Hello again.  I noticed that when I first posted this story, there had been some minor mistakes.  First of all, I was informed that my summary was two sentence fragments and did not sound very appealing, so I fixed that.  Now I hope that the summary is at least satisfactory, lol.  Well also my other mistake was that even though the prologue indeed cuts off like that, it leaves it off to the point where it is confusing, so I decided to post the first chapter sooner than I had intended, so that you are not left to wonder.  Thanks again for your patience.
*Please tell me what you think*

~Thanks~

Chapter one: Muddled Thoughts

            The sun rose as it did each day, slowly illuminating the mountains below in purples and reds, blending into oranges and pinks.  The river that ran through the mountains reflected the new sun's rays back towards the sky as it traveled along its endless journey to the sea.

            Liare stood upon his perch of the high natural pedestal of rock, to glare at the town below.  Howan's Pride was a small village like place within a valley surrounded by high mountains, hidden from the outside world.

            It had been a century or two since Liare ended his life's purpose, since he stopped his on going pain, only to end up hurting so much more.  The loss of his soulmate glittered like broken glass behind his dark brown eyes, twisting his features into a hard stone like glare.  His long crimson hair, un kept through the long hard years and spiky, only reminded him of the dark blood that had scarred his memory; it reminded him of her.

            But this place held not one trace of memory to her.  He had tried to live outside this world, out where all was modern and technical.  But there was too much evil in that world, too many like her.  Howan's Pride was old fashioned and more like home to Liare.  It might remind him of many things, but she would not enter his mind here.

            A glint of copper caught his eye.  He looked to find a young girl singing out to the sun, now raised above the mountain tops.  Her long hair full of copper curls grabbed at his heart, tore at his soul, and triggered his anger.  He withdrew his long sword and carefully crept up to the grove in which she sang.

            As he got closer, he could make out the words of her glorious song.  Her voice rang out to the sky like sapphires sparkling in light.  He stopped in awe and felt compelled to listen.

Glorious rays of morning's dawn

Grace the lives, purge all the sorrows

Shine your wonders on the world below

Grace us with your light

Heal the land through the many gleams

That rings out from your outstretched arms

Send down your golden angels and help our land

Purge us from our hate

Hear the springtime's flower call

Smell the pine upon the wind

Feel the water's caresses

See the children bloom

Guide us with your light

As she finished he swore the sun's rays wove around her slight figure, forming a protected barrier of light.  She smiled broadly and spun herself around like a child, the sun's light spinning in rays around her, leaving her in a golden sheen.

Unexpectedly she turned towards him.  The image of his betrayal soulmate flashed through his head, causing him to swell with anger.  He raised his sword in front of him ready to strike.

But just as abrupt as it had come, the vision vanished.  What remained was the young woman's face, emerald eyes and copper curls like his soulmate's, but her face was not the same.  This girl held a look of innocence and wisdom at the same time, with no trace of evil.

The girl looked at him with no emotion, no expression identifiable.  She looked much older than she had when singing, like she had aged ten years right before his eyes.  She studied him, but did not move.

She seemed to come to some sort of conclusion and her emerald eyes widened drastically and one large tear spilled out from the sides.  He followed the tear as it slipped down the curve of her cheek till it joined as one with the river at her feet.  He stared amazed as the river shimmered as it received the tear, and as he watched it, he heard the girl whisper softly, "Tilainne".

But as he looked up, the girl was no longer there.  All that remained was an empty meadow and one lonely river, now running duller in the absence of her presence.

Shaking his head, he wondered if he had imagined her existence.  Maybe the long centuries had taken its toll on him, conjuring up images resembling his long dead soulmate.  The image of Rosalina brought a hot flash of pain and he bit it back, hardening his eyes at the on come of the bright sun high over head.  He shook his head again, and thinking to himself, he made his way to the small town below.

************************************

"Where do you think your going?"

Liare turned towards the rather rude male who addressed him so crudely.  It came forth from a rather large brute with dark brown scraggly hair and dull grey eyes.  He was chubby and despite his un-cleanliness, he had an air of authority ringing around him.

"Away from you," was the simple answer he gave the man.

The man grunted and exclaimed, "Not without paying me your not."

"Oh?  I owe you something?"

Liare's voice was so uncaring, dark and cold.  He had no respect for slobs who overpriced their merchandise.  He barely had respect for anyone, not after he had seen how untrustworthy the races were.

The store owner pointed to the bread that Liare held in his right hand.

"That I would believe came from my store and I also believe you did not pay for it yet."

"No your right, I haven't paid for it."

The man was becoming flustered and angrier. 

"You owe me twelve nuggets!"

Liare thought about what he had learned in this place.  As far as he could tell, one nugget, a small round purple stone, was the same as two dollars in the outside world.  Twenty four dollars was far too overpriced for a measly piece of bread.

"You are right, I owe you a lot.  Please forgive me for not giving you what you rightfully deserve."

With a flash of steel, Liare released his sword from its sheath and drove it into the man's gut.  The store owner did not have time to react; his hands lay useless at his sides as he stared horrified at the blade. Liare smiled cruelly as he slowly twisted it, watching with satisfaction as the guy screamed in agonising pain.

 Crimson droplets the exact colour of Liare's hair rose forth from the man's lips, staining his teeth.  Liare sensed that this man was about to die, and before the man lost consciousness, he pulled out his blade, and swiftly chopped the head off.

A look of pure horror was forever frozen on the shop owner's face, and Liare just chuckled to himself as he let the head roll steadily away.  He cleaned and sheathed his sword, and walked out of the small alley.

Emerging from the dark shadows, Liare entered the town square, leaving the bloody mess behind him.  He lazily looked around for the inn and caught sight of two lovers under a tree.  They appeared to be cuddling, snuggling under the sun's afternoon rays. 

He took a deep intake of breath.  With his acute eyesight he saw that one of the lover's was the girl from earlier.  Her large emerald eyes still held wisdom, making her appear much older than she was.  The wind caught and dragged her copper curls along with the current, only to drop them to the side of her face before continuing once more. 

What caught his eye the most was that although the male with her snuggled and kissed her neck, not one bit of emotion passed through her face, not even the glint of a smile.  It was as if her male lover was not even there.

He continued to stare, confused by her inability to react, and wondering why he even cared.  He did not know this girl, other than that she held a resemblance to someone he knew, long lost.  But she held his brain captive, every thought and feeling, almost like he was hypnotized.

            As if sensing his presence, which seemed impossible from this distance, she looked up and met his eyes directly.  Her pools of emerald widened in shock, much like earlier when he had found her before.  Her mouth moved, forming unsaid words.  The lover never noticed.

            Liare held captivated just by her eyes, took in her every detail and implanted her image within his mind.  Then he shook his head hard, trying to dispel whatever spell this girl put on him to make him become so weak.

            Furious, he strode over to her and her lover, who still had not noticed the approaching figure, until he stood before them both, fury apparent within his dark brown eyes.    

            The girl stared at him, yet she still remained emotionless.  The look in her eyes stopped him.  They held an odd look of knowing, of having seen much more than possibly even him.  But what stopped him was not the all knowing look that she forever wore, but the small look of recognition.

            He realized that they were just staring at each other, and something slowly dragged at his mind, something very small yet familiar.  He shook his head vigorously.

            At his sudden movements she whimpered and the lover stopped. 

            "What is wrong now Tilainne?" He yelled at her, "You are always so stiff.  Can't you relax for once...?"

            He stopped when he noticed the shadow.  He looked up and glared at Liare fiercely. 

            "Excuse me, but we're a little busy being in love here," he shot at Liare viciously.

            Liare laughed and replied, "It does not appear as if the feeling is mutual."  He referred to Tilainne, who had lost her look of wisdom and stared horrified up at him.

            The boy glared at him and snarled, "Who are you to insult me?"

            Liare held his cold detached tone.

            "Who are you to force yourself upon one who seems to not care of your existence?"

            "I am Yiel Guwen Kilan, prince of Howan's Pride; I will do what I wish."

            "That is where you are wrong young prince," he smiled his cruel smile, "being royalty does nothing of that sort.  It brings obligations, responsibility, but never freedom." His voice echoed through the square, dark and deep like the bottom of a vast ocean.  It was almost as if the stone itself had issued him his voice, regardless, he sure felt like stone.

            It had no effect on Yiel.  He only continued to yell his rage out at Liare, causing onlookers to hide in houses in fear that they would become the new subject to his wrath. 

            Liare had had enough.  Withdrawing his sword he threatened, "Silence! If you continue this masquerade of pushing yourself upon this community, I shall have to silence you myself."

            His eyes held a dark threat of their own, confirming that he indeed would go through with this threat.

            "Why you insolent pig!"

            Yiel lunged at his blade resting nearby against the tree.  He brought it up and held it close enough to Liare's neck to draw one drop of blood.  He saw the drop glide down Liare's form, to disappear within his thin woollen shirt. 

He sneered and said, "Now you will apologize and leave this place forever for insulting me so."

Liare took in Yiel's seriousness and laughed.  In a flash he dodged away from the blade and brought his own against Yiel's own throat, not close enough to draw blood, but enough to burn the image into his mind.

Just as quick as he had dodged, his smile vanished.  Glaring angrily at the boy before him pretending to be a man, he let his ice cold glare eat its way into the boy's soul.  Liare would make sure that he would never forget his face before he died.

"You dare to draw a blade against me, boy?  I have mastered all that I have come across, and those that had tried, well they weren't ever pretty after I had become done with them.  Would you like to add your own life to theirs?  I'm sure they would love a pretty boy to join them where they went to."

"What makes you think you're better than I?"

Liare laughed once more, the sound chilling all within earshot, sending evil shivers.  It was full of cold hatred, for the world, and for those who lived within it. 

"Because boy," his smile dropped once again, "I am not like you?"

"What the hell do you mean?"

"Shall I show you?"

Pulling back his blade a touch, he let Yiel get the chance to take up a fighter's stance.  He did not fear.  The fight would be over before the boy got one swing, he was too angry to play.

Yiel charged at him and Liare just grinned as he swung his fist out and slammed the boy in the chest, sending him flying into the tree with unbelievable strength.

Pain was evident on Yiel's face as Liare strode towards him.  He raised his sword and swung, aiming for Yiel's chest.

Suddenly there was a flash of copper and with all his agility, he stopped the swing, the shock rebating down his arm.  Before him stood Tilainne defending Yiel with her body alone, stopping his on-coming blow.

Surprise was apparent within his face, fear and pain was on hers.  Tears streamed down her face, and she held her arms out from her sides, as if to ward him away from Yiel.

She didn't look up at him as she whispered, "Don't... Please don''t..."

            "But why?"

            He was confused, the boy that she was now defending had been forcing himself on her, trying to bully his way into getting what he wanted, something that she didn't.  But now she stood there crying for him, or was she crying for Liare himself? 

            He couldn't' tell, but he knew that he should just push past her and end it for the annoying "prince" behind her.  But then she rested her gaze upon him and he got lost into those fathomless eyes, full of emotion and wisdom. 

Liare lowered his blade.  He couldn't' do it, not with her looking at him like that, like she knew how lost he really was... Somehow her eyes had captured his soul within one glance, held him within chains with a simple stare.  He would do anything for her, he couldn't deny her anything, and he didn't understand why.  But it was because of her, that he turned and walked away, confused, numb, and cold, to become one with the shadows within the small alley once more. 

He never saw her look of pure pain as she watched him go, never saw how she cried endless tears at his receding form.  But as he disappeared, the tears stopped; she became emotionless once again.