The Queen of Hope (Tower of Glass series) (The Throne Of Glass Book 1) Read online

  The

  Queen

  of Hope

  By Anna Lacroire

  Book 1

  The Tower of Glass series

  First published in Great Britain in 2018

  Text copyright @ Anna Lacroire

  All rights reserved @ Anna Lacroire

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

  https://www.facebook.com/Annalacroire/

  All rights reserved @ Anna Lacroire

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of the author.

  A deadly mission.

  A journey of two worlds.

  Trapped in between. Will she succeed …

  Chapter 1

  It had been a long journey from Submertia to here. To this place. Amenea now wondered as she lay restless in her new, carved, rosewood bed, clad with soft skins and feather pillows, if she would ever return. She could not sleep, and she felt slightly dazed and confused, trying to understand what had happened. Amenea knew it was night as the deep, darkened, sky was glittering with golden jewelled stars – she could just make out Orion’s belt amongst them as the window lay half open to let in the cool, night air.

  They travelled at such a speed that day, that the small but comfortable coach moved, vigorously following the fast, rhythm that resulted from the pounding of the mud, clod hooves of the huge, tusk bearing Exodalus beasts.

  Amenea could not sleep or relax in the dark, black coach and she felt that her mother and her other two sisters were also as unrelaxed as she was. It was not due to the comfort, as they all sat on the deep, stage coach seats that were covered with such, thick, plush velvet that brass studs had to attach it to the wood beneath the voluminous wadding. It was something else …

  Hardly any words were passed between any of them during the journey, they just looked into one another’s eyes as they relentlessly examined each other’s souls. Although they hoped, they knew they would not see their father where they were going? No of course not, he was gone. Gone forever - but still they hoped.

  Laying still robed, in her soft, velvet dress, covered with her thickest doublet for protection bearing her families crest, and her dagger belt still attached, Amenea leant over to the side of her bed where sat a small, oak cabinet. Upon it was a large, earthen cup, bearing a pretty knot work rimmed edge. Engraved upon the cup was an image of an entity unknown to her. It had two serpents instead of legs and it held a sun in one hand. Slightly above the image was a small flat circle with lines coming from it like the sun rays. This didn’t make any sense to Amenea either as the image was holding the sun. How silly she thought, who could hold the sun?

  Inside the cup was a sweet-smelling infusion of violets and lavender honey. Amenea sipped upon this gently until she had drunk the entire cup, it was hot and sweet - she was thirsty. They didn’t stop to eat or drink anything on the coach. They were in too much of a hurry. They had to make it across the edge of the Forbidden forest before nightfall. Amenea placed the cup back on the small, oak, cabinet and laid back.

  As she did she closed her eyes – her lids still felt heavy. Amenea could smell the wood that was burning slowly in the fireplace, beneath that she could smell the pine needle rug that her unlaced, boots sat upon by the side of her bed. She closed her eyes. Every part of body ached with exhaustion. Amenea snuggled her aching back into the skins of her bed and gently, half pointed her toes as she plunged them in between the layers of soft animal skins on her bed, to make herself more comfortable, curling them up as she found the ideal spot.

  There were lots of new sounds and smells in this new place that was unfamiliar to Amenea, like little noises that were not too loud but were difficult for her to identify. She half opened one eye to reassure herself where she was again as she felt sleepy but still not sure of her new surroundings.

  Amenea just made out the outline of her long, thick cloak hanging on the cloak stand that had been sculpted from the bark of an old oak. She knew it was her cloak as her favourite cloak clasp bearing the carnelian and pearl amulet offering her protection, shone in the dusky, orange moon light that peeked in through the tall, coloured windows. Her eyes glazed quickly along the stony wall. She couldn’t make out much more as the room was only gently lit with the, thick, ivory candle by her pillow and the fire in the fireplace which was just about alight now. Amenea closed her eyes again but still could not sleep. There were so many answered questions and things that she just didn’t understand as to why they had to come here – why?

  As Amenea tried to sleep she saw again the tower of glass in her head. She remembered how she felt, the day she had to climb up the wide, cold, spiralling staircase, alone. She remembered it all. But still Amenea couldn’t understand why her mother remained tight lipped about her father, still after all this….

  Amenea missed her father and wished that her mother would tell her why he died, why, he was passed over. Even in the coach, travelling here Amenea tried again, pleaded with her mother to tell her. She refused. Her mother just turned her head and looked out the small, coach window as they were drawn quickly along by the tethering beasts.

  Amenea was sure that she saw tears, falling gently down her mothers, pale, soft face as she looked out of the coach window. But she quickly wiped them away with her dark, emerald green leather gloves that covered her elegant, soft wrists. Her mother stayed silent through the entire journey apart form when they stopped at the tor, before they reached the outskirts of the forbidden forest.

  When they arrived at the tor, it was nearly nightfall and the light was fading by the minute. The three sisters had heard their mother make reference to the tor before but until now they had never visited it. As the black coach neared the tor, the Exodalus beasts slowed from their former, heavy hooved, high speed canter to a quieter, gentle walk. Amenea could hardly hear their clawed, hooves now, they walked along quietly. The only sound that contrasted against the sound of their hooves was the gentle spin of the crystal wheels. As Amenea looked out the coach window that was bobbling about a lot less now, she was struck by the pure beauty of the tor.

  It stood tall and high on a very large hill and reached the clouds in the deep pink and midnight blue, clear sky. Just above the tor, the sky was illuminated and shone brightly through the centre of the tor, to show the pathway up to the hill which it stood upon. All around, the landscape was now pitch black – the world was asleep.

  The entrance to the pathway to the hill was by a small side path, overhung with sweet, highly fragranced honeysuckle. Alongside the honeysuckle, bushes of betony and juniper were growing. As Amenea and her sisters descended from the coach, she turned to offer her mother her hand as she stepped down from the coach. As she did, the entire coach lowered as the Exodalus beasts, bowed their heads and laid flat and still upon the ground waiting for her mother to descend.

  Their mother led the way. Through the undergrowth they passed, the tall, fragrant bushes which seemed to move from in front of them to their sides, allowing them to pass without obstacle. Amenea couldn’t be sure as her mother was moving forward at such a pace but she looked behind her to make sure her sisters were keeping up - they were, they were at her heels but Amenea couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The bushes were moving behind them. The bushes were closing the path that they had just trodden upon. A white, cloudy mist was falling thick and fast all around them, making vision beyond where they stood – near on impossible. Amenea wide eyed – shuddered.

  Now, it was very
dark and Amenea and her sisters could not see their way very clearly at all. They could not see a path. And rushed to be by the side of their mother. Their mother halted for a moment and pushed off her cloaks deep emerald green hood which revealed her golden hair. How beautiful she looked thought Amenea. Her mother stood silently and Amenea was beginning to get a little scared and a little cold. Why where they coming here, now? Just as she was looking at her mother, ready to ask her exactly this, Amenea saw a little smile cross the kind lips of her mother which started to part as she said to Amenea and her sisters.

  “Come – it is time.”

  As Amenea turned away from her mother’s face to look back at the dark hillside, wondering how they could go anywhere as they couldn’t see anything, she was met with surprise. The side of the hill was now showing the pathway, up to the tor. Thick lumbers of Elm lay in the hillside, making carefully placed steps for them to climb up. Amenea and her family were able to see the steps now as small fairies hovered above and to the sides of the steps, holding beautiful, twinkling lanterns and throwing shimmering dust on to the steps which made each one light up to show them the way. They started to mount the stairs.

  When they reached the top of the tor, Amenea and her sisters needed a moment to get their breath back from the climb. Their mother was as always - calm and reposed. Amenea turned to see how far they had walked and let out a wispy, gentle “Wow!” With that her sisters turned to see what Amenea was looking at and followed her gaze. Her sisters remained speechless and just gazed with their small, open mouths.

  Amenea was facing outwards towards the path they had just climbed. They were now standing on the top of the hill at the entrance to the tor. All around the base of the hill which they had just climbed was thick, white mist and the faeries could be seen no more. Amenea could just make out the borders of the hedgerow, now very dark and thick when the white, cloudy, mist moved and floated about.

  In the sky which Amenea felt so close to right now, there was a silver image, emanating in the beautiful shades of the mysterious, deep blue and indigo, night sky. The large image was glowing, it was a lady’s face; she had long golden, hair just like Amenea’s mother but with two plaits down each side of her soft, kind face. The lady wore pendants adorned with shimmering jewels that twinkled in the night sky, like multi coloured, stars and she had the same soft white cheeks as Amenea and her sisters. In the centre of her golden, knot work hair piece, at the front of her head, a large shining moon was featured. It glimmered bright in the sky. She was real this lady, she was speaking, her lips were moving, and my mother had her face turned upwards towards her. My mother was listening to her words. To me and my sisters, their words we silent, we could hear no sound.

  After a moment, the entire sky lit up and then darkened to a deep rose-pink colour, then black. The image of the lady, disappeared. My sisters and I were all holding hands now, wondering what an earth was going on.

  My mother drew her long, velvet cloak in around her and then as she took our hands, we formed a small circle at the entrance of the tor. My mother threw something, high into the air from her charm bag as she said:

  By the turn of one

  The curse is done

  By the turn of two

  Its power is through

  By the turn of three

  It ceases to be …

  Chapter 2

  The next morning Amenea was woken by the sound of her two sisters chuckling at her bed side. It was a familiar sound that Amenea was pleased to hear in this new environment.

  Her sisters were chuckling because Amenea’s beautifully, long, hair had lost its ruby clad hair piece in the night. Amenea had forgotten to take it out in her tiredness. As a result, her hair had become entirely loose from its tidy braids and covered her entire face right down to her hips, which is where her hair length finished. Her sisters, Cordelia and Oriana found this very amusing. Amenea was surprised that she had not noticed it sticking in to her head, which it must have done at some point in the night.

  “Come on!” said Cordelia in a very excited tone. “It is time to explore our new world.”

  “Yes come – on sleepy one, you must have slept at least three hours later than everyone else. Breakfast has been tidied away, but I saved you this!” said Oriana as she revealed from her cotton gown, some bread and a handful of berries.

  “These berries are from our old world.” Oriana said.

  “I know they are your favourites – just like me and I know I just couldn’t live without them, at least not for a while.” she quickly followed up with.

  The reality had risen its head again. I was so pleased to see my sisters there besides me and so pleased to hear their familiar voices but now I remember. I am not in my world, at least not the one I am familiar with. I need to get up.

  “Thank you, Oriana, that was very kind of you. Yes, please I am hungry, is there anything to drink too?”

  “Look there.” Oriana said, in pointing.

  “Mother has filled your cup with some water from the spring. The Spring is in the garden just outside your window. Look how beautiful the water is here.” said Cordelia.

  “Even in your earthenware cup, it is glistening a beautiful turquoise blue – look, how wonderful it is. I have never seen water so blue and it taste’s so fresh.”

  As soon as Cordelia finished her sentence, I found myself staring deep into my cup. It was true, the water was a beautiful, turquoise colour. And it appeared to glisten as if sun was shining on it, even in the darkest part of the cup. Thirsty, I observed no more and drank this beautifully, inviting spring water. It was cool and fresh and just what I needed after the bread Oriana brought which was made from dark oats and nuts which although it filled me up, made me very thirsty.

  As I drank the last of the spring water and placed the cup back down on the cabinet, I reflected again on what the image was. The cup - that strange image with the sun in his hand. What does this all mean? Does it mean anything at all?

  Losing not a moment more, I rose and my youngest sister, Oriana jumped quickly into my warm bit of the bed and snuggled herself in between the soft, warm skins as I had done the night before. Even though she was twenty, she was still the baby. My older sister, Cordelia started attending to my hair as soon as I finished eating the bread and berries. Cordelia re-braided my hair for me, beautifully and reattached my hair pin to hold it all in place. I was lucky to have such wonderful sisters.

  As it was now daytime, I could see around my room now. We were clearly in a stone type building; the stone was a pasty white colour. The walls were very thick as the window has a huge recess with a wonderful seat in it. The ceiling was quite low but it felt very cosy.

  The rest of the room was relatively simple and elegant. Wood was the main material of the beautifully, hand carved pieces of furniture. Furs, leathers, suede and animal skins were most of the soft furnishings. The washing area had lighter fabrics of chiffon and hand spun silk. In the washing area of my room was a beautiful, golden, ornate mirror. It was huge, covering most of the wall. Jewels of every colour were embedded all the way round a pattern similar to that of the cup on my bedside cabinet. The jewels were so vibrant and of a sizeable grandeur that I could pick one out quite clearly here in my room, in the daylight.

  For a moment, I was enthralled in the beauty of the mirror as my eyes glazed between each rich, vibrant, colour of every jewel that seemed to bathe wilfully in the pattern that it was embedded within … then another then another until the pattern reached the top of the mirror, my eyes followed the stones round.

  At the top of the mirror, there was a little figure, made out of gold. The figure protruded the mirror. I couldn’t see what it was from my bedside, so I walked closer to it. As I got closer, I realised that this figure was familiar. It was the same one that was on the earthen cup, beside my bed. How bizarre.

  At that moment my thoughts were broken by Cordelia and Oriana as they playfully, pulled me out of the room by my hand. I hadn’t realise
d that whilst I had been admiring the mirror, my two sisters had put my boots on my feet and laced them up.

  I must have been in a world of my own as I had not realised that my sisters were putting my boots on me; I put one arm out to quickly grab my cloak from the tree bark, cloak stand as I passed it and closed my bedroom door behind us. We were going off to explore.

  But what would we discover …

  Chapter 3

  Once outside my bedroom door we found ourselves in a corridor. It was long and wide with large windows on one side, looking out on to a beautiful, ornate, large, grassed courtyard which boasted a beautiful water fountain.

  As we walked along the corridor, Cordelia and Oriana pointed out their bedrooms to me. They were right next to mine as was mothers. She was sleeping, Cordelia said, so we walked past, no disturbing her. The corridor winded and winded, twisted and twisted. Just as I thought we had come to the end of one corridor, we entered into another corridor.

  The walls were laden with paintings, drawings and images. Huge amethyst crystal chandeliers hung from the corridor ceiling. One after another, after another. Finally, we came to a large double door with thick amber glass. So thick we could not see through it. I turned the handle and we stepped outside.

  The first thing I noticed was the fresh air, it was light and summery. The sun was shining, and I could hear the gentle flow of water. As we neared the fountain the immense depth of colour of the water was more than impressionable. It was just as Oriana had said, bright turquoise. Here outside in the sun it was even brighter, even richer in colour.

  I was just about to put my hand into the fountain when a figure leant forward revealing himself from the large hosts of statues that were in the centre of the fountain.