Hooves pounded, hounds bellowed, and a child ran for her life. She was a
small thing, underfed, and clothed in rags. Her eyes were alight not with
fear but with deep purpose. I have to get to Tortall, she thought, then I
will be safe. She ran on determined not to let them take her.
She had done nothing that was not expected of her. She was poor and hungry,
and her choice had been easy. She could either have stolen her meal or died
slowly while she starved. She took the chance, who wouldn't have, but she
was caught and now she was running. The border couldn't be far.
Then like in answer to her thoughts she saw the river. It was fast and deep but she had to try. I won't die here like the others! Without another thought she jumped into that open maw of water. It was like a million fists beating her at once. She was pulled under and tossed around like a child tosses a doll. She couldn't see through that muddy river. She was scraped along a hard rocky cliff, and she fought for a hold.
She was seeing colors now she knew it was the end but just when she thought there was no hope her hand found a hole. She quickly jammed her fingers in as tight as she could. Then she climbed. It was a struggle; she fought her way always up knowing only that she would go the opposite way the water was pulling. Her earswas full of thunder and then her head broke the surface. She dragged herself out of the water's reaching grip, and wormed her way up the small cliff to lay unmoving on the rocky bank.
She lay there exhausted breathing deeply. No one could have blamed her; none had survived a swim in those waters and she was barely alive. She hugged the earth like she would a friend and stayed there not looking around or attempting to hide. She no longer cared what side of the river she was on it didn't matter she was alive.
Then as if someone heard those careless thoughts a voice called out. Funny, she thought, that voice doesn't sound like scanran.
She felt a hand on her neck, and with strength she lacked she was turned over and the sun glared at her from its low perch in the sky as if say, Fool look at yourself you have been caught!
The a soft female voice asked, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
"I am Rhiana," the girl answered boldly and then added, "Am I in Tortall?"
The woman smiled and tossed her smokey-brown curls out of her face. She had eyes like the sky after it has rained. The woman spoke again, "Yes this is Tortall and I am Daine. What happened to you?"
Rhiana looked at Daine, her green eyes full of amazement, "You're the Wild Mage! I.," she looked again and realized that an explanation was needed, "I had to jump. The authorities wanted to kill me like hey did my family. Please, I didn't have a choice we were starving and the baker wasn't proned to charity. Please, I beg of you grant me sanctuary in this land and I will serve you with my life."
Daine sighed, "It s not up to me, my child. But I promise that I will do what I can. Now come let us go. We are a day and a half's ride from Haven." With out any seen or heard summons a horse came up to Daine. Rhiana was directed to give the horse its head while Daine herself would fly above until it was time to rest.
The rode was long and the same. Rhiana couldn't tell one side of the river from another. The only difference was the peace she felt inside. She spent the rest of the day letting the sun hit her face, and when it was gone she allowed herself to drink up the moons tranquil light.
The horse stopped and Daine reclaimed her human form. "We will rest here until dawn. It is too dark to travel."
They slept and Rhiana felt at home in this strange but familiar land. She slept deeply, and was awakened by the light of pre-dawn turning the sky a soft golden hew. She was happy like she once had been. Happy as she was before she saw the world as it was, a dark cruel place that even the suns light could not brighten. Ever since she was old enough to think she had felt small and insignificant, but now, now she felt like someone cared and she didn't know why but she knew that here in this place she would be seen and heard like she never was in Scanra.
They stared on the last leg of their journey. According to Daine they would reach Haven shortly before nightfall. Rhiana was anxious, what if they didn't want to have another mouth to feel? What if they refuse to allow me to stay? Her thoughts raced. She fidgeted in the saddle and made the horse snort impatiently.
Then like in answer to her thoughts she saw the river. It was fast and deep but she had to try. I won't die here like the others! Without another thought she jumped into that open maw of water. It was like a million fists beating her at once. She was pulled under and tossed around like a child tosses a doll. She couldn't see through that muddy river. She was scraped along a hard rocky cliff, and she fought for a hold.
She was seeing colors now she knew it was the end but just when she thought there was no hope her hand found a hole. She quickly jammed her fingers in as tight as she could. Then she climbed. It was a struggle; she fought her way always up knowing only that she would go the opposite way the water was pulling. Her earswas full of thunder and then her head broke the surface. She dragged herself out of the water's reaching grip, and wormed her way up the small cliff to lay unmoving on the rocky bank.
She lay there exhausted breathing deeply. No one could have blamed her; none had survived a swim in those waters and she was barely alive. She hugged the earth like she would a friend and stayed there not looking around or attempting to hide. She no longer cared what side of the river she was on it didn't matter she was alive.
Then as if someone heard those careless thoughts a voice called out. Funny, she thought, that voice doesn't sound like scanran.
She felt a hand on her neck, and with strength she lacked she was turned over and the sun glared at her from its low perch in the sky as if say, Fool look at yourself you have been caught!
The a soft female voice asked, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
"I am Rhiana," the girl answered boldly and then added, "Am I in Tortall?"
The woman smiled and tossed her smokey-brown curls out of her face. She had eyes like the sky after it has rained. The woman spoke again, "Yes this is Tortall and I am Daine. What happened to you?"
Rhiana looked at Daine, her green eyes full of amazement, "You're the Wild Mage! I.," she looked again and realized that an explanation was needed, "I had to jump. The authorities wanted to kill me like hey did my family. Please, I didn't have a choice we were starving and the baker wasn't proned to charity. Please, I beg of you grant me sanctuary in this land and I will serve you with my life."
Daine sighed, "It s not up to me, my child. But I promise that I will do what I can. Now come let us go. We are a day and a half's ride from Haven." With out any seen or heard summons a horse came up to Daine. Rhiana was directed to give the horse its head while Daine herself would fly above until it was time to rest.
The rode was long and the same. Rhiana couldn't tell one side of the river from another. The only difference was the peace she felt inside. She spent the rest of the day letting the sun hit her face, and when it was gone she allowed herself to drink up the moons tranquil light.
The horse stopped and Daine reclaimed her human form. "We will rest here until dawn. It is too dark to travel."
They slept and Rhiana felt at home in this strange but familiar land. She slept deeply, and was awakened by the light of pre-dawn turning the sky a soft golden hew. She was happy like she once had been. Happy as she was before she saw the world as it was, a dark cruel place that even the suns light could not brighten. Ever since she was old enough to think she had felt small and insignificant, but now, now she felt like someone cared and she didn't know why but she knew that here in this place she would be seen and heard like she never was in Scanra.
They stared on the last leg of their journey. According to Daine they would reach Haven shortly before nightfall. Rhiana was anxious, what if they didn't want to have another mouth to feel? What if they refuse to allow me to stay? Her thoughts raced. She fidgeted in the saddle and made the horse snort impatiently.