The room was quiet. Two people were playing a game of cards in the corner. On the walls hanged painting of warriors and castles. On the floor were red carpets and in the middle one made of bear pelt. Through the covered windows little shafts of light entered the room.

The two people were dressed in red clothes. They kept playing the game until one of them threw his cards on the table.

“I don’t feel like playing. Not with that thing coming here.”

The bald man took out a pipe and started smoking. He looked once again at his old friend and kept going.

“Are you sure about this. To let that monster come inside your house. We might be ‘allies’ but that won’t change a thing.”

“It was my daughters wish to invite the sons here. Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure to speak with the king himself.”

“You met Vesper! What was in your mind? He could kill your just for looking bad at him.”

“He is not that kind of ruler. When I met him… I saw a happy father. I saw his family, his people… The rumors about him can’t be true.”

“So, what did he say?”

“We talked about the future… He said that the time will soon come.”

“And that means what? He is dying ha ha!”

He laughed and laughed until he saw the face of his friend.

“This is not good. If he really is in such a state a new king will be appointed. I might not be too fond of Vesper, but he was peaceful with us and left our territories untouched.”

“That is what worries me. He said only one of his sons is capable enough. I have yet to meet any of them.”

“Times are changing…”

“That they are… They really are…”

A few weeks passed and inside the mansion a banquet was prepared. The lord ruling over a large portion of land right next to Sillacet got ready to meet the sons and daughters of the King. He himself had three daughters and hoped that the two of them he held most dear might marry one of the sons.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

The doors opened and three figures entered. The children of Vesper, Daghishat and Tarex.

“It is our pleasure to be invited here. I am the oldest son of the king, Daghishat. This one next to me is my little brother Tarex.”

The people were disturbed as the two of them were fully dressed in armor. This could be taken as an offense in other cases, but who would dare to oppose the absolute ruler.

The lord came to greet them and the banquet started. Everyone danced and ate to their heart’s content .The two of them however stood more in the back and watched. The daughters of the lord came to meet them. They were tiny in comparison, but nonetheless treated with respect. As they exchanged pleasantries Tarex heard a song, it was a beautiful sound, but at the same time it felt so fragile.

He looked around and he couldn’t hear anyone around singing. He covered himself in darkness and merged with the shadows to look on the upper floor.

There was a closed room. He got out of the shadows and tried to open the door. The song suddenly stopped. He was even more curious. Who was behind that door? He slipped back into the darkness and got under the door.

Inside the room a girl was looking at the night sky. She was just waiting there, singing. He was so captivated by the fragile voice that he forgot he wasn’t supposed to be here. Simply standing behind her listening.

The girl was dressed all in black, with a veil covering her head. The long hair was beautiful and shiny and her eyes were green. Her skin was white as the snow and she was frail, so very frail.

She took a short look into the window and saw Tarex behind her. For a moment she was scared, but mustered her courage to turn around.

“Who-…”

Tarex did not let her finish her sentence and stared talking with her.

“Your voice, it is so beautiful, so sweet… So… Sad.”

“Thank you. May I ask who you are?”

“I am Tarex, the smallest son of the Nephilims and the future king.”

“Your highness…”

She tried to get up and bow to him.

“There is no need. Please tell me your name.”

“My name is Calliope. I am the smallest daughter of the lord Argus. May I ask you a question your highness?”

“You can ask whatever you want from me.”

“Oh, but I can’t. Tell me, why would one such as you come to me?”

“I heard a beautiful, so very beautiful song… Yet… It was so sad, so sad it could make the heavens cry. Please Calliope tell me, why are you so sad?”

“I am a sickly girl. My father took care of me for as long as he could. After I was born my mother died. He blamed me for her death. He called me a cursed child. Now I am not even allowed to leave this room.”

“Is that so…? Alright then come here.”

She got closer to Tarex. He was like a titan trying to pick up a small flower. He got her up in his arms and told her…

“Be my wife Calliope. I shall let none harm you. I shall shatter the sadness in your heart and I will… make you smile.”