Disclaimer: This story and some characters are owned by Sharon Shinn. I do not own it!
Author's Note: You don't have to read the books. I will try to explain any previous books, but it will make more sense if you read it yourself. Your choice! :)
Healing of a Nation
Chapter One:
Leandra gasped for breath as she took refuge in the alleyway. The Gisseltess men were coming closer. She could hear the shocked cries as they pushed their way through the market place. She quickly went through her options: turn into a man and calmly out the other side of the alleyway or turn into a mangy dog and nose and also exit through the other side of the alleyway. With both options the risks were big, but it was better to just stand here and get caught. Leandra was a mystic, which wasn't a good thing to be in Gisseltess where everyone hated mystics and wore moonstones which burned mystics. Leandra was a shape shifter, a weather mystic, and communicate with animals. She decided a dog would be the safest and easiest to get away with and she quickly turned herself into a brown mangy mutt. She turned and ran out of the alleyway and started casually wandering around the market. She cocked an ear and heard the Gisseltess men go into the alley she had just deserted.
She continued to act as a dog as she went towards the gate. It was heavily guarded and the gate was closed. She sighed and trotted behind some houses. She changed into a small brown bird and flew over towards the gate. She saw a space where no guards were and she quickly flew over the gate. She almost flipped in the air with relief, but she constrained it. She wasn't out of trouble yet.
She was planning on going to Ghosenhall where she could hopefully be safe. She had heard the king had died and Princess Amalie was in charge. It was rumored that she also protected mystics. Leandra hoped that was true. She kept flying until she spotted a forest. She flew downwards and landed perfectly. She cocked her head and made sure no one else was around before she changed herself into a fox. If anyone saw her they wouldn't be too suspicious since foxes were common in most of Gillengaria. She crept back towards the road and started following it. She had been following it for about 3 minutes when she heard the thundering of hooves coming towards her. She froze and perked her ears to see if she could see how many. She counted about 25 horses before she realized they were coming straight at her. She threw herself into some nearby bushes and watched them pass by. Six of the men slowed their mounts to a stop and looked cautiously around. Leandra's heart sped up and pounded so hard she was surprised they didn't hear it.
"I don't know how they expect us to catch a…a shape shifter!" One of the men spat out.
"They think she might be headed to Carrebos, that mystic town." Another one said.
"I think we should just destroy the whole town. No, burn it at night!" The first one said with so much hatred in his voice that Leandra flinched. The others agreed laughing with delight.
Another man clearly the leader spoke up, "Let's catch up. We don't want them to get all the fun!" They nodded and spurred their horses back down the road.
Leandra shivered and was glad she had decided to go to Ghosenhall instead. She worried for a few moments about the mystics, but she knew they had fire mystics who could stop and start a fire with ease. She again started trotting alongside to the road, but closer to the forest this time. No more men
came down the road and she was relieved. It got darker and Leandra decided to try and get some sleep. She found some cover underneath some bushes inside the forest and curled up still in fox shape. Dreams of a burning town, with screaming children and adults kept her tossing and turning the whole night.
