B.R. Quinn

“Hear ye, hear ye! Gather ’round, good folk, and lend your ears to the tale of how the Kingdom of Emberfall became known as the Bleeding Kingdom.

“Some eighteen years ago, King Tobias and Queen Gwenivere Silverheart ruled this land with kindness and compassion. Their reign was a time of peace and prosperity; their people were content, and their firstborn, the radiant Princess Lillian, was the light of their lives. As a beautiful baby girl, she was adored by all, and many believed that her grace alone would secure the future of the Silverheart lineage. But the King’s Council reminded His Majesty that without a male heir, the throne would pass to another noble house upon the King’s death. The dynasty of Silverheart, so carefully nurtured, would fall to dust.

“And so, despite their joy with Princess Lillian, the King and Queen sought to produce a son who would ensure the strength of the royal line. Years passed, and the Queen struggled to conceive again. Her eventual pregnancy was a difficult and trying ordeal—so perilous that many feared both mother and child might not survive. Yet the gods smiled upon them, for the long-awaited heir, Prince Corwin, was born strong and healthy. King Tobias believed his dynasty was secure and celebrated the birth of his son with grand feasts and festivals.

“But peace of mind was fleeting for the King. Memories of the Queen’s painful labor plagued him, and he became anxious, worried that she might not survive another birth. His fears grew into obsession, and soon, he turned to his most trusted friend and counselor, the Seer Orion.

“Orion was a man of rare gifts. The future unraveled before him more clearly than most, though, as we all know, Seers walk a fine line between the known and the unknown, between the absolute truths and the mere possibilities. Nonetheless, the King, desperate to protect his legacy, begged Orion to peer into his son’s future. What would become of young Prince Corwin? Would he rule Emberfall with strength and wisdom? Would the kingdom thrive under his reign?

“At first, Orion refused. ‘Too many variables cloud the future, Your Majesty,’ he said. ‘The path ahead is never certain.’ But the King, fearing for his kingdom’s future, insisted. And so, reluctantly, Orion gazed into the twisting threads of fate. When he spoke, his voice was heavy with foreboding.

“‘You will not again produce a male heir. Of that, I am most certain,’ said Orion. Initially, Orion refused to reveal more, but at the King’s insistence, Orion reluctantly spoke again. ‘As for the young Prince Corwin, his life shall be one of great suffering. Though he is born strong, trials beyond measure await him. His path will not be easy, and he may not overcome them at all.”

“Disturbed by these words, King Tobias pressed the Seer even further. ‘How can I protect my son from this strife? What can I do to prepare him for the hardships to come?’

“Orion, lost in deep thought, hesitated. ‘To see more clearly, I must travel the world,’ he said finally. ‘There are secrets even I cannot see from here. I will return with an answer, but I cannot say when.’ With that, he departed, leaving the King uneasy.

“Time passed, and the kingdom carried on. The Queen conceived once more, but the pregnancy was fraught with complications. This time, it was Princess Estella who entered the world—though not without great difficulty. Her left arm had become entangled with the umbilical cord, a cruel twist of fate that left her with a lasting scar and a weakness that would trouble her for the rest of her days.

“As the palace healers attended to the newborn princess, they failed to notice the Queen’s declining health. She slipped into a deep sleep, and for a month, it seemed she might never wake again. The people whispered of curses, of dark omens surrounding the royal family. When at last the Queen awoke, she was a shadow of her former self, her strength greatly diminished.

“Meanwhile, Orion did not return. The King, feeling abandoned by his once-trusted friend and Seer, grew resentful. Why had Orion not foreseen the trials that befell his family? Why had he not warned of the dangers? The King’s heart darkened with anger, yet he knew he needed answers.

“More children followed, each birth more complex than the last. Prince Theon was born only to die moments after taking his first breath. The Queen wept for her lost son, and the King’s grief hardened into a resolve to find Orion and learn the truth of his cryptic prophecies, for Orion had predicted no other male heirs.

“Then came Princess Juliana, born too early and without breath. It was only in this dire moment that Orion returned, bursting into the Queen’s chambers to save the newborn with a whispered spell. With a wave of his hand, he breathed life into the tiny princess, coaxing her first breath from her fragile lungs. The King’s anger melted into relief, and for a time, all seemed well again.

“Orion spoke to the King and Queen of his travels, of distant lands and foreign Seers, and how he had been delayed by the Emperor’s court, forced to serve against his will. Orion’s tale was long, and his absence left the King still wary. Yet, for saving his daughter’s life, the King forgave him.

“But the shadow of doubt remained. And so, with the Queen and the young Princess stable, the King finally asked the question that had long burned in his heart—what of Prince Corwin? What was to become of his son, the future of Emberfall?

“In response, Orion and the King retired to His Majesty’s chambers, where they spoke in secret for many hours. What transpired in that meeting is known only to a few. Orion claimed to have found an answer. He spoke of a great blessing he could bestow upon the Prince to grant him the strength and wisdom to rule. The King, desperate to secure his son’s future, consented to the ritual.

“But Orion’s gift was no blessing. After the long and arduous ritual, Prince Corwin, healthy and full of life, began to whiter before the King’s very eyes. The Prince’s body grew frail, his limbs weak. In horror, the King watched as his once-strong son was reduced to a sickly child who needed bed rest and assistance for the simplest of tasks. Enraged, the King struck down Orion with his sword, only to see the Seer vanish into dust.

“Although most believe Orion to be vanquished, the curse on Prince Corwin still endures. The Cursed Prince now lingers in the shadows of the palace, too weak to stand unaided, his future damned. The Kingdom of Emberfall, once proud and strong, is now known as the Bleeding Kingdom—a realm marked by the suffering of its royal family.

“Since the curse was placed on Prince Corwin, the King and Queen have seen many trials pass before them. And although they have come out on top at each point, the sore subject of the successor still remains, especially now that the King has fallen ill. Princess Lillian, aptly called the ‘Bright Jewel’ of the Kingdom, has many trials to overcome before she ascends the throne. But the Silverhearts have a rich history in Emberfall, and the council has promised Lillian ascension once she has a husband to rule by her side.

“Isn’t that why many are gathered here now? So many royals abound in the Kingdom of Emberfall – who will win Princess Lillian’s hand and help her keep the Silverheart lineage in the royal family? Only time will tell, dear folks, and I wish my best luck to all of her suitors in the crowd, for Princess Lillian is quick of wit and has cast away most who have come to see her.”