Chapter 1

The predawn night sky was full of stars, not a single cloud blocking my view as I stare at the sky from my back door. I always enjoy this time of night, before the sun started to rise when the entire world seemed to hold its breath. Sighing I walk back to my small room in the back of the house, the old wood floors creaking with each step I take. The place was simple, a main room with a kitchen area and a place to have visitors with two small rooms in the back. I crouch down to the floor and run one of my hands across a few of the floorboards till I find the loose board. I pull it up with a smile. The hidden compartment has a few daggers, a one-handed longsword, a short sword, travel clothes, a bag of gold, and a belt to hold all the weapons. 

My eyes scan the contents ‘till I find the small mirror that had been tucked away at the bottom of the compartment. I grab it and look into its dirty surface. I look into my own deep grey eyes. I hated the length of my wild black hair. I’ve always wanted to cut it but never got the courage to actually do it. I hum as I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame it. I pull my hair into a neat braid that lands at the middle of my lower back, easier to manage that way. I put away the mirror and grab the clothes from the compartment: a pair of worn soft leather pants, a dark moss green shirt, and a moss green cloak. I dress quickly and grab my boots that lay by the door to my room. After I strap on a sword to each hip with the belt, i replace the board and slip out of the house.

            I need to get to the small clearing in the woods before the sun comes up. I start walking through the city that I have called my home since childhood. The cobblestone streets are always quiet before dawn. I hurriedly walk through the gate of the wall that surrounds the city. The guard on post briefly looks my way before going back to whatever he was doing before. They never really pay attention to people coming out of the city, and even less attention to me since I’m always in and out. I turned towards the forest and pull the hood to my cloak up. The forest was notorious for bandits and thieves, even though I know the trail I didn’t want to risk being seen. I entered the forest and moved swiftly through the underbrush and let my feet take the familiar trail to the small clearing. By the time I get there the sun is starting to crest over the horizon. 

            The clearing wasn’t that large and there was a small stream that ran on the far end of it. The stream was fed from the runoff from the mountains, so it was always cold no matter the time of year. Walking towards it I stop at a large tree that stands at the edge of the clearing, laying my cloak at the base. I always come here to practice what little swordsmanship I know. I unsheathe my sword and toss the sheath on my cloak. My body naturally takes the defense stance that my father taught me long ago. The sword’s weight is comfortable in my hands as I hold it out in front of me. I slowly start moving in a circle around a makeshift training dummy I had made out of straw, sticks and some rope. 

            As I relax into the movements, I attack the dummy with strong strikes to its core. Soon my body settles into the moves that I have been practicing for years. As I practice I lose track of time and stop only when my muscles ache and I’m out of breath. 

            I look up to the sky and notice that the sun is at its peak.

            “S**t!” I panic slightly as gather my equipment and run over to the hollow tree, hiding it quickly before I run out of the forest. As I approach the main gate the guards look down at me.

            “Running a little late today Seraphina.” the head guard says with a smirk as he waves me through. 

            I toss him a small half grin as I run past the guards post and through the city’s gate and through the town as quickly as possible, pulling my hair out of its braid and smoothing it as best I can without a brush or comb. As I near the town square I slow down to a walk. It’s busy as usual, with people milling around and shopping. In the center is a clock tower with benches surrounding it. I walk over to one and sit down. I watch the people bustle about as I wait.

            It seems as if I managed to make it here before my suitor showed up. Casting a glance around the people I don’t notice anyone looking for someone. A hand softly lands on my shoulder, startling me out of my observations. 

            “You must be Seraphina,” a male voice says. 

            I turn around and look up behind me. A tall lanky man with hair black as oil smiles at me. His smile sends shivers down my spine, I look down at his hand before he notices I made eye contact with him. His hand looks as if he hasn’t worked a day in his life with long thin fingers. 

            “You must be my suitor,” I say softly as I stand up. 

            “I’m Baron Locholt, but you can call me Sir or Baron.” 

            I nod slightly at his request; he takes my hand and raises it up to his lips. 

            So there is the first rule. Call him Sir or Baron, I dare not break that rule, unless I want to get punished.

            I wait for him to drop my hand before I take a step away. “How was your trip here,” I ask in attempts to make conversation. 

            “It was quick and uneventful,” he says sweetly. I see his smile slightly twitch in my peripherals. 

            He must not like it when a woman speaks first.  

            The Baron walks around the bench and heads towards the edge of the square. I quietly follow behind him, my head still lowered. He makes small talk as we browse through the different shops around the square. I respond to him without really hearing what he was saying. We slowly make our way around to the area that I live in. 

            “So in about a week I will come pick you and what belongings you have up.”

            His words pierce the haze that I was in, causing me to slip in my manners and look up at him. 

            “So soon?” I question him abruptly. 

            In a flash his hand snakes out and lashes at my face, a sharp sting blossoms across my face. I stagger back slightly before I catch and steady myself. 

I turn back to face him, keeping my head low. “I’m sorry Sir.” I softly mutter. My hands are clenching behind my back. I hate the laws that determine when I have to be married. I am tired of being made to act this way, I just want to live by my own rules. 

The Baron fixes his jacket sleeves and clears his throat. “Yes, it needs to be soon so that no one snatches my bride out from under me.” 

His words cause tendrils of disgust and fear to slither down my spine. I don’t want to end up married with this man, but I have no say in the matter. I nod slightly before turning around and walking towards my small house. 

The Baron follows behind me closely and looks over my house once we approach it. 

“You may be able to get a few pieces of gold out of this shack,” he says, barely hiding his disgust for the place.

The small house has a blacksmithing shop attached to the side making it worth something. I have so many memories of me and Aiden in that shop when I was little. I always helped him with his crafting, watched him in the shop while he talked to customers and trained with the many wooden toy swords that were always lying about. I didn’t want to sell this place.

“If it's okay with you Sir, I would like to keep this place. I still have customers that come here for maintenance.” I say softly.

The Baron sighs slightly. “Fine.”

A soft smile tugs at my lips before I control the impulse. I turn towards him and curtsy slightly. “Thank you Sir, now if you will excuse me. I must turn in for the day.” 

A grin crosses his face before he dismisses me. I turn and hurry into my house, placing the small makeshift lock on the door. I lean against the door and place the side of my face against the cool wood. My cheek was throbbing from where he hit it. It will probably bruise unless I cool the area. 

I stay in the same spot for a few minutes for the Baron to leave. After 5 minutes pass I remove the lock and head back out. The sun was starting to set, casting a pinkish glow to the sky. I walk towards the edge of town enjoying the slight breeze that flows through the street. I am probably going to have to sneak back into the city since I’ll be getting back right as it gets dark. 

I leave the city walls and walk into the woods. As I enter the clearing I head straight to the small stream at the opposite end. Reaching into the clear stream my skin prickles painfully from the cold as I grab a smooth stone. I place the stone against the stinging skin on my cheek. My skin is slightly fevered and starting to throb. 

I hope I caught it in time so that it doesn't bruise. Aiden taught me how to do this after a training session one day and he had accidentally struck my arm a little too hard. A smile tugs at my lips as I remember that day. 

A noise breaks me from the memory, and I whirl around to face the direction that it came from. Not seeing anyone I quickly run for the hollow tree, dropping the stone in the process. I crouch behind the tree, silently feeling around for my sword in the hollow. Dread fills my gut as my hand finds nothing but leaves. I flatten myself against the tree as the sound of twigs snapping gets louder. Deciding to take a chance I walk out of my hiding spot and slightly hide my face with my hair. 

I stop in my tracks as a man walks out of the tree line holding my gear. The man is tall, has ash grey hair, ice blue eyes and a rugged look about him. He looks at me and a half grin crosses his face.