CHAPTER 1
It was cold, though it was still before the equinox, so that was expected. Horses pawed nervously, expecting another winter storm; a woman hushed a crying child; and an innkeeper sat before a hearth, asking herself if any customers would come that night. Of course not, she reasoned, it's the dead of night. Little did she know how wrong she was. Just outside of the coastal town, on the hills that surrounded, a girl of 14, sitting on horseback, surveyed the scene before her. She wondered if a little place like this was worth the trouble of having a court member staying there, even if only for a night. A sudden gust of wind made up her mind. Being a weather-mage, she knew a late winter storm was coming, and now. She urged her white mare through the streets, trying to find the inn. She found it on the end of a lane. She stopped her horse near the stables, dismounted, and led her over to a dozing stable boy.
"Up we go boy." He woke with a start. "You have a job to do, now get to it. My mare's name is Iceflower, and I would like her rubbed down, fed, and her tack cleaned, understand?" At his vigorous nod, she flipped him a silver coin. "Don't go spending it all at once, you hear?" Not waiting for an answer, she left the boy staring after her in a daze. She walked to the entrance of the building, sighed, then opened the door.
The innkeeper woke with a start. She had nodded off in the sitting room, but she could have sworn she heard the outside door opening. She left the warmth of her seat by the fire with a sigh and walked to the front room. She found, to her great surprise, a girl there. The girl was surprisingly tall, about 6 feet, with long, coal black hair in a horse-tail. She had a delicate face, though her arms displayed great muscles. Her black eyes showed no emotion as they swept the room, scanning her surroundings. She had a small nose, and full lips that were pursed into a frown. Her cheeks had flushed with the cold, the girl didn't wear clothing appropriate to the seasons weather. The thing that the older woman found most interesting though, was the circular emblem that covered the right breast of her pale blue riding cloak. It had the sign of a storm cloud, trimmed in a darker blue. It meant the girl was a master weather mage, not just a common girl. "Can I help you miss?" The keeper asked timidly.
The girl's eyes shot over to the older woman, and they turned a different shade, so her elder could see hints of green, then blue showing in them. "Yes ma'am. I need a room to stay the night. And could you give me the name of this town?" She hadn't noticed the woman until she spoke up. How could you be so thoughtless after last time you didn't notice you weren't alone? And so soon after the last attempt!
"Yes, it's Hollowed Grove. How long will you be staying here, miss?"
"Only for the night. I will be leaving before dawn tomorrow. Tell your stable boy to be ready by that time. I will require my horse saddled before I leave, as I have royal business that needs attending to as soon as I can get there." The woman was paralyzed with the shock of being addressed by one of the youngest non-noble members of court. "Y-Y-You're Wolfi Firerain!"
"Yes, I am, now did you hear me? I said I needed a room." The girl's motions showed her growing impatience.
"If you would wait here for a moment, I will get your key, miss." The older woman left the room with a nod. When she got back, she added, "If you would follow me to your room, miss. Would you like a meal brought to your room?"
"Yes ma'am. Nothing fancy, I've taken a liking to commoners food. King Jonathon always makes his court eats only the best food." She rolled her eyes in disgust of the very thought of all the food she hated so dearly, so rich it made you sick to eat it. She turned her thoughts back to where she was and asked, "Do your rooms have windows?"
"Windows, miss? Why the interest?" The innkeeper made her way up the stairs to the second floor.
"Just wondering, ma'am. So yes?"
"Most do, a few don't. We're going to a room with, is that acceptable?"
"Yes, it's perfect."