Norah The Lives of the Royals

By Rachel P. Singleton

Avieka and Cysta, two sisters that live in a world with no color, are offered a chance by the rulers of Augustopia to bring it back... but at one cost, they must defeat the Great Dragon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel P. Singleton
• Release date: Oct 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223618850

Rachel P. Singleton

Hi! My name is Rachel, or my Pseudonym Rachel P. Singleton. I'm the author of allegorical novel Norah the Lives of the Royals, the short-story Special, the children's books Don't Poke Peaches, Everyone Loves Rosey, and a few audiobooks on my website. I live in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia with my pet cat Maude. Sometimes when I'm not writing, I like to sketch cats, roses, or practice Byzantine art (Orthodox Icons) or read classic fantasy books up the alley of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien.

Book preview

{Part I}

Prologue

So, let’s start this from the beginning.

There is good and there is evil. No matter where you go, you’ll find that to be true. It seems simple, but the trick question is this: Which side will you choose?

I can’t decide for you, but I’ll explain further...

In my homeland of Guerrier, people think the supernatural most-likely isn’t real. But I promise you, it is real. From a good standpoint, I’ve seen guardians of the sky and of course the Royals, King Favian Norah and his mother, Queen Ysmay Norah, that have protected and saved lives with their mysterious abilities.

But on the bad side, I’ve seen devilish chittermads and my forever enemy, the Great Dragon. Some call him the Maker of the Dark. He is the destroyer of all beauty, color, joy, and life.

But one thing you must understand is that whatever side you choose, you become their servant. Once again, I’ve seen it. Good or bad.

So next time, even if you or another person have a choice, first think to yourself when something strangely good or strikingly bad happens to you or to another person-

Is there something bigger at play?

Well, if you are reading this sentence, I assume that you want to see this good and evil for yourself.

Go ahead.

I need a reminder of it all sometimes too.

Chapter 1

Clackitty

Carriage

My story begins a long time ago, but doesn’t quite feel that way sometimes...

As time went on in my world, everything became more and more colorless.

I mean that in a literal sense. It was only until later that I noticed that it vanished. I always had small glimpses of what it used to be like... but very faint glimpses at that.

Even others seemed to see no colors in their surroundings. Well, scratch that, they saw a lot of black and white. And I had to go on a journey just to get that all again. And that journey begins with my simple trip into our quaint town of Guerrier.

My thirteen-year-old younger sister, Cysta, was at home with my other two younger sisters, Crin and Dorothea, because they had a cold that day. I was a little sniffly myself, but I already had allergies. So to me, it wasn’t too much different.

It was a rather plain day to be honest. Just black and white—everywhere. The trees in the distance, the water coming from the fountain in the courtyard of the downtown area, the eyes and hair of people. Just black and white. But I wasn’t exuberant or sad about it though- just neutral like everyone else.

I must say, even though everything was practically colorless when I was young, Guerrier was a decent place. It was still a city, but the structure was nice and it was well kept. Everyone took pride in their rustic wooden houses, many with cute, small roofs and shiny trims. In the courtyard of the town there was a wonderful array of flowers that everyone loved to see every time they passed it.

Anyways, as I continued walking down the side of the road, I heard an interesting beat.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Rattle-rattle! Clip-clop! Clippitty-clippitty-clop!

And it kept getting slightly louder as it repeated.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Rattle-rattle! Clip-clop! Clippitty-clippitty-clop!

What’s that? I asked myself quietly with a sniff , wiping my nose on my arm. Some other people started to slowly but surely come out of their houses also.

One mother said, Is it them?

Her young daughter jumped up and down saying, It’s the King! It’s the Queen!

Then I saw two bearded men standing on the side of the road near me. One asked, "Why are the King and Queen here?

The other said, There’s been a lot of talk about some strange phenomenon out in Augustopia. Nobody knows what it is. They’ve probably come to ask our government about it since we’re allies.

I was still sitting there asking myself, What phenomenon? I thought with anxiousness. What king and queen?

A random boy, probably at the age of twelve, came up to me out of nowhere and said, Did you really just say, ‘what king and queen’?

I nodded my head and said, Um, yeah. Yeah, I did. He looked so flummoxed as his jaw dropped. I said, So, I’m just gonna assume that’s a bad thing...

Uh, yeah!

I darted my eyes around awkwardly. So, I happened to not know about these highly favored royals. The boy shook his head, still trying to get over my question. He pulled me towards him with his left arm and probably as not to make it look like I was a fool, he whispered, King Favian and Queen Ysmay are the rulers of our ally country, Augustopia. Gosh, please tell me you at least know what Augustopia is. Surely you do.

Yes, yes. I know what Augustopia is, jeez. I took geography.

Okay, just checking, said the boy. Well, anyways, King Favian is known to be really strong and some say that he has supernatural powers. Of course I don’t believe that, but it sure does sound cool. Queen Ysmay is known for her kindness. Also, like King Favian, they say she has powers too. But like I said, I don’t believe that’s true. He then let go of me and crossed his arms.

Huh. You don’t believe in supernatural powers?

No. he said with a scoff. You don’t either, do you?

Um...

Hello, our fellow Guerrites! called a voice so mighty, yet joyful, it shook me.

I saw King Favian climb out of his carriage. The sun shined on him perfectly and he, unlike most famous persons, looked like he genuinely wanted to be there amongst us Guerrites. Following him on the left side of the carriage was Queen Ysmay. Still to this day, I remember how her hair sparkled.

Yes, sparkled.

Suddenly, something went off in my mind. I don’t know what it was, but I was afraid. I tried to convince myself at the time that it was because I didn't know what to do because I felt so singled out. But that wasn't true. I can't describe it. It was just a sudden fear for nothing that I hadn't felt before. At that moment, I couldn’t help myself; my feet carried me away before I could realize what I was doing.

The twelve-year-old boy had muttered something as I ran off. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about what people thought. I just didn’t.

But even as I ran away putting my hands over my eyes and wishing I had the power to teleport myself home, someone did happen to actually care. 

Chapter 2

Lonesome

Library

So, after running a while, I finally made it to my favorite place on earth to decompress...

....the library.

I opened the door and breathed in the air. Mmm. I walked in and the library was so large, my footsteps echoed as I walked in.

Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

It was rather chilly, and even though I snuggled in my arms because I was cold, I still liked it that way. To my right, there was the flag of the Guerrite and Augustopian alliance. On it was our world of Secondarium and a pair of wings behind it.

I walked closer to the librarian lady who was at her marble-made desk with her nose in a large book. Usually, she never lifted her face from whatever she was doing and only the bun in her hair stuck up.

Do you have any books on inventing? I asked, shyly.

Not any you haven’t read already, she looked up from her book and said my name in a personal way, -Avieka.

Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be an inventor. But it was always hard for me to get to a place where I could be one successfully though. Even though I had rough times of throwing everything I made away, no matter how much I tried, it was impossible for me to give it up. And by impossible that’s not hyperbole, it was impossible.

Oh, that’s okay. I was looking to reread some anyway. I replied.

If there are, there should be some in the corner, she pointed her finger, far, far, far back there... like always.

Heh Heh... Thank you.

Mmm-hmm.

I walked away towards the far, far, far back of the library. My heart slowed down beat by beat as I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, and held it in. After a few seconds, I exhaled all of my worries only to open my eyes and look up at this pillar. It had a well-detailed, yet rather unsettling dragon swirled around it and it’s head reached out at the top with anger in its eyes. After all these years of going to this library, I was never able to figure out why they put it there. I heard stories about a dragon called the Great Dragon and I thought maybe that was it, or perhaps it was just a dragon- simply for decor.

Passing the pillar, I reached a dark and dusty corner with a small table and chair. It looked like no one really went back there often, as some of the books were covered in cobwebs and it had the slight smell of mold. I didn’t care though; it was secluded and quiet. 

I pulled out one book, then another, then another. Gray cover, black cover, white cover. Gray cover, black cover, white cover. And it didn’t take long before I was covered in a plethora of books. More than I would probably be able to read before they were due back. That wasn’t unusual though. I finally set my numerous stacks down on the table and tried to decide which I wanted to read first. Rewiring, best templates, engines... After a moment, I finally chose one off the top of a stack. I reached out to pick it up and I sat down to read.

I got two sentences down and then I heard a gentle voice, I saw you looking at that statue of the Great Dragon. Rather disturbing don’t you think? After all, the books say he is the source of all evil.

I didn’t look up since I was so lost in my book, but I responded. Oh, that’s what it is? Yeah, I’ve tried to figure out what’s up with that, but no one will tell me.

The voice let out a heavy sigh and said, Well, I find it to be a coincidence that it is right beside the spellbook section. In Augustopia, we wouldn’t have a spellbook section because it's banned there.

Oh, that’s cool. I replied nonchalantly as I turned the page of my book, I wish that was the case over here, but it’s a trend that makes me rather alarmed.

Yeah, it should. said the voice. And it’s good that you feel that way. But, speaking of the Great Dragon, that’s the matter I came here for. You see, no one will tell you about it, because no one really cares to know.

Thinking that was a rather strange thing to say, I looked up and saw who was talking to me. King Favian! I fell backwards out of my chair and I accidentally knocked all of my books over with my jumpiness. Oh! I said disappointedly.

I sincerely apologize! I didn’t mean to scare you! He came over to me and helped me get back up. I slowly looked up, and a chill went through my body.

King Favian smiled gently and looked down. He walked closer to me and helped me pick up my books. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him- I was in awe- such power and such gentleness. I couldn’t understand it.

I still couldn’t believe that I was talking to a king, even if I just found out about him. You’re-?

Yes, he said. But that is not the matter I came here for. You see, I’m sure you’ve heard of the phenomenon in Augustopia.

Y- yes. I said nervously.

And how no one knows?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, I’m sure you’ve heard about the Great Dragon from fairy tales, but... those aren’t fairy tales.

I started to shake. What was I getting into? What are you saying? I asked.

I’m saying... he hesitated and took a breath. Then