Chapter one
Its weird how your whole life can change in a heartbeat. How everything you’ve ever worked for can be taken away, and next time you’ll need to work 10 times harder to get it back. This isn’t just fantasy: I’ve experienced it.
Well that was dramatic! I’m Ellen, Ellen of Jarlahiem. I’m from Britannia but my Ma (Essa of Jarlahiem) decided that myself and my brother would have a better life on the island of Jorvik. My brother. I can’t even speak his name. He ran of and left Ma and I all alone. On his 14th - two years ago- he went to join the Valedale clan. “Respect his choice” the elders tell us. I hope he failed initiation.
I’ve lost you haven’t I? 3 years ago tomorrow Joh Jarl died, leaving the island of Jorvik divided into clans. He told us that at the age of 14 (when we become adults) each of us could chose which clan we wish to join. Tomorrow I’ll be at my ceremony. I think I want to rejoin Jarlahiem - the animal farmers. Over in the Epona clan they farm plans. We farm animals and corn. Our clans used fight to fight a lot over land until we built a fence.
Now I can see you wondering about the other clans and their jobs. I suppose its very different in your day. The Firgrove clan mines coal and cuts wood, Valedale is in charge of keeping the balance of the island right, Silverglade is full of trades men and women, Cape west clan do fishing. Then there’s the Kalters. They’ve just disappeared but they live up North. Also there’s the Town of Pinta, which is the center of trades and life here. Tomorrow we’ll ride there for the ceremony.
At the ceremony each of us will state what clan we wish to join. Then we’ll train for a year to join that clan: 15 is the age you can start work. Each clan has its own breed of horse, and we’ll be partnered with our soul horses. We were born together, even if we didn’t know it, and we’ll die together, defending the island of the force called Garnok.
Garnok is evil and in our half a century of living he has appeared 4 times, and taken lives. He mainly takes the Valedale clan trainees, but there have been a few from other clans too. Ma is calling for bed now, its a big day tomorrow.
Well that was dramatic! I’m Ellen, Ellen of Jarlahiem. I’m from Britannia but my Ma (Essa of Jarlahiem) decided that myself and my brother would have a better life on the island of Jorvik. My brother. I can’t even speak his name. He ran of and left Ma and I all alone. On his 14th - two years ago- he went to join the Valedale clan. “Respect his choice” the elders tell us. I hope he failed initiation.
I’ve lost you haven’t I? 3 years ago tomorrow Joh Jarl died, leaving the island of Jorvik divided into clans. He told us that at the age of 14 (when we become adults) each of us could chose which clan we wish to join. Tomorrow I’ll be at my ceremony. I think I want to rejoin Jarlahiem - the animal farmers. Over in the Epona clan they farm plans. We farm animals and corn. Our clans used fight to fight a lot over land until we built a fence.
Now I can see you wondering about the other clans and their jobs. I suppose its very different in your day. The Firgrove clan mines coal and cuts wood, Valedale is in charge of keeping the balance of the island right, Silverglade is full of trades men and women, Cape west clan do fishing. Then there’s the Kalters. They’ve just disappeared but they live up North. Also there’s the Town of Pinta, which is the center of trades and life here. Tomorrow we’ll ride there for the ceremony.
At the ceremony each of us will state what clan we wish to join. Then we’ll train for a year to join that clan: 15 is the age you can start work. Each clan has its own breed of horse, and we’ll be partnered with our soul horses. We were born together, even if we didn’t know it, and we’ll die together, defending the island of the force called Garnok.
Garnok is evil and in our half a century of living he has appeared 4 times, and taken lives. He mainly takes the Valedale clan trainees, but there have been a few from other clans too. Ma is calling for bed now, its a big day tomorrow.
Chapter two
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop. The road to the Fort of Pinta was long and unkept. It was used so irregularly that we were probably the only people to venture down it for a year: it was only really used for the choosing ceremonies. A moment of flying as the cart hopped and flew over a stone, only to plumet down around to the track.
A misty sea of orange had filled the setting sky. It glittered onto the ocean; dancing on this surface. It was in this light that we arrived. The Fort was a bee hive of activity. The Silverglades had already taken the space inside the Fort to camp as they were highest on the hierarchy. The Valedales camped in the forest to the North and the rest camped on the beach. “My brother is here,” I thought. The whole of the clan comes to the ceremony.
It was a long night: I couldn’t get any sleep. Come morning I just walked up the river to the fresher water and washed. All the clans kept looking at each other, in polite amazement. We only got to see each other every year, and we all only get to experience 2 clans at most. I pull on my orange robe with a green cord - the colours of the harvest countries. The Eponas use a green robe and an orange cord.
I stand with the other children who are coming of age, around a circle. Around us are the Rulers, dressed in black and gold. Then the clans sat in their groups, not mixing with the others apart from the odd glance. And even that was frowned on.
I wait. My turn soon. I set forward. I walk towards the spike in the middle and cut my hand. I force my feet to the wooden spike with the bloody hand prints of all before me. And I press it. And I walk towards a clan. Jarlaheim clan. I sit myself next to my mother. She has saved me a seat, she never doubted me.
Tomorrow the initiation starts, but today I keep my head in my mothers lap, letting her stoke my hair.
A misty sea of orange had filled the setting sky. It glittered onto the ocean; dancing on this surface. It was in this light that we arrived. The Fort was a bee hive of activity. The Silverglades had already taken the space inside the Fort to camp as they were highest on the hierarchy. The Valedales camped in the forest to the North and the rest camped on the beach. “My brother is here,” I thought. The whole of the clan comes to the ceremony.
It was a long night: I couldn’t get any sleep. Come morning I just walked up the river to the fresher water and washed. All the clans kept looking at each other, in polite amazement. We only got to see each other every year, and we all only get to experience 2 clans at most. I pull on my orange robe with a green cord - the colours of the harvest countries. The Eponas use a green robe and an orange cord.
I stand with the other children who are coming of age, around a circle. Around us are the Rulers, dressed in black and gold. Then the clans sat in their groups, not mixing with the others apart from the odd glance. And even that was frowned on.
I wait. My turn soon. I set forward. I walk towards the spike in the middle and cut my hand. I force my feet to the wooden spike with the bloody hand prints of all before me. And I press it. And I walk towards a clan. Jarlaheim clan. I sit myself next to my mother. She has saved me a seat, she never doubted me.
Tomorrow the initiation starts, but today I keep my head in my mothers lap, letting her stoke my hair.
Chapter three
“Cyth this is Ila. Mount up” Mona told me. it was the grand welcoming ceremony and all of us initiates were starting off the yearly festival. We parade into the square on horses and then start the training. It sounds so bad, but all it is is helping out on a farm. We just learn to take care of the animals and the basics of the crops (most of the crops are done by the Eponas).
Clip clop. The horse trotted into the square. I was happily riding bareback, but the transfers (the initiates from other clans) were bouncing around, struggling to stay on. Mostly not because of lack of riding, but because here the horses acted differently to say in the Firgrove clan. Riding a different clans horse takes time to get used to!
We stop in front of Han Har’s house. He’s the clan leader, he is quite young but very good at his job. On either side of him, the 6 elders sit, viewing us as one may view toys in a shop. “People of Jarlaheim. Today we welcome our newest recruits. Alice of Jarlaheim,” Alice dismounted and walked to the front, where she was presented with a bag from which she must pick out a welcome gift. A packet of seeds. Appropriate. “John of Jarlaheim. Ninna of Siverglade. Zumbi of Valedale. Mora of Jarlaheim. Avalon of Valedale.” Valedale? Maybe he’d know about my brother! Han continued, “Cyth of Jarlaheim”. I walked forward, keeping my eyes to the ground. I plunged my hand into the depths of the bag and pulled out a thin pull on, made from the material that was used on the bags. I turned and saw Ma in the ground. We made eye contact and she nodded - she was very happy with me. Over I walked to the other recruits.
After the rest of the names were called, we were taken to the dorms where we would spend the night. Fok, who is in change of the recruits, told the boys to go to the left, girls to the right. Mona was already inside the girls dormitory: she also did the training. It was an array of matrices, each covered with a sheet. No pillows. Above each bed was a hook (that was on the edge of a precipice, ready to fall) where we would hang our clothes.
Then each of us had to first print, then sign, our name in the big book of recruits. From now of we were all not from any clan. It was now that those who had moved were leaving their clans, and join Jarlaheim in the 2nd stage of membership. When you are a child, you are in the first stage, since people recognise that you didn’t choose to be a part of this clan. Then when you are in recruit you join the second stage. If you graduate, you get the 3rd stage of membership, able to vote on some choices in the clan. Finally, if you ever become an elder you get the 4th stage of membership. Before me in the line was Ninna. However, she wrote Fina on the paper. If you move clans you are allowed to change your name fitting to the clan. Avalon didn’t change his. I would change my name if I had the choice, but I can’t.
We each took a bed and Mona passed us our new clothes. One pair of boots, a cloak, a shawl and a nightdress. Then two dresses, two pinafores, two shifts, two pairs of underwear and stockings. “Use the privy outside and then wash your hands and faces back in here. Comb and braid your hair, then change. Put all your things at the end of the room: you won’t be needing them. You have 5 minutes,” Mona said after she’d give them last girl (Jay) her things.
5 minutes later, under the thin cover, I started to wonder if it was like this in other clans. It must be. Ma had told me that the reason it was like this was simple. People came from so many different places and they had habits. Everyone had to be stripped of their identities to start their new life here. Everyone had to be presented as equal, regardless of their upbringing. Hanging onto this thought, I drifted into sleep.
Clip clop. The horse trotted into the square. I was happily riding bareback, but the transfers (the initiates from other clans) were bouncing around, struggling to stay on. Mostly not because of lack of riding, but because here the horses acted differently to say in the Firgrove clan. Riding a different clans horse takes time to get used to!
We stop in front of Han Har’s house. He’s the clan leader, he is quite young but very good at his job. On either side of him, the 6 elders sit, viewing us as one may view toys in a shop. “People of Jarlaheim. Today we welcome our newest recruits. Alice of Jarlaheim,” Alice dismounted and walked to the front, where she was presented with a bag from which she must pick out a welcome gift. A packet of seeds. Appropriate. “John of Jarlaheim. Ninna of Siverglade. Zumbi of Valedale. Mora of Jarlaheim. Avalon of Valedale.” Valedale? Maybe he’d know about my brother! Han continued, “Cyth of Jarlaheim”. I walked forward, keeping my eyes to the ground. I plunged my hand into the depths of the bag and pulled out a thin pull on, made from the material that was used on the bags. I turned and saw Ma in the ground. We made eye contact and she nodded - she was very happy with me. Over I walked to the other recruits.
After the rest of the names were called, we were taken to the dorms where we would spend the night. Fok, who is in change of the recruits, told the boys to go to the left, girls to the right. Mona was already inside the girls dormitory: she also did the training. It was an array of matrices, each covered with a sheet. No pillows. Above each bed was a hook (that was on the edge of a precipice, ready to fall) where we would hang our clothes.
Then each of us had to first print, then sign, our name in the big book of recruits. From now of we were all not from any clan. It was now that those who had moved were leaving their clans, and join Jarlaheim in the 2nd stage of membership. When you are a child, you are in the first stage, since people recognise that you didn’t choose to be a part of this clan. Then when you are in recruit you join the second stage. If you graduate, you get the 3rd stage of membership, able to vote on some choices in the clan. Finally, if you ever become an elder you get the 4th stage of membership. Before me in the line was Ninna. However, she wrote Fina on the paper. If you move clans you are allowed to change your name fitting to the clan. Avalon didn’t change his. I would change my name if I had the choice, but I can’t.
We each took a bed and Mona passed us our new clothes. One pair of boots, a cloak, a shawl and a nightdress. Then two dresses, two pinafores, two shifts, two pairs of underwear and stockings. “Use the privy outside and then wash your hands and faces back in here. Comb and braid your hair, then change. Put all your things at the end of the room: you won’t be needing them. You have 5 minutes,” Mona said after she’d give them last girl (Jay) her things.
5 minutes later, under the thin cover, I started to wonder if it was like this in other clans. It must be. Ma had told me that the reason it was like this was simple. People came from so many different places and they had habits. Everyone had to be stripped of their identities to start their new life here. Everyone had to be presented as equal, regardless of their upbringing. Hanging onto this thought, I drifted into sleep.
Chapter four
My back hurt. My feet hurt. My hands hurt. The sun clearly didn’t give a care about my suffering as it continued to beat down upon myself and the other trainees. This morning we were all split into groups of 5 to work on different farms. I wanted to be put on Sunfield farm with my mother, but I was put on Jarlsson’s (I guess this was purposeful). We each work on this farm for 3 months, and then another one for 3 months before taking take of a farm alone as a big group.
It turns out that the Jarlsson’s has pigs, cows, sheep, hens and horses. The normal lot. First I was given the last of checking the horses paddock ragwort. I have grown up being taught what ragwort is and how it is bad for horses all my life. But Ninna didn’t have a clue. I had carefully showed her a ragwort. However, she had dug up a whole corner of buttercups and grass as she thought the weed was there. Thankfully she had taken the grass out in wedges, so it wasn’t that hard to put right.
Then it was lunch time and we all gathered around for a bowlful of oats and roots. Much to my excitement, I (and Ninna) was given the task of taking the horses out on a ride. Ninna had only ridden a few times so I put her at the front, tell her that we could go up into Forgotten Fields providing we kept to the track and didn’t wander into the Dew’s land. I took up the rear as we step off in a trot, sometimes a canter. I had the job of keeping all the horses in together and not letting any of them stray too far. As much as riding was better then weeding, the constant chasing of rebellious horses led to me having to constantly stay alert. So that by the time we had ridden them back into their paddock for the night I was tired.
Luckily, the others had milked the cows and were starting to light the torches to keep the wolves and bears at bay. I hated milking cows. I don’t know why but the whole business of it just made me squirm. It was time to choose who would stay on watch for tonight. They would have a fire and a bag of stones to stop any predators, or other clans, from seizing our live stock. Ninna, much to my amazement, volunteered. So I thought it was only polite to volunteer also.
“It’s so strange here you know. Back in the town I was training to be a baker. That’s what my father was. Every morning we had fresh bread and we would eat it as we delivered it to the Fort. I think I must be insane coming here but I just wanted some peace you know? Start again. In Silverglade clan, you do the job that your parents do. Then if you transfer to that clan you take up any spaces. If there are too many of you then you have to win the space else you’ll be sent away,” Ninna sighed. She had a way of just telling you things. The night was still. The fire crackled; the wind blew. A twig snapped.
I sped around, trying to make out a shape in the darkness. I got up. What was it? “Cyth?” Ninna asked. I kept walking. Into the trees. What was it? ‘Just a fox ‘ I told myself. I turned around to go back…
…And I heard Fok’s voice.
Fok shook his head, “I cannot believe that you of all people failed your initiation on day one.”
I stayed silent. What can you say to that? I have tried telling him that there was a noise but he acts like he’s heard it all before. Maybe you think that this is an over reaction? Well 2 horses were killed by wolves and I wasn’t there is help Ninna. Our clan couldn't afford any mistakes like that. I was going to be sent away.
It turns out that the Jarlsson’s has pigs, cows, sheep, hens and horses. The normal lot. First I was given the last of checking the horses paddock ragwort. I have grown up being taught what ragwort is and how it is bad for horses all my life. But Ninna didn’t have a clue. I had carefully showed her a ragwort. However, she had dug up a whole corner of buttercups and grass as she thought the weed was there. Thankfully she had taken the grass out in wedges, so it wasn’t that hard to put right.
Then it was lunch time and we all gathered around for a bowlful of oats and roots. Much to my excitement, I (and Ninna) was given the task of taking the horses out on a ride. Ninna had only ridden a few times so I put her at the front, tell her that we could go up into Forgotten Fields providing we kept to the track and didn’t wander into the Dew’s land. I took up the rear as we step off in a trot, sometimes a canter. I had the job of keeping all the horses in together and not letting any of them stray too far. As much as riding was better then weeding, the constant chasing of rebellious horses led to me having to constantly stay alert. So that by the time we had ridden them back into their paddock for the night I was tired.
Luckily, the others had milked the cows and were starting to light the torches to keep the wolves and bears at bay. I hated milking cows. I don’t know why but the whole business of it just made me squirm. It was time to choose who would stay on watch for tonight. They would have a fire and a bag of stones to stop any predators, or other clans, from seizing our live stock. Ninna, much to my amazement, volunteered. So I thought it was only polite to volunteer also.
“It’s so strange here you know. Back in the town I was training to be a baker. That’s what my father was. Every morning we had fresh bread and we would eat it as we delivered it to the Fort. I think I must be insane coming here but I just wanted some peace you know? Start again. In Silverglade clan, you do the job that your parents do. Then if you transfer to that clan you take up any spaces. If there are too many of you then you have to win the space else you’ll be sent away,” Ninna sighed. She had a way of just telling you things. The night was still. The fire crackled; the wind blew. A twig snapped.
I sped around, trying to make out a shape in the darkness. I got up. What was it? “Cyth?” Ninna asked. I kept walking. Into the trees. What was it? ‘Just a fox ‘ I told myself. I turned around to go back…
…And I heard Fok’s voice.
Fok shook his head, “I cannot believe that you of all people failed your initiation on day one.”
I stayed silent. What can you say to that? I have tried telling him that there was a noise but he acts like he’s heard it all before. Maybe you think that this is an over reaction? Well 2 horses were killed by wolves and I wasn’t there is help Ninna. Our clan couldn't afford any mistakes like that. I was going to be sent away.
Chapter five
Arrival at the fort was very different to a couple of days ago. The gates were closed and Fok pulled me out of the cart keeping a tight hold of my wrist. The sun was a beautiful gleaming red and I took a good look at it as I suspected I wouldn’t be seeing it again. A tall thin woman came to the door, she grabbed my hand a pulled me inside. We went into the basement. There was a small cold room with a bathtub. She pulled off my tunic and pushed me into the bath where she cut my hair, short, before drowning me is ice water.
Dried and dressed in an old tunic, she led me through to a big room where hundreds of boys and girls were just waking up. “You’re 2234,” she told me as she put a robe with the number attached around my neck, “you live here now. I am sure you had plenty to eat last night so you won’t need breakfast or supper today.” Then she just left me in this room of strong children.
“Hi. I’m Karlos. I was a initiate for the Silverglade clan but I didn’t get a spot, so I cam here,” a large 16 year old boy told me.
“Where is here,” I asked.
“The Fort. It’s where you go if you can’t fit in. You’ll spend your first morning with the Unders, that’s the people with the brown cords. At the end of the day you’ll have a test to see if you’ll be able to be an Over. We are going to go back to one of the clans and help out. I am going to the Firgrove clan, hence the colour of my chord.”
It turned out a morning with the Unders involved a lot of cleaning the stone floors. The Fort was huge and there was a lot to clean and it so happened that we had to do it EVERYDAY. I hoped very much that I could become an Over.
The Test. I stood in a room for ages while a group of men and women discussed how I had acted today. Slowly one of them turned to face me. Slowly she opened her mouth. Slowly she said “Here is your pink cord, you will be working towards being a servant for the Valedale Clan.”
Valedale Clan. Faro. My brother.
Dried and dressed in an old tunic, she led me through to a big room where hundreds of boys and girls were just waking up. “You’re 2234,” she told me as she put a robe with the number attached around my neck, “you live here now. I am sure you had plenty to eat last night so you won’t need breakfast or supper today.” Then she just left me in this room of strong children.
“Hi. I’m Karlos. I was a initiate for the Silverglade clan but I didn’t get a spot, so I cam here,” a large 16 year old boy told me.
“Where is here,” I asked.
“The Fort. It’s where you go if you can’t fit in. You’ll spend your first morning with the Unders, that’s the people with the brown cords. At the end of the day you’ll have a test to see if you’ll be able to be an Over. We are going to go back to one of the clans and help out. I am going to the Firgrove clan, hence the colour of my chord.”
It turned out a morning with the Unders involved a lot of cleaning the stone floors. The Fort was huge and there was a lot to clean and it so happened that we had to do it EVERYDAY. I hoped very much that I could become an Over.
The Test. I stood in a room for ages while a group of men and women discussed how I had acted today. Slowly one of them turned to face me. Slowly she opened her mouth. Slowly she said “Here is your pink cord, you will be working towards being a servant for the Valedale Clan.”
Valedale Clan. Faro. My brother.
Chapter six
It has been almost a year. Tomorrow I turn 15. You are wondering what has happened? Well I have been training to serve the Valedale clan as a servant. I know how to prepare cauldron and how to collect the tears of Aideen without spoiling them. I also know how to cook and clean. Today all the Overs leave for the clans and say goodbye to to Unders who will stay at the Fort forever. There are 6 of us going to Valedale and we are all given brown full length tunics.
The last time I traveled away from Fort Pinta I went West to the Wood, this time we are going North to Valedale. I can feel it getting colder as we go up Northi and the six of us have hugged together. We arrived, nursing frozen fingers, to the preparations for Greetings day. Most of the clans children will become full members of the clans tomorrow and will be able to work and marry. We can’t. I sit there, fiddling with my tunic whilst everyone else is given jobs to do. “You, girl, collect the rune wands from the stone circle. it’s up the hill,” a tall man cried.
I found the hill and I found the wands, they were hidden under the rocks as we were taught they would be. I carried them down, careful to keep them in their velvet and resting on my arms: wouldn’t want them to snap. I stopped. I couldn’t resist it, could I? Waving a wand in front of a rune stone could tell if you had the talent. Not many do and so the Valedale clan have the most failures of people who shouldn’t have joined. It is myth that Aideen visits the right people in their dreams, but the only time I have dreamed about Aideen was in a nightmare.
I pick a long one, a beginners wand. I carefully wave it around. Nothing. And then light. It hurts my eyes and it’s everywhere. Two people are already at the top of the hill. “What are you doing?” one yells while the other grabs me.
“Calm down Faro, she’s new.”
“In the name of Jor Avalon, the rune is lit up. Fripp needs to know.”
“Who are you?” Avalon asks calmly, “I don’t mean your number, I want your real name.”
“Cythia, servant of Valedale, ex member of Jarlaheim,” I trembled.
Faro starred, “Cyth?”
“Faro do you know her?”
Faro was as white as a sheet and whispered something that involved “sister”.
“And that would explain the rune wouldn’t it? We should tell Fripp but we told her to do it. I know siblings like getting each other in trouble but using a rune wand can result in serious consequences.”
We walked up to the portal and fell through. It has to explain but it felt like time and space were changing and squeezing and then letting go, before taking the iron grip again. Then we arrived.
The last time I traveled away from Fort Pinta I went West to the Wood, this time we are going North to Valedale. I can feel it getting colder as we go up Northi and the six of us have hugged together. We arrived, nursing frozen fingers, to the preparations for Greetings day. Most of the clans children will become full members of the clans tomorrow and will be able to work and marry. We can’t. I sit there, fiddling with my tunic whilst everyone else is given jobs to do. “You, girl, collect the rune wands from the stone circle. it’s up the hill,” a tall man cried.
I found the hill and I found the wands, they were hidden under the rocks as we were taught they would be. I carried them down, careful to keep them in their velvet and resting on my arms: wouldn’t want them to snap. I stopped. I couldn’t resist it, could I? Waving a wand in front of a rune stone could tell if you had the talent. Not many do and so the Valedale clan have the most failures of people who shouldn’t have joined. It is myth that Aideen visits the right people in their dreams, but the only time I have dreamed about Aideen was in a nightmare.
I pick a long one, a beginners wand. I carefully wave it around. Nothing. And then light. It hurts my eyes and it’s everywhere. Two people are already at the top of the hill. “What are you doing?” one yells while the other grabs me.
“Calm down Faro, she’s new.”
“In the name of Jor Avalon, the rune is lit up. Fripp needs to know.”
“Who are you?” Avalon asks calmly, “I don’t mean your number, I want your real name.”
“Cythia, servant of Valedale, ex member of Jarlaheim,” I trembled.
Faro starred, “Cyth?”
“Faro do you know her?”
Faro was as white as a sheet and whispered something that involved “sister”.
“And that would explain the rune wouldn’t it? We should tell Fripp but we told her to do it. I know siblings like getting each other in trouble but using a rune wand can result in serious consequences.”
We walked up to the portal and fell through. It has to explain but it felt like time and space were changing and squeezing and then letting go, before taking the iron grip again. Then we arrived.
Chapter seven
The stone circle felt very strange. It had a tension, a cold tension, like you were constantly waiting for something to happen. The harsh pink light was blinding as it contrasted so much to the foggy confused sky. Below a small white creature starred hard at 2 boys and a girl.
“So, Faro, you thought it would be funny to ask a new servant girl to try magic?” Fripp asked, danger in his voice.
“Yes Fripp.”
“But, this child is known to you. She is your sister?”
“Yes Fripp.”
“What is your name child and which clan do you originate from?”
“I’m Cythia, servant of Valedale, ex member of Jarlaheim.”
“What a long name for a small girl. Well Cythia, I must say I am surprised that you didn’t join our clan.”
“Avalon, what do you think we should do?”
“Well Fripp, it is clear to me that she has the power of lightning, like her brother and I don’t see why we shouldn’t put her to the test.” Avalon spoke.
“Ah, the final test tonight with all of the other initiates?” Fripp replied.
“Yes”
I stood, feeling stupid next in line to do a challenge. I would be last but I felt at a disadvantage since everyone else had training. I think Faro must have been a natural for anyone to put this much faith in me.
They called me up, but they only said Cythia thank goodness. I came out into the arena and a monster met my eyes. It was a swirling mass of evil. Red eyes flashed out, their lights digging into the deepest places in my soul. All I had was the wand. I waved it, something happened. My palms were sweaty, I was finding it hard to draw in breath.
Focus.
It didn’t stop coming. I feigned stepping to the left and then launched to the right, putting my life in my feet. It was slow and didn’t catch up. Over the other side of the arena I collected myself. I was off the lightning? Lightning. I imagined a shield. Slowly I pulled the strands together, forming a cone around me. There was a door marked “exit”. I laughed. That was all you had to do? Out I walked.
I was finally home.
“So, Faro, you thought it would be funny to ask a new servant girl to try magic?” Fripp asked, danger in his voice.
“Yes Fripp.”
“But, this child is known to you. She is your sister?”
“Yes Fripp.”
“What is your name child and which clan do you originate from?”
“I’m Cythia, servant of Valedale, ex member of Jarlaheim.”
“What a long name for a small girl. Well Cythia, I must say I am surprised that you didn’t join our clan.”
“Avalon, what do you think we should do?”
“Well Fripp, it is clear to me that she has the power of lightning, like her brother and I don’t see why we shouldn’t put her to the test.” Avalon spoke.
“Ah, the final test tonight with all of the other initiates?” Fripp replied.
“Yes”
I stood, feeling stupid next in line to do a challenge. I would be last but I felt at a disadvantage since everyone else had training. I think Faro must have been a natural for anyone to put this much faith in me.
They called me up, but they only said Cythia thank goodness. I came out into the arena and a monster met my eyes. It was a swirling mass of evil. Red eyes flashed out, their lights digging into the deepest places in my soul. All I had was the wand. I waved it, something happened. My palms were sweaty, I was finding it hard to draw in breath.
Focus.
It didn’t stop coming. I feigned stepping to the left and then launched to the right, putting my life in my feet. It was slow and didn’t catch up. Over the other side of the arena I collected myself. I was off the lightning? Lightning. I imagined a shield. Slowly I pulled the strands together, forming a cone around me. There was a door marked “exit”. I laughed. That was all you had to do? Out I walked.
I was finally home.