Chapter One of Zader Of Barbantine

First Chapter!!!!!! Please Comment and Review!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!

This is the prologue: 

This is the story of Queen Zader of Barbantine. I shall truly try to recall all that has happened, and how I became the great protector of Barbantine. My pen scratches across the paper, and the room is so silent. I miss my days of journeying and wild adventures, but I am now a mother, and know I will one day have to pass on my title to my little son. He is only a baby now, but I know that one day, he will become mighty and powerful. He has birthmarks shaped like a C and a W on his hands, just like me. My father has passed on, and my mother long before him. My little boy, Clevan, named after his father, is wailing now, and my husband is calling for me to help calm him down. I must leave now, but I will continue writing when baby Clevan has gone back to sleep.

 

I am back, and shall continue writing. This story will be passed through generations, I hope, so I will go into detail as much as possible. I will place this scroll in the care of Warnett when I have finished, for he is the library keeper. He will certainly keep my story safe until little Clevan is old enough to read it. I must stop skipping around, and just get on with the story. Here is the best I can remember of my greatest adventure.

Signed,

Zader of Barbantine

 

 

 

                                   

 

                                    One

                           

                           

Fourteen-year-old Zader let out a soft sigh, and then let a small smile creep across her face, her golden-blue eyes, a true sign of royalty, shone with excitement as she looked out the window at the stars. They had just begun to come out, and twinkled, as if waving to her. Closing her eyes, Zader stepped back from the window. Someone was coming up the stairs. Her eyes popped back open, and she listened hard. Her small eyebrows furrowed, as if frowning. Someone was up. Tiptoeing to her door, she opened it slowly. It creaked and groaned in disapproval. Hadn’t she told one of the servants to fix it? Oh well. She began to move quietly out of her chamber when she heard the footsteps coming back her way. Putting her eye to a crack in the door, she peeked out. It was just a servant. Probably bringing something to her father. He often stayed up late, and she rarely saw him unless she got into trouble. Which she was doing right now. But she did not intend to get caught. She wasn’t going to get caught either, but she had no idea what would happen. Adjusting her tiara, she opened the door and walked primly out. The servant gave her a queer look, and opened her mouth as if she was about to say something. Zader didn’t give her a chance.

 

“I have some business to attend to.”

 

“Yes, your highness. May I help you?”

 

“No, you may not.” Zader spun on her heel and hurried off.

 

She waited until she got behind a corner, and then peeked around the edge. The servant had gone back to her task, and was disappearing around the corner of the long hall. Zader knew that the servants in the palace were used to her strange behavior. Hurrying down the corridor, Zader made quite a few turns. She knew the palace like the back of her hand. Zader litterly flew into the stables. A boy about fifteen was sitting in the hay. He looked bored.

 

“What took so long?”

 

“There was a servant in the hall.”

 

“Mmm Hmm.” The boy raised his eyebrows.

“Well, there was!” Zader scowled.

 

“I don’t think wearing your tiara was such a good idea.”

 

Zader immediately removed her crown and stuffed it into her sack.

 

“Well what are you waiting for? Saddle up two horses for us.”

 

Benjamin rose, and swiftly saddled two black horses.

 

“We will be less noticeable in the dark.” He explained.

The princess shrugged. Benjamin reached for her sack, and placed the burden on the horse. He then quickly mounted his horse. Zader grabbed hold of the horn on the horse’s saddle and quickly swung her leg over.  She quit trying to keep her dark black hair in its intricate knot. She let it fly free behind her as her horse galloped through the forest. Benjamin’s horse came to sudden stop in front of Zader’s horse, and it was all she could do not to ram into it. She yanked on the reins with all her might, and her horse skidded to a stop just in time.

 

“It’s getting late. We’ll camp here.”

 

Zader shrugged again, and then nodded her head.

 

“Yes, I suppose this will have to do.” She really knew nothing about camping, but she wasn’t about to admit it.

 

She glared at what she could see of the lumpy forest floor for a few minutes. Then she accepted the situation and gathered some leaves together. Throwing her cloak over them she flopped down. Benjamin wandered off to find some good firewood, while Zader lay idly gazing at the stars. She smirked as she thought about the chaos she had probably caused at the palace. Her chambermaid had probably gone to her room to bring her a snack before bed, and found her gone. Zader, her maid would have searched for her and not finding her, tell the guards, who would tell their captain, who would of course, tell her father. Suddenly, a loud rustling in the bushes interrupted her thoughts. She jumped up, looking cautiously around. She reached for a sharp stick. Trembling, she stepped toward the bushes. A haggard, stooped figure stumbled through, clutching a sack and a lantern. Zader let the stick fall to her side, inwardly sighing with relief. The woman squinted at her in the dim light.

 

“My name is Zader.” Zader told the elderly woman.

 

“Zader! The one! She is the one!” The old figure muttered excitedly.

 

“Excuse me?” Zader sat down lightly on a log.

 

The woman said nothing but reached for Zader’s hand. She lifted it close to her face and nodded.

 

“Is there something wrong?” Zader inquired.

 

“No, it’s just this mark.” The woman poked Zader’s hand. Zader shrugged inspecting her hand. There was a darker pink color in the shape of a W on her right hand.

 

“It’s been there for as long as I can remember.”

 

The lady nodded, and lifted Zader’s left hand.

 

“That one has nothing.” Zader informed her.

 

“Young one, do you know what your name means?” The woman asked, letting go of Zader’s hand.

 

“No, what does it matter to you?”

 

“Your name, oh great one, means Chosen Warrior.”

 

“Great one? Please call me-” Before she could say anymore the ancient woman grabbed her left hand.

 

The woman traced a letter on Zader’s hand. Her touch burned, and Zader tried to jerk her hand away, but found she could not move. She clamped her eyes tightly shut and seconds later the pain subsided. Opening her eyes she looked around. The woman was gone, and there was the shape of a C on Zader’s left hand. She rubbed at it, but it did not fade. Panicking, she grabbed a cask of water and spilled a couple drops onto her hand. Grabbing a leaf she scrubbed furiously. The mark simply brightened. She dumped the entire container of water on her hand and scrubbed till her arm felt limp. Wait a second, C and W, could that stand for Chosen Warrior? Zader staggered backwards landing on a pile of leaves. Minutes later Benjamin staggered into the campsite, arms loaded with wood. He glanced at Zader, who was lying on a pile of leaves looking at her hands. He shrugged, and built a small fire. Poking it with a stick, he observed Zader out of the corner of his eye. Finally he spoke.

 

“You okay?”

 

“I’m super. Just great.” Zader answered absent mindedly as she half-heartedly rubbed at the C that was burned into her hand.

 

“You’re sure?”

 

“Mmm Hmm.”

 

“So nothing’s bothering you?”

 

“You are.”

 

After that Benjamin didn’t speak. Zader was grateful for that. She had plenty to think about. C and W, C and W, she repeated to herself over and over. But the only thing she possibly think of that C and W could stand for was Chosen Warrior, especially after what the lady had said. Chosen Warrior, Chosen Warrior, C and W, C and W. She tossed and turned in her leaf pile, and finally fell into a deep sleep.