Prologue

Cortaviere, the name alone turned the most veteran warriors into the greatest of cowards. It was both feared and respected in the land of Shakeer, the three mooned world. Though those that carried it were neither evil nor good, most tended to avoid even speaking it for the wrath they would receive. But whether it was intentional or coincidence, not many knew.

In the year one thousand, one hundred and thirteen AF, a Cortaviere defied her own family house, giving birth to twin girls. But I’m jumping ahead of myself, aren’t I? I haven’t even explained who I am or why I’m cataloguing these girls or their journey.

My name is Xyn and I am a Xel’Naros’Rei; a walker of time. We Xel’Naros’Rei walk the paths of time recording all history, as our God Acridae dictated long ago. But that’s a story for another time; this one belongs to the Cortaviere twins. My task has been to catalogue their lives, the very first of their kind. But if that wasn’t special enough, they were to change the world of Shakeer as we know it.

Ailianna Cortaviere gave birth to two girls in the sunlight beneath an old oak tree to a very skeptic midwife; one who kept glaring at the King of Baelsheire, Kyrian Dragris. He was feared among his people, the white winged elves called the Akori. With their green eyes and blonde hair, they were angels to the common people, the Desh. But it wasn’t his glare or cold exterior he showed now, it was love for Ailianna he showed now. As their children cried in the shade, he sat beside his wife, trying to comfort the squalling infants.

“Will you live with me now, my love?” Those gentle green eyes were desperate and filled with fear, though his voice stayed steady. If any of the others picked up on it, none said a word. There were three guards with Kyrian, his closest friends since birth; they would never betray the secret that squinted at the sunlight.

Ailianna Cortaviere was a Ciasti, a dark elf with wings that lived beneath Shakeer. If not for the pale Akori daughter in her arms, she thought she would burn beneath the white sun, Cinaku. Kyrian held their Ciasti daughter, careful to shield her delicate skin from the light as he put his forehead against Ailianna’s, staring into her crimson eyes. Pushing back a black lock from her face, he smiled down at the finally calmed baby in his arms.

“Your Majesty, their birthdays are the four hundred and seventy third day of fall, in the year one thousand, one hundred and thirteen. What will their names be?” The midwife asked with a small bit of annoyance in her tone, holding a bit of parchment with a raised brow. With the quill ready to write, she awaited their answers.

Ailianna raised her shoulders and closed her eyes, shutting out the painful light as Cinaku rose higher in the sky. It was the middle of the morning on the surface, but most of her clan would be asleep. Only a few would question where she had gone off to, but those were easily silenced.

“Ilia Cortaviere Dragris.” Kyrian smiled at the little one in Ailianna’s arms, seeing those bright green eyes shining at the world around her. She would be smart and cunning, while the little one in his arms would be a warrior.

“Iluxia Dragris Cortaviere.” Ailianna opened her eyes and looked to her clearly Ciasti daughter, knowing there would be no place for them on the surface. The midwife nodded, oblivious to the sad look as Ailianna held Ilia. It was with reluctance that she met Kyrian’s eyes, tears welling up only to be left unshed.

“It’ll be safe, I promise.” He whispered as he pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes while Iluxia squirmed between them. Ilia remained still while Ailianna battled her own demons, shaking her head again. As the midwife sized her up, she showed her fangs, making the older Akori take a step back.

“Fear is not the way to rule an empire, nor can we be out in the sun. I need to take her to her own people and show her the birthright she was given, just like Ilia. But I will visit when I can, even if it’s only in your dreams.” Ailianna touched Kyrian’s cheek tenderly, leaning forward to kiss him. It was the tender moment that defied her kind, one known for their ruthless cunning and thieving ways. But she was different, as were Iluxia and Ilia.

“I love you.” He murmured against her lips as she said the same, tears falling down his cheeks. Wiping his face, he cleared his throat and slowly stood, offering a hand to Ailianna. Helping her to his feet, he let her lean on him while she nuzzled Ilia. It was with sadness that they traded children while Iluxia started to cry, her small hands balled into fists.

“We should get going Kyrian, before someone misses us.” He nodded, though Ailianna would be the only one truly missed, he knew they couldn’t be seen together. Spreading his wings, he shielded Ilia as he took his first step into the sunlight away from his wife. She pulled up the hood of her cloak, wrapping Iluxia tighter to shield her as well.

Kyrian pumped his wings and was airborne, soon followed by his guards, though he kept looking back to Ailianna far below them. She squinted as he became smaller and smaller above her, taking Ilia with him. But she knew the sacrifice they would make for their children, though she hadn’t told him. Iluxia wouldn’t be welcomed in his world, nor would she. The spirits had told her of the devastation that would occur if they tried to live there, a demon mistress and child they’d call her. Even now they’d talk, but Ilia looked like her father. In time, she would become beloved by the people, the suspicions long forgotten.

Ailianna pushed herself into the light as she pumped her wings, becoming airborne with less ease than her husband. Iluxia cried as the light hit her, but it couldn’t be helped. Though her mother flew with the urgency of her maternal instincts, it couldn’t be fast enough for the screaming child in her arms. The sun wasn’t deadly, but it hurt. Whether Cinaku or their spring sun Ukanic, it still made her weak and burn.

Soon they’d be in the safety of the caverns, but most of the day was gone with Cinaku dancing on the horizon by the time she reached them. Her skin had been saved blisters by the cloak and heavy clothes she wore in the cooler air, though from the flight she was covered in sweat. Shivering, Ailianna collapsed inside the darkness, exhaustion turning her legs to jelly.

“I’m sorry Iluxia, I just need to rest a moment.” Taking a shaky breath, she let Iluxia feed while she sat out of Cinaku’s reach, not having landed until farther down the narrow tunnel. Her eyes began to glow as the light faded behind her, using her true sight to see in the darkness before her. To her, it looked like a dimly lit tunnel instead of the pitch black depths of the true dark.

With no dangers approaching, she relaxed just a moment, but her left hand was on her dagger in her boot. The other held the baby to her chest while the noisy suckling seemed to ring in her ears, but it was comforting. Her daughters were safe, one from Cinaku, the other from the Ciasti.

Ailianna pushed herself off the ground after a few minutes, forcing her tired body to walk while she folded her wings. Though covered in sweat and exhausted, the depths were no place to sit and relax. Too many creatures wandered down here she knew, though her name would keep most at bay. Down the tunnel she half walked, half glided as the grade changed from sloping to near dropping. It wasn’t a marked tunnel, one that had been dug out with tools but that of a burrowing creature. While it zigzagged through the depths, it would take her home faster than any of the other routes.

Though the going was slow, she made it back by the middle of the night when her family would be searching for her. Pregnant and the third daughter of the Matriarch Raelin, she was the highest ranked priestess of Ahsha in the house. They would be frantic for fear of losing favor with their Goddess, especially if she were pregnant with a girl. To lose them both would be to anger the Goddess so greatly that they would be wiped off the map, their name a distant memory.

“Ailianna!” Her husband called, his voice echoing down the tunnel. It was an arranged marriage; one her mother thought would strengthen their house. Lomurr Jzetch, from house Jzetch was the only one who knew the child wasn’t his. He had many lovers, but none of them were female in the slightest. It was that secret that kept his tongue held on who Iluxia’s father really was, even though he suspected someone completely wrong.

“Here!” Ailianna called back as he came running to her side, inspecting her as if a dog to a bone. When he noticed the bundle wrapped in her arms, he raised a dark eyebrow but said nothing. She smiled at him nodded, walking beyond him as he trailed her carrying his scythe. His silver eyes had met hers for just a moment, but they had an unspoken agreement. Though he could take her in battle at the moment, she could destroy his soul.

“Where have you been?” Raelin demanded from her litter before the house gates, having passed the other houses along the way. Their house was at the top of the crater among the other powerful families, but theirs was the strongest. They owned the most land, two thirds of the city along with outskirts around their house. The other families squabbled over their scraps just as Lomurr did at her heels, bowing deeply before Raelin.

“I was out gathering herbs when Iluxia came. The Goddess guided me to safety where she was born and when I gained my strength, I returned to you, Mother.” Raelin eyed the little one in Ailianna’s arms, noting the color of her eyes with a smile. Clapping her hands together, the ancient matriarch was lifted by four large Ciasti, all chained together. Males were seen as dirt in their society unless tied to a house or powerful with magic. These four were bastards of some poor house; unable to be fed they were sold young and had been with her mother for hundreds of years. Now they served as her carriers and playthings, though they were all gelded.

“Lomurr, your blood is thin in this one. Her eyes are red and her wings too, you poor pathetic boy.” He winced under her verbal lashing, but Ailianna ignored it. She followed her mother inside after stepping into another litter, carried by her own servants. Though she hated it, if she refused her status would decline in the house. Lomurr followed behind on foot, his armor clinking with his every step.

“Mother, may I rest? I’ve had a long journey home.” Ailianna’s litter was placed before Raelin who eased herself into a chair stuffed with cushions on an altar. She was three steps above the floor, making Ailianna look up at her. Lomurr kept his head bowed as he stood beside the litter, not daring to look at the matriarch who shamed him publicly.

“Yes, clean yourself up for supper.” Servants came to take Iluxia from her and bathe her properly as well as Ailianna herself. Down a hallway they carried her and Iluxia who now slept while Lomurr followed dutifully. It was only after Ailianna was scrubbed down, inspected and left alone to soak in a hot bath that he finally spoke.