Chapter 1: A Child Gone Bad

Mel was busy sweeping the stalls out on the fine bright morning that Condor arrived. Happy to be home from Selium for summer break, she was putting her heart into her work at the Green Rider's stable. Dust was being whisked about, as Mel was determined to get the place spotless. It had been a emotional reunion with Captain Mapstone. She was close to a mother for Mel, and when they saw each other after she had been away a year at school, they hugged for the longest time before either released one another. The sun was beating down on her back and as she straightened to put away the broom to take a break, her peripheral vision caught sight of a figure galloping towards her. She cocked her head curiously and watched as the figure grew closer.

Each step it took she could see more and more of the animal. It had no rider, and it was galloping at a tremendous speed. As it grew closer she began to recognize the build. It was that of a horse. It was a very familiar figure, too. She puzzled and pondered about this, but it did not take long for her to realize just who it was. "Condor!" she exclaimed, and took to her heels, racing to the horse. It looked as if they were about to have a head on collision when the horse skidded to a stop. Chest and side's heaving, the horse's sides were matted with sweat. There were burrs in his mane and hair and his sides were so dirty he looked as if he were a gray horse. Mel stroked his nose to calm the skittish horse, and raced back to the stables to grab a halter and a lead rope.

She fastened them to Condor and led him to the stable yard. Reaching for the hose, she cooled the hot horse. The water trickled through the dirt, washing off clumps and creating dirty puddles all around him. He relaxed as the cool water washed over him, and soon Mel had freed him of the dirt and he was once more a chestnut horse. She walked him around the courtyard until he was no longer distressed and out of breath. After he was cool, Mel took a comb and set to work on his mane. It was tedious work, for Mel and the horse. Mel had to separate all the hair and pull out burrs, and Condor grew restless standing in the same spot. After the hated chore was done, she led him into the stables and fed and watered the horse.

If he was here… where was Karigan? Mel left the horse to eat and ran up to see Captain Mapstone. Knocking on the door, she waited for the gruff voice of the captain. She HATED to be interrupted when she worked. "What?!" the short reply duly came. "Captain, Condor is here!" she called through the thick wooden door. "Karigan's here!?" the door swung open to reveal the captain. "No, just Condor," replied Mel. The captain's hopeful face sagged. "All right Mel. Take care of him, and we'll figure out why he came here later." Mel nodded and left the cabin. Poor Karigan. She must be worried sick.

Karigan's father pleaded with her. He begged her. He sobbed and moaned and yelled but could not change her decision. "Come with me, Papa," was her only solution to them being separated. Her father refused to accept the fact that she was going. Even when she packed her bags, gathered food, and said goodbye to all her friends. Even when she put on her green coat and duly fastened the brooch to it. "I'll visit, dad!" she said. Karigan went out for one last night with her friends and her father sat in her room. He looked sadly about him, and caught a flash of gold on the ground. Kari must have dropped a brooch. He picked it up and studied it. It was a brooch of a lion. He sat there for minutes, just staring at the brooch until he started and dropped it on the table.

Kari's talk about magic must be getting to me. For a moment there, he had thought the brooch had changed.. its shape wavered. One minute a lion, one minute a horse. Looking down at the brooch, he saw it was still a lion and shook his head. Crazy old fool I am . Laying back on the bed, he felt a hard rectangular object under him. Pulling back the covers, he discovered a small diary with a picture of Condor glued to it. "I shouldn't…" he muttered to himself. But he could not resist the temptation and opened it nevertheless.

April 4

Well… I finally made it to the Green Rider cabin! The cabin is a beautiful place, full of interesting items and trinkets. Abram and I, now friends, had a long talk about the Green Riders, and I got to put my name in the diary of the riders that came to the cabin! That made me feel pretty special. I'm beginning to create a very strong bond with the Horse. He is an amazing creature and I love him dearly. Though this adventure is hard, I'm beginning to enjoy meeting all the new people but I do miss Corsa and my father dearly. Being a Green Rider is a new and awesome experience. I don't like it much at times… but… there's something about galloping and avoiding enemies that draws me to it. Could I be meant for a life of being a Green Rider?

Karigan's father swallowed a lump in his throat, and flipped to the latest entry.

August 10

Well, Papa took it hard, just as I expected. I wish I could make this easier for him. But I know I'm needed. The dagger in the stable…my encounter with the Black Coat, I feel there is something up. It actually really scared me… how could he know I was a Green Rider? I only wish Papa would forgive me and escort me to Sacoridia. I love him… but I hope he will understand someday.

"All right, Kari. I understand."

As soon as Karigan got home from her night out, Karigan's father had his bags packed and was ready for her. She stepped inside and stopped short as she noticed another bag added to hers. "Papa?" she could only say incredulously. "I'll escort you to Sacoridia, Kari, but I can't stay with you for long there," Karigan tried to keep herself composed as a young lady would but she could not contain herself and flung her arms around his neck. "Thanks, pop," she said. He nodded.

They left early the following morning. It was so cold that it seemed to seep into her very bones. A fog hung in the air and Karigan had to keep her coat tight around her so she would not catch a chill. They fetched the two of the lightest boned horses in the caravan's stable and tacked them up. Filling the saddlebags with food, Karigan swung up onto her horse's back. The horse jumped and pranced sideways before Karigan could get her under control. "Dad… Sh'toa is acting up! She's the most steady horse in the caravan!" exclaimed Karigan. Named for her grace and calamity, Sh'toa was the most obedient horse you could find.

Her father scratched his head but did not look very concerned. Karigan sighed and shook her head. Despite how hard he tried, her father would never really understand. The two started off through their bit of the forest until they arrived at Kingsway road. Karigan did not know it, but there their real adventure would begin.
The eagle landed and perched on the great rafters of the stable. Mel looked up and smiled at the bird, and continued on. Something very strange suddenly struck her about the bird. He was not a dull brown, as the regular eagles in Sacoridia, nor was he gray, like the great eagles of the mountains. No. This eagle was black. Black as night. Black like the eagles in Blackveil forest. It swooped down beside her. Mel's heart gave a jump and she stepped back… only to bump into a wall. She was trapped. "Gods help me," she whimpered. The eagle advanced and looked into her eyes. She felt the eagle entering her, falling through her eyes, until the body of it slumped limp and lifeless. And then Mel was no more.

Smiling in glee at having successfully inhabited the small girls body, the Gray One whispered to himself, "Now for phase 2."