Crowns and Kingdoms: Book 2 Magog

By Norris Bloom

Vivi discovers, with the help of her good friend Queen Zora, that she is not an orphan, but rather the only surviving member of the royal family of Magog. Vivi leaves her friends and the comfort of Tarshish and travels to the distant kingdom of Magog to claim her throne…

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483509242

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CHAPTER 1

QUEEN VIVI

Long Ago

I spotted a lone rider in the distance, and watched as his horse galloped closer and closer to our party. We, too, were on horseback, as we made the long journey to Magog Castle. No, I reminded myself, everyone calls it Magog Palace, not Magog Castle.

As the rider approached, I recognized him as the scout sent ahead by Aegis of Magog, the top knight of my kingdom. Your Highness, the scout greeted me, before turning to speak to Aegis. The palace has been vacated. It seems that Judoc’s men fled Magog once they heard the news of his defeat in Tarshish. Rumor has it that his men have also vacated the kingdom of Bohemia, and possibly the kingdom of Eryx as well.

That is wonderful news, Aegis replied. And you told the servants and royal court the news of Queen Vitalia? They will have the palace prepared for her arrival this afternoon?

Yes. The palace is buzzing with excitement in preparation for your return. All are very excited to see our new queen.

Very good, that is all; you may ride ahead once again.

The scout bowed his head to me before nudging his horse and galloping off, eventually disappearing from my vision. I looked down at the royal amethyst rose signet ring upon my finger, worn only by the ruler of Magog, and my thoughts turned to my friends Zora, Sundiata and the orphans back at the cottage. Many weeks had passed since I left the kingdom of Tarshish, and the only family I had ever known. It was hard to believe that less than a year ago, Zora learned she was not an orphan, but actually the Princess of Tarshish. When her father, the king, died, she became queen. Zora then asked Sundiata and me to leave the cottage and join her to help foil Judoc’s plans to invade Tarshish Castle. That was when I learned that I, too, was born of royal blood, and was the only surviving heir to the throne of Magog, and as such, their new queen. I wondered what the people of Magog were like, and if they would accept me as their new ruler. I could hardly accept it myself.

The road seemed endless, but Aegis had told me we should arrive at the palace gates sometime today. I thought about our long journey, and realized how far I now was from the kingdom of Tarshish. A shiver escaped my body, but I was not sure if it was from the cold, or fear. I shifted in my saddle and pulled my cloak closed to protect myself from the biting chill that had settled around us ever since we crossed the rough sea and arrived in this strange, new land.

The kingdom of Magog was truly another world apart from the kingdom of Tarshish. I could remember stormy, rainy days in Tarshish, but even those were nothing like this bitter cold weather that caused my exposed skin to ache. Aegis tells me that it is only going to get much colder when winter soon arrives.

It won’t be much longer now, Queen Vitalia. We should be able to see the palace very soon.

That is good news. I am frozen down to my bones. Aegis, please call me Vivi. I have never been called Vitalia, and it sounds very strange to my ears.

As you wish, my queen.

I can’t wait to see the palace, but I’m so nervous. Do you think the people will like me?

Oh, yes. They will love you. Remember, their most recent ruler was Judoc, the man who slaughtered their beloved King Yaroslav, Queen Seraphina and the two young princes. He would have killed you too, if anyone had known you existed.

I watched Aegis’ eyes cloud over with tears when he spoke of the deceased royal family; my family, the family I would never know. I studied Aegis, taking in his appearance. He had many of the same unique characteristics of the knights from Magog. They were a tall group of men, with broad shoulders, strong features, and most had beards, mustaches or both. He was no exception. He was a tall, powerfullooking man with blond hair, piercing blue eyes and a goatee that he had a habit of stroking with his fingers when he was lost in thought.

I could hear the sound of the frozen ground crunching beneath the horses’ hooves as we made our way further down the icy road. As we crested a slight hill, Aegis turned to me. There it is - Magog Palace. Do you see it in the distance? I focused my eyes and was able to make out a large form glistening against the barren landscape and gray sky. I was awestruck as we rode closer and closer. Even from a distance I could see that it looked nothing like Tarshish Castle, the only other castle I had ever seen.

It’s stunning, I said, as I studied the image rising up from the frozen land.

Wait until you see the inside of the palace. Magog is one of the wealthiest of all the kingdoms. We hid as many treasures as we could from Judoc and his men. You are a very rich queen, Aegis said with pride.

Our caravan picked up speed as we got closer to the castle, and I realized just how wealthy this kingdom was as we approached large, golden gates held wide open, as if to embrace their new queen. We rode through the entryway and on to a tree-lined path leading to the massive palace, which was composed of multiple stone towers topped with pointed golden domes. Midway down the path, we passed a large, circular pond bordered by a small forest.

What are those? I asked Aegis, as I pointed to some large white birds with curved necks and black and yellow beaks floating on the still water.

Those are the beautiful white swans of Magog; but they won’t be here for much longer. They leave every winter when it becomes too cold for them.

I watched the unusual large birds glide gracefully through the water, encouraging their young to do the same, and I smiled when I saw one swan actually give its baby a piggyback ride. I have never seen a bird like that. They are beautiful. I hope they stay here for at least a little while longer.

Aegis laughed and said, I’m sorry to say they won’t. They fly to warmer weather every winter, but they will come back to the pond next spring to have their babies. They will stay all summer and fall before they leave again for warmer weather. I wanted to stay and watch the swans a bit longer, but soon our horses rode past the pond and eventually came to an abrupt stop in front of the palace.

Many people stood in front of the stone palace to greet our traveling party, and immediately two young men stepped forward to help me off of my horse. I felt as though they simply lifted me off my mare, and just as my feet touched the ground, every person that I could see bowed their heads and dropped into a deep bow or curtsey. They stayed that way, and I did not know what I should do, so I quickly looked over to Aegis, and he saved me by giving orders to all of the servants.

Lady Oxana, please come forward, Aegis said, and I watched a young girl about my age step toward us. You will be Queen Vivi’s lady-in-waiting. Please take her to her sleeping chamber and help her with anything that she needs. I assume her wing has been readied?

Yes, Aegis, her chambers are ready. It is an honor to serve you, my queen, Oxana replied with a warm smile and curtsey. Please come with me, Your Majesty, she said, and I found myself walking with her through the massive front doors and entering the most amazing hall that I could ever imagine.

The interior was a series of wooden archways with polished golden accents. I was speechless as I studied the inside of the palace, as we walked through carved openings and up a set of wide, polished marble stairs. At the top of the staircase, I stopped to stare at a collection of paintings hung on the wall.

We hid those from Judoc. Once they left, we brought them back out. They are the portraits of the late royal family.

I studied each picture; first that of my father, King Yaroslav, and then that of my mother, Queen Seraphina. My resemblance to her was remarkable. She had the same dark-red hair, white skin and unusual violet eyes that I do. Sadly, I looked at the pictures of the two young princes, my brothers. I could not imagine how anyone could be so evil as to kill two little boys. They too looked a lot like me, just in the male form.

They were cute, mischievous little princes, Oxana said, breaking into my thoughts.

Yes, I’m sure they were, I replied sadly.

Would you like to keep the portraits there, or shall I have them removed? Oxana asked.

No, please. Keep them there. I never want to forget them, I answered.

We are here, Oxana