I have got rid of my writers block and am back working on this. Praise be to the goddess (and to re-reading the books). So more chapters sooner and as always please read and review.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Wind On Fire or any of the songs that I listen to when I write. They all belong to various different artists and authors and I can't claim anything to do with them.

Chapter Three: A Promise Made

"So you're definitely going then?" Ross asked and Niomee nodded.

"I'm sorry, but I've got to." She smiled at him. "I don't know what I want to do at the moment and leaving now is the only thing that makes any sense. It's what I planned to do ages ago and if I do it then I'll feel a lot better to be out of here."

"I suppose you're right. If you don't go now then you might not get another chance." He hugged her and she hugged him back, glad that he understood. The simple words, the simple admittance that she was making the right choice, was all she needed. That and his trust, and they seemed to go hand in hand, in her mind at least.

It was two weeks after the conversation in the dark, and Bowman Hath was visiting his family in the homeland. The visits from him and his wife were rare as they were normally busy with affairs of state but as one of Ira Hath's twins his visits were always celebrated. It seemed that when her came home the whole of the homeland came out to celebrate, but he always found time to have a few quiet words with his sister and her husband, and to talk to his father in the quiet of a private room. Niomee had no idea what they talked about in these conversations, but she had a feeling that it was to do with her grandmother or her aunt, more likely her aunt because he talked to her father about it too. Although Bowman's wife Sisi always accompanied him on his visits it was very rarely she was involved in his conversations, preferring to use her time to talk to the younger girls about the latest fashions of Gang. She might not have worn them herself but it was never to be said that she wasn't educated in them.

It hadn't been long after Bowman and Sisi arrived that Niomee had requested that she would go with her uncle and learn to be a singer. It was something she had been thinking about for so long and her family had known it, so when she finally requested it they had agreed without question, if not a bit uncertainly. The truth was that if Bowman hadn't promised on her safety when she was in his care she would have never been let to go.

"Look after yourself Kessy." Ross whispered, holding her tightly in his arms. "And when you come back I promise I'll still be waiting for you." he leant forwards and kissed her gently on the cheek, before turning away and standing beside his family, watching as a single tear slid down her cheek and fell to the ground at his feet. There was no need for any more words, the tear said all.

The whole of the homeland had turned out to say goodbye to the grand-daughter of the prophet, and there was much rejoicing and sorrowful goodbyes as Niomee Hath moved between her friends and neighbours.

"Goodbye Mia." She smiled at the three year old girl standing by the feet of her mother, Lunki. "Be a good girl for your mummy and daddy." she said, and hugged the little girl back when she came into Niomee's arms. "I'll come back soon Mia, don't you worry." She said, gently detaching herself from the young girls arms and moving along between her different friends.

"It was good to know you." she said, stopping next to one of her other old friends, one Punch Greeth, and then moved along the line, saying goodbye to everyone in turn.

"Ready then Kestrel?" Bowman asked, reaching out to take the hand of his niece as she reached the end of the line, and then letting her go again as she ran into her mothers arms one last time, letting herself be enveloped in the strong arms.

"Look after yourself my darling. Please, please stay safe."

"I will, I promise mum. It's the time to forget, remember."

"Yes, I remember, but we never know when the time of cruelty will come again."

"We do though mum, and don't you ever forget it. Kestrel Hath gave up her life so we'd have many years of peace and so that her family and ancestors would always be happy. She wouldn't have given everything up if it wasn't worth it."

"I suppose. But please look after yourself, and remember that while my sister was amazing she couldn't guarantee a good future, she couldn't tell what was coming just like she couldn't tell it was her who would go rather than Bow."

"I promise I'll be careful." Niomee promised, turning then to her father, and not bothering to mention the fact that she knew to be true, that Kestrel had always known that she would be the one. "I'm doing this for how much you loved auntie Kess." She explained. "This isn't really for me at all, but everything you've told me about how Kess lived has inspired me."

Mumpo nodded and then in the pretence of hugging her goodbye bent down and whispered a simple sentence into her ear.

"Thank you, I'm sure she's more proud than we'll ever really know." She felt his tear wet her hair and understood, holding him closer than she ever had before.

And with that Niomee Hath, youngest of the Hath family and true daughter of Ira turned and walked away towards the boat that would take her to her destiny.

Chapters will be up again faster now so long as my floppies don't break again, because I've just re-read the books and I know what I'm doing with this again (I've got direction and a plot line in my head…yay, go me). I know this chapter wasn't quite long as it could be but expect more updates soon and I'll carry on writing so long as there's reviews.

Love and peace (cause peace rocks more than Green Day),

The One And Only,

Stargazing Maiden.