Seraphina [The Lost Queen Series Book #1]

”To call me you must see me, To see me you must remember… ”

The loud call of roosters woke me as it does every morning at dawn. I sat up from my hay bed to see papa still sleeping peaceful as his old frail body nestled deep inside the pile. After dusting off the remaining bits of hay I walked outside to see that dawn hadn risen above the eastern side of the castle yet. Still enough time for me to get started…

Walking out into the make shift pen I checked on Sunny our chestnut snowflake clydesdale. He fell ill a few days ago and sadly it appears that he passed away this morning… I let out a sigh of frustration. Without a horse life would become worse for us with each day… Even town commoners have it easier then us just by being in the outskirts of the town…

As I marked a place to bury Sunny out in the fields papa came outside of the house. After digging most of the morning with my hands I managed to make a hole big enough to put him in. Now I have to find a way to actually get him in and not get sick at the smell… I managed to find a rope to tie around his neck as the smell of death filled my lungs. Quickly putting some distance I managed to slowly tug him to his shallow grave as the sun peaked over the eastern wall.

I was exhausted beyond belief as his body final fell into my attempt at a hole. Bad news is that I still have to cover him… It didn take long but I was covered in more dirt then before. Papa was sitting by the drinking well with a full bucket of water as I approached. He handed me the bucket silently as I walked back to the grave.

I poured a little on the ground before watering the newly seeded wheat field. Since the king declared that it was spring each farmer must plant something to be harvested before fall or the farmer and his family would be declared useless. Unfortunately if you are found to be useless the you get sold to be a slave for a someone in high society… Honestly farming familys are just slaves to start with but its the straw we drew at birth.

I looked up to see many horses and knights returning from an expedition. A commotion erupted as knights began to past through the heart of our village however… Not once have they ever done that which meant trouble was coming… As I raced towards papa I noticed how the general sneered down at the small crowd surrounding him.

”You poor peasants… Youll never get to see fortunes like this in your life! ” He motion to a wagon and the knights pulled a tarp off the reveal a massive amount of jewels, coins, and gold. Looking at the general I noticed how his blonde hair stuck out along with a large scar across over one of his bright green eyes. As our eyes met he seemed to stiffen for a moment before glaring at me. ”Especially you! ”

He jumped off his horse and marched towards me. I stayed silent as he stood nose to nose with me. ”Why aren you shying away? ” He seemed surprised for a moment before anger flickered across his features. One second I was looking at him and the next I was on the ground holding my cheek. ”You filthy wrench! Next time don be so bold… ” Before leaving he spit in my face to make sure I learned my place. I expected as much but I can help but piss him off considering how arrogant he still is.

Some of the knights looked at me in pity while most laughed at my state. Papa slowly approached me and held out a hand which I took. ”General Snape hasn changed one bit! Still has an ego the size of a mountain… Its a shame his manhood doesn exist or he would be the biggest jackass to ever live! ” I laughed as papa continued to rant. ”Only a weak man would put his hands on my daughter! Im surprised you didn cut his tongue out! ”

I smirked deviously as father turned bright red with anger. ”Calm yourself papa… The general will get what he deserves when the time comes and I won hesitate to return his generous gestures… ” Even though Snape and I used to be friends that was long ago… Now he has chosen his side and I will choose mine.

”Oh? Well what do you have in mind my dear? ” Papa grinned wickedly as devious thoughts swirled around us.

”Well today is my birthday which means I am officially 19. The spring festival is in 2 days time which means we will be forced to work all day on an empty stomach while the nobles feast… ” All we ever eat is gruel and on rare occasions a piece of bread. Its not fair for us to live like slaves while we do all the hard work! ”What if we all band together and refuse to feed the kingdom? We can keep all the food we make for ourselves! I mean we make all of it anyway so its ours to start with. We make 2 bronze coins for all the wheat we grow on our land and yet all the wheat goes to the kingdom while we keep a handful to feed ourselves all year around! ”

”Seraphina… You can possibly mean… ” Papa leaned in close as his lip quivered in fear. ”A revolt….? ”

”Unless the king changes his ways then yes. If he makes a new law that punishes us the I will most likely start a war at dawn! ” I turned towards the kingdom walls to see the castle peering over menacingly.

A hand gently grabbed my shoulder just as a simmering rage flowed through my veins. ”We can talk about this later. Id like for you to go wash in the river so we can have dinner. Im making gruel and a loaf of bread! ” My head snapped around at the mention of bread. It takes quiet a while to make the dough and even longer to turn it into bread. It takes almost a full day to make it since we have a spit fire instead of an oven. I could feel myself drooling as if I could smell the freshly made bread already…

”Ok Im going to go wash up. Do you want a rabbit to go in the gruel? ” Even a small piece of meat adds some flavor. Plus its spring which means its breeding season. Soon the land will be filled with more baby rabbits than anyone can count! That is until the king summons his seasonal hunting party…

”Yes! We will feast for a day!!! ” Papa began to skip towards the house but it looked more like a hobble jumps. I laughed at his attempts but considering his old age Im not surprised that it didn work. At least he still tries to be young…

I looked in the center of the village to see the village elders moping around as usual. They are just waiting for death and refuse to do anything but that… One of the elders is the generals mother, Sharon, and he refused to visit her once he joined the knights. Sharon refuses to obey any law the king declares on us mainly because her son requested these laws…

”Thou shall not feast, party, or mingle with anyone in a higher class. Thou shall not make request for or against the king even in tyranny. Thou shall not have fun and must work everyday till death. If anyone breaks these laws then an execution awaits you, by declaration of King Quincy. ”

Such ridiculous laws for unnecessary reasons… The Kingdom of Theron is just a place of greed and laziness for the higher class while the rest of us suffer under the pressure. Id rather leave this place but I have no idea where the other kingdoms are and how far away Id have to travel. I would know if the king hadn banned us from reading years ago when my mother was alive…

My mother, Sophia, was a tutor for the royal family until she met my papa. She would sneak him books and food when he would deliver grain to the castle. Papa would never tell me what actually happened but my mother was charged for treason after my birth and killed at dawn. I was thrown out into the streets and papa managed to find me before a slave trader did…

Its only been us since then but papa made one thing clear. I must keep my keep my hair dirty at all times. I tend to forget this a lot since Im always covered in mud and dirt anyway. As I walked towards the lake eyes seemed to watch me the whole time. Occasionally I would stop and check my surroundings but everything was quiet. To quiet…

As I made it to the edge of the lake I noticed how dark my hair was. It was almost black with filth but my natural loose curls still seemed to move freely as if it wasn weighed down. My ivory skin also seemed to shine as filth covered ever nook and cranny. After stripping out of my tattered dress and stocking I slowly waded into the cool water. It turned a murky shade around me for a second but it quickly turned back into a crystal clear water.

As I washed my skin I heard a twig snap behind me. Whipping around I called out, ”Whose there? ” as a shadow could be seen in the forest. ”I can see you. Come out! ” If it was an old man then hed better be prepared to see his last life… However as the figure emerged my heart stopped…