Alana squirmed in her seat, trying to ease her numb buttocks. The soft crimson pillows could only do so much when the dreadful audience went on and on, a never-ending plethora of disputes, feuds, and requests. Hours had passed since the Royal Family started receiving audiences from their subjects. A newlywed couple now stood before them.

   "We seek your blessings, Your Majesties." The young noble executed a bow while his pretty wife curtsied, before receiving the customary wedding gifts. Salt and pepper, a horseshoe and a silver spoon. 

   Alana had been receiving audiences with her parents since she was a child, training to take up the responsibilities of a monarch when her time came. She loved it most of the time, analyzing the problems and solving them in her head. At other times, like now, she couldn't help but let her mind drift off. Her eyes scanned the spacious hall, resting on the servants working on the east end trying to replace the crimson drapes with turquoise ones. Occasionally the turquoise drapes fluttered, caught in the spring breeze. 

    "Alana," a little jab at her waist, brought her back. The Queen's golden eyes were fixed on her, a slight smile gracing her painted lips, "What do you think you are doing?" She asked, her smile still in place. For anyone who watched, it looked like a normal conversation between a mother and her daughter. 

    "Forgive me, mother, I was enjoying the beauty of our throne hall. Magnificent, isn't it? Alana smiled brightly and leaning a little forward, she said to her father, "The turquoise perfectly complements the gold and the ivory, Father." 

The raven-haired King beamed at his daughter," I am delighted to know that you like it," he whispered, winking discreetly at her, " Someone said it was a waste of coin." 

  "I can hear you, Your Majesty." The Queen hissed, "I am sitting right in-between, and I beseech His Majesty and Her Royal Highness to maintain a modicum of decorum." 

  "Very well," the king shared a knowing look with his daughter and cleared his throat, arranging his facial expressions to utmost arrogance. 

   Alana smiled at her father's arrogant front, a shield to his merchant heart. She had inherited that from him, a knack for business. Her fingers drummed along the mermaid carved armrests, identical to the carvings on the ornate teak doors opening into the throne hall. 

  The sight of the liveried servant at the entrance and customary thump of his bronze plated staff on the marble silenced the throne hall. Three thumps resonated through the hall, indicating the arrival of a royal dignitary. Alana's drumming fingers stilled, and her spine straightened, holding her crowned head high, she waited for the visitors to be announced. 

  "His Royal Highness, Prince Aziz of Aeterna, Right Honorable, Lord Nikolai and Lord Oleander," The servant's voice rang loud and clear.

  Gasps of wonder and whispers filled the air as two young men strode toward the dias, trailing behind them was an old man. 

  The metal plates on their chests glinted, fashioned like the fish scales, they would serve well to protect the wearer whilst looking dashing.

"Moon blessed!" A lady sitting in the balustrade gasped. Her jaw, wide open, closed with a click as Alana flashed her eyes at her. How could her courtiers be so uncultured? Embarrassment burned through her. 

  "Moon blessed!" Whispers swept across the room. Awe reflected in their eyes as they looked at Lord Nikolai. His stories were known far and wide. He was the man who could both destroy and heal. His hair, the colour of silver, braided at the sides of his head, ran down to the back of his shoulders, setting him apart. The members of the moon blessed clan usually had a streak or two of silver, but Nikolai had a full head of silver.

   Out of the corner of her eyes she saw her mother smile benevolently at the young men now standing in front of the dias. The robes rustled as the old man bowed low, "Greetings! Your Majesties." He said aloud.

   The King inclined his head in acknowledgement, and with a flourish of his hands, Lord Oleander began the introduction.

   "I present to Your Majesties, His Royal Highness, Prince Aziz of Aeterna."

  The dark-haired man bowed, a lock of hair falling carelessly on his forehead. The glinting metal plates on his chest bore no insignia marking his status. 

  "Your Majesties, Your Royal Highness," Prince Aziz addressed the royals with a tilt of his head, his eyes lingering on each of them. He didn't need the insignia. His stance, Alana noticed, indicated his status just fine. Prince Aziz extended a leather gloved hand, and Lord Nikolai handed him a gold envelope. A uniformed servant received the envelope on a tray and offered it to the king.

 Alana leaned ever so slightly, trying to get a better look at it. The red wax seal stark against the velvety envelope cracked open at the swipe of the letter opener and the King handed it to the master of ceremony to be read aloud.

"Unto the Just King of Vert Holth,

Gracious greetings onto this Feast of the Blessed Moon. Another blessed year to come. Another gracious year under your righteous rule, which flows through your veins and bleeds into the lands. Here are gifts thoughtfully handpicked by Aeterna to wish you well. May your kingdom continue to prosper under the fruitful gifts offered. I hope to honor the lands of Vert Holth with the Moon's grace. 

The Moon's Highest Blessings,

Queen of Aeterna."

  The great hall resounded with the chiming of bells that hung on the servants' ceremonial tunics as they made their way into the room, purple fabric covering the huge trunks rippled as they placed the trunks on the floor and pulled the fabric off it. 

   Alana sucked in a breath, awestruck as trunks after trunks piled with treasures were revealed. Ivory, Gold, and Silver. Treasures from all over Omria lay before her. Aeterna must want something to have offered so much. Her eyes skimmed over the treasures, stopping at Aziz and Nikolai. Her mother's words rang in her mind. Suitors.

  Aeterna wanted an alliance, the high Lady had sent the treasures to sway her parents into choosing one of the two men standing in front of them as her consort. 

  "May the blessed moon always shine on Aeterna," The King's rich baritone affirmed, "Vert Holth is grateful for Aeterna's generosity. If it pleases your Royal Highness, we would like to bestow our finest hospitality to you and your entourage."

 A sharp clap by the Queen brought forth Delmanah, Semira and a couple of guards,

 "If it pleases Your Royal Highness and Lord Nikolai, the princess and I will escort you to your chambers and see to your comfort." A pleasing smile lit her countenance, tilting her bejeweled head she beckoned Alana to follow her. 

  Alana followed her mother down the aisle, smiling slightly in relief. Her aching behind couldn't take anymore sitting. 

 "Shall we?" The Queen asked, getting affirmative nods from the party. The group proceeded towards a side entrance. Semira fell in beside Alana, with flushed cheeks and a slight smile on her lips. Alana fought the urge to pinch her friend, she too was smitten by their beauty! 

 "The palace is very beautiful, Your Majesty." Prince Aziz commented, looking at the wide pillars supporting the ivory ceiling. 

 "Thank you, Your Royal Highness." The queen graciously accepted his compliment.

 "You're—" they stopped moving, eyes fixed onto the guard barging in through the main entrance. His armor was dented in various places, and mud coated his boots, now smeared into the red carpet leading to the dais. Dull scraping sounds ensued shrieks and screams as the King's personal guards pointed their swords at the guard.

  "My Lord!" He cried out, kneeling before the King, 

  "I bring you bad tidings, Your Majesty." A violent cough racked through his body making the plates of his armor clank, "Creatures of the night attacked a village in Ravine last night, Lord Roderick didn't survive the attack. Nor did anyone in the village but I" The guard's voice was getting weaker by the second and Alana noticed the carpet by his knees getting darker.

 "He is losing blood," Her voice broke through the clamor, "He needs to be healed if we want to know what happened."

 Before she could say anymore, Nikolai was already by his side. His fingers swiftly undoing the knots and clasps of the armor. A deep gash ran through his right hip to the thigh.

 Alana gasped at the horrendous sight. The guard was armored; what sort of blade cut through steel? Tearing her eyes from the wound, she watched Nikolai, whose eyes closed in concentration as he touched the gash. The tissue mended, slowly and the guard let out a blood curdling scream. The screams stopped once gash closed, giving way to whimpers and painful moans. 

 "The man needs to recover," Nikolai began wiping his bloody hands with a handkerchief, "somewhere peaceful, a day or two and he'll be fine. Losing a lot of blood has rendered him unconscious."

 " We are really grateful Lord Nikolai" The Queen said as she called for a stretcher. The unconscious man was hauled away to rest, and the questioning would start once he was awake. The people were ushered out and escorted to their villages. Chaos erupted, and speculations on what creature wiped off the village led to extreme conclusions. Whispers and hushed voices mentioned various creatures but the most prevalent was 'Vampires'.