Octavia has been fated by the Gods to do great things. From the moment she was born she was special. The only daughter of the new ambassador to the Copper isle, she will have a hard time adjusting to her new home. But she will meet people along the way that will help her. A crow/man, a queen, a prince and more than a few gods…
Octavia couldn't believe it. She lay curled up under her bed wondering how her parents could do this to her. They said that they would not change their minds but she could be stubborn too. For a ten year old she had a lot of gumption.
"Darling you have to come out some time. What are you going to do, live under there?" Her mother, ClioWernlake, cooed.
"Certainly not! My only child is not going to live under her bed." Vladimir Wernlake replied to his wife. Octavia brushed her loose brown curls from her eyes and then popped her head out from under the bed.
"I'm not going." She retorted. Her blazing blue eyes shone with tears. To leave all of her friend behind, to go to a foreign country with strange customs, and never be able to say what she really felt incase she should angry the wrong person. It was too much to ask, far too much!
"Darling it's only for a little while. And the king expressly asked your father to go as the realms representative. That's a great honour." Clio tried to reason with her daughter. Octavia knew that if it came down to it her mother would pull her out kicking and screaming. She was also aware of the great honour that King Jonathan had bestowed on her father. To be ambassador for the Copper isle was a privilege for a fairly new noble family. Octavia slide out from under her bed and neatened herself up.
"That's better. We can actually see you now." Vladimir beamed at his daughter. Octavia tried to smile and failed. Tears trickled down her milky white face.
"This is a good opportunity Octavia. No need for tears." Her mother whispered as she embraced her daughter. "You need a bath after that adventure, you smell musty!" Octavia laughed at that.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. She liked exotic places and spices. Besides she wanted desperately to learn more about the raka and their magic. The idea of hiding ones magic had always fascinated her. Octavia had always been open about her Gift. The ability to heal to the level that she had was unique. Her mother was a healer too; though no where near as powerful as Octavia. She had the ability to breathe existence into the dying embers of a person's life. That kind of power also brings with it responsibilities and danger, something Octavia would soon discover.
A few weeks later…
Octavia stood on the deck of and let the gentle sea breeze caress her face. She appreciated the break to the stifling heat that came off of the jungles that surrounded them. Their convoy of ships was nestled in one of the many coves along the sides of the Long Strait. In her hands Octavia cradled a statue of the Mother Goddess.
"Great Mother Goddess, please don't fail me now." She whispered earnestly.
Ulasim Crow walked around the Dockmarkets with Chenaol taking in the sights. He never tired of the place with its many different stalls and sellers. He readjusted the basket he was carrying, breathed in the spice filled air and sighed.
A bright flash of light drew his gaze down to the harbor dock where several large Tortallian vessels were being unloaded.
"The new Tortallian ambassador." Chenaol remarked, seeing what had distracted her helper. Ulasim sharpened his Sight, inherited from his mother, only to be blinded momentarily by a blaze of light. He swore and rubbed his eyes, changing his Sight to protect himself from making the same mistake and being permanently blinded by the magical glare. Looking again at the source of the power he found a young luarin girl around his age with magic radiating from her skin
"Come along boy", Chenaol cried as she headed for the waiting cart, "You'll meet them soon enough. Her majesty is hosting a ball for them in two days time." Ulasim turned and followed the older raka lost deep in thought about the girl and her magic. What was she Gift shaped for? Was she a Seer, or maybe a Healer? More importantly, was she dangerous?