Lily's Beginning

Prologue

Lily and Lavinia walked into the Green's tiny home early that day, the smell of the dying fire quickly hit their noses. The little family had been ill with a raging fever and Lily was starting to wonder if they would make it. Today was the first time Lavinia had gone with Lily and she was glad for the help. She wanted to make a tea for the family and there was no way she could have carried the water bucket and all the herbs she needed. Honestly Lily was surprised that her sister had volunteered, usually Lavinia's weekends were filled with boys and skipping chores.

As they let their eyes adjust to the darkness. Lily saw Mr. Green wasn't in bed but it didn't take long to search the one room home and she quickly saw he was across the room, sitting in his favorite chair. "Mr. Green what are you doing out of bed?" She walked over and touched his arm, "Mr. Green?" Lavinia walked next to her sister and saw his eyes were slightly open but he wasn't moving. "Oh no." She heard her sister whisper.

"Is he dead?" Lavinia asked, staring wide eyed at the man. Lily put down her bucket and nodded, "He must have died in the night." She gently ran her hand over his eyelids and closed them as she began to pray, "Blessed Otto, please take this loving husband and father into your kingdom." Lily kissed her finger tips and touched Mr. Green's forehead.

"Why did you do that?" Lavinia asked.

"It shows Otto that he has been blessed and his soul is ready to be received."

"Really? How do you know he's not sleeping really deep?" She let Lily take her hand and watched as she placed it on the dead man's throat. "If he was sleeping you'd feel his heart here." Lavinia didn't feel anything but when she touched the same spot on her own neck she felt the little bump bump of her heart, "Oh I see." Lily sighed as she turned to the mother and child who were still asleep in the bed. "I wonder if they know." Lavinia barely heard her sister, the dead man was so interesting. "I doubt it." She said as she walked closer to the corpse. It amazed her that he could look so alive and be dead at the same time.

Lily quickly picked up the water bucket and moved to Mrs. Green's side, she could see a mist of sweat on her forehead and knew the fever was still working its way through her body. "Lavinia will you bring me the licorice root and thyme please?" She asked as she put a fresh, cool cloth on the poor woman's forehead. The tea kettle was still by the fireplace and Lily moved to get it when she saw her sister still standing by Mr. Green. Her eyes were wide and she was reaching out like she wanted to touch him. "Lavinia?"

Lavinia didn't hear her sister, the dead man held her attention like a kitten being teased with a dangling string. "Lavinia!" She startled and looked at her sister.

"What?" Lily sighed and Lavinia knew that sound; it meant her sister was frustrated with her. She heard that sound a lot. "Would you fill the kettle and put a cloth on his head?" She motioned over to the little boy and Lavinia quickly did what her sister asked. As she moved around the room her eyes kept catching glances at Mr. Green, are his eyes following me she wondered? She kneeled next to the boy and mimicked her sister's actions by dabbing a cool cloth on his burning head. "Where's my husband?" The girls quickly looked up at Mrs. Green, her eyes were barely open and she started to move. "Don't get up Mrs. Green." Lily leaned over and tried to keep her from getting out of the bed but the woman's fevered motions were erratic and Lily had trouble keeping her down. "Where's my husband?"

"He's in his chair Mrs. Green." Lavinia said. Slowly she stopped moving and settled back into bed. "Oh good, he loves that chair." She said quietly and fell back into a fitful sleep.

"I guess they don't know." said Lavinia.

Lily looked up at her twin, "If she woke up it means she's getting better. I can't have her wake and see her husband dead; they deserve to have a grave to visit." Lily got to her feet and moved to the door, "Lavinia, do you think you can watch them for me while I go get a priest?"

"Sure."

Lily smiled, "Thanks Vinia, I'll be back soon I promise." She paused before she walked outside and turned, "It really means a lot to me that you came to help today." Lavinia stood and squeezed her sister's hand, "You're welcome Lily." She squeezed back and Lavinia watched as her sister start for Fairwinds.

When Lily disappeared over the horizon Lavinia turned back toward the patients and sighed and annoyance. She really didn't want to be left alone with sick people, but she also didn't want to go get a priest. Every time she walked into the temple she felt suffocated. Both her sister and father worshipped Otto, god of the sea and she could see how happy it made them but she never felt that way. Her family would walk out of the temple after a mass feeling peaceful and full of love; but Lavinia would be glad it was over and quickly find whatever boy had her attention at the moment and forget about her morning. She turned and eyed the dead man, he was much more interesting than his family.

Lavinia slowly walked a circle around him, her eyes wide with curiosity. She had never seen a dead man before and lightly touched his skin; it was cool to the touch and it didn't quite feel like skin, more rubbery than she expected. She picked up one of his fingers and found it hard to move, it intrigued her. When she let go his finger slowly fell back to the arm of the chair. Lavinia leaned in close and sniffed, he didn't smell alive but he didn't smell bad either; she had smelled dead animals as she walked by them in the streets and they smelled awful, but for some reason this man didn't. Her fingers twisted in his hair and it was soft and delicate, nothing new there she thought.

She stopped in front of him and cradled his face in her hands. "You sure do look alive to me," She said as she crawled into his lap and caressed his cheeks. The smell wafting near the body reached her nose and Lavinia sighed in pleasure as she leaned forward and pressed her lips on his. They felt cool like the rest of his skin. She leaned down and put her head on his chest but there was still nothing to hear. Lavinia knew powerful priests could bring back the dead, she also knew she'd never have that power. You had to have compassion to be a priest and that title belonged to her sister. Lavinia laid her hands over his heart and wondered what it would be like to bring someone back. Did the priests feel the magic in the body and wish it back or was it all on the Gods and they felt nothing.

As she thought about bringing back the dead something inside her stirred, a spark of something she had never felt before. She gasped and quickly took her hands off him, in that instant the feeling went away. Lavinia had never felt magic before, she knew her sister could do little things but it was divine magic given to her by Otto. Lavinia knew the water god would never give her such power and wondered where it came from. Slowly she put her hands back on his chest and the feeling was there again. It was deep inside her and she could feel it in the dead man as well. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine a line stretching from her and connecting to whatever it was in him. When it did she felt a rush of something she couldn't describe; power, magic maybe? She felt alive and aware, more than she ever had; she could hear the little beetle walking around on the dirt floor; the blanket on the bed made a scratching noise as the patients breathed in and out. The wind picked up and her hair tickled her cheek, her heartbeat was thundering in her ears but there was another noise; another slight thump that got quicker and quicker until it matched her own heartbeat than suddenly stopped. Her eyes flew open and met the dead man's, they were open. "My god what did I do?" She pressed her ear to his chest but didn't hear anything, she tried finding a heartbeat like Lily had shown her but still found nothing. "Can you hear me?" she asked it. He nodded slowly but when his chin hit his chest he didn't move again. Lavinia quickly crawled off his lap and sat him back the way he was. She put her hands on his chest and tried to connect the feelings again but there was nothing, she only felt it within herself; whatever was in him was gone. The adrenaline was pumping through her, I did it I did it she thought as she paced manically in front of the corpse. Lavinia desperately wanted to try it again but there were no more dead bodies. Disappointed she turned and saw the newly widowed woman and her fatherless child lying in the bed.

Lily walked in the house an hour later, priest and gravedigger in tow. Lavinia was sitting next to the little boy, holding his hand and she turned as they entered. "I'm sorry Lily, I couldn't save them. They both just, stopped breathing I didn't know what to do." Lily's face dropped and she ran over to her sister, "I don't understand, I thought they were getting better."

"At least they'll be together, right?" Lavinia said. Lily nodded as Lavinia stood and hugged her. The priest walked over to Lily and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You girls have done all you can. Why don't you go home to your Papa and thank Otto that you all have each other."

"Yes Father," They said simultaneously. Lavinia picked up the water bucket and followed Lily out of the small house.

As they walked home Lavinia was dying to ask Lily some questions and made sure no one was around to hear her. "Lily have you ever brought someone back from the dead?"

She shook her head, "No, only a really powerful priest can; and then it's cases where injury caused the death. No one, no matter how powerful can bring someone back if they died a natural death."

"When someone comes back, are they alive?"

"Of course that's the point, why?"

Lavinia bit her bottom lip, "What if someone came back, but they stayed cold and still had no heartbeat, is it the same thing?"

"No, why?"

"Just curious, you know so much I want to know too."

Lily looked at her twin; they may have had long blonde hair and their father's green eyes, but those were the only things they had in common. Lavinia never cared about how Lily spent her days, preferring to hear about them at the dinner table rather than joining her. She thought maybe it was a turning point for Lavinia; maybe she'll start feeling Otto in her heart, the thought made Lily smile. "Well, I heard the priests talking about things called undead." She said.

"Undead. What an odd name, what are they?"

"Something that's neither living nor dead. They listen only to the person who made it. There's evil magic used in making them but I don't know anything about that." Lily saw her sister peek out from behind her long hair, "So you don't know how to make an undead?" Her eyes widened in shock, "No! Of course I don't and neither does Father Wayman so don't go pestering him about such awful things."

They walked in silence for a while before Lavinia started asking more questions. "So obviously making these, undead, are a taboo subject to the priests?"

"Yes, it's a very evil thing to do."

"But there are people who make them right? Otherwise no one would know about them."

"Lavinia why do you care? No one around here does and that's all that matters." She was quiet for a few moments before she spoke up again, "I bet Korites make them." Lily turned to her twin; she was swinging the water bucket around like a child does when they're having fun. The topic didn't seem to bother her at all. Korites were people who worshiped Kore, the god of death and destruction. Lavinia was right, if anyone in the world made undead it would be followers of Kore. "Yes, I'm sure there are Korites who make undead and luckily there aren't any around here."

Both girls walked into their house, making sure to hug and kiss their father Etienne. Lily started helping him with dinner as Lavinia walked into their room and shut the door. "How'd it go at the Green's?" he asked as he handed her a potato. Lily sighed and began scrubbing the dirt off, "They died." she said soberly.

Etienne clicked his tongue and kissed her head, "I'm sure you did your best. They're with Otto now." Lily nodded her head and knew her father was trying to comfort her, but the questions her sister asked were weighing on her mind. Why would she ask about such horrible things. Just talking about them always made Lily uncomfortable and she hoped her sister was just being extra curious as she tended to be and not actually wondering about how to animate the dead. Otto please keep my sister away from such awful things she silently prayed as she began to peel her potato.

Lily's First Journey

Lily woke startled from her dream; she wasn't surprised she dreamed of her sister but thought it was odd she dreamed of that day three years ago when the Green's died. Lavinia had left home to study magic a year after that and in the two years she had been gone, she wrote one letter to Lily; the one she received two weeks ago. In the letter she asked Lily to come and visit her and according to the directions she gave she was only a week away by wagon so Lily spent the next few days in a mad dash to get everything ready for her first trip. She had never traveled more than a day outside of her seaside home in Fairwinds and wasn't going to hide the fact that she was a little nervous. A week really couldn't be that long she kept telling herself.

She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as the smell of sausages hit her nose. Smiling, she quickly got dressed, ran a brush though her long blonde hair and thanked Otto for another wonderful day. Lily and her father both worshiped Otto, God of the sea. A lot of people in Fairwinds did, it being on the coast. It was her one aspiration in life to become a priestess in His service, but at the moment the head priest Father Wayman thought she was to young and needed more life experience. When the opportunity came to travel so far from home she hoped it would nudge the Father a step towards letting her join the church.

Lily walked into the family room and saw her father sitting at the table reading a book next to a mound of food that covered the small table. He looked up when he heard her walk in, "Morning Lily."

"Morning Papa, went a little overboard on breakfast didn't you?" She walked up and kissed his forehead before she sat down. "Oh I don't know about overboard but I guess there is a lot of food." He poured her a glass of milk as she helped herself to some toast and bacon. Lily adored her father Etienne, he wasn't an old man by any means but the gray on his beard was starting to match the gray on his head. Lily wanted him to accompany her on this trip but he said someone needed to stay home and watch after things; but she could tell he really did want to go. "So you all packed?" he asked munching on some bacon.

"Yes, just have to load it in the wagon and I'm ready." There was a knock at the door and Lily started to get up to answer it. "No no, you sit and eat I'll get it." Her father held her down as he walked past to get the door. It was awfully early for visitors but Lily figured a neighbor wanted to say goodbye or wish her luck. She could hear her father talking to the person at the door but didn't recognize the voice. "Come on in there's plenty of food!" Etienne said and Lily watched her father welcome in two men she had never seen before. The younger was just a little older and taller than herself, maybe around 5 '10 or so. He had short dark hair, wore black studded leather armor and had a rapier at his side. He also looked really tired, there were circles under his dark brown eyes and his hair was still looked mussed from sleep. The other man was older; he had to be in his late twenties, early thirties at most. He was tall, above six feet she'd guess but not by much. His hair was dark and wavy, she could see it was quickly turning gray and he was dressed as a priest of Otto. His long white robes were worn with travel especially around the edges and Otto's holy symbol, a sea shell, hung around his neck. She didn't see any weapons on him, only a big walking stick and a backpack. The one thing that stuck out about him was his eyes; they were exceptionally kind and the prettiest light blue she'd ever seen. It was his voice she heard first, "Thank you very much Mr. Vale, breakfast would be wonderful."

"Oh call me Etienne, please."

The priest nodded his head, "Etienne." The three men walked up to the table and Lily knew she had to look more confused than friendly at the moment. "Papa you know these men?" They sat down and started helping themselves to the large breakfast on the table. "Lily I'd like you'd to meet Taren Eli," Etienne motioned to the younger man who nodded his head in response. "And Dante Foss, priest of Otto."

The priest bowed his head a little in her direction. "Lovely to meet you Lily."

"Nice to meet you both." She turned to her father, the confused look on her face still obvious. "Lily I've hired Taren and Dante to go with you." Her eyes widened and she glanced quickly at the men and back to her father. "Father! You don't even know them." She said pointing at the newcomers. "Uh-oh you called me Father, I must be in trouble." He chuckled and she put her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look. "Lily, I talked with Father Wayman and he highly recommends them. He's known them for years."

She looked over at the priest, "Is that true?" He nodded and set down his glass of milk.

"Yes, I've known Wayman for several years now; and in all the years I've known him I've never been able to beat him at tiles." He smiled and ate some toast. Lily knew Father Wayman was the best at tiles, she doubted anyone could beat him and sighed, "All right then but Papa," she leaned over and whispered, "you can't afford to pay them."

He waved her comment off, "Don't you worry about that Lily that's between me and them." Lily could tell she was defeated, she had bodyguards for her trip and there wasn't anything she could about it.

As they ate Dante happily chatted about the weather and several other polite conversational topics, "Your father said you're training to be a priestess Lily, that's wonderful." He said as he shoved some eggs at Taren. Lily smiled brightly, "Yes, I'm very excited. I've wanted to join the church for years but Father Wayman insists I 'live a little' first." Dante nodded his head in approval but Taren just sat quietly and ate. "Not used to getting up this early Taren?" she asked him.

He shook his head, "Not a morning person." Even his voice sounded tired.

"Not much of a talker are you?"

He gave Dante a quick glance. "When I can get a word in." She chuckled and Dante rolled his eyes, "You could get a word in if you really wanted." The priest insisted.

"Doubt,"

"I mean it's not as if I try to talk constantly." He smiled widely as Lily laughed. Taren just continued to look grumpy and rolled his eyes.

When they finished eating everyone walked outside and Etienne had his arm around his daughter. "We'll hitch up the horses; give you two a few minutes." Dante said as he and Taren walked to the side of the house, leaving father and daughter alone. Etienne turned and hugged Lily tight, "You make sure and tell your sister I love her all right?" he said as he kissed her forehead. "I will Papa." she kissed his cheek and tried to be brave. The men came back around the house and Lily saw everything was loaded, hitched and ready to go. "Now Lily," her father turned her back around to face him and held her face gently, "I know you like to help people but remember the world is full of people that pray on nice, sweet girls." he said in that fatherly voice that made her smile. "Don't worry Etienne, we'll take good care of her I promise." Dante said.

"That's right Papa, the big tough brutes you hired will keep me safe." She said with a smile and Dante laughed as he helped Taren into the back of the wagon. Lily liked his laugh, it was hearty and genuine. She hugged her father one last time and hopped into the cart. "Ready Miss Lily?" Dante said as he handed her the reigns. She nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be. I'll see you when I get back Papa."

She blew her father a kiss and he caught it and blew one back to her, "Be safe my little Lily." He waved as she pulled away and didn't go back inside until she was out of sight. "May Otto bless you, my little Lily." He whispered and walked back inside.

Lily steered the wagon onto the main road and headed west. "Did my father tell you where we're going?" she asked Dante who shook his head.

"Only that we're to protect you while you travel to see your sister. He didn't say where she lived."

Lily nodded, "Well her letter said she lived about five hours west of Buckland which is about a week away."

"A week that's not too bad. We might as well get to know each other." he said, "Have you lived in Fairwinds your whole life?"

"Mm-hmm, this is my first big trip. How about you where are you from?"

"I grew up in Ardenry." Ardenry was the big human capital where their king lived. Lily always dreamed of taking a holiday in Ardenry, mainly because the Temple of Otto there was said to be the most glorious of all his Temples. "Wow, the big city, is it pretty?" She asked turning to face him, she hated having sideways conversations. "I think it is." He smiled at her as he reached behind him and grabbed Taren on the head, "What?" Taren was clearly still not fully awake. "We're getting to know each other Taren, where are you from?" Dante asked with a grin.

"You know where I'm from," he sniffed, "but for Lily's sake I'm from Salthole." Lily smiled, "My father's from Salthole."

"Really? Remember any Vale's from home Taren?"

"No."

"No? Oh well." Dante shrugged his shoulders and turned back to Lily. "So how long has it been since you've seen your sister?" Dante was clearly one for conversation which was fine with her. It was going to be five very long days if no one talked. "Two years."

He whistled, "That's a long time. Did she get married and move?"

"No, she left to study magic."

"Magic huh? So she's a mage of some kind?"

Lily shrugged, "I guess, she didn't really go into much detail."

"Is she your older sister?"

"Technically yes." She said with a nod.

"Technically?"

Lily smiled. "Lavinia's two minutes older than me."

"Two minutes! You're a twin?" She nodded again and laughed at his reaction. "Are you identical?" he asked
"Yes," she said slowly, "but there is one way to tell us apart."

"Really, how?" He leaned forward with a mischievous grin and Lily couldn't help but giggle, "I'm not telling you're going to have to guess."

"Guess?" Dante held his chin for a moment, "All right I'll guess and I'll get it right. I'll make you a bet."

She furled her eyebrows, "What kind of bet?"

"If I can tell you two apart," he gave her arm a little poke, "you have to dance with me." Taren snickered loudly from the back of the wagon as Lily's eyes widened with surprise. "Dance? Well, what if you can't tell us apart, then what?"

Dante thought again and snapped his fingers. "I'll sing in front of a whole crowd of people." He looked rather pleased with himself but apparently the other man in the cart didn't agree with him. "Ohhh! Don't let him sing you'll go deaf for a week!" Taren exclaimed rather loudly. Lily laughed as Dante reached back and messed up the young man's hair. "Is it a bet?" He turned back around and held out his hand to her. She smiled and gave it a hearty shake. "You are going to lose big time." she said chuckling.

"We'll see." He said smiling widely. Taren popped up from the back and grabbed Dante's head and forced him to look forward. "Oops." Dante pointed straight ahead and Lily saw that the horses had taken the wagon off the road. "Oh, sorry." She quickly led the horses back on the road. When Taren was confident the wagon would stay on the road he sat back down. "Thank you Taren." Lily said sheepishly.

"Yeah thanks Taren." Dante teased. He didn't replay, he just sat quietly trying to wake up. Lily turned her head slightly and smiled at Dante, she wasn't surprised to see that he was still smiling at her.

As the day passed any reservations Lily had about her 'bodyguards' were lifted. She felt at ease with them and enjoyed their company; especially after Taren finally woke up. It was about an hour before sundown when the young man suggested they stop for the night, "It's easier to set up with sunlight than with fire light." He said. Lily wasn't one to argue with someone who had experience with this sort of thing and led the wagon about a hundred feet off the road. Taren immediately jumped out and started gathering tinder while Dante climbed down and helped Lily to the ground; she didn't really need it but was flattered all the same. Soon the men got a fire going and as twilight fell they were sitting around a nice warm fire eating their unsatisfying meal of road rations. The men were used to it but Lily had never eaten them before; they were quite bland but you didn't complain because they could keep you alive. "Don't like the food?" Taren asked as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Not really. Tell me about Ardenry Dante; get my mind off this food."

He chuckled, "Not much to tell from my point of view really, but it's nice and peaceful; you'd like it."

"Why don't you take her Dante?" Taren said. Dante coughed in surprise but he covered and made it seem he was clearing his throat. "Well that's up to her, but if you'd like," She stared at Dante and wondered why he didn't seem to realize that Taren was teasing him, it was pretty obvious to her from that little sparkle in his eyes. "Well I'm up for anything." she said. Dante's eyes suddenly grew wide and he smiled excitedly, "That's it!" He said as he slapped his knee. "That's it what?" Lily tried not to smile at his enthusiasm but it was hard.

"If I can tell you and your sister apart, you have to come to Ardenry with me so I can show you your first big city."

She thought for a moment, "What about the dancing?"

He shrugged, "What if I wanted to dance before we meet your sister?"

She looked at him curiously, "Would you?"

"Maybe." he said with a small smile.

Lily cleared her throat, "Well, since you'll never tell us apart I have no problem changing the bet."

Dante chuckled, "All right then." he held out his hand and she shook it again.

The sun had been down for a few hours when Lily started getting tired. She had already gotten out their bedrolls and was laying on hers, her arms were under her head and she was looking up at the stars. Taren noticed that Dante was staring at her but she seemed oblivious to the priests attention. He picked up a little stick and threw it at Dante, it hit him in the head and he turned with a surprised look on his face. Taren mouthed the words, 'What are you doing?' Dante silently replied, 'What?' Taren pointed at Dante then pointed at Lily and made a smoochy face. When he turned back to Dante he had that, 'What are you doing' look on his face again. Dante shook his head and waved him off as if to say 'I don't know what you're talking about, but Taren looked at him sternly and the priest sighed. "You two all right?" They looked over and saw Lily was staring at them, her eyes wide with confusion. "Yes why?" Taren tried to say as innocently as possible. She shook her head, exasperated. "Fine, well I'm tired. I think I'll turn in."

"All right, good night Lily." Dante said and Taren nodded his acknowledgment.

"Good night guys." She turned on her side away from the fire and drifted off to sleep, listening to the cicadas.

Taren waited until he heard Lily breathing deep and turned to Dante. "You want to tell me what you're doing?" he whispered just in case she was a light sleeper.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dante wouldn't look at him, but Taren knew him, that meant he was hiding something. "Yes you do, I know flirting when I see it and you're flirting with her."

"No I'm not." He insisted but Taren gave him the same stern look he gave him earlier and he sighed, "I don't mean to." One good thing about a priest, Taren thought, they didn't deny the truth for very long. "You don't mean to?"

"No, she's just so easy to talk to. I feel comfortable around her."

"Didn't think that's because she going to be a priestess and it's her job to make people feel comfortable?" Taren crossed his arms, Dante was never like this; he was the one who lectured not the one who got them. Dante shook his head, "No, that's not it."

"You do realize you're twelve years older than her right?"

"Yes I do, you don't have to lecture me."

"I don't?"

"No you don't."

Taren sighed, "Just don't get attached Dante. It's a job and jobs eventually come to an end. You'll have to say goodbye when we take her home." Taren shook his head a little, "I've never seen you like this; you're friendly but never like this."

Dante sighed, "She makes it easy, can't you feel it?"

Taren shook his head, "I've known her for one day, I don't feel anything."

Dante turned and watched Lily as she slept. "It has only been one day hasn't it?" That fact surprised him; it felt like he had known her much longer than that. Dante shook his head, "I'm going to bed." He said and he flopped down on his bedroll.