Prologue
“Happy birthday Isa” my dad laughed. “I can’t believe you’re already 8!”
Usually on my birthday my father would stay behind and take me out into the village for cake and to visit my mother at work for a few hours. But today he moved across the room and picked up his warmest coat signalling to me that he was about to leave the house for work.
“Papa, Papa, please take me with you”, I begged, clutching the hem of his cloak.
The morning sunlight flowed through the window creating small patterns of light all over the wooden floor that I would use to entertain myself every day after my father left. It was boring at home, with only my few toys for company, and Mother had already gone to the village infirmary before I’d even opened my eyes, just like she did every morning.
I’d been asking my father to take me with him for as long as I could remember. Every time he’d give me a gentle smile and I’d know he was going to say no.
“Not today Isa” he’d say, “maybe when you’re a little older”. I’d frown, my forehead creasing with little lines as he kneeled down and pulled me in for a hug.
“I love you” he’d whisper, brushing away my frown with a gentle stroke of his fingers. “I’ll take you soon, I promise”.
I had long since stopped truly expecting him to say yes, but it had become a small ritual of ours. A rare moment I was able to share with my father, and not one I was ready to give up just yet.
Except today something was different. He hesitated. He never hesitated.
“Isa..” he started, then faltered.
Confusion swirled in my stomach. Something felt…off. Instead of the usual excitement that bubbled up when he hinted I might finally go with him, a cold unease settled over me as I noticed the way his wrinkles deepened around his eyes betraying his worry.
And then his face softened, morphing into his usual warm smile as he said, “Today’s the day Isa, you can come with me”.
Despite the cold feeling lingering in my stomach, I threw myself into his arms, squealing with joy. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”. Finally, he was taking me with him.
He helped me slip my arms into my woollen coat and I put my shoes on in a hurry scared that he would change his mind and make me stay home after all. And very soon we had both slipped out of the door and into the dim light of the early morning.
I had expected my father to make for the scholar’s library close to the town centre, since he was a scholar, and everyone knew the library was where they spent most of their time. Instead, he started walking the path that led into the forest.
Since I was little everyone had drilled into me that the forest was a dangerous place, but I followed my father despite the feeling in my stomach starting anew.
As soon as I stepped foot into the forest, I was surrounded with lush green trees covered in moss. My mouth fell open as I spun around in wonder taking in the scenery before me. The early morning mist still swirled in the air making it hard to see more than a few steps in front of me as I hurried after my father.
We walked for what felt like hours but despite my best efforts he would not reveal where we were headed.
“Have patience Isa” he said, “you’ll soon see where we are headed”.
As if on command a sign appeared out of nowhere. It was a large sign made of dark wood with the words “The Keep” emblazoned on it in bold letters.
“What’s The Keep papa?” I asked.
“It’s where you are going to come to train” he replied.
“Train what?”
“Your mind”
“But I go to school to learn papa I don’t need a second school” I frowned digging my heels into the ground and stopping.
He only laughed. “School doesn’t train your mind in the way that it will be trained here my love. Your little head has a far greater ability than the other children in the village and so you must train it to remain in control”
“Why am I different?” I demanded my frown slowly falling.
“Because Isa, you can influence the minds of others”.
“So, I’m special?” I asked a smile starting to take over my features. I couldn’t understand why my father looked so sad as he replied, “you’ve always been special, Isa.”.
In that moment, I thought what he had revealed to me was the best birthday present I would ever receive. I couldn’t have known what it would cost me.
