Thronegarden Read online

  About the author

  Andrew Dickerson started writing books at the age of eighteen, due to his love of stories and storytelling. Thronegarden is his first published novel. He lives with his family in Northamptonshire.

  Thronegarden

  Andrew Dickerson

  Thronegarden

  Vanguard Press

  VANGUARD KINDLE

  © Copyright 2021

  Andrew Dickerson

  The right of Andrew Dickerson to be identified as author of

  this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the

  Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All Rights Reserved

  No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication

  may be made without written permission.

  No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced,

  copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions

  of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended).

  Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to

  this publication may be liable to criminal

  prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is

  available from the British Library.

  ISBN (PAPERBACK)

  978 1 784659 56 1

  Vanguard Press is an imprint of

  Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Ltd.

  www.pegasuspublishers.com

  First Published in 2021

  Vanguard Press

  Sheraton House Castle Park

  Cambridge England

  Printed & Bound in Great Britain

  Dedication

  In memory of Jenny…

  for the inspiration and the magic.

  Prologue

  Once upon a time there was a kingdom called Fable, made up of multiple gardens. It was ruled by a king and his name was Death. The denizens of Fable were subject to Death’s most powerful weapon – Time. For Death had a magical timepiece crafted by the legendary smith Bakka. The timepiece held the fate of each person, and when it chimed with the voice of Sereth, Death would come for that individual. Death ruled unchallenged for centuries until a powerful mage came to provenance in the Magicgarden. The new sorcerer called himself the Fairy King. However powerful the magician became, he still feared Death’s power over him. So the Fairy King decided to steal Death’s timepiece. He snuck into Death’s castle late one night when the moon was new. Death had become complacent in his reign, yet the king was far from powerless. Death noticed the intruder at the last moment, and for a second the two regents just stared at each other before both monarchs reacted. the Fairy King desperately reached for the prized timepiece, while Death grabbed for his scythe. Death reached his target a split second ahead, swinging the weapon’s blade directly into his challenger’s heart. Despite the mortal blow, the Fairy King held the timepiece in his hand and with it the succession.

  Death fled into the dark night defeated, while the Fairy King began his cruel reign. Whether it was the wound to his heart or a corruption of power, the Fairy King became a tyrant to the people of Fable. The Fairy King’s tyranny brought an uprising, which united all the gardens. The leaders of the rebellion were brothers Abeldine and Handel Thrane, while the insurgents unified all the races, creatures and spirits of each and every garden. Against such a mob even the Fairy King’s magic was insufficient; however, the regent could not be killed due to Death’s expulsion, so instead he was exiled into a long-forgotten place known as the Evergarden.

  With the Fairy King usurped, the House of Thrane took residence in the highest garden which they gave their own name, Thronegarden. The Fairy King had one final legacy. Before his capture, the fallen leader deliberately damaged the timepiece, stopping time, so that when he escaped exile he could continue exactly where he left off. Despite this the people celebrated their new king and the defeat of Death, though without the passage of time, things began to stagnate and decay. Other pretenders to the throne came and went, with offenders sent to exile in the Evergarden. When King Abeldine lost his mind, his brother Handel took over with his beautiful queen and young daughter, the princess Damselfly.

  Chapter 1

  The Strangest of Times

  “Please read it again, Mother,” Princess Damselfly pleaded.

  “You have heard it a hundred times,” laughed Queen Etherelle, tucking her daughter into bed.

  “Then tell me the story about the Lady of the Lake and the Moon.”

  “It is time for bed,” the queen replied.

  “I’m not tired,” Damselfly managed between yawning.

  Queen Etherelle stroked her daughter’s red hair while perching on the bed. “I have never known a child so fond of old tales,” she smiled.

  “When I’m older I want to have great adventures like the people in your stories,” Damselfly stated.

  “One day maybe, for now I want you to stay my little angel for a little bit longer.”

  The queen leant forward to place a kiss on her only child’s forehead. When she pulled back, it was clear from her daughter’s expression that something was wrong.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Will I ever grow up, Mummy?” Damselfly asked.

  When the Fairy King destroyed Death’s timepiece, all time had stopped; there was no day or night in Thronegarden, just a continuing early evening.

  “Things will get better,” the queen promised.

  “When will I be old enough to go on adventures?” Damselfly bemoaned.

  “I have been twelve and a half years old for what seems like eternity. I don’t even remember my last birthday party.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” the queen sympathised.

  “I remember that day like it was yesterday. Your father brought poets from Rhymegarden, acrobats from Treetopgarden and sorcerers from Magicgarden. That is when we first met your Aunt Luyna and Uncle Orion.”

  Damselfly pulled a face at this memory, although her mother seemed to be lost in her thoughts for once.

  “They’re not really my aunt and uncle,” Damselfly commented.

  “No, but they’re like family and your father needs them to help him run the kingdom,” Queen Etherelle responded.

  Damselfly tried to avoid Luyna whenever possible, mainly because of her twin daughters, Celeste and Coral, who were the only other children in the royal apartments. Unfortunately, the twins took every opportunity to bully Damselfly, teasing her about her bright red hair, or her freckles and even about having no friends.

  “I remember that day,” Damselfly reminisced.

  “No one would play any of the games with me except Old Nana and she always lets me win like I’m a baby.”

  “That’s not true, pumpkin, you have lots of friends.”

  “Just one more story, Mum, please,” Damselfly begged. “Tell me about how the gardens began or the legend of Bakka.”

  “I think it is time for sleep now,” the queen repeated.

  “Tell me the story of the Children of the Moon. I haven’t heard that in ages.”

  “Daughter,” her mother screeched in a familiar tone. “You know your father banned anyone from telling that tale. Now go to sleep and dream of wonderful things.” Damselfly knew it was pointless to argue any further. Her mother was sensitive about such things, although Old Nana would tell her stories that would make her father furious if he found out.

  Queen Etherelle left her daughter’s bedroom with one quick glance over her shoulder. She could still make out a delicate silhouette in the half light and it almost brought a tear to her eye. Pulling herself away from the room, she determined to do something that would bring a smile to her daughter’s lips. The loss of time h
ad brought stagnation that could be seen physically in the cracked stone walls and emotionally in those that saw in each day a repetition of the last. It was especially difficult on Damselfly because there were so few children for her to play with. Such problems were hard to solve though Etherelle had decided firmly that her daughter would have a birthday party to remember. The corridors of Castle Thrane were long and grey with signs of neglect showing regularly. Things had seemed so different when they first inherited the castle after exiling the Fairy King. With the loss of time and her husband’s brother declining into lunacy, a great burden had fallen over their family. Handel had always been a caring father. There were times when she would catch him sitting by their daughter’s bed at night watching her sleep or standing guard at her door even though the entire royal guard was only a disturbed cry away. Now there was a distance between Handel and Damselfly that went beyond duty. In truth, Queen Etherelle had to admit that the void existed between them too; her husband was now more like a stranger, only seeing his chief advisors Luyna and Orion ahead of even his own family. Queen Etherelle was loved by her people for her fair beauty and patient grace yet when something needed doing, she was not afraid to enforce her will. Steeling herself, she entered her husband’s private chambers. Unsurprisingly, Luyna was the only person occupying the room. Luyna was almost as fair as the queen with flaxen gold hair, feline yellow eyes and a blue dress that shimmered like moonlight as she moved. There was something about the sorceress that just felt off, whether it was the shiftiness of her eyes or the crook of her smile or even the sharpness of her laugh that put people on edge. Queen Etherelle felt a chill rush down her spine as Luyna turned to regard her with those sultry eyes. Recalling Damselfly’s words, she rallied her will and spoke firmly.

  “I need to see Handel.”

  “The king is indisposed,” Luyna replied automatically. “Perhaps I can be of assistance, my lady.”

  Luyna’s tone made it quite clear there was nothing less she would rather do than help, but the queen was determined.

  “I want to throw Damselfly a birthday party,” Queen Etherelle announced.”

  “Really,” Luyna responded with little enthusiasm.

  “That’s right,” Etherelle demanded, bringing a flash of displeasure to her adversary’s eyes. “I want it to be the greatest birthday party anyone has ever seen with presents, entertainment and a huge feast.”

  “Such grand arrangements will take time to prepare,” Luyna stalled.

  It was strange to talk about the passing of time when the sun never traversed the sky, the clocks never ticked and no one grew visibly older. When the Fairy King had destroyed Death’s timepiece and stopped time, even he probably never realised the extent his sabotage would affect the Kingdom of Fable.

  “I want everything done by the time my daughter wakes up,” Queen Etherelle ordered.

  For the first time, Luyna revealed a sign of real uncertainty to pass her features; the paling of her skin made the crescent-shaped birthmark on her face shimmer slightly.

  “That will surely be impossible,” Luyna remarked.

  “You could ask Handel yourself,” Queen Etherelle suggested. “Whatever you think, I know my husband loves our daughter more than anything else and I am sure he will support me on this matter.”

  Luyna scowled momentarily, knowing that she was cornered before retaining her usual benign countenance and agreeing to the request graciously.

  “I will raise the whole castle to help with the preparations,” Luyna acquiesced.

  Queen Etherelle smiled triumphantly although the cold look in the sorceress’s eyes made her tremble. Still, she had won this battle and she would not show her fear.

  “Also make sure your daughters are nice to Damselfly.”

  With that, Queen Etherelle swept from the room leaving Luyna to glare at her receding skirts, a flicker of light charged across the sorceress’s fingers.

  Rat was an orphan who lived in the many secret rooms and lost passageways of Castle Thrane. At ten years old, he was still rather small for his age with wild black hair and ragged clothes covered in dust from his latest excursions. Rat survived by carrying messages, news or information throughout the many levels of his home. He knew not only every inch of the castle, but also those who dwelt within the stone walls, and that meant he was the first person outside of the royal apartments to learn of the surprise birthday party. Rat had been picking at the scraps of his dinner when the large door to the royal apartments opened. He had explored every inch of the castle except the royal apartments, which he was forbidden to enter. Creeping out of his hiding place, Rat could see a familiar dark figure silhouetted against the golden doorway, which was decorated with the Thrane family crest. It depicted an ancient tree with a wise owl perched on the highest branch, a replication of the moment Abeldine had been chosen to succeed the Fairy King. Rat’s hair stood on end with anticipation for the news.

  “Come here, boy, I have a message for you.”

  There were only two sorcerers in Thronegarden, Luyna and her brother Orion who stood waiting impatiently for Rat to move forward. Orion had a crown of dark hair that joined seamlessly into a perfectly trimmed goatee. His eyes seemed to bore into Rat menacingly. He crooked one finger, enticing the boy closer.

  “There is to be a birthday party for the Princess Damselfly,” Orion announced.

  Rat, who was shaking with nerves, slowly digested this information before smiling and managing a single hiccupped word. “Good.”

  Orion grabbed the boy by his worn clothes and brought his head down so they were eye to eye. The red of Orion’s cape seemed to reflect in his serpentine eyes, and Rat gulped as he tried not to stare at the crescent birthmark that he could just make out on the sorcerer’s cheek.

  “This is to be the greatest celebration Thronegarden has ever seen and anybody who fails to deliver will be sorry.”

  Orion released Rat who collapsed to the floor before hurrying to his feet, giving a short bow and scurrying away to carry out his orders. Orion turned on his heel, enveloping himself in his cape, and disappeared back inside the royal apartments. Rat stopped running as the door closed behind Orion. He looked determinedly at the barrier and swore to himself. “One day I will see what is behind that door.”

  With no one to hear his oath or laugh at the idea of an orphan being invited into the royal chambers, Rat raced off to deliver his extremely important message.

  The upper levels of the castle held courts overseen by head Judge Vale who was a constant thorn in Rat’s side; the old man had a running grievance which went back to when Rat had attempted to steal some of the lawman’s food from his chambers.

  Despite Rat’s unwanted presence, he sometimes watched trials from a secret vantage point high in the courtroom and had noticed that many of the accused were being sent to exile in the Evergarden.

  A punishment worse than death.

  The next levels were a kind of barracks for the soldiers of Thrane, men who had fought in the battle against the Fairy King and who still protected the citizens of Thronegarden. Rat had to be extremely cautious traversing these floors with sentries and guards on constant alert. Anyone caught trespassing would almost certainly end up under Judge Vale’s critical eye, and the thought made Rat shiver with fear. The young messenger then found himself in the cool, slightly musty-smelling world of Archives. However, much Rat feared Judge Vale and the soldiers, this level was his least favourite to pass through. There were vast libraries stacked floor to ceiling with books of all kinds, written in languages long-forgotten, tomes dedicated to the history of Fable and many written by famous sorcerers. Rat had been told that one book in the archives had actually been penned by Death himself. Only a small number of historians, archivists and librarians had access to this precious knowledge all watched over by Librarian Scroll. He was a meticulous scholar with a voice like crinkled paper. Thankfully, Rat found his path clear with no late-night interruptions so that in no time at all he was down into the cent
ral levels of the castle. These were the easiest to move through unnoticed due to the high number of residents and secret pathways that riddled the ancient castle. Rat took one of these hidden shafts to bypass the medical wing as he had a bad memory of being strapped to a bed while Nurse Vial and Doctor Garland forced disgusting-tasting medicine down his throat. Many of the castle’s ordinary people lived, worked and socialized in these particular levels. The majority of them would never go higher or lower than five floors of the castle and could not imagine any need to do so. Rat had been born an adventurer and had explored more of the castle than anyone alive today. This skill meant he could go from the highest point of the castle to the lowest without anyone noticing him, a freedom that was impossible for anyone else to achieve. Sometimes Rat got lonely although he found solace in the company of animals, he had a special relationship with dogs, birds and horses, all of whom seemed to naturally respond to him. Still, before he could reach the lower levels, Rat had to pass through the school rooms. This was always difficult for Rat because he both scorned and longed to be part of it. Rat’s upbringing meant he could not read or write, no one had ever taught him, and the strange characters left on the chalk boards never revealed their secrets to him. Sometimes he would hide behind a hollow wall and listen to the children arrive at school accompanied by their parents. They always sounded so happy that Rat wondered if he was missing something special, yet surely being like other children would mean losing his freedom and that he could never do. Leaving Professor Drawbridge’s silent classroom, he spirited down like a shadow into the lower levels where his people lived.