Chapter I

I was 16 years old when it happened. When my dream of dreams was granted me. But first, I must tell you how it happened. I lived in Sutora in a large manor (that was called Ronsol) with my uncle Zanz and his second wife Elmra (my mother died unexpectedly when I was 7 and I was sent to live with my uncle and aunt). Sutora is a country in a small ring of countries called the Supletos Ring. My Aunt and Uncle were not cruel, but they did not seem to care for me at all. My aunt never failed to remind me that the only reason I was allowed to live with them, was because they were kind enough to take me in when my mother died. I also had three cousins. The first was Snow (she was the oldest and the most beautiful), the second was Anee, and the third was Inta. They were all horrifically spoiled and thought of no one but themselves. However, they were the pride of my aunt's heart. I, on the other hand was nothing but a piece of charity in their eyes. Soon after I came, my aunt had turned me into a servant. No. A slave is more like it. The main reason why my aunt especially hated me was because I had a lovely singing voice like my mother had and she wanted it for Snow. One day in spring, when I was 14, I was cleaning the windowsill in my Aunt's room when I heard a violet wither bird singing outside. I leaned out of the window and sang back to it. For a few minutes I sat transfixed on the window sill, while the bird and I sang back and forth to each other. Suddenly, the bird let out a shrill call which sounded like a warning and flew away. I quickly turned around but not in time. My aunt came up and yanked back on my hair and held my hands behind me. "Stella," she rasped into my ear. "I will find a way to give your voice to Snow. Even if that means I have to surgically remove it myself." I gulped hard. I knew that she would not really attempt the latter; however I also knew that she would use every option she could think of. She let go of me and pranced out of the room in her spindly high heels. I was more careful than ever now. As I did my chores, I no longer sang. I always did my work with a grave face, all of the laughter gone from my eyes. Even the birds looked melancholy as I filled their feeders outside of Snow's room. "There's the pig." Snow laughed down at me from the window. "Do you enjoy wearing mud little pig?" She started snorting while she laughed. She was utterly repulsive. "Answer me creature!" She cried, solemn suddenly. "Do you really want my answer?" I stared defiantly at her. My head felt hot. "Of course I do. I wouldn't have asked otherwise." I dumped the bucket of scraps for the pigs all over her. Now she looked, smelled and sounded like a pig. "Who's the pig now?" I taunted. She screeched a more high-pitched squeak than my highest soprano could go. "MOTHER!" I ran away to the stable and dived into a pile of hay. I could hear screeches and people shouting at each other. A few minutes later, my uncle came into the barn. "I know you're in here Stella! So, come out!" I didn't move a muscle. I don't think I even breathed for the entire time he searched. He came near the hay pile I was in several times, but never looked into it. Luck was with me! Then, as he started to walk out of the barn, I sneezed. He rushed to where I was and grabbed at me. I tried to squirm away, but his firm grip tightened. Luck had abandoned me. "I think we should we should sell her to the Snells. They offered us a good price for her last Monday, but you refused Zanz." Elmra hissed at both my uncle and me. My uncle looked uncertain. "It—she's my niece Elmra. I can't…" "Listen here. Either you get rid of that witch or…" "No you listen here Elmra. The girl gets another chance. Besides, I was over at the Snells yesterday and they had just bought a girl named Loola or Leola or something." "Well, one more chance. And if she fails, it's away with her." The thought of being sold made me work harder than ever. I did want to get away from Snow and Aunt Elmra, but I didn't want to be sold to someone who might be even worse. I supposed that my uncle's sticking up for me had been a one-time happening and he appeared to loath me as much as he had before the incident. Being in this thinking, I was very much surprised when he came to my room one night. "Stella, I want you to know that I…I'm sorry for being so cruel to you in the past. I was just thinking…" He cut off and just stood there; motionless. I saw tears in his eyes. "Yes, Uncle?"

"I was just thinking about how much you look like your mother. She-she had such a…lovely voice. I was wondering. Could-could you sing for me?"

I smiled. I began a lullaby that mother had taught me before she died.

"Sing for love dear one, sing for me.

Hold me tight,

Keep me in your sight.

Sing for love dear one, sing for me.

Close your eyes,

Lift up your voice,

And sing!"

My uncle had tears running down both cheeks. "I'm so sorry." He uttered several times. I ran to him and embraced him. After a few moments, he took my face in his hands and smiled. "You look just like your mother. She was the most beautiful woman in the world." I blushed and turned my face away.

"You'd better go Uncle Zanz. Elmra will be mad if she finds out you're up here." He walked towards the door. "Thank you." He said as he left.

Every night Uncle Zanz came to my room and had me sing for him. I was amazed at the change in him. Elmra seemed respectful to him even. But to me, Elmra was worse than ever. She tripled my chores and even made me her personal servant. Three weeks after my incident, my Aunt sent Snow, Anee and Inta to a 'Young Lady's School' in the neighboring country of Kerloi. I was left home, but I was grateful that there weren't as many people to slave for. Two days after they left, it was my birthday. Elmra didn't know, but when my uncle came to my room so I could sing for him, he had bundle in his arms.

"What is that, Uncle?"

"Shh. I will show you in a moment. Now. What will you sing for me?"

"Well, I could sing the Kerloin love ballad again."

"No. I want something new."

I remembered a song I had been working on earlier that day while feeding the chickens. It was just a silly little jingle, but I knew it would make him laugh. "Alright. I'll sing my chicken song."

My uncle raised his eyebrow and then smiled.

"Go ahead."

I sang it for him. He laughed all through it. I had been right. "Alright." He said when it was finished. "Now I will show you your presents."

Presents?!

First, he pulled out a light pink, satin gown. "Your aunt would have insisted that this go to Snow, but you're mother had intended it for you." He held it out to me. It was beautiful. The fringe of the skirt was embroidered roses; as was the neckline. I had never seen anything so exquisite in my entire life. Next he pulled out a pouch of money. "What will I need this for Uncle Zanz?" I motioned to the pouch. He said that I would find out and reached back into the bag. The last thing he brought out was a silver hand mirror.

"This was given to your mother by a fairy on her wedding day. It lets you appear to be whoever you wish to and you can see anyone with it. But you must be careful. In the wrong hands, it could be a very powerful weapon. Kings and Queens would kill for something like this. Only use it when you absolutely have to."

He handed the mirror to me.

"Oh! I almost forgot. You can also slip inside people's dreams with it." The fairy had given my mother quite a powerful gift.

"I will take good care of it Uncle Zanz." I said as he put it back in the sack. "Now, what was the money for?"

He turned to me, his face solemn. "Your Aunt is…she is going to sell you as a slave to a cruel place where they work people to death. I could not bear to think of you in a place like that. So I'm helping you to run away." I gasped and sat down on the bed to steady myself. I didn't think Elmra that cruel.

"Th-thank you Uncle. But why did you give this to me? You could have been prosperous and powerful."

He smiled at me. "First, I only just remembered these things. They've been kept in the attic for years. Secondly, you are more precious to me than…you see; Snow is not actually my daughter. She is Elmra's from her first marriage...and Anee and Inta are idiots… But now we must hurry."

Uncle Zanz rushed me to the stable and told me to wait until he was in the house before I left. "I do not want Elmra to think I helped you. Then she'll try to follow you. Take Pentol and go to the Riverdog Inn, just across the border. From then on, you're on your own. You would be wise never to come back here again, sweet." He kissed me and then went back inside.

"Goodbye Uncle," I whispered. Then, saddling my horse, I left Ronsol.