Ademia Salmalin stood at the railing, the wind blowing in her face. The cold February wind blew the Yamani ship to and fro. Mia drew her overcoat tightly around her slim body while listening intently to a seven foot tall dragon. Skysong, previously nicknamed Kitten, was nearly thirty years old and was beginning to converse in common human language. It was intriguing that a dragon, still considered an infant in the Dragonlands, knew so much. "Lady Alanna was the first female knight, she was born and raised in Trebond…" Skysong droned on.
"Oh, come on," Ademia sighed. Skysong had switched to the subject of Lady Alanna. As Veralidaine Salmalin's daughter she knew almost everything about her mother's friends. "Why don't you tell me new stuff… or how about the story of the Long Lake wolves?" Although she had heard it many times Mia never grew tired of hearing about the wolves her mother saved.
Ademia had inherited her mother's ability to shape-shift as had her older sister, Sarra. 'Where is Sarra?' she thought. Her father and siblings were on their way back from a trip to the Yamani Islands. It was unusual for Sarra to be below deck when there were birds near. "What?" Mia asked. Her companion had spoke while she was lost in her thoughts. "Here comes your sister," Skysong repeated. 'Uh-oh' thought Mia, Sarra had a sour look on her face.
"Get below now!" she snapped. "There is a storm coming." Sure enough, clouds could be seen in the west and the air was getting colder.
"I don't have to do anything you say!" retorted Ademia.
"Da said you need to come down, he'd say so himself if he wasn't so sick. He caught the sickness that was going around the Islands." The two sisters got into a heated argument. These skirmishes were not rare and both girls couldn't wait until they got back to Corus, the capital of Tortall.
Just then a seagull came screeching and hurtling towards the ship. It landed and walked behind one of the numerous sails. Sarra and Mia watched a shadow transform from a bird to a tall woman. "Ma!" they both shouted, their quarrel forgotten. Mia ran over and gave Veralidaine her overcoat. Daine hugged her daughters and immediately sent Sarra for a set of clothes and her father. "What's the hurry Ma?" Sarra asked. Their tired-looking mother pulled the overcoat tighter around her body as if she were chilled. "A Carthaki lord and his followers have attacked the Tortallan coast…"