Turonem. The land of The Tree. Since the deforestation of the offspring of the Silver Tree, there has only been one tree—the Silver Tree. Division over the justification of the deforestation prompted a serial state of war across the land. Four kingdoms emerged from the original world empire. Dalrin, Venistar, Cormen, and Siegenor. Dalrin emerged the bloodiest of the kingdoms, establishing themselves as the holders of the Northern Reach and Defender of the Tree. The Silver Tree stood in their own backyard, but all of its fabled power had faded and become legend.

As the leaves were beginning to fall the cold winds blew throughout the region, the Silver Tree remained split. The half facing the Sea of Glass remained dead and without leaves. The side of the tree facing the Crow Castle and the realm remained alive with its orange and red leaves amidst its uniquely silver trunk.

Vaya stood below its bare branches on the dead side. Her eyes were narrowed. A worried look came upon her. The Oracle stood a few paces from her with his bald head and firm gut. His hands were folded beneath his red robes with ornate, gold markings. Vaya turned to him with a confused look. All around her, woman in swirling robes were dancing like ballerinas with their legs and arms stretched longer than Vaya knew was possible. They were as quiet as the air itself, maintaining a pleasant smile upon their face the whole time.

The Oracle smiled knowingly at Vaya, but he dared not speak until their ritual was over. Legend required The Oracle to oversee the Dance of Winter until its end. The grass beneath their feet and around the tree was so soft that Vaya envied the dancer’s bare feet. From up above them stood the King and Queen, flanked by the king’s royal intendent Waryon, and the Queen’s top servant, May Otto.

Vaya strode to the other side of the tree. She could see sap oozing the tree’s base and it caught her eye. It is silver.She went to lift a hand to it, but another hand caught hers before she could. It was The Oracle. A dark look had come over him as he shook his head. Somehow that look had lifted an uneasy feeling inside Vaya. Turning themselves to face the dancers, a new row of men emerged from around the side of the Crow Castle. Short men with snare drums marched in unison. They formed a circle around the lady dancers until it was a closed circle. The dancing soon commenced with the dancers progressively dancing more and more dramatically as the drums increased in beat. By the end, Vaya could feel her own heart racing from the enthrall of it. The King and Queen remained nonplussed from their perch.

“We are in the House of the family of The Tree,” whispered The Oracle, peering up at the King and Queen. “And you are the perfect addition to their plans, although they don’t know it yet.” Vaya yanked herself away from his whispering lips. He had gotten so close she could smell his breath. It smelled of flowers, although Vaya did not know how it possible because flowers were not a common eatery in the northern reach. She knew of commoners from Venistar partaking but not here. Maybe he was born in Venistar, thought Vaya.

The dancers and the drummers dispersed, and the Dance of Winer was over. The King and Queen clapped. King Aydar’s face appeared neutral as it always was—unless he was angry—which was quite often. Vaya’s eyes met the Queen’s. The Queen stared blatantly. It was so obvious that Vaya knew not what to do with herself, but curtsy. The Queen did not react. After a time, the King had turned and gone back inside. The Queen did too eventually, but not until she had finished a death stare at Vaya.

The Oracle nearly made Vaya jump when he grabbed her arm. She had forgotten that he still stood beside her. “A quick way to become the Queen’s enemy is to get too close to her inner circle. She is not a trusting one.” The Oracle’s tight grip on Vaya’s arm was hurting her. She freed herself, taking a step back. The Oracle returned her stare with a patronizing eyebrow lift and nod. He leaned in again, “Her son is quite open about his opinions. The Queen has heard of his fondness for you. Do not be surprised to find visitors in the night who seek to do you harm…” He trailed off as he turned to walk, “Just ask Marris.”

Vaya’s body trembled, and a sharp gasp escaped her. And then suddenly she felt nothing. Her mind tended to go blank when she was overwhelmed. Some time passed, and she found herself staring at the tree’s beauty. The silver of its trunk and branches was mesmerizing. It appeared fake but she knew it was real. Invasive thoughts overtook her.

Why did I come here? She recalled her capture back at the Crag, along the boulders and pathways of the northern reach where Dalrin unleashed daily patrols and hunters. The Crows found me. The prince himself…found me. Something had brought her north, but she struggled to remember. An odd feeling made her feel woozy. Sharp pain pierced her stomach, pierced her palms. She looked to her palms. They were perspiring. Sweat dripped down the side of her head. She looked up, feeling someone’s eyes on her. It was the Queen. She had returned to the perch above. What, no! Vaya blinked. The Queen was gone. The feeling left her. She was seeing things. The feeling only returned when she tried to think of why she was drawn to the northern reach again.

Vaya could see through blurred vision. May Otto and the servant girl, Kiss, were striding towards her. They were talking but Vaya could not hear them. Visions of her past rolled through her head. Her childhood—a red royal chair in a black-stoned floor before a hearth. A fire was blazing in the fireplace. The scene shifted in her mind. It was more recently. Yes, I already remember this, she tried to tell her mind. It was her previous captor, Lord Maykeep. She was scrubbing his back beside two of his other servants. We weren’t servants, we were slaves. We were made to do bad things.

“What do you mean, Vaya? Are you okay? The Oracle said you were trailing right behind him and then he lost you.” May Otto had a concerned look upon her face.

Vaya snapped from her daze. The Silver Tree came back into view. May Otto and Kiss stood before her. “I’m…I’m sorry. I just got so…distracted. By this tree…” Vaya’s stare became far-off again. May Otto looked to Kiss, who had her eyebrows knit in a tight expression.

“It is quite a historic tree. Been around since the first tales of the realm,” said May Otto, calmly. “Come Vaya, we must get you washed up and dressed for the ball tonight.”

“Ball?” Vaya seemed to become drawn back into reality by the mention of a ball.

“Yes, of course m’lady. Prince Rohinar has asked that you are dressed and cleaned up so that he might see you there. It is quite a big deal, as his mother has never allowed something of the sort. This feels like a forbidden love, some might say.”

“Oh, how exciting!” squealed Kiss.

The two serving ladies each grabbed one of Vaya’s arms and walked her away from the tree. The further they got from the tree, the more lucid Vaya’s thinking became.

Nearly two hours later, Vaya was bathed and dressed in a fine, silken dress. It was a baby blue, which complimented her bright brown eyes and beautiful wavy hair. The brown hair and brown eyes were frighteningly stunning, leaving Kiss to rue her own flow of pretty red hair. May Otto had even given Kiss a stern look when Kiss was slow to compliment Vaya on her hair.

“She isn’t even royalty,” Kiss had whispered. May Otto shushed her, trying not to let Vaya hear her.

“She may be soon, if the Prince Rohinar continues to step up his infatuation with this girl,” said May Otto. Vaya had heard that part but chose not to stick her nose where it didn’t belong. It did bring her a certain excitement as the time to attend the ball grew closer. The sun had set, and darkness took over the land.

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“It is a masked ball,” said May Otto. “They are the most splendid ones, so much fun to be had.

Just then it was Waryon, the Intedent and King’s Voice who burst through the door to Vaya’s room. “May, Kiss. You must know, it is imperative that—”

“Waryon! You mustn’t burst into a lady’s room without a proper knock. Go back and try again, you mutt. How rude of you,” May Otto was fuming.

“But this is urgent,” said Waryon. Vaya spotted a cream on the side of his cheek that he had forgotten to rub in. His shirt was not properly ironed either, leaving wrinkle lines and other uncharacteristically unprofessional features of a king’s intendent.

“Gods be good, what is it?” asked May Otto, completely flustered now.

Waryon was still catching his breath, scanning the room as he did so. Vaya felt naked standing there, even though she was fully dressed.

“There are to be no masks at this ball, as requested by the lord prince. However, the Queen wants to make this very clear. Vaya is not to be more beautiful than the sisters, Illena and Aurela,” Waryon was leaned over with his hands on his knees. “This is by order of Queen Lenora.”

Kiss gave May Otto an accusatory look. May Otto pretended not to notice.

“And why did she have you sent, Waryon?” asked May Otto. Her arms slowly became crossed, and her chest puffed out.

“Well…I am the king’s voice, after all.”

“Yes, the king’s voice. Not the Queen’s voice,” replied Kiss. May Otto gave Kiss a stern look. Vaya smiled to herself. They were defensive of her, and she was not even royalty. It felt good.

“The king told me to attend to his wife, the Queen. So, therefore, I am doing her bidding.” Waryon seemed a bit content with himself at the moment, and May Otto was growing irritated.

“So, you are the Queen’s voice then. Next time I see you in here I ought to see you with your hair done up and a dress around your hips.” May Otto began to make shooing motions with her hands. “Now get out, leave. And next time maybe you ought to consider knocking first,” said May Otto. She then proceeded to step out and give a thorough scolding to the guards who had stood by while Waryon burst in the door.

When May Otto returned to the room she gave a knowing glance to Kiss. “We needs be careful at the ball.” She turned her look to Vaya, “Be very careful how close you get to the prince. His mother is protective, and she does not wish her son to be associated with a lowborn girl. Anything to ruin his reputation before the betrothal ceremony would be considered a disaster.”

Vaya bit her lip as a smirk slipped across her face. “I shall be careful,” said Vaya. Her deceitful brown eyes lied to May Otto, but May and Kiss did not know her well enough to discern. Vaya continued, “I will take my cues from the prince and make no advances on my own.” May Otto and Kiss seemed content with that for now. Vaya was lying, she had no such intentions to hold back. I will make him mine own. Maybe not tonight, nor tomorrow. But he will be mine, and I will become his betrothed. Vaya flashed another innocent smile at May Otto, doing a twirl in her dress.

“Oh, how lovely,” said May Otto. Kiss was forcing a smile, but jealousy burned within her. Her own red hair was overshadowed by Vaya’s wavy, rich hair.

“You are most gorgeous, lady,” said Kiss. She was left angry. Why should a lowborn girl be receiving such attention from the prince? Why was she and May Otto ordered to attend to this captured spy of a girl? She was supposed to be a prisoner, after all. She only hoped to herself that she would end up like the other girls. The thought of Marris’ decapitated head ran through Kiss’ head. She smiled.

The sun was down. The air grew brisk. The Crow Castle had its guest hall opened with wine and appetizers. Nobles and royalty gathered to fill the hall. Connecting to the King’s Hall, the guest hall was full of anticipation. The music was filling the room with a pleasant melody as the people awaited the grand arrival of the lord king and queen. The prince would follow shortly, and then the two daughters. Pret and Lun, the two younger boys, would not take part in a king’s ball until they were sixteen. Instead, they were kept company by the squire, Jal.

The Voice of the King, Royal Intendent Waryon, had opened proceedings with a toast and an announcement regarding the night’s schedule. At the end of the King’s Hall he sat upon a raised bench with the king’s cup bearer, the wispy bearded Alon. Battle Commander, Ser Sledda, stood with helm in hand and red cape hanging from his back. He had men sentried around the room. An occasion such as this was ripe for conspiracy.

Vaya was announced first. May Otto and Kiss followed behind her baby blue dress, carrying the ends so that it would not drag on the stone floor until she got to the royal red carpet. Nobles, royals, and politicians stood along either side of the guest hall and King’s Hall with puzzled looks. They had not seen her like before, and her beauty astounded them.

Fools thought Vaya. It is too easy to swoon men from the northern reach. They react with their eyes and not their minds. Her gentle smile endeared them. Others reacted with shock if her eyes them theirs. The twinkle in Vaya’s eyes was enough to send a man into a trance—at least upon first glance. It was no secret, however, that May Otto could make any woman (no matter how hideous) appear stunning. She performed wondrous work for the House of Aetos, no less Prince Rohinar’s precious lady. Vaya gave a curtsied bow just before the royalty table, before taking a seat. May Otto and Kiss returned to the other end of the guest hall to walk the two sisters, Illena and Aurela, who had a unique beauty. Illena had blue eyes in contrast to her wavy, black hair. Aurela was tanner of skin with brown hair—resembling more closely to Queen Lenora in her younger years.

Illena had elected for a red dress bursting with bright color. Red markings of the Silver Tree religion were etched along her face in paint. Red paste painted her lips a rich red color. Men gawked, knowing that such behavior would not go unpunished once they faced the accountability of the king. The king did not take well to interest in his daughters from men who had no claim to lands or a throne. He was an angry king, quick to punishment if he sensed such interest from any man.

Aurela wore a yellow silk dress. Her hair was upon a bun that was almost the size of her head. She, too, bore a beauty that was above that of the realms finest. May Otto was to thank for her stunning outfits, but many claimed she had a beauty that persisted better without getting dressed up at all. There was an insecurity in her step, though, which lent itself back to her only flawed feature. Her nose. It was hawkish and the most prominent feature of her face. No one noticed it more than herself. She walked with her head down and her eyes not daring to meet any of the politicians or nobles who smiled at her from the sides of the hall.

Clapping and a roaring of cheers erupted once Aurela had reached the other side of the room. In Dalrinian tradition, a ball was almost preceded with the presentation of the royalty. Following that came a quieted presentation of the king and queen, who walked the aisle together. Tradition demanded reverence and humility from the onlookers. Those watching on kept their eyes to themselves or faced potential punishment, including a brief stay below in the Crow’s Quarters with the Red Crow himself, Jaqon Jarold. No one desired such a stay.

After a silent observance of the king and queen, the prince was invited forward. Prince Rohinar strode down the aisle in a magnificent purple coat that was bejeweled and sparkly. Blue diamonds and emeralds littered the front of the shirt. A small crown sat upon his forehead, holding his hair back. His dirty blonde (nearly brown) hair ran to the back of his neck. Vaya stared at him as he approached, and his blue eyes met her own. He forbade himself to smile, desiring reverence from the crowd. His reception was a strong one. The more silence, the better, and the prince had gotten exactly that minus a few claps and shouts here and there.

The voice of the king rose his goblet. “To the king and queen of Dalrin, to thee I present this cup—a token of our gratitude and reverence! May it forever be in good health and the immortality of the Silver Tree that we toast.” The crowd raised their cups and glasses to the Silver Tree and drank. The ball began.

The music rose and swelled before falling into dramatic ensembles. After a while the music began to mellow out, and the first couples began to dance. After nearly an hour, the prince removed himself from his seat at the table and approached the floor. Vaya became giddy in her seat. Her knees bounced up and down and her lucious brown eyes watched Prince Rohinar excitedly. He’s so handsome, goodness. Soon Illena was offered a dance by a fine-looking man of high nobility with broad shoulders and short blonde hair. Aurela was next, taking the hand of a younger boy who must have just turned sixteen. The king had not appeared happy about it. But an hour quickly passed. And then another. The music rose and fell, swelled, and calmed. Vaya waited. And waited. But alas, the prince never even paid Vaya a glance.