The sun sank low over the small clearing changing shadows into devilish creatures lurking behind the trees. A cold wind swept through the trees and Olivia shivered in the cool air. With an annoyed sigh, she pushed her tangled mass of cinnamon red curls back from her face. She stared after the sinking sun hoping it would freeze in the sky, she was not at all ready to face the coming night.
Reluctantly Olivia rose from the ground and moved to stand next to her giant silver buckskin, Gareth. She absently stroked his misty neck lost deep in thought. Today was Olivia’s eighteenth birthday and the customary ball she definitely did not want to attend. Adamantly claiming she would rather be fed to wild dogs and refusing to go hadn’t convinced her father and they both knew she would be there nonetheless. He always got what he wanted.
Olivia glanced around the peaceful clearing wishing she could remain longer but knew she couldn’t. Stepping up onto a rock, she jumped agilely into her saddle with a much practiced ease and urged Gareth into a trot in the direction of Jammi. The darkness grew deeper as Olivia pressed the stallion faster. The gates would soon be closing and she wasn’t about to get shut out for the night.
Trees and fields blurred together as Olivia and Gareth chased the setting sun. The wind stung her face and ripped at her already tangled curls. As the guard towers of Jammi came into view, Olivia leaned low over the saddle, and they flew over the ground racing against time.
Jammi, the crown jewel of Serce, rose up on a hill against the side of a huge, weather-beaten mountain. There were five levels of the city, each level higher than the one below, and an outer and inner wall surrounded the entire city. The gates were built of the strongest iron and the city walls had never before been breached. Each level was complete with highly fortified walls and gates facing opposite directions as the gates on the higher and lower levels. The fifth and highest level contained the Citadel and the Tower of Light. The Palace, Stable of Kings, and housing of the Citadel Guards among other various buildings made up the Citadel with the Tower of Light directly in the centre.
The Tower of Light was built generations ago by Olivia's ancestors and was the first structure built in Serce. Originally a watchtower, the Tower was now a beacon of hope to all of Serce. The Eternal Flame was forever ablaze at the top of the Tower and never went out. From the western shores of Lidona to the eastern forests of Kasti, the Eternal Flame could be seen across all of Serce, sure and constant as the sun.
The trumpet signaling the closing of the Outer Gate sounded as Olivia rode past the sentries and on to the Inner Gate. Ignoring their whispers and accusing glances, she rode her horse up the levels to the Stable of Kings and slid off.
“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” a familiar voice admonished.
Turning slowly towards the speaker, Olivia tried without avail to look contrite. “Sorry Aiden. Time got away from me; I honestly never meant to be out so late.”
“Understandable but really, Livi, you barely made the closing. Not to mention he had the Guards looking everywhere for you. The Citadel is in an uproar.”
Aiden Mendez towered over Olivia and wasn’t massive with muscle but had the powerful build of a runner with black messy hair badly in need of a cut. Only a few years older than Olivia, Aiden had worked in the Stables since his coming to Jammi four years ago and they had become close friends. His worn clothing denoted his class and his dark blue eyes denoted his race, Hiynil sworn enemy of Serce. Olivia had never cared about his class, and cared even less that he was a Hiynil slave for their friendship was strong.
“Empty night!” Olivia exploded. “He’s an overbearing, over protective, demeaning, insufferable prick. He is constantly pushing me to do this and say that. All I ask for is some Goram privacy, on my birthday of all days, but Lakri no, that wouldn't do. And as for the state of the Citadel, it has less to do with my whereabouts than with his insufferable cruelty and demeaning hatred. Dark shadows I’m sick of him!” Olivia stormed eyes flashing.
“Livi,” Aiden admonished gently. “Don't get in such a huff. He loves you and you know it. It's the war that's got him so uptight lately. You would act the same in his situation.” Aiden cupped her chin in his fingers and forced her to look at him nonplussed by her angry outburst. Everyone knew she had a fiery temper and Aiden was used to such angry tirades about her father. He took a step forward but stopped short of pulling her into a hug.
Olivia stood for the first time unsure of how to act around her friend. She took a deep breath and smelled the familiarity of leather and hay on him as her anger faded. “I'm just so anxious about the ball and I hate that he's making me go. The Nobles are so self-righteous and proud and I hate being paraded before the Court like a painted peacock. It's just an excuse for them to find even more faults with me and demean and criticize my every flaw. They despise me and everyone in this city knows it. Everyone knows they don't want me to be named Heir, now its just going to be made official. What if they've challenge him over me? He probably doesn't even want me to rule! I've always been such a disappontment, what will I do when he names someone else instead of me? True I've never really wanted to become Queen, but would he actually reject me? Oh he's going to I know it and in front of everyone, just to make me pay!”
“Stop being over dramatic, Livi. Everyone knows he would rather have a rebellious, half mad daughter whom he can marry to whomever he chooses than some suck up noble's brat running his country. Think of it as a challenge, winning them over. Lakri knows how you never back out of one.” Aiden flashed a crooked smile and snatched the reins out of her hands. “Go put on a dress, dazzle them with your smile, charm them with your wit and they’ll be eating out of your hand by sundown. I'll take care of Gareth.” He gave her a gentle shove towards the door and led the weary horse away. Olivia knew he was right and turned to leave with a sigh. “Oh, and Livi,” she turned back towards him. “Happy birthday,” Aiden said with a smile and went into the stall.
She made her way out of the Stables Aiden's smile warming her from the inside out. A passing Guard eyed her suspiciously and Olivia scowled at him and hurried towards the Palace hoping to avoid her father and the confrontation that was sure to follow. That was the last thing she needed.
But basically, if these people believe in more than one god I would change Livi's tirade to say "gods" rather than "god". Make sense?