"Then what makes you think that she won't be able to handle herself now?"


"She is in a city she doesn't know, without so much as a map, at the mercy of Her Majesty your Aunt. Whom we both know doesn't take too kindly to the idea that I am still alive, and who has probably already branded you a traitor." Falael replied, exasperated.


"And yet, we both know that as long as she is useful to Her Majesty in aiding in our capture, Grace will still remain alive." Rinomve reminded him, passing him a wine skin. "Why are you so concerned? All of the people you have helped, and this is the one that you are anxious about? Why?"


"Because every time I look at her, I don't see a peasant barmaid who has just lost everything." Falael said as he took a sip of water. "When I look at Grace, I see the makings of a Queen. A Queen who has the courage of a lioness and a heart made out of gold, even if she is only the ruler of my heart."


"You are getting sappy on me, brother. If it is meant to butter me up for something, it isn't working." Rinomve jibed. "So, you really love her."


"If we get out of this alive, are you planning on telling her your true identity?" He asked, pulling some food from one of the packs.


"So you love her, yet still won't tell her the most important part about yourself unless it is 'safe'." He mused. "You know, that doesn't give you much of a chance to have a healthy relationship."


"What do you mean?" Falael asked, taking the bread that Rinomve offered. "And how would you know? You haven't had a relationship more serious than a one night stand."


"And yet, you and I are still friends."


The castle that Grace and William had been lead to was not like anything that she had ever seen before. The turrets alone were so tall that she thought that they were reaching into the the sky. The door that separated her and her father from the freedom that the other occupants of the square enjoyed swung open, and the chain leash that was attached to her wrists and ankles was yanked so forcefully that Grace was almost dragged out of the carriage onto the pavement. Shakily, she managed to get to her feet and move out of the way, before she was squashed by her father's massive and clumsy figure.


"There is no need to be afraid." William whispered as the pair were dragged up the enormous sandstone steps.


"Says the very reason why I am here." She replied in a sarcastic tone. William laughed.


"There is the sharp tongue I remember so clearly."


"Too bad it isn't sharp enough to get us out of this."


"No, but if you are honest with her Majesty, it might buy us enough time to escape." he reasoned.


"There is no point for that." Grace replied, spotting Falael and Rinomve along side the mule entering the front gate. She let out a long, low whistle, and the pair turned to look for her (as this had been the agreed upon signal in case of separation). Rinomve spotted her, and gave her a nod (the agreed upon sign of recognition) before pointing her out to Falael. She turned back to the castle, as she was dragged up the stairs towards the large glass doors that dominated the sandstone façade of the castle.


The room behind the doors was so dark, Grace wondered of she had stepped into an abandoned cave overgrown with purple ivy (a rare and exotic breed, she thought to herself, capable of both poisoning someone and healing them). She didn't have much time to take the room in, as she was dragged to the front of the room, then forced down onto her knees next to her father by the guard.


Almost there