Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn by Douglas R. Brown Page A

before plopping down in the grass with all of the children.
    The story was the same every year, but Alina liked this storyteller best. Maybe because of the inflections in his voice when he became excited, or the way he paused for dramatic effect right before the story grabbed hold. She couldn’t quite say, but whatever the reason, she was excited to hear.
    “Are you ready, Princess?” the teller asked.
    “Whenever you are, good weaver of tales,” she answered, never losing her smile.
    He began as he always had, with his voice deep and crackly. “It was a time of great turmoil across our vast country of Epertase. The Light burned deep within the powerful King Thadius, passed down from his mother, and her father before her. The Light that we speak of today was the very Light that burns deep within King Elijah’s soul and lays dormant in our beautiful Princess until her time comes to lead us.”
    As with each time before, Alina couldn’t hide her grin and blushing cheeks. The crowd, mostly the children, giggled while pointing at her.
    The gray-bearded narrator continued, his voice more gentle and inviting. “This tale begins at night, a very special night nearly one thousand years ago. The kingdom was aflutter with anticipation of the birth of Thadius’ first child and with that child, the possible heir to his light.
    “The best doctors in the land gathered in the castle infirmary as the Queen struggled and strained. Historians believe that the doctors must have known something was wrong, though by all accounts, the King was never told.”
    The teller scanned the children with squinted eyes. They stared back with mouths open and eyes as wide as gold coins.
    “From inside Thadius’ soul, The Light watched his son, Prince Matthew, draw his first breath free of his mother’s womb. Then The Light watched in terror as the joy of Matthew’s first breath was eclipsed by the sorrow of the Queen’s last. Some say at that moment The Light saw a change inside of Thadius’ heart. Others believed his heart had always been black. But one thing was known. That night, when the sky filled with white-brightness, and Matthew inherited The Light that burned inside his father, Thadius began his journey to insanity.”
    The children, and some of the adults, held their breath. The teller stoked their anticipation with a pause as he sipped from his mug. Alina often wondered what filled his mug and secretly hoped it was water, though she imagined it was ale.
    The teller licked his chapped lips and continued. “Thadius stared at his helpless son cradled in his arms. Over the years, whispers emerged throughout the kingdom that he contemplated the murder of his own child, but no one could ever know for sure.
    “The doctors watched with nervous stares.
    “One of the nurses sobbed and hid her face in her hands.
    “Thadius scowled at each person in the room. For the first and only time in his life, the people saw a tear fall from his eyes.
    “The doctors watched and waited for what seemed like lifetimes.
    “Thadius lowered his son to the cold, hard floor, turned and left him at the mercy of the gods. Perhaps he spared Matthew’s life out of love but most educated men doubt such. More likely, Matthew was spared by Thadius’ fear of losing The Light, and with it his people forever.
    “While Matthew was an infant, Thadius sought every skilled wizard and witch of the land in an attempt to reclaim that which he believed was still his. He sought to recover the dormant Light so he could pass it to one he felt more worthy.”
    The teller rose from his stool and paced along the front row of children. He leaned toward them while stroking his beard. They cowered from his ghoulish stare. He slowed his speech for menacing effect. “When those wizards failed to return him the dormant Light, he took their heads!” The teller dragged his thumb along his neck. Some of the smaller children hid behind Alina. She giggled and assured them all was