KERES HAD LOST ALL sense of time long ago. She had tried every spell she knew, hurling them against the walls of her cell until her voice cracked and broke. She had tried calling for help, pulling against the iron shackles that cut into her ankles. Her cries had echoed around her until they faded. She had tried ripping against her cuffs until her fingernails bled. She had tried everything, but no one listened.

No one cared anymore.

They brought her meals every day, shoving a dirty plate under a flap in the door. It was iron, like everything else down here.

She had scratched marks into the wall for every day that passed. There was a tiny window at the very top of the wall of her cell, which was as tall and thin as a drainpipe. The faint light that entered made sure that she was able to tell when it was day, and when it was night. After two thousand tallies, she had lost count.

She was blind, deaf and mute down here. They had taken away her staff; she didn't know where they kept it. It was useless without her, but they didn't know that.

She had promised herself one thing. When she got out, she would kill them all. Every person who had ensured her suffering. With such a long time to be alone with her thoughts, she had come up with endless plans, infinite scenarios. None of them had worked.

A flap at the bottom of the door creaked open and a plate was slid underneath. She picked it up with shaking fingers and began to eat.

It tasted of nothing, as always, but any food was better than none.

She bit into something hard.

Confused, Keres spat a thin wire hairpin into her palm. A small piece of paper was wrapped around it, which simply read 'sorry'.

Someone had been kind to her. Someone had finally heard her.

Someone was going to regret ever taking pity on the witch.

Keres inserted the hairpin into the rusted lock of her shackles. It took some work, but eventually there was a click, and the cuffs fell open.

She felt everything come back to her.

Magic coursed through her veins, lifting the years off her back, healing the cuts and the bruises, making her feel alive for the first time in years.

Keres laughed, a cold high laugh that echoed around the cell.

She would have her revenge. She knew exactly what spell to cast.

She stretched out her hand, through the door, grabbing the guard by the back of the neck and wrenching him against the wooden frame. She could have blown the door off its hinges with a thought. Walking through the flames and fire, hair falling down her back and eyes blazing with magic, she would have looked like a goddess, but now was not the time for vanity. She had never been pretentious.

The guard tried to scream, but all that could be heard was a strangled gurgle as she snapped his neck. He could have been her helper. Keres shrugged. A fool.

She stepped over his body and into the hallway. They had kept her deep underground, so there would be a fair bit of sneaking around before she saw daylight.

Anyone who got in her way was dead already.

********

Rosina Kadiari had been working at the palace for some time. She had extensive qualifications, and was perfect for the role of royal advisor. True, she had arrived somewhat out of the blue just as King Ragnar's deteriorating health took a turn for the worse, and never talked about her past, but no questions asked, none answered. They needed her.

She had been essential over the years, providing excellent advice. To be honest, she was the one really running the kingdom.

The fate of the royal family had been tragic, and she had really pulled Tenebris out of the hole it had dug itself into. Trade had picked back up, they were at peace with the other kingdoms and the past had been forgotten.

It had been terrible - the King's mother, gored on a hunting trip, the King's father the next year, tripping on the hem of his cloak, and falling down the longest staircase in the palace, and then the King himself, struck down by a mysterious illness, from which he had never really recovered.

Rosina had arrived, taken everything swiftly in hand, and things began to run as normal.

Keres was quite pleased with herself.  As Rosina, she could do everything she ever wanted to do. Sure she was hidden by a powerful cloaking spell most of the time, but this was what she wanted, and she had no regrets.

She was finally happy here. It had admittedly taken a couple of assassinations, and constant training to ensure that she was the most powerful witch alive, but her mother and father had deserved it. Now Ragnar was sitting in the palm of her hand, and she was running a kingdom.

She leant over Ragnar's bed. He was lying still, his breaths laboured, his eyes closed.

"Now now, brother." sneered Keres, pulling off one of her long black gloves. She snapped her fingers, and watched as the golden flames curled their way around her wrist. "Time for your medicine. I think one more dose should do you."

He was practically dead. There were just the formalities of pronouncing it, getting him safely buried and then she would take her rightful place. She wouldn't have to hide anymore.

There was a creaking sound behind her, then a muffled thump. Keres whipped her head around, and found herself face to face with a maid who had just dropped the pile of fresh laundry she was holding.

"I'm sorry." she stammered, turning around and trying to hurry away.

"Not so fast." said Keres, pulling her back, watching her heels skid against the floor. "That would be rude."

"Please." begged the girl, up against the wall, held back by a ring of gold magic. "I didn't see anything I swear."

"It would be a pity if you had. Do you swear not to say anything of what you saw?"

"I swear!"

"Good!" said Keres brightly, releasing her. "Run along then..."

The maid gaped, looked from her to Ragnar, then scurried away, her long red hair swishing behind her.

Poor thing. Thought Keres. She'll be dead in a day.

Some things really could not be helped.

She turned back to Ragnar. "Goodbye, dear brother." she said, sprinkling gold sparks over his still form. They touched his body and disappeared, sinking into the sheets.

He took one last deep, shuddering breath, and sank back into the cushions, his head lolling to one side.

Keres smiled.

There were people coming. Someone would notice sooner or later, and everything would go from there.

********

The inside of the coach was small, but luxurious. The seats were thick and cushioned, and the windows were dark; no one could see inside. It was being drawn by six black horses with her trademark golden plumes.

Keres leant her head against the door and sighed. She had had to get quite far away from Tenebris in order to make her entrance, and she missed being able to teleport from place to place. She couldn't arrive outside the city in a puff of smoke. People would talk.

News of the King's death had only just reached the public. No one was really shocked. They had all expected something like this for some time really.

The coach slowed as it passed through the gates of Tenebris. Now it was making its way through the cobbled streets, up to the steps of the palace. Her palace.

It came to a sudden stop. Keres took a deep breath, and stepped out.

The palace guards approached her cautiously.

"Excuse me Miss," one said, taking another step forward. "Are we expecting you?"

"Oh of course." said Keres breezily. "I'm your Queen aren't I?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Your Queen. The rightful heir to the throne. The long lost princess you've all been waiting for. Surely you hadn't forgotten?" she laughed and gestured to the second guard. "You can bring my luggage."

"I'm sorry Miss," sneered the second guard. "We don't take very kindly to people declaring themselves Queen without the proper paperwork."

Keres tutted, and continued up the steps.

"We're going to have to ask you to stop there Miss."

Keres sighed and turned around. "I really didn't want to do this. I was hoping I'd have a warmer welcome."

She flung both of them against the nearest wall. There was a crunch as their bodies hit the floor.

"Some people nowadays."

********

There had been surprisingly little fuss, thought Keres as she sat down on the throne, looking around at the throne room.

It needed a little decoration, to be sure. Gold tendrils stretched out from her fingers, and curled around the pillars, the drapes, the walls. The crests changed, turned into the same design that was etched on the side of her coach, black background, golden horse and swirls.

There had been opposition at first. No one was very keen to have her turn up now. Apparently they had all been quite happy with the previous royal advisor, but she had disappeared suddenly.

It hadn't taken long to persuade them. A little bit of sweet talking and a whole lot of threats. No one wanted to mess with her. They liked their heads attached to their bodies.

The royal steward coughed lightly as he slid through the double doors.

"Your highness." he stammered, "We have a bit of a problem."

"What is it? I do hope it's not terribly bad news." said Keres, idly spinning a small dagger between two fingers. They had caught her eye in the armoury.

The steward gulped.

"It's just," he began, cowering against the back wall. "The statue in the centre of the city."

The dagger stopped.

"It's gone."

Keres turned her head slowly. "It's what?"

"Gone! Your highness." squeaked the steward, cringing away from her glare. "It's just disappeared. Who would want to steal a statue? People are saying it's come to life and walked off! We both know that's just a legen--"

Keres waved her hand at him. He paused, mouth open, stiff as a board.

"It's not just a legend. I should know." she said. "I was there."

The steward gaped. Catching her eye, he turned around and scuttled through the doors, leaving them to bang shut behind him.

This could not be happening.

********

"An alliance?" mused Keres, staring intently at the man in front of her. "I could work with that. As you know, I have had to make some hasty decisions in the last few days, and all I want to do is stay in power. This city needs me."

"I completely understand." said the man, whose face was obscured by thick shadows. "I myself have had to make some hard choices."

Keres nodded. 

"For the good of the country." He added, holding out his hand.

"The good of the country." repeated Keres, shaking it firmly.

She had really had to dig through the history books, and it was turning out perfectly. An ally, who had her interests at heart. Her plans had been thought through a million times. With his strength, and her magic, they would be unstoppable. It had only taken her a couple of days, and she had the runaway and his companion in her sights. 

"Tomorrow, Tenebris will be at war." she said. "Are you ready to fight?"

"I'm always ready." said the man, chuckling to himself. "This will be the beginning of a new age."