Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Please, don’t do this.” The woman plead, her breath shuddering in gasps as she stood before the figure. Blackness enveloped the surrounding air, and with it, a crushing weight that made it difficult to stand. Behind the woman, a young girl’s small body crumbled to the ground. 

Whimpering, she strained to force her uncoordinated feet to stand or crawl. She cried out weakly to the woman, and the dark figure turned its fiery gaze to the little girl. Wind howled in her ears, whipping her dark hair in front of her eyes. 

“No!” The woman cried, looking back at the girl and motioning for her to stay back. 

“Let her come.” The man in the darkness coaxed. “She’s the one I want.”

“You can’t have her!” The woman shrieked, but the man took a step closer, and the howling wind screamed as a wicked, jagged knife stabbed through the invisible bubble that surrounded the woman and child, shattering it in an instant. Long, shadowy chains snatched up the woman by the limbs and held her to the floor.

“I’m disappointed in you, love.” His voice was cold, but powerful. The woman struggled against the shadowy arms, her breath sputtering. “I expected better.” He taunted, leaning over her and pressing his fingertips to her chest. Screams resounded in the wind, as if a million tortured souls wailed in unison. The woman’s chest rose unnaturally until something filled the dark man’s palm.

“Damn you!” She choked, and a spurt of blood dripped from her lips as the man ripped the object from her chest. Her eyes widened and her body fell limp as the man grinned, standing over her. Red dripped from his hand and onto the lifeless body, and he squeezed the thing in his hand. More red gushed from between his fingers until the thing was flattened, lifeless, and he dropped it beside the body, turning his gaze to the small child that remained.

Someone was still screaming.

The room rushed into view as Adeline gasped in panic, jerking up in her bed. Beads of sweat pearled on her forehead and she wiped them away with a trembling hand. Hurried footsteps approached from outside her room, and a shadow appeared at her bedside her as her eyes adjusted to the morning light.

“Adeline?” Ronan’s voice was soothing, and her heart began to calm as he sat beside her.

“I’m alright.” She whispered, still gasping for breath.

“Another nightmare?” He asked, tenderly running his hand over her hair and down her back. 

“The same one. Always the same one.” Adeline leaned in to her foster father’s chest, his arms wrapping around her, holding her close. 

“It’s alright, Child, I’m here. It was only a dream.” He whispered softly. The echoing beat of Adeline’s heart in her ears began to subside as she slowed her breathing, until it had diminished entirely and she felt relatively normal.

“Thank you, Ronan.” Her head dipped slightly in gratitude.

“Of course, Child,” Ronan answered, lifting her chin with his finger, “Tell me about this dream. Did you see anything you haven’t seen before?” 

“There was more in the beginning. The woman was trying to protect someone from the shadowed man.” 

Ronan’s brow furrowed in concern. 

“Did you see his face?” 

“No, but he carried a darkness with him. It was terrifying.” Her breath began to hasten, and she put a hand to her chest, forcing herself to remain calm. “But, it’s only a dream. It doesn’t mean anything, does it?” 

Ronan’s furrowed brow remained. 

“I shouldn’t think so. Nighttime changes many things, how we perceive our surroundings and our thoughts. Rest easy, Child. A day may come when you’ll have many other things to concern yourself with than dreams.”

Adeline paused, thinking on his last statement as he patted her knee and left her on her bed. He was right, it was only a dream. Yet something about the dream was so real, it left an unsettling hole in her gut. Shaking herself back into reality, she pulled her feet out from under her duvet, stepping softly onto the cold, wood floor. The air was particularly nippy, and she quickly dressed herself, combing her long, dark hair before leaving the loft of their small home and heading down the stairs where Ronan sat by the fire. His back faced her as he stared intently into the flames. Soot dusted his hands; he had already begun his work for the day, several sketches laying on the table beside him. 

Adeline moved quietly, gathering several fruits into a bowl, but as she reached for a knife, it slipped from her hand, clattering onto a wooden plate before hitting the floor. Ronan jumped slightly.

“I didn’t hear you come down.” He commented, turning to her as he picked up the knife off the floor.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. You seemed very preoccupied.” She replied sheepishly, taking the knife from his outstretched hand and slicing into an apple.

“It’s only some of my work. I’m having trouble with a particular design, the metal won’t manipulate the way I desire.” He moved to the wash bucket, scrubbing as much soot from his skin as possible. The water was murky, and Adeline’s lips quirked in dislike when she glanced over at him.

“The wash bucket needs clean water, would you do that before going out to the garden?” He asked, grabbing a rag from a shelf nearby and drying his hands. Adeline nodded in acknowledgement, continuing to cut the apples, a light breeze dancing past her hair as Ronan opened the front door. Dumping the rest of the sliced apples into a bowl, she went back to the shelf, reaching into the basket that held yesterday’s barley bread. It remained wrapped in the linen she’d placed it in before retiring to bed, and she took two slices, setting them on plates which sat on either side of the table as Ronan returned with several eggs from the hedges outside where the Grouse nested, placing them in a basket near the bread. 

They ate together in nearly complete silence, save it for small comments exchanged between them on what work needed to be accomplished for the day. Ronan would spend the majority of his day at his forge, while Adeline would tend to the garden and their small shop in the market. 

With the apples and bread gone, Ronan excused himself and went out to his workshop. Adeline checked on the jerky which hung, smoking, above the fire, and the vegetable stew which simmered in the cauldron. Satisfied with its progress, she wrapped herself in her shawl and took the wash bucket out to the garden. After draining it equally among her growing plants, she headed towards the river which circled the east edge of the city. It was only a short walk from home to the spot where she liked to go. She had only gone several yards from the house when the ever growing hole in her heart demanded her attention and a great lump rose in her chest. 

Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks. It happened again.

Ronan stood outside the front door, his arms crossed over his chest. Fumbling up the stairs, she crashed into him, flinging her arms about his waist as she sobbed. His crossed arms barely brushed the top of her head, but he didn’t move. They remained crossed.

“You didn’t listen, did you?” He asked, indifference dripping from his tone and the hole in her chest swelled…

Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself again that this was her life, and she should be grateful for it. Ronan had no obligation to take her in as his own child, yet he had. He was the only parent she had ever known, and she tried to be contented, but something inside her was dissatisfied. An ever-present yearning remained, no matter how hard she shoved it downwards, out of sight. She could not expect him to be a loving, devoted father when she wasn’t of his flesh and blood. 

Hunching her small shoulders, they continued to shake as she sat on the edge of her bed, her face wet with fluids which continued to stream from her eyes. Ronan was right, people couldn’t be trusted. People were cruel…

The sun was barely beginning to peak over the mountains in the distance, and the morning air was still damp and cold. Adeline hugged herself to keep warm. She liked this time of day, before the city came to life and the stillness of the morning was forgotten in the to-dos of the day. The only sounds present were of the birds chirping, their natural melodies calming her distressed heart and provoking a small smile.

When at last she came to the banks of the river Verian, she paused, being taken from her thoughts. Her heart began to quicken. A dark silhouette emerged out of the woods, tall and broad, and Adeline suddenly began to feel very small. She was unsure of whether to stand her ground or run. Travelers usually came to the city by way of the West road, not the East. Her position was already vulnerable, as there was nowhere to hide, but then the figure spoke.

“Excuse me, Miss, what city is this?” His voice was deep and melodious, protruding out of the shadow that was his face; Adeline felt a flutter in her chest.

“Terra.” She responded hesitantly as he removed the hood of his regal cloak. When she laid eyes on his face, her breath caught in her throat. Dark, touseled hair dusted his shoulders, framing his perfectly symetrical face. A masculine, chiseled jaw bore the tint of short facial hair, and his eyes were a deep, golden brown, with long, dark eyelashes and thick brows. Her gaze wandered down his figure, eyeing his studded, leather travel gear, stretched perfectly over what she assumed was a taut, perfectly sculpted body. 

A stinging burn errupted in her eye, the bead of sweat whipping her back to reality, and a wide grin spread across the strangers face. There was a glint in his eyes that suddenly formed a knot in her gut, and she looked down uncomfortably, shuffling her feet. A sudden movement caught her attention and she looked up to see him effortlessly leaping from one stone protruding from the rivers flow to the next. His legs never faltered, and she caught herself staring again until he stood a mere few paces from where she stood. The smile remained on his face.

“Is there an Inn here?” He asked, watching her closely.

“Yes, the Dancing Mare. You’ll find it near the city Commons.” She replied, carefully stepping towards the river and further away from the stranger. 

“What are you doing out here alone?” He pressed, and the knot in her stomach tightened. 

“Fetching water for my father.” She answered quickly, dipping the wash bucket into the flowing stream.

“May I escort you back to your home? A young lady such as yourself should not be this far into the wilderness on her own.” He insisted, taking a step toward her.

“I can manage, thank you.” She eyed him warily, his approach making her jump under her skin.

“Really, I insist, it’s no trouble for me at all.” He continued his approach, and she stood sharply, taking a deliberate step away from him.

“Thank you, sir, but I have no need of your assistance. You look like you’ve journeyed a long way, and I can very well manage myself here.” Her voice was stern, playing a better part than the trembling in her bones. She was grateful her voice had not betrayed her. He stared at her long and hard for a moment, as if searching for something, she could have no idea what.

“Very well, Milady.” He bowed his head lightly, a slight smirk turning up the corner of his mouth before he turned towards the city. She watched him as his figure grew smaller, until he had disappeared behind one of the rolling hills. 

She finally took a breath.

Warily glancing over her shoulder, she hurried back home, droplets of water splashing over the edge of the wash bucket as she walked. 

“How many times must I remind you that people can’t be trusted?”

Ronan’s voice was like venom in her brain, fighting against the longing which emenated from her heart. 

She was older now.

Perhaps he would change his mind.

No.

But a companion couldn’t be such a terrible thing, could it?

Ronan didn’t have a companion.

He must be right.

But �" 

Droplets of water splashed her brow and she set the bucket down, pacing in the underbrush. Should she tell Ronan about the traveler? He was very handsome, but that glint in his eye…

Setting her jaw, she grasped the bucket handle, trudging on as droplets of water wet her skirt. Upon arriving home, a steady stream of black smoke smoldered from Ronan’s forge. Making a short stop into the house, she replaced the wash bucket and jogged quickly to his smithing shop, pounding on the door with her fist. The clank of his smithy hammer ceased, and in moments, he stood before her in the doorway.

“What is it child? You’re pale.” He asked, hastily removing his gloves.

“I met a strange traveler at the river.” The words rushed out of her lips, and Ronan’s brow creased.

“A traveler?” He asked, concerned.

“Yes, I’ve never seen him before.” 

Ronan pursed his lips, resting his hands on her shoulders.

“My child, you are still unsettled by your dream. You’re all right.” 

Adeline heaved a sigh, realizing he was right. She must be too concerned with the nightmare and the scarred visions it left in her mind.

“Now, get to your garden.” He encouraged her with a smile, which she returned before leaving his shop. 

The morning air was still crisp as Adeline opened the small gate to her garden. A panicked scurrying pricked her ears, coming from one of her many traps around her plants. Another rabbit. Surely enough, as she bent down, peering into the trap, she met the pest’s beady eyes before picking up the trap and setting it outside the gate. She would deal with it later.

The night had sprouted several noxious weeds, and Adeline spent the better part of the morning clearing the pesky shoots away from her plants. Much of her crop was heavy laden, and she brought out her harvest basket, filling it with tomatoes, cabbages, leeks, and apples from her trees. Taking her small blade from the basket, she cut several small sprigs of herbs: rosemary, thyme, sage, tarragon, and parsley.

Satisfied with her morning’s harvest, she brought her basket to the house, hanging up the herbs to dry and storing the fruits of the garden on the shelves. Heaving a sigh, she removed her apron, hanging it on its hook in the wall before stepping out the door.

She shrieked in alarm, visibly jumping backwards into the doorframe. There before her stood the traveler. He flinched slightly, startled by her outburst, and she clutched her chest, seeking to still her heart which now beat nearly out of her.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He chuckled slightly, running his hand through his dark brown hair. “I was told I would find you here.” Adeline said nothing to him, the knot in her gut returning.

“Ronan!” She called, but he was already coming into view.

“I heard you scream, what is it?” He panted, regaining his breath in an instant when he laid eyes on their visitor. His shoulders squared.

“I don’t believe we’ve met.” The stranger approached Ronan, extending an arm. “Kael of Eastland.” 

Ronan clasped arms with him, his jaw tensing. “Ronan.”

“I met your young lady as I came into the borders of the city this morning.” The traveler, Kael, continued, turning his gaze to Adeline, his deep golden eyes glistening as sunlight hit his face.

“Yes, she mentioned it.” Ronan replied curtly. Ronan and Kael stood the same stature, but Kael was much more broad than Ronan, his features square and hard. Again Adeline felt a flutter in her chest, but she tossed it aside. “What can we do for you?” 

“Your neighbor suggested I come to you to have my blade sharpened. You are the finest smithy in these parts, no?” Kael raised an eyebrow. Ronan’s jaw relaxed slightly.

“Yes, may I inspect the blade?” 

Kael drew a neat, sleek sword from his waist sheath, handing it to Ronan. Ronan balanced the blade on his finger, then looking down the blade from the hilt. There was great detail in the craftsmanship, and Ronan held the hilt toward Kael, returning it. He only inspected weapons for a moment, there was no one with a keener eye for metalwork. 

“It is a magnificent weapon. It will take some time to sharpen so as to not disturb the detail.” Ronan’s tone was kind, conversational, and Kael smiled.

“Excellent, name your price.” 

“For a weapon of this nature, the lowest price I can offer is fifty Daen.” Ronan crossed his arms, his expression conveying his expectation for his offer to be declined.

“We have a deal.” Kael still smiled, drawing a drawstring bag from his belt and counting out the coin. Adeline was taken aback. This was the highest price for merely sharpening a weapon she’d ever witnessed someone take. But she knew little about metalwork, as she wasn’t allowed in Ronan’s workshop.

The last time she ventured inside, it hadn’t ended well.

“And I would, with your permission, come again to call on your fair daughter.” Kael continued as he cast his eyes toward Adeline, and she saw Ronan’s expression harden.

“She is not yet of age, I must decline.” He responded immediately. “But I thank you for your compliment.” 

“Of course.” Kael bowed lightly, turning heel and starting toward the city. His stride was arrogant, his shoulders back and his head held like a soldier. Adeline crept down the stairs to stand beside Ronan.

“I don’t like him.” Ronan muttered when she was just within earshot.

“I don’t like him either.” She returned, glancing warily in Kael’s direction.

“He seems to like you.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“He may be charming, but so is a gryphon.” She lowered her head, her hands fidgeting nervously. Ronan chuckled slightly at her remark, clapping her shoulder briefly. 

“Well, now that I have met this stranger, I trust you can handle yourself in town?” His brow raised, and Adeline felt another flutter in her chest, immediately followed by her mentally squashing it. She knew nothing about Kael, but she knew Ronan would expect her to pay him no heed as she had done with every other traveller who passed through.

“Yes, I’ll be all right.” 

Ronan gave no response, only nodded his head before returning to his forge. 

Hearing the shop door click shut, Adeline hurried to her shop cart, dragging it near the gate to her garden. Still heavy-laden with fruits, her plants looked up as if in gratitude as she freed them of the extra weight. In only a few short trips, her shop cart was overflown with produce, and Adeline quickly shut the gate, stopping to pause for a moment. She was forgetting something. Yes, her coin pouch was still upstairs, and she raced into the house to fetch it. 

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He chuckled slightly, running his hand through his dark brown hair.

The image of Kael’s face returned to her mind as she counted out her coin, the corners of her mouth turning into a girlish grin. He had wanted to call on her again.

“People cannot be trusted.”

The rival voice of Ronan reminded her again of the cruelties she had faced at the hands of supposedly well-meaning souls, and she banished the image of Kael from her mind. He was too handsome to be real, and he certainly couldn’t be well-meaning. The sneer that rested so easily on his face was proof enough of that, surely. 

Finished counting her coin, Adeline tucked the purse into her belt, racing down the stairs and out to her shop cart. She scarcely stopped to take hold of the push handle and her rib cage smashed into the wood. Coughing mid laughter, she tightened her grip on the handle, pushing the wheels into motion and down the path into town.