Beginnings

Meredith slowly undid the clasp of her golden sandals. Flecks of dirt spattered onto the creamy white rug and she gave a sigh of frustration. The tall white columns of marble that loomed above seemed to glare at her with omnipotent eyes. She cringed slightly, and then seemed to suddenly pull herself together. She picked up the crumbs of dirt and the sandals, and slipped across the cold tiles of the empty, dark hallway. Her feet connected slightly with the floor, leaving a whispering sound of impact that made her grimace. Stealthily, she crept past several open doorways until she floated through the silken streams of sheer cloth that marked the entrance to Lord Akul’s room. She pulled a vial of a thick, honey like liquid out of the folds of her tiered white dress. She opened it and a pungent odor quickly filled the room. The snake nestled in the curls of her hair stirred and lifted its nose silently into the air. Meredith deftly uncorked the bottle and poured a solitary drop on the neck of the sleeping Lord, just above a central artery. She took one last look at his handsome face, knowing that she would be the last one to see him alive. She gazed admiringly at his strong chin and the beautiful chestnut color of his shining locks. Then she lowered the snake from her head and placed it upon his neck, exiting the room as quickly as the snake sank its fangs into the neck of the doomed Lord Akul.



Excitement and fear reigned in the palace the next morning. The Chief of the Royal Army was coincidentally home for a strategy meeting, but he now sat with the old king in an otherwise empty throne room to relay the terrible news.

“My liege, he appears to have been bitten in his sleep. The marks looked like those of a Syberkian Serpent, but the animal has not yet been discovered.” Chief Blazul looked up to meet the sharp blue eyes of his king. The glimpse of suspicion he saw therein threw him off guard.

“Please, my liege, I speak the truth. His body is currently being examined in an attempt to prepare it for burial. You may inspect it if you wish. I can summon my daughter right away to take you to him. Guard, fetch my daughter.” This last command was addressed at the guards who stood just outside the room. With a quick salute, the taller youth immediately strode off to meet his request.

The king did not reply right away. His calculating gaze hinted at the tumult of thought taking place in his brain. Finally, he opened his mouth with a measured control, “Blazul, I believe you implicitly when you say he is dead. What I find difficult to believe is that he was killed by a snake at such a convenient time.

Blazul’s eyes clouded over for a minute, then snapped up to meet his king’s. “You suspect foul play?” The king’s response was cut off by the entrance of a young woman, no more than seventeen, yet possessed with a careful grace above her years. Rippling black hair fell to her waist and her large hazel eyes peered intelligently at the scene before her. Born with a warrior’s instinct, she smelled unease in the air around the throne. The king broke into a rare smile upon her entrance. He was rather fond of the girl, as she was one of the only people he considered to be on the same level with him intellectually, and more simply put, because she was charming.

“My king, and my lord. You summoned me?” The girl kept her eyes fastened on the marble tile as she awaited their commands. Lord Blazul looked at his daughter fondly, then turned expectantly to the king.

“Good morning Lady Meredith. Yes, your father called you in as a witness to his testimony, but a witness is not what I need at the moment. We were just discussing the unfortunate death of Lord Akul.” The king noticed the redness around her bright eyes and perceived that she had been crying.