Prologue
Dianna
The king was fast asleep as I played with the fire. Roanen and the men were asleep as well, leaving me able to practice. A snake, a dog, a cat, a bird, and a dragon danced in the flames. The dragon was the only one that made sense in the flames. Twisting, molding, and igniting in the wisps of flames, the dragon perched, rose, fell, and flew until it died out; fire was always easy to manipulate. It had no rules, it just did as it pleased. That was why I loved it so much.
“If the king caught you doing that he would whip you again.” Roanen chided from behind me. With a sigh I let the fire die down into smoldering embers.
“You know I cannot help it. Fire is my favorite.” Roanen knew all too well that fire was my favorite of elements to play with, the burn that covered more than half of his left arm was a constant reminder, to both him and I. He sighed and wrapped his blanket around the both of us as he sat down. He was the only one in the king’s army who was not afraid of me. He was two years my senior and had been my friend since childhood. Though he was only 20 he was more skilled than most of the King’s army. He was also the king’s first choice to bring on this long quest.
We had reached the mountain base two nights ago and had made camp in the mouth of a cave two miles up the mountain. I grabbed Roanen’s hand and traced the outline of his tattoo. It weaved and wandered up his left arm trying to cover the burn. I smiled as I watched the black ink darken as I traced over the lines. A moan came from Roanen’s lips as he closed his eyes. This had become our nightly routine, when everyone else was asleep we would sit up talking. Two long years did not change how he felt for me, nor I in return. This quest for the mountain men was ill-conceived by the king. Who knew if they even existed.
“Will you leave with me when his quest comes up empty?” I continued to trace the black lines. Roanen leaned over and kissed my bright white hair softly.
“When this quest is over I will follow you to the ends of the earth.” I smiled into the darkness as I found the last of his ink had surfaced.
“We can build our own home, stones, wood, and clay. With a field to plow, and chickens running around.” he chuckled knowing full well I hated chickens.
“And three little ones racing around their mother.” I sighed. I knew that was his dream, a family full of life. Yet I knew that would never happen.
“You know that cannot happen,” I sighed out in envy.
“We do not know that it cannot happen. She might be wrong.”
“She’s never wrong Roanen. Children are just not in the cards for us.” Gweniver, the women who brought me into this world knew that a sacrifice would have to be taken, my fertility was it. I could give no man a child.
“Well how about those unwanted? Children who have lost their families? They could call you mother. An unwanted child taking in others who are damned to the same fate?” We had talked about this for over a month now. Children from another family were my idea, and tonight was the first time he agreed with the idea.
“That sounds perfect.” I rested my head on his chest as sleep crept in. I could hear his steady heartbeat thumping in its cage as it lulled me to sleep.
“Sleep well, my princess.”
***
morning came too early, as the sun peeked through the mouth of the cave. I stood groggy and looked around. Roanen had moved back over with the other guards. Our nightly routine always ends with him leaving no trace of him and I. Walking passed everyone I looked out at the forest below. A breeze graced my bare skin. I closed my eyes and took the sent in. Forest of evergreen, pine, and maple smoke from a fire long gone, and something else. With a calming breath, I pulled the wind in again. That smell was something, something not human, but not quite animal either. With another pull, the scent grew stronger and stronger. I opened my eyes to find myself away from the cave further up the path. I looked up the path ahead and noticed the bushes ahead looked too...full? With panicked steps, I rushed back to the cave and over to Roanen.
“Roanen wake up!” I whispered. He batted his eyes in confusion.
“Wha-” was all he could say before the light from the sun was blocked out by three massive men. Quickly Roanen stood kicking the men closest to him. They stood groggily as they took moments to wake up. I hid behind Roanen and looked around as the ten men that had come with, stood to their feet and two woke the king. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something glint in the back of the cave. I turned to find more men hiding in the shadows. I looked down at the fire and saw some warm embers still smoldering from the night before. Once again I pulled the wind with purpose over the embers and watched as it ignited with no struggle. The flames rose higher, illuminating the entire cave in yellow and orange tongues. Roanen kept me behind him as the rest of the men guarded the king.
“We are not here to fight. We come in peace.” Roanen’s voice boomed around the cave as the men looked at each other and then back at us. Silence.
“We are here looking for the mountain kingdom. We want to make a treaty with the king.” the kings' voice erupted from the middle of the men that surrounded him.
Silence.
Then the men at the entrance walked towards us. I looked back behind us as the men moved to make an opening for us to walk through. Roanen kept me close to him as we all started to move further into the cave as the king led the charge. Passing the flames I brushed the ends of them and watched as they slowly died, hoping we would not come to the same fate.
