Epilogue

Niran

Ten Years Before

The young girl ran across the hills, her bare feet covered in mud and blood. The land had turned cold as she raced along the countryside. One hand covered a small knife. Her father always called it "Little Knife." It had never seen battle. It was a trinket used to take her life if she became surrounded. It had been used by her grandfather to skin rabbits and other small animals. But that was decades ago and now her small village was roaring with fire and death.

Men from the south had turned into monsters and had divided her clan. Now, she evaded capture only through her speed and the victims that had been left behind. She remembered that afternoon very clearly. When soldiers had laid claim to her town and destroyed everything. Her mother had told her to run. Her intended, Neil, had given her only a small pouch with water and a kiss upon her lips. Their one and only. He had joined her father and three older brothers in the hopes of driving them off. She had no idea the fate of her family, nor of her village.

Her heart ached.

And yet she continued to run.

Run.

Niran had never tasted blood before. And now the bitter, metallic taste filled her mouth as she ran her fingers over her ankle. She spat the liquid to the ground before wrapping her ankle up. Niran stood, gasping for breath. Her hands shook in fear. She was so afraid. Afraid of what had happened to her family and afraid of what would happen to her. Without her brothers, without her father, she was powerless.

She coughed, bitterly into her palm. The smoke from her home had seemed to make a home within her breast and she felt the rawness of her throat as she drank from the pouch. Scrubbing at her face she coughed once again, tears welling in her eyes when her the cough irritated her throat.

Niran had never felt so unsure before. The village she had wandered upon, Yiane, was filled with people. The old couple that had found her had washed her face, given her food and allowed her to lay near their fire. They were kind to her. But Niran was weary, they had been kind too. They had kissed her mother's cheeks, paid for food, shot deer with her youngest brother. But she was so tired and her vision had become blurry. She fell asleep upon the pallet in front of the fire. She continued to live with them in the Stoney Sept. Walls rose above her forehead and seemed to calm her racing heart. Here she continued to live with the old couple,

She continued to live with them in the Stoney Sept. Walls rose above her forehead and seemed to calm her racing heart. Here she continued to live with the old couple, Lisa and Frederick.

Lisa taught her how to sew and wash. Frederick, a baker, showed her how to make bread that melted in her mouth and how to use "Little Knife" for fighting. She blended into her new home and felt peace as she lay down her head at night. This did not stop here insistent dreams, however. Fire and blood made her wake up screaming and gentleUlsa kissed her cheek and held her hand. And she came to love Stoney Sept and the people within its walls.

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