Chapter 2. Katrina and Arron Dale

The village of Southwell was located on the foot and the foot was a piece of land in Shynendar that resembled a foot. Like Surda of Alagaesia, the south was very hot, but not as hot as Surda. It sat near the shore so fishing was the main source of income for the village. The large fishing company was owned by the empire and the people held working contracts with Imperial officials. The slightest infraction would cost one to loose a days wages and the gold coin they received was very precious to commoners.
Warren Dale had two sons and one daughter who worked for the village tailor. The fishing warehouse was five miles from town and it opened up two hours after sunrise. Arron, his father, and brother Tiel walked up the street towards the stone two story warehouse. As they approached the smell of fish greeted them with the wind. The workers were a bit exited today because it was wage day and they all would be receiving their pay of ten gold crowns. There were over a hundred and fifty workers who worked until two hours after sunset, five days a week.
"You seem distracted son are you alright?"
"I'm fine father…"
"Nervous about the lottery…" Tiel asked, he was well beyond the age and his family was grateful that he wasn't called on to serve the emperor.
"What will be will be…" He said nonchalantly as his mind went to his beloved Katrina.
"You should wait until after the lottery…" Dale said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Katrina… and don't tell me you weren't thinking about her…" They had arrived at the warehouse, but there was a little time left before it opened.
"I love her father…"
"Take a page from my life son… Before I married your mother there was another… She was taken in the lottery but I foolishly asked for hand before… Don't do that to yourself…"
"Well if you and Tiel weren't taken then there is a good chance my name won't be pulled…"
"ALRIGHT LISTEN UP!" The foreman shouted, "I need fifty volunteers to work over night…" The foreman's name was Sol, a grouchy scruffy lout, but a fare minded individual who treated everyone fare and with respect, unlike some Imperial officials.
Arron wasn't chosen, but Warren was, "Hey Sol… can't you take one of my sons we could use the extra coin…"
"Sorry I can't… Ethan has been on my ass for the last favor I gave you…" He sighed, "If you need some money I can give it to you…"
"I can't take your money…"
"Go ahead… I don't need much…" He shoved a bag of coins in his hand. "Take it…"
The work was hard because each man had to meet a quota each day or their wages were shortened. Lunch was provided by the warehouse to the workers. Arron tried to do his work, but that dream kept haunting him all day.

Back in the village people were preparing for the lottery and as part of the lottery the stage had to be put up and decorations to honor the Emperor put out. Katrina like Arron was about to turn sixteen the age one was chosen for the lottery. Katrina was very beautiful and every eligible guy in the village was trying to win her, but the lottery cast a huge shadow on all that, especially if she was picked. Katrina had a wild side she kept hidden from her father and mother. An only child she was a little spoiled and carried an attitude of a noble sometimes about her. That had to do a lot with her her heritage and the bloodline she descended from.
Katrina Strong was helping with the village decorations and in between her work she would sometimes imagine she was a great warrior or a female Elf. The legends spoke of how the regal elves taught both males and females the art of war. Then there was the Dragon Riders of legend, there were many human female warriors among them, but such legends and tales were outlawed.
"Katrina girl stop dawdling and get some more streamers for the stand…" Her aunt Beatrice yelled.
She rolled her eyes, 'Yes ma'am…"
"And don't roll your eyes at me girl or write your name down a hundred times and place it in the lottery pot…"
She smiled, "Yes ma'am…" She ran up the street at full speed as if she was rushing into a battle. She rolled to the ground not caring if her dress got dusty and snuck around the side of the building.
"And who are you evading this time?" The question came from her best friend Tania said. Tania was an older woman, but she had a child like spirit and always seemed to be upbeat. Katrina liked her, because she wasn't as stuffy as the other women of the village.
"Oh… just some Urgals… Can you tell me the story of the battle of farthendur again?"
"After your chores little one…"
"And what are you up to?" Katrina asked dusting herself off.
"As usual nothing… I find these lottery events to be a bore… This year you are up and I wanted to say… I want to say that whatever you are about to face… be strong… Your last name isn't Strong for nothing…"
Katrina sighed, "Do you know something of my family… Father hardly ever speaks of his father or where we truly came from…"
"The truth has way of always coming out…" Tiana said with a smile.
"You speak in riddles… Were you a fortuneteller in another life…"
Tiana laughed, "Yes and no…"
Katrina narrowed her eyes, 'I have half a mind not to speak to you ever again…"
"What does the over say…"
Katrina rolled her eyes and grabbed up her bundle and stormed off, by the end of the day the platform was set up and all the decorations were up. Katrina and her mother Jasleel walked home passing a few Dark Armor Knights who whistled and made obscene jesters at Katrina. After dinner Katrina stood on the porch watching the Emperor's troops march through the village. She sighed and went inside to her room and pulled a note from under her pillar.

It read: Katrina meet me at pond tonight love Arron…"

She smiled and placed the note in her dress and prepared for bed. That night she snuck out of the house and the village, a skill she had to avoid detection when she wished. If Katrina wanted to she could be an assassin like the black hand of legend Tiana often told her about. She loved Tiana's stories and she wished Tiana would share them with the people of the village, as they might give them hope. Katrina ran from shadow to shadow avoiding the troops that patrolled the countryside. Soon she arrived at her destination a pond surrounded by trees and hills. Katrina soaked her feet in the pond as she waited, she didn't have to wait long.
"Katrina!"
She jumped up and they embraced each other, "Arron… I have missed you…"
"And I you…"
"Was work hard today?"
"No, but sit there is something I must tell you, then ask…" She did and he started rubbing her feet. "I had a dream…"
She beamed, "Really what was it…"
"Well…I was walking through the village…" Katrina closed her eyes,"…and it seemed empty. I walked to my house and called out to my father, but he gave no answer… Then this cat jumps up onto the table…"
When he said this Katrina opened her eyes, "A cat… that is not a good sign…"
"I know cats are the eyes and ears of the Emperor… this cat starts talking and tells me that I must not be afraid of the lottery… Then he teaches me to say this phrase in this strange language… it sends a chill through my body… Then my dad comes out of nowhere and we go to the Lottery… I am chosen and… I wake up…" He looks into her eyes, "Katrina I am afraid… I am afraid I will loose you…"
She embraced him, "If you are chosen then I will wait for you… for a hundred years if I must…"
He pulled away from embrace, "Katrina I love you with all my heart and I will do anything for you… Do you love me…"
"With all my heart…"
"Will you run away with me…" she gasps, "I know it's a lot to ask, but I have gold… I have been saving it and my father has no idea… We can go north or sale across the sea… I have papers… we can fake our ages… Come with me… because the thought of being separated from you will be a death sentence…"
"I…"
"Please say yes…"
Katrina's mind was racing, but all her thoughts brought her to one conclusion and with tears streaming down her face, "Yes… I will leave with you…"
He kissed her passionately, "Thank you… and don't worry about nothing… I can hunt for both of us… And the gold I have will support us… for the time being…"

They snuck back to the village separately and over the next few days the two lovers prepared to run away and live their lives.