Chapter 2- Destiny rides over the hill

Liana threw open the windows and breathed in the smell of crisp autumn. She loved this time of the year. When the wind whipped fallen leaves around her ankles, and the cold breeze pricked her porcelain cheeks. This was the time of the year when she didn't have to worry about going out into the hot sun burning her all over. Her skin was so fair, that in the summer, she was not allowed to leave the house without something over her head. Of course, Liana was stubborn and wore a boy's felt cap instead of the beautiful lavender scarf her mother had bought her. Liana was not a normal girl in any sense. She longed to wear breeches instead of long skirts, she could wield a wooden sword better than any boy, and never could sit still long enough to do any normal feminine activities, so she got into one scrape after another. The most extraordinary thing about Liana though, was that she had the most gorgeous hair anyone in the kingdom of Iola had ever seen. It was as if her mother had stitched spun gold onto her child's scalp. It tousled all the way down past her waist in long, loose ringlets, never seeming to get tangled or knotted. She was embarrassed about her hair and beauty, but could lick any boy who was brave enough to tease her.

"Liana? Are you cleaning up from breakfast?" Alethea's voice, like feathers floated in from the garden.

"Of course mother." Liana replied as she walked to the table and started clearing the dishes. Liana's mother was the kingdom's Seer. Revered instead of feared, by all who knew of her. She had helped find the king when he was missing in battle during The Great War. Liana didn't know the details, but had been told by her father that it was a very noble thing that her mother had done, and would always be a friend of the royal family. Alethea was very open with her daughter, they had a special bond that no other mother and daughter could know, but the incident was something that was never spoke of.

The dishes swayed dangerously as Liana carried them out to the water pump to be cleaned. As she began to scrub the bone plates, she heard a deep booming voice carry over the stable. She set down the rag and plate and ran over to the sound. Creeping to the corner of the stable she looked around the corner. A man of great size and stature was swinging his hammer on a large black anvil, singing to the beat of the ping. He was dark skinned from working outdoors all his life, and had huge hands that were always black and sooty and were wrapped around the hammer, like a coiled snake that would never let go of the branch.

"Come my Lia-Lou! Bring me those tongs from the fire you naughty child." he yelled suddenly. Liana leapt from her hiding place in surprise. Her father had eyes like a hawk's, and had spotted her watching him while she was supposed to be doing her chores. She rushed to the fire and slipped on the thick animal hide gloves that were much too big for her. Carefully grabbing the handles, she slipped the red-tipped tongs out of the burning coals, and walked slowly over to her father.

"Thank-you my girl." he said as he took the tongs from her, setting them on the anvil.

"How are you feeling today father?" She asked, looking up into his dark eyes.

"Just fine m'dear. I bet my beard I'll have this cold beat by supper." He smiled at her, and tweaked her nose, leaving a streak of black across her ivory face. Liana looked past him and saw a figure gallop from over the green pasture, making sheep scatter and her father look up. As the rider drew closer, Liana could see his uniform. A royal guard.

Liana's father leaned on his hammer and held up his hand to the guard.

"Hello stranger. Can I help ye?"

"Gillus is my name sir, are you the Blacksmith Tempest?" panted the man on horseback

"Aye." replied Tempest. "How might I be of service to ye?"

"My troop comes from the road, and is in need of shoe repair." Gillus said, climbing off his horse.

"Is it a royal shoe in need of fixing?" Tempest said, his eyes gleaming.

"Yes sir, it is. The prince's horse has fallen, and needs a new shoe and an ankle treatment. You were the closest one sir."

"When abouts will they be getting here?"

"By noon sir." Gillus replied, still out of breath.

"Well then we have a while to wait. Lia, take this Mr….Gillus was it? And get him something to eat. I'll take your horse to the stable, and you can wait in the kitchen until they get here." Tempest said "And Lia? Get back to cleanin' the dishes little mouse." he swatted at her, which she dodged, laughing, and set off towards the house, Gillus trailing behind her.