Chapter One As she watched the sunset, Reignue wondered about her lost father. She dreamed of traveling and leaving the tiny village of Eaverie in the Solaskan Mountains. The village was in the Elven kingdom. The king’s city was Aurm in the Valley of Aurm. Reignue wanted to go there and experience the market and meet the king one day. She wanted to journey to Liadan and meet the Druid Mir. She wanted to get away from her haunted past and learn why the Dark Mage Roen searched for her and wanted to harm her. She wanted to greet the sunrise and sunset each morning and do it in such a way that she would be closer—to what she didn’t know. This is what she loved doing every evening. The sky would be lit up with magnificent colors vivid and bold dashing across the sky. One would blend into another until the sky was a rainbow of color. Blue hues chased the green ones into the fiery red and orange ones until they went west. The secret place where she watched the sunset from was her domain and no one knew of it. It was in the woods and away from the homes of Eaverie. She smiled at the thought. This was her place and hers alone. She would imagine the meeting with her father as she said, “I am your daughter who you thought for dead. I survived and this is who I am. This is who I have become,” She loved the colors of the sky from this secret place in the forest. She thought of her parents who were not her parents. They adopted her when she was only a babe in arms. Her mother died, they often told her. Triestans had killed her. Triestans were the people far to the west and south by the Suran Ocean. They were a savage group of people at first, and then the Mage Roen persuaded them to join his cause. She heard people talk about her in the dark and when she walked by, they stopped talking. They looked at her with fear in their eyes and loathing. They hated her, but she was an innocent victim just like her mother. Except for one thing, she survived and was hunted. She longed for this moment to last forever. She dreaded night and its dark secrets. She dreaded the nightmares that plagued her. She wanted a serene night, but has never had one. She always woke with a start at dawn. Dawn was her rescuer. Dawn would gently shake her awake with soft colors edging the night sky. It would creep up on the night like a stalker upon its prey and the nightmares would flee. Her nightmares were really memories. Her mother died just as she was born. Her last words were, “Protect her, for surely the Mage Roen will surely have her killed,” She would dream of Triestans—ugly and grotesque creatures hunting them down and her mother saying, “I will protect you, Reignue,” and the screams. The Triestans made horrible warrior screams and Reignue would wake up to them at night. Her parents would always have a tonic to help her sleep, but she knew it would never work. It hasn’t before so why should it start now? “Reignue!” someone called. It was her mother. It was time for the evening meal. She started up the stone steps when a chill settled down into her stomach. She suddenly felt as if she was being watched. She looked back and saw nothing. She shrugged off the chill and went inside. Night has arrived bringing the usual chill and by now Reignue should be used to it. But she wasn’t and she wasn’t about to become used to it now. “I am here, Mother,” “Good. Eat your meal,” she said. Reignue ate the meal of cheese, soup, wild fowl, and steamed vegetables. Then she went off to bed. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was how good the meal was and how well her family treated her. She smiled as she nodded off and then the nightmares came. Then she woke up to a reality. The fires burned without mercy. Reignue woke up to the flames licking her roof of her little room. Smoke filled the hallway and thickened as she coughed. She went to find her mother and father but they were already dead. The smoke was poisonous. She had no choice but to flee into the mountains for safety. The fires were all over the village and fear clutched her heart. Someone wanted to make sure somebody was dead. She had no food, weapons, clothing, or shelter. She only had her innate magic. Her instincts said to run and hide. She agreed and had to become some of her surroundings. Her magic allowed her to do that. As she ran by a burnt mirror, she caught sight of her reflection. The smoke blackened her hair, which was normally the color of snow on the mountains, and eyes, which were normally the color of amethyst glowing in the light of a full moon, held an unspeakable fear that they hunted prey would know. Her skin, which was normally pale, was now was blackened from the smoke. She concentrated on the air about her. She had to blend in. Her magic enabled her to seem ethereal and she could blend in with her surroundings whatever they may be. Her name, Reignue, was ancient Elven for “rainbow hue.” She heard a thunderous crash behind her and she quickly looked around. There was the lia-Mage searching. She knew then that the person they wanted dead was she. She left through the door that was still burning and saw that the whole village was ravaged. Lia-Mages filled the little roads and sent fire to the trees and homes. She then looked north and east. Here was her chance. This was a twisted way for her dreams to come true, but she either has to accept them of die. “I will be back here,” she vowed and ran north. The familiar landscapes embraced her and protected her. She continued to run and then heard crashes behind her. Triestans! They were trackers and were tracking her smell. Fear kept her going and she ran and ran. She hoped to lose them, but no such luck. Then she found herself surrounded. Lia-Mages to her left and Triestans to her right. She focused on the air and the air rising. She has never done this, and has only dreamt of it. She decided to try it out and prayed that it worked. As she focused, the ground gave way and she rose. The sky was closer and she flew. She focused on going north and then her concentration gave way. She fell and managed to grab a branch of a tall oak. So far, no one discovered her. High, in the limbs of the oak, she saw the lia-Mage searching for her. It was cloaked with a black garment and hooded. All one could see was the bright red eyes. Chapter Two The Dark Mage has enslaved the Triestans and created the lia-Mages. It was searching for her- of that she was certain. For some reason, the Dark One, Roen, sought Reignue. Her mother and father had told her. They wouldn’t explain why, claiming that she would rather not know. “If you with to know, then seek out the Druid, Mir” they told her. “What is a Druid Mir?” she had asked “He is the last of the Druids. He has power beyond any one has ever known except for the first Druid Oleander millennia ago. Only he would be able to help you,” The lia-Mages continued to search for her in the dark wilderness. She continued using her illusion. It was a gift she later found out. She was able to blend in with her surroundings. When she was young, other kids would pick on her and she made a game with them. She would blend in with whatever was around her and disappear right in front of them. They would scream and then she would come back. They soon learned to like her and not to bully her. Now her life depended on her illusion. At dawn, she would seek out the Druid Mir. She watched as the lia-Mage walked closer to her spot. She prayed that it would not see her and it didn’t. It could smell her, but since there were also the smells of the burning victims, it was confused. She heard the screams of those dying and thought of them. The wails of agony of the children reached her ears and the lia-Mage by her laughed—a hissing sound that Reignue despised. She recalled what her adoptive mother said about lia-Mages. “Lia-Mages are evil and are pawns of the Black Mage. You must beware of them. Reignue, they will come for you soon and then I will not be able to protect you,” “Are they the ones who killed my mother?” “No. The enslaved Triestans killed her. They were to bring the Mage her head and your body, but my mate and your adoptive father along with seven other Elves stopped that. Your mother’s injuries were too much for her to survive and give birth. She loved you so much, though. I saw it in her eyes as she died,” “What about my father?” “The Druid Mir would know more about that. In fact, when it is time for you to go, the Druid Mir is the one you must seek. He has great power and can help you find your father,” “Why does the Dark one Roen search me?” “I can not tell you, Reignue. I just want you to know that I love you very much,” Now Reignue was in an oak and looking down on the lia-Mages with hatred and fury for what had happened to her life, her home, friends and family. She felt helpless and trapped. She could see them far away. She watched them come closer and closer and then the dawn approached. Lenon looked out onto the mountains. Dawn was just approaching and with it was the hope of a new day. The hope that the past would stay the past and the longing for his dead wife and child would go away. He knew that they were somewhere looking down upon him and he had to rule, as a good king should. His closest friend and advisor, Ramón, was there at his side always. “Sir, how are you this dawn?” “I still miss her Ramón. I always will. I wonder what our child would have looked like now. I can see her looking exactly like Skara with my eyes,” “Sir, you are still young. You can marry and produce another child to rule after you,” “I can’t marry. I can’t imagine giving my heart to someone else. I can’t imagine feeling that love with anyone else other than Skara. As for a child, I don’t know yet. I have to hope that somehow the baby did survive,” “The Elven king Nyhle said that there wasn’t any survivor,” “I know, but tell that to my gut instinct which keeps saying that she is alive—the child—Skara,” Lenon stood up, his tall frame exposed by the light of the dawn. He looked at the land with hooded violet eyes that mourned for the life of his loved ones. He was a handsome Faerie when he smiled, which he rarely did now. It has been so long since the kidnapping yet it feels like yesterday. “I picture her birth. I would be holding her and making faces at her. Her mother would look at me with those Elven eyes and smile,” Lenon spoke softly. Then he put on his robes and went into the dawn. The pink and gold rays illuminated him and he glowed. “We must get to business matters, Ramón. Roen is still out there and is a threat to all who lives. We must not hide out any longer. Have the council meet at sunset tonight. I know it is on such short notice, but most people have their eyes closed at the threat of the Dark Mage. I know he is out there, for he killed my family. I know he is a danger and I want others to know it too. If I can find a way to bring him down, I would.” “Yes, Lord,” “And we will find him. He possesses the Darkstone and I would destroy it on sight if I had any knowledge that it was here,” Ramón knew that if Lenon came into contact with the Darkstone, he would fall under its spell just like the Breden family did. Roen Elen was a descendent of the evil Breden Akem. He did not argue this with Lenon, who was so sure of himself and his hatred for the Dark Mage. He just nodded in agreement with the Faerie king. “If she is alive, then I will find her,” Lenon said. He prayed to the Spirit of the Creator to protect his child. Chapter Three From the east, a mist of pink and orange filled the forest touching the leaves of the trees and edging them with a reddish-gold hue. The lia-Mages then left and so did the Triestans, for they needed rest, she assumed. The sun rose and sent bright light through the oaks and Reignue was tired. The run and journey weakened her and she had no food. She cautiously climbed down the oak and looked for her secret spot. She was near it. There was a tiny stream flowing and there were berries by the stream. The Triestans and lia-Mages did not even touch her secret spot. She barely touched the rock and knew that there was her cave. It was concealed by brush and when she found it long ago, it was by accident. She slipped and fell against the rock. She braced herself to hit the rock when she went through it instead. Now she picked the good berries and drank from the stream. Then she went into her cave and slept until midday. This would be the last time she visited this place for a while, she knew. Mir sat by the fire in the ancient city of Liadan. His thoughts returned to a time no one in this age would ever remember except for him. He thought of his childhood. He remembered finding the city of Liadan, which was the Druid’s City. It was more of a village than a city, hidden by the First Druid, Oleander Simes magic. He studied the outlines of the little homes where the Druids first lived millennia ago. He thought about what it would have been like then and why they all died out. Very few people were born with the unusual Druid’s power and most had to develop it. Then it got to the point where no one was born with a Druid’s magic until Mir was born. They spoke softly of the Lost Stone. “It is originally called the Tresilver Stone but was lost during the time of Dellenger. It has its unique power and chooses its true wielder. The Lady Solaris charged me a long time ago to protect its wielder.” “Yes, but until then, friend, don’t concern yourself with that. When we find the wielder, then we are concerned. Now you must concern yourself with the kingdoms. They are the ones in peril,” “You are right. Now how do I unite the divided kingdoms? Akem and his family are kin to the Mage and are possibly enslaved by his power. In fact, I am sure that they are. The Gyadona and Elves are long friends and the Faeries usually keep to themselves. But there was the marriage between Skara of the Elves and Lenon of the Faeries,” “You must find out why and how it happened that Skara was killed and Lenon was left childless and widowed,” the daemon said softly. Kiekle has lived since the time of Oleander and knew that the time would come for the diverse nations to unite. He knew that Mir was the last of the Druids and that he was needed. The Druid Dellenger prophesized that one would come with the powers of a Druid when there has been none for centuries. That one was Mir. The others were gone before him for a long while. The last Druid Dellenger spoke that truth to Kiekle, a daemon who guarded the City. He was a faerie creature who could change into any animal. He could only change into animals and not men or substances like most Faeries. Mir discovered his power when he was very young. He could command the rain or sun. He could call fire to defend himself. He often scared his mother and father with his power and they determined that Mir was cursed. The little village where he grew up was not a home for him. He left there when he was just a boy. He felt drawn toward the north and the east. He followed his instinct. Then he found Liadan and Kiekle. “I have waited a long time for you,” the daemon said. “Who are you?” Mir asked curiously. “I am the Guardian of the City of Liadan,” Mir was astounded that this creature knew his name. “The Druid’s city. And how do you know my name?’’ Mir whispered in awe “I was told that you would come. The last Druid who lived two hundred years ago foretold that a young boy called Mir would wander this way. And that, my friend, is you. The Druid was the Druid Dellenger. You have magnificent powers that need to be learned and mastered. Liadan is the place for that.” Kiekle changed his form from a raven into a cat right before Mir’s eyes. Mir then studied to become a Druid. He read all the Guides except for the lost one—the Seventh Guide. He vowed that he would find the Lost Guide before he died. Each of the Guides spoke of evil and how to defeat it but only the first one spoke of the Darkstone, a stone made of Tresilver but infused with the evil power of the now-dead Mage Breden Akem. There is a prophecy about the one who will destroy this evil—Roen Elen, a descendant of Breden Akem, who is the most powerful of the Mages. He is the most evil and cruel and it seems that no one could stop him. The prophecy claims that one of Elven and Faerie blood wielding the Tresilver Stone and Xanadu sword will destroy him. Mir knew that during the time of Oleander, Elves and Faeries were enemies. Now they are closely allied. Mir needed to find that girl if she even existed. And he also knew that Xanadu was no ordinary sword. With the Tresilver Stone, it was powerful beyond mortality. He knew that with those weapons in the Mage’s hands, the whole world would die. He had to find the Chosen One, but until she is chosen, she could be anyone and anywhere. He had only one clue though, and that was the fact that she was Elven and Faerie. Mir took a walk along the Shei. He remembered things of the past and present and dreamt of a bright future. He needed a Druid to take his place soon. He wasn’t planning on death knocking on his door, but then again, was anyone? He noticed the color of the late autumn moon. It was a beautiful dark red. Mir was one to look on the positive side of matter during most situations. He loved proving others right by saying that everything would turn out right. Whatever happens is meant to be. Chapter Four Winter Solstice was weeks away and it was rumored to be a Tresilver Winter Solstice. Mir knew that it was and that was his reason to find the Chosen One before the Mage d
