~Set sometime during the Ancient Age, after the First Blight~
Kartia felt the anger inside her at Nadya's betrayal. She walked through the Wilds, not really paying attention to where she was walking. Her heart was racing. Her thoughts came quickly and all at once. Should she be angry or should she trust Nadya's wisdom?
She knew it was foolish to argue with a Shaman. One day, Nadya would lead their people. Kartia sighed and stopped walking, leaning against a tree. She ran her fingers through her hair and frowned as her thoughts continued to race in circles.
"You should not wonder the Wilds alone," A voice said from the shadows.
Kartia spun around quickly, hand reaching for her bow as she moved. She had the bow out and pointed before she recognized the man standing there.
It was Dalan, Shaman Warrior of the Avvar. Kartia narrowed her eyes. "Why are your people still here? The Avvar are not welcome in the Wilds!" Kartia responded, heat in her voice.
Dalan smirked. "My brother seems very welcome here," he replied calmly.
Kartia glared. "You planned this!" she growled.
He chuckled softly. "Nay. I am merely taking advantage of a perfect opportunity."
"The Chasind will never fight for the Avvar!" Kartia growled and let lose an arrow.
Dalan let out a laugh. Fire lept from his fingertips, turning the arrow to ashes before it reached him. "Now, now, we can't have any of that." He smiled and grabbed some powder from his pouch. He blew it in her directions and whispered word of magic.
The dust caught Kartia in the face, filling her nose and lungs with the horrible stuff. It burned her throat. Her eyes watered and she cried out as she fell to the floor. She began coughing, blood trickling out her mouth.
Dalan walked over and stood over the Chasind archer. He looked down at her with pity in his eyes. "You will die in three weeks I am sorry you had to die. But I could not allow for you to interfere in my plans. It will be a painful death and it will not be quick." He paused and stroked his beard a moment. " Perhaps I was too hasty in my method for killing you. But this way, no one will suspect Avvar involvement."
Kartia looked up at Dalan with hatred in her eyes. She struggled to speak but every time she tried she would start coughing again.
Dalan raised an eyebrow. "You are trying to speak? That would be a waste. There was a silencing spell mixed in with that poison." He sat down and leaned his back against the tree. "You will fall unconscious soon. I will bring you to your Shaman and claimed I found you. The Chasind will fight for the Avvar, you will see."
Kartia could feel her stomach turning. She spat up some blood and struggled to stand. Her arms could not lift her torso off the ground and she fell back down. Dalan tsked over her and told her to lay still. She could feel the blades of grass against her cheek as she lay there, helpless. Her body was weak. She could feel her eyelids closing.
Her consciousness slowly faded away. Dalan looked down at the girl. He touched her hair and frowned. He hadn't wanted things to go this way, but the girl had been too stubborn. He was the leader of his people and he had a war to win. He could not fail them.