By nightfall, the whole village had heard of her disgrace. Aerylae sat sulkily on the wide pallet she shared with Paena, Nelian, and Alesyiana, her younger sisters. Lyra had been married long ago, to the butcher's son.
Eight-year old Padin poked his head through the sheet barrier that separated the family's sleeping quarters from the rest of the hut. He climbed on the pallet and sat next to Aerylae, looking at her stony face worridly.
"Don't worry, Aery," he said confidently. "Ami and Pa will find you a husband!"
She sighed, and ran a hand through his curly red hair. "But that's just it Padin," she whispered. "I don't want one."
She expected him to look shocked, but he just shrugged. "Then they won't," he declared, jumping off the pallet. "Oh, Aldon and Katelie are here!"
Aerylae jumped off the edge of the pallet, just as her brother came through the door. He swept her up in his arms.
"Katelie, Ami, and Lyra are in hysterics," he said, reffering to his wife, mother, and sister.
Aerylae looked up at him but saw no trace of anger in his face. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" Aldon asked, looking down at her in surprise. "You can't apologize to me for doing something you love, Aery, even if it's forbidden. Sit," he said, pulling her on the pallet beside him. He sighed, and tugged at his long red ponytail.
"What is it?" she asked worridly.
"Ami and Pa are looked for a husband for you," he said.
"And? They have ever since I was born!"
"Think Aerylae. Who is the only man in the village unmarried and of age?"
She frowned. Herek and Kirth were both too young. Telen and Garth had long since been married. That left –
"Fire lord," she swore loudly. "Not Rilg!"
Rilg had become the town drunk. He was a poor, crude man who was known around the village for his cruelty.
"They think it's what they need to do," he said quietly, his eyes filled with sadness. "The marriage will take place in ten days."
"I won't!" she said stubbornly. "They can't make me."
"The elders can," he whispered fearfully, naming the governing council of the village.
"They wouldn't!"
"They would."
"Then," she said, standing up and beginning to pace "I shall have to run."
Aldon looked up in surprise. "Run where? Town is a week's journey by horse, more than a month by foot! And you have no money!"
Aerylae looked at her brother calmly. "I have been planning this my whole life," she whispered. "I will take one of Pa's horses," she explained. "I will ride it to Battleon and sell it, then send the money home."
"And then what will you do?" Aldon asked, standing up and facing his sister. He was frowning.
"I am becoming a warrior," Aerylae said. "I will become a warrior, and someday Aldon, I swear it, all of Lore will know my name!"
The soft rays of the first sun touched the tips of the forest that circled the small village like a protecting mother's hand. The streets were still.
It was the fire lord's festival day, the longest day of the year. In a village who pledged allegiance to the elemental lord of fire, it was the biggest festival of the year.Small, spicy fire cakes simmered gently on the hearthstones in every hut, not to be eaten until the last glimpse of the sun had disappeared behind the forest.
The leather door-flap of one of the huts moved aside, and a small, lean figure wrapped in a dark cloak stepped out, ducking swiftly into the shadows. It kept to the shadows, running softly until it reached the horsepen at the edge of the forest.
Finally, it stepped up to a horse with a brown tail and coat, whispering soft words into the beast's ear.
The figure swung itself onto the horse, still petting it encouragingly. With a click of the tongue and soft pressure into the animal's sides, it cantered out of the pen, into the dark forest. The horse went fast and faster until the hood of its rider's cloak blew away from her face.
Red hair streamed out behind her like liquid fire, glimmering in the rays of the new sun.
Aerylae threw back her head and laughed, all thoughts of stealth forgotten momentarily. Her green eyes danced happily as her horse sprinted at a terrific speed, carrying her further and further away from the small village behind her.
It was almost dusk when she heard the riders. Swearing quietly under her breath, Aerylae tugged gently at the horses reins, leading it behind a small group of trees just at the edge of the road she was traveling on.
Fire lord, let them wish no harm, Fire lord, let them wish no harm
"Let's stop here Robina, we aren't going to get this to Warlic any faster with a lame horse."
"Artix, Arnau is only limping a little. Earth lord knows what are in these woods. We can't stray off the road to make camp. Plus, Warlic needs this."
"Sister," the man's voice was gentle, but he sounded slightly annoyed. Aerylae felt a pang in her chest for Aldon.
"Sister, open your eyes. You have the sharpest eyes of any ranger, but you can't see that your own horse lame?"
A sigh of annoyance from the female voice. "Fine. We'll wrap his leg and sit out the night, but I am leaving tomorrow morning before the sun, with or without you."
Artix chuckled. The sound was deep and rich. Peeking around the tree, Aerylae caught her first glimpse of the two travelers.
Robina wore the tall leather boots, short green tunic, and headscarf of a ranger. She had piercing blue eyes and through the long, thick brown hair that fell down her back, Aerylae could see an arrow holder. Closer inspection revealed a bow strapped to her horse's leg.
Artix was right. The horse was limping badly.
Artix turned towards his sister and Aerylae saw his face for the first time. While his sister had piercing blue eyes, he had clear brown ones. He wore his tousled brown hair cropped slightly longer than was customary for the men in her village.
Aerylae eyed his gold-trimmed armor, sweeping crimson cloak, and the golden axe at his side enviously. "One day," she whispered longingly to herself, unaware she had actually spoken.
Artix looked up suddenly, dismounting his horse and grabbing the ax at his side. Robina lept deftly off of her horse as well, pulling an arrow out of its holder and placing it in her bow.
"Who's there?" Artix called. "Show yourself!"
Aerylae gathered her long dark cloak close and pressed herself against the tree, closing her eyes and praying to the fire lord that they would not see her. Artix and Robina seemed friendly, but she was not about to take any chances.
After what seemed like an eternity, Robina dropped her bow and turned to her brother. "It was probably a BURP," she said, laughing. "Always jumpy, Artix."
"You're the ranger," he muttered, still scanning the forest around them warily. "You're supposed to be the jumpy one."
Robina cuffed him gently on the shoulder. After tying up her horse, she pulled a fire stone out of her belt pouch and began rubbing it against a stick. "Go tie up Bernt and get the food out of the saddle bags, Artix. If it's just a BURP we won't have any trouble bringing it down."
"And if it isn't?"
Robina shrugged cheerfully, and went back to her task.