The year is after gate 499.
Five hundred years ago, humanity discovered a portal to another world: a ringworld orbiting an alien star. Expeditions were sent, and a new society was formed. But then the portal went dead, cutting off all contact with Earth. The society survived, but it was never the same.
On the eve of Princess Alina’s wedding to a prince of a neighbouring kingdom, forces are at work to disrupt the ceremony. A man’s ambition threatens to destroy humanity’s freedom in this ringworld, and the key to salvation may lie in the massive wall on the edge of the world.
No expedition has ever returned from the massive wall at the edge of the ringworld, but it may be the only hope to stop the alien invaders and show a way to open the gate back to Mars and contact Earth, the cradle of humanity.
Books is availble here .
Chapter One
Alina walked up the stairs, glancing back to ensure that there was no one following her.
Quietly, she opened the door at the top and stepped out onto the balcony. The wind ruffled her long, brown hair as she made her way to the ledge.
She gazed at the view from the highest tower of the castle. It had the best view. Alina sat in her favourite spot and gazed at the view. This was the highest tower in the castle, and it had the best view. The sun glowed against the twin, black pyramids that stood prevalent in the city skyline.
Between the pyramids was a giant circle.
In the past, it served as a gateway between the world of their ancestors and this strange ring world that circled the huge yellow, alien sun.
From her blue down, she pulled out a small, tattered book.
Although she was nineteen, there was little known about the world of her ancestors, only theories. What she did know was that the gate stopped working five hundred years ago. And with time, the old world was slowly forgotten. Alina had scoured the castle’s three libraries in search of information, but all she recovered was the small, dusty book in her hands.
Humans were now spread across the continents and were split into kingdoms and tribes. Alina was the daughter of a king.
Past the pyramids was a building that was built by her ancestors when the gate was functioning. It was called the Alphase, and it was the first permanent structure built on the ringworld. Now, it was filled with scholars trying to recover the ancient technology and find clues as to what happened to the gate.
Next to it, was the library, and beyond that were houses built with wood or brick. In the distance, streams of smoke billowed into the air. That was the industrial district of their capital.
Her kingdom was called Naustin, and its capital city was known as Gate City.
A loud thump interrupted her thoughts.
The door opened and her handmaiden, Sasha, appeared. She was Alina’s age, and though they had the same green eyes, Sasha had short blonde hair and pale skin.
She wiggled her finger Alina’s way, as soon as she spotted her.
“I suspected I might find you here,” she said, as she looked at the ledge wearily.
Alina laughed and hopped off the ledge.
Sasha was afraid of heights, and she knew if she stayed here any longer, her handmaiden’s face would turn as green as the dress she wore.
“Your father is looking for you,” Sasha continued, “He’s quite keen to move to the station. I doubt the royal train would leave without the king, but you know how your father can be.”
Alina looked at the horizon longingly, one more time, as she stowed the book in her dress.
“I shall miss this place dearly, though I wonder what views the prince’s castle would have.”
Sasha shrugged.
“I’m not sure, my lady. Though I suspect you’ll be focusing more on the prince than the view.”
She blushed and walked through the door, leading the way down the stairs. At the bottom of the tower, she spotted her father, King Carlos, standing beside a white coach.
He was a tall man, with olive skin, a shade darker than Alina’s, and a white beard. He stood regal, even though he wore a simple white shirt and brown pants. At the moment, he was talking in hushed tones, with her mother, Queen Kirsten, who matched her father, wearing a simple black dress.
Her mother spotted her first and beckoned her over.
Alina hurried over and stood beside them.
The stable boys were busy checking on the animals pulling the carriage. They were this realm’s version of Earth’s horses. The majestic creature had a yellow coat with patches of brown speckled throughout, similar to Earth’s giraffe, but without a long neck. They shook their heads impatiently, nudging the stable boys with the short, curved horns.
These creatures were known as Samotherium, an ancient ancestor of the Giraffe, that today, were affectionately called, Samos.
“About time,” her mother said, with a smile, “I see that Sasha found you.”
Alina opened her mouth to respond but was pulled into a tight hug.
“I can’t believe I’m losing my only daughter,” she sobbed.
Her father stared at the scene, shaking his head. When Alina’s mom released her, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and passed it to his wife.
“Nonsense,” he quipped, as he opened the door and held it for her mother, “We’re gaining a son.”
“And an alliance,” her mother replied, coldly.
Her father shook his head as her mother disappeared into the carriage, and turned to Alina. Gently, he grabbed her hand.
“Come sit, my dear,” he continued, leading the way into the carriage, “The train is waiting and I’m told that the coast will be lovely, this time of the year.”
“Lovely for a wedding,” the queen called out, from within the carriage, blowing her nose in between her words.
Alina walked into the carriage and took the seat next to the window, behind her mother, and her father sat beside her.
One of the king’s guards closed the carriage door and issued orders. Moments later, Alina heard the metal gates groaning open, and the carriage vibrated and moved forward.
“Make way for the king,” the guards shouted.
Alina leaned her head against the carriage window and looked out. They passed buildings of red and brown with varying heights. Shops with colourful signs were speckled through the main street.
A group of young girls were huddled around the door of Winona’s Candle shop.
Alina cracked the window open a little and breathed in the scent that wafted in.
“Gingerbread.”
This was the closest she ever came to seeing the city. Sasha would venture into the city all the time and buy her things from each store. Her favourite places were the candle shop and the store next door, with the bright purple signs and the glass display full of sweets.
Little children squealed and pointed at the coach.
She waved, smiling as they hopped and skipped in excitement.
As they moved on, the shops became less fancy and more dull and barren.
The carriage stopped beside a large, stone-grey building with ornate windows and a large wood door. This was the railway station and central hub, for all the kingdoms across the continent. The guards announced their arrival and opened the carriage door. Her father stepped out first, and the guard held his hand out for Alina and her mother, as they followed.
Alina spent most of her childhood in the castle’s library, so stepping into the train station reminded her of the golden age. Steam billowed from the train, as the announcer shouted the departure time. The train’s rich red and delicate gold trimmings contrasted starkly against the dull grey walls, surrounding them.
The guards created a path and led them to the first carriage, which by far had the most magnificent windows and intricate door. It was behind the boiler room and the driver’s and stokers’ cabin. There were three more ornate cabins behind the first, followed by a long simple carriage at the back.
The guards loaded their luggage into the first carriage, while people scurried over to the long one at the back, rushing to board.
Her father entered the carriage first, and looked around in approval, before beckoning Alina and her mother to follow. The floor was covered in a plush red carpet and the walls were lined with brown wood. There were two leather seats on either side of the carriage, a large desk in the corner, and a boardroom table at the back. The boardroom table served as both a dining table and a meeting space for Alina’s father and his various guests. The desk was his private space. Behind it hung a map of the known world.
Alina took a seat on the nearest leather chair and closed her eyes, as reality set in and she tried to calm her frantic heart.
*****