Prologue
The riverbanks held a certain serenity that could not be found elsewhere. The leaves of the Valire tree rustled softly in the breeze. Their bright hues of peach, amethyst, and azure sparkled in the light of the second sun. The water murmured of distant lands it has traveled to yet it also seemed content on it's arrival to this beautiful valley.
Princess Haleyla giggled as the water lapped against her small feet. Her green eyes glittered with delight as she looked at her own reflection. Her pointed ears poked out of the elaborate maze of golden curls on her head. Her childish body was swallowed in her intricate scarlet gown that fell in shimmering folds around her. "Sister" she called "Is the whole world as beautiful as this?"
A small slender figure approached her "No, sadly the whole universe is not like a river, nor is it like banks, or the valley. There are corners of the universe filled with darkness. And you will one day learn to bring light into that darkness. It is your duty as a daughter of Maan'dir."
Young Haleyla looked up at her sister's face puzzled. "What do you mean Adina?"
"Forgive me sweetest," her sister replied "I should not worry you with such things. When you are old enough you shall understand," her voice suddenly became soft and sad "Your heart is young, let it rejoice in the wonder of the world while it still can." Haleyla nodded to her sister and returned to laughing at the ripples in her reflection.
Princess Adina was a beauty beyond words both in body and soul. She was a small willowy figure draped in mint colored silks that where held together by white gemstone flora. Braids and curls cascaded down her back. Her slender milky arms hung by her side as her cerulean eyes gazed off into the distance.
Something was not right, she could feel it, there was someone else in the valley, someone besides her, her sister, and their handmaidens, their was someone else. "Delta," she called for one her maidens "Delta, do you feel it?" A dark haired woman looked up "Feel what?"
Adina's elegant fingers clenched the trail of her gown "Something is....wrong. Something is very wrong Delta I can feel it." She looked up "On the edges of the heavens I can see shadows, look up. Their is danger."
Delta looked up "You are right highness their are shadows at the edges of the heavens. Shall we perform the Fifth Call?"
Adina paused for a moment, and then answered "Delta I want you to take Haleyla away from this place. I shall not put her in danger, she can not perform the call and if their truly is danger I want her as far away from it as possible. Take her, but tell her nothing. She should not be worried."
Delta nodded "A wise decision highness, I shall do so at once." She turned immediately and headed towards the water her sable hair fluttering in the increasingly stronger wind.
Adina looked up at the sky, suddenly it was not as pure and blue as it was earlier. Like an icy hand fear caressed her spine and she released a shaky exhale. From the corner of her eye she could see Delta carrying Haleyla out of the valley. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and parted her rose colored lips.
It was the sound of heart wrenching pain laced into fear and beauty. It was the song of the sirens as they stood before the fates*. The Fifth Call was a prayer to science, Maan'dir could use it to see if they were in danger. Only they could understand the cryptic notes which floated from their throats, it was their gift.
The Maan'dir could use their voices for anything. Their range of frequency and sound was nearly infinite. They could produce the sweet succulent melodies to soothe the most savage of creature or the Cries of Destruction that could shatter steel. Their voices were truly miraculous.
The cries grew louder, more painful, and more fearful. The voices of the handmaidens melted with the voice of the princess into one chorus. Princess Adina could feel the danger all around her. It crept across the ground like a weed, it spread through the air like a fowl stench, and ran through the water like poison. The danger began to shape, into flesh, and then into man. Princess Adina was ready to attack, as her voice changed into the Cry of Destruction, it became too late. A hand had covered her mouth and another clenched her arms to her torso, the voices of her handmaidens died down.
A man hissed in her ear "Don't try to move, we have the little girl now do as I say or we will slaughter her." Adina nodded as one tear scorched the soft skin of her cheek. The man called out "Two must be presented as gift slaves, the rest are to be sold! Now get them on the ship!" Princess Adina felt a sharp pain as something struck the back of her head and then the world turned to darkness
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When Princess Adina awoke she felt a cold floor beneath her, she was no longer in the meadow and she doubted she was even on her own planet anymore. Carefully she opened her eyes and looked up, she was met by the gazes of worried handmaidens, and her sister. "Delta," she said softly "What happened?"
Delta shook her head frantically "Forgive me highness I tried to get away yet we were met by these men, they captured Princess Haleyla and myself." Tears poured from her eyes and her slender form trembled "I beg forgiveness your highness!"
Princess Adina sat up, she carefully reached out and placed a hand on her maiden's shoulder "Do not worry, you are not to blame. There is no need to beg for forgiveness." she moved on "Now please, do any of you know what has become of us? Where are we? Who are these men? What do they want?" Princess Adina scanned what seemed to be a cell for an answer.
A voice from behind her spoke "We have been captured by Ulmarian Traders, we are now slaves. They wish to sell us." The Princess turned around to face her companion a young woman with curly auburn hair and an hourglass figure who continued "Princess I am terrified! What shall we do?"
Adina's voice remained calm "You must remain calm above all else, it is my duty as a ruler to protect you, and I will." She looked around the room, it was constructed entirely of some crude metal. It looked like an animal cage, through the bars she could see a whole corridor filled with rooms such as this one, each crowded by a different race. Her heart pounded against her ribs in fear of what may come.
Someone clung to her dress and whimpered "Adi, I'm scared." Adina looked down to see her sister clutching with tiny hands to her dress. "Shh, it's alright, we'll make it through this," she paused and added "Somehow."
A pair of men approached the cage, they looked through the bars "Which ones Sir?" One said to the other. A gray creature with speckled skin and yellow claws looked at them. "The older one in the green, she's a beauty. I'm sure she'll do just fine. And as for the other-" Adina quickly realized he was referring to her and interrupted him "Where I go, my sister goes!"
The gray creature smiled and looked to the other man "My! Isn't she a pretentious young thing? And brave too, pray tell child who are you?" Adina stood up "I am Princess Adina of the royal race of the Maan'dir, and who are you?"
The gray creature's grin widened until it's edges almost touched his tiny flat ears "I am Bronchus the trader. Now tell me why should I listen to you, slave?" The last word may have been coated in delight yet it dripped with malice.
Adina remained calm "I doubt you are going to release me, my sisters, or my maidens. So I shall inform you that my sisters Maan'dirian gift is very strong, still she does not have full control of it yet. Releasing her onto a ship without my guardianship could be fatal to vessel and it's crew. For as you know the Gift can be very destructive."
Bronchus' hand reached into the cell and his claw ran up Adina's throat "I see, the Gift makes both of you valuable indeed. And you are clearly more clever than I had imagined. Very well, you and your sister will be sent as gifts to the starship," he paused for a moment removing his hand from the cage "Andromeda. As a gift of gratitude from the Ulmarian nobles." He turned to his companion "Take the two and dress them as it is fitted for slaves, they shall be sent tomorrow."