Prologue
Her mother was dying. No medicine could stop it, despite her father’s best efforts.
Mother seemed calm and accepting of her fate. She didn’t curse the world or the gods. Instead she smiled and comforted those who seemed upset on her behalf.
She beckoned her crying daughter to her side. “Shhh, my child. It will be alright.”
“No, it won’t. You’re leaving me.” Rae was only five and didn’t really understand everything that was going on. She only knew that her mother was going away forever.
“I know, but it can’t be helped and there is no point in being upset about what you can’t control.” Her mother smiled softly. “I want you to listen to me carefully. I have one thing I want to teach you before I go.”
Rae sniffled. “What?”
“Do not let this world steal your ability to be soft. It will try it’s hardest to do so. It can seem cruel and cold. There will be times where you’ll want to give up and be bitter.” She brushed tears off Rae’s cheeks with a soft smile. There was a hint of desperation in her mother’s tone as she did her best to make Rae understand this one lesson. “Don’t. Be sweet. Others will teach you about hatred. Teach them about kindness and love. And although everyone else may disagree with you, see the world as a beautiful place because it is. No matter what, be the good in the world. Because where there is good, there is magic. And if you become the good, then you become the magic.”
“But magic isn’t allowed.”
“It’s not that kind of magic, my dear. It’s something more. One day, if you do as I say, you’ll see what I mean. Now promise me.”
“I promise, Momma.”
