Just as a heads up for you guys, the book begins fairly slowly. If you get to the sixth chapter, I am almost positive that you will want to keep reading. Please do not assume the whole thing wil be uninteresting. Thank you.
"Cadance, where are you?" Cadance woke with a start, panting. Another bad dream. She slid out of bed and brushed her long silver hair, staring at her reflection. Sighing, Cadance let her breath go slowly. Bad dreams had haunted her sleep for weeks, and they have gotten no better.
Cadance put on her clothes for riding and headed out of her room. Immediately, the sun shone directly at her face, illuminating the soft brown eyes veiled under thick silver hair. She walked to her horse's stall and entered. "Good morning, my friend." Cadance whispered.
"Are you talking to your horse again?" A voice scoffed from behind her. "I keep telling Makary that you're a witch, but he doesn't listen."
"I'm not a witch." Cadance retorted.
"Oh really, than what are you? Seriously, what are you?!" Taunted the boy.
"Leave me alone." Cadance half whispered. To her surprise, the boy walked away, but not before shouting, "You haven't heard the last of me, freak!"
She sighed again. He's right. What am I? I'm not the same as the other children of Tellara.
There is no doubt why they call Cadance the pride of Tellara. She was superior to the other children in physical and mental abilities, although she was a bit clumsy. Besides from besting all in combat and being dazzling clever, Cadance was the most beautiful child ever seen in this part of middle earth. Even though she was merely fifteen, Cadance is favorited by the adults, including the leader of the peaceful village, Makary. Instead of schooling Cadance, he gave he responsibilities over the stable in which she stayed. The travelers coming through the village believed Cadance to be absolutely perfect, but she had a certain disregard for rules that positively infuriated Makary. She was talented, but would be better off working more diligently. Among the sewing portion of the girls in Tellera, Cadance had been given the nickname of 'pin master', due to the immeasurable amount of pins she used.
Unfortunately, Cadance wasn't the most popular with her piers. They often teased her about her clumsiness when under pressure and her ability to stub her toes on anything within a two-foot radius. Her silver hair and her talent at most material activities earned her the title of 'witch' and 'freak', compliments of her most zealous adversaries. Cadance cared little for her appearance, it only made people assume she was vain and self righteous.
She was most grateful for Makary, he didn't listen to the rumors that ran around the village, saying she had supernatural abilities. He judged her from what he could see for himself, and treated Cadance fairly for her good attitude and talent. However, on several occasions, he had jested that, if she procrastinated for three hours again, he would go through the roof.
Today, she would be introducing the new boy into a home at the barn. Like all the children lodging in the stable, the new boy, Sarsquoe, was an orphan. Like all the others, including Cadance, he had been welcomed and given a place to stay.
Cadance walked down the long hall after exiting her room. The rooms themselves were merely horse stalls transformed into neat little bedrooms. Cadance especially enjoyed the sliding doors latched by hinges, the only down side was that one could be locked in from the outside.
As Cadance approached Sarsquoe, she noticed a look of boredom on his face. He hardly seems interested in anything, till he set eyes on Cadance. She was used to being looked at that intent way, her appearance was startling, yet something in this stare brought an uneasy feeling to her stomach. The gaze was more observant, like the boy was trying to discover a hidden secret about her.
"Good morning Sarsquoe, my name is Cadance and I will be showing you around." She said brightly, trying to put at ease the feeling of uncertainty in her stomach.
Throughout the entirety of the tour, Sarsquoe seemed more interested in watching Cadance that looking at anything he was shown. His lack of interest in the horses confused the girl, but she tried to reason that not all humans were 'crazy horse people'. At the end of the trip, Sarsquoe abruptly began to run, accidentally kicking off his boot as he shouted a thank you back at Cadance. She shrugged it off and picked up the boot with amusement and confusion at his behavior. I'll give it back to him later, she thought.
After searching almost the entire stable, Cadance spotted Sarsquoe in a field with a hawk perched on his arm. The boy was attaching something to the bird, then he released it into the sky. "You dropped this." Cadance said smiling, coming up behind the startled boy. He snatched the boot from her hand and ran off, like a little child caught doing something wrong. Cadance cocked her head as she watched Sarsquoe's dark figure disappear around the corner of the barn. I'll never understand boys.
Mordor, four weeks earlier...
Sarsquoe paced in his chambers. He couldn't believe it. The Witch King of Angmar had a job for him. Any moment he would be summoned to hear his task. A knock at the door startled the sixteen year old boy, and he rushed to open it. An ugly, grayskinned ork nodded his head and uttered three words, "It is time."
Sarsquoe's heart beat faster and faster as he was led to the great hall of Minas Morgul. There, the Witch King waited for him, his back turned. "Greetings Sarsqoe." He said dryly. "Are you ready to fulfill your purpose." Turning as he said this, the leader of the Nazgûl strode towards the boy, towering over him. Sarsqoe straightened as he replied, "I will not disappoint you. What are Lord Sauron's orders"
"You are to travel to the village of Tallera, directly south of the shire. Somewhere in that town, there is someone he wants, someone who will prove useful once our Master has returned. Send your hawk when you locate your target. You will know that person when you see her." Sarsqoe smirked. His master's instructions would be easy to follow, he had been raised for this moment. "I will set out at once."
Did you make it?
I thought it would be nice to give name pronunciation for two of the characters, but if there are more just say so.
Sarsqoe: s-are-s-quo
Makary: muh-car-ee