SmartGirl Authors

The Singer

by SG Author Erika

In this land of kingdoms, knights, and evil kings, Seraphina is a just another lowly servant. One day, a mysterious knight notices her on his way through the village. But when he returns to take her away, it's not exactly romance. Seraphina is independent, beautiful, and confident, but it's her power as The Singer that Loren is after. But what is The Singer? And what does Loren want her to do?

Prologue

There were times when the castle was at a halt, frozen in warfare and anger. Those days were harsh and cruel on the citizens of the kingdom. These long periods seemed to last forever until the war was over, and then our kingdom could be joyful and happy again. The villagers lost their mean and callous ways from the war and began a new life of happiness and simplicity---until the next battle broke out.

The duration of the cruel times and happy times depended on the stability of our kingdom at the time, meaning that our present king's nature depended on the happiness of the castle. If our king was bent on starting wars and killing members of his own court, our society would perish in vindictiveness and evil. The times the citizens loved were those when our ruler was happy and realistic. Usually, these roles alternated: evil king, happy king, evil king, happy king.

People would laugh during the peaceful reigns. They would laugh about the harshness of the last king and the terrible wars he caused. Everyone talked lightly of something we called the Double-Time, the time when the evil kings would reign two centuries. Two hundred years. We joked about the Double-Time, thinking nothing of it. Until it actually came.

It happened at a cold, wintery royal election. Our last king had been King Lionel. He was strong and mighty, but equally peaceful and kind. The people loved him. Then, his time was over and he was taken by the Peaceful Death (1). Now, we waited. Surely we were going to have an evil king, but no one knew how long the vice would last.

Two Upheaders stood at silent wooden podiums (2). The first Upheader was gentle-looking. He was the happy king. Beside him, hunching distastefully, was a grimacing Malville. Malville had been our past king's least favourite court member. Malville always disagreed with King Lionel and stole from the poor to give to the rich---the opposite of Robin Hood. Everyone knew Malville would win, no matter how many voted for the joyous Ophile, the happy king. Malville had men. Men who could kill.

No mercy was shown that terrifying night of election. The good citizens felt Malville's first wrath. In order to diminish his sole competitor, he poisoned the regal Ophile. Malville was certainly going to be the next King. And after that, his son. And then his son's son. And so on, whole row of Malvilles.

That night, the kingdom of Iffrar fell into a long, desperate sleep: the sleep of the Double-Time. Walking home, children did not frolic in the streets. The parents were still, understanding the castle's political situation. Peace had fled, leaving War to take its place. And Iffrar slept. The world of Chrizxta became infected (3).

(1) The Peaceful Death is the twin of the Cruel Death, yet they are extremely unalike. The Peaceful Death only takes those who have a good heart, unlike the Cruel Death. Back.

(2) An Upheader is one of the people running in an election of any sort. Back.

(3) Chrizxta is the world of Many Kingdoms, and Many Reigns. Pronounced Krizz-x-tah. Back.