Cynddylan left his home the hour after he no longer felt welcome. He had been on the move for eight days now. His belly hurt from lack of food. But he kept hydrated by following a river further and further down stream. He'd heard once that all rivers go to an ocean. He hoped that was true. He'd never been to an ocean.

At the current moment he had stopped where his path intercepted a road. He sat on a log at the junction trying to decide whether or not to go to the ocean or wherever the road lead to. He had no friends, no family, no obligations to anyone. His only baggage was the clothes on his back. He could go anywhere. He waited and thought for a half an hour when a peculiar noise came to his attention. As he listened the noise became louder and he seemed to hear it changing pitch. After a moment he realized it was someone singing. Badly. A man he thought, but it was in a language he did not understand. He also heard another noise, horse hooves and the strange groaning noise of stressed wood.

His first thought was to hide but then he might be mistaken for a thief. His next thought was if this coming man might be a thief, but then he remembered he had nothing worth taking. He calmly stood still as the man approached. Cynddylan saw him first, the man seemed to be singing to the forest and the sky. He had a thick clay flask in his hand which might explain his strange character. Upon further examination he realized the man more closely resembled a goat than a man. He was thick and hairy. His whole body seemed to be covered with a layer a course brown hair. The top of his head seemed to be the only bare place on him. The man wore a strange white blanket around himself and Cynddylan thought him quite under dressed. The man finally seemed to notice him from six yards away. He did a double take before believing that there was really a person in front of his cart. He threw up his hands and bellowed something in his native language. Cynddylan didn't understand him. The man waved his hand for the boy to move to the side. Cynddylan understood that. The man pulled on the reigns of his donkey's to stop his large cart from moving. He pulled his body to face Cynddylan. The man seemed friendly, he was smiling and trying to think about something. Cynddylan walked over and petted the donkey's. The man said something in another language, then another finally he said something Cynddylan understood. "Hello!" Cynddylan turned to face him and smiled.

"Ello" The man smiled and slapped his knee.

"Well I'll be a boy from Gaul, you've made some distance boy, how long have you traveled?"

"Abut eight day." The man frowned and nodded knowingly.

"Haven't quite got the hang of your own language I see. Well no worries, I've got plenty for you to try. Here!" He brought out a sack full of bread and another flask. "Would you like some food? You look ravenous?" Cynddylan nodded egger for the bread, he'd never seen bread before but it looked good. The man handed him the sack and he ate." Mind if we roll a bit I have a deadline to meet?" Cynddylan shook his head as he gulped.

" I'm nut going anywhere, I don't mind."

"Going no where? How can you be going nowhere, you're going somewhere you just don't know where to!" Cynddylan smiled understanding that this was a kind man and he would do well to follow him. "My name is Philo, and I am Greek! Do you know where Greece is?" Cynddylan shook his head. "Well it's a week away from here. That's about what I can tell you without a map. Pity you don't know where the greatest place on earth is…" He trailed off mumbling things about his country. It was clear this man was eccentric after only knowing him for five minutes.

"Cynddylan." Philo looked puzzled.

"What did you say?"

"Cynddylan is meh name." He tried to pronounce everything as well as he could but alas he had a very strong accent and he couldn't help leaving the soft e . The man smiled, his great face bulged to the sides and his eye's seemed to both widen and squint at the same time.

"That's a wonderful name my friend! You see you and I are already like kinsmen. It's as if I've known you all my life!" Cynddylan smiled stretching his face into a jokers grin.

Morganna was barley six years old when her mother moved the family to Egypt. The vibrant culture and warm weather was a plus for the sorceress. She was peaceful there. Her daughters did not complain. Upon arriving Morganna was shocked to see the buildings, building like she's never seen in her life. She trailed closely behind Lilith as they entered. All around them the streets buzzed with activity. The streets were covered with vendors and people trying to sell fabric, phlox, pomegranate, and spices. Morganna covered her nose as the strong smell of the market grasped her. Lilith batted her hand away from her nose. Morganna scowled at Lilith but obeyed. Their mother walked ahead, her presence was dominant amongst the market. Her dark skin and burgundy hair set her apart and made her the object of everyone's curiosity, foreigners were not so uncommon, but these were truly strange guests. In Egypt superstition was a part of life, so was magic. Esmeralda was the manifestation of what they saw in their gods, she was a beacon of respect and fear, though no one knew quite why they feared her.

Lilith walked up to stand at her mothers side, Morganna was dragged along with her. "Mother what city is this?" She touched her mothers shoulder as she spoke. Esmerelda grasped her hand and patted it.

"This is Napata, the current capitol, though I don't know how long that will last."

"Why? Is the king not good?" Esmerelda chuckled.

"The kind has nothing to do with it, no man can control all Egypt from a post so far away from her heart. This new king will learn that, eventually. If not him his family. What was this one's name, Piye? Doesn't matter I'm not here for him."

"Who are we here for mother?" Esmeralda did not answer. Morganna found it irritating but Lilith seemed to understand. The other girls behind them were looking warn out from days of traveling in the Egyptian heat. Esmeralda took note of this and motioned the group aside. They stopped at a small alcove where there was a fountain. The girls flocked to it wetting everything they could to cool themselves. Morganna abstained, though she was still hot, she thought it would impress her mother if she acted like she was fine. Lilith dunked her whole head into the pool. Morganna watched as her sister breathed the water. Behind her ears Morganna could see little flaps of skin moving with the water. Lilith stroked her hair back as she pulled herself away from the water. She made a satisfied sigh as she emerged. Lilith looked to her onlooker. Morganna looked away as if she was not amazed by her sister's powers. Lilith understood Morganna was trying to be tough but she felt bad for her sweltering little sister. She cupped a large handful of water and whistled to get Morganna's attention. Morgy looked back to her just as Lilith threw water onto her head. Morganna squealed and sputtered. The other girls tried to stifle their laughter, they all knew of Morganna's delicate pride. Esmeralda smiled at her children's play. She casually left them to it as she strolled over to speak to the nearest merchant. He was a man she noted, she could get whatever she wanted here, for next to nothing she guessed.

By the time the girls had finished the ensuing water fight their mother calmly strolled back over to the girls with new garments. She held up colorful cotton dresses and beads. She grinned at her girls wondrous expressions. Each of them descended on her trying to get the dress they wanted before her sister.

Morganna got last pick but she wasn't disappointed, her mother had bought only one dress in her size and it was beautiful. A deep brick red would suit her taste fine. Lilith congratulated her on the best outfit of their six. Morganna blushed and disagreed. Lilith was a vision in light aqua blue.