- Althera, a young female Kaiytran, is bored with her homework and hears a mysterious whisper telling her to "wake and prepare, your destiny awaits." - She attends church and hears a sermon about the Holy Warrior who once guided their ancient ancestors. That night, she has a strange dream where two hooded figures claiming to be the Creators tell her she is the "Holy One." - The next day, she hangs out with her two best friends but wonders if she is truly meant for a great destiny as her unusual yellow eyes suggest.

1. Last Dawn<br />Book 1: Rising Sun<br />Prologue<br /> Boredom. That was how she’d describe her feelings right now, pure and total boredom. Althera normally liked school but homework was always tedious and boring. How was this going to help her anyway? Sighing and leaning back in her chair, Althera let her ears flop back carelessly. Outside the sun shone, the birds sang cheerfully and she was stuck here.<br /> As she closed her eyes to shut out the bright light from her window and allow her thoughts to flow more freely, a whisper began. It began beyond hearing, a mere buzz that slowly grew louder. She thought nothing of it beyond that some insect had invaded her room and come to pester her. She would just let it be, she was busy. But this was no insect, and it grew louder, loud enough to make out words hidden in the sound.<br />Wake Holy One, wake and prepare, your destiny awaits.<br /> With a yelp, her eyes snapped open, her ears up straight, the fur on her tail fluffed out. She wildly clung to her desk to avoid falling backward off her chair. She looked around for the source of the voice but there was no-one there, her mother remained where she was in the kitchen, her little brother out in the garden behind the dirty pane of glass that was her window. There was no way someone could’ve gotten close enough to whisper like that without her hearing, nor get away that quick without even more sound.<br />“Which means I’m going crazy and hearing voices.” Althera said dejectedly, “I knew studying too much was bad for you.”<br /> Throwing down her quill, Althera knew if she was beginning to hear voices, it was more than time to get out of the house. Plus she should probably get her work done at the nearby Church. It was just a little cleaning and they let her do it in her own time, but there was no time like the present. Saying farewell to her mother as she did up the laces of her shoes, sturdy leather if a little worn, she rushed out the door into the bright sunny day she’d denied herself all day so far.<br /> The wind blew through the grass that grew outside their door and pulled the petals from the few flowers scattered amongst the weeds. The front wasn’t as pretty as the back of her house, but then it received almost none of the attention her mother gave to the garden out the back. Still even run down as it was, it was still her home and that made it all beautiful. She turned away from her house and started down the street towards the centre of city.<br /> This was the city of Oven, located just south of the middle of the Elil Basin, a massive fertile valley in the bottom of a crater. The sky above was blue and cloud free but the sky to the north was blocked out by a massive building, a pyramid in shape and made of nought but sleek shiny metal that didn’t show a hint of rust, a remnant of an ancient people, glinting in the sunlight. It had an imposing presence that drew the eye of any newcomer but no-one knew what it was nor had anyone been able to enter it, so the locals no payed it no mind, seeing it as merely a landmark to guide themselves by.<br /> She quickly her way down the streets, past tailors crying out above the hum of the crowd about the quality their wares. Past people offering to sharpen scissors or other implements to a level none of their competitors could match and those carrying trays filled with pins, button, ribbons or pies for sale. There was enough people she careful not to let anyone step on her tail as she weaved through the crowds. <br /> Today seemed much busier than usual, the streets filled as much as they could be in a city of this size. Merchants, with their huge wagons drawn by 4 or 6 horses and farmers with their one horse carts laden with produce were slowed to a walk and no amount of whip cracking or cursing made them go any faster, though Althera wrinkled her nose at some of the more coarse things the merchants or their guards shouted. It seemed the merchants from Greensburg, a neighbouring city, had arrived to trade here, ready to spread Oven wares, especially the incredibly valuable Lilan oil, out into the world. The farmers arriving to sell their produce at the same time was just bad luck.<br /> Those from outside the city who looked in her direction, jumped and stood there staring until she had long past, often becoming the target for the curses of someone else they’d blocked off as they stared. She’d gotten used to that reaction as had the people who lived here though they found the outsiders reactions amusing. Everyone else had eyes of blue or brown or green with round pupils, hers were burnished yellow with slitted pupils. None had ever met anyone else with such eyes but all knew the stories, those born with eyes like these would one day be destined for great things. Used to it she might be, it was still uncomfortable to be stared at, so she was glad to be able to duck inside her destination of the Church.<br /> Even the Church seemed filled to the brim like the streets outside for the preacher’s sermon today, a story of the past, of before the Great War and the Forgetting. Althera had heard it before many times, but as she grabbed the long handled broom from the store closet, she found a place nearby to listen in, her ears focused on the preacher even as she made the appearance of working.<br />“Once in the past, we stood not alone as the Creator’s children, once we were but one of many.” He intoned, his voice echoing up to the curved stone arches meters above their heads and the back down, “We were but the youngest, our siblings, our Ancestors, stood above us, learned and exalted in His eyes. He bade them not to give us all they knew and had but to watch over us as we grew, as we learned and gained for ourselves, and so they took on this task. To ensure they would remember him and remain true, he gave unto them the Holy Warrior who watched over and guided them in the Light, protecting them from the True Darkness in its endless war against all that is holy. Fight as he might, even his power could not stop the onslaught of the True Darkness forever and eventually the Holy Warrior fell, with his last breath binding away the True Darkness in a prison beyond this world. With their guiding light lost, the Ancestors soon they forgot their task, they fell to the whispers of True Darkness from its prison; soon their feelings grew to lust for power, to become greater even than the Creator himself. In their greed, they would not even suffer each other, fearing each other as threats to their own power, and so began the Great War. Two sides were born, two empires with power to shake the heavens and rend the earth beneath our feet. Two sides who cared not for us children nor each other, but only for themselves and their selfish desires. We children could but watch and hide from their wrath as they warred for a length of time we know not. But a mere 36 years ago, the Creator had grown tired of their bickering and reached down into the world again, destroying the mighty weapons of the Ancestors, showing that His power was almighty and theirs but toys against Him. He wiped from the world the Ancestors, their weapons and cities. Then to save us, His still faithful children, from sharing their fate, of becoming monsters as much as they had, He reached into our hearts and our minds and took from us the memories of the Ancestors, leaving only that which would save us from following in their foolish footsteps.”<br />“But he left us with hope for our future.” The preacher continued, reaching the end of this part of the sermon, “He left us with the Prophecy of Rebirth, with his words to guide us until the anointed day when His Holy Warrior will be reborn unto us, to guide us with his light once more. To save us on the day when the True Darkness breaks free of its prison, on the day of the Last Dawn. So until that time we must live in the light of the Creator, denying the True Darkness and its attempts to worm its way into our hearts.”<br /> Althera was a little disappointed by the end of the sermon; it was good, but not the detailed version. She had always loved hearing the adventures of the Holy Warrior and the great deeds he’d done. She never told anyone lest they think her childish but she imagined herself in them, wielding a sword and fighting off the evils called forth by the True Darkness, saving the world again and again. But that was an impossible dream; no doubt the Holy Warrior would be born a child of the Church, raised and prepared for his task. Still she could dream, that much at least was an adventure she could have, plus whatever adventures her and her friends could find themselves.<br />“Nearly done?” An amused voice said to Althera, snapping her out of her trance and making the fur on her tail fluff out in surprise, “Or shall I wait till tomorrow.”<br />“Sorry Mister Flore,” Althera said, “I’ll be done soon.”<br />“Don’t worry.” Mr Flore, the Kaiytran preacher of this Church replied cheerfully, his sermon done while Althera had been lost in thought, “It makes me glad that at least some youngsters are still taking an interest in my sermons. So many just see them as fanciful tales to endure then get away from as quickly as possible now days.”<br /> Flore let Althera get back to work. He was the one who let her work her and Althera thought him wonderful, she thought of him like a second father, always looking after her and making sure she was okay. She assumed that was how a father was supposed to act but she’d never met her real father so it might not be really.<br /> That was why she worked here, her father had been a soldier, she couldn’t remember so much as his face but in her mind he was strong and brave but after Althera was born, he’d left to fight in the closing years of the War of the Land, the war that formed the nations as they were. Deep down something said she should resent him that, that he’d left her and her mother to go fight but she couldn’t. Instead she admired his sense of duty, that he would go fight to protect his family. But he never returned from that duty. <br /> That had left her and her mother all alone to provide for her family, she’d never remarried either though she’d born a second child years later to another man who hadn’t stayed. It made things difficult but they got by, even if they couldn’t always afford everything they needed and certain things fell into disrepair. So Althera worked here to support her family as best she could and Mr Flore was only too happy to help her out.<br /> It was late afternoon, the shadows stretched long, by the time she finished. Returning her broom to the closet, she stretched and yawned before heading outside. There she was greeted by a happy sight, her two best friends.<br />“Father said you were still in there.” Said a boy her age.<br /> That was Benal Flore, a Kaiytran and the son of the Preacher; he was short, barely up to her shoulder and a little chubby. Although his weight wasn’t that big a surprise being part of the upper class since his father was not only the preacher of the local church, but also the Mayor by some rule of the Church of Origin. Something about both needing to lead a flock or some such things, Althera didn’t pay attention to that; all she knew was Mr Flore led both the city and the Church well. Despite his well off position, Benal was still a sweet and gentle boy, not at all like some of the other well of people in the city.<br />“You know, you’ll never get a boyfriend if you spend all your time between school and working here.” Added a tall beautiful girl beside Benal.<br /> And that was Tilina Sumula, another Kaiytran and daughter of a local tailor that had been childhood friends with Althera’s own mother and was Althera’s childhood friend. She was also the most beautiful girl in city. With her shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes and curves, she was able to draw the eye of any male at 50 metres unless they were 6 weeks in the ground. Althera had always been jealous of the way Tilina looked; feeling scrawny by comparison, but even so they were the best of friends. No doubt she’d spent all day flirting with and fending off the vulgar advances of the merchants’ guards. <br />“No everyone cares about boys as much as you do Tilina,” Althera retorted, “Some of us have worthwhile things to do.”<br />Laughing cheerfully, their banter continuing, they all went off to their secret spot just outside of the city, where they always met up to hang out or plan things.<br /> “And that concludes today’s meeting of the Outcasts.” Althera said, banging a rock down on the fallen log they used as a bench. “Next week, that evil Sannie is going to find herself on the wrong side of a horse, and facedown in what it leaves behind.”<br /> Night had fallen by the time they left the secret hideout, the twin moons full above, the stars shining. That wasn’t new, their planning sessions for relatively harmless ‘revenge’ against those in the city that wronged them often went beyond the fall of the sun. They wanted them perfect after all. They had a reputation to keep up after all.<br />“You know one day if we keep staying out this late, we’re gonna be a Beasts late night snack.” Tilina said teasingly, making Benal look around nervously.<br />“Maybe...you wonder if the Beasts will all go away once the Holy Warrior is born?” Althera asked, staring up at the stars as they twinkled above.<br />“I’d rather have nothing to do with Beasts at all,” Benal said quietly, just as Tilina said, “Not a clue, what brought this on? You suddenly want to be the Holy Warrior and fight all the monsters and Darkseekers in heroic battles?”<br />“No, don’t be silly.” Althera replied defensively, “Just thinking is all.”<br /> The Preachers sermon earlier had reminded her of that weird voice she’d heard earlier in the day. Was it really just a voice heard from too much studying, or might it have been more? If it didn’t sound ludicrous even in her own head she might have thought the Creator was calling to her. Saying goodbye to her friends at the edge of city, they each went their separate ways, each to their own homes in different parts of the city. <br /> After they were gone Althera walked along alone down the cobbled stone street, continuing to watch the twinkling stars. She’d try to live up to the legacy her eyes supposedly gave her, these yellow slitted eyes that said she would be destined for greatness. She wanted to do it for her family. Maybe if she became well known she could help her family out, give them everything they ever wanted. Realisticly though while she had every intention of leaving the city when she was older to go out and see the world, but she doubted greatness was in her future regardless of what eyes she had. <br /> That train of thought lasted long after she got home, ate her supper and readied for bed. All strange these thoughts, all caused by some moment of insanity caused by studying too hard, they were making her feel like an old woman already. As she ran her old brush through her hair before bed, careful as always of her sensitive ears, she made a mental note not to do any homework at all tomorrow. Just in case.<br /> Darkness surrounded her, absolute darkness, and yet there was a sense of familiarity, of safety here, along with a sense that there was something just behind the veil of darkness she should be seeing, something that completed it. She walked onwards through the dark; somehow she was aware that this was a dream, though it felt almost real, she could feel a gentle breeze on her skin as though one really blew. The ground she couldn’t see, felt solid as a well made road beneath her feet. <br />“Hello?” She called out into the endless dark, “Is anyone there?”<br />“Depends on your view of anyone.” Came a deeper voice from behind her, a man’s voice.<br /> Her ears folding back defensively, she twirled around and found nothing, no-one, just more darkness. She was especially spooked when she heard sound behind her from the direction she had originally been facing. This time she looked around carefully back the other way. Now there were two people there, both roughly the same height, both clothed entirely in long, hooded robes that left nothing visible, she couldn’t even see their faces through the cowls of their hoods. But by the shapes beneath the clothes, she thought one might be male, the other female.<br />“About time you got here ‘Holy One’.” The female one said. “I got bored waiting, so you’re lucky I didn’t leave yet. I do have more important things to do.”<br />“W-who are you?” Althera asked, her ears now falling to the sides and her tail beginning to curl between her legs.<br />“We are the Creators of course.” The female ‘Creator’ said, sounding a little annoyed, “I’m Kira and he’s Matt. Remember those.”<br />“That, that’s impossible!” Althera cried. “You, your both Darkseekers! Everyone knows there’s only one Creator.”<br /> She was well and truly scared now. Dreaming she might be, but the fact she was dreaming such things, not just that the Creator was talking to her but that there was two unsettled her. She really had gone crazy.<br />“The stories that are told and the stories that are real, these are two very different things” Matt said. “What you wish to believe is up to you but please listen anyway.”<br /> At that he pulled back his hood, which Kira soon emulated. They looked so strange, like normal people in every way except for their ears. They were small and round and on the side of their heads. They also didn’t seem to move at all. It made them look so...odd. Other than that they looked normal, both had dark brown eyes with rounded pupils. Kira had long brown hair, Matt short. Just they’re ears.<br /> Neither of them said anything, waiting on her but when she only stood there shivering in only her shift, something that bothered her a lot less than it should, they went on.<br />“We came here to warn you, everything begins tomorrow Holy One.” Matt said, “You should prepare yourself.”<br />“Why do you keep calling me the Holy One?” Althera asked of them tentatively.<br />“Because you are the Holy Warrior, just as you have wanted to become.” Matt replied. <br />“Holy Warrior.” Kira added with a laugh, “I suppose it works, but what a weird way to put it.”<br /> Althera’s ears slowly perked up, that she’d dreams such things about the Creator was still disturbing but she’d been thinking about this way too much before bed, so of course she’d dream that she’d been chosen as the Holy Warrior.<br />“I’ll play along.” Althera said after a moment. If this was a dream, weird as it might be, she might as well enjoy it. “So where’s the Beast I need to slay to save the world?”<br />“We’re being serious you-” Kira began angrily, but was cut off as Matt placed a hand on her shoulder.<br />“It will take time for her to understand.” He said, “She must go now. Tomorrow remember, Althera. It all begins tomorrow.”<br /> Althera began to try to say something more but she was suddenly overcome with a sensation of being physically pulled away. She felt herself vanishing from this place and returning to her own waking body.<br /> Yawning, she began to open her eyes, but before she could even brush the sleep from them something pummelled into her, something gripping her tightly in a hug and sobbing into her chest.<br />“Mother?” Althera said when she recognised the voice mumbling between the sobs.<br />“I heard you thrashing in your sleep.” Her mother babbled between sobs, “I tried to wake you but you wouldn’t wake. I couldn’t wake you and you were saying such things in your sleep. So I brought you here.”<br /> That’s when Althera realised where she was. It wasn’t her room, nor were they alone in it. This was the Flore’s house, and he stood nearby, wringing his hands, his ears flopped to the side of his head.<br />“Girl, what dream could hold you so and make you speak of...of the Creator in such ways.” He asked nervously, his eyes darting every now and then.<br /> Althera almost had to pull her mother off her in order to sit up. She began to tell them of her dream, even telling them of the voice she’d heard while studying. He voice was nervous as she retold the tale, worried about upsetting them, but that was nothing compaired to her mother and Mr Flore, their ears seemed to drop with ever word. Althera soon found out why.<br />“Quite an interesting tale, I would say.” A dull and dreary voice came as a robed figure stepped through the open doorway from the shadows behind it. “I believed this would be a simple visit to the Churches but it seems we’ve found so much more.”<br /> With a gasp, Althera slid off the bed to her knees, imitated by her mother and Flore. It was a High Priest, garbed in a long maroon robe slashed with cream and wearing the ceremonial white mask covered in holy runes. What was he doing here?<br />“It seems we may have a problem. To dream of the exalted Creator in such a way, to claim such heretical things about Him.” The High Priest intoned, “To name yourself Holy Warrior. I’m afraid I must name you Darkseeker, none others would dream such dreams, trapped within their own minds to hear such whispers of the True Darkness.”<br />“But your holiness, it was just a silly dream, she herself said that.” Flore said, trying to defend Althera, “Sir, she’s just a child.”<br />“The True Darkness knows no limit on age. A child will serve as well as an adult, in some cases better.” The High Priest said. “With these tales of such eyes as hers, how many will believe her ‘dreams’ as truth? How many will follow her lies of ‘holiness’ into the embrace of the True Darkness? No, I will not allow it. On the morrow she will be hung as is law for those fallen to the True Darkness.”<br /> Althera wasn’t sure who screamed louder, herself or her mother.<br /> Althera spent the whole night locked in the basement of Mr Flore’s house; Flore would not allow her to be held in some prison. She could hear him still trying to convince the High Priest to relent, that this wasn’t right, but nothing he said seemed to have any effect on the High Priests at all. In fact they only seemed to anger him and make him question Flore’s own faith to be going to such lengths to protect a Darkseeker. Mr Flore went silent after that, he wanted to protect her but he also had his own family to think of and himself being executed wouldn’t help anyone.<br /> Althera just spent the night curled up crying until her eyes stung, the pale moonlight shining through the small window to the basement. How could this happen? It had just been some strange dream, how could it all lead to this? Was it really just a dream? Matt had said it would all begin tomorrow but how that would happen if she was hung? Eventually, exhausted by her tears and her thoughts, she fell into another deep sleep, where she dreamed again. This time though they were true dreams, nightmares of what would happen tomorrow, of the noose around her neck and worse in her opinion, of her friends turning on her when they heard the proclamation.<br /> The next morning was one horror after the next, flashing past Althera without really being taken in. Not long after the sun had reached above the rim of the basin, she was roughly hauled from the basement by the High Priests personal escort and thrown roughly into the back of a cart. Tied tightly enough that it was painful, her wrists bound to her ankles, both uncomfortable and unable to hide herself. It seemed the High Priest hadn’t been shy about spreading the tale either, nor slow, because it seemed like every person in city turned up, and every one of them believed every one of his words, even as she shouted and sobbed her innocence to them. That just seemed to rile the crowd up all the more, for soon they began to hurl anything they could get their hands on, rocks, over ripe fruit, almost anything. Their aim was poor with them simply throwing in anger but with the number of people throwing, inevitably some hit her. The fruit splattered all over her, the juices soaking through her clothes and hair, the rocks struck and drew blood, each one seemed to hit harder than the last as the pain built up.<br /> The journey was only a short one but it felt far longer, especially once Althera saw the gallows ahead of her. That made time feel like it stretched out such that a minute became like an hour, it made her feel like the dread within her had been given time to grow as much as it could. It grew such that when the men waiting at the gallows undid the ropes so they could drag her to her end, she began to kick, scream and bite with all the energy she had left. But one small girl had no chance against a group of men, strengthened by years of work on a farm or at a forge. <br /> She soon found herself, arms now bound behind her at the elbows and wrists, her feet free again, standing atop the platform that would be released all too soon, noose around her neck, tears pouring down her cheeks. The one positive she could see was that at least her friends were nowhere in sight, maybe at least they didn’t believe these lies. Everyone else though continued jeering and cursing her, believing without thought. They cut off as the High Priest stepped in front of her, arms spread wide to proclaim to the crowd.<br />“You have been discovered and judged, lost one. Your heresy has been stopped before you could destroy our peace.” He said, his tone still that same dull one from the night before, as though the death of the girl before him was no more important than cleaning his teeth, “You will now be hung, your wretched life ended. You may speak your last words now, repent and maybe the Creator may yet forgive your transgression against Him.”<br />“I’m innocent!” Althera cried, “I’m not a Darkseeker! I’m good, I serve the Creator! Please someone help me!”<br />Prepare Holy One, it begins.<br /> A light flashed and a dull thunk echoed above her head, her eyes shutting reflexively as her mind mistook it for the trapdoor opening and her end arriving. But she didn’t feel herself falling or whatever death would feel like, she still stood just where she was, but with one difference, screams were now spreading around her. They came first from far back between the houses, but then the crowd all began to scream and push away from the gallows. She risked opening her eyes and saw small forms began to dart between them, ripping and tearing at what they could. Her breath caught, it was a pack of Banehounds, and very large one by the looks of it. Althera was terrified at her own predicament, no doubt made worse by these Beasts appearance, her ears as low as they could go. However part of her still felt bad at seeing her own people die at the hand of these Beasts, torn apart brutally by the razor sharp teeth of the Banehounds.<br />“See! She is but filthy Darkseeker.” The High Priest called, at last sounding something other than dull. “She even summons the Beasts to aid her. Hang her, hang her now!”<br /> He was trying to rally the people, to have them hang her before they fled or fought but even he had to fall back before the Banehounds charge before anyone, even himself, could reach the lever. It was impossible, why had the Banehounds come now of all times? She knew she wasn’t a Darkseeker but the timing was too strange not to be a coincidence. Were those people in her dream last night from the True Darkness and were now saving the person they had such an interest in? She didn’t know but she knew she had to use this opportunity to escape and survive; only bound as she was if she even tried to move she’d end up hanging herself. Then the rope at her neck suddenly went slack and fell, the severed end of the rope falling past her face.<br />“Let’s get you down from there.” A masculine voice said as arms wrapped around her and lifted her down gently from the barrel.<br /> The man who helped her down was a Drovel, not much taller than her and lean. His ears and tail were grey, slightly lighter than his hair and his tail fluffy, but it seemed he was missing his left ear. But overall he was still rather handsome and rugged. As soon as he put her down and undid the ropes on her arms, she threw them around him, sobbing her thanks into his chest.<br />“Now now there girl,” He said, sounding a little annoyed at her display , “This is as much to thumb the nose of the church as it is to help you. Now can you fight?”<br />“Fight?” She asked, trying to dry her tears.<br />“Yeah, fight. Otherwise you’ll only have been given a few minutes safety from death” He replied, looking around, “This will do for a weapon.”<br /> He reached above her head and yanked at something impaled in the wood. It seemed to be a sword, straight, thin and unadorned save for the strange runes etched into the blade. Though how it ended up in the wood was anyone’s guess, it hadn’t been there when she’d first arrived.<br />“Odd place to keep this but it seems about right for you. Here.” He said, handing it to her, “If you don’t know how to use it, I suggest you learn fast. We’re getting out of here.”<br /> He was true to his word, grabbing her arm he began to pull her away from the gallows. The people of the city barely paid attention to them as they ran through the city streets. They were interested only in getting to their homes and avoiding the teeth of the Banehounds. Whenever one of those came after Althera and her protector instead, the Droval man’s sword flashed and the Beasts died, leaving only a puddle of bubbling black goo. Althera slashed out clumsily as best as she could but her blows merely nicked and cut, only enough to make them yelp and back away temporarily.<br /> Their going was slow but sure, they had to backtrack several times when they found guards or citizens fighting back against the Banehounds, but eventually they found themselves crossing one of the farms surrounding the city, making a dash towards the forests on the other side. The Banehounds hadn’t come this far, their attentions on the city. Only once they’d gone deep into the trees did the man stop and allow them to rest.<br />“Rather convenient those Banehounds appearing like that.” He said as Althera flopped down against a tree, seeming like she was trying to draw in all the air within a kilometre radius. “Are you sure you’re not a Darkseeker?”<br />“No, I...I just...had a weird dream and then they.” Althera said between deep breaths before breaking into sobs, “Then they tried to kill me. Everyone I knew just turned on me.”<br />“That’s the Church for you.” The man said, “You’re lucky you lasted long enough to have the chance of escape. They could’ve killed you on the spot.”<br /> Althera didn’t know what to say to that, and the man seemed to prefer silence from then on, just letting her cry out the rest of her tears, not even bothering to ask anymore of the story behind her condemnation by the Church. It was high noon before she felt ready to talk again, though only enough to make light conversation, to distract herself from everything rushing through her head. <br /> She found out his name was Furlon, a Waylander, making his way through the world that had been in the area at the time, looking for work. That seemed to explain the ear though he wouldn’t answer any further questions about it. Of course now that she seemed ready to talk, he deemed her ready to walk, so they set off again, using the road when they could and hiding behind the tree line or behind the haystacks or animals of a farmer’s field if anyone appeared on the road. They couldn’t risk anyone seeing them along the way.<br /> She continued trying to talk to him, to continue to distract herself though Furlon spoke little anymore, what little he did so seemingly reluctantly drawn out of him, until she made one request of him. <br />“I want to come with you.” She asked, “I want to learn to fight!”<br />“I refuse.” He replied curtly.<br />“But, I want to learn, and you rescued me!” She continued to try to convince him. “Why would you save me if you’re just going to leave me to die when they come after me?”<br /> That brought another round of tears, she hadn’t thought of that till just then, after this, there was little doubt that they’d hunt her. That made her try all the harder to convince him to teach her, but he no longer even responded, not even when she folded her ears back and began to shout at him, her tail lashing behind her. Nor when she promised him anything he wished of her, no matter what that meant for her. But still he remained silent, deep in thought.<br /> This went on all the way to Greensburg, largest the closest city to Oven, even the distance was still hours at a walking pace. It was by far the largest city in the Elil Basin, after all it was the commercial centre, and thankfully there was far more people here, more to hide amongst, but that didn’t mean her eyes didn’t go unremarked. She was lucky that the chaos in Oven had slowed the rumours about her, allowing them to reach the city before word truly spread of the ‘slit eyed Darkseeker’. It meant they went on unaccosted save for the occasional rumour monger who wanted to know if she was this roumour ‘evil Darkseeker’, though ignoring them and simply disappearing back into the crowds was easy enough.<br /> Furlon seemed to know where he was going, even in the heavy crowds, more than Oven had ever had seen on its busiest days. Had Althera been less exhausted, less terrified for her life and less filled with hopelessness, she might’ve goggled at the sights and the people despite the fact she had been here a few times before years ago. Now all she could do was shuffle along behind Furlon. He no longer even seemed to acknowledge her presence, something that didn’t help her state of mind any, until they reach a two story brick house on the edge of the city. Knocking twice, he entered, leaving the door open behind him. They were met inside the door by a wrinkled old Kaiytran man with a bent back and almost no hair save a few wisps around his ears.<br /> Furlon looked down at Althera from where he stood; leaning on the door frame to the room she was in. just looking at this strange girl he’d rescued for no other reason but to mess with the Church. She was fast asleep, had been so almost since they’d arrived and the old man had given her a place to wash up and rest. She’d tried to remain awake but she had been completely exhausted, truth be told they were lucky they’d even made it here before she collapsed. She was tenacious; he had to give her that. That was good; it would help her in the days ahead, though those eyes would be more than a slight problem if she was to hide out.<br />“Pretty young thing ain’t she.” The old man, Pitren was his name, “Bit on the scrawny side though, but then some guys like that.”<br />“Not in my case. I prefer a girl with a little more to them” Furlon replied with a chuckle, shaking his head at Pitren’s strange sense of humour, “She’s just some stray I picked up. This makes us even okay. Keep an eye on her and train her well. By the sounds of it, she’s gonna need it.”<br />“I’m still not quite sure on being even just yet, but I’ll do everything I can.” Pitren said. “Bit of a doozy though if her story is true but I’ll figure something out. Who knows maybe you two will meet up one day and she’ll beat you ‘round the room a few times before she kisses you all better. She owes you that much at least.”<br /> Furlon shook his head again; Pitren was an odd one. This girl was in for quite an experience with him, but he knew of no-one better to teach her within a thousand kilometres. Stepping away from the door, he turned and walked past Pitren, readying to leave despite the old man’s protests that he should stay and rest as well.<br />‘Learn well little girl’ He thought, peering over his shoulder to the room behind him, ‘Because if those eyes of yours are any indication, you’re in for one heck of a ride sometime in the future.’<br />Chapter 1: <br />Fresh Start<br />Three years passed under Pitren’s care, three years spent in hard training and cultivating a new identity. The first year was the hardest, forbidden from leaving the house except under the cover of absolute darkness and then only to accompany Pitren outside the city to train in the woods nearby. Pitrens house was nice, well furnished and with plenty of room, but it got boring after a while. All the while Pitren got to go out and spread word slowly about his granddaughter from the capital, of how she possessed a special trait, the slitted eyes. And how much a pity it was about the slit eyed Darkseeker having such a trait as well and how that might impact on his poor granddaughter should she ever come to visit.<br /> But after that year past, the story was added to; her parents had passed on and she was coming to live with her Grandpa Pitren until she found herself a husband to settle down with. Only then could she go out, just a little bit at a time at first but soon she could become a full fledged member of the community. Even if she did have to hide anytime she recognised anyone from Oven. She also let her hair grow longer than she’d ever let it get before, all the way down to the small of her back, and dyed black daily by herbs to aid in the disguise. <br /> Her eyes caused a little commotion at first but it seemed Pitren had such a reputation in this community that people accepted his story, she wasn’t the slit eyed Darkseeker that was wanted by the Church, she was Lintawi, Pitren’s Guliyan granddaughter, and no one seemed to question that. <br /> But by the end of those three years she had changed, Pitren was well of, seemingly possessing more wealth then even the Flore’s though that wasn’t apparent at first glance, he lived simply. Eating well and training hard had shaped Althera far better; she had the curves she’d always wanted, though that had its own pitfalls. Between the lewd Avok merchants and the boys in city she found herself quite popular now.<br /> Her skills with the blade had grown quite far as well, at first she’d balked at fighting against an old man like Pitren as part of the training but the large number of bruises she received as a result taught her the error of that. But swordplay wasn’t the only thing she’d learned from him; once upon a time he had been a general of some standing in the Lilatan army, knowledgeable of the ways of soldier and noble alike. From that knowledge, he taught her strategy in battle, chains of command within an army, etiquette in courts and balls, dancing, anything he could think of that she might find useful. And she absorbed it all like a sponge, learning all she could from him. She’d quickly come to see him as though he really was one of her grandfathers.<br /> <br />“Come on Lintawi, one little walk around the town?” A Droval man named Vaid asked, “I’ll even let you finally give me a kiss at the end of it.”<br />“Now now Vaid, I said no last time and I still mean it.” Althera said with something close to a cheerful laugh, “Plus you know I’m the only one grandpa Pitren has left to look after him.”<br /> That didn’t stop Vaid trying of course, he lived several houses down the road from Pitern and he’d been one of the first to start flirting with her. And certainly the most persistent. He never missed the chance to walk with her when she went to the market as she had today, always trying to court her, to get kisses and maybe one day more. Many of the others who flirted with her were jerks but Vaid was at least sweet and didn’t press her when she refused. Who knows, maybe she would give in soon, he was rather handsome and she was 19 now, more than old enough to marry and settle down.<br />“Hey gorgeous, shake that tail!” An Avok merchant shouted out as she walked past.<br /> Avok merchants were lewd at best, both the women and the men. That one had been positively polite compared to some of the things they shouted. That had really been a surprise when she’d first arrived but at least she wasn’t being singled out though; almost every woman that walked past got an earful. The only reason they hadn’t been run out of town by a mob of angry women was that they were the best merchants in the world and being at the bottom of the Elil Basin, land merchants, while many, couldn’t carry out what an Avok merchant train could with their airships. Without them the town would fall apart. Of course that didn’t make them any more pleasant to deal with.<br /> When they at last reached Pitren’s house, Althera stopped before to say goodbye to Vaid, he’d been a real friend, something she’d needed, since she had to cut any ties with her former friends, unable to even contact them to let them know she was okay. Vaid would’ve kissed her hand; he’d done so before, if she wasn’t holding a basket full of her groceries with both her hands. Even so he still made such a big deal over saying goodbye that it got a laugh out of her. Laughing like that felt good.<br /> When at last he’d left and she lost sight of him when he turned to go into his own house with one last wave, she turned to go inside herself into her own house. It was awkward getting through the door with her arms full as they were; she ended up having to use her tail, though thankfully no-one was around in these parts of the streets at the moment to see.<br />“Grandpa, I’m home!” She called out, up the stairs as she took the basket to the kitchen storeroom.<br /> No doubt Pitren was upstairs in his study as usual; he’d been there often of late though she had no idea what he was doing up there. Whatever it was it was no doubt important so she’d leave him too it for now. She had chores to do around here anyone, starting with preparing dinner. She rooted around in the cupboards for the big iron cook pot, before stocking and lighting the stove. Pitren was no spring chicken, so she did most of the housework and cooking now. He helped where he could but this had allowed her to get quite good at these jobs.<br />‘Perfect training for when I when I’m married.’ She thought to herself with a blush.<br />