Prologue

  Each quarter of a century, the Elves of Midnight pushed their differences aside. The year 200 A.D. did not hold a meeting of peace or discuss the atrocities the Upea laid upon the Tumm, nor the Kapina’s continued separation from the Empire. Its main topic was rather a child. Their enemy, their liege, and the man who had the potential to unite the continent had named his Heir, a strange newborn with eyes of the sea.

  Purple skin and three-pointed ears drilled distinction into the Tumma. After the disappearance of the fifth Elves, the Dracyn remained the most different. Unlike the Dracyn, their difference did not heighten their prestige or power. The wounded sat in their stone chairs. Fresh wounds bled openly onto the perfectly polished table of the Upea. The stone, which took months to carve. Only experts were allowed in the halls of the high and mighty who sat on their thrones, looking down at their guests and victims. An unorganized group of dark-haired Kalpea paced the Tumma. While normally crass and loud, they moved quietly. The disappearance disrupted their entire community, and for two hundred years, they had yet to appoint a leader. So, the Kalpea remained silent, knowing their voices would not provide a suitable solution. Luka Snow-Star, King of Kapina and only ruler of an independent country, stood cross-armed. Purple eyes narrowed at the Elves. The blonde ruler stood between his nearly identical son and daughter. Dark rings surrounded their dark orbs, severity weighed on everyone.

  “I am not- I will not marry either to that little brat!” Luka broke the silence. His soldiers stomped their great axes against the floor in a barbarian form of agreement. “I have known Kai for a century. Many of you are too young to know of her determination, but she will not stop until Kapina is in his Empire. I will not surrender, nor should you! A sovereign nation is not freedom!”

  “It’s not your life at stake, royal!” One of the Kalpea shot back. The Elf sported graying hair, yet was nearly eighty years younger than the King. He and his kin, lengthiest of the species, all shouted with him. With no kingdom of their own, the Empire’s northern Kingdom, Norkden, protected them. “I will bend the knee to this Empress and so will the rest of us.”

  The rest of his people cheered. A young female gripped her father’s arm. She and the Prince locked eyes.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “We should take it.” The Lord of the Upea leaned forward. Glistening gems coated his seat. The Tummas stared at their former possessions. Aleksi scanned his eyes at the lower beings. He sized up their strength and willingness. The Tumma could scale castle walls like they scaled their caves. The Kalpea could shoot soldiers like the animals they hunted for miles. The Kapinar could sail down from their peninsula into the Capital with ease. The Upea- The Upea could rule, it was their Gods' right. “We can be the Empire. The Empire of Elves is like it used to be. A united front against man and control them. If I were on the throne-”

  “You on the fucking throne!?” Another Kalea shouted. The younger man stood beside his father and sister. His wife attempted to shush him. “I’d rather fuck the Emperor himself!” The entire group broke into laughter. Aleksi and his people remembered the slight years later. They were royalty.

  “Destroy it.” Lady Zena Fargone tapped the stone table. Dried blood flaked off her dark fingers. She wiped a still-gushing wound from her face. The large slash across her cheek burned, marking her anger towards the Upea. They would have kept culling the dark Elves if not for the report of that creature’s existence. “We could come up from the tunnels and take them in the night. The Kalpea could overthrow Norkden, or fuck, get them to join us.” She looked at the gray Elf. “Your daughter is friends with the King… Luka, you and your soldier could sail toward the Capital and other cities. A fleet for you, a fleet for James, and another for Emilia. The Upea, you have your cities all throughout the Empire. We could fall on them like a plague.”

  Aleksi threw the Tumma back into their holes at the mere suggestion they would destroy his land. Luka and his children gathered their soldiers and sailed back north. On his return, there was a proposal waiting for him. Without a second thought, he threw it into the flames, cementing the fate of Kapina. His kin would never lie with a monster. The Kalpea walked back to their snow-coated land. The gray Elf returned to his farm with his children. Some others returned to their high stations in barracks. One returned to the right-hand side of King Fredrick of Norkden with a vile taste in her mouth.

  This account was collected from Frederick’s chambers. Red splattered across the paper, marking some of the passages unintelligible.