Princess Myra sat on balcony overlooking the capital, servants were setting the table in front of her, two cups of the finest tea, biscuits and pastry from the finest bakers of the kingdom and yet her appetite would not come. The city below was bustling with people clad in black, it almost looked like ants. Luckily the wind was blowing from the palace towards the city, not the other way around, sparing her from the smell of shit.

The thin curtains to the balcony opened up and revealed a stunning woman. Long blonde hair, tall, broad shoulder and eyes like a prism. Myra had always envied her sister, for where Elara looked strong and regal, she looked cute and petite.

“May I?” her sister asked.

Myra gestured towards the chair opposite her and a servant pulled it back for Elara to sit on. “Leave us.” She commanded.

“So what did you want to talk about, little sister?” Elara asked.

Myra gave her sister a deadpan look. “You are not talking to our brothers. There is no need to play dumb. We both know what this conversation is about.”

Elara stared into her eyes for a second, then she sighed. “Figured I couldn’t keep it from you. We both know Orin is not fit to be King, you could as well put a child on the throne and listen to his tantrums. I am the oldest child and I have a right to rule. The conception of only men being able to rule is outdated, in the south there have been queens for centuries.”

“But we are not in the South. And you forget yourself, you are not the oldest child. Brother Jorin is. I see your point that Orin is unfit to be King, but I’d rather have an incompetent King than a civil war. You are not the only one plotting to take the throne and you know it.”

Elara’s grinded her teeth. “Have our siblings already come to you to ask for your support?”

“Whether they have or not, shall not matter. Why should I support your cause instead of the others?”

“We both know our brothers. Orin is impulsive, dumb and easily manipulated. Aldiric has no ambition to be King and Valen is ambitious but cruel, he cares not for the people. I on the other hand…” Myra interrupted her. “You are ambitious, patient, calm and scheming. You do not care for the masses but you know your reign will be longer if they are happy. You are not pious and don’t hold on to traditions. You seek development but I fear that our people will not see it for that. Too much change incites fear, sister.” She leaned back and sipped on her tea as Elara stared at her. “I see your points and will give an answer in one weeks’ time.”

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“That’s all I can ask for.” Elara said, stood up and left without ever touching her tea.

Myras gaze wandered over the city beneath again as she sighed, then she rang the bell on the table. A man clad in a black uniform stepped on the balcony. “Rafiq, ask Jorin for a meeting in the usual spot, tonight.”

The room was dark as she entered, her brother was not here yet. The dust tingled her nose as she ignited the candle on the desk in the middle of the room. The tables, along with two chairs was the only furniture inside the room. Jorin had showed her these tunnels with the rooms when she was still a child. They had served as escape tunnels from the palace and the Order but hadn’t been used for centuries. Most people had forgotten about them but Myra used them frequently to get in and out of the city unnoticed.

After waiting for a good while, the door finally opened with a creaking sound, revealing the broad frame of her brother holding a crystal, shining a bright blue light. He whispered inaudible and the light of the crystal slowly diminished.

Myra stood up from her chair and gave Jorin and tight hug, a genuine smile on her face. “How have you been?” he whispered in her ear. She slowly let go and sat back down as Jorin took the seat opposite.

“It’s been hectic since father died. Everybody is scheming for the throne, it is hard to stop our siblings from killing each other and don’t get me started on the other plots at court.”

Jorin pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Does anybody have plans to take the sword from me?”

Myra rolled her eyes. “As if anybody would dare harm you, the people love you, the nobles fear you and our siblings crave your approval almost as much as the throne. I will never understand why you gave up on your birthright to join the Order.”

“You will understand soon enough, sister.” He replied in a grim voice. “Dark days are ahead and only the knowledge long lost will give us an edge in the upcoming times.”

“You never give me a straight answer.” Myra pouted but soon switched to a more serious face. “What do you recon I should do next, our siblings approached me for support. I’m leaning towards supporting Elara should the opportunity arise where she has the chance to grasp the throne but I don’t know how that would come to be.”

“There is no need to decide, sister. Before the Dusk ends, all problems of succession will be of the table for some time.”