Lost Star: Tale of Two Hearts, #1

By N L Hiser

One sister runs into the Old Forest in search of her twin.
One sister runs toward the Cloaked Mountains searching for an escape.

 

Both are thrust into an unexpected world filled with colorful magic, new friends, and a terrifying evil lurking in the darkness. Discovering old secrets and true strength that only comes from finding yourself, they'll fight to save the new life and family they've come to love, against the Depraved King whom desires nothing more than to burn it all.

 

TRIGGER WARNING:
SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, ABUSE, GRIEF, KIDNAPPING

 

New Adult High Fantasy series, The Tale of Two Hearts

 

Book 1 of 4

• Language: English
• Publisher: N L H Publishing
• Release date: May 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201503895

Book preview

One of the hardest things in life is believing in yourself.

This book is dedicated to all those who doubt and second guess themselves. Believe in yourself. We do.

Diagram Description automatically generatedA picture containing text, outdoor, black, white Description automatically generated

The Kingdom of Stragaysia rested peacefully as the ocean waves rocked against the shores of Taunto Island. The boats bearing goods for trade were all loaded with taunto fish and ready to set sail with the rising sun. They rocked playfully along the waves as if enjoying the company of the ocean. A few tiny lights glimmered amongst the buildings and houses, most of the villagers already asleep for the night. Between the walls of the castle high on the cliff, and the occupied shores below stretched a short span of tallgrass and pebbled road.

From the helm of a boat on the horizon, Stragaysia sat alone and dominated the trading shore. But once a tradesman found himself walking on the road up to the castle, he would see it. A large span of wilderness behind the deceiving castle walls. Half a day’s walk to the edge of a dark forest that spread as far as the eye could see, only stopping to meet the towering mountains in the farthest distance. Birds cawed eerily from far away as a mist overtook the tree line. As quickly as one could see it, it could vanish from sight, hidden behind a thick blanket of fog.

A scream broke the thickening silence. A few lights in the homes along the interior of the castle walls came alive, waving in the darkness of the empty windows. Another scream, and then a moan of pain floated down from one of the highest windows in the kingdom.

Inside the room, the queen laid in a bed with a couple of her ladies at her side. She moaned again and strained. Then suddenly, a moment of silence followed by a tiny cry. The queen smiled as she held the tiny bundles close to her. She grimaced involuntarily and kissed her baby girls, whispering to them both. She cried as she passed them to her ladies and whispered weakly, They will be Alexandria and Lyra. Make certain they know my love. A purple tear slid from her eye as she expelled her last breath.

The ladies held the princesses close and cried for their beloved queen. After a moment or two, they placed the sleeping babies in their bed and the head lady left to inform the king. One of them wrote the baby’s names on pieces of parchment paper and hung them from their small bed. 

The king entered the room, the head lady on his heel. His guard stood by the door. A tear slid down King Leland’s cheek as he watched his daughters sleep. He moved toward the bed, walking to his late wife’s side. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his tears falling onto her still rosy cheeks.

Did she say anything before...?

She spoke of her love for you, and that she wanted your daughters to know her love.

They will. She gave her life for their survival. He walked back to the tiny baby bed. Alexandria... Lyra... he whispered, eyeing the papers. Take them to their room and make sure they are well cared for. We will take care of our queen... my wife.

Your Majesty. The ladies bowed slightly, picked up the girls, and walked to their new room while a guard pushed the baby bed after them. Once in their room, they gently placed the sleeping princesses in their bed and wept for their queen and brokenhearted king.

The castle was again quiet, this time filled with grief. As the occupants slept the rest of the night, a dark figure approached the princesses’ new chambers. The door swung open gently, and the figure crept past the sleeping ladies in their chairs close by. The figure snuck up to the tiny bed and watched as the babies slept, continuously glancing between the two.

The figure heard footfalls coming from the hall not far from the door. Quickly, the figure picked up one of the tiny bundles and ran from the room. He ran stealthily, evading all the guards and slipping quickly out of the castle. The figure climbed onto his horse and nudged him into a run, taking the stolen princess away towards the forest.

As the sun began to rise, the horse galloped them closer to the foggy tree line and farther from the Kingdom of Stragaysia. A shrill scream split open the night behind them. They never wavered. Instead, he urged the horse to gallop faster.  

The king ran to the princesses’ room. My Lord, someone has-has stolen one of the babies. one of the ladies cried.

He turned to his guard. Send your men. Find her. Bring them back.

Yes, Sire. The guard gave his men the orders and left the room with the king.

They ran to the tallest wall of the castle to get an eye on the thief. Once there, they spied a man on horseback galloping towards the forest. Even from the tallest wall of the castle, they could hear the cries of the vulnerable, infant princess. They could see the guards give chase, but the king knew they wouldn’t reach them in time. He watched helplessly as the man rode through the tree line and into the Old Forest.

Call back your men.

But, My Lord, we may lose your child forever if we do not follow them.

We have already lost her. They have entered the Old Forest. We... cannot follow her into the forest. We cannot risk open war again. His head bowed in dismay. I have already lost my beloved wife. And we have lost so many to the Great War. I cannot risk my people. I cannot risk the daughter I have remaining.

The guard nodded his head silently. The king walked past him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Call them back. We must protect the princess we still have. I will need your help.

Of course, My Lord. I will do anything. He signaled for his men to retreat to the castle and followed the king back inside. They headed into the princess’s room, and he watched as King Leland picked up his newborn baby.

We must protect Alexandria. From all of it. She will not know of her mother’s magic. Nor of her sister. As of this moment, we are to act as if her sister never existed. If the Dark One hears of Alexandria, he will send another to take her. Or, to kill her. If we have any luck, Alexandria will not have her mother’s magic in her. And if he thinks he has the only thing we can use against him, maybe it will end this war for good. Maybe... he will just die of his wounds, and we can live our lives without magic.

We can only hope, Sire.

Yes. the king sighed. We can only hope.

It is so sad, how the queen went. She was so healthy. one of the ladies muttered absently.

We know full well the queen did not die because her health was low. We know what did it. The wounds on her... that did not come from a usual thing. the older lady snapped.

Will she not ask questions? The princess. When she gets older? the other lady asked.

We will only answer what we must. She will know of the great things her mother did as the queen. Nothing else. She will know of the Great War, but not of the reason for it. Or of magic at all. If the magic does live within her veins, as it did Eliza’s, I wish with all my heart that she will never find it. If she does... it may be the end of all of us.

King Leland cradled baby Alexandria close to him as a small tear welled in the corner of his eye. She opened her light green eyes and stared at him as he contemplated what to do next.  

A picture containing text, outdoor, black, old Description automatically generated

Alexandria

Alexandria stepped over to her library window and glanced below. The kingdom was already buzzing with the day’s activities. She smiled as she watched the last boats departing the trading shore and sailing back to their homes. In the distance, she could see fishermen setting off for the day to the nearby islands to catch the day’s fish. Far below, people walked throughout the village tending to their duties for the day.

Alexandria loved watching her people go about their day. Some days it was the only thing saving her from boredom. Her father never let her out of the castle walls. She had plenty to do within them between her books, swords training, and occasional royal duties though. That kept her fairly busy. But even the busiest person can become bored of the same, dry routine. And anyone can feel alone whilst surrounded by a kingdom of people. She sighed, deep in thought, as she watched.

She wished to have adventures, though she knew how childish that was. Alexandria knew she needed to retain steely focus on her tasks. Her father, and the kingdom, depended on her. Or they would one day soon, at least. And she needed to be ready when that day came. She sighed again, resolute but discontent. At least she could watch others’ lives unfold. 

She turned and walked over to her many shelves of books. She loved her library, a gift from her father for her last birthday. She had previously been reading and studying in the king’s study, where the palace tutor would come for their sessions. But on her last birthday, the king had shown her into the library of her late mother. No one had entered in years, but her father said he thought it fitting that she’d read the books that once belonged to her mother. Alexandria had fallen in love with it instantly.

Her fingers ran along the spines as she searched for a new story she hadn’t read yet. Perusing carefully, her finger stopped as she came to an exceptionally older cover with intricate painting. "Hmm...A History of Stragaysia and Her Secrets. I don’t think I have seen this one before." she muttered aloud to the empty room.

She carefully slid the book from the shelf and held it in her hands. A waft of dust and old paper tickled her nose. Opening the cover, she admired the beautiful handwriting and artwork. "A History of Stragaysia and Her Secrets: The Life Accounts of Eliza Breely Frole’, the Queen of Stragaysia. she gasped, fingering the written words. My mother."

She closed it gently and picked up the books from the table that she was currently studying. She held them all against her chest, inhaled the intoxicating smell, and smiled. Then, Alexandria strolled out of her library and down the hall to the stairs. A few moments later, she stepped out of the castle and into the courtyard. She sat down under her favorite tree and laid her books on her lap, excited to start reading her mother’s book.

How far back did it go? she wondered. How did Stragaysia start? She didn’t even know how her mother and father had met. Dozens of questions flooded her mind. Her father had been extremely vague throughout her childhood whenever she would ask about the kingdom’s past. And her tutor would never let her ask any questions about it. They would both tell her, ‘Today is what is important. Not the past, silly girl. We look to the future! And so should you. You are the princess and must always think of the future for your kingdom. You do want to give Stragaysia a future, don’t you?’

She could never understand why they both refused to talk about it but could only assume it was out of grief for her mother. She found herself sad at times for not knowing her mother. No one talked about her much, and she wished she knew more about her.

Maybe this book, my mother’s book, can help. Alexandria wondered.  

She opened ‘A History of Stragaysia’ and admired her mother’s handwritten name once again. She gingerly turned to the first page, careful not to rip the old, delicate paper. She was barely able to read the first word before a set of footsteps approached her.

She raised her eyes from the book and smiled at her friend. The only friend she had ever truly had.

Eros leaned over her, wide-eyed, and grinned boyishly. Ma-lady. he bowed mockingly.

Eros, I told you not to call me that. Alexandria scorned. We have known each other our entire lives. Surely you get no pleasure out of it.

Only the pleasure of mocking my dearest friend. He bowed even lower and then chuckled heartily as he fell to the ground beside her.

Oh, seriously! she scoffed. Must you always be such a child?

He sat up and leaned back coyly. "Always. At least I’m not boring."

Her face twisted in disgust. It wasn’t her fault she was so boring, and he knew it. She couldn’t very well disobey the king. Even though she was his daughter. It didn’t matter. She had to abide by his orders like everyone else.  

I am sorry. Truly. You are not boring. I was only teasing you, Ma-lady. his brows furrowed at her expression.

Alexandria sighed. I know. I need to not take you so seriously. How is your morning?

Fairly well, I suppose.

And how is Lilbit?

Amazing, of course. She is a good horse. Never gives me any trouble.

She laughed. What trouble could a gentle horse cause poor Eros? she mocked.

You would be surprised, Ma-lady. he winked. Dedgerick’s has a habit of kicking me in my ass whenever she has a chance.

Alexandria chuckled as she pictured it. Oh, I’m sure!

He stared at her, watching her laugh. A mischievous grin stretched across his mouth at a sudden idea. She does. You should see the bruises.

Alexandria blushed, pausing. Your bruises?

Yes. They are proof after all.

That would be a bad idea, Eros. She straightened herself, no longer amused.

Why? Would you blush more than you are now? he winked.

Oh, stop it. You know I cannot.

"Oh, why not? You are always stuck inside this boring, old castle. You have never even been to the trading shore! Aren’t you allowed to have even a little fun?"

You know my father’s orders. I will not defy them, Eros.

Not even for me? Can you not be trusted alone with me?

Well...yes. Of course. I know I am safe with you, Eros. My father just... would not like-

"Like... what? That you are with me, right? That is the real issue."

Alexandria stayed silent. It hadn’t been the first time that Eros had acted so... determined. It often made her question why he was so determined to be alone with her. They had been friends for their entire lives, and yet she still found herself wondering about him sometimes. No matter though. Whatever his issue, she had more important things to do. She had to think of her kingdom and defying the king’s orders would do nothing good for Stragaysia. Stragaysia needed a trustworthy princess.

"I understand. Better me than a stranger, but you must listen to your father, right? I mean, no self-respecting daughter would ever even consider thinking for herself, would she?" he muttered begrudgingly.

"Eros, he is my father. And our king! I cannot go against his wishes. It is for the better of the kingdom."

"One day, Ma-lady, you will understand that the kingdom and the king are not the most important things in the world. You cannot blindly follow those you do