Chapter One

The phone was ringing. It hadn't stopped all night, and though she was exhausted – her active six month-old son was a huge drain on her energy, and her husband had his hands full running the village – she knew it had to be answered. Why else would the caller be so persistent?

She tried to ignore the phone, and rolled over in bed, squinting her eyes shut, trying to block out the noise. Finally it stopped, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She was just grateful her son hadn't woken up; it was well into the early hours of the morning, still pitch black outside, and she had barely slept all night.

The phone began to ring again, and she knew she could not put it off any longer. With a sigh, she sat up and pulled the sheets off her. Glancing to her son, who was sound asleep in his cot, his dark tuft of hair ruffled to the side, she got out of bed and walked out of the room and down the hall.

Rubbing her eyes with one hand, she stifled a yawn and answered the wall phone sleepily. "Hello?"

"Mariah?"

"Yes, who's this?"

"…"

"Hello? Helloooooo?" She shook her head to rid herself of any more sleep. "Who's there? Hello?"

There was a long pause, but even over the phone, Mariah's excellent hearing enabled her to hear the very light breathing at the other end of the line.

"Please…"

"I'm here, who's there? It's Mariah!"

"Can… can we… come see you and Ray and the others?"

"… Rhea?" Mariah finally recognised the hushed voice of the person on the other end of the line. "What's happened? Tell me what's wrong!"

"There's a flight leaving in four hours. May we? I'm so sorry… I wouldn't if there was another way… Kai… I don't know what to do…"

Mariah was now on full alert. What could have happened to warrant a call and a desperate plea to come into the middle of rural, mountainous China in the early hours? "Of course, it's no trouble. Won't you tell me what's wrong?"

"Thank you, thank you so much…" Click.

Loathe as she was to remain up, something was wrong. Time seemed of the essence, and she couldn't afford to wait any longer. Picking up the receiver again, she dialled a number, punching the buttons rapidly. "Pick up, pick up, pick up…"

"… Hello…. (snore)… this is…. Gary…."

"Gary wake up this minute! You have to get here now!" Mariah replied, her voice quick and sharp as ever. "It's an emergency."

"What's… uh… happening?" Gary replied, his voice thick with sleep.

"I need to go out and need someone to watch Darren. Get here as quickly as you can!"

She could hear Gary yawning, but he had always been dependable.

"There's leftover dumplings if you want," Mariah added, hoping the addition of food would hurry him to make a decision.

"Oh, really? Yeah, I'll be there. One…. One minute."

Nodding, Mariah put the phone back on the wall and breathed slowly.

Rushing back into her room, she slid open the wardrobe doors and threw on a light jacket over her nightdress, and pulled on her boots. She walked over to the side of the cot – the baby hadn't moved an inch – and she gave him a light kiss on his forehead, before heading back to the hallway and opening the front door.

Even in the low light, her keen eyes could already make out Gary's huge silhouette as he staggered up the path towards her home. "Thank goodness," she whispered, stepping out and racing down the street to meet him.

"Thank you so much. I won't be long. The sofa is yours till morning," she said, before darting past the bewildered man, racing into town with all the speed she could muster.

| . |

It didn't take her long to reach her destination – the large building in the village square: where the town held council. Ray and Lee would both be there, along with a handful of advisors, elders, and warriors.

Out of breath, she skipped up the stairs silently and opened the double doors leading in. The large room was dark, lit only by a fire at the back of the room – the villagers positioned round it on comfortable mats.

All heads turned to face her, though her entrance was swift and almost silent.

"Mariah?" Lee asked, getting up from where he sat, allowing the others to resume their discussion. Ray's eyes remained on her for a few moments, before he turned to listen to the discussion once again.

"Lee, I think something terrible has happened," she said, clasping her brother's arms as he embraced her in a hug. "I need to speak to you and Ray now," she said, stepping back and looking at him, pleadingly.

Lee hesitated a moment. It had been a long night for everyone, there was always trouble in the village or their territory, and there was no end of work for he, Ray, and the rest of the village folk. But Mariah rarely brought anything to them without reason, and he'd not seen her so nervous since before Darren's birth.

"All right, hold on a sec," Lee nodded, before heading past the fire and the other advisors until he came to Ray's side. He leaned over and whispered in their leader's ear.

Mariah waited patiently for a moment, before Ray nodded and stood up. 'Council dismissed, we'll resume tomorrow.'

Those present muttered and grumbled a little, but they were all tired, and most were glad they had finished. They all stood and bowed to Ray, or shook his hand, before slowly exiting the building.

Mariah was sure to lower her head slightly as they walked past – a sign of apology more than respect – and once they had all left, she sprinted across the vast room to Ray's side.

He embraced her in a hug, tenderer than Lee, before stepping back, "Mariah…"

"Something's wrong. Rhea and Kai are on their way here now," she explained, glancing from Ray to Lee. "I've never heard her this scared. I think something's happened to Kai," her voice trembled.

Lee and Ray exchanged a look. "After all this time… it's been five years," Ray said, eyes staring into the distance.

"You don't think…" Lee said.

Ray shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know what else it could be."

"Is it safe?" Mariah asked, thinking only of their son.

Ray exhaled, "I really don't know. But it might be worth bringing the old team back here."

"You don't think we'll be strong enough alone?" Mariah gasped.

"I don't want to take the risk. Lee, could you make the arrangements?" Ray asked.

Lee nodded, "leave it to me, Ray." With that, he raced out the door, leaving Ray and Mariah stood next to each other, the only noise coming from the crackle of the fire.

"Everything will be fine. But… you might want to get Galux primed, just in case," Ray said at length. "We best get home and get some sleep," he added, shaking his head.

"You'll need your rest, too," she said, as the two put out the fire and made their way out of the hall. "It's been so long since anyone had to dance with you and Driger."

"I'd hoped never to face him again," Ray admitted.

Mariah had nothing to say in response. It was going to be bad. That was the only reason Rhea had begged to come and visit. She shivered as she thought back to the cold stillness of Kai's gaze all those years ago. But, together, they had managed to overcome it. She hoped they would be able to rise to the occasion once again.