6 years later...

Vito Luciano had come to the conclusion that he was neither a good or bad man, but one who did what had to be done. It had been six years since the royal family had been assassinated by the Ladon Empire. Six years since his people had been enslaved and imprisoned. Six years since his home had fallen into darkness. Ironclad soldiers wandered the streets, looking for any small reason to put an innocent man behind bars. If it hadn't been enough already, King Augustus had issued an order that barred the locals from using the harbor, leaving many without work and food. It sickened him to the core.

Vito tightened his square jaw and wiped the blood off his knife, nodding to the two men behind him. He listened for a splash, which told him that his job had been completed. His sunken eyes focused on the dark water, watching as a deep red spread from a floating mass. There could be no room for traitors. As he said, he only did what had to be done. Someone had to provide for his people, and Vito had come to the conclusion he was the only man capable of taking on that burden.

"It's done sir," said one of his men, a dark cloth muffling his voice.Vito offered no response as he pulled at his collar and handed the underling his blade, watching as he disappeared into the shadows of the night. The weapon would be disposed of, and there would no evidence that the spy had existed. The empire offered freedom to whoever was willing to work for them as an anonymous agent, having their records wiped clean of any wrongdoing. What the traitors failed to realize was that it made them expendable to the Ladon rulers. The empire didn't have to be held accountable for the lives of men who didn't exist, and they didn't want to care as long as there were more men pleading on their knees for freedom.

"I never would have suspected him." Vito met the eyes of his companion, a young man with piercing, jade green eyes. Pierce was his right-hand man, the only man he would ever trust with his life. The only man he would trust with hiding the last heir to the Savoia Dynasty.

Vito nodded his head in acknowledgement of Pierce's statement. "It would seem we are in more danger everyday."

Pierce gave Vito a worried glance. "Maybe you should go into hiding. Leave the work to your agents until you have a successor."

Vito frowned. "You know I can't do that. It would show weakness, and there can't be weakness in this business. We just will have to make a bold move against the empire and quickly."

Pierce didn't share his disagreement with his boss, but he knew that Vito's capture would very much crush any rebellion and hopes for his people. While Vito had three sons, Pierce couldn't see any of them living up to their father's legacy. There was the oldest, Carlo, the most obvious choice of the three. Carlo was the most like his father: a proud, strong, and capable leader. He had worked at his father's side in the family business since his first steps, learning to lead raids and manage men. However, unlike his father, Carlo's emotions controlled him. His anger had resulted in an ill-prepared attack that killed ten of his men before a retreat.

Michael, the second brother, was the smartest and most tactical, but he was also the wimpiest and couldn't shoot straight. Vito's successor needed to be a man capable of handling himself on the battlefield, and Michael's weaknesses would leave him as a serious target. He was more of the type to work behind the scenes.

Pierce let out a sigh thinking of the last son. Lance Luciano, the youngest of the trio, was the biggest troublemaker he had ever seen and was incapable of taking a job seriously. His hobbies included playing cat and mouse with the members of the king's guard and showing off for pretty girls, but only if he was feeling up to it. Pierce wasn't constantly forced to step in to save him from disaster, and Vito had sent the boy away more time than Pierce could count on one finger. Lance was currently missing in action after he had gotten in trouble with his father, and Pierce was not eager for his return. Vito would be nothing short of furious with the boy. If their fates was ever left in Lance's hands, they were doomed.

The same issues plagued Vito's mind. He needed to secure his legacy, and his time was running out. The empire was searching for a reason to take him in any day, but he saw to it himself that everything was in order. Vito couldn't risk giving the Ladon Empire any reason to arrest him. One small mistake or slip up, and he was as good as dead with no one able to carry on his mission.

The pair reached the top of the hill where the shadows between buildings seemed to grow darker in the torchlight. Paint had chipped off of most of the houses, leaving dull stone. Due to the crowded buildings and hilly ground, most of the residences were connected to each other with staircases built in odd and awkward formations. Some curled around the building while others zigzagged to the side. Eyes seemed to watch them from every corner, and while Vito remained alert, he knew they were allies or those too fearful to ever stand up to him.

They finally stopped in front of one of buildings towards the top of the hill. It had long winding steps, and like many of the others, was directly bordered by neighbors. The wooden door creaked as Pierce pushed it open, and Vito narrowed his eyes as he spotted the hooded figure sitting at the end of the long table.

Lucan was a slimy man with little respect for himself or anyone else. His greasy, ebony hair fell past his shoulders, and his large, protruding nose reminded Pierce of a bird. It was common knowledge that Lucan wished to take Vito's role if something were to happen to him, and while he wasn't the most attractive or likeable man, Pierce had to admit that he was the most capable of any person to take over after Vito was gone. Pierce just had to hope the day would never come that a man as vicious as Lucan would ever have that much power.

Vito shook Lucan's hand, the two not breaking eye contact. The crime lord noticed the rippling muscles of Lucan's arms, knowing that the man could kill him and Pierce right there if he truly wanted to.

"Lucan, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lucan's lips remained in a firm line as he scanned the two men standing in front of him. The deep scar that ran down his left cheek twitched, and finally the corners of his mouth twisted into a devious smirk.

"I only came to make sure of your safe return," Lucan said before falling into a deep bow. Vito raised his brows as the man, not fooled by his extravagance.

Lucan quickly realized this and continued, "I have come across an opportunity that I think might interest you. King Augustus has offered an alliance."

Pierce growled. King Augustus was the leader of the Ladon Empire. He was merciless and greedy, his focus always on expanding his rule by conquering another kingdom full of innocent people. The Luciano family had given him trouble upon his murder of the Savoia family, and Augustus wanted nothing more than to crush the last of the Luciano rebellion.

"And how would you know what Augustus desires?"

Lucan didn't even blink. "The same way you communicated with our previous rulers, our enemies. The Savoia House tried to kill us and our influence. Now that they are gone, our business has flourished. The Ladon Empire is not our foe, and cooperation with them could mean    our continued growth."

"Or it could mean the end of us," Vito snapped. "Augustus is not to be trusted. Our business may be succeeding, but at what cost? People are suffering, Lucan. We are not here for the money but to end the plight of our people."

"The people wouldn't suffer if they didn't continue to fight against change, and they do that because you tell them to. You have the power to change things, but instead you are hiding heirs from a lost dynasty. *The end of that same dynasty is all we need to insure peace. Our land and our people could flourish again if only you would forget the past."

Vito clenched his jaw. A seething anger had risen into his gut at the thought of throwing away such a life, one that his people depended on and looked to in their devastation. The princess was more than an heir, she was a symbol of hope. She was something to keep the people fighting. If there was anything Vito had learned from his line of work, it was that the best choice was the hardest. And giving up was never a choice.

"I will assure, as I always have Lucan, that death will never lead to peace. The princess will stay hidden as long as I have the power to protect her," Vito stated with an edge to his voice.

Lucan's eyes glinted like daggers back at Vito until finally he averted his stare out the window, where the rising sun caused the sea to sparkle. "Then I can only hope you won't hold that power for long, can I?"

Pierce lunged forward, but it only took Vito's steady hand on his shoulder for him to stand down. Lucan straightened his posture before heading down the steep stairs and disappearing into the shadows.

"Pierce," Vito spoke softly, "I think it is about time you paid the princess a visit."

The soft glow of the sun rose over the top of the mountains, illuminating the two figures as they raced across the dark forest floor on horseback. Leo tapped his foot against the side of his horse, trying to stay ahead of his opponent, who was quickly gaining on him. He set his steel blue eyes on the approaching finish line: a clearing that led out onto a hillside. This was the first time he had had the lead over his opponent of all the time he had raced this week, and he couldn't lose his chance to finally be victorious. His heart beat faster in his chest as he was fifty feet, then thirty, then fifteen, and then-

Leo gasped as suddenly he was blinded by the bright light of the sun, which had finally risen over the mountains just outside the clearing. He threw his arms to shield his eyes, pulling the reins towards him. The horse rose onto its back legs, throwing Leo off the horse, just in time for his opponent to blow past him and over the finish line.

Leo stared up at the sky from where he lay on the ground, wondering how she could have possibly won again.

"Leo, are you ok?" A dark silhouette blocked the sky from his view. He sighed as he noticed her goofy grin, a symbol of her victory.

Raina had quickly grown from a shy, grief-stricken little girl to a confident, young woman. In fact, she had become one of the best fighters in the Knights of Alton, much to Antonio's disapproval. Her fascination with the sword started after watching the knights duel, and she studied their movements and techniques constantly and practiced them in her spare time. Antonio had come to allow her to train with a blade after much pleading and pestering from Raina and the other knights. Even then, Antonio refused to anoint her as an official knight, much to Raina's frustration. Her long, hazelnut hair was always messily tied away from her face so she could see her opponents clearly, reading them just as Antonio taught her.

"You don't seem too concerned," Leo pointed out. He sat up, rubbing a bruise that was starting to form on his shoulder.

"You're right, and do you know why?"

Leo sighed. "Because you won. Again."

"That's right!" Raina pumped her fist into the air, skipping along the path. The forest had begun to thin into a clearing as they moved along, and Raina ran to the cliff that overlooked the trees standing below them, which went back as far as the horizon. She let the morning sun hit her face and let her feet sink into the dirt. Ever since the day she had gone into hiding, Raina had promised herself that she would appreciate these smalls gifts: the sunrise, the songs of the birds, the feeling of peace. These experiences were all made possible for her due to the sacrifices her family made. She couldn't take any of them for granted.

Her heart sunk as she stared at the same kingdom that was her home for so many years. The admired beauty of Aragona had faded to a shadow of itself, and Raina barely recognized it. It seemed different from the place where she used to sail with her father and listen to the stories of her mother. She missed her family so much, especially her brother. Sometimes, when she was especially sad, Raina could hear his voice in her head. It was always calm and reassuring, a light in the darkness. If she focused a little harder, his amber eyes, speckled with gold would appear, but they would change a little every day as her memory faded. It would feel like he was sitting right next to her, holding her tight to his chest. Then she would see his pupils widen, and his voice would turn into a hoarse scream, and she had to let go and forget before it became too painful.

She longed for things to be as they were, but Raina knew in her heart that there was no going back. She just wanted to forget the fire and the flames and move past that night.

"Hey are you ok?"

Raina jumped at the voice interrupting her thoughts, spinning to see her curly-haired companion. Leo had been her friend from the very beginning. He was the youngest member of the Knights of Alton, working as a squire along with Raina. If anyone understood Raina, it was Leo. Leo's parents had been killed due to Ladon's conquests, and the Knights of Alton was all he had left. They may have lost family, but they both had found a new one here.

Raina nodded her head, and the two stood in silence for a few minutes.

"We should head back," Raina started, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We've already been fine too long, and you know how Antonio gets."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to miss out on those long spiels about chivalry. And Percy will want his armor cleaned so he can see his face in it," Leo mocked.

Raina gave him a light punch in the shoulder. "Oh come on, it's not so bad."

Lance rolled his eyes as they arrived back at the Order, the illusion of peace fading into the chaos of another busy day. The knights had already finished breakfast and made their way to the practice grounds. A small group of men had mounted their horses and took turns aiming their lance at a small sand bag hanging from a pole. Another group held wooden swords, practicing specific movements in front of a pell, a small practice target that resembled a thin tree trunk. Then there was Antonio, arms crossed and a look of disapproval etched upon his face.

"You're late." His words echoed across the grounds, and for a split second, everyone seemed to stop what they were doing to glance at the pair.

"I know, I'm sorry." Raina hopped off her horse and gave him a sheepish smile.

"You say that every time, but things never seem to change," growled Antonio, his voice oozing with anger. "Something bad could have happened."

Raina rolled her eyes. "I'm very capable of taking care of myself, something which you seem to forget."

If Raina had imagined the stares before, she definitely wasn't now. Everyone had frozen, their eyes wide at her words. Leo took a few steps back, hoping to be forgotten as the tensions between Antonio and Raina steadily rose. Raina raised her chin high in the air and attempted to step around Antonio to join the training, but Antonio simply stepped to the side, blocking her path.

"Give me your sword."

Raina's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "What?"

"Give me your sword." Antonio held out his hand.

"What, just because I showed up to training late you're gonna take my sword?"

Antonio grunted. "Raina, you know it's much more than that. It's my job to protect you-"

"I've beaten almost every knight in the Order! You've never even given me a chance to become a knight, and you hold me to higher standards than everyone else!" Raina's voice rose, and she felt the heat rise to her face. Not only was being punished for something absurdly stupid, she had to have her pride taken as her peers watched from a safe distance.

Antonio sighed, his facial features relaxing. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that this was a different battle from the usual ones he faced. "You want an opportunity to become a knight?"

Raina didn't respond, confused at the sudden change of tone. Antonio approached the edge of the training grounds and picked up two wooden swords, one which he threw to Raina.

"If you can beat me in a duel, I will allow you to become a knight."

Raina's eyes sparkled, and the boys cheered. This was the moment she had been waiting for since the first time she had ever seen a sword.

"On the other hand," Antonio continued, "if you lose, you hand me your sword and I double your chores."

Raina's grip tightened around the sword. This was her chance to prove herself to Antonio and her peers. Her chance to prove that she belonged here. Besides, it would be dishonorable to decline a challenge from a man above her station.

"I accept."

The knights quickly emptied the training ring, circling around to watch the fight. Raina unbuckled the sword around her waist, which relieved a great weight from her form. She needed to be as light and quick as possible if she had any hope of beating Antonio. Antonio had a lean, muscular build, meaning that he would be slower than Raina but stronger. However, Antonio had experience on his side and had fought against some of the most notable soldiers in history.

"Raina, are you sure this is a good idea?" Leo stood behind Raina, an uncertain look on his face.

"Of course. I have no other choice. I'm not letting him take my sword away." Raina thrust the wooden sword outwards, testing its weight and practicing her movements.

"I just mean that no one has ever beaten Antonio. Not even his own son, the most skilled fighter produced by the Knights of Alton, could beat him."

"Well," Raina smirked, "guess that's about to change."

Leo sighed before joining his friends in the crowd. Eden, only a few years older than Raina and Leo, attempted to start a chant going among the knights. Arthur, thin and wiry, offered Raina a simple thumbs up.

"She's going to get wrecked isn't she?" Percy asked Leo in his usual contempt manner. Leo, who noticed Raina was looking at him, ignored Percy and instead offered her a small smile.

Raina took a deep breath and entered the ring. Standing across from her was Antonio, hunched low and his sword hovering in front of his chest. Raina mirrored his stance, spreading her legs apart and hunching down. She closed her eyes, attempting to slow down her rapid heartbeat. She felt a lot less confident now that she was standing across from her opponent, but she didn't have anything to lose.

"Whenever you're ready," taunted Antonio.

The crowd cheered as Raina rushed at Antonio, her movements a blur. She thrust her sword forward, but Antonio simply stepped to the side, throwing Raina off balance. Antonio held his sword in front of his chest as he did before, circling the ring. Raina rushed at him again, but he simply did the same thing and stepped out of the way.

"Fight back you coward!"

Antonio just raised his eyebrows at Raina's outburst, bracing himself for her next ambush. This time when Raina attacked, she was ready for the dodge. She faked to the left and spun, thrusting her sword forward only for Antonio to catch it with his own. Raina ducked under and spun around again, but Antonio once again caught her attack and threw her backwards. Raina skidded across the ground, barely keeping her grip on the sword.

She pushed the hair out of her face and glanced down at the scrapes on her knees, where he pants had ripped open from the force of Antonio's push. The palms of her hands were red and deep scratches covered them from when she tried to break her fall. Antonio wasn't even trying and still was matching her every move.

"You ready to hand over your sword?" Antonio still stood at the other side of the ring, not even attempting to fight Raina while she was still out on the ground.

Wiping the dirt off her tunic, Raina brought herself to her feet. "Never."

A smile spread across Antonio's face, but he still made no attempt to attack Raina. She studied his posture, searching for a weakness. He was just playing defense, blocking and pushing her back. It was the same game he always played with her outside of sword fighting. He forced her into a corner until she could prove she was worth his attention. In this same way, Antonio was hanging back, not seeing Raina as a threat. If she could just land one hit on him, Antonio would go on the attack, and then she could find a weakness.

In one swift movement, Raina sprinted towards Antonio again, this time catching him before he dodged to the side. She hit harder and faster than she ever had before, and Antonio couldn't keep up. Raina nicked his arm before he jumped backwards, a new fire in his eyes. For the first time in the match, Antonio chose to attack. Raina blocked his every thrust, looking for an opening, a weakness, but Antonio had found Raina's first. He drew his arm back and hit Raina in the side, knocking the air out of her lungs. Her sword flew out of her hands and out of the circle, and Antonio held his blade to her throat. Raina gasped for breath, unable to comprehend what had happened. She had lost.

"You realize if this had been a real fight, you'd be dead." Raina stared up at Antonio, a pit forming in her stomach. "Do you want to know the difference between you and the rest of these young men?"

Raina didn't respond. She couldn't even look Antonio in the eye. "They have discipline. Respect. Responsibility. Pride in themselves. Until you learn that, you will not be permitted to train. Instead, you will focus on your work."

With that, Antonio stormed off towards the living quarters, Raina's sword in his hand.

Ik this is sort of a long chapter by Wattpad standards but I tried to include a break in there. This marks the introduction of our main character!

If you enjoyed please leave a comment or vote! Thanks for reading and pm me if you have any questions :)