"Wars, regardless of whether you win or lose," they say, "Bring misfortune to both sides that are involved". The conflict that rages between The Kingdom of Ysindor and The Kingdom of Ghortan for more than ten years now, is no exception. On the battlefield, after each battle, there drops an eerie silence, every time, without fail, broken only by the cawing of the crows that eat the bodies of the fallen. The sadness of loss hangs heavy in the air.
Suddenly, these crows fly away and scatter caused by the urgency and galloping hooves of a passing horse and rider. A messenger who rides upon his strong, sleek, back at full speed towards the castle of Ysindor, bringing ill news from the front: Lady Serpentina, one of the four Generals, loyal servants of the King, fell during the last fight. Although she was the youngest of four (she had just turned 37 years old), her strength and her loyalty to the King were undisputed. As is the terror that her figure could invoke, half woman and half snake strikes terror in that of her enemy who dare to cross her weapon.
She has a spear axe and large axe protecting her. But undoubtedly, her most formidable weapon is her tail covered by scarlet scales. Anyone who was unfortunate enough to come in between its coils was at her mercy and rarely survived its grasp, or at least, unless she allowed it and showed mercy.
The news of the death of a warrior such as she, shook the hearts of all those present in the throne room, on one hand they were all relieved to know that the King was safe but learning about the death of one of the four generals of the kingdom, was a clear confirmation of the strength of the army of Ghortan and a clear explanation why it is so feared on the battlefield.
But the one who was really shocked by this news, was the Princess Kyla who has always been closely linked to the general, despite the age difference. The two girls had created between them a strong friendship that recently had become something deeper, something special.
The Princess locked herself in her room to cry and grieve for several days. Attempts by the Queen, her mother, to comfort her, were of little use.
In the heart of the young Princess, a wound and chasm had opened too deep, too wide and even maternal love could not heal it. No one could fill that void that gripped her heart, that deep feeling of emptiness and loss. Seeing her daughter so broken hearted made the Queen feel helpless and sad. She so wished, she could do something to help.
A week passed and the situation had improved only in part. Kyla now no longer remained locked in her room, but her eyes were bleak and empty and her thoughts always turned to her deceased friend and confidante.
It was clear for all to see that the link between them had become very deep, perhaps too much so, looking at their social position and not to mention the fact that they were both women.
Not that such a thing was weird (after all even the King had engaged in "intimate" meeting with some elected young people in the past), the problem was in the fact that everyone expected Kyla to produce worthy descendants of the royal family. The family were historically important and had earned respect over the centuries with their wisdom and kindness for each subject who lived within the realm of Ysindor. It was important to keep the bloodline running in future generations.
The Queen consulted the court doctors, soothsayers, anyone who could offer her advice and an effective way to help her daughter, but none of them were able to do anything, at least until that day that loomed in the not too distant future.
Every month, at the gates of the castle, merchants gathered around all the Kingdom, some sold weapons and armour, others, horses perfect for a king and, there were magicians and soothsayers seeking powerful lords who might need their services.
It was walking through the various shops that a faint hope was opened in Kyla's heart: a minstrel narrated a story about a witch with great powers, able to do anything, even to resurrect the dead!
It was these last words that kept replaying in the Princess's mind, so she asked the minstrel to follow her to the court, where it was her desire to learn as much as possible about the witch.
The minstrel told her every detail he knew about the witch and all he had heard in the various cities he had visited: her more or less noble deeds, her powers, but the most interesting thing was where she could be found.
It was after hearing all these stories, that Kyla took courage and made the decision to go in search of the witch with the only aim to revive her beloved Lady Serpentina, the only one that showed her affection, not for her rank or royalty, but as a normal red blooded girl.
In the days that followed, she planned her trip meticulously, everything needed, such as, herbal medicines, food and of course a weapon to defend herself. She studied the regions and terrain she was to travel and the type of dangers she might encounter along the way.
Of course, she acquired some most suitable clothes for the long journey she would have to endure, the luxurious clothes she usually wore would be uncomfortable to face such rough terrain. She prepared everything she might need in secret. Then the night came for her to leave, the first without a clear moon. The night she had decided to secretly take her leave in search of the Witch. She leaves the castle alone to begin her long journey that would take her away from her usual comfortable and protected world.
The journey was arduous and much longer than she expected and more than once she had reached the point of losing all hope, but then, at these low times she would think of her Lady Serpentina and a new determined strength would invade her weary bones to step forward once again and continue on her way.
Eventually and suddenly her journey to seek the Witch was over, she finally found herself in front of the cave. The Cave, she was looking for, the only one who can bring back her beloved Serpentina!
She approached the entrance of the cave with caution, when she heard a voice from inside.
"Come in Princess, I've been waiting ...."
Those words unnerved her, "Is it possible that the witch was even able to predict the future? Or maybe it was just a trap to be able to capture her and to blackmail the King, her father, to surrender to the reign of Ghortan?
Instinctively, her hand clasped the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it to the smallest sign of danger. She walked into the cave when, just after few steps, a fire lit up the inside, allowing her to see a figure beyond the flickering flames. This figure was sitting cross-legged, a dark elf with long hair bleached by the inexorable passage of time. He watched her and appeared friendly enough.
"I know why you're here, Princess, you wish to bring life back to a person close to you. But you must know that this is an impossible task! "
Those words, froze the blood of Kyla, if a revived Lady Serpentina wasn't possible, what was the purpose of her journey and facing the dangers she had encountered along it!? She felt her eyes filling with tears, but she wouldn't give up after all she had done, all she had gone through.
"There must be a way, I'm willing to do anything, anything to bring her back to me!"
