Chapter 1

"The Scarlet Haired Peasant Girl"

The first rays of dawn shone upon a small wooden barn in the outskirts of a small town called Vasdenin.

Inside were a few fat chickens roosting on small nests in the corner, a plump rosy pig lay idly in his sty snorting once in a while, two chestnut horses were looking out of the window watching the sunrise and a large white cow with black spots was munching on some hay. A few nests were hidden among the planks of the barn walls where a few warbles and robins were feeding their hungry young ones. The old red rooster flew towards a windowsill and crowed aloud, reminding everyone to arise and start the day. The hens clucked approvingly and the pig stirred in his muddy pen while the horses started to dine on the same hay alongside the cow.

Beside the cow were a few large haystacks, and upon one of them laid a young scarlet haired girl of fifteen who was fast asleep. A long bow and a quiver filled with green-feathered arrows lay alongside the haystack and the girl was clothed in a boy's hunting garments.

Suddenly, a glint of white flew down from the outside and there atop the pigs wooden pen alighted a bright silver falcon with piercing amber eyes. He took one sharp glance at the slumbering lass before taking off again. The other animals took no notice of this strange visitor and continued to do what they were doing.

The rooster, proud of his morning accomplishment, stood pompously on the sill and belted out another loud crow. The girl stirred slightly causing her brownish green leather cap to fall off revealing her stunning scarlet hair and after a few moments her eyes started to open. Blinking rapidly, she found herself looking into the bright sunlight; the girl then sat up, yawned and stretched her arms out. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she reached out for her daily cup of tea that was always by on her side table when to her utmost surprise she felt instead the cold muzzle of a cow. Her soft brown eyes widened as the massive cow uttered a loud moo causing her to fall back on the hay in shock.

"Oh gods! Where am I?" she exclaimed.

Then, for the first time, she looked around her and found herself in her grandfather's barn house. She started to wonder how she had gotten there and had a vague memory of something when suddenly the barn gate had opened and a bent old man came rushing in, he supported himself on a long wooden staff while he hurried inside the barn. He had a wrinkled old face, aged but full of wisdom, his knees were knobby and bent as well as his back. His dull gray eyes were worried and troubled as his gaze darted back and forth, searching around the barn.

Then, as if suddenly knowing where he was going to, he went around a large haystack and found the young lass trying to hide inside the haystack she had spent the night on.

"Arianna!" he shouted sternly pulling her out of the hay and gripping her arm strongly, "Where have you been? What foolishness have you done this time? By the gods, if you weren't my only granddaughter, I would have you whipped twenty times! Now, what in the Kannaham's name have you been doing here all night?"

His eyes caught the bow and quiver on the floor and he knew he didn't have to ask but he wanted to hear it from Arianna's own lips.

For an aging man, Baltook had a strong solid voice and his strength was not a thing to be taken lightly either. Though his years as a farmer and a warrior teacher had not been too kind to him, it hadn't softened him in any way.

Arianna looked frightfully into her grandfather's blazing gray eyes and couldn't seem to find a way to answer.

"Speak!" her grandfather commanded.

Arianna stammered, "I-I was planning t-to go with Hollin to the F-first Hunt with the other boys and…"

"Did you go into the forest?" Baltook inquired forcefully.

Shaking her head, Arianna winced as her grandfather's grip tightened, "No, sir, I didn't. I just wanted to see what the First Hunt would be like but…

Baltook let out an impatient sigh, releasing her arm; he turned his back on her, "Arianna! How many times must I repeat myself?" Then turning his gaze back to the girl he continued, "The First Hunt is an event specifically for the young boys and the young boys only! You can NEVER be a part of it no matter how hard you try or how skilled you are. You can NEVER be a hunter! Why must you always be so stubborn and disobedient? Do you want to go up there and shame yourself by being the only girl at that initiation? Have you no sense, child? You're almost a woman, Arianna! You need to grow up and learn how to conduct yourself like a woman not an immature imp! If your father and mother were here today, they would be utterly disappointed in you for being such. "

The scarlet haired girl nodded, her eyes downcast and her head was bowed in shame while she gingerly rubbed her arm where her grandfather had gripped so tightly. A small teardrop rolled down her cheek as she sniffed softly. The old man's eyes softened at this sight. Though she was showing signs of being almost a grown woman, in many ways she still was just a girl, a careless lively naïve girl who still didn't know a thing about life. Shaking his head, Baltook let out an exasperated sigh.

"Go up to the house and change your clothing. There are a lot of chores to be finished today so get to it." He said calmly. Arianna nodded as she grabbed her bow and quiver and quickly ran out of the barn wiping her eyes on her way.

"Be easy on her Agmon, she's just a girl…" The cow glanced thoughtfully at the old man.

Agmon sighed, "I know, Bernita. But it isn't that easy anymore. She's almost a woman but her head is full of childish fantasies. Maybe I raised her wrong…"

One of the horses, the darker shaded stallion, snorted and pawed the ground, " That isn't true at all, you raised her the best way you could and she's a wonderful girl. You're just being too protective Agmon."

"No, he isn't!" the rooster clucked and fluttered his wings, "Agmon did the right thing by reprimanding that silly girl. What with all her running about in boys' hunting clothes twanging her silly arrow at anything that she finds interesting, you might think she really IS a boy!"

"Oh hush up Fredol! You're only saying that because one of Arianna's arrows almost caught you by the neck the other day." Bernita countered while chewing some more hay.

The rooster clucked off haughtily towards the other side of the barn.

"She reminds me of her father when he was a little boy. He too was a reckless lad, wasn't he?" the pig got up and started sniffing around his pen.

"Yes, but I wish she could have be more like her mother was, obedient and silent. Are you certain she didn't go into the forest?" Agmon replied with concern.

"Yes," the stallion replied, "She wandered into the barn late last night. If she had gone out I would have roused the others and we would go after her. But it appeared she was waiting for someone. Later on, a boy came to the barn, we feared something suspicious was at hand so we cast a sleeping charm on her."

"We sort of put a tiny memory charm on her and the boy too. But now that she's awake, it might wear off completely in a little while. We didn't want her or the boy remembering precisely what they were about to do last night." The lighter chestnut mare added lightly.

"She had that look of solid determination and excitement when she entered knowing she was doing something unlawful," the pig snorted, " As you said Agmon, so unlike her mother."

The cow mooed, "But now that I think about it, her looks are more and more like her mother's everyday."

"But she has Dither's eyes." the lighter colored horse nickered.

There was a short silence in the intellectual conversation the animals and the old man were engaging in. The subject of Arianna's parents had made them recall what their true purpose was in this little town of Vasdenin. They all had a strong intuition that the time of safety was drawing to an end and they would have to be ready when that day comes. Word has reached them that the lands on the southern border had already been seized by the Sorceress and in a matter of time, her servants would be heading towards Vasdenin. They had spent fifteen years in secrecy, protecting and hiding the heiress to the Grethanian throne but their time was shortly running out and the Sorceress would soon see through their covers and come for their princess.

"Paladin was here." Bernita said.

Agmon nodded, "I asked him to check the barn if Arianna was there after our conversation. In fact, it was he who informed me Arianna was here. Paladin has brought good news. It seems the enemy has turned their search eastward rather than north towards Kilver as we anticipated due to that little charm I cast. So, we still have a little more time. If things take a turn for the worse, I'm taking Arianna and we shall flee towards the Jade Green islands farther north. I have told Paladin my plan and he has agreed to accompany us on our journey. I will probably tell Arianna everything before our flight."

"Can't you tell her now? She does seem old enough to know." The cow asked.

"In due time, she will know but not at the moment." Agmon answered before changing the subject, "Bernita, remind me not to take Arianna on any more of my training sessions with the boys. I fear I have subconsciously influenced her into doing something utterly foolish and rash. I will ask one of the elder women next door to look after her and try to teach her some proper conducts for girls Arianna's age."

The cow looked annoyed, "Couldn't I be the one to educate her? I could take on my human form, the gods know how I miss it, and lesson her just as I lessoned her mother many years ago. I could take on another identity and—"

The old man shook his head, "No, sooner or later questions will arise. Questions that are not supposed to be answered just yet… This goes for all of you. Fifteen years is a long time to be kept in your Animasi form but you will be free from it soon. By the time, Arianna and I depart; you all will be relieved from your protection duties. "

"Can't we come with you?" the horses asked simultaneously.

"Not this time Helli and Fressica. Since I believe this is a good time as well as any other to thank you all for your assistance and pains in the protection of the Princess of Grethania. In the name of our late King Dither, I extend to you the blessing and gratitude of the Animasinian gods and the people of Grethania. You have all aided us in giving back to Grethania what is rightfully Grethania's. You will all be graciously rewarded when Princess Lithiarianna takes back what is rightfully hers and sits on her throne in Silveran." Agmon declared gloriously

"The only reward I want is to see Grethania as it was before. Once Grethania's beauty is restored and prosperity returns to the lands, I would be able to leave for Kannaham in peace. May the Princess Lithiarianna send the Sorceress to the abyss!" Helli neighed.

"Long live the Princess of Grethania! Lady of Silveran! Fair blossom of Lisien!" the animals cried.

Agmon bowed low, "My gratitude to you all my friends."

Arianna rushed into her grandfather's small cottage and climbed up the ladder that led her to her room. She emerged into a small-enclosed space, which had only a few tiny windows; it was small, simple and hardly had any furniture. In the middle of the room lay a bed made of straw and cotton, it was covered by a colorful quilt that a mysterious lady once gave her a long time ago, though now it seemed a little worn out since the edges were coming apart and there were more patches of duller colors than the brighter ones, it was the only cheery looking thing in the plain looking room. There was a large wooden chest by the side of the wall where Arianna kept her personal belonging. Beside the bed, there was a small wooden stool that her grandfather made as her side table. Ever since Arianna was a little girl, she had these strange nightmares about dark witches and fiery animals that she couldn't bear to close her eyes again, so her grandfather always laid a bowl of special tea beside her to make her fall back to sleep. In the morning, she would forget all about it. The nightmares now happened so often that her grandfather decided to leave the tea by her side every night and though Arianna didn't always have these strange dreams, drinking her special tea every morning always gave her that warm comforting feeling that made her feel so refreshed.

As Arianna climbed into her room, she roughly brushed the tears out of her eyes and rebuked herself for acting so weak especially in front of her grandfather. It pained her when she remembered the brutality of her grandfather's words. It was true that she had been behaving too immaturely for her age but she couldn't help herself.

What was so wrong about a girl joining a hunt? Why should women always be limited to just household chores? Shouldn't there be more to a woman's life than cooking, cleaning and having children? There are many women who have other skills than just mere livelihood tasks but why are they so afraid of letting other people know about it. Why? What was so wrong of showing people the other special skills we possess? Why should I be afraid? Arianna's thoughts spun wildly in her head as she looked at her bow and quiver.

No, she couldn't use them in public but she could still hunt. Her heart swelled in her when she began picturing her very first kill a year ago. Even though she knew she couldn't bring it home and proudly display it to one and all in the town square like the other boys but at least she would be comforted by the thought of having the ability to kill something.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Arianna looked closely at her weapons, she looked at her name, which was engraved in a small part of the bow. She smiled when she remembered the day her grandfather allowed her to have her own bow when she begged him assiduously for it and when he gave her private archery lessons after that. Her smile widened when she reminisced the first time she perfectly took down a target where her arrow shot at the wooden deer dummy straight into its heart. But it slowly vanished when she knew that her grandfather wouldn't want her to use it anymore. He had ceased teaching her two summers ago saying that she could never become a true archer or hunter in Vasdenin but that didn't prevent her from training in secret. She knew that he knew about it and how great her skill had now become but he never mentioned it until today.

Arianna opened her chest and hid the bow and arrow at the bottom of her chest underneath her clothes and other things. She then took out a long coarse working dress made of rough material. It was stained and patched in many areas and used to be her chemise before it got so worn out that she decided to use when doing dirty work in the fields or at home. After donning it, she then took out a brown apron, which she had made herself to cover the dark ugly stains on the dress and tied it around her stained gown tightly. Arianna then thought how nice it would have been if she had a few more clothes but though she knew how to mend and sew, her grandfather couldn't afford to give her new threads to work with and so she had used the hand-me-down clothes given to her by her neighbor's daughters. Arianna frowned when she recalled how some girls had brought her a package of nice clothes two winters ago; she was grateful and was about to take it, when she saw the look of terrible pity in their eyes. That was the last time Arianna accepted any more clothes from other girls. How could they understand that pity or sympathy was not what she needed, how could anyone understand what she really needed? Arianna looked into her chest and saw the few garments she had, it would be nice to have just a few more, even if she knew it would only last till the next winter.

Life has been so hard on us lately, Arianna thought painfully, she then started recalling the day when she realized that being the poor old farmer's granddaughter was not as simple as most people would think. Once, when she was a little lass of seven, they had been on a little journey to the south when her grandfather had been attacked by a huge black bear while he was gathering firewood. She, alone, had brought him all the way back to Vasdenin though it was an almost impossible task since her grandfather insisted they be covered in a strange black blanket on the way. When they had reached their home, Arianna had to do all she could to help her grandfather survive as well as keep food on their table She had to sell most of their things and a few of their hens to have a little money. It was a difficult time for both of them, but Arianna and Baltook learned a lot from that hard experience. She learned that she would have to start knowing how to manage on her own for she also knew that her grandfather wouldn't be alive for so very long and he knew that the forests were not as safe as he hoped it would be therefore he banned Arianna from ever stepping into the forest boundary ever again. Miraculously, her grandfather had survived his brutal attack and he recovered completely though he now had to use a walking stick to support himself most of the time.

The painful grip her grandfather had on her arm still stung and fresh tears welled up in her eyes when she recalled what he had said about her parents. Well, what could she know about her parents? All she knew was that they had died a long time ago from a terrible disease and she had been sent to live with her grandfather just a few weeks after she was born. What could have happened to them? Why did they have to die? Why did she have to lose them so fast?

As Arianna was changing into her work clothes, the aching loss for her parents burned within her as well as the red mark on her arm.

A mark?

There on her arm gleamed a bright red star where her grandfather had tightly gripped and it was burning with intense pain. In her mind, Arianna saw the figures of her nightmares and she heard their terrible sounds and flashing colors swirled. Closing her eyes and fighting the pain, Arianna cried as she pressed a rag unto her arm, then suddenly the pain disappeared as quickly as it came. When the girl had lifted the rag, there was no mark whatsoever on her arm.

Was it my imagination?

She knew it couldn't be. It couldn't be…

After she finished her routine toilette she tried to forget about the strange mark, taking one last look at her hunting clothes before stashing them deep inside her chest beside her weapons. Her friend, Hollin the baker's son, had given it to her when he had grown out of it the year before and was about to cast it away when she asked for it. It was made of brownish green material similar to the dress she was wearing but tougher and lighter at the same time. Hollin was a year or two younger than Arianna but he was taller and a lot stronger than she was though he never was much of a skilled warrior or hunter.

Arianna brushed the strange event that happened aside and started thinking of Hollin, there was something about him that was nagging her at the back of her mind, and she knotted her brows and closed her eyes, trying to remember what she had obviously forgotten about Hollin. Then, all of a sudden, something snapped. The First Hunt!

Screaming angrily after those three words popped up in her mind, she then scrambled down the ladder and ran out of the house, searching the streets for her friend.

Hollin, the son of Vasdenin's famous baker Hollanden, was munching a bright, freshly picked red apple while he strolled leisurely past the old farmer's barn. He was in such a fine mood after killing his first deer at the First Hunt last night, which took place in the forests outside Vasdenin. Hollin smiled when he recalled his celebration as well as the look of mingled shock and relief on his relatives' face when he came home with a small deer over his shoulder. They never thought he would actually be able to do it but he did. He wasn't going to grow up to be a baker like his father; instead he would be a hunter. He beamed when he reminisced it all but there was something amiss. He shook his head, Nah! What could ever be amiss on such a fine day as this? Then he suddenly he paused when he heard some frisky sounds inside, wondering what could be going on inside the barn; he crouched low as he peeked through a small hole at the side of the barn. His dark blue eyes widened in surprise when he saw the old farmer Baltook surrounded in a strange fog raising his arms, walking stick in one hand high in the air while the animals were frantically jumping about. Witchcraft and Sorcery were running through Hollin's mind, his heart quickening as he anticipated the old farmer's next move. To his dismay, no apparent magic had taken place, he watched Baltook lower his arms and bend his body in a short bow before leaving the barn while the animals in turn acted as if nothing unusual had happened. Hollin sat on the ground and scratched his blonde head, what was that old farmer doing? As he stood up, he shook his head and scolded himself for listening to too many Sorcery stories from Miki, the town's storyteller. While he continued his leisurely stroll around the outskirts of the little town of Vasdenin, he passed by a familiar house.

Arianna, he thought excitedly, there was something about her he was trying to recall but couldn't.

Maybe Arianna could help me remember my far-flung thoughts, he wondered considerately, she might even give me a hint or two about what her grandfather was all about back there.

Just as he was about to walk towards her door, his scarlet haired friend had burst out of it. When her eyes recognized Hollin, the boy waved cheerily but apparently the lass wasn't in the mood for cheery hellos. Arianna walked briskly towards him and pushed him forcefully on the ground.

"W-What did I do?" he asked, completely in shock.

Arianna's light brown eyes were aflame in anger, "How dare you? You scatterbrained imp! Do you realize how much trouble I had to go through because I fell asleep in the barn because YOU had forgotten to get ME for the FIRST HUNT!"

"F-first hunt?" Hollin stammered then his dark blue eyes looked troubled and confused before it broadened with recognition, "Oh…"

"Oh? Is that all you have to say after I was banned from hunting and nearly getting my arm torn off because of your inconsiderate foolishness! You…You…Imbecile!" Arianna snapped as she folded her arms while she glared at the blonde haired lad with the bowed head. She was overreacting and she knew it.

Hollin stood up slowly and brushed the dust off himself before sincerely saying, "I'm sorry Arianna."

Arianna huffed, "Sorry? Ha! If you really are sorry you wouldn't mind picking up those two buckets over there and assisting me, would you?"

Hollin stared.

"What? Has your incompetent brain made you forget what two pails look like?"

Shaking his head no, Hollin immediately obeyed and picked up two buckets filled to the brim with water just a few steps away from them at the door of Arianna's cottage.

Arianna then smiled agreeably, "Good. Now grandfather had set a lot of chores for me today as a punishment. I saw it once I looked out of my window and saw him walking towards town which means that he won't be back till late in the afternoon thus leaving a hundred chores for me to accomplish. Now, if you want to make up for your mistake last night, I would gladly require your assistance. Then maybe after that, we could go out into the fields and catch some birds."

"Indeed…of course Arianna, I would be more than thrilled to help you out." Hollin replied, happy that he could do something to have Arianna's good mood back.

Nodding satisfactorily she moved towards the other side of the house and picked up another pail, which happened to be empty, and a small hoe. With Hollin by her side, they both strode towards the open fields to the east. Arianna then reluctantly listened as Hollin recounted his exciting adventure in the woods the night before and how he had caught his first kill as they kneeled on the fields cutting and sowing. Half-listening, she turned her gaze to the thick green forests beyond the fields where the fascinating event took place but sadly sighed as she turned back to her work and recalled her grandfather's words…

You can NEVER be a hunter!

Then she frowned slightly, looking back at the forests she stared at it with intense determination.

No one can tell me what to do… not now, not ever! Not even my own grandfather can say I can't. I AM going to be a hunter, no matter what anyone says, I will BE the greatest woman hunter not only in Vasdenin but also in the whole world!

Arianna was so filled with emotion she stood up quickly and a flock of birds, which were hiding a few meters away in the brush, flew away quickly. Arianna stared at them as they flew towards the woods. Hollin, startled by the sudden reaction of Arianna stood up too and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Arianna, what have I said?" he asked with concern.

Smiling brightly, she turned to him and said with firm fortitude, " Nothing Hollin. It's just that…I am going to be a hunter someday! No matter what anybody says."

Hollin smiled back faintly with a touch of puzzlement.