The Silver Necklace (prologue)

Prologue 

The forest was the perfect place for a game of “Hide and Seek”. Little Akara, only eight years old, had decided that she and her best friend, Ellemeire, would go play in the forest. Akara hid behind trees, in hollow logs, and in the forest caves. She was much better at the game then Ellemeire who only hid in one area, thinking she couldn’t be found. It was Akara’s turn to seek and she felt bad for Ellemeire, who was always found very quickly. So, she decided to search in another area for Ellemeire’s benefit. 

As Akara searched, she saw something glitter under the fallen leaves. She walked over to the object and picked it up. It was a silver necklace. The pendant of the necklace was a heart with two diamond roses in it. “Oh! What a lovely necklace!” Akara said, smiling. Suddenly, she heard a sound to her right. She looked and saw a boy, no more than ten, dart behind a tree. Akara ran over to the tree, but the boy was gone. Akara grinned. Suddenly Ellemeire called to her, “Akara? Are you going to search for me or not?” Akara turned and saw Ellemeire standing near a tree a few feet away. Akara laughed. “What point is there in seeking you if you’ve made yourself known?” she asked. Ellemeire pondered this for a moment. She looked at Akara and they both giggled. “Akara! Ellemeire!” a voice called. It was Tamille, Akara’s governess. “Coming Tamille!” Akara answered. “Well hurry up dear!” Tamille yelled back, “Your father is having a banquet tonight and you are invited!” 

Akara was the daughter of the king. Ellemeire was the daughter of one of the servants in the castle. They lived in the kingdom of Palmsmeria, a beautiful kingdom that bordered the countries of Ekaina, Jadastia, and Solatia.  On the other side of Palmsmeria was the Altiam Sea, an ocean stretching for thousands of miles and was said to lead to strange, unknown lands.

Akara, when she turned seventeen, would become queen of Palmsmeria. If something were to happen Akara, her older sister, Harezel, would become queen. Though she was older, Harezel would not become queen before Akara. Their father thought that it was better for Akara to be queen. Harezel hated her father for this and was apathetic when he died leaving their mother to be queen until Akara’s reign. Harezel also hated Ellemeire. Ellemeire knew if Harezel became queen she would rule like a cruel dictator. There was something about Harezel that worried Ellemeire; something evil.