Curse of the Dark Castle

Prologue: Part One of Two

Third Person Narrative

     A long time ago, deep within the Black Woods was a prosperous kingdom. King Kristofer and Queen Izabelle were loved by all their people. The Queen was beautiful petite woman with long curly black hair and striking blue eyes. King Kristofer was a large muscled man, standing at 6 foot 4 with light brown hair to his shoulders and green eyes. They were fair and just rulers. The Queen had a kind heart and the King was a magnificent leader. The villagers in their kingdom never suffered, not even the lowest of peasants. But not all good couples have good children. Despite Queen Izabelle's kind heart, she was plagued with the trouble of conceiving children.

     The King and Queen tried desperately to have heirs but had no luck. Their royal apothecary, tried millions of different remedies and concoctions, but nothing worked. Soon gossip spread throughout the royal court, about the King and Queen being punished by God. Word come to King Kristofer about a sorceress and shapeshifter who resided far outside the kingdom, deep with in the woods.

     Desperate, the royal couple sent out ten of their most trusted knights to find the rumored sorceress and shapeshifter. The knights searched day and night in the Dark Forest only finding never ending tracks of a lone wolf. After hundreds hours searching and walking in what seemed like circles, they came across a small wooden hut with smoke coming out of the chimney.

     "Open up, by order of the King." Said one of the royal knights.

     The hut door squeeked opened, revealing an ugly old women with wild grey hair and yellow eyes, much like a wolf. She was a small stocky woman wearing old dirty rags.

     "Come in young men, come in." She ushered the knights into her home.

     The knights uncomfortably entered the small wooden home, looking around. The wall held intricate carved wolf plaques made of wood and stone. There was a raging fire, with what looked like stew into the cooking in a pot above it. In the corner was a small cot with animal skins. A table held books written in a language that was not in common tongue. And an open cabinet held jars of unknown herbs and insects.

     "Strong young men as yourselves must be hungry, searching days for me. Come have some stew." She urges the young men forward, all except for one. The smallest and youngest of the knights. "You to young one, you must be hungry." The old women says as she passes around bowls of food to the other knights.

     The youngest knight, watches as his fellow knights begin to eat the hot food, but still refused the meal. "I am fine, thank you." He replies having a weird feeling about this old women found in the woods. "How did you know we were looking for you?" The young knight asked.

     "I have eyes and ears everywhere in this forest." The old women replied.

     The other knights seemed to be placed under a spell, scaring the youngest knight. "We have come on behalf of our King Kristofer and Queen Izabelle, we must return to the kingdom with you, the King and Queen seal your help." He said.

     "What would the King need my help with that is so important, that I must leave my home and lovely new followers?" The old women asked.

     "Our King demands..." The knights starts, then thinks for a moment. "What do you mean new followers?" He asks becoming confused. "We do not follow you, we pledge our only allegiance to King Kristofer and Queen Izabelle." He states firmly.

     "You may have an allegiance with you King and Queen, but the other men my home, are now mine to control. Soon when the moon rises, they shall become creatures of the night." She says slowly smiling, "but you will not be here for it, we shall make our way to your beloved rulers." The knights and old women make their way back to the kingdom. But not without the young knight looking around at his fellow knights standing in what look like a trance looking at the old woman.