Chapter 1

Summersea, Emelan...

Ellie put on the best not-going-to-happen face she could but from the smirk on her brother's face it wasn't working. She glanced at her mother for some support but Eugenia Moss was too busy wiping the drool from off of her niece's chins to be of any help. Lucky thing, Ellie though, it was too young to be used as an ornament by its mother. Aunt Sandry didn't even look up from the pile of forms, requests and letters that required her signature. If she had she would have seen Ellie's metallic gold eyes giving her a death stare. Unusual eyes that matched the rest of the unusual 16 year old. Her jet black hair and naturally sun-kissed skin were inherited from her father while the ringlets that her hair hung in and the sense of power that radiated from her was a gift from her mother. But other things, like her strange eyes and her unnatural beauty were from a different source. While in her mother's womb she had been somehow altered by a magical device called the Medallion of Beowulf. For Theo, her twin brother, the changes he underwent were not so painfully obvious. Of course some people, like her Aunt Sandry, didn't see her beauty as a handicap. A fact that Elli resented especially seeing as her beauty was the reason Duchess Sandry was forcing her to attend yet another ball for a diplomatic envoy from Gods-know-where.

"But Dedicate Superior Lark asked me to spend some time with the food gardens at Winding Circle. Dedicate Gorse says they always taste better after I visit them. Why do I have to go to this instead?" It sounded like she was whingeing and Ellie regretted saying as soon as it came out of her mouth. Whining was not tolerated very well by her aunt. Sandry's eyes finally left her table and rested on her niece.

"Because you are part of this family Ellie and like it or not this is a royal family. I'm not asking you to face an army of Yanjing warriors. I'm simply asking you to attend a royal function and escort our honour guests around…"

"I think I'd prefer the warriors." Ellie muttered under her breath. Sandry ignored the remark.

"I've talked to Lark and she says it will be perfectly alright for you to visit your fruits and vegetables a day or two earlier. And you can wipe that smile off of your face too young man," Sandry pounced on Theo, "You'll be entertaining the noble women and showing them the wealth of magical talent that Emelan has to offer."

"Meaning I'll be drawing them all pretty pictures." Theo retorted.

"Call it whatever you want boy, you're not escaping this either." Eugenia said as she bounced baby Sage on her knee. The 6 month old seemed slightly distressed by the raise voices, frowning deeply as if she was considering whether to cry or not. Ellie sympathised but didn't join in with her cousin when Sage finally did start balling. With Sandry and Eugenia both distracted by the wailing infant Ellie and Theo made a hasty retreat.

"I'm going to see Aunt Daja. Maybe she can convince mum and Aunt Sandry to forget this stupid party." Theo said. Ellie snorted.

"Unlikely. But you're welcome to try." She yawned; the warmth of the mid-afternoon sun sunk slowly into her skin and made Ellie feel drowsy. "I'm going to go see Soren." Ellie broke away from her brother as they reached the Citadel gates, sprinting off towards the Mire.

"Oh very sensible. Go get you ass kicked by a grumpy old man every time something bad happens." Theo called after her. The sound of Ellie's laughter rang back down the street to him. Theo smiled despite himself and started towards Daja's house.

Soren Hume's house, The Mire…

Ellie gasped as the blow hit her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She doubled over in pain.

"No, no, no!" Soren shouted in his booming voice. He limbed over to Ellie and her sparing partner, a young harrier-in-training called Kaiser. "I'm half blind girly and I could have seen that blow coming!" Soren growled in his gruff way. The ex-soldier loved to remind every one of his students that even with his vision impairment, he was still ten times better than them. Today it was Ellie's turn to get the speech. Great, she though, another lecture I so didn't need. However unlike with her aunt and mother, Ellie didn't backchat Soren because that would have just earned her more bruises from the heavy wooden cane he now lent his weight on. "What do I keep telling you?"

"Don't leave my mid-drift exposed, Sir." Ellie croaked back, straightening as much as she could.

"So why do you insist on leaving it wide open for Kai to whack? Do you enjoy letting the boy beat you up? Think if you look weak he'd like you more?" Soren asked. There was a wave of sniggers from her other classmates who were watching from around the edge of the courtyard. Ellie stiffened swiftly at obvious the insult, setting her body back into the ready position.

"No Sir." She barked. Soren raised an eyebrow.

"Then prove it." He hobbled out of the yard and over to a bench along the wall. Kaiser also re-set himself into the starting position. He held his thin, reed-like baton in one hand and tapped it lightly across the palm of his other.

"How about I give you a nice little kisser on the cheek as well as the stomach? That way you'll have an excuse not to attend that nobles' dinner you dread so much." Kai sneered. Ellie was use to this. Insulting his opposition into making stupid mistakes was one of Kai's favourite tricks. Instead of replying with a jibe about his mother or sisters as she usually did, Ellie chose to remain silent. Rather, she gave him her most deathly and wicked smile and then, without anymore warning, she went on the offensive. Lashing out with her own weapon, Ellie was a blur of red clothes, tanned skin and black hair as she struck at Kaiser again and again. Kai did his best to block her but after a few minutes of intense assault his defences began to crack. It was then that Ellie finally found her opening. She whipping her baton across Kai's stomach and then turned to bring it down on the back of his knees. There were noises of sympathy for Kaiser and clapping for Ellie from the audience as Soren bent down to inspect Kaiser.

"Get up boy! There's no need to act like an empty headed lady's maid just because of a few bumps." Soren heaved the boy up by one arm and then stopped to look at Ellie. She had resumed her ready stance and was trying hard not to smile at her training master.

"There's no need to look so smug young lady. You are good enough to beat him but that doesn't mean you can win a real fight." Soren growled. Ellie had to smile then. Coming from Soren, that was practically a compliment.