The Pathfinder Chronicles: The Unknown God

[Kai! Kai!]

Prologue

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From the Pathfinder Chronicles:- The Last Book of the Gods
The End of the Gods
* The Pathfinder Chronicles are a collection of books dedicated to the history of Karshana and the great deeds of the Six Gods and thier many heralds over the centuries. This extract is an abridged version of the Last Book of the Gods.

In the days of yore, when dragons and man live side by side in perfect harmony and the world was as it should have been. In the days when there was no distrust, no dragon hunters and no razzings of the villages and towns. The Gods of Man and Dragon were worshiped and praised by both races. Knowledge in the arcane arts, literacy and history was exchanged freely between the dragon lands and the lands of man further spreading the knowledge of the world. Never had Karshana known such a golden age, and age fostered and watched over by The Six Great Gods.

Three dragon gods named Verity the Silver-tongued, God of the Monolith Dragons, Omargis the Skyblazer, God of the Sky Dragons, and Skyzalen the Diamond-Scaled, Goddess of the Terra Dragons, co-ruled the world with the three Human gods, Valor the Just, God of Protection and War, Alphira the Gentle, Goddess of Knowledge and Healing and Macros the Bold, Human God of Sorcery and the Unknown.
But as with all things they do not last forever…

It was said that a great tragedy befell the land of Karshana, for the Gods of Man and Dragon who had once been the greatest of allies had turned upon one another and did battle in the sky. That battle so terrible and fierce did cause the heavens to burn with red fire and the seas to boil, all the while n endless howling filled the ears and minds f all as if the world herself cried out in pain at the warring of her children. For a day and a night the battle was fought neither side winning and looked to last forever, until all became as silence and the sky returned to its natural blue hue and the sea no longer boiled.

Chaos however, rained in the world as both sides speculated on what had happened. The priests of man who had long conversed on the mater came out of their seclusion and announced to the lands of man that the war was caused by the gods of Dragons who had betrayed the God’s of man and like their Gods the dragons would turn against them. Thus the hearts of man hardened and turned all their hate and fear upon the dragons, giving rise to the first Dragon Hunters. Men armed with Dragon’s Bane laced weapons, killing what Dragons they could in the lands of man driving them back to their own lands.

In the defense of Man however it should be said that the dragons too saw this as a great betrayal of man for their gods had turned against the dragon gods and began to destroy the human settlements in their own lands beginning what would later be known as the razzings.
What truly happened between the six Gods could never be understood except that the gods were no more and because of that Karshana was locked in a perpetual war between man and dragon, each keeping to their own lands and making small raids upon each side.[/color]

[Kai! Kai!]

Chapter One

‘You are expected to see him in Valoria within two months,’ Gade replied calmly when he saw her indifferent expression. ‘The matter concerning you is serious young lady.’
‘Why should it concern me?’ Pyra enquired irritably, the man’s manner was starting to grate on her nerves. Who was he to make demands of her?

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The small rustic fishing village of Gado, was perhaps one of the most peaceful places in all Karshana. Untroubled by the marches of the Dragon Hunters as they sought out the nesting grounds of the titanic Monolith Dragons, the fast flying Sky dragons and the ever vigilant and powerful Terra Dragons who spent the years razing villages and inspiring fear in the land. So peaceful was Gado that very few of the villagers had even heard of the tales told of the razzings of the dragons, or the heroic deeds of the Dragon Hunters. Instead, its days were spent leisurely, with the men sailing out across the horizon for the many silver fish that lived in the cool waters of the sea, while the women mending nets, smoking the fish for transport to the larger markets of the distant towns and watched their children play along the golden sanded beaches and the black rock pools of low tide.

It was here in this small, trouble free village that Pyra Serenea, a girl of ten years grew up with her mother. They were something of an oddity among the simple fisher folk. The story had gone that Pyra’s mother Melinda, had gone off for a year to an unknown place and returned with Pyra in her arms to the village, none questioned Melinda where she had been or, for that mater the fathering of the child she carried in her arms. Melinda had been welcomed back to the village though she would say nothing of what had happened to her in those many months, except that Pyra was hers. Over the years Pyra grew up among the children of the small fishing village, though as the years progressed the differences between her and the other children began to show. The most noticeable difference was her odd colored eyes. Her right was a vibrant forest green much like the needle leaves of the pines some half a days travel from the coast, while the other was a dark violet deeper then an amethyst. While her hair was much like her mothers, sitting at waist length in a mass of long wavy locks the color of the night sky and touched with the faintest blue hue when light hit it which, when coupled with her pale complexion gave her an eerie look. And it didn't matter how often she was out in the sun, her fair skin refused ot tan, though it burnt well.

Alone on the white sanded beach a little away from Gado, Pyra sat on the sand watching as the tide pounded softly against the shore. She often sought solitude away from the other children who teased her and called her ghost because of her pale skin or Two-tone because of her odd eyes. Here on the beach she was free to sit and watch the waters recede and rise through the day as each wave beat much like the steady pulse of her own heart. Sometimes if she was feeling tiered enough Pyra would even take a nap on the warm sands. Sometimes when lost in her own thoughts, Pyra even thought she heard voices whisper to her on the wind when she was alone on the beach, so softly they would speak that she could never make out the words. So it was again as she sat there her bare feet digging into the warm sand as she tilted her head to the side and listened to the soft breeze, trying as hard as she might to hear those tantalizing voices that seemed determined for her to hear them but, as always they were nothing more then whispers snatched away on even the softest breath of air.

Sighing deeply Pyra opened her eyes and turned her gaze once more to the steady pounding of the waves on the shore, content to have her moment of solitude before she would return to the village and the taunts of the others. She was just beginning to contemplate returning when a soft voice caught her attention, startling Pyra.
‘What were you listening for?’ the speaker enquired as Pyra turned sharply to see who was there. He stood looming over her dressed in clothing that didn’t strike her as common place for Gado, instead of the rough woven trousers and tunics worn by the fishermen. He wore something that liked like a high necked vest of a deep, dark blue over a cream long sleeved shirt and a pair of black fitted pants tucked into a pair of polished, calf high boots, unsuited for the salty shores of the west. Pyra felt very uneasy around the man, he was a stranger but there was something else about him. Perhaps it was his cold flat grey eyes and smooth brown locks tied back tightly in a ponytail, or maybe it was something in the way he stood. So erect and straight despite the fact he was looking down at her.
‘The wave’s sir,’ Pyra replied lying straight to his face. Normally Pyra was a very truthful and forthright girl but she didn’t like him and unless her mother said he was alright she wouldn’t speak a word of truth. ‘They sound so pretty…” she stood up and dusted the sand from her grey woolen dress. ‘I should be getting home sir, me mam is probably worried, I ain’t really supposed ta be out here on me own.’
‘Then you’d best run along?’ he paused and looked at her enquiringly.
‘Pyra sir, me mam called me Pyra,’ she dashed past him her bare feet flicking up the sand as she headed back home. There was little point in lying about her name Gado was too small a village for it to be any use anyway.

Watching the girl run the man smiled faintly and plucked absently at an imaginary thread on his sleeve before turning and walking back along the beach ni the opposite direction to where his horse stood waiting.. The roan charger picked up his ears as the man neared and snorted greeting as he moved to the side and mounted.
‘Well Gade?’ The man called Gade looked to his left where there had been no one before, in that once empty place a woman of her mid-twenties stood her hair gold like sunshine and her eyes a soft sea blue. She was dressed even more oddly then the man in a white gown tied at the waist by a thing sash. She stood besides the roan waiting patiently for an answer.
Gade smiled faintly and nodded ‘She’s the one, those eyes are unmistakable and I caught her listening to the wind too like he used to when he was her age. Though she didn’t know I knew that she was listening for. I don’t think she’s quite got the hang of it yet though.’
‘Good,’ the woman replied examining the nails of her right hand as if looking for a flaw in them, ‘I’d hate for her to start picking up bad habits before she’s really taught how to use the power she has.’


Smiling ruefully Gade, spurred his horse off towards the small village, it was time he paid Pyra’s mother a visit she would know him from the offset and the meeting between them would not be pleasant. Melinda had tried to keep Pyra out of the situation by taking her to this recluse little village, but circumstances had seen to it that the girl had to be brought in. There was no other way around it, Pyra was her father’s legacy to the world and if her gift was going to be anything like his they were going to need it. He glanced once back over his shoulder but as mysteriously as the woman had appeared she was gone again, more then a little relieved Gade increased his horses pace to a swift canter. The woman was unnerving to have around, she was there at times and others she was not, of course she was visible most of the time only to those she chose to show herself to that possessed the ability of the Sight which was one of three gifts given to the people by the Goddess Alphira. The Sight opened the eyes to truth, chasing away illusion, Divination gave a face to the past and future allowing those with its gift to know what was, what is and what is to come and the third gift was a healer’s gift. The gift to restore strength to the wounded, ease pain and numerous other things encompassing the craft of healing, Gade possessed the Sight and perhaps a touch of healing which allowed bruises and sprains to heal faster then normal. Turning his thoughts once more to the matter at hand Gade recalled the expression on the child face. It had been a total look of innocence but her eyes told a different story, it was going to be interesting trying to win the girls trust that much he was sure, not that it mattered there was time enough for that.

***

Pyra sat quietly in the small room that was both the kitchen and the living room. The left there was another room which was divided from the rest of the small building by a curtain which led to the room she and her mother shared. It was a small and cozy little place that might not have been much but it was home and home was where she felt safest right at present. Unsure why Pyra had found her short conversation with the strange man had unsettled her, it had awakened a feeling of dread that told her something big was going to happen, it was important and that when it did she would probably never be the same again. So she sat silently mulling over the dread that threatened to consume her better judgment listening as her mother hummed softly to herself while cooking a small pot of stew that consisted of herbs grown from the garden out back and some fish caught fresh that morning, Pyra had not told her mother about the stranger, not yet anyway she was waiting for the right moment. Unfortunately that moment never came as a soft knock sounded at the door.
‘Go see who it is dear,’ her mother instructed her. Obediently Pyra rose from her seat and walked over to the door, she opened it slowly and peered out almost yelping with surprise when she saw the man standing outside.
‘Hello again child,’ he greeted her. ‘I wonder if I might have a word with your mother.’ When Pyra didn’t move the man met her devious gaze and smiled faintly. ‘Tell her Gade has come to pay a call; she’ll know who I am.”
She stepped away from the door and turned to look at her mother who stood by the stove, judging by the set of her mothers shoulders Pyra knew that her mother had heard what was said. Slowly she began stirring the pot again. ‘Pyra dear, why don’t you go an play for a little while,’ it was an order not a suggestion and the soft tone of her voice, not even Pyra would argue. Quietly Melinda’s daughter grabbed her cloak and slipped outside as Gade went in closing the door behind him. Pyra sighed sadly and looked to the village, she could see the children playing from where she was standing but already she had turned her back and headed out towards the open grass fields where the sheep cattle and other working animals were kept.[/color]

[Kai! Kai!]

The sun was starting to set about now casting the heavens above into a beautiful cascade of gold, red and pink. It was the hours of twilight and the gray dawn that Pyra liked most and in truth she was glad to be away from this Gade while he mother spoke with him and yet… Pyra remembered the ridged set to her mother’s slender form, her soft voice and the fact she did not turn to speak to her. What was it about that man Gade that had upset her? Sorely puzzled Pyra continued her walk now ignoring the beauty of the setting sun, so preoccupied was she in her thoughts that for the second time today she was come upon unawares.
‘What has you troubled little one?’ the voice was soft and whispered like a breeze. Despite being approached and caught off guard Pyra did not feel the alarm she had felt when Gade had come over to her while she listened to the breeze. Looking to her left Pyra saw a tall young woman with long flaxen hair and radiant blue eyes. She was dressed in a simple white gown and her feet like Pyra’s were bare of any shoes as she walked along beside the child.
‘What makes ye think I’m troubled Miss?’ Pyra replied as she laced her fingers behind her head looking away from the woman towards the docile cows that grazed ahead of them. The black and brown beasts raised with heads curiously at the pair but then returned to their steady chewing.
‘You had quite the serious look on your face for one so young, children should not be troubled they should be care free,’ the blue eyed woman replied.
‘I’m ten years old Miss I ain’t no silly little girl, I’m near full gown. I only have a few more years till I’m considered an adult.’

The woman laughed, peals of silvery laughter that reminded Pyra of little bells ringing, ‘Yes I suppose you are, you’re certainty tall enough. Most girls your age are at least a head shorter.’
‘I know, me mam say’s I take after me Da with the height. She said he were a tall man and I got his eyes too.’ She made a face and then sighed deeply. They came to the wooden fence that kept the animals in the fields. Quickly Pyra climbed up the railings and sat upon the top one swinging her legs back and forth as she balanced precariously on it.
‘Come on child speak up, your greatly troubled by something, why not air it. Who knows I might even be able to help.’

Pyra looked at the woman thoughtfully, she seemed alright and didn’t evoke a feeling of dread that she got around the Gade man, and in fact Pyra realized she didn’t get any feeling off the woman at all. Puzzled, Pyra looked away from those penetrating eyes and continued to observe the cattle in the fading light. All her life Pyra had been able to get a sense of people; sometimes she could even tell what their mood was with a single look interpreting it with an accuracy that unsettled her every now and then. Perhaps it was because this woman seemed to strange that Pyra couldn’t judge her clearly. Then finally deciding to throw caution to the wind Pyra looked ta the woman again.
‘I met this man named Gade on the beach, I dunno why but he makes her feel all uneasy, like coz he came somethin’ important is gunna happen and it will change things. I get the feelin’ I’ll like some of the changes but most…’ she trailed off and looked away from the woman looking back at the cows. ‘I get the feelin’ I’ll be goin’ far away, far from ‘ere, and that I probably never will see dis place again. I might only be ten years old but that man Gade, he made me mam uneasy, she looked troubled despite the fact I couldn’t see her face.’
‘I see…’ the woman replied staying silent for a moment as she mulled over what she had heard, then finally after what seemed like an eternity the woman spoke her voice soft yet clear. ‘What if your feeling is right and you are going far away, would you go willingly? And if yes, why?’
‘I think I…’ Pyra paused and frowned thought me mam. I get worried when I think about leaving her alone, after all we’ve only ever had each other.’ Tears welled up in Pyra’s eyes as she sat there. ‘In truth Miss I’m afraid, I ain’t come across such uncertainty but I suppose I’ll ‘ave ta face it.’
‘You’re a brave girl, I don’t doubt you’ll make the right decision when the time comes and who knows maybe you will come back one day. You see things are never certain don’t surrender to despair where there is yet a glimmer of hope.’

Smiling Pyra looked at the woman and nodded, she felt better having told someone her worries. Though suddenly a thought occurred to her as she looked the woman over more carefully, she was undoubtedly a stranger and it was odd that she should appear not long after Gade had. ‘You’re traveling with that Gade man ain’t ya?’ The woman nodded and Pyra felt her heart sink a little though it wasn’t much, there was something about the woman that seemed carefree and friendly to the point where Pyra couldn’t help but like her.
‘What’s ya name Miss?’ she enquired, it should have been the first thing Pyra asked but she was too caught up in her brooding to worry.
‘My name?’ the woman repeated slowly then smiled at Pyra, the smile was like a rising sun and oddly Pyra felt a little more of her tension ease. ‘I was called Dara.’
‘Me mam named me Pyra,’
‘A beautiful name for a pretty girl, now come on lets head back to town its starting to get dark and I’m sure your mother is worried.’ The woman turned and started back towards town as Pyra scrambled down the fence and trotted after her matching two steps to ever one of Dara’s. By the time the pair reached the edge of town The sun had almost set completely. It was at the edge of the village near where Melinda’s house was that Dara stopped. ‘I leave you here child I have matters to attend to but it has been a pleasure to speak with you,’

Pyra only nodded as Dara turned and walked back the way they had come back towards the paddocks where the cattle grazed even still. Pyra watched her go with a prang of sorrow, but was distracted when he mother called her name. Looking to Melinda Pyra waved to show she had heard and looked back to the path but Dara was gone, as if she had never been. Perplexed by the woman’s disappearance Pyra stared out at the empty space a moment longer before her mother called again forcing a reluctant Pyra to turn and trot home where a hot fish stew was waiting for her.


It was three days later when Gade reappeared at the door of Pyra’s home; he smiled warmly at Pyra though the girl returned his smile with a passive blank stare. Silently Pyra let the man in and then retreated to her chair in the corner by the iron stove where upon she picked up the thick book and returned to reading.
‘Good morning Melinda,’ Gade greeted Pyra’s mother. ‘How fare you and the girl?’
‘Hello Gade,” Melinda replied her greeting a little colder then his. ‘we fair well enough. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?’
‘I came to talk to you concerning the matter we discussed last time.’ Gade replied eyes flicking one to Pyra then back at Melinda who’s face had became as cold and blank as Pyra’s when she had greeted him at the door. ‘You were clearly reluctant, but I decided perhaps we should as the girl, after all it is her life though the first matter is without question. The second can be decided at any time.’

Pyra had bee listening despite being engrossed in her book of fairytales when Gade started talking to her mother about maters concerning her she felt as if someone had just dumped her in the shallows of the rock pools in the middle of winter. Melinda remained silent for what seemed an eternity before she shook her head and looked away her face lost behind a curtain of black wavy hair, her voice was so soft Pyra almost didn’t hear it when she spoke. ‘Alright but tell her the truth, not that it matters, Pyra will know if you lie, she always could…’

Gade nodded and looked at Pyra, he raised a quizzical eyebrow and received a stony stare from the girl in return. Smiling faintly Gade pulled up a chair and sat down opposite her waiting as Pyra marked the page she was up to and met his gray eyes with her own mismatched ones. ’What do you know of your father?’ he asked.
‘Nothin’ sir,’ Pyra replied truthfully, ’Nothing but the fact I favor him in some ways and me mam in others. But all us kids do resemble our parents in some way.’ She shrugged offhandedly,
‘I see,’ Gade replied scratching at the morning’s growth that covered his chin in a fine dark stubble. ‘Your father is well, he’s an important man where he is and right now he’s very much alone and not getting any younger. Through a matter of misfortune his current wife is unable to have children which because of his status is a problem.’
Pyra said nothing as she looked at him. Why should she care about that?
‘You are expected to see him in Valoria within two months,’ Gade replied calmly when he saw her indifferent expression. ‘The matter concerning you is serious young lady.’
‘Why should it concern me?’ Pyra enquired irritably, the man’s manner was starting to grate on her nerves. Who was he to make demands of her? A man who had no interest in her what so ever.
The as if reading her thoughts Gade rubbed a hand across his face and sighed deeply. ‘Your father would have liked to have met you before Pyra, but before you were born, your mother and he decided it would be best they were different people. Too different, your mother brought you here and your father agreed to leave you be.’

Looking away from Gade Pyra looked questioningly at her mother but Melinda would not meet her eyes. She had moved to the far window and stood with her back to them gazing out at the world beyond. It was her silence that hurt Pyra more then anything and gave rise to more questions. Looking back at Gade Pyra frowned thoughtfully. ‘I doubt he’d be much happy with the way I am. It seem’s to me dat me Da is one of them noble people who look down their noses at simple folk like them of Gado.’

A faint smile crept across Gade’s face as she spoke and he nodded slowly, ‘You might be surprised, but you’re right he isn’t the kind to mingle with common place people. There are other reasons as well that he’s taken an interest in you but…’ he trailed off and looked down at his hands. ‘You’ll understand with time but for now there’s the matter of Valoria. He does want to meet you and this visit will only be for half a year. You’ll go there spend a few months with him and find out about his world and then go home. Then you can think it over.’ Gade leaned back on his seat still watching Pyra as she thought over what was said.
‘I don’t ‘ave a choice with da first visit, but I can choose weather or na ta go again?’
‘Yes, though it would be more a permanent thing. You’d be living in Valoria with him.’
‘I wouldn’t be comin’ back ta Gado… I wouldna’ be able ta come visit me mam?’ her eyes narrowed dangerously, but Gade smiled and shook his head.
‘Of course you can come visit, your fathers not so foolish as to bar a daughter from her mother.’

Pyra closed her eyes for a moment and then shook her head. ‘I dunno… I’ll still think about it mister but… I’ll make me choice after we visit me Da. It all depends on dat I think.’
Gade nodded slowly and stood up, ‘I can ask no more then that. I’ll leave you two alone now but I’ll be back in a week so we can set off Valoria is a goodly distance from here… from anywhere actually.’ He turned and left quietly.

Pyra remained in her seat with her eyes closed as she continued to ponder then after what seemed like an hour. Pyra stood up and carried her book out the door heading off towards the beach directly through the village. She walked briskly her book held tightly against her chest. As she walked several of the children detached themselves from their games and trotted after her calling their jibes, but Pyra was deaf to them as she walked. It was only when one of the larger boys barred her path that Pyra stopped and looked him in the eye. He was a tall thick set boy of about thirteen years with dark brown hair touched with golden highlights, the boys name was Galdrik. He was the oldest of the children in Gado and was three years older then Pyra herself and perhaps only three inches taller then her. He wore like most of the village boys a pair of loose fitting grey trousers and rough spun tunic with the difference of a blue sash tied about his waist.
‘What ya got there two-tone?’ Galdrik demanded reaching out to take Pyra’s book but she stepped back out of his reach and moved to walk around him, but Galdrik stepped around to meet her and continued to bar her way. ‘Come on I only wants a look-see.’
‘Go away Galdrik…’ Pyra muttered and tried to step around him again but Galdrik matched her steps again. ‘Come on, one look.’ She tightened her hold on her book and did something that she had never done before. Normally when Galdrik wanted to torment her she’d give as good as she got though even when he grabbed her she would never hit back. This time however Pyra was the one who resorted to Physical force. She ran forward catching Galdrik off balance and shoved him over with one well aimed push and kept running until she disappeared from sight. Still sitting on the ground Galdrik watched Pyra run off and then slowly got to his feet dusting himself off.
‘Ain’t ya gunna go after her Gal?’ one of the boys asked.
‘I dunno… Ithink somethin’s go Two-tone, upset she ain’t never shoved anyone ‘afor and normally she woulda’ resorted to insultin’ me but,’ he trailed off and thrust his hands into his pockets still looking off down the street. ‘Might be best ta leave her be taday, I think if we go near her she might punch us out.’ he laughed at the notion and then called the boys after him as they ran back down the street to initiate another game of Keeper Knights and Bandits.


Once again on the beach Pyra sat down on the warming sands and opened her book at the page she had left it. Reading had been one of the things her mother had insisted she learn to do teaching her to read the words from the very story book she now held in her hands. The stories were ones Pyra knew by heart but she loved them all the same. They were stories about Dragons, some were bigger then houses, some could control the earth and air itself and there sere some that could fly as freely as birds. To make the book even better it had detailed illustrations of the dragons showing what each looked like. The book also contained pictures of Dream Seers, Dark Mages and Keeper Knights. The front of the leather bound book with its yellowing pages was titled ‘The Pathfinder Chronicle; The First Book of the Gods.’

The book told of how the Six Gods descended upon Karshana and breathed life into the desolate land. To the west the Three Gods of Man, Valor the Just, God of Protection and War, Alphira the Gentle, Goddess of Knowledge and Healing and Macros the Bold, Human God of Sorcery and the Unknown. Gave rise to humanity bestowing upon them the gifts of Knowledge, magic and Prosperity. While to the East where the heart of Karshana was divided by mountains the Gods of dragons labored. Verity the Silver-tongued; God of the Monolith Dragons, Omargis the Skyblazer; God of the Sky Dragons, and Skyzalen the Diamond-Scaled; Goddess of the Terra Dragons, created their respective races giving rise to the titanic Monolith Dragons, the small and swift Sky dragons and the magical Terra Dragons. The three Dragon kinds and Man lived separate from one another for many centuries until finally by request of the gods they met and took council. There was a choice to make where Man and dragon could do war until there was one race or make peace and live together in prosperity.

Thus the Gods chose representatives, three humans and three dragons to meet and take council. The three Humans were Karsha Diamond-eye; first of the Dream Seers, Alastair True-Shield; First of the Keeper Knights and Rozan Firecall; First of the Dark Mages. While the Dragon Gods brought Forth their heralds; Chyqis Grimclaw; Eldar of the Monolith, Moltana Skyfire; Elder of the Sky and Zakirith Spellfang; Eldar of the Terra. Long did they hold council with their gods and one another until finally an agreement was reached, they would wage no war against one another in return for knowledge and understanding there would be an exchange and the lands would not be barred from one another. Those had been the beginnings of the golden ages when man and Dragon lived in harmony. The book also spoke of the adventures had by the six as they fought to rid the world of invaders fro macros the vast sea and monsters that plagued both lands. Pyra sighed as she lost herself into the story of the Troll King and how Moltana, Karsha, Alastair and Zakirith traversed the vast underground labyrinth of the Troll caves to stop the Troll King from mustering his trolls for an invasion of the lowlands of man. Reading the worn pages Pyra wished she could have had an adventure like the heralds of the Gods.

***

Dara was waiting for Gade inside his camp not far from the village. It was a small one tent camp hidden behind a small cluster of trees some two hours walk away from Melinda’s small house. She was standing beside the horse which pointedly ignored her, most animals did. Gade was in a thoughtful mood as he walked in ignoring her as well until she cleared her throat.
‘Sorry,’ Gade apologized. ‘I was just thinking about the conversation I had with Pyra.’
‘You explained to her what was going on?’
‘Yes, she was impossible to read though.’ He laughed and sat down by the smoldering embers of his campfire. ‘By Alphira! she reminds me of her father. There’s no doubt she’s his daughter, the eyes were a dead give away. She has steel in her too like him...’ he trailed off and frowned remembering the book she had in her hands. It had been a thick leather bound book much worn with age it looked familiar to him but he couldn’t place where he’d seen one like it. He gave up after a few moments and pushed the thought aside.
‘Unlike you I knew it the moment I saw her. I could see it in her, the power. She possesses the three gifts, The Sight, Healing and the ability to see into the past and the future, though she doesn’t know it. The power is like a mirror of his,’ Dara moved over to the fire and sat down beside him. ‘I should get back to Valoria and report back. He’ll be happy to hear about this no doubt.’
‘He might be, but she won’t,’ Gade added. ‘I think we’ll have to keep a close eye on her while she’s visiting. That woman could be a problem; sometimes I wonder what possessed him to marry her.’
‘Necessity… but you’re right, we will keep an eye on her,’ Dara stood up and walked back through the trees. Gade didn’t bother to get up and follow her, Dara would already be gone, it was a handy trick of hers being able to appear in places and converse with others anyplace once she knew them. Looking at the roan instead Gade sighed and stretched out beside his fire.
‘Well we have a little while to wait my friend and then a long way to go, so we might as well make the most of this little break. Gado is a pleasant enough place, very peaceful and quiet I just hope the shock change from such a recluse little place to the hustle and bustle of the city won’t be too much for the little princess.’ The roan didn’t reply he just flicked his ears and then returned to chomping on the lush grass by his feet.

[Kai! Kai!]

Chapter Two

‘It’s not that hard,’ she explained gently. ‘You seem to already know what Storm’s feeling, all you have to do is think healing thoughts, sooth the pain make the yucky stuff go away.’
Pyra frowned then shrugged, looking at her hand on the horses hurting leg, wondering about what Dara had said. Then she became aware of the pain again, it seemed to radiate off into her hand through the storming current that had inspired Storms name. The pain was a taint, a black nugget that flashed red like a beacon in her mind.

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~ [/center]
Gade was waiting for Pyra outside Melinda’s house the next morning. A little afraid of the idea of leaving the place she had always thought of as home and going with a man who was still to her a stranger, Pyra hesitated at the door, looking up at the huge roan horse that stood patiently beside his owner. She was afraid and yet at the same time, she was excited. She would get to see a city; she was going on an adventure and while not as exciting or dangerous as the kinds the Heralds took, it was an adventure all the same. So steeling herself and suppressing that small nagging fear she strode out of the house carrying a small knapsack that contained a few changes of cloths and a little food incase she got hungry on the way.
‘Ready for the ride princess?’ Gade asked kindly as she walked towards him, then laughed as Pyra made a face at the word “princess”.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be mister,’ she replied irritably. Gade merely smiled and retrieved the pack off her, attaching it to the roan’s saddle bags and waited.

Free of her burden Pyra turned and ran back to her mother, giving Melinda a tight, lingering hug before she turned and moved back over to the roan. Gade nodded once to Melinda and then picked Pyra up under the arms setting her in the saddle before he climbed on up behind her.
‘Don’t worry Melinda you’ll see her again before you know it.’ Gade assured her but Melinda merely gave him a steely look that mirrored her daughters.
‘Anything happens to her and you’ll both be answering to me,’ Melinda turned and went back inside then came back out with another bundle handing it to Gade. It was thick and rectangular in shape. ‘Her book, Pyra likes to read it and it will be a small comfort for her on the road and in the city….’
Gade took the book, wrapped in treated hide and slipped it into the saddle bags as well. The book delivered Melinda kissed Pyra once on the forehead and stepped back as the roan was spurred into a fast trot.

The bouncing was disconcerting to Pyra as they moved. She could ride, but she had never ridden such a big horse or for very long at all as the only animals in Gado were there the small ponies used by the men when they went off to market further down the coast in its neighboring village some three days walk or a days sailing north There was also the old bow-backed, draught horses that pulled the wagons or ploughed the small fields where they grew their crops. Riding on the roan was a different matter. He moved fast, too fast for her to keep her balance and if Gade hadn’t of set her within the circle of his arms as they rode Pyra knew she’d have fallen off a dozen times already. The idea of riding this big fellow for days and days did not bode well. It was going to be very uncomfortable.


They had been riding for close on a week towards the east following no road in particular, and then again there were no roads this far west. The taste of adventure had noticeable dulled in Pyra, but she had finally adjusted enough to sitting on the broad back of the roan, easing her discomfort. Gade had even instructed her on the proper way to ride as well, which also helped her to the point where the only thing that made her legs and backside hurt. It wasn’t that she didn’t mind sleeping on the ground — Pyra had done that often enough — it was the tediousness of it that dulled the excitement. Day after day they rode or walked across a vast stretch of unending grassland and occasional rise with no end in sight, come the sixth day on the road however the grassland was broken by a broad well worn, dirt road.
‘Ah, there it is,’ Gade muttered with relief, turning the roan down the road to follow it. ‘Gado is a goodly distance from any real serviceable road.’ He explained to Pyra who sat silently in front of him. ‘Now we can travel faster and get to a small town I know of just beyond the rises over there.’ He pointed to the small hills in the distance.

She nodded and looked towards the hills frowning in thought. It had something had been bothering her for some days since they set off for there had been no sign of the woman Dara. It troubled her greatly for the woman to be absent but at the same time she reasoned that she had probably gone on ahead but it still troubled her.
‘Why so silent princess?’ Gade enquired, using that word again. It was starting to irritate her but Pyra knew better then to contradict the man. ‘You haven’t said much since we left Gado, what’s troubling you?’
‘Nothin’ really mister, I was just wonderin’ about the pretty lady dat was meant ta be traveling with ya,’
Gade frowned for a moment in puzzled out her words and then laughed. ‘Oh her, she’s gone ahead to give your father a little warning that we’re coming, it wouldn’t do to pop up out of nowhere. He’s a busy man and it’s discourteous.’

Pyra nodded and became silent again, studying the thick black mane of the roan as he trotted along. They rode like that in silence for several hours along the worn road traveling over the small hills which revealed a much steeper slope behind them and a tight cluster of buildings enclosed within a wall in the distance that even from there looked like it could fit Gado within its walls twice over. Gade pulled the roan to a stop and dismounted swinging Pyra down at the base of the steep rise. ‘Time for a little break in riding I think.’
Grateful to be off the broad back of the roan, Pyra nodded and started to walk around; her legs were stiff and cramped from being in the same position for so long. She was glad she wore trousers rather then a dress, it had made the ride a little more comfortable and wearing a dress would have left her legs bare against the leather of the saddle. Looking over at the large roan that had carried her this far, so far over and frowned. There was another problem she had to deal with; she didn’t know the horse’s name and names were very important to Pyra.
‘Does da horse have a name mister?’ Pyra enquired as Gade took up the roan’s reins to lead him towards the town.
‘No, I never got around to naming him why do you ask?’
She shrugged, ‘Just wonderin’ really mister, most people like to name their animals is all I thought he might ‘ave one,’ Pyra then proceeded to skip along ahead of him and the horse towards the town.
Shaking his head Gade suppressed a smile and walked after the girl. She was determined to treat him with indifference and silence it seemed, but he wouldn’t let that last. ‘Pyra,’ he called after the skipping girl.
‘Could you please call me Gade, this mister business a little informal and its going to make things awkward as we travel.’
‘Sure thing Mister Gade,’ Pyra called behind her, missing Gade visibly cringe because her back was to him.

He let it lie for now and followed along behind Pyra watching the Pyra as she continued to skip along. It was strange to think this girl was more then she appeared, for now she was exactly as she looked a carefree child whose thoughts went no further then what she’s going to do today. That would change however, given time. City life was a busy thing, very different form the slow paced life of Gado he only hoped it wouldn’t be too much for her. Pyra continued to skip up until they reached the edge of the town and then she slowed until she was walking on the other side of the roan her hand holding onto the stirrup. They paused momentarily at the gate while Gade spoke to the guard enquiring about lodgings and then headed off again.

The town was very different from the village of Gado, where it had no real single, straight street and the houses were placed wherever, while this town was ordered. Houses and shops lined either side of a broad dirt road and spread out along branching streets like a tree. More interestingly was the way the people went to-and-fro in groups or alone on errands or walks. Compared to Gado this place was very busy and the sight of so many strange people in one place unnerved Pyra substantially, her hold tightened on the roan’s stirrup even as Gade led them through the center of the road. She looked around her as they walked taking in the sights of the busy town. She noticed that amongst the busy people, dirty children ran about playing ever as she once did, what made the game look less enjoyable was the appearance and feelings she got off them. The children looked raged and dirty but the feeling she get off them was much worse, they were afraid and hurting somehow on top of that there was a strange feeling among the populous, it made her feel uneasy and a little sick. Turning her eyes away Pyra also saw the ragged people sitting on the streets calling for money or food. Pyra felt herself shrink inside, never had she seen such sorrow and misery, there were no such people like that in Gado and if there were the residence would have gone out of their way to help him or her. Yet the people here moved on as if they didn’t exist as if they were nothing but part of the scenery that was their streets. Closing her eyes Pyra shut out the town and then opened them gazing sadly at the ground where her bare feet walked over the dirt road.

When they reached the place the guard described Gade took the roan around the side and out the back to where the stables were situated handing the horse over to the stable boy after removing the saddlebags and Pyra’s pack.

Taking her bag and ensuring her book was still in there, she trotted silently after Gade fighting the nauseating feeling that washed against her senses like a black tide. Back around to the front of the building Gade took her hand and headed inside. The interior was much like the exterior, wooden with the only stone being around the fireplace. To the left of the room there was a low archway which led to another room where sounds of laughing and loud singing could be heard and the smell of a strange fragment substance she recognized as the stuff the fishermen drank after a good haul. It wasn’t there they were headed however much to Pyra’s relief but rather the counter against the far wall where a lady stood pouring over a book in front of her. Curious she stood on her tiptoes and peered at the spidery scrawl.
‘Can I help you?’ the woman enquired cheerfully. Pyra knew it was a false cheer even above the unhappy waves about her.
‘I need lodgings for myself the girl and stabling for my horse,’ Gade supplied.
The woman nodded and pulled her book closer opening an ink pot and picking up a quill. ‘How long?’
‘Overnight is all we’ll be gone in the morning,’
‘Will you be staying for breakfast?’
‘Yes,’
The woman nodded and scrawled in the books taking a small silver disk stamped with a shield on one side and a sword on the other from Gade and handing him back a couple of copper. The exchange of the small metal coins fascinated Pyra but she wasn’t in any mood to ask questions. ‘Your room is the third on the left if you’d care to deposit your things, there is a fresh leg of beef just off the spit as well if you’d like something to eat.’

Gade nodded and led Pyra up the stairs to their room. It was small and lined with two pallets. Moving over to the trunk Gade dumped his stuff inside along with Pyra’s pack before closing the lid and turning to look at her. ‘Are you alright Princess, your looking a little on the pale side.’
‘I don’t feel too good is all Mister Gade, this place makes me feel queasy…’ she replied quietly.
‘Oh dear, I forgot about that…’ Gade said looking thoughtfully at Pyra. ‘Your father had the same problem when he was younger… don’t worry it’ll pass once you get used to it. Just be glad its in a small town, I’m sure the feeling will be much worse in the city which is at least four times larger then this place.’
Pyra stared at him in wide-eyed horror. ‘I don’t think I want to go to Valoria…’
‘Unfortunately you don’t have a choice but given time you’ll adjust to it, we’ll be passing through towns and villages like this.’ He paused and looked at her thoughtfully before walking over ot the bed and sitting down beside her. ‘I know this is hard on you Pyra but do you think you can be brave? Can I trust you to keep a brave face and stand against the dark? My world, the world I grew up in isn’t like yours there aren’t any places like Gado so free of suffering where is people are content. My world is a cold and harsh place where people look upon one another with suspicion and hate, where the suffering are ignored unless they are rich and where innocent men can be charged with crimes they didn’t commit….’
‘Yer world seems ta be a cold a pitiless place Mister Gade and if dis is just a small part o’what I’ll be facin’ I ain’t sure if I can but… I’ll try coz I promised me mam I’d be brave and I’ll make that promise to ye as well…. It don’t mea I have ta like it one bit though…’ she closed her eyes and sighed deeply looking out the window where it was still light out.

‘Thank you princess…’ he smiled and returned to the trunk pulling out the hide covered book and removed the cover. Pausing as he examined the leather cover of the book. This was the first time he’d actually had a close look at it because Pyra always seemed to have it in her hands reading the heavy volume and every time he saw it Gade had been struck by a sense of familiarly yet he couldn’t ask her what the book was. Now that he held it in his hands Gade felt a chill settle over him, or all accounts this book shouldn’t exist. It was lost decades ago some suspected it was because the priests had destroyed them and yet here was one of the forty odd volumes that made up the Pathfinder Chromicles, but it wasn’t just any book it was the first volume. The volume that spoke of the beginning, the beginning of history, the beginning of Karshana and the alliance with the dragons which was now broken and thrown to the wind. In the hands of a ten year old girl who had read it cover to cover who knows how many times thinking it a book on fairytales. Gade paused and frowned, weren’t they fairytales now? The days of dragon and man working side by side had ended some six hundred years ago the day the gods vanished.

Had Melinda known the treasure she had given her daughter?
‘You all right Mister Gade? You look like ye just seen a spook,’ Pyra asked, her voice normally quiet or flinty, was subdued.
‘Yeah princess, just a little surprised. This is a rare book you have here…’ he remarked stroking the worn leather cover almost reverently, then handed it to her and smiled. ‘Stay up here and rest, read your stories or have a sleep. I have to go out and get some food and yourself a horse. We have a little ways to go yet and you’ll need to know how to ride a horse on your own so I figure you can learn properly as you go.’
Pyra smiled broadly at him for the first time since they met, Gade hoped it meant she was warming to him and then turned and headed down stairs wishing not for the first time he had someway to reach Dara, the woman was a damn enigma, there when you don’t really need her and gone when you could really use her help. Dara no doubt would love to know that the First Book of the Pathfinder Chronicles had been found. Humming to himself Gade walked back over to the counter where the woman stood and asked where he might find a place to buy a horse. The woman gave him directions to a corral on the south side of the town. Turning Gade was startled to find Pyra standing not three paces behind him. ‘I thought I asked you to stay upstairs?’

‘Yeah, but Mister Gade if I’m da one dats gunna be ridin’ da horse shouldn’t I be da one ta choose her?’ she said looking up at him with such a wideeyed innocence Gade had to suspect there was something else to the matter. ‘O’course I’d be asking ye most expert advice on da matter too.’
Gade felt his resolve to send her back crumble at this point. If he was going to get her to trust, him why not start now?
‘Alright then,’ she sighed taking her hand and led Pyra out the door towards the corrals on the south side of the town. They were situated outside the wall for sanitation purposes and because it mean it was easier to get the animals sorted out into their respective lots. It wasn’t just horses to be found either there was al manner of bargaining going on for cattle, sheep, pigs and numerous other forms of livestock. Pyra was walking so close beside him Gade nearly tripped over her several; times through the crush of the crowd. He had to stop every now and then however to ask directions to the horse yards before they finally found them. They were on the outer edge of the corral where several men stood talking amongst themselves.
Approaching them Gade put on a cheery face keeping a firm hold on Pyra’s hand ass he shrank away from them either because she was afraid or because they spelt bad.

‘Good evening Gentlemen I was wondering if any of you have a horse I might be able to purchase for the young lady here. She’s a competent rider but only just. I’m looking for a horse that will carry her and myself a fair ways as we have a long road ahead of us.’
One of the men a rough looking fellow with a crooked nose and thick heavy sideburns nodded thoughtfully and then looked at the others.
‘Come round to the stables and you can have a gander at the stock, these fella’s can wait.’ Turning he headed towards the stables situated not a hundred paces away and led them through the dark stables. Pyra looked about her with interest and the many different horses. There were black horses, white horses, red like the roan, gray silver, gold. Some were molted others had single defining markings or socks.
So many and all of them beautiful to look at. [/color]

[Kai! Kai!]

They stopped in front of a sheltered yard where there were horses being paraded through it. Climbing onto the railing between Gade and the horse man Pyra watched the horses thoughtfully. They all moved elegantly with sure and prideful steps as they were led about. The man with sideburns signaled over to one of the lads who came trotting up to see what he wanted.
‘This man is looking for a reasonable horse, gentle nature that will last the distance. It’ll be carrying this youngster too…. Speaking of which you’d be wanting a saddle and such.’

Gade nodded and Pyra waited as the boy trotted off to go organize what was needed. They waited some ten minutes before the land started bringing out several horses. Each were nice to look at but as Pyra looked at them all she frowned thoughtfully. They looked alright to her but something seemed to be missing out of them, it took her a minute to realize they looked a little dead in the eyes, docile and calm creatures that will ride along nice, like the old plough horses in Gado. She looked at Gade who nodded his head and lifted Pyra over the railing before climbing over himself to examine the beasts. She looked at each of them and then looked at Gade again as he checked them over and walked them around looking for a fault in each of them that might hinder or surface later on.
‘Their all perfectly fine horses to my eye Pyra which one would you be liking to take?’ he asked watching as Pyra looked them all over again.

They were indeed nice animals but still… she repressed a sigh and looked between the solid, steel grey mare or the black socked chocolate colored one. Frowning she pondered looked between the two thinking which would suit her better when a voice traveled over to them. ‘I figured I might find you here Gade.’
The pair looked behind them to see a tall woman with golden hair and radiant blue eyes dressed in light tanned riding leathers leaning on the railing beside the horse man. Pyra smiled broadly when she saw her.
‘Hi Dara!’ Pyra called excitedly.
Gade shook his head and smiled at Dara then looked at Pyra. ‘You think about it while I go talk to Dara alright?’ Pyra nodded and went back to looking at the horses while Gade walked over to the gold haired Dara.
‘I was wondering when you were going to show up,’ he remarked.
‘I know I got sidetracked, that woman needed me to do a few things before I could go,’ she sighed and leant against the railing watching Pyra as she looked at the horses then looked at Gade. ‘How is she?’
‘A little unwell, but that’s to be expected she’s never been in a town before and you saw what her village was like. It’s a haven compared to this place,’ Gade replied staring absently past her towards the entrance of the stables. ‘I think she’s starting to trust me a little but the girls so stubborn and I can’t seem to work her out.’

Dara laughed and patted Gade reassuringly on the arm. ‘Don’t you fret Gade she’ll come around and it will probably be by the time we reach the city and take her to see her father.’
Nodding Gade sighed deeply and plucked at the sleeve of his shirt then looked about the stable yard. The horse man had moved off to have a word with one of his lads and Pyra was still looking at the horses her face unreadable because her back was too him.
‘Dara,’ he said speaking in a soft voice only she could head. ‘You won’t believe what Pyra’s go with her. It’ll catch your interest in a heart beat I think,’ she smiled mischievously. Dara raised and eyebrow and waited for him to say. ‘Pyra love’s to read books, in particular she likes to read a book of what she called fairytales only their not fairytales Dara. She’s reading the bloody First Book of the God’s like a story book!’

Dara stared at him in shock, which was then smothered with an equally excited look on her face. That hinted at a little wonder. She opened her mouth to say something but it was lost as the shriek of a horse filled the air. Both looked up to see a single horse had broken free of its holders and was throwing itself about like a wild thing. Foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling as it kicks and bit at anyone who got to close. Finally the mad horse made a charging run towards where Pyra stood watching what was happening.
‘Pyra move!’ Gade bellowed but the horse was already bearing down on her, to make matters worse Pyra made no move rather she stood there and watched the thing thunder towards her. Gade looked sharply at Dara who had already opened her mouth he could feel the air crackling slightly with power ass he called on magic but just as the beats was about to trample her it came to a complete stop and reared flailing its hooves at Pyra who even still just stood there unmoving as if made of stone. When it lowered its front legs and silence descended upon the stables all that could be heard was a soft giggling. It took Gade a moment to realize it was Pyra.

‘Silly horse, getting’ ye self all worked up like that and for what?’ she giggled again and moved closer to the mad thing, its eyes were still rolling and sides heaving from the effort put out but made on more except to turn its head and watch her. Pyra reached up a single hand and tickled the horse’s nose with her finger tips, the animal shied away rolling eyes still watching her even as Pyra edge closer again. The giggling had gone but even from where he was Gade could tell she was still smiling. The girl must have been out of her mind. Gade made an attempt to move but Dara laid a hand on his shoulder and shook her head.

Pyra edged closer still, her heart racing. The horse had given her such a fright when she started to bear down on her but Pyra knew the horse had no quarrel with her. She was hurting that was all, a nasty hurt in her right front leg that the stable men couldn’t see. How she knew that Pyra wasn’t sure but she knew it was right, so Pyra had stood and waited while the hurting horse bore down on her and stopped inches away nearly kicking her head out at the same time. Now the horse was hurting and afraid yet inside she raged like a storm and for some reason Pyra liked her. Reaching out her hand again Pyra stroked the horse’s long nose and marveled at the deep rich black of her coat, it reminded her of the colour of her own hair with the only difference being the single white streak on her black mane, like a bolt of lightning against a black sky.
Pyra knew she liked this horse and she had to have her, no other horse would do so turning she looked over her shoulder at a pale looking Gade and a calm Dara. ‘Mister Gade,’ she said very firmly. ‘I want dis horse.’
‘I don’t see why not,’ Dara said before Gade could speak, and then looked at the horse man. ‘Of course you don’t object to that do you?’
‘Uh… no miss,’ the stable man replied slowly, he too was looking a little pale. They all were after seeing the little girl almost get trampled by the horse. ‘I’ll even give you a discount on account the thing nearly killed her…’

Dara smiled beautifully at him. ‘Good man, I’ll leave Gade here to haggle out the details with you while Pyra and I take the horse with us back to the Inn.’ Dara nodded to Pyra who took the horses bridle in one hand and crooned to her leading the still wild-eyed beast out of the pen. None of the stable hands went near either the girl of the animal as they walked out. Dara fell into step beside the girl amusement dancing over her face like light off of water.

They walked in silence at a slow pace back into the city and back to the small inn where she and Gade were staying, heading around the back to where the stables were. Dara then led Pyra around to a corral where the roan was and another horse that hadn’t been there before. It was a beautiful creature the colour of sand with a white-blond mane and tail.
‘This is my most loyal traveling companion Shanara,’ Dara informer her moving a hand to the sandy coloured horse which turned her head to inspect both them and the new comer. ‘What are you going to name your black beauty Pyra?’
‘Storm,’ she replied recalling how the horse raged inside, then looked at Storm again more closely. ‘Her right leg hurts…’
‘It does?’ Dara remarked peering more closely at the horse which had calmed down enough that her eyes were no longer rolling in her head. Then moved carefully over to the right and lifted it examining the shoe, hoof and leg. Setting it down she called to a stable boy and borrowed his small pick as she once again lifted the shoe and dug the filth out. There was nothing there to indicate why there was any pain until she looked more closely and saw the crack running along it and something that seemed to be wedged in that fine crack. So small it was easily missed by the casual glance.

‘My, my,’ Dara muttered then handed the pick back to the stable boy sending him off to tend to the other horses. While she flicked a slender knife out of her belt and dug at the crack, ignoring a shrill whine of Storm as she tried but failed to pull away. Digging carefully Dara managed to get the sliver free from the crack and watched as blood and puss oozed out of the hole. Then she looked at the sliver and visibly grimaced, it was very thin and made of wood but at least as long as Pyra’s own index finger and stained red because of the blood that still clung to it.
‘Can it be fixed?’ Pyra asked smiling when Dara nodded her head.
‘Yes but you’ll have to do it,’ she replied smiling faintly at the lost look on Pyra’s face. ‘You have a talent little one.’ She paused for a moment then added. ‘Tell me what do you know about the heralds of Alphira, the powers they possessed?’

Pyra frowned for a moment, thinking and then looked at Dara, ‘They can see and hear what is not known to others, know the past and future and heal injuries without herb or balm but by touch.’
‘Well young lady you posses the healing touch,’ Dara said simply, ‘if you want to help your dear Storm I can show you how to do it and make her feel better even though I can’t do it myself.’

The look on Pyra’s face showed she clearly didn’t believe her, but Dara wasn’t one to give up the girl just needed her eyes opened a little. Putting the horse’s leg down she motioned for Pyra to come over and looked the girls in the eyes taking one hand and touching it to the injured leg. ‘Just try, after all this is for Storm.’ She spoke softly, coaxingly.
‘I dunno Miss Dara, it sounds like a right lot of hogwash but if ya think I can and if it’ll help Storm feel better, then…I suppose I could give it a try.’ Dara smiled warmly at Pyra and nodded.
‘That’s a good girl,’ Dara replied encouragingly then set about giving Pyra a set of instructions that judging by the look on the girls face made no sense to her at all.
‘It’s not that hard,’ she explained gently. ‘You seem to already know what Storm’s feeling, all you have to do is think healing thoughts, sooth the pain make the yucky stuff go away.’

Pyra frowned then shrugged, looking at her hand on the horses hurting leg, wondering about what Dara had said. Then she became aware of the pain again, it seemed to radiate off into her hand through the storming current that had inspired Storms name. The pain was a taint, a black nugget that flashed red like a beacon in her mind.
Is that what Dara had meant, that difference in the natural current that was storm?

She pondered feeling the energies of the horse then smiled and closed her eyes as if she could see more clearly. The pain etched and rolled like the dark waves that had assaulted her mind and made her feel sick. This was different however; this pain seemed to call to her in a silent plea asking to be made right to return to the storming current. Oddly compelled to answer the plea Pyra wasn’t even sure what it was she did, all she became aware of was the silent please to ease the pain and the electric feeling that seemed to make her skin feel alive. A silent sigh seemed to fill her mind as the energies raced across her skin and into the black nugget diminishing it until it was no more. When it was done the electric feeling was replaced with a weariness Pyra had never felt before. It wasn’t like any kind of physical weariness either but something deeper.

Dara was smiling when Pyra opened her eyes, Pyra smiled wanly back at the woman and then let her hand drop from Storm’s leg. Curious the mare turned her head and blew softly into Pyra’s hair as if ot say thank you.
‘See that wasn’t so hard,’ Dara laughed softly then led the silent girl out of the stables and back to the Inn to wait for Gade. Sitting in the quiet little room with two beds Pyra hugged the old book her mother had given her and taught her to read from. There were still many words in it she didn’t understand either but she liked the stories. Pyra knew she was shocked, she felt numb all over not just from healing Storm’s injured leg but because she had been the one to do it. Finally she looked up and met Dara’s dancing eyes and asked. ‘What else can I do?’

[Kai! Kai!]

Chapter Three

‘If you ever come across one of those Dragon Hunters you’ll know it princess,’ Gade explained. ‘I once asked your father what it felt like to be around them and you know what he said?’ Gade smiled ruefully. ‘He said; “Imagine the most stagnant slime filled cesspool you could ever imagine and you might come close to describing the feeling. It’s more of a smell really, a stench of death and defilement that haunts.”’
~

[/i][/center]

What could she do indeed? It was a question Dara asked herself periodically as she watched the child who had asked the very same question that had surfaced in her own mind. She sat comfortably in the saddle stroking the muscular neck of her black mare. Storm showed no strain of the previous days activities, as a matter of fact she seemed twice as energetic as when she went mad form the pain in her hoof. It had taken Gade almost an hour to saddle the frisky horse and almost said Pyra wouldn’t be able to ride her when the girl climbed up onto the railing and slid into the saddle. The effect had been instantaneous, Storm ceased being frisky and calmed down feeling the slight weight on her back and walked calmly out of the stable leaving a baffled Gade and an amused Dara to watch them move out. She was a beautiful horse to look at too with her black coat and the striking white mark in her mane that looked like a bolt of lightning.

The three of them had been riding since the morning, leaving the Inn as early as possible after breakfast. Now out on the open road Dara pondered the question of the limitations and strengths of the girl’s abilities. When the girl had asked her what else she could do Dara answered truthfully. She just didn’t know. The healing was a stab in the dark, a guess which had proven that Pyra could heal injuries, but the strength of it rattled Dara just a little. A normal healing would have just removed the infection and soothed the pain, leaving the rest for the body to heal properly but Dara had checked the hoof, there as no sign of an injury or even the crack that had led to the infection. It was a puzzle to her, but an exciting puzzle to say the least.

Her talents were derived from her father’s side, the healing touch, her ability to hear the voices of those passed to know the future or know the past, to read the emotional state of others as well as their intentions but she had to wait and see if she possessed certain other abilities. Dara suspected the strength might have come from Melinda’s side, but what kind of power did she posses if any? The healing had felt like a healing should have and yet it was touched by the undercurrents of something just a little different, it could have been because of the strength but still…

Dara paused in her ponderings to look again at the girl riding beside her, Pyra Serenea, a girl raised in a haven of peace and goodwill where her only troubles were the cruel taunts of the children of Gado that given time would have faded as she matured more and more into a young woman, and if Melinda was anything to go by Pyra would make more then a few male hearts quicken at the sight of her. Now because of a problem that afflicted a few women in life Pyra was being taken away from that quiet and happy life and plunged into a world of politics, corruption and deception where she would need ever one of her abilities and a sharp intellect to do it. Feeling her gaze Pyra turned her head and smiled though it faded a little when she met Dara’s eyes.

‘Just thinking about my work back in Valoria,’ she explained seeing the smile return to Pyra’s face. The girl must have felt her sorrow at what the girl would be losing by going there. You always had to be careful when dealing with people like Pyra and her father; they could pick up stray emotions like a scent on a soft breeze.
‘What kind of work do you do Miss Dara?’ the girl asked. Humming a small ditty to herself as she rode.
‘A little of this and a little of that… much to complicated for you just yet but who knows maybe after a while you might understand.’
Pyra sighed and continued her hummed ditty for several minutes then became silent staring down at Storm’s neck. Then suddenly began to sing out loud. Dara was startled ass he listened to Pyra sing the little ditty she recognized as the ditty the girl had been humming while they traveled.

Wings of sky, cry like storm,
Breath like ice and flame unfold.
Dance and play, tear and rip.
Crawl or fly like silent wind.
Magic heart, Golden sight,
All beware Dragon’s might.
True of heart, kind in soul
Strength untried and scales like stone.
Approach a dragon if you dare,
Bear your heart but don’t despair, when you enter dragon’s lair.

[/center]

Pyra let the words fade and then became silent again as she rode no longer humming to herself either.
‘That’s an old poem not heard since the disappearance of the Gods…’ Dara remarked. ‘It would be best not to sing such songs about the majestic nature of dragons. Dragons are still hated in the world of men because of the betrayal of their gods and therefore them. They are blamed for the disappearance of the gods. The priests claimed that the God’s of men were betrayed by the Dragon God’s which is why the sky caught fire and the sea boiled. They claimed that it was the battle between The Six.’
‘But you ain’t so sure?’ it was a statement not a question. Dara met Pyra’s gaze and smiled.
‘Educated people such as myself don’t put a lot of faith in what priests tlel us, we make our own assumptions,’ she explained eyes flickering to Gade who was still plodding along on the roan ahead of them. By the set of his back Dara knew he too was listening to the conversation. ‘What do you believe Pyra?’
‘I don’t agree or disagree Miss Dara seein’ as I ain’t never heard the rantin’s of these da herald’s and of people… I don’t rightly think da god’s had a disagreement neither. The book said the god’s were the best of friends Miss Dara, like a family.’ Her face looked troubled as she rode. ‘I’ll believe da dragon’s are evil when I see with me own eyes what they do.’

Dara shook her head and looked up meeting Gade’s gaze. She shrugged at him and then looked back at Pyra who was looking out across the open plains towards the dark smudge rising ahead of them.
‘What’s dat up ahead Mister Gade?’
‘Dradas Forest, not a big wood but it will take us two days to pass through and then its three weeks ride to Valoria,’ he replied smiling whimsically. ‘Then you will behold the wonder that is the capital of the Dream Seer’s and the Keeper Knights of the lands of men.’ Pyra rolled her eyes and went back to humming her ditties she had explored the forest not far from her own home town, see one forest and you see them all. Trees, undergrowth animals and leaf litter.


The forest wasn’t exactly what Pyra expected, she had thought the forest would be much like the one back home but it wasn’t all that different either. For one thing the trees weren’t as big around the trunk and they weren’t like the pines. They were of a tree she wasn’t familiar with and the feel of the forest was very different. Back home the pine forest whispered of the passing of beasts and little else but this forest whispered of many passing of man and beasts. The peace that once resided here had been disturbed; it made her feel uneasy because the lingering feeling was hostile. Reining storm to a halt and looked about the forest that had enclosed them. The canopy was broken in a line that followed the road meaning they had plenty of light but Pyra was still not liking the feel of this place.
‘What’s wrong princess?’ Gade enquired.
‘Nothin’ Mister Gade, it’s just not like I expected. As da forest back home was a little less…’
‘Intruded upon?’ Dara supplied.
‘Nah…. I dunno, mean. This place feels mighty rankled right now, like it’s mad or something mighty mean passed this way not long ago…’
‘Mean?’ Gade repeated looking sharply at Dara who was already swinging down off her horse and examining the ground along the road. She came back several minutes’ later expression tense, Gade watched her and felt his blood ice over a little as she mouthed the word’s Dragon Hunters.

Pyra looked between the pair and frowned, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing you need to worry about princess, we’ve just decided to take a slightly different path is all. You’ll get to see more of the forest. We’ll be camping off road and it will take us about a day more then planned but we’ll avoid the reason there forests feeling so mean.’ Gade explained nodding to Dara as she mounted her horse and turned them off road into the trees.

Following between the two Pyra looked about the forest and felt the mean feeling dissipate until it was replaced by the same calm feeling a forest should have. Relaxing she fell once more into the rhythm of riding and let Gade lead them through this alien place. As she rode, Pyra remembered the sound of the waves which seemed to echo above her as a breeze touched the canopy. She felt a tightening in her chest as she thought back to the warm days spent walking along the beaches singing the songs and poems recorded in her book. Yet Dara had warned her suck songs would be bad to sing, it saddened Pyra to hear so but she would do as the woman advised after all she knew more about the city and the world beyond Gado then she ever could.

Closing her eyes and trusting Storm to follow the roan—who still lacked a name—she remembered the feel of the sea breeze on her face and the smell of the salt stained air, a smell that was no longer with her and replaced by the smell of forest and decaying plant matter. No where near as potent as the smell of drying seaweed but it was a noticeable smell all the same. They rode for most of the day following game trails through the trees. Pyra dozed in her saddle listening to the song of the bird life all about them and smiled at how peaceful it felt in the trees. As she dozed Pyra felt herself slip into darkness and dream.

~

It was cold and dark as she traveled down the black stairs called on by the desolation and despair, tempered by pain and a longing to be free and no longer alone. She followed that feeling down deeper into the bowls of the darkness her hands stretched before her and came to rest upon ice cold stone. She shuddered and thought to turn back but what lay beyond called to her, needed her in a way she had never thought she could be needed. Pyra steeled her nerve and pushed the door open ignoring the sulfuric stench that rushed forward to meet her face and stepped into the darkness beyond.
Who’s there? It wasn’t a voice that called to her but a feeling that etched the words and touched by thought.
‘I came because you called...’ she whispered feeling anger fear and resentment wash over her like a black tide but still Pyra continued on.

Be gone human, I hath no love for thy kind. Ye hath chained and beaten and tried time and time again to break me but I will not be broken!
‘I did not come to break or dominate,’ she replied flinching at the strength of the anger touched with its own selfloathing. ‘I came because you needed me, I came because you called. Look into my heart and know I hold no hate for you… though if you wish me gone then I will leave and disturb you no more.’
There was silence but Pyra felt something that reminded her of a person but it was laced with something else, a savagery and wildness that was tempered by intellect, move about her and then in her. It touched her mind softly then her heart searching for something, but then it slid away and the silence continued.
You are… not as the others, It was puzzled suddenly unsure, I feel something—what is your name? The feeling voice was less hostile now but still cautious as if waiting for a moment when she would turn on it.
‘Pyra Serenea,’ she replied still moving through the darkness.
Stop there, it commanded and Pyra did.

There was nothing for a moment as she stood in the darkness, and then she felt the air around her stir. It was hot and brushed her face, the smell of it was like meat and death, the breath of a carnivore but she was not afraid. If anything she felt light in heart as if she knew this creature and without thinking reached up a hand and touched something she had never touched before. It was warm and smooth against her hand, reminding her of what a sea shell would feel like if it had a pulse, but broken into dozens of odd shape.

Are you not going to ask me my name? The voice asked as Pyra’s hand explored the warm shell like surface she began to identify as scales, like a fishes but shaped differently, and as her hand slid along she felt it tremble beneath her hands. Whether out of fear or pleasure she wasn’t sure.
‘No,’ she replied, realizing for the first time she was whispering in this dark place. ‘If you wished to give your name you would have told me when I gave mine…’ she trailed off as her hands explored the long hard thing against her hands feeling it shift and change as muscles twitched. She came to a ridge and stopped as her hands felt moisture and then just below it rows of smooth, long and sharp spikes aligned like teeth she continued following it up moving now until her hand touched something so cold it made her yelp and pull away.

My bonds… the reason I am still trapped… it sounded so sad Pyra reached forward again past the stinging cold metal and felt larger shapes and the twitching of powerful muscle that shifted and moved as it moved. In her minds eye she had begun to form a shape in her mind what was speaking to her and it excited her. As if sensing her thought a golden orb opened amid the darkness and looked at her. The eye shone with a cold intelligence and yet something more, something almost human but not quite. Yes I am a dragon though there would be others who doubt that claim, The tone was self mocking and then as an after thought is added.Now do you fear me?
‘No, never…’ she replied, a little startled by her own words. How could she be so sure? Burying the thought she trailed her hand along the dragon’s neck in wonder. ‘I’m dreaming I know it, this can’t be real and yet…’
Yet it feels real… I understand the feeling for this is notthe first dram like this I’ve had. Back when my mother used to visit me…it paused. How old are you?
‘Ten but, I don’t feel ten here…I feel older.’
We are as old as we wish ourselves to be, it is odd though that you could reach this place between dream and sleep. You havea unique mind… not tainted by hate for all dragons like most but hope and joy… she felt relief and possibly hope, fill the dark place as the golden orb slowly closed once more. I feel you are still some distance away but I await your coming… Pyra…[/b]

~

[/color]

[Kai! Kai!]

‘Pyra?’ She opened her eyes and found Dara shaking her in the saddle. Opening her eyes she stifled a yawn and looked up at Dara who smiled with relief when she met her eyes. ‘You had me worried little one when I couldn’t wake you from your doze.’
‘Sorry Miss Dara I was probably just a wee bit sleepy is all. Me mam used ta say I slept like a stone and she could probably clap thunder over me head and I wouldn’t as much as twitch.’ Pyra was rewarded with a laugh from Dara. Looking about she suddenly realized she wasn’t riding Storm any more and it was getting a little dark. ‘How long was I nappin’ Miss Dara?
‘A few hours princess,’ Gade replied as he stepped into sight. ‘You sleep pretty soundly even on horse back. We stopped a few hours ago to make camp. We still have two days until we reach the other side of the forest.’
‘Notin’ but trees and the talk for the forest animals eh?’

Dara and Gade exchanged glances for a second the look was so fleeting, Pyra missed it as she looked about the small camp with curiosity.
‘Something like that,’ Dara muttered then stood up and moved to the edge of camp to check something.
Looking back at Gade, Pyra’s face lost its innocent curiosity and became thoughtful. ‘Neither of you has been easy since I told you about how the forest felt mean…. Why?’

Gade shifted uncomfortably on his feet before he squatted down and sighed. ‘Back there what you felt was the residual feeling imprinted on the forest. It wasn’t the trees themselves that were mad; it was the people who passed through.’ Gade explained. ‘Those people are bad people regardless of what the population thinks.Dragon Hunters as they are called are men and women who have made their fortune killing Dragons.’
‘Dat’s terrible…’ Pyra hugged her knees her face expressing a deep sorrow.
‘Yes and no,’ He smiled faintly as Pyra’s sorrow became confusion. ‘The world ‘s not like it was in your book princess, seem the Dragons also started to attack us not long after the decision was made by the priests that it was the Dragon God’s fault our gods vanished along with them. People were afraid, and probably the Dragons were too. History isn’t too sure who started it first, maybe we did, maybe the Dragons did but suddenly we were at each others throats. Dragons would sneak in and burn crops or villages so in retaliation people took up dragon’s bane. It’s a plant that can kill a dragon if it enters their blood, and the first Dragon Hunters came into being, they stood as a barrier against Dragons and many people are grateful for the Hunters who keep the killers at bay but…’

‘They go across the mountains and hunt in the dragon’s territory,’ her voice was small scared.
‘No, Valor forbid!’ Gade became agitated at the very mention of it which warmed Pyra too him a little. The man seemed to dislike the idea of killing dragons though not as much as her but enough. ‘They wouldn’t dare not if we didn’t want all of Dragon kind swooping down on us. Better to kill those that attack in self-defense then start a war I doubt we could win.’

He sat down properly on the ground and smiled sadly, ‘fear and ignorance make people easy to mould. Don’t judge all for the evils of a few.’
Nodding slowly Pyra smiled at Gade pulling her blanket around her shoulders. Watching him Pyra almost felt like telling him about the dream she had before, almost but something inside her said that if she told them she wouldn’t have any more dreams about him and right now Pyra wanted to find out more about the lonely dragon in that dark place. So she sat there smiling with her blanket wrapped about her shoulders and then glanced over to the fire where a pot was steadily cooking on a stand. ‘What’s for dinner Mister Gade?’ Gade chucked and stood up moving over to the pot and stirred its contents before spooning some into a wooden bowl. ‘Beef stew, I’m sorry we don’t have any fish but it wouldn’t last this far.’

Pyra laughed too and shook her head, ‘It’s alright Mister Gade it’s a nice change. Me and me mam used to have fish five days a week.’
‘If you two are quite finished talking, lets eat because quite honestly I’m famished,’ Dara said, stepping out of the shadows to sit by the fire between Gade and Pyra making small talk with Gade as they discussed work and told Pyra about Valoria and the many places of interest throughout the lands of man.


The two days in the forest seemed to take forever to Pyra, as she rode and sometimes walked through the under brush, wincing when she stepped on a sharp stick with her bare feet. Despite Gade’s best efforts Pyra still refused to wear shoes, even Dara couldn’t persuade her otherwise. It wasn’t that Pyra didn’t like the shoes they had for her, it was she just didn’t want to wear them; they rubbed on her feet and gave her blisters and Pyra hated blisters, even if they’d be gone in a week. So she went bare foot taking what pain happened to cross her path in stepping on sharp things.

So as the trees thick canopy finally started to give way and the influences of man on its edge became more apparent, Pyra felt something like relief and sorrow. She was happy to have a clear unobscured view of the sky but sad to be leaving the forest behind for it meant they were that little bit closer to the ominous Capital of Valoria City of the Dream Seers and the Keeper Knights. In the two days where they rode or walked through the trees Dara and Gade had taken it in turns to describe the world of the city. The Seers kept mostly to their temples but it was the Keeper Knights who kept the peace in the city along with the common guard. Gade knew a lot about the Keeper Knights which made Pyra a little suspicious because some of the things he said didn’t seem like the kind of common knowledge most common people would. Then again Gade and Dara weren’t what she’s call normal people. Dara was a skilled magic user — though Pyra had never caught her at it — she had felt the faint residue of its use around both the woman and her horse and even that spoke of a tempered power.

Her traveling companions and guardians for the journey were strange people Pyra understood and those secrets did make her uneasy, but despite that the days spent traveling with them had been pleasant and even fun. Pyra even discovered that beneath that stern expression Gade always wore, was a joker and someone who enjoyed a god laugh as much as the next person. While Dara was a master story teller, they would sit around the fire and picking a page out of Pyra’s book she would read the stories aloud bringing them to life with her words and slowly she would drift off to sleep with those stories alive in her dreams. Thinking of her dreams Pyra smiled as she recalled the one about the dragon in the darkness, he still hadn’t given his name but they had talked again. The dragon had asked many questions about her life in Gado and Pyra had happily told him about it. She still didn’t know what he looked like either except that he was about as big as a horse and had wings making him a young Sky Dragon. Though she was only going by what understood in her book. Of the three Dragon species the Sky dragon was the most numerous and the shortest lived as well as being the smallest, they were also considered the easiest to approach.

Sky Dragons were carefree playful beings who enjoyed their freedom and travel though fast and deadly when angered thanks to their ability to breathe a jet of flame up to sixty feet or spit a kind of cold spray that freezes flesh or anything else it touches on contact. They weren’t very large perhaps thirty hands high at the shoulder at their largest, from what she could tell her dream dragon was perhaps twenty hands so he wasn’t big.

Pyra sighed deeply as she tried to piece together the appearance of her dream dragon and smiled foolishly at Dara who had glanced at her when she sighed.
‘Just think Pyra, three weeks and you’ll see the capital of the lands of man, Valoria is a grand place to see.’ Gade called over his shoulder smiling as Pyra snorted. ‘You might not think it’ll be much but I guarantee you’ll be awed by the sight princess.’
‘I can hardly wait Mister Gade,’ Pyra frowned and then looked skyward watching the clouds roll lazily overhead. In three weeks she would meet her father for the first time, a man she knew next to nothing about and the more she thought about it the more Pyra found she didn’t really want to know him. He was a man who didn’t want to know her until he had no choice. What kind of man she was she had no idea other then the fact Gade and Dara referred to him as an important person. She sighed again more softly then before and then slid down from Storm’s saddle ignoring Dara’s questioning look and trotted along beside her horse.


Pyra trotted along beside her horse for an hour before she hauled herself back into Storm’s saddle with a little held from Dara, they rode for another three hours until finally making camp by a small brook for the night. Her thoughts were still centered around the dragon in her dreams and her father. Both were starting to wear thin and yield little answers to the questions that reared their heads so to distract herself, she decided to change the subject of her thoughts.
‘Miss Dara,’ she began, picking up a small twig and flicking it into the small cooking fire Gade had set up for their evening meal.
‘Yes?’ she replied absently polishing one of her belt knives.
‘What makes da Dragon Hunters so truly bad?’
Dara frowned and set her dagger back in its sheath with a soft click and looked thoughtfully at Pyra. The girl returned her look with a curious and patient one.
‘I suppose, it’s because they are more often then not the very worst of humanity,’ she replied after a moments thought. ‘See, Dragon Hunters are men and women who make their living killing Dragons, but its not just the dragons that attack us but the hatchlings and the old and those peaceful gentle natured ones that wish to be just left alone. They make their living out of the suffering of others too, they are cruel and savage not just to the dragons but to their fellow man. My people and I believe this is because they spend so much time with Dragons Bane; it’s not just poisonous to dragons. Given enough contact with it over time and a person will die from it too but not before it does other things. I suppose turning them into savage bloodthirsty killers is one.’

Pyra shuddered and pulled her blanket up around her shoulders as Dara continued. ‘We wanted to avoid the Dragon hunters most of all because they are on the pay roll of your step mother and she—‘
‘Dara!’ Gade spoke sharply cutting her off.

Dara smiled apologetically and shook her head. ‘Forget what I said just then Pyra, I was over stepping my mark but lets just say meeting Dragon Hunters could be the worst thing right now. They aren’t very fond of your father because he’s not very fond of them… they’re dangerous to be around and we two alone against who knows how many wouldn’t be very smart. Especially if they decided to attack us because trust me when I say they have done it before.’

Nodding slowly, Pyra settled deeper down into her blankets turning over the information about Dragon Hunters in her head. They sounded little better then monsters. ‘What happens ta dose who are eatin’ up by da Dragons Bane?’

This time it was Gade who answered as he spooned three bowls of stew up for them to eat. ‘They become something between the living and the dead. They’re monsters princess, inside and out regardless if they wear a human skin on the outside.’ He paused and handed out the bowls before sitting down next to her. ‘If you ever come across one of those Dragon Hunters you’ll know it princess,’ Gade explained. ‘I once asked your father what it felt like to be around them and you know what he said?’ Gade smiled ruefully. ‘He said; “Imagine the most stagnant slime filled cesspool you could ever imagine and you might come close to describing the feeling. It’s more of a smell really, a stench of death and defilement that haunts.”’
‘Dey sound worse den de beast men across da sea…’ Pyra remarked blowing on her spoon to cool the stew before she ate it. Looking up at Gade and Dara who were looking oddly at her.

‘You know about the beast men?’ Dara remarked incredulously as Pyra nodded and watched as Pyra reached into her bag and pulled out her book. She opened it carefully and flicked to the back page. Dara frowned she’d looked at the book from front to back but there was never any mention of the beast men it in. As a matter-of-fact nobody outside of the city council, Seer’s council and the Dark Mage’s were meant to know. She watched and looked startled as Pyra slipped her fingers under the cover and retrieves a few separate sheets of paper. The cut where they had been hiding was so fine even she had missed it. Curious Dara took the pages Pyra handed over and unfolded them, brows furrowing as she looked at the pages.
‘You’re just full of surprises Pyra,’ she remarked folding the pages up and smiled. ‘I’ll have to keep these sorry. People aren’t meant to know about the beast men because they might panic… that means you’ll have to keep the secret too just like your book.’

Pyra sighed deeply and nodded. ‘Alright Miss Dara, though I think its awful silly keeping secrets. It just makes more trouble coz tellin’ secrets means ya tell lies and lies make thing’s all dat more confusin’ and such.’

Dara laughed softly and nodded eating her own stew. ‘You’re right but sometimes telling lies is necessary. Now no more questions and eat up we have a long way to travel yet.’
Smiling Pyra nodded and set to work demolishing her stew.

[Kai! Kai!]

Chapter Four

[/u]

‘This place…is it real or is it a dream?’
The Dragon turned his head an fixed her with the full force of his gaze for a moment before closing his eyes once more taking his time before answering. I’m not entirely sure myself except that this place is called a Dreamscape. It is a world that is something between the waking world and the world of dreams where the world is tangible but malleable. We can change it but only if we truly wish the dreamscape changed and only if the replacement dreamscape is strong enough in the mind of the one whose dreamscape you reside in. Dreamscapes are places where the minds of others may gather to trade information or just meet sometimes dreamscapes take on a will of their own and draw others to them just as mine did for you.
~[/center]

Valoria looked positively colossal as they paused for a moment, taking in the view of the city beyond, from the top of a steep rise in the noon sun. It was larger then anything Pyra had ever seen before with its four stone walls that made it look like a kind of maze. One wall stood within the circle of another broken only by the broad spaces where the sections of the cities could be found and all the walls from the first to fourth were broken in places by small towers where soldiers kept watch of the city within and beyond for danger. They were also stations where the soldiers could change watch or report to superior officers each tower also had its own small prison.

Gade had explained during those three weeks of travel that Valoria was divided into four main areas. Outer-Ring, which was the poor district situated between the first wall and second wall, was the home of the traders and poor folk of all kinds. Middle-Ring which was between the second and third wall was home to the middle class along with the merchants and soldiers, while Inner-Ring was home to the upper class. The nobles, and council and all who were of notable stature in the world of politics, all protected by the third and fourth walls. The center however, which was encompassed by all the entire city was where the fortress was situated along with the Citadel. It was also the home of the royal family the Seers and the Keeper Knights. While the Dark Mages were situated in town all their own to the north because of the dangers their inexperienced mages have when experimenting with their powers, though several of the more noted masters of their craft live in the center.

Gade nudged the roan up beside Pyra and smiled down at her as she stared at the city near by, ‘Big ain’t it?’
‘Oh yes Mister Gade, very big,’ Pyra replied in a hushed voice, following a laughing Dara as she spurred Shanara ahead of them towards the city.
‘Prepare for the wonders and horrors of city life princess,’ Gade warned keeping the roan level with Storm. ‘You thought those town we passed were hard on your senses just wait until we get close to the gates.’
‘Gade!’ Dara scolded him over her shoulder. ‘Don’t say things like that.’

‘It’s the truth Dara and you know I cannot tell a lie,’ Gade replied mischief dancing in his eyes while Dara rolled hers. Pyra hid a smile behind her hair as she tilted her head forward. It was a gesture both her guardians thought to be a thinking pose but in truth it was so she could hide her face if she was trying not to visibly laugh. Her hair being so long and thick meant it was like a curtain obscuring her face behind the dark locks.
‘I haven’t scared you have I princess?’
‘Oh no Mister Gade, I almost hardly feel like I’m gunna hurl,’ Pyra replied. ‘O’course I don’t feel notin’ but, like I gots a whole pit-o-sea snakes twistin’ in my gut, or dat me mouth feels dryer den da shore on a summer day or dat—‘
‘Alright princess I get the picture!’ Gade pleaded laughing helplessly at the girl’s look of absolute innocents and Dara’s smug satisfaction. A look that clearly said ‘I told you so’.

The walls grew larger the closer they got to the city until finally as they reached the west Gate Pyra had to crane her neck back just to see the top. The walls were made of a gray slate stone that showed old scars from what could have been claw and scorch marks they looks very old though, so old they were almost worn away. Gade nudged the Roan up beside Storm and took the horses reins. ‘Better let me lead her through here princess the city is a very busy place and it wouldn’t do my heart any good if you got lost there. Valoria is a very big place after all.’
‘Oh yes, and its going to be late by the time we manage to navigate the crowds so instead of heading ot se her father straight away lets spend the night in the middle ring I know a family there who I think would love to meet you and she’s a friend of mine.’ Dara rode up beside Gade and then move ahead f him towards the gate leading the way.

‘Wait!’ Gade called urging the Roan to follow while Storm followed grudgingly at the rear. ‘Won’t that be rude intruding on your friend so unexpectedly?’
‘No,’ Dara replied with a smile. ‘She already knows we’re coming.’
Gade rolled his eyes and patted the roan on the neck. ‘Can’t argue with that and I’m not even going to try… once that woman makes up her mind its like trying to make gold out of lead… it just don’t happen.’ He looked over his shoulder as Pyra giggled.
‘Not much point talkin’ ta horses Mister Gade, they’re terrible liars.’

It was Dara’s turn to laugh though she said nothing more as they passed through the massive gate amongst the crush of people as they entered and left the city. On the way they were stopped by a pair of guards who spoke eagerly with Gade about the problem of crime in the city. When Pyra tried to get more details out of Gade he shook his head and told her it was none of her concern though as they rode through the press of the crowds she did hear the whisper of murder in Inner-Ring—something that wasn’t supposed to happen but was. Pyra however, couldn’t think too much on murders and crime however because her fine tuned sense of others was over riding her mind. Never had Pyra felt such concentrated misery, despair and fear. Looking about she saw these people some dressed as plainly as her people back in Gado and many less so. There were even people who sat in the dirt on the sides of the roads, in front of buildings and side streets calling for food scraps or money, inwardly Pyra shuddered and recoiled against the wash of emotion that assailed her. The city in her opinion was not a nice place to live, not at all. Gade had been right, the towns they had stayed temporarily in some nights was nothing compared to this city though she had wished desperately that he had been wrong.

How could Da stand living in such a bad place? She wondered flinching away from the city around her. Then remembered how Gade told her she would adjust. He probably grew up with it and never knew any different… I couldn’t stand it here I think I’d go mad…Storm shied sideward startling Pyra out of her thoughts as she gripped the saddle horn and looked about.
‘Alright back there Pyra?’ Gade called over his shoulder and smiled as Pyra nodded though continued to look about her uneasily. Gade slowed the Roan and tied Storm to his own Saddle so the horses were almost walking side by side. ‘Don’t fret, it won’t be so bad once we get into the Middle-Ring, things should quiet down a bit.’
‘Maybe…’ Pyra bowed her head and focusing on Storm’s glossy neck rather then the ugly site around her.

How long they rode Pyra wasn’t sure but eventually the chaos of the streets around them ebbed and grew more stable like the simple conversations of people at a market and with it the concentrated feelings that oppressed her senses faded as well though they were still there, just not as noticeable. Looking up she watched as they passed through a small gateway. It was guarded on both sides by soldiers and had a steel drop gate ad both ends as well as heavy wooden doors. Beyond the portal of the second wall Pyra saw streets and homes less ragged then those of Outer-Ring. Houses ranged from simple to slightly extravagant in regards to those around. Pyra smiled despite herself as she looked at the houses with their small front gardens and the children as they ran about in their games. The atmosphere of Middle-Ring reminded her greatly of her home minus the stench of fish and drying sea weed. There were also many more people but that didn’t matter, this was a place more to her liking.
‘How long until we reach your friends house?’ Gade enquired. ‘The weather’s looking to turn nasty very soon.’

Looking up, Pyra saw the dark clouds that had traveled overhead while she was busy keeping her attention on anything but Outer-Ring. They were dark, and touched with a hint of purple that told of a bad storm, much like those storms that hit the coast during late winter and early summer. Only it didn’t have the smell of the sea. It smelt instead of cold and dirt; this storm had formed over Father Earth, not Mother Sea.
‘Very nasty,’ Pyra agreed. ‘back home me and me mam and the rest of da village had ta batten down da hatches when storms like dat came. More den one house collapsed coz of da wind though few people died. Only if they were stupid enough ta ignore old Mab da weather witch. She could smell a squall a week off at da best o’times.’
‘Not much further,’ Dara assured them. ‘Gloria even has a stable where we can leave the horses.’
‘What does this friend of yours do exactly Dara?’ Gade moved the roan over slightly to avoid a pedestrian who stepped out into the street without looking. And ignored the verbal abuse the man gave him for nearly being run over.
‘Gloria? Oh, she runs the Talon Inn, it’s a cozy little place where drunkards aren’t tolerated and you can find a warm bed and hot meal for a fair price. Gloria doesn’t suffer fools or threats either; we grew up together and have remained steadfast friends through the years.’ Dara looked over her shoulder at Pyra, ‘She has two children of her own around your age Pyra. Her oldest is a boy names Orin a cheeky lad who is always bristling for a fight, but then again what twelve year old boy isn’t at that age? And her youngest is her daughter Lolita who is as sweet as they come and has a sharp tongue to go with her sweet disposition. It was a real tragedy when her husband martin was killed in the riots four years back but Gloria is a strong woman, made of steel she is with a heart of gold.’


They continued down the rode for several more minutes until Dara dismounted and led them around the side of a reasonably sized building with two floors. Pyra who had been watching the storm with apprehension saw two shadows in the window closest to them peer down before the smaller of the two disappeared. Watching the remaining shadow Pyra was shown the features of a young boy, perhaps twelve years of age with mouse brown hair and curious gray-green eyes watching them as lighting flashed overhead. The storm had come.

Rain began to fall lightly not long after as Dara led them into the stables and set the horses in their stalls after removing the saddle bags. The stable hand would give the horses the attention they needed. Carrying her oil cloth wrapped book Pyra stood by the stable door and peered out into the torrential downpour that had hit while they were unsaddling the horses. Lightning danced in ragged sheets across the blackened sky while thunder caused the very air to shake. Pyra closed her eyes and recalled how the storms used to hit much like this in Gado and how she and her mother would sit by the iron stove wrapped in a blanket while she read to her from her book by candle light until sleep claimed her. A not twisted itself in her heart and gut as she remembered her mother. It had been almost a month since she last saw her, was she alright, did she miss her?

Yes, she did.

Pyra knew that much for this was not the first time she had had such thoughts, thoughts that made her feel sick and alone, thoughts that made her sad every time she thought of home, she missed it and would miss it the whole time she was in this city with its miserably people and cold stone streets and walls. Six mothers, half a year and then she would be on her way home again never to return, unless her Da requested she come to visit him again because she would go if only to be nice but she couldn’t live here indefinably. The city just wasn’t the kind of place Pyra could stand in larger doses, the people seemed to reflect their environment or rather the environment reflected them, cold and uncaring like stone.
‘How’s the weather?’ Gade was standing beside her, looking out into the storm towards the building that was the next destination. It was only fifty paces away, but in this storm fifty paces was a long way. ‘I think we might want to wait for it to let up…’
‘You’ll be waiting for the next three hours then Gade, this storms not going to let up for a good while,’ Dara explained. ‘So pick up your bags and follow me.’ She stepped out into the storm and walked briskly towards the back door of the Inn. Gade hesitated for a moment before he took Pyra by the arm and pulled her along as they headed for the building. Pyra felt the rain soak into her cloths almost instantly, it was as cold as it smelt and made her skin feel numb within seconds, the weather had grown steadily colder the further east they went and only now did Pyra wish she’d worn a few more layers.

‘Hurry up and get inside before you get any wetter!’ a voice called over the thunder. Pyra was hauled along a little faster and between the next yank and a few steps, the rain hitting her stopped and the darkness was replaced by a warm golden light. Pyra wiped her face with a hand and shivered, it was much colder here then back home.
‘Poor dear you’re soaked to the bone!’ the voice cut through again ad Pyra was steered over to the side. Dara stepped over and took the book out of Pyra’s hands as another woman draped towel over her shoulders. Curious Pyra examined the woman through her wet hair as the woman knelt on the floor next to her rubbing vigorously to dry the water and warm her cold muscles. The woman had rich dark brown hair that looked touched with gold in the candle light; her skin had an aged look that made her perhaps in her mid thirties. Her eyes are a kind soft green that reminded Pyra of seaweed. This Pyra realized must be Gloria and observing this robust woman Pyra realized she had a bubbly nature, she could feel the kindness and goodwill rolling off her like a gentle waves. This was the kind of person Pyra liked, she felt more alive and real then the people of the streets of Outer-Ring.[/color]

[Kai! Kai!]

‘What be your name little one eh?’ Gloria asked as she rubbed at Pyra’s wet head with the towel.
‘Pyra Serenea, Miss,’ Gloria’s expression was like a mask as she continued to rub Pyra down from head to foot, but underneath that mask the girl felt strong emotions stir. First of all shock, then disbelief followed by sorrow and something else, and an emotion so tangled up with the others she couldn’t put a name to it. At least not at present, especially when Gloria took Pyra’s chin in her hand and looked the girl over thoughtfully.
‘You’re a pretty thing little one,’ Gloria remarked. ‘I reckon when you’re older you’ll be a real treasure to look at just like my Lolita. Now come along and you can change out of those wet cloths and then I’ll introduce you to Lolita and Orin they’re about your age give or take four years between the three of you.’
Before Pyra could even get a word in edge wise, Gloria had her by the hand and was about to lead her through the door into the main room. There she paused and directed Gade and Dara to their already made rooms on the second floor while Gloria led Pyra down a small passage that led to another set of rooms.
‘You can stay in with Lolita rather then bunk in with Dara, she’s a noisy sleeper and she’ll have work to do till all hours of the night now that she’s back.’ Gloria nattered as they entered into the room on the far right. In there Gloria stripped Pyra off and pulled out one of Pyra’s plain gray woolen dresses and clean undergarments before brushing her hair and tying it back in a low ponytail.
‘Much better,’ Gloria remarked looking Pyra over again. ‘Pity you don’t have anything more colorful to wear but I suppose your father will fix that when you meet him.’

Impulsively Pyra asked. ‘What’s me Da like?’ she wasn’t sure what brought on the question or even if Gloria knew him but she had asked anyway.
‘What’s my farther like,’ Gloria corrected with a smile. ‘He’s a kind man, very fair with people and he is well liked. You have his eyes but, you’ll meet him tomorrow so don’t worry about it now.’ The woman took Pyra by the hand again and led her out of the room back into the main area of the Inn, sitting Pyra at a table by the fire to finish drying off. While she waited Gade and Dara came down stairs both dressed in clean dry clothing. They smiled at Pyra and took a seat at the main counter accepting a glass each of amber liquid Pyra suspected to be brandy. A moment later Pyra became aware of two other presences in the room, she looked up and spotted first the boy who had watched them in the window and the younger girl beside him. She was perhaps a head shorted then her older brother but had the same colored hair and eyes. They looked at Pyra and Pyra stared back and finally the two came over sitting opposite her at the table. Pyra sighed and lent her elbows on the table regarding the pair with a raised eyebrow.

It was Lolita who spoke first enquiring softly. ‘What’s your name?’
Pyra smiled at the girl and replied. ‘Me mam named me Pyra. What about you?’ Orin smirked as Pyra talked obviously finding something amusing about the way she spoke and received a defended look from Pyra. ‘So what is I talk funny. Ye sound mighty funny to me when ye speak.’

Orin grinned broadly despite Pyra’s offended look and then laughed softly. ‘Oh I don’t hear nothing funny about the way you talk it’s just a little different is all. We get all kinds of people in Valoria so you can count yourself among the many hundred of oddities that venture into this city yearly. Name’s Orin by the way and that is my little sister Lolita.’ He jerked a thumb at the girl next to him who returned the gesture with a sour look.
‘So where’d you come from?’ Lolita enquired.
‘Gado,’ Pyra replied and then added after seeing their blank faces. ‘It’s a fishin’ village way west. Mister Gade said it was so isolated dat its probably de most western town in existence. We live along de coast and we get alotta bad weather too during winter and summer. Storms like dis and worse.’
‘You live by the sea?’ Orin looked at her in awe and envy. Pyra could understand though, he lived very far inland and probably never saw the sea only heard about it. Smiling Pyra then began to tell them both about what it was like to live in Gado and with her mother though there wasn’t really much to tell because living in such a small town meant live had a certain rhythm to it. You got up did your chores for the day and little else after that.

Lolita looked bored after a while but Orin expressed a real interest in what Gado was like, so encouraged by his enthusiasm Pyra began telling him about how she also spent her days avoiding the other children too by going for long walks on the beach and sometimes even how she saw sea serpents playing in the waves out in the sea. Talking about the sea serpents go Lolita’s attention almost immediately it seemed the girl had a fascination for creatures of the exotic variety and interrupted Pyra by asking what they look like. That made Pyra pause as she thought hard about all the stories she was told and what she knew from memory before answering.

Sea Serpents were much like giant snakes only their heads were angular and made to cut through water. They didn’t have horns but rather large webbed fins, four for swimming, a fan like fin on the tail for propulsion and a single long webbed fin along their backs like a sail. The ones Pyra had seen would have been big enough to coil around the talon thrice over and their bodies would have been thicker then tree trunks and their scales were the colour of sea water which changed depending on the weather. Sometimes they were a motley-green, sometimes a vibrant beautiful blue and other times a dark sullen gray.
‘Have you ever heard the serpents sing?’ Dara enquired, startling Pyra who noticed she had the undivided attention of everyone in the room.
‘Aye Miss Dara,’ Pyra replied softly. ‘I’ve heard the leviathan’s song tis a very pretty ting too. Not somethin’ that can be spoken either incase you be askin’ but maybe…’ Pyra smiled and sat up a little stretching her arms to ease her stiff muscles. ‘Maybe if ye heard it yeself ye might understand.’

Gade smiled and shook his head, ‘I doubt that will ever happen Pyra. Sea serpents don’t start singing on queue; you have to be very lucky to hear them.’
She shook her head and smiled. ‘Nu-uh mister Gade, I knows a place where dey gather ta sing tad a moon and sing ta da dawn and they sing just coz they can. Or…’ she paused and smiled mischievously. ‘or, dey sing because they appreciate their music as much as I do.’
Dara laughed softly then and patted a stunned Gade on the shoulder. ‘So little one, you’ve found the Leviathan’s Cove? The one place where no men walk for fear of the monsters of the deep, was their song truly as beautiful as its said to be?’
‘Miss Dara,’ Pyra said in a very serious tone, ‘Da words of people do scant justice to the song of the Leviathan. As I said before words can’t describe it and may me tongue turn green and me teeth fall out if it ain’t.’

Lolita sighed wistfully, eyeing Pyra with obvious envy, ‘I wish I could have heard it…’

Tilting her head to the side Pyra regarded the girl for a moment then smiled. Softly at first the sound was barely audible but even as the storm pounded overhead the humming that Pyra started grew in volume until she began to sing soft little notes that rose and fell in a steady tempo that to Pyra resembled the steady beat of waves on the shore. As she sang what she could recall of the Leviathan’s song she separated the soft high notes and the log growling notes with the occasional hiss like the serpents did while she closed her eyes and saw in her mind’s eye the secluded cove that only she knew about passed so often by others because the trail was so unstable where the massive coiling creatures swayed and sang to the sky, to the sea and to each other. By the time Pyra let the song die away. Only then did she feel her homesickness come back twice as strong as before with a force that made her feel tired.

Yawning deeply Pyra sank her head back onto the table and stared lazily at the stunned faces in the room muttering, ‘It’s only what I can remember and I can’t sing it like they can…’ She yawned again and sank her head lower into the nest of her arms eyes drooping with weariness.
‘Och she’s all tiered out from her story telling,’ Gloria said then looked at Gade. Why don’t you go put her to bed in Lolita’s room, there’s a spare pallet made up for her in there speaking on which.’ She turned and looked at her children. ‘Bed time for you two as well, of you go and no groaning its late.’ Gade smiled gathering a dozing Pyra up, and followed a muttering Lolita and Orin down the main passage to the children’s rooms.

Gloria and Dara watched the four of them leave before moving over to the main counter. Dara took a stool while Gloria moved around it and poured three brandies. They drank in silence while waiting for Gade to return from the room, when he did the man sat at the bar beside Dara and sipped his own brandy.
‘That’s a remarkable girl there,’ Gloria said softly. ‘She has Melinda’s steel but Julian’s gentle nature…’
‘That and other things,’ Dara replied absently swilling her drink in its glass before downing the rest of the liquid, and then smiled at the questioning looks of both Gade and Gloria. ‘That girl has a remarkable gift for healing besides the talents inherited from her father’s side. Melinda always was something above the ordinary and only now, am I beginning to wonder just what made her that way.’
‘How strong a talent are we talking?’ Gade asked.
‘Strong enough that she healed Storms infected leg with a touch, I couldn’t even detect a scar and… the horse is still thrumming with the magic too infused into the animals very flesh, bone and blood. Strom’s going to be something of an above average horse while she’s humming with it…’
Gloria raised both eyebrows in surprise, ‘That is strong… Healing is one of the Gifts of Alphira’s Seers, but nothing so… potent.’
‘I wonder what else she’ll do?’ Dara mused, accepting another brandy. ‘That girl has a lot of potential, which I must say I’m rather pleased that I’ll be the one to mold it.’

Gade chuckled and raised his glass, ‘To promising pupils and fun times ahead.’ Dara and Gloria raised their glasses as well and then drank changing the topic of conversation to the latest turn of politics in Valoria and local gossip.

~

Greetings to you Pyra, the dragon called to her across the mental chain that spoke to her in emotion and thought, more recently his words were touched with genuine pleasure at her coming.
‘Hello,’ she replied moving towards the center of the dark room where they met every night she dreamed of this place. It never changed just as the dragon was always chained and bound with the bonds that stung when she touched them reminding her of the bite of sand flies.
You sing quite nicely and with a bit more practice you might even impress the serpents.
That startled Pyra just a little,’ You knew what I was singing? How?’
I was curious about you so I kind of, hitched a ride in your waking mind one night seeing the world through your eyes experiencing it with your senses though before you get alarmed know that I was a passive passenger. I could do no more then observe. He sounded somewhat guilty about doing it though Pyra suspected it was more because he was caught out.
‘Could you talk to me too while like that or is it merely for observation purposes?’
The dragon shifrted ni the darkness and opened his eyes lowering his head to Pyra’s level. I don’t know… but it would be fun wouldn’t it. That would mean I could ask you questions about things I don’t understand and you can explain them to me rather then wait for when you come to me.
‘Actually there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you,’ Pyra began. ‘This place is it real or is it a dream?’
The Dragon turned his head an fixed her with the full force of his gaze for a moment before closing his eyes once more taking his time before answering. I’m not entirely sure myself except that this place is called a Dreamscape. It is a world that is something between the waking world and the world of dreams where the world is tangible but malleable. We can change it but only if we truly wish the dreamscape changed and only if the replacement dreamscape is strong enough in the mind of the one whose dreamscape you reside in. Dreamscapes are places where the minds of others may gather to trade information or just meet sometimes dreamscapes take on a will of their own and draw others to them just as mine did for you.
Nodding slowly Pyra thought over this information and then looked thoughtfully to where she sensed the large shape of the dragon to be, ‘Could I do it? Make a Dreamscape of my own?’
Anything is possible if you believe, he replied.[/b] Who knows maybe you could even show me that Leviathan’s Cove where you saw the sea serpents singing.[/b] He sounded as wistful as Lolita had.
‘Maybe someday you could see it in the flesh rather then in a dream,’ Pyra offered smiling as she settled herself down on the cold stone floor of the dark chamber.
Perhaps… he murmured. Now tell me about the storms, you never mentioned them to me when you spoke of your home. What are they like and what are the differences between the summer and winter ones?
Laughing Pyra began to tell the dragon what she understood about the storms and what differences she had noticed between the two before continuing one of the stories she had been reciting from memory from her book He seemed to like the stories about as much as she. They talked for hours—at least as far as measuring time went in this place until finally Pyra felt a deep restless that signified her nearing waking.
‘Time to go I’m afraid,’
I await your coming Pyra. The darkness faded along with the presence of the Dragon and that dark room as true sleep took hold.[/i]

~

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