Prologue

*Late 14th Century*

*The Western territory*

IVAN

THUNDER STRUCK across the darkening sky.

The moon hid behind the clouds, dimly lighting the kingdom. Many below the sky believed that it was a sign of The Goddess' watchful eyes on her creation. Perhaps this was just another story told to children who refused early bedtimes.

There were no visible stars tonight. This was never a good sign. But I saw it as only superstition, superstition believed by the land's people. And what was believed was valued. Some would not sleep well tonight.

Creatures of the night were coming out to play, seeming to steer clear of the places where boundary lines had once stood. All were free to mix with other kinds but none wanted to take that chance. Old habits die hard.

I stood on the balcony, staring out into the kingdom that was now mine.                               

A smile tugged at my lips, a feeling of pride creeping into my chest but this was not how I had imagined it would be. Maybe it was guilt finding its way into my heart. Did I even still have one? It did not look like it.

It needed to be done. That was what I told myself. Many times,I asked myself if I had been too drastic. Definitely.

Look where my avarice had gotten me. No clan. No family. But I did have a kingdom. Avarice was not even the correct term. It was greed but not for money or power. I had sought peace and unity for all the creatures in the land. Easier said than done. The price had been steep. I’d paid it in blood and tears. 

The smile fell away.

I had everything I wanted -at least everything I had thought I wanted- except one thing. A mate.I was mateless. The Goddess had not favoured me as she had favoured many others.I had waited and continued to wait. That fact could not be ignored anymore.

With no goal for the future in sight, my own reality had become clear. My focus, which had once been totally dedicated to the people, was on my life and the emptiness of it.

Once or twice, I had even consulted an Oracle on the matter. Oracles were special, they possessed the power to communicate with The Goddess or any diety for that matter without having to enter the afterlife. Sure everyone could pray and talk with Her or whoever you were taught to pray to but according to myths, the prayer of an Oracle was heard first. They delivered the goddess' messages. These gifts made them sought-after in the realms. Especially in times of war.

Or perhaps they were all skilled swindlers, preying on wealthy men like him. I didn’t know what to believe. So many deemed them sacred but recent events begged to differ. How sacred could they be?

Though deep in thought,I noticed the trees ruffle. The wolves were just beginning their training. It did not matter that it was raining. The moon was out and so they trained. They liked it.

I was just about to join them when a light knock sounded at the door.

Annoyance thrummed in my mind as I strode across the chamber. These days,I was ever restless, at least the war had kept me occupied. Then, I’d been too busy assessing battle strategies and slaying enemies to think of my emotions. I’d been too busy to feel. Now, gazing around the room at the lavish surroundings afforded to a king,I could only feel. Every emotion and every curiosity.

A thought came to my mind. Were my mate to make an appearance at that very moment, would she have liked it? Would the extravagant furniture and the kingly decorations be to her liking or would she share my taste in simple calm decorations? Would our home even matter when we came together as man and woman?

I attempted to ignore my own mind and opened the door.

In front of me stood a young girl. She gulped audibly. Her eyes were fixed on the ground. She bowed submissively at me then spoke.

" Your majestic...Oh I mean...your majesty, "she addressed me...or tried to. Looking at me made her shake, let alone speaking to me. This annoyed me too. I missed simple conversations where I could actually hear a speaker’s words over the beating of their heart.

I thought about how she had addressed me. Previously I had been Sir Vasiliev, soon to be Lord Vasiliev. Now I was ' His Majesty'. A significant change. Not that I was not used to power and fear. This, however, was entirely different from the days I was just a warrior.

In just a few decades,I had gathered many names. In the Northern territories, they had named me Akin meaning powerful warrior. In Ireland they called me laochra, also meaning warrior. When I was younger and trained in Russia, they had named me temnaya dusha which means dark soul. 

"My Lord, you have a guest." The young girl's eyes lingered on my toned and bare abdomen. She quickly averted her gaze, firmly fixing it on the ground again. "A-an oracle, my king. "

I was just about to dismiss her when the words came to me, an oracle. This couldn't have been good. You went to oracles, they did not come to you. If they did…I did not know.

"What?" Colour drained from the poor girl's face.

"A-an oracle. Should I tell her t-to... leave?" She asked.

"No. I will be right down.”One never turned away an oracle. “You may leave." I considered the oracle's reason for a visit as I dressed then exited the chambers.

I hurried down the castle to the throne room, the thunderous echoes of my footsteps reminding me just how big the place was. Entirely too big and too cold. But I was required to reside here. It was the right thing to do. Perhaps home had changed. Did it still stand?

The oracle awaited my arrival in the throne room. I noticed her tremble but sensed no fear coming from her, only a tranquillity I wished I’d ever known. She knelt on the floor, her long unkempt raven locks clouding around her. She had aged well and looked to be only sixty years old but was actually in her first or second century year. Her aura was strong, telling of her age.

"Stand, Oracle." I dispensed with the pleasantries. Better to finish this quickly and return to stewing in my chambers.

She rose on bare, callused feet.

"My Lord..." She began, stuttering out each word. The quake in her words came as a surprise as I continued to sense no fear. I wondered if a ship’s worth of bravery came with the gifts bestowed upon her kind by the goddess. Then again, I had seen fear in an oracle’s eyes before, right at the end. "I have a message from The Goddess...it concerns you..."She stopped.

"Go on,"I said, standing before her.

Her orbs went all white, glowing brightly.

"For every wrong done there is a punishment...for every crime there is a sentence...actions have consequences...sins have penalties...for all you have committed you are cursed to roam the earth mateless."

Taking laboured breaths, she worked to push out the rest."No woman will please you but the one chosen for you..not until she sees fit will you find her...on that night the moon will glow the colour of the blood you have spilled. Then and only then shall she be brought to you."

With that she fell to the ground, dead