Chapter 2
Leila knocked on the front door of Robin's house and waited. It was slightly larger than most of the other shacks in the neighborhood, and it had a tiled roof instead of a thatched one. The door opened a crack.
"Who is it?" a voice asked.
"It's Leila. I've come to talk to Robin."
The door opened fully. "Why, hello Leila. Robin's out in the back garden." It was Robin's mother. She was rather gypsy-like, with long, wavy black hair and exotic facial features. "You can go on back."
"Thank you, Rowena," Leila replied. She walked over to the garden. Robin was hunched over a bed of flowers, carefully weeding it.
"Hello, Robin," Leila said.
"Hi, Leila," Robin replied, not looking up.
"What, I'm not worth looking up for?" Leila demanded with mock indignance, a smile on her face.
"Sorry, Leila. It's just that I'm trying to make sure these flowers don't get a disease. They look kinda sick." Robin looked up. He had dark hair and exotic features also, almost like a male version of his mother.
He noticed the suddenly sad expression on Leila's face. "What's wrong?" he asked with concern.
"My father's disowned me."
Robin's expression turned to one of disbelief. "What for?" he asked.
"I wouldn't give up archery, so he disowned me."
"Well, do you want to stay here? We always have room for one more."
"No thanks. I'm going to Tortall. I figure I have a better chance there, especially as I want to become a knight."
"Suit yourself," Robin said.
"I just came to say goodbye, so...goodbye, Robin." She walked over to him and held her arms out. He got up and gave her a hug.
"I'll miss you, Leila. Good luck." There were tears in his eyes.
"Goodbye," Leila said, then walked to her horse. She looked back, something she told herself she would never do. Robin stood there, looking suddenly helpless and forlorn. She gave him one last wave accompanied by a weak smile, then mounted and rode off.
And so she left Tyra, the country that had been home to her all her life.
Back to the Great Road South...
Leila sighed. She had been riding ever since, stopping for rests once in a while. She had taken the Great Road South and she'd already passed Persopolis, so she assumed she was getting close to Port Caynn, from which she would traverse to Corus, and study to be a knight, her life-long dream.