Prologue
A woman stood gazing down from the top of a hill. Her long white hair swayed in the wind as her unblinking gray eyes stared down at a village that was once full of unique and vibrant beauty, now encased in flames. In her arms the woman carried a child no older than four. Gasping heavily the woman fell hard onto her knees; each breath she took was a hold onto what little life she had left. The woman had been pierced on her side during her attempt to escape the attack on her village. At this point and time she had lost a lot of blood and had become too weak to carry on. Sobbing she carefully removed the child from her arms and sat her onto the ground. A look of worry and confusion crossed the child's face as she could not understand why her mother was crying.
"Momma? Why are you weeping? Please stop."
The woman smiled slightly through her pain and placed a finger on her lips.
"Shhh. Do not worry for now you must go. Leave me here."
Tears began to form on the child's face. Each drop formed into the shape of a small round gem as it made impact with the ground. "But momma I wish not to. Can I not stay...please?"
"Do as I say Kaylahni! Leave me and this place! Do not look back!"
Having no choice but to do as she was told the girl took off opposite the way they came into the darkness of the woods. Where she was going she had no idea. As the woman watched her child disappear her face became that of sorrow. She was certain she had just sent her daughter to her death. Clutching her side she felt her cold tears run down her cheeks once more turning into gems as they fell.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I have failed you." With that the woman fell the rest of the way to the ground and drew her last breath.