Elder Ivor sat perched on a small wooden stool in the centre of the tavern, surrounded by a group of wide-eyed listeners. His weathered face was illuminated by the flickering light of the fire as he spun his tale.
"The kingdom of Rothania began to fall apart slowly but surely," Ivor continued. "It fell into darkness when the king, Augustus, became enchanted by his own sister's blood magic."
The listeners leaned in closer, their interest piqued.
"Queen Ysabel tried to fight against the dark influence, but she was no match for the power of blood magic. Augustus was consumed by his desire for more power and control, and he turned against his own people."
Ivor paused for a moment, taking a swig from his tankard before continuing.
"The people of Rothania were oppressed and fearful, and they cried out for a hero to save them. But no one came, no one dared to fight against the king, not after he made a pact with the devil."
"The queen was left alone, not being able to do much, she was just getting ready to be the sacrifice for the ultimate power the king desired."
People became tensed thinking this might be the end but Ivor wasn't finished yet. He took a deep breath and continued in a severe tone, making every one of them indulge in the tale...
The queen had never felt so alone and helpless in her life. She had been thrown into the dark, damp dungeon of the castle along with her ageing mother, and both of them were now awaiting their fates. The king, her husband, had made a pact with the devil that if he sacrificed a woman from the Rothania family, then he would be getting unimaginable power. She felt betrayed. She loved him but in the end, it all came down to this. Regretting why she rebelled against her mother.
As Ysabel sat huddled next to her mother, trying to keep warm in the dampness of the cell, she felt a strange sensation in her stomach. It was a fluttering feeling, like a butterfly trying to break free from its cocoon. She put her hand over her belly and gasped as she realized what it meant - she was pregnant.
But the joy of this realization was short-lived, for the queen knew that the king would never allow her to carry the child to term. What if he tries to sacrifice her before the child is even born? No, she could never let that happen. She must protect the child no matter what, after all, it's the other half of her. The queen's heart sank as she thought of her unborn child's fate.
Her mother, who had been quiet and weak until now, suddenly stirred. She looked at her daughter with a determined glint in her eyes and began to mutter an incantation under her breath. The queen watched in amazement as her mother's skin began to glow with a faint light, and the air around them shimmered and distorted.
Before the queen could even ask what was happening, she felt herself being pulled through the distortion, as if sucked into a vortex. She closed her eyes and clung to her mother's hand, feeling a sense of weightlessness and disorientation. "I will call you back when the time is right!"
Elder Ivor Hugo's tale had ended, and he sat back on his stool, surveying his listeners. "And that, my friends, is the tragic story of Rothania, a kingdom destroyed by blood magic and darkness."
Casey and Lane sat in stunned silence as they listened to their mother's story. Hugo had just revealed a long-held family secret, one that would change their lives forever. They never knew that their mother was from a mysterious country called Rothania which is totally in a different dimension. Now, he had told them the truth: that she was the queen of Rothania, and that they were the rightful heirs to the throne.
As the weight of his words sank in, Casey and Lane exchanged a glance, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had grown up in a typical urban neighbourhood, far removed from the world of royalty and political intrigue. But now, everything was different. They knew that they were here in Rothania and they needed to meet their grandmother and see for themselves the land that they were destined to rule.
For a moment, they were speechless, lost in their thoughts and emotions. But then, slowly, they began to speak, asking questions and trying to understand the gravity of the situation.
"As of now, our father," Lane moved his finger back and forth between him and Casey, "is ruling Rothania? Right? King Augustus?"
Hugo nodded. Lane bit his lip, trying to gulp down everything with his saliva.
"Is our grandma still alive?" Casey asked in a worried tone.
Hugo raised his brows, "Knowing she sent her butterfly just to call you here is a sign that she is alive, but" he stopped turning his head towards the fire, "I wonder if she has enough time."
Lane raised his head and asked, "What do you mean?"
Hugo shakes his head, "She is getting older too, she doesn't have enough strength to use her magic."
"How can we meet her?" Casey asked.
Hugo pondered that for a moment. "Nope," he shook his head again, "No, no" again, and again. He finally looked at her and said, "It's not possible your highness."
"Why not?" she asked almost immediately.
"The king won't let any of the previous queen's servants come near the castle. If anyone still tries to go, he or she gets executed."
Hugo continued, "And I won't suggest you go near the palace looking like this."
"Oh, now that's personal."
"I mean, you look exactly like your mother. He will recognize you immediately. Will you let your mother's sufferings be in vain? "
Lane patted Casey's shoulder, "That's right! That's why I will go!"
"No!" Lucius said. "The palace grounds are heavily guarded. You don't even use magic. You might be in danger."
"Now that you point it out, I wonder why only Casey has powers? Why not me?" Lane asked as he pouted.
"It's in the blood of Rothanian women that has been passed down generation by generation. All the women have incredible power, and because of that the queens have been ruling this land until your father broke the chain and created history, which is in an unfavourable way."
Casey paced back and forth in the cosy hut, her mind racing with thoughts and ideas. She had been grappling with a difficult decision for a while, and she couldn't seem to find a way forward.
As she walked, she absentmindedly traced her finger along the wooden beams that crisscrossed the ceiling. The sound of her footsteps echoed softly against the hardwood floors, and the gentle creaking of the old hut filled the air.
Everyone was silent. They respected her as the princess of Rothania, waiting patiently for her to speak her mind.
Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she weighed the pros and cons of her options. She knew that the choice she made would have a significant impact on her future, and she didn't want to rush into anything without careful consideration.
Every so often, she would pause in her pace and glance out the window at the picturesque view outside. The rolling hills and verdant fields were a source of comfort and solace for her. She found that they helped to clear her mind and ease her worries, if only for a moment.
Finally, after what felt like hours of deliberation, Casey stopped in her tracks and let out a deep sigh. She had made her decision, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her.
With a newfound sense of purpose, she strode confidently across the room and stood in front of everyone, looking at them in their eyes. Although she wasn't sure if this was a good idea, there was nothing better.
"How about..." she began, hesitating a bit, "How about we do this?"