Disclaimer: I only own Arlia I also own Hati, Coralie and Bremusa. I do not own any featured songs.
Chapter 1
"Mother, tell me again why we must serve the Romans?" The brown haired girl walked up to her mother.
"It is the way of things." Was her mother's answer.
"But why? I will leave home soon to travel the world with the Moon Riders and serving the Romans, why?" The girl looked fierce.
"As I gave said it is the way of things, you have been taught well, and you will prosper." The girls, mother smiled as she looked at the dragon tattoo on her daughter's arm.
For her daughter was one of the gifted, destined to be given to the Moon Riders at thirteen years of age. She had had her last tattoo done just the day before, the dragon, as her personal symbol on her right arm. On her left was a snake that rested its chin on her thumb. On her cheeks were arrows, and there were an array of other tattoo's. She was soon to leave to serve Rome, a yoke which had always made her want to run. But now there was no other way out of it, and she had no choice. She would have to serve for ten years before she could come home, unless she became a leader, then she would serve longer. The girl hoped she would become a leader that would bring untold glory upon her family. But it would mean that she would never be able to come home to live, just a few fleeting visits over the years. She did not want to think of the pain that would bring her, instead she looked over her things. She had everything she would need for travelling, and a horse. Her dear friend Yildiz had been her steed for three years, so she was relatively young.
A horn sounded on the hill top, which made everyone look up. The girl looked up fiercely, an untamed fire burning in her eyes. She checked her mirror at her waist and the ring in her nose. Then she walked over to Yildiz. Yildiz whickered when she picked up the scent of her owner, before trotting over head lowered. The girl held out her hand before walking towards her home tent. There she found her saddle and saddlebags ready. She picked them up and walked across to her friend, who stood obediently waiting while she was saddled. Swinging herself up she trotted her friend out to where three older women were waiting on horses, waiting for her. She trotted over to her mother and father, who were waiting by their tent. She smiled down at her family, holding back the tears.
"It is time Arlia of the Mazagardi." One of the women spoke up.
"Be strong, we will see each other again." Arlia's father spoke up.
"You are strong, my child, go forward and never look back." Her mother accepted the kiss that Arlia placed on her cheek.
"Are you ready?" The second rider asked.
"I am ready." Arlia asserted.
"Then you must come with us as is the law." The third woman rode forward.
"Never forget your way home." Her father called out as she began to trot away.
Arlia followed the three women up the hill with foreboding in her heart. She would not forget her way home, but would the way home forget her? At the top of the hill she turned for one last look at the village she had grown up in. She dashed the teas from her eyes, she had promised herself she wouldn't cry. Yildiz gave a whickering cry before Arlia turned and galloped down the hill after the three women. They waited for her at the bottom, each giving her a sympathetic smile before they rode off into the distance. Arlia followed with an unknown heaviness in her heart, she had never left her home tent, what was to happen to her now? She looked up at the grey sky and gritted her teeth before riding on.
"Please ma'am, how long have to ride before we rest?" Arlia asked.
"A long way, why are you homesick already?" The first asked.
"No, I am worried about my horse." Arlia blazed in anger.
"Easy, I meant nothing by it; by the way my name is Hati." The first woman introduced herself.
"And I am Coralie." The second woman answered.
"And I am Bremusa." The third spoke.
"You know who I am." Arlia wrapped her cloak around her against the cold wind.
"Yes we know your name, but nothing else besides." Hati asserted.
"Well, you also know I am Mazagardi, and have been trained in horseback dancing since I could walk." Arlia told them about herself.
"Do you know how to dance and use your mirror?" Hati asked.
"Of course I do." Arlia blazed.
"You should learn to control your temper." Bremusa admonished.
"I am sorry." Arlia apologized.
"Relax, you're not that bad, you remind me of myself when I was that age." Hati smiled back at the youngest girl.
The four rode throughout the day, stopping for a brief rest at lunch to eat the bread and goat's cheese Arlia's mother had prepared for them. Arlia remembered how her mother made that bread. But she pushed the thought away as soon as it came to her, she would not cry. So she sat in sullen silence and ate. In the afternoon the three carried on riding. They talked about their pasts and where they came from. Arlia discovered that the three were triplets, which came as no great surprise to her. Most women gave birth to twin or triplet girls if they lived off the plane. She herself was one of the rare ones who were born alone. She had been a cause of much rejoicing, and her family had been well honoured. They still were, especially now she had left to go with the Moon Riders. But she would miss her home terribly, as she had no twin to distract her.
The four reached the Roman garrison as the sun was setting. Slipping off Yildiz Arlia followed the three women as they walked up to the gate. There was a stern faced Roman soldier sitting by the gate. Hati walked forward and talked to the Roman guard, who smiled suggestively when he saw her. She smiled back and shook her head. She talked with him a little longer, and then she turned to Arlia and beckoned her forward. She came forward uneasily, hating to stand anywhere near the Roman guard. He looked her up and down, taking in everything about her, from her clothes to her horse. He looked at the three other women before turning his gaze back to her.
"Who are you?" He asked the women.
"We are Hati, Coralie and Bremusa bringing in the new recruits." Hati told him with a bored tone in her voice.
"And you are?" The guard asked Arlia.
"Arlia of the Mazagardi." Arlia returned the Roman's gaze with her own.
"What happened to the others you were supposed to get?" The Roman asked Hati.
"They were dead, killed by lions." Hati said calmly.
The Roman nodded, checked his papers and motioned for the four to go through. Arlia wondered at Hati's answer. Lions didn't attack people, let alone children. So what was it that had killed those people? She resolved to ask Hati about it at the first possible opportunity. But as soon as she entered the barracks she was awed. There were many young women like her, waiting to take the test to become a Moon Rider. She was assured a place because of her birth, she had no twin. There were also many women like Hati, Coralie and Bremusa around, all sorting out their young charges ready for their tests tomorrow. Arlia slipped the saddlebags off her shoulder and onto the ground where she was going to sleep and got out her bed roll. She had made sure Yildiz was well stalled before she came here to sleep. Settling down into her bedroll she looked up at the stars and fell asleep.
Author's notes: Well, another chapter, or technically my first. So whaddya think? Review if you want to, if not, don't bother. Here we are. A few small revisions later, and a lot of name changing and I have my first chapter. So enjoy.
