Scanran Trust

Chapter Two

To Corus

Faun held her head high as she was shoved onto a horse and was dragged along on a lead rope. The black-as-night stallion barely cocked a head as she was shoved on the horse. Faun had always had a knack for animals, especially since she could read their minds as well as the minds of humans, and the knack seemed to hold. She could even talk to them in their minds, and they could talk back. Animals were very sensitive to telekinesis. ~Hi. What's your name?~ Faun asked, rubbing the stallion's head.

~Night Blade. What are you here for?~

~I'm a Scanran. Here to help them, warn them of an evil coming.~

~What evil coming?~ the horse asked, visibly shuddering. Faun could hear murmurs from the Own, but disregarded them. "Avadth~ Faun answered, and Night Blade whinnied hysterically. She reeled onto her hind legs, but after a few seconds of stroking and whispers from Faun she calmed down. ~Really, he's coming?~ Night Blade asked, his head-voice betraying his fear. Faun simply nodded.

Kel watched this display with a new respect for this Scanran girl. "She can handle a horse," Kel whispered to Dom, who rode beside her. He nodded; he had seen the display just as well as anyone. A few of the Own had clapped, but Raoul had only scowled. "As long as she's with Raoul, this girl is going to get a lot of trouble," Kel thought sadly as she watched Raoul's scowling face.

As the sun slowly faded into the west, the Own halted. "Let's set up camp!" Raoul bellowed. Kel grinned and got off her horse. She walked up to Faun and Night Blade and helped Faun off the horse. Faun looked at her skeptically, and Kel whispered, "I don't hate Scanrans so much. One of good friends is one."

"Daine?" Faun asked, but already knew the answer. Kel was taken aback. "Do they tell tales of Daine in Scanra as well?" Kel asked.

"No. My sister was born in Tortall, as was my father," Faun answered.

"Where is your family now?"

"My father died a few years ago, with my mother, and my sister was killed when the Dark Mage destroyed my village. She told me to come to Tortall and warn the King and Queen about the Dark Mage. She wasted her last breath trying to help people like Raoul," Faun said, in obvious disgust.

"Don't hate him so. He's lost many of his friends to the Scanrans, and it's hardened him against them. Don't take it personally," Kel said passionately, and then smiled at Faun. "KELADRY OF MINDELAN, GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" Raoul screamed from across the camp. Kel smiled at Faun again and walked over to talk to Raoul, or more like be yelled at by Raoul for "associating with the enemy," as he called it. "Men," Kel thought as she trudged across the camp. Once she looked back, to see Faun staring strangely at her, a smile on her lips, as if…, "No," Kel shook herself. Faun couldn't be… could she?

A few weeks later, the gates of Corus shone in the morning sunlight. "Corus at last," Faun whispered, joy in her eyes. She would finally be able to do what Mollyen had asked her to do. A sudden, desperate need to fulfill this task welled up within her. She sat up straighter, acting very nobly in chains. Her eyes shone brightly, as did her hair. She had the air of a queen, but the essence of a the Great Mother Goddess herself.