Kaeleer – Ebon Rih
Running, running, running. Branches whip past, cutting her skin but she doesn't slow, mustn't slow. She's almost safe, almost there. Shouts echo behind her, they're catching up. She stumbles over a hidden rock. Then a flash of bright light, burning pain. Darkness.
** **
The men look down at the little girl, dirty and bleeding.
"Should we finish the kill?" One of the men asked. The leader looked around.
"No", he replied "the animals will finish her off quickly enough. No one ever comes around this area. She's basically dead already".
"Pity" said another of the men, "She was the best we'd found so far".
Giving the girl a last look, the men quickly left. This was a dangerous place for them to be.
****
Daemonar flew over the forest. He had finished his lessons for the day and was relishing the feel of the air as it brushed his face. He hadn't been this way before. It was further out from his home at Ebon Rih then he usually went and he was enjoying the change of scenery.
Folding his wings, he fell toward the ground, watching the trees rush up to meet him. Snapping his wings open, he glided over the forest, watching the small animals his shadow startled. Suddenly, a flash of colour caught his eye. Circling back, he landed and walked quietly towards it, calling in his favourite knife. There was a body lying on the ground. Checking quickly for anyone who may still be there, he ran to the body and turned it over. He gasped. Mother Night!! There in front of him was a little girl, bloody and scratched. A quick check told him she was alive but barely so.
*Father!!*
Ebon-gray power focused on him.
*What's wrong boyo?*
*I've found a girl. She's really hurt. What should I do?*
The focus turned sharp. *Stay there. I'm coming*
Daemonar sat next to the girl and looked her over. She was wearing a light red dress that looked like it had seen better days even before it got torn and ripped. She had long, curly brown hair that was now dirty and had little bits of leaves and twigs stuck everywhere. Her face and arms were covered in scratches. What happened to you? He sighed and tried to make her more comfortable while he waited.
He felt his father arrive, and turned to look as he appeared through the trees. Lucivar, the Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih, had the brown skin and gold eyes of the Eyrien race. His only break from tradition was his shoulder length hair, a habit which Daemonar had copied. He moved like a warrior and was quickly at Daemonar's side.
"What have you found Daemonar?" he questioned. Daemonar saw him stiffen as he saw the girl. "We need to get her back home. Now". Picking her up, he and Daemonar ran to a clearing they could take off from.
Flying home as fast as they could, Daemonar kept looking at the girl in his father's arms.
*I've told Jaenelle* sent Lucivar. *She'll meet us there*.
Good thought Daemonar. His Aunt Jaenelle was the best Healer in the Realms. If anyone could help the girl, it would be her.
****
Lucivar glanced down at the girl in his arms as he sent a message to his wife.
*Marian, I'm bringing the girl back and Jaenelle's on her way*
*She's that hurt?* worry flavoured the thread. *I'll prepare a room for her*
The thread cut off and Lucivar looked over at his son. At the age of 12 he was getting tall, with the wiry build of boys that age. His shoulder length hair, Lucivar smirked, was tied back with a strip of leather and he had his father's features. Those aren't the only things he got from me, Lucivar winced as he remembered some of the more dangerous things his son had gotten up to.
The eyrie came into view and soon Lucivar and his son were in the yard, hurrying towards the door. Marian was waiting and started talking as soon as they got inside.
"I've got a room set up for her on the second floor" She was leading them up the stairs as she talked and they were soon down the hall and in the room. Lucivar gently laid the little girl on the bed as Marian moved forward to have a look. She gasped, "The poor dear! What happened to her?" She looked at Lucivar. Just then Jaenelle hurried into the room.
"What's wrong Lucivar?" she queried as she came over to them.
"Daemonar found this girl in the forest." As he talked, Jaenelle was looking the girl over, feeling her head and arms. She closed her eyes for a moment.
"Explanations will have to wait; I need to get her stable". Materials a healer would use began appearing around her. "Sister, I could use your help. Lucivar, you and Daemonar wait outside. I'll let you know when we're done".
Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, Lucivar ushered his son out the door. "Let's wait downstairs, there's nothing more we can do and I want you to tell me what happened". Going downstairs, they settled in to wait.