Chapter One

First Glance.

I swept the plain old wooden floors. The rough cut wooden handle on the broom splintered my hands. Father was working out at the markets again. Farmer he is. And a servant girl I'm not. He told me to clean the cottage that day. So I did. I didn't want to argue, it sure was better than picking cabbages from the fields. The happy but always cautious bronze coloured Dog trailed at my heels, never had a name, just 'Dog'.

The day was quiet and the air still. I could hear no one approaching, not for a good half mile. The moment seemed right so I placed the broom against the wall and slid into the corner, pulling away an old plank. Behind it revealed a book. Not just any book 'The Book'. I pulled it out of the wall followed by a string of cobwebs. A quick brush of my hand was all it needed to push away the dust. I felt the magnetism. The book pulled me in. I brushed the small blue stone in the middle of the cover. It glowed brighter. Not just glowed but flickered. This only caused me to feel more connected. I carefully opened the front cover. The first page had a symbol largely printed. It was three swirls that met in the centre and equally twirled outwards, creating a triangle like shape. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. It was strange. It was compelling me.

"Hello?" I snapped the book shut. It wasn't father. The door knocked once more. I couldn't believe that I didn't hear them coming. Someone was here. I roughly forced the book through the gap in the wall. I made it to my feet.

"One moment," I stalled while grabbing the broom and making a few sweeping motions before saying. "Come in,"

In walked in an adult and a young man, they both had hooded capes that hung low covering their faces. I looked them up and down. The Dog just sat at my side.

"Who are you?" I asked prudently while lightly patting the Dog's head who was not growling, not barking, not doing anything. Had it forgotten? I trained it to protect the farm, father and I from strangers. Not all strangers. No. They had magic.

The man lifted his hood. "I'm Anyon," I studied his stubbled face.

"And so, mister Anyon, what do you want? My father is at the markets if you want any produce," I offered as nicely as I could to the strangers.

"No," Anyon smiled, "our produce needs are previously supplied,"

I glanced across to the barely adult boy his face still out of sight. He looked not younger or older than I. The silence continued. I frowned.

"So," I said looking up to the man, "my father shall be home from the markets at half afternoon, if you want to come back then," halfway through the sentence, the Dog freely trotted up to the strangers. I picked my eyes back up to Anyon. My fake smile disappeared "No," I shook my head. "Leave now," I dropped to broom and took a step backwards. I flash my eyes gold. Dog comes beside me, following my silent command.

"What's wrong?" a deep but innocent voice echoed through my head. I snapped my eyes to the young man. He removed his hood showing his deep brown hair and blue as blue eyes. He cocked his head to the side.

I continued to move backwards. "I don't want any trouble. I-I have hidden for so long. We have created a life. I do not wish to leave it now," They didn't pursue.

"The time is now. If you don't join us you might as well be treated as one of them," Anyon revealed a portion of his sword that was red with blood. I sighed and looked around from the corner of my eye. I was fully in my room.

"Betynan," I commanded at the door to my side. The door closed shut. "Behæpse fæst," the lock on the door fastened. I was locked in my room. Without a second thought I slid back into my corner and pulled the book out of the hide hole. My finger desperately flicked through the pages. All the wrong spells were popping up. Kill a troll. Animate a statue. None would help me.

"Tospringe," Anyon voice muffled through the wood. The door broke away off its hinges and came down with an earsplitting crash. I shriveled away into the corner.

The words 'motan lifgedæl cuman caf' kept on repeating in my head. Motan lifgedæl cuman caf, or in other words, 'May death come quick'. My instincts were strong. I was sure it would work. But I didn't say anything. Why would i? I didn't know what it would do…waste him or waste me?

All I could do is listen to the footsteps of Anyon painfully plod forward as the question practically screaming at me. I lifted my head up from my knees. Anyon was only a step away from me. No other weapon he had showing just hand outstretched arm that aimed directly at me. The other person was right behind him. He stared at me with a straight face, everything but his eyes. In his eyes I could see the pain.

"He will do it," The voice warned in my head. He didn't want this anymore than I did. I watched the ground.

"Okay," Anyon's hand didn't move, "I will join you, just don't hurt me," I begged.

Anyon dropped his hand in a relaxed fashion and smiled. "Now that's the smartest thing you have done since we have been here. Who lets in absolute strangers anyway?" He asked the boy. They both chuckled. Anyon turned his back and exited the small room.

"I am Mordred," He spoke still smiling. I took his offering of his hand and got up.

"Talar. Talar Aradia," I warily said steadying myself.

"What's your age girl?" Anyon asked while observing a small jug on the table.

"I am yet to turn 15 at quarter year,"

"Hmm... Second youngest now, right behind Mordred here, he's 15 at half year," I nodded. "Well we'll, best we be off,"

"Wait-What shall I tell my father?"

"You shall not tell your father anything," Anyon snapped.

"Why?"

"Because I said so,"

"It's for his safety," The voice echoed.

'His safety', the words made my stomach sink. Every other girl in the world would have looked to her father for safety not the other way around.

I quickly got my fawn coloured cape and a piece of crusty bread. Before leaving I picked up the book and placed it in my over the shoulder bag. We left on horseback. I shared with Mordred.

We slowed to a trot while nearing the muddy ground that surrounded a lake. I reached into my bag and lightly brushed the crystal, it still glowed.

"Where did you get that?"

"I have always had it. My mother passed it on to me before she died," I said no taking my eyes up from the stone.

"It bares the mark of the Druid people, our people,"

"Our people," I laughed while giving my bags flap a little flick for it to close.

"Yes 'Our people',"

"Oh no, not again," I twisted my body around.

"What?"

"Dog, he followed us here," I sighed.

"Your Dog followed us?"

"Yeah, it's kind of my fault. I have this…I don't know…connection or something," I eyes glistened gold and the dog disappeared from sight.

"Animal magnetism," I nodded, "interesting,"

"Hey Anyon," Mordred call forward, "I just found out Talar's ability,"

"What's it?" Anyon asked not turning around.

"Animal magnetism," Anyon just nodded and kept on riding forwards. "Where did it go?"

"The dog, I sent him away. He'll follow from afar," I thought for a moment, "Does everyone have these abilities?" I asked.

"Not everyone. The stronger or more unique your ability is, the stronger you are as a mage. See me, I have telepathy, I'm a very powerful mage. And you with your animal magnetism, that makes you a very strong one two,"

"What about Anyon?"

"He is just a fighter. Nothing special,"

"Why do you-Huh whoa it worked. Why do you choose to speak in your mind at certain times?"

"Something's people just don't want to know or hear,"