Chapter 1
The Rain of Change

Year 196 of the Third Age

As the full moon shines the night sky, and the clear bright stars watch over the run-down Dock Town in the North of Neroman, restfully sitting on its shores. The peace and serenity of the night is shattered by the high-pitched screams of someone in pain. The screeching pierces the whole town, causing horses to neigh in fear and people to lift their heads from their tasks or their pillows. Soon after, the tower bell begins to ring. The man on watch in the tower swings a large wooden rod into the town bell. The resounding tolling melds with the woman’s tortured screams, unsettling the inhabitants of the town even more than the screams alone.

Men in light armour run out of the building in response to the bell. One man climbs atop the wooden walls to look out beyond the front gate. He sees half a dozen riders storming toward the town.

“Open the gate!” The man orders, and two other men run to the front gate. They haul on the gate lever and it slowly opens. The riders’ storm through the gate and rein in their horses in the courtyard. The men at the gate close the gate as soon as all the riders are inside.

The rider at the front, the Crown emblem emblazoned on his silver chest plate, dismounts.

“Where is she?” The man demands of one the guards. Before the guard can respond, the screams of the woman resume. The Crown man runs after the screams. The other riders slowly dismount and guide their horses to the stables.

Eventually, the man reaches the house from which the screams come and barges through the door. The man is met by two midwives, and one of them approaches him, hands held out as if to stop him.

“How is she?” The man asks nervously.

“She is almost there, but she is in pain!” the midwife replies. The man rushes to the sleeping chamber to find the screaming woman writhing on the bed. The man goes to her and takes her hand.

“Lucy?” The man whispers. Her eyes are closed, but they eventually open and look toward the man.

“Karl … is that you? Is that really you?” Lucy weakly asks. Karl smiles and nods.

“How are you feeling?” Karl asks, but Lucy rolls her eyes.

“I will punch you in the stomach, if that answers the question.” Lucy sternly replies.

Karl laughs. “In a few hours’ time, we will have a baby boy or girl,” he says, smiling joyfull