A.N: This is just a short chapter to get started, yes I will be adding characters for the books J
The water was so bitingly cold that for a moment I wondered if it had seeped into my blood and frozen the tears that should have been falling from my eyes. Suddenly there was no water, only the warmth of a brightly shining sun on damp cloth. I could breathe again and it felt wonderful.
*There is not much time Lady, you must hurry. The Singer is almost here.* The voice of my dapple-grey gelding gave me strength.
"She is on her way then Diego, have the others tried to follow?" The sad answer tore at my heart.
*They are still as you left them, on the banks looking the way you have come.* A soft thump alerted me to my friend's arrival. She looked like a drowned rat, black hair stringy and tangled by the waves that had carried us to this new and safe world.
"Rayel are you alright Singer?" She nodded spluttering.
"I believe they did this to show us that this was the easy way. Protector knows you hate water." She smiled slightly. "But then again Gem knows I love swimming, do you think he might be trying to put me off?" We laughed as a bay landed softly beside Diego.
#Singer I have seen the surroundings, this clearing is isolated, there is no one near enough to notice our arrival.#
"There's something else isn't there Mahogany Gem?" The girl asked almost scared. I looked at the bay in confusion.
#There are creatures,# he began, #they are black as Darkness and have eyes a red as the coals of Ire but they have no wings, none at all. They are evil Singer and Lady. The Dark one has beaten us.# Rayel shook her head, water dripping from her hair, brown eyes closed in grief.
"Are you sure?" I looked to Diego, hoping he would not confirm the disaster that was so close.
*I have seen them Lady of the Golden Wings. It would appear that the Guild has been broken for no reason. The Dark One has already started to crumble this place. The last of the royal family is missing.*
"No." The word whispered away all the hopes we had.
"Where are we?" I tried to stay calm, it was my responsibility to care for the Singer, or Prophet, and for anyone else we would involve.
#The black creatures called this world Balinor.# Diego stamped his steel hoof and spread his great wings. Silver glittered along the featheredges. The bay did the same, dark gold glittering in the now late afternoon sun.
"There is nothing we can do now Zanna, these people are doomed as well." She was close to tears.
"I will never let the Dark One claim all worlds. We must try to help, no matter the cost. There are too many lives at stake in Dalidon alone but now we have another world to look after. Balinor. For the sake of the Guild we cannot give up." She stood carefully, leaning on her Mahogany Gem.
"I will stay by you no matter what Zanna, unless I am called back."
*You have won them Lady. Time to go?* I shook my head. Not yet Diego, fleetest of the Heaven Chasers, not yet. First we rest. Diego walked away, finding a patch of dry grass he lay down. The trees echoed with noises of creatures we had never heard before. None of us slept well that first night.