The Arrival

Aiedail and Davyn trained day and night. He taught her words of the ancient language, the language of power, and she studied and practiced them in every free moment of the day. At night, she went with Davyn to a clearing in the woods behind his store, and they practiced sword fighting with sharpened sticks. One day, while they were fighting, Aiedail delivered such a strong blow, that she split Davyn's makeshift sword. He threw down the pieces and said in a grim voice, "We're done."

"I'm sorry!" cried Aiedail.

Davyn looked puzzled. "For what", he asked, "I can teach you no more with these sticks. I will go back and get us some real swords to practice with."

"But won't we, or you, cut each other to pieces. Master." she quickly added.

"The ancient language has a lot of power" he said smiling.

Then he turned and left the forest.

Aiedail sat and waited for Davyn to return. When she heard footsteps, she quickly got up, and was about to ask what took him so long, when she realized that those weren't Davyn's footsteps. All her senses had become better since she became a Rider. These footsteps were a sort of limp. And there were two pairs. Aiedail quickly went and hid in the bushes where she could see when the two strangers left. She thought they were villagers, which would be bad because most people didn't think a girl should learn swordplay, until she saw them come out of the trees. They were tall, and wore heavy cloaks, despite the heat. One bent down and picked up the discarded pieces of Davyn's broken sword.

"They were here", one hissed.

Aiedail nearly gasped. They weren't human. She remembered what Davyn had told her about the king's Rider hunters, the Ra'zac. They must have found out about us, she thought desperately. I must get back to the village to warn Davyn that they're here.

"You go to the village.", said the smaller one. "I'll stay here to keep guard in case they decide to return."