A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) (2 page)

Chapter 1

Seven Years Later

It’s alright. They will never hurt you again. I promise.

Matthew woke up with a start. He looked around him in a panic and fell to the floor. For a moment he thought he was still on the island of Narka.   He stood and felt the soreness of his right calf.  He closed his eyes and relived the assault. He was certain he was at the end of his life. Yet, here he was, alive in a bedroom he did not recognize. He was bare-chested now and there were no injuries, yet many new scars that he did not recognize. He led his fingers through the scars.  They were closed as if just healed.
How was it possible?
He wondered.

He felt something hanging from his neck.  A thin gold chain necklace with a single emerald was locked around him. He tried to think of what he last remembered.

A large clatter startled him. A white haired young girl gave a slight cry as she appeared at the entrance of the bedroom.  The tray she had carried along with its contents, were scattered onto the floor. “You…you are awake.” She said frightened, staring at him with large blue eyes.

He cautiously raised a hand toward her. “I am sorry to have startled you, my lady. Please, tell me where I am.”  She opened her mouth to speak and closed it.  She took a step closer to him.

“You
are
Prince Matthew of the West Kingdom.”

“Yes,” He said cautiously. “And you are?”

She took another step toward him. “I am Princess Prisma, King Joseph’s daughter.” She whispered.

“King Joseph?” Matthew turned and looked out the window of the room.  It was the end of summer, yet heavy sleet was falling from the sky and hitting dead, gray grass.  The drops reflected beautifully on the small diamonds embedded against the castle walls.
The Diamond Kingdom,
He thought. Each castle surrounding the Green Sea was built by white rock ornately decorated with a precious stone.  The walls of the West were littered with sapphires giving the white stone a blue reflection.  The East Kingdom’s walls were embedded with deep, purple amethysts and the South Kingdom blazed red with rubies. The North Kingdom was affectionately referred to as the Diamond Kingdom, as shimmering diamonds were built into the castle walls.  The diamonds were emphasized by the glistening residue of rain, sleet and snow that plagued the kingdom year-round.  

No kingdom experienced all four seasons in rotation. Each kingdom was sentenced one continuous season. The West and the East were blessed with milder temperatures. The West Kingdom enjoyed the light climate of spring while the East Kingdom had cooler autumn weather.  The South and the North were subject to more extreme temperatures.  The South was prone to drought and oppressive summer heat all year long. The North Kingdom, in contrast, suffered with yearlong precipitation and cold.  Matthew extended his hand out the window and felt the sleet on his fingertips.  He turned back to Prisma.

“How did I get here, my lady?”

The young girl continued slowly.  “You were missing in the sea for ten days before your brother sent notice.  Word had just reached us when your body came upon our shores.  We were sure you were dead, but surprisingly you were breathing strongly.”  She backed away toward the door.  “We sent word immediately to your brother, but we feared when you didn’t wake.”  She looked at the tray on the floor.  “I had brought you food for three days hoping you would awaken.  I tried to give you water and a little milk to keep you strong.”  She said shyly. 

Matthew smiled at the girl, fondly.  “How old are you now, Princess?”

“Fourteen, my lord.”

“I am indebted to you and to your kingdom.

Her eyes widened and Matthew feared he misspoke.  The girl backed further away to the entrance of the door. “It’s my father’s kingdom. I must inform him.” She said quickly and bolted out of the room. 

The North Kingdom.
Matthew thought.  How did he make it to these shores?  He looked out the window toward the sea.  The beautiful black castle in the waters peered back at him.  It started as a simple tower and slowly an entire castle came to surface.  A castle that was impossible to get to as he tried in vain for years.  He fingered the necklace around his throat.  He remembered green eyes looking into his and the sound of a voice in his ears.
They will never hurt you again. I promise.
  Could he have imagined it?

A woman with dark red hair and deep green eyes appeared at the door.  “My lord, it is good to see you awake.  We will have you bathed and give you appropriate attire to wear to address the King.”  She eyed him carefully before she motioned for him to follow her.  From the ornate way she was dressed, Matthew knew she was not a castle maid, yet she led him into the large room with open reservoirs for bathing.  He stepped into one of the stone baths as large masons of hot water were poured in.  Every ache he felt in his body arose to the surface of his skin as the hot water touched him.  He dipped his head back until he was fully submerged into the water.

You have made a poor choice, Commander. This brings us no joy
. 

Speak for yourself.
I will find great joy in drowning him.  His allegiance is with the Green Eyed Witch, let his body float to her shores!

You are making a mistake! That man’s words are not trustworthy!

If her own father does not trust her, why should we?

I will not let you hurt her!  I will give my life to protect her!

You may get your wish.  Bring him to the dungeon and bind him.  His father wants him questioned. The King will choose a more suitable punishment for this betrayal.

As you say. Just one last time in the water then!

Matthew emerged his head from the water and gasped for air. He gripped the side of the reservoir tightly and breathed quick, short breaths.

It had been many years since Matthew had seen the Ancient Prince’s memories.  After the night Lucinda disappeared, the days to follow brought continuous night terrors.  When he closed his eyes at night, he saw Thomas looking into the Green Sea at Nycilla.   In the distance she stood there reaching out to him as he was helpless to get to her. Then suddenly it was Matthew looking into the waters at Lucinda.  He would call to her and she would not respond.  Then the waters consumed them both. 

The dream continued every day for a year until the mysterious tower emerged from the center of the Green Sea.  Then as if commanded by the tower, the dreams stopped and with them Matthew no longer suffered from periods of memory loss.  Yet, the memory he just saw was clear.  Two men were standing up to their thighs into the Green Sea. Thomas was on his knees in front of them.  One held his hands back as the other forced his head down into the waters repeatedly. 
Why had the memories returned?
 

“My lord!” The red-haired woman was by his side.  “Are you alright?  Is the water too warm?”

He braced her hand and tried to breathe.  “No, I’m sorry to have startled you. I am alright.”  She opened her mouth to speak. “I am alright.” He said to her more calmly.  She nodded slowly and stood up to leave him. Her eyes widened and she went to her knees again. She reached out to the chain around his neck and tightened her fingers around the gem. Her eyes shot up and met his. She said nothing for a moment then spoke in a whisper.

“You will bring her back to us.” She inhaled sharply and dropped her grip on the necklace.  She held his gaze for another moment before leaving him. 

After a few moments, a castle maid brought a drying cloth and fresh garments for Matthew.  The garments were made of bright white linen, representative of the North Kingdom.  Outside of the bathing quarters, Matthew was met by King Joseph’s cousin, the commander of the Northern Guardsmen.

“Commander Dixon.” Matthew bowed slightly to the man in his thirties.  He wore white armor which complemented his gold hair and blue eyes.

The man nodded in return.  “It is good to see you well.  The entire kingdom prayed for your recovery. Come. I will take you to the King.”

“Commander, who was the woman attending me?  The one with red hair and green eyes—“

“The King’s sister, Princess Merline.” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but led Matthew to the throne room in silence.  As Matthew entered he saw that King Joseph was not alone.  Queen Sarai, his wife, sat to his left.  To his right was a large man in his fifties with dark skin, a bald head and light brown eyes whom Matthew recognized as King Adelphi of the South Kingdom.

“Your Majesties,” Matthew knelt before them.

“Prince Matthew.  This was quite an unexpected visit. Yet we are pleased that we could bring you back to good health and send you home to your kingdom.” King Joseph was a man of thirty two years.  His father was a man already advanced in age when his first son was born to him.  King Joseph was crowned the youngest king at the age of fourteen.  He had matching white hair and blue eyes as his daughter.  His wife in contrast, had dark black hair and thin, dark eyes, which rested boldly upon her pale skin. 

“I am indebted to your kingdom, your Majesty.  I am pleased to see you.  You as well, King Adelphi.  I have not seen you both since my father’s passing.”

“May he rest in peace with the kings before him.” King Adelphi said.  They remained silent for a while in memory of Matthew’s father.  King John was always unwell, yet it was still a shock to the kingdom when he did not wake from his sleep two years back.  Matthew’s brother John had been crowned King of the West Kingdom at twenty three years of age. “I have only come to visit the North Kingdom when I heard what had befallen you.” King Adelphi continued. “Tell us, what has brought you to these shores?  From where you were reported lost, you were much further south.  It seems unlikely that you would wash upon the northern shores. What do you remember?”

Matthew considered what to say. “I do not remember very much. Every year, I take a group of my men to sail toward the castle in the sea in search for the lost princess. Yet every time we feel that we are nearing it, it appears further and further away.”

“Yes, there are magical forces at work.” King Adelphi cut in. “I have sent many men to try to explore the castle myself but there are no entrances we can see.  It comes and goes like a mirage.”

“Yes,” Matthew continued. “I was commanding my men to turn back around to the West, when the waters became turbulent.  The skies darkened and the ship rocked, and I was pulled into the water.” Matthew hesitated but decided to continue. “From what I remember I believe I washed upon the island of Narka.”

“Narka!” King Joseph interrupted. “Impossible, they would have never sent you back to sea alive!”

The memory of green eyes flooded into Matthew’s mind.
They will never hurt you again, I promise. 
“I know it sounds impossible, but someone came to my aid.  She wasn’t a Narka islander, she was an outsider and she saved me from them.  That’s all I remember before I woke up here.”

“
She,”
King Joseph whispered as he exchanged glances with the South King. “How did she look like?”

“I only remember her voice and,” He hesitated. “Green eyes.” Matthew felt the woman’s necklace still around his neck, hidden under his garments. 

“Could it be,” King Adelphi started.  “Could it be that you found the lost princess after all these years.  That she is alive?  That she is responsible for the Kingdom in the sea?”

“That is what we all suspected, is it not?” King Joseph added. “The prophecy at her birth was specific about her raising a kingdom.  Perhaps she is ready to make herself known to us?  What else dear Prince?  What else do you remember?”

An image of the leader of Narka groveling at the woman’s feet came to his mind.  Then his body lying lifeless on the floor.  Matthew shook his head. “Nothing more, your Majesties.  I am sorry.” 

“You have been through quite an ordeal.  Word has been sent to your brother.  When you feel ready we will send you on your way with an envoy. It would be wonderful news if the Princess is alive.  Perhaps a woman as a ruler is not such a frightful thought.” King Joseph placed a hand upon his wife’s arm.  Queen Sarai smiled at him coyly before returning her gaze to Matthew.   

“Not just any woman, a
Sorceress Queen.
  Her powers could prove useful for the kingdoms if she is willing to cooperate with us.  If you remember anything else, you will report it to us, will you not?” King Adelphi asked.