"Come out child so as I could see you better and exchange words" the aging
voice said in strong tones. The girl blinked surprised then made her way
into the medium sized clearing. "Come, come no need to be scared" the old
woman in front of her replied to her slow pace. The girl smiled lightly and
quickened her steps. "Ah, much better deary" a tiered cheerful voice
replied. "Good day to you Wise One" the young and a bit ruffled girl hailed
the old gipsy. "Ha, ha, ha, ha ....so you know who I am, very interesting
child" the Wise Woman replied. The girl nodded her head to affirm the
statement. There was no need for an actual voiced reply. "You are a smart
girl. Thus, I will read your hand for you as a gift" the gypsy witch said
in a soft voice not meant to carry. The girls eyes widened with surprise.
Usually she was thought of as a boy by her looks. She grinned at the sly
witch and extended her right hand. The woman took it with a strong sure
grip and ran her gnarled fingers down the lines evident on her palm.
In no time the Wise One was done, shaking her head from left to right. "Your too young for your fate, daughter. Much too young but what the Gods will, will be. I can but give you some words to help you on your journey. Will you except them freely child" the gypsy asked. "I will Lady, that I will" the girl replied seriously. The old woman grinned showing her sharp yellow teeth. "Good, dear you know what you need. That is very rare in one so young" the old one paused for a time. Then she began; "on this journey trust your heart. Your instinct will be a boon more then a burden. Now don't scowl just pay attention." The girl listening sighed but nodded her head. The old witch continued then as if she never stopped; "friends you will need. They will not be found in the usual likely places. Guidance you must have and except when offered. Listen to my words and heed my advise. Be honest with yourself and all will be fine." The wise Lady ended her speech then she took out something from inside her clothes. "Here, take this and always wear it on you. You must never loose it. This will keep me aware of where you are and what is happening. I will watch over you as best as I can. I cannot do more." The girl took the small necklace with a ring made of silver hair. She placed it over her head so it could hang down her neck. When she looked up the Wise Woman was gone. The girl squinted her eyes and saw a small shape in the distance waving farewell. She in turn did the same and headed back into the thick foliage.
Two days later the girl was making her way close to the Great Rode East in Tortall when she heard the commotion. Besides the sound of the river flowing on its eastern way there where the sounds of fighting. She peeked silently from behind a thick trunk of a tree and saw the battle. Ten men who looked like bandits with their brown and black colored clothes and 20 men wearing forest colors. "Now, that was strange. Who would wear different shades of green," she murmured to herself. Just as her mind gave her the answer the battle ended. Many where killed only 3 men escaping without their knifes though. Five men in green where wounded she saw but they had won the fight. She shrugged her slim shoulders. It was none of her business and so she went back into the silent forest.
Night cloaked the land in its warm secure embrace. The girl sat and watched the small fire she had built. She did not hear the noise of approaching footsteps. Thoughts of home boldly pressed upon her mind. When a hand roughly grabbed her shoulder she spun in surprise. Her eyes where wide and the color of burning flame could be seen reflected there if you chose to look. "Well, well, well.... what have we have here lads" a rough voice of the dark clad man shouted to his men. She noticed quickly the color of their clothes and cursed her bad luck or fate. Green of every texture and hue adorned their massive bodies. They where all five feet and between 1 to 10 inches tall. She was more a mouse to them at the moment rather then a bear. "Hey, Tomran let me play with the little boy" a man shorter then the one still holding her called out. "Yeah, yeah let us play with him. Can we please?" the other six men called out laughingly. She gulped beginning to experience some fear but deep inside anger was rising to the surface. Thank the Gods they thought her a boy. She had no doubt that if they knew otherwise she would be raped and killed in minutes.
Deep in the darkness a man made his way to the group. He was not really paying attention just walking and looking around. He was seventh in this band of men. The rest of the fighters where in a cave sleeping soundly why they where scouting. As he came near he heard load yells and laughter. He frowned slightly thinking what was going on. As he stepped into the light of the fire he saw his second in command attack a small shape. His eyes where drawn to that shape of their own accord. The small boy he thought was in trouble. It seemed his own body was stuck to the ground, he could not move. He watched with growing fear and dread as the boy escaped Tomran a burly man with the strength of a tiger. The boy spun out making Tomran release his hold on his shirt then he kicked out with his left leg toppling his attacker. In a blink he was gone.
The seventh man cursed and ran to the scene finally getting his legs to move. "What the hell is going on? Stop this at once" he bellowed. "I'll kill him. Cut out his throat and feed it to the jackals" Tomran bellowed furious and out of control. He jumped up to his feet from the ground and faced the forest ready to go after the boy. The seventh man grabbed his shoulder and then had to defend himself from his second officers attack. There was no choice he had to kill him. With a swift move to the heart Tomran toppled to the ground gasping and bleeding. In seconds he was dead his eyes glazed over unseeing. The man left standing drew murmurs from his men then silence.
In no time the Wise One was done, shaking her head from left to right. "Your too young for your fate, daughter. Much too young but what the Gods will, will be. I can but give you some words to help you on your journey. Will you except them freely child" the gypsy asked. "I will Lady, that I will" the girl replied seriously. The old woman grinned showing her sharp yellow teeth. "Good, dear you know what you need. That is very rare in one so young" the old one paused for a time. Then she began; "on this journey trust your heart. Your instinct will be a boon more then a burden. Now don't scowl just pay attention." The girl listening sighed but nodded her head. The old witch continued then as if she never stopped; "friends you will need. They will not be found in the usual likely places. Guidance you must have and except when offered. Listen to my words and heed my advise. Be honest with yourself and all will be fine." The wise Lady ended her speech then she took out something from inside her clothes. "Here, take this and always wear it on you. You must never loose it. This will keep me aware of where you are and what is happening. I will watch over you as best as I can. I cannot do more." The girl took the small necklace with a ring made of silver hair. She placed it over her head so it could hang down her neck. When she looked up the Wise Woman was gone. The girl squinted her eyes and saw a small shape in the distance waving farewell. She in turn did the same and headed back into the thick foliage.
Two days later the girl was making her way close to the Great Rode East in Tortall when she heard the commotion. Besides the sound of the river flowing on its eastern way there where the sounds of fighting. She peeked silently from behind a thick trunk of a tree and saw the battle. Ten men who looked like bandits with their brown and black colored clothes and 20 men wearing forest colors. "Now, that was strange. Who would wear different shades of green," she murmured to herself. Just as her mind gave her the answer the battle ended. Many where killed only 3 men escaping without their knifes though. Five men in green where wounded she saw but they had won the fight. She shrugged her slim shoulders. It was none of her business and so she went back into the silent forest.
Night cloaked the land in its warm secure embrace. The girl sat and watched the small fire she had built. She did not hear the noise of approaching footsteps. Thoughts of home boldly pressed upon her mind. When a hand roughly grabbed her shoulder she spun in surprise. Her eyes where wide and the color of burning flame could be seen reflected there if you chose to look. "Well, well, well.... what have we have here lads" a rough voice of the dark clad man shouted to his men. She noticed quickly the color of their clothes and cursed her bad luck or fate. Green of every texture and hue adorned their massive bodies. They where all five feet and between 1 to 10 inches tall. She was more a mouse to them at the moment rather then a bear. "Hey, Tomran let me play with the little boy" a man shorter then the one still holding her called out. "Yeah, yeah let us play with him. Can we please?" the other six men called out laughingly. She gulped beginning to experience some fear but deep inside anger was rising to the surface. Thank the Gods they thought her a boy. She had no doubt that if they knew otherwise she would be raped and killed in minutes.
Deep in the darkness a man made his way to the group. He was not really paying attention just walking and looking around. He was seventh in this band of men. The rest of the fighters where in a cave sleeping soundly why they where scouting. As he came near he heard load yells and laughter. He frowned slightly thinking what was going on. As he stepped into the light of the fire he saw his second in command attack a small shape. His eyes where drawn to that shape of their own accord. The small boy he thought was in trouble. It seemed his own body was stuck to the ground, he could not move. He watched with growing fear and dread as the boy escaped Tomran a burly man with the strength of a tiger. The boy spun out making Tomran release his hold on his shirt then he kicked out with his left leg toppling his attacker. In a blink he was gone.
The seventh man cursed and ran to the scene finally getting his legs to move. "What the hell is going on? Stop this at once" he bellowed. "I'll kill him. Cut out his throat and feed it to the jackals" Tomran bellowed furious and out of control. He jumped up to his feet from the ground and faced the forest ready to go after the boy. The seventh man grabbed his shoulder and then had to defend himself from his second officers attack. There was no choice he had to kill him. With a swift move to the heart Tomran toppled to the ground gasping and bleeding. In seconds he was dead his eyes glazed over unseeing. The man left standing drew murmurs from his men then silence.