Prologue - Princess Leah

“Brother,” the hunched over man turned to glare at the intruder, the blood red sunset matched his mood. He set his hoe against the fence and went to face the man standing patiently with a package bundled in cloth. He may have been taller had his back not been bent from years in the field, the life of a farmer. He had thought royalty was done with him.
“What do ya want?” he growled. The man’s proud air and newly woven cotton shirt, free of holes and patches put him out of place next to the bent over and man and his modest cottage.
“Your niece,” he placed the bundle in his brother’s arms. “We don’t want her anymore. My new wife has a son, and another child is on the way, but none in the palace has had the heart to kill her. Do what you want with her. She’s now in your care.”
“Why can’t ya just kill ‘er?”
“We wish we knew.”
The farmer grunted, obviously disgusted with his brother’s soft heart. He moved the cloth away from the child’s face, but looking at the child, he wished he hadn’t. The child was born half a year ago, the same day that her mom died giving birth. Half a year, the same amount of time it took for the king to find a new queen, who had a son, and who was now pregnant with another child. The child was young indeed, but she had large, mischievous hazel eyes, with a glint of gold, that seemed to peer into the soul of all she met. Her soft skin was already tanned due to her birth mother’s exotic background. Her hair was a light brown fluff, it may darken when she becomes older.
“Why me? I’m the rude lord, far in debt and hated by all.”
“We don’t want to see her again, but you’re the only one we can trust.”
“Fine. Gal’s got a name?”
“From this day forth.. Leah Crystal de Morgana.”