Prologue
Hidden Treasures
Hannibal Castle, Kingdom of Hannibal
Though she was exhausted from her travail, the young mother had forgotten the pain and the struggle when the two newborn babes were laid at her breast. The birth of twins was rare and auspicious, but a dark cloud hung over the happy occasion. Just outside the bedchamber, a small band of conspirators were assembled: the girl's nurse and her bodyguard, the King's physician and his daughter the midwife, and one of the court sorcerers.
"In the absence of Her Majesty the Queen, you are the nearest to a mother Her Highness has, Larentia," the physician said to the nurse. "I would congratulate you, but..."
"There is no joy to be had in this day, my lord," the nurse Larentia replied. "Even if it were not for the King's madness, he would never allow children born under such... circumstances to live. It is a wonder he did not cut them from her belly."
"That is why you have kept her secluded all this time, is it not?" the physician noted. "Not that the subject has ever been far from His Majesty's troubled mind."
The physician glanced over to the four men of the Palace Guard laid out on the floor. Though the King was restrained from murdering his daughter outright, it did not stop him from appointing those four men to watch over her at all hours just waiting for the opportunity to kill the child (for it was not made known she was carrying twins) the moment it was born. A little drugged wine ensured that they would not be fulfilling their mission.
"I did not expect them to soil themselves," the physician said. "That side effect was not mentioned in the scroll."
"They were resolved to kill an innocent babe, Father," the midwife replied. "The indignity is the least they deserve."
"It goes without saying that we are past the point of no return," Larentia said. "I trust you are all resolved to do what you must."
"I will take the girl," the sorcerer said. "I can pass her off as one of my bastards easily enough. I just lost one recently and the mother could use the comfort. These children were born under a curious star and I am looking forward to seeing what will come of it."
"And I will take the boy," the midwife said. "The Lord has not blessed me with children of my own, so perhaps he is the answer to my prayers, and the boy could not ask for a better father than my Yishak."
"He will be safe in my household," the physician said. "And there are few men as valiant and upright as young Yishak—I do not say this merely as a proud father-in-law. He will raise the boy well, fit for his duty if it should come to that."
"For their sake, I would have them live out their days in obscurity," Larentia said, "but they could hold the key to the survival of this dynasty."
"It will break her heart to part with them," the midwife said, looking to the princess.
"It would be far worse if she tried to keep them," Larentia said. She then asked the midwife, "Did you bring what was needful?"
"Yes," the midwife replied with a sigh. "The Lord forgive me for it, but there are sadly all too many stillborn. It should be enough to convince the King."
Larentia looked down at the men of the Palace Guard and said, "They will attest to it or it will be their heads."
"I daresay His Majesty would not settle for so simple a punishment," the physician said.
"And we can expect worse if any of us should break faith," Larentia said. "Remember that well."
And so a mere five people held the secret that could decide the very fate of the kingdom. The nurse's wish that the children could live out their days in obscurity was not meant to be. Whether it was the fault of the curious star under which they were born, who can say?