Chapter 1: The Narins Revenge

The army moved over the dry valley road, kicking up dust so that one could barely see the complement of men that passed by. Horse drawn chariots and a calvary of archers made their way over the trade road, with no end in sight. Thousands of archers and men with heavy weapons would follow on foot, along with a company of engineers who would dig trenches under fortified walls, and build bridges to cross moats.

The morning was already hot. The boiling sun beat down on the men, making their travel even more arduous. The land surrounding the road was harsh, the left side lined with high rock ledges, the right dry, flat and barren land. Trees grew atop the white rock ledges on the left, concealing caves and more rock, but the solders never looked up to long for the respite they might give. They were trained fighting men, with their eyes fixed on their goal.

A young girl watched from the ridge above the road, crouched down, hiding behind a giant rock concealed by trees. Her father and uncle hid with her, obseving the procession before them. As the young girl watched, the dust parted to reveal a boy riding a majestic horse that was much too big for the youthful child. Her other-worldly, topaz eyes followed the dark haired boy as he rode straight and proud, handling the great beast with surprising strength. Breaking rank, the boy scanned the company of men as if looking for someone.

Something about his manner drew her to him and she rose up, straining to get a better view. In all of her four years, she had never seen anything as wondrous as what she was seeing now - and she wasn’t thinking about the large size of the army. No, it was him. Some urge deep inside made her want to be near him, though she would not have known how to express her feelings if asked.

Obviously sensing he was being observed, the boy turned his head in the direction of where the young girl and her family hid. He brought his mount to the edge of the road and moved in front of them, though still a good distance away. The girl gasped, and her father jerked her down, hiding her under him.

Her uncle, who was in a better position to observe and not be seen, watched as the boy strained to see if there was indeed something, or someone, hidden in the trees.

A rider broke free and came up to the boy. It was a well-armed man, who looked to be twenty years his senior. He said something to the boy and then returned to the group of men. The girl's uncle breathed a sigh of relif as the boy, with one more glance back, returned to ride beside the soldier.

Her uncle signaled to her father that it was time to leave. He was anxious to talk about what they witnessed. They slowly crept away from the ridge to the cave where her mother hid.

Long ago, before the young girl was born, her uncle received a vision concerning the future of Naran, their homeland. While in a day-long trance, he saw the destruction of their holy cities and chains placed on their brothers. Afterward he tried to warn the people that the coming invaders were too strong to be resisted. He told them they should flee before the great army arrived to lay waste to all, but only derision came from those who heard his words.

Branded a traitor by many for daring to suggest that the mighty city of Akali, home to the holiest temple in Naran, was vulnerable to defeat, the people imprisoned her uncle, to await his death. The Ancients had other plans for him, because he was eventually set free. Knowing that captivity was coming to Naran, he decided it was time to leave. He, and the only family he had left, packed the things they stored for the journey and headed east to the coastlands. To get there they would pass through the low-lands of Ardara, the great country of the east, then over a high mountain range.

On the second day of their departure, an ominous cloud of dust broke over the horizon. Recognizing what the cloud of dust forewarned, her father and uncle broke off the trade road they followed and headed for the high mountain ledges lining it. Invading armies often used trade roads to get to their destinations, and the Ardaran army was no exception. In the ledges a cave was found, veiled by trees and sparse vegetation. The girl and her family hid there until the army completed its pass.

It took another three days for the full complement to make it's way through the valley. When her uncle and father decided it was safe to move on, the quiet little group made their way back to the road and continued their journey.

While hidden in the caves, they had come to the conlcusion it was best to set aside plans for making their way to the coastlands and instead turn towards Fasad, the fortified capital city of Ardara.

Their sense was that they could not abandon their people completely. They knew it would not be long before their fellow Naranans would be in Ardara as well. They, however, would arrive in shackles.


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Hiding in her mother’s trunk, Hadah giggled. Luc, her best friend in the entire world, put his hand over her mouth and raised a finger to his mouth, indicating to be silent. They were waiting till Mara, Hadah's mother, came to seek them out in the sleeping loft. Luc thought it would be great fun to jump out and surprise her.

“Hadah, Luc, come your dinner is ready,” she heard her mother call.

Suddenly a loud crash echoed through Hadah's sturdy little home. Luc instinctively tightened his grip on Hadah’s mouth, silencing any sound she might have made.

Hadah heard her mother scream at the sudden loud sound, and her eyes widened in confused fear.

In the main room, just off the courtyard, Mara screamed in shock as two armed men rushed in. One grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. His arm came up to her neck and pinned her several feet above the ground.

“Where is the seal?” He was choking her and she was unable to answer him.

“Where is it or your family dies.” He let up the pressure on her throat.

Mara thought of her golden haired child playing in the other room.

Oh Ancient one, hide her, she prayed silently.

“I don’t know what you speak of.” Her voice was horse from desperation and the abuse she was suffering.

He moved his arm and let her feet touch the floor. Almost simultaneously, his fist knocked her face against the wall. Slowly she turned back to him and checked the urge to spit the blood she tasted in his ugly face. The children's safety was foremost on her mind.

While one soldier was with her, the other was tearing apart her cooking area. He emptied baskets, upturned tables, and scattered dishes. Mara knew if she didn’t get these men out of her house the rest of her home would be next and they would find the children.

“I beg of you. Don’t do this. If this is concerning something commissioned, it’s not here! My husband keeps his shop completely separate from the household. Please let us be!” Mara was frantic, fear making her words run together as she tried to reason with him.

The man made a menacing sound as he shook her raising his hand once again.

“Your husband is dead,” a calm voice said from across the room.

Another man had entered the house and this man she knew. Mara slumped over as a muffled cry escaped her swollen lips. Conscious of the man’s conniving hatred, she knew what he said was true.

Disdain and condescension were written on his handsome face. His flat dark-eyed gaze took in the scattered room around him.

“It’s too late, the seal has been delivered. We must go.” He turned and walked out.

The soldier holding her moved as if to leave, but turned to land one more blow. This time she passed out.

It was silent for quite some time before Luc felt safe to look around. They had heard every word but it made little sense.

He slowly opened the trunk lid then let it slam shut as smoke came rolling in.

"Hadah, hold your breath!"

Operating on instinct, he opened the lid again and dragged her out. They were both afraid, but he knew he needed to get outside.

Hadah blindly ran along behind him as he darted to the back of the house. The smoke was now so thick they couldn’t see, but they felt the heat of the flames not far away. Luc pushed her out the door and they landed on the ground in the back ally. Coughing and gagging, Luc grabbed Hadah’s arm pulling her up.

People were running up to the square, mud-brick house with buckets of water. He decided he was going to take her to his grandmother’s home, because something about those men who hurt Hadah’s mother unconsciously warned him to keep her safe.

Hadah stopped abruptly, realizing her mother was still in their house. She tried to pull away from Luc but his grip held tight.

“Mama!” she coughed out, her eyes wild and filled with tears.

Luc stopped. “She’s dead. I saw her”.

Hadah didn’t understand.

“Mama!” she cried again, desperate to wrench her arm out of his grip and turn to run back. Luc caught her from behind and held her tight, his arms around her waist.

“She’s dead Hadah. I saw the fire on her! You will die too if you go back! We have to go now,” he said.

She was scratching at his arms, clawing to get away when Luc's urgency sank in, though she didn't grasp the full meaning of his words. She sagged against him and he released her taking her hand. She said nothing as she let him drag her along the shadows of the alley.