Chapter 1

10 months ago,

Camelorn,

"She will be tall and graceful as the columns of the temple of our great god Robos,"

The whole court and the people shouted "Ay!"

The palace was filled with men and women, both nobles and common; although the nobles could easily be seen in all their glorious lengths of expensive clothing. The rich silk robes and gowns, the rustling of satin scarves, the expensive wool of their coats and the hard, black, shiny boots of the men, boots cleaned and blackened with coal by the commoners for 2 copper coins, the women in their expensive slippers, intricately and delicately made by hands of the commoners for at least 5 pieces of silver if the design met the approval of the rich buyer. The commoners if not recognized by the fray edges of their clothing alone, the fact that they kept to the shadows as did the servants made them easily recognizable.

It was a day of joy, a day for all freeborn of Camelorn to rejoice but one never forgets his social standing just because of a feast thrown to announce the queen's pregnancy. The social demarcation still existed but it was at its minimum today for the Camelornians were not gathered to pass judgment on a slave or a poor hapless commoner but they were there to rejoice with their king and queen so everyone raised a glass, everyone cheered, everyone ate and slipped expensive cutlery pieces and delicious food items into hidden pockets in their clothes.

Angus, seated as his place by his king's right-hand side as his king's Advisor stood with his goblet raised, "May she be even more beautiful than our queen"

The whole court laughed drunkenly. King Phillip IV laughed along and stood on unsteady feet "Still doesn't mean I'll give her to you in marriage, brother" he slurred, and once again the whole crowd laughed and more folks slipped more items into their pockets.

"And her hair will shine like the gold of the ripe corn at harvest time"

"Ay!"

"And her skin will be the fairest among maidens of her peers"

"Ay"

"And her eyes will be the bluest, bluer than the clear sky on a nice summer day"

"Ay"

"And so shall it be because the gods have declared it"

And at the corner of the room, away from the merriment stood a lone figure bent forward as if burdened by a heavyweight, watching with sharp eyes the feast, the guests, and most importantly, the queen.

10 months later,

The king's court was gathered at the throne room waiting for the sound of the cry of a newborn. Waiting since the first hour of dawn when golden-haired queen Emilia had gone into labor. Anticipation and happiness rested on the chest of King Phillip. For hours no sound was heard from both mother and child.

The midwives had not appeared either to give accounts of the progress of the birthing. So the nobles waited until the shadow of the evening came upon them. Servants came and went, bringing platters of roasted meat and bread and stew and jars of wine and the nobles ate while they waited and chattered among themselves.

And then…

The old wizened midwife came out of the inner chambers and stood before the whole court. The look on her face was one of amazement, she sweated like she had escaped the jaws of a wild beast and her hands hung limp beside her.

"Well?" Phillip asked impatiently. "Is both mother and child alive and well?"

The midwife's face contorted to one of misery, she balled her fists in the bodice of her dress and bawled "I wish that was the case, my lord. The queen has birthed a stranger"

As soon as she finished her sentence the door opened to admit a younger woman who held a swaddling and in it moved the tiny hands of an infant who stared up at her with clear unteary eyes. Every member of the king's court stood to look into the swaddling and simultaneously gasped at the sight.

"Well…she certainly isn't as fair as her mother," Lady Amelia said voicing everyone's first thought.

"Nor does she have hair as golden as the ripe corns in the fields," Lord Fergus chipped in.

"And what's with the bald head and gray eyes?"