Chapter 1

Eugenia tried to remember what her parents looked like but the image of their faces had become blurred over the years. Years? Had it really been years since she was taken prisoner by the pirates? Yes, five winters had passed since that awful night. Yet Eugenia could remember it as vividly as if it was yesterday. But she couldn't remember her parents? She took the blank piece of paper that sat in front of her and ripped it to shreds. Eugenia tossed it into the fireplace and watched as the fire reduced it to ashes. Then she began to pace her room. From the outside Eugenia might not look like a prisoner. She worn a silk sarong and had a fur shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Delicate leather slippers protected her feet and her hair was held up by jewelled pins. Even so she was a prisoner. Her captivity was by no means cruel; she was better looked after than many of the pirates that held her here. As an ambient mage, her power manifesting itself in her artwork; this was why Eugenia was kept like royalty in the palace of the Pirate King Marin, who ruled Battle Islands. It was also the reason for her incarceration in the first place.

A lone tear trickled down Eugenia's face as she remembered that night. The pirates had heard a drunken relative boasting about Eugenia's talent and how her family stood to earn a fortune from the mage. Her youngest brother was the first to die, his throat cut by a pirate when he stubbled upon them crept through the house late at night. Issac was always getting up in the middle of the night to sneak food from the pantry. Next was her father, roused by Eugenia's screams as she was stolen from her bed by three unknown attackers. She did not know the fate of her mother nor her two other brothers. She saw only one blessing, she did not have any sisters; Eugenia could not bear to think of what might have happened to them.

Voices outside her door called Eugenia from out of her memories and back to her surrounds. The constant guards, mercenaries from Sotata as not even Marin trusted his own people with Eugenia, that both protected and imprisoned her in the palace were arguing with a third man. Eugenia edged closer to the door to try and hear what was being said.

"And there can be no mistake?" one of her protector, a bear-like man called Horatio asked.

"None at all; should she be told?" the unknown person sounded nervous. Eugenia had a reputation for being the most powerful and shortest tempered of Marin's captive mages. She had one set the boots of a servant in the palace for trying to stop her from walking in the gardens. Marin had laughed when she had said that it was the man fault for being stupid enough to have flames embroidered on the rim of his boots in the first place.

"No, she would be thrown into a rage, she was quiet attached to the poor lad, and Prince Lex is not here to calm her down. You do not want to see her went she is angry." Riley warned the man. Something must have happened to Eric, Eugenia though. Eric was another mage that was being held captive along with Eugenia. He had gone out on one of the first raids of the season. Eugenia had begged him not to go; the weather was still too unpredictable. But the Marin had promised to remove the slave collar from around Eric's neck if he went along with the raiding party. She knew how much that meant to Eric; she would have given anything not to have to wear the wristbands and anklets that restricted her.

There was a suddenly bang which made Eugenia cry out. The storm that had raged outside for the last day and night had managed to rip one of the window shutters off of its hinges. Eugenia sprinted back to her chair near the fire place and sat down just as Riley opened the door.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, one hand on his sword hilt.

"The shutter frightened me that's all. I was trying to concentrate on my drawings." Eugenia replied, indicating a pile of sketches that lay on the small table beside her. Riley walked over to the window and looked out as fat droplets of rain continued to hit the expensive glass pane.

"I'll send for someone to fix it as soon as the storm quietens down." Riley turned to leave.

"Is there any word from Eric yet?" Eugenia asked casually. Riley stopped with the door half open. She knew the answer would not be good when the soldier turned to face her. Horatio, having heard her question, stepped into the room to support Riley.

"The ships were caught by the Emelan Navy on their way back and," Horatio paused searching for the right words, "they were destroyed during the fighting. There's no way to know what happened to you friend."

"So he could have escaped?" Eugenia asked excitedly. Horatio hung his head. "Riley?"

"There is a chance… But Eugenia, the collar would have weighted him down." Riley's voice trailed off. Eugenia felt her anger begin to rise. That stupid collar! She tried to control her temper by starting the meditative breathing but it only allowed her magic to mix with her fury.

"Get out." Eugenia said, trying to keep her feelings in check. Riley and Horatio backed away but the messenger that had brought the news did not hear the danger in Eugenia's voice.

"But Mistress, King Marin wishes to speak with you urgently about the raiding season." The young man insisted. Horatio silently cursed the fool for provoking Eugenia. She would be almost impossible to control now.

"I said get out! I never want to hear of that bastard King or his stupid raiding parties again!" She cried pulling out one of her pictures and throwing the paper into the fire. Eugenia sent her magic with the sketching and, as the paper burned, out of the fire came a large tiger. It rubbed its face against Eugenia's leg affectionately before turning its gaze on the messenger. The pirate knew better than to wait and see if the big cat would attack. He sprinted for all he was worth out of the door. Eugenia sent the tiger after him; giving it enough magic to disappear after it had clawed the lesson in.