Chapter 1

It was as if the sun had its own clock. As its golden edge passed over the tip of the mountain and in through her window, she opened her eyes and grumbled at the notion it was morning.

She lived in a small hollowed out trunk of a tree. The tree was filled with few items inside. There was her bed covered with oxen skins and next to it laid a pile of wood. In the other corner across from her bed laid a small table made of cedar wood and a small chair to match. With a fire outside for cooking there was no reason why she should leave her home. But just over the edge of the cliff, where her home was, were the Falls. The Falls were her centre of peace and serenity. Sometimes she would just stand on the peak of the overhang and dive down the hundred metres into the lake below. When she sat on top of the cliff, she could see from the top of the Falls to the Lake of Mystics and then onto the Great Wood.

She loved the smells in the morning and watching the sun setting in the evening. The way it cast a golden glow on the water always made her smile to herself. The absolute highlight of her year was during the winter; the cold crisp wind would curl and flow between her home and the Lastena Mountain and whip up the leaves. Every now and again she was almost certain that it made the shape of a face or sometimes it would make a human figure. She knew that it was impossible but she loved the thought of ancient spirits watching her.

It gave her comfort, thinking that there was someone watching her, especially at night in her lonely life. Although she had chosen to live alone, she sometimes longed for a man to hold her or even thinking that she wasn't the only person for at least two leagues. As her thoughts engulfed her, as her mind wandered into her infinite imagination, she had walked outside to the edge of the cliff. She did not want to jump off but instead she sat and wept. Every time she began to think about how lonely she was, she wept and longed even more for someone to hold her.

After an hour of sitting and staring, the sun was fully in the sky and its rays cast an unnatural glow on the barren land that lay before her; the vast wood, the every flowing Falls and the long line of people in armour which glinted in the sunlight. They seemed to be heading in her direction and just as the thought dawned on her, her eyes widened and her mind raced. What? Why are they coming here? Do I need to do something? Not sure how she was going to do anything, she had a flash of a memory. Before her father left…he had left his armour and weapons for her in case she might need to defend herself.

As she ran to the chest under her bed, her eyes caught a glimpse of shadows on the lake. Scouts, has to be. Knowing there were scouts eased her tension slightly, at least she against a full what looked like a full battalion.

The leather armour was stiff to pull over her trousers and shirt, not very flattering for a woman but she didn't have a choice. The bow and arrows where the easiest to find, but the sword was hidden well, but she found it in the nick of time. It was still in its black sheath, its blade of exquisite steel shone when it met with the rays of the sun. Still as beautiful as the day he had put it away, the hilt moulded to match her father's hand still somehow fitted hers, even though she did use it with both. The blade was longer than she remembered and she prayed it wasn't too big for her to use, especially since the chimes she set up for intruders rang behind her.

As her father had taught her, she went outside and climbed up the few branches left on the tree stump and pressed herself to the trunk. With her sword at her side and the bow in her hands with an arrow notched ready to land in someone's chest, she stood waiting, hardly breathing.

As the first one came around the corner, she released the arrow as soon as her nerves let her. Happy with the destination it landed; she notched another and shot the one behind, which she ended with a smile as the arrow dug itself firm into his gullet. The next took two arrows to keep him down and the last seemed to act strange. As it rounded the corner it seemed to peer round the tree then ran back the way it had come, only to be shot in the back. Yet she hadn't released the arrow. Just as her intrigue got the most of her, as man rounded the corner it little more than a white shirt and riding trousers covered by a light cloak. She cocked her head as he inspected the dead, and for some reason he walked happily into her home as if it were his own. After a minute or two, he sauntered out and looked at the sun with puzzlement on his features.

"You can come down now miss, there is no one here who will hurt you." His voice was well mannered but had a slight lilt she couldn't place. He turned and looked at her directly, even as she pressed herself against the tree to try and hide, he smiled at her and gestured for her to go to him. As she did reluctantly, he held out his hand to her which she didn't take but just looked him in the eye to try figure him out.

His eyes were most puzzling to her. His eyes were a brilliant blue, as crystal clear as the lake. And yet they seemed to have sadness in them. His mouth was in a gentle smirk and from what she could see of his hair for the hood, it was a sand colour but somewhat darker than any sand she had seen. As the cloak blew in the wind it revealed a small array of knives around his waist, which also played host to his sword and full quiver. The bow was still in his hand, but it seemed strange to her than such a delicate bow wasn't snapping from his tight grip.

"Who are you? You are not a traveller are you? Even one with experience would not carry such weapons." She tried to keep her voice steady but she was still shaken by the attack. He did not answer straight away, so she decided to see what the people she had killed looked like.

To her surprise they weren't human, which meant they weren't here on royal business. She became more puzzled as she searched their armour. They all had a series of cuts along their arms, they were too organised to be battle scars but they were white, not red from blood but pure white.

"They are what are known as Shai; they scavenge land and kill all on it for riches. They send scouts, then infantry and finally the horsemen. I am surprised they didn't figure out your strategy." By his voice he didn't mean it in a mocking way, but she was still wondering who he was and the fact he seemed to feel like he needed to educate her sent her over the edge.

"Who are you? What is it you want with me?" Her voice rose as she spoke, especially as he moved towards her as she asked what he wanted. As he stood in front of her, slightly towering over her she became nervous. She hadn't really been this close to someone before, especially a man.

"I am here to save you. You are much too precious to be out here alone. Please, trust me Aviana"