House of Foylen

Prologue

***

"Marcus."

"Son wake up."

When I opened my eyes, mother greeted me with a smile as she sat beside me and starts patting my shoulder.

Our carriage travelled for eight hours at most, the worst part is I'm not even close to be amused on reaching our destination. I insisted staying in the house but my father refused. Rather than meeting people and socialize I would rather sleep in a shade of tree dreaming of resting more.

"We are close to the palace. Surely, your aunt will be surprised seeing that you've grown." She talks with enthusiasm as she swiped the curtain aside revealing the capital city.

This week is a series of royal occasions for the king's birthday and as a family of the queen we are expected to show ourselves.

My father is joyfully looking at us, he rides his horse outside. He wanted me to learn horse-riding and swords but I declined it for the sake of literature and a little of archery.

We entered the gate of the capital, many of the citizens gathered for our arrival. More soldiers advanced to guard our wagon as they marched behind and in front of us.

I followed after my parents as we walked toward the king's hall right after we set foot in the palace.

"The Duke and Duchess of Shire..."
"with their son, young lord of shire." Now, is the real deal. I could feel the entire crowd staring at me after the moment we were announced.

The king and queen stands and happily approached my parents. I can see how they love to be with each other knowing the four of them are closest of friends even way back then. Actually, the queen is my father's younger sister.

"Look at this young boy."
"Markus, you've grown handsomely!" My aunt hugs me tightly and the king begun petting my head. I simply smiled and nodded like my typical response to all conversations.

I heard some giggles from the table on my left. My glare switched from the floor going to their direction and all the other kids stopped except for my older cousin Grey, the prince.

A typical fourteen year old would definitely held a staring contest, but that is not the case for me. I regressed my attention back to the dancing lights of the hall. Unfortunately, my mother caught me and pointed me back to my cousin.

Grey and I does not have any sort of misunderstanding, we just simply have opposing personalities, he is active and a socialite meant to be a prince and a king someday. While I remain passive, a shadow, destined to be by his side like my father to the king.

I spent most of the week accompanying my cousin with the other noble children even though I habitually drowsed wherever we go.

One night before the final day of the event, I woke up from a blazing discussion of my parents together with the king and queen across the corridor.

"Charles, we can not hide any further the fact that we are under an attack from west! We need soldiers..." My father frustratedly argues with uncle Charles before he was cut off.

"I know! We need to mobilise the Knights of Fey and wolves of shire. We can hold them a bit longer with that option, just in time we already had the army we need from these coveting nobles."