The sun was rising over Mulveria, bathing her eastern shore in warmth and signaling her inhabitants to start their day. The largest island in the Cicellian Sea, Mulveria was discovered–and colonized by–Edvard Mulver several centuries ago. Mulveria her share of trials and travails over the years, including a disagreements among her people regarding which direction their nation should take. This led to the nation fracturing into five segments and repeated civil wars, one of which led to the destruction of the home built by Edvard in the port city of Vardesberg. The oldest permanent structure on the island went down in flames.
The civil wars continued until Stephan Mulver, one of Edvard’s direct descendants, united the islands against an outward threat. Mulveria’s closest neighbor, Alberia, tried to forcibly annex all of the islands in the Cicellian Sea in order to obtain the natural resources there. Stephan and his advisor, someone he recruited from the mysterious hill people of Zatistan, ensured Alberia did not succeed. After battles on the islands of Balisuria, Conispur, Donnelsport, and a direct assault led by the Zati on the mainland city of Albersville, Alberia agreed to a truce. Mulverians would share technology with the Alberians, allowing them to find resources they would normally not. Other resources not found outside the islands, such as Mulverian marble, would be exported to Alberston at cost for a specified number of years.
Mulverian marble was also used to rebuild the old fortress overlooking Cloverdale. Ostensibly a farming community, Cloverdale was at the base of some hills near Mulveria’s center. Edvard built a fortress on one of the hills, with towers tall enough to see to the sea in all directions. Stephan, talking the name of King Edvard I, transformed the fortress into a castle. Life for ordinary Mulverians was pleasant enough…at first. Wanting to keep the islands from splintering again, Julian I granted more freedom upon being appointed Edvard III’s successor. Nearly half of the of Mulverian family wealth was redistributed among the islands and Julian issued an edict limiting what his descendants can hold.
The throne currently belongs to Jakob III, having taken over after a dying Edvard VI abdicated twenty years ago. Jakob III had his own surprise for his people; instead of appointing a Zati adviser, he took a Zati princess as his wife! Two years into their reign, a baby had been brought to Castle Mulver. He was found in a basket that had washed up on a beach near Orindal. Dubbed Erik Orin Mulver, the child was raised by Jakob and Zukala as one of their own.
Erik had been having some rather odd dreams lately. They always came shortly before dawn and he always woke up before they reached a conclusion. In one of the more disturbing dreams, Erik felt small and vulnerable. He was looking at the back of a person’s head–a woman, judging by her hair–but he never was able to see her face. Until this morning.
Erik was sparring with his mentor, Sir Martin Balis, when he heard a servant calling. “Master Erik! Master Erik!”
Erik landed a direct hit on Sir Martin, knocking him to the ground. Not turning his attention from Sir Martin, Erik laughed a little as he answered the servant. “Over here, Malin.” Then he lent Martin a hand.
As Malin approached, Martin said, “Hitting your man while he’s distracted. Not very sporting, but effective.”
Erik finally turned toward Malin and noticed he was carrying a package. “This just came for you by courier.”
“A package?” He took it from Malin and examined it. “Did the courier say who sent it?”
“No, squire. Just that it was to be delivered on your eighteenth birthday.”
“But that was three days ago!”
“Indeed. He apologized for being late.”
Erik opened the package. He didn’t recognize what was in it but felt it was something important. Sir Martin knew was it was right away, and also knew what it meant. He had to find Jakob right away! No doubt his highness would want him to keep an eye on Erik.