Prologue
A name it’s all I want.
It’s not that I don’t have one it’s not that I have forgotten but more like
it’s blocked from me. It’s important I can feel it, it’s a lost key, and the
only way to unlock who I am or what I am. My only clue is a dream I have had
since the day I awoke nameless. One I never remembered when I awoke, one that
left a word on the tip of my tongue I could never remember until this
morning…..
Chapter
1
She
sat up, a sheet clutched to her chest, as if it was the only thing keeping her
from leaving the physical world and losing her sanity. She was young not much
older than seventeen, yet had a look in her eyes that showed a wisdom of
someone who was much older. She was taller than average, leveling out around
five foot nine and created a somewhat intimidating presence when combined with
a natural aura that cowed most people if they could not see her face. While solid
white hair fell to her upper back and over her shoulders creating a natural
contrast with her light brown skin.
Her
light blue eyes were wide and her breathing was labored like every morning for
the past year, she had awakened from a dream she could not remember. The only
sound was her labored breaths, then a whisper “Era…” then again this time more
audible as she slowly came out of the frozen state she was in. “Era,” She
whispered rolling the word in her mouth, tasting the familiarity. It wasn't her
full name she knew but it was a part of it and more than enough if she couldn't remember the rest.
“You
awake yet lass?” An elderly voice asked from outside the room. ”I am.” She said
careful not to yell but shouting loud enough to be heard. “Are ya decent?” The
voice asked. “I just woke up give me a minute.” She shouted as she quickly
climbed out of bed and dressed in a timely fashion. Slipping on a pair of
well-worn pants and a tunic that was just loose enough it didn't cling to her
skin and add unneeded emphasis to her body when tied off at the waist with a
thin cord of rope. Then she ran her fingers through her hair in a somewhat vain
attempt at combing the tangled strands before tying it up in a ponytail. “I’m
done.” She shouted, just as the door opened revealing an aged man wearing
similar clothes to hers.
Henry wasn't overly tall and standing next to her he was only about a half inch
taller if he didn't hunch. Were it not for the telling battle scars on his arms
and his dark brown eyes that were hardened and reassuring he would look much like
any other aging stable master. His hair was a thinning grey
white mess that seemed content to fall from his head yet grow in abundance on
his chin in an odd and scraggly beard as, from what could be seen, the most
well kept part of the man’s appearance.
He
ran his fingers through his scraggly beard before nodding “We don’t have much
time this morning, unfortunately we will have to skip breakfast.” She groaned
at the thought of work without a full stomach and how long it would be till
lunch “We all have responsibilities lass and mine is to take care of the king’s
horses but without your help I can’t do that.” He chided. “He wants to go out
early this morning for some reason or another so we need to get the mounts saddled
and ready to go.” She sighed and slipped on a pair of dirt encrusted work boots
sitting by her bedside before looking up at him in disappointment.
“Don’t give me that
look lass I tried to get time to eat for both us and the horses but the king
was adamant.” He chided again before turning and walking away leaving her to
chase after him if she wanted to continue the conversation on the way to the
stables. “I’m sorry Henry… it’s just that usually the kings so considerate of everything,
it’s not like him to...” She slowed as he gave her a glance over his
shoulder. “Believe me lass I know. Did
you remember anything when you woke up this morning?” He asked in an effort to
change the topic as they reached their destination. She stopped for a second as
she recalled the name she had woken up muttering but before she could open her
mouth she was cut off by a man’s shrill voice yelling. “Henry. Those horses
better be ready.”
Henry cursed under his
breath and sighed. “Okay lass hurry and ready the horses while I stall that
impatient lapdog the king would call a military adviser.” She nodded and
quickly got to work forgetting about telling him for the moment as he left the
stables to meet the king’s adviser and his guard outside muttering curses till
he was out the stable door leaving her alone with the horses. He quickly made
his way over to a tall lanky man wearing a black robe with a red trim that fell
loosely around his body. The man had a long thin nose and piercing grey eyes
that seemed to pick out the imperfections of whoever he looked at. Due to his
nose his voice was high and nasally and he held an aura of contempt that made
him talk down to people like he was better than them and they could never be
near his greatness.
“Henry I thought you
were supposed to be a stable master not a snail! Where are the horses?!” The
man asked letting his impatience show in an incredulous sneer. “If you would
give me more than fifteen…” Henry tried to reply in an irritated tone before
being cut off. “Bah, worthless excuses just hurry and get them out here. The
king will be here shortly and while he may tolerate your tardiness I will not.”
The man sneered. “Raff as much as I enjoy the pleasant sound of your voice my
apprentice needs help getting the horses saddled and…” Henry tried to separate himself from the
unpleasant man but was cut off once again this time by the arrival of five men
in heavy metal armor. “S-sir…” Henry stuttered as he was startled into a
reactionary salute that quickly fell into a bow of respect.
King William Ryall was
dressed identically to his knights foregoing any identification as royalty by
doing so and only being identifiable since he had removed his helm. So one
could tell he had been quite handsome in his youth yet he had lost his youthful
vigor to the years. Years which had worn on him and even though he was in his
mid-forties his hair was slowly graying from its original dark brown. Yet
hardened grey green eyes revealed that he hadn't lost any of his determination
to that same foe, even with the bags under his eyes and the betrayed lack of
sleep they implied, he showed no weakness.
Flanking the king, the
knights wore blackened steel armor without any notable design except on the
breastplate. The helm however was in the shape of a wolf head without a lower
jawbone and the upper muzzle stretching just enough to be accurate in depiction
while not obscuring their vision. Armor specially made for the kings personal
guard not only denoting their position in the kings service but also their
skill with a blade. Loyal to a fault and regarded with awe for their
accomplishments, they inspired their friends and terrified their foes.
“Henry I trust my
horses are nearly ready?” Henry looked up as the king spoke and nodded. “Yes
milord. They should be out any minute along with my apprentice.” Ryall smiled
and shook his head. “Henry there is no reason to be so formal with me. You may
not ride into battle anymore but that doesn't change the fact you saved my life
more than once.” Henry nodded again and rose. “But sire he’s beneath you why
must you…” Ryall turned his gaze to Raff cutting him off with a glare. “Raff
you are my military adviser not my keeper. You do not get to dictate how I
treat others, nor whom I chose to treat with respect!”
Era huffed as she started
to nudge open the stable doors to the sound of a lashing yell that she could
not help but wince at, while to her surprise the six mounts she guided snorted a
simultaneous agreement. That however didn’t surprise her as much as king Ryall
yelling, she had never heard or seen him in a bad mood and wondered what had
made his normally calm, polite, and kind visage falter. Such thoughts paraded
through her mind as she opened the stable doors wide in as notable a way as
possible, catching the attention of the group giving the king his chance to
regain his composure while Henry smiled and began laughing heartily. “Lass ya
got a great sense of timing!”
Her cheeks flushed
slightly in embarrassment realizing how ridiculous her display had actually
been as she cut her mentor a slight glare and handed off the mounts to the
knights and their sovereign. Meanwhile Henry was working to contain his
subsiding laughter and keep a straight face as he spoke. “I’m sorry lass but ya
need to know when to make an entrance and how! I thought that Raff’s horse had
gained his riders ego for a second there!” This comment at Raffs expense
elicited a resounding chuckle from everyone but Raff who was giving Henry the
evil eye before mounting up and going ahead of the king and his escort. The
king sighed slightly then motioned for his guard to follow Raff ahead and that
he would catch up.
Once they were out of
earshot and he was alone with the two he spoke in a grateful tone knowing. “Thank
you both for doing that. These weeks have been taxing and I’m having a hard
time keeping my temper.” Era smiled and spoke her embarrassment all but a faded
memory and replaced with haughtiness. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!
I just happened to be feeling like I should try making an entrance!” Her mentor
rolled his eyes and cuffed her upside the head making her cut him another glare
and pout her voice being toned over with disappointment. “Fine, I was trying to
help! You don’t need hit me…” Henry shook his head and smiled. “Lass ya should
accept the gratitude and admit you were helping. No need to be lying about your
motives if you thought they would help!”
She nodded begrudgingly
admitting that he was right while Ryall cleared his throat to get their
attention. “Either way I thank the both of you for helping me in a less than
shining moment.” He mounted his horse and began riding away before stopping and
glancing back. “Oh! I almost forgot. If Henry has no objections I think you
should spend the day in the library with Sybil. That old codger has been
relentless in insisting you visit him!” With that final comment he spurred his
horse into a gallop and rode off a cloud of dust left in his wake. Henry was
left coughing from being caught downwind, and as the dust settled the coughing
subsided. He shook his head and turned to look at her his voice somewhat hoarse
from the dust. “Lass ya can go but please don’t exit like ya entered!” She
flushed slightly in embarrassment as he began coughing for the second time, the
dust shaking from his clothes as she pouted and proclaimed. “I’m not that
desperate for attention!” Just to turn and run toward the castle library while
Henry was left coughing out a light bit of laughter.
