Welcome to the world of seven counties. Where the legends of Barnubus smiting the boar still reside. Where patrons in the local taverns can swear they saw the blue glow of the Goddess Seris. They warn of the brothers Harolde and Artur: one greedy, the other courageous. They whisper about the old days, long before their mothers and their mothers’ mothers ever lived, of the King that went mad—the “Blood King” and how his descendant slowly grows mad himself. “Can it be the prophecy?” One asked. “Nay.” The other quickly dismisses, but both wonder if it is in the days when the child of Jade will summon the end. One can only wonder in the seven counties. One can only wait.
Meet a couple of the people who reside in the seven counties.
Queen Isaura, also known as the Pearl Queen.
Beautiful and naive, she was the only child of her parents. Extremely sheltered and trained in the archaic fashion. She married out of duty, not love. Despite this, she has a fire in her that draws and repels her husband. She was known for her red hair, but it was seen as a bad omen in her homeland. For this, she began wearing headdresses more elaborate than the next. Finding a match was difficult because of said superstitions. However, there were no such superstitions with the Attarians. They were happy to form an alliance through marriage. Her family is one of the richest and most noble in the counties. The marriage was arranged right before the war, and it was almost dissolved when the tyrant was murdered. However, Arron initially fought to marry the princess for monetary gain. Over time, love has grown. Not a passionate love but a respectable one. She does not want to divorce, but the king’s eyes have wandered once more. This time to a beauty that threatens to unseat her from the very life she has fought to achieve. She does not want to go back to her country, seen as a failed wife and a cursed outcast. The king has kept the depth of his passion from her. They have never kept anything from one another, but now things are changing. She must also look into the mirror and face the secret she has long buried. Will she have the courage to speak it and most importantly face it, if it dares call her—mother.
Lady Aluri, also known as the Duchess of the Evergreen Labyrinth.
She was Queen Isaura’s best friend and later the mistress of the king. She is slowly driving the king mad through potions learned in her homeland. She has begun to encourage her son to be adopted by him, and since he has no son of his own, in time to reign in honor of their beloved king. Lady Aluri comes from a long line of witches. She continues to influence the King more and more each day. The Queen soon catches on and recognizes her betrayal. Lady Aluri is undeterred. She is ambitious; though married to a high-ranking knight, her eyes are set on having her son sit in the place of the now-mad King. She is patient. She will wait.
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