Prolog
A Mother’s Bidding

Winter was finally over, Spring was here. Many were busy planting, tending animals. Glad to be out in the air with the sunshine after all long,cold Winter. Felena, youngest daughter of Lessarra and Tomar, her red-gold hair in it’s customary braid plaited down her back to keep it out of her way as she did her chores, humming as she went along carrying a bucket to the village well for water for her Mother. When, as Felena made her way from their home, she noticed a cloud of dust in the distance. She peered hard at the cloud trying to figure out what it was.Looking away from the cloud of dust with a sense of unease and seeing her dearest friend Maridina ahead of her on the dirt path,
Felena called out to her friend.

” Dina, do you see that? Can you tell what it is?”, Felena gestured to the cloud of dust as it was drawing nearer.

Dina looked to where Felena had pointed off a the dust that could be seen in the distance. As Dina walked over to join Felena, who had now made it to the well. Setting her bucket down at the well..the dust cloud had drawn nearer. The forms of wild men could be seen in the cloud of dust.

“Wild men! Wild men approach! Raise the alarm! Father! Father!Wild men!” both girls called out, their voices rising higher as they called.

Others in the village stopped what they had been doing to see what the girls had been yelling about. Seeing the forms of their enemies appearing out of the dust. They’d rushed for their weapons to protect their homes and families when they’d seen the advance of the wild men.
Felena’s father Tomar, steps over to his daughter.

“Quiet now girls… You have done well…”and then he went on to tell the girls to calm down, to find Felena’s mother and stay with her.

Felena nodded and took Dina’s hand. “Come,” Felena said “Let us find my mother. She needs to know of this.”

Her Father had a way of bringing the solemnity out in Felena. He watched with grim regard as the two girls hurried off, all thoughts of fetching water and or humming lost in the moment. The girls ran, away from the direction of the horde, to the home of the Shefits.

Felena’s mother, Lessarra had been hanging out wash when the girls came rushing up.

“Hold there girls! You’re kicking up dust! You’ll get my wash all dirty again…and you’ll have the washing of it the next time!” Lessarra then smiled to take the sting out of her words.

Felena then held up her hand, breathing hard after her quick run, “Fath-er …” Felena, exhaling and then spoke again,
“Father bade us to come to you Mother… Wild men are approaching! He bid us to come to you here. We raised the alarm…. Dina and I!” Then worriedly she continued, “I fear for Father, he doesn’t have his sword or bow with him, for he was in council.”
“Fear not!” Lessarra spoke calmingly, ” Go into the house and down into the cellar. Be as quiet as mice my girls. I will bring your Father his sword and bow… Then I will return to you here. Go now, we must hurry!” Spoke Felena’s mother Lessarra as she urged the girls ahead of her.

All three rushed into the house. Felena pulled Dina to the trapdoor in the floor as Lessarra rushed to the trunk set on the far side of the room. Felena urged Dina to climb down first, she turned to see her mother remove a sheathed Dagger from the trunk and strap it about her waist. Felena’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the Dagger…for it had been years since she’d seen the dagger. Not since her mother told her of the history of the dagger Sever on her thirteenth birthday had she even seen it. Lessarra turned and seeing Felena still standing there, said “Get in! I’m going now! Stay hidden my loves. I will return to you as quickly as I may.”
Felena paused at the top step, “I love you Mother!” , not knowing why, but feeling the need to say the words aloud.
Lessarra said “I love you too!”, her eyes compassionate, understanding the need to utter the words ,” Now, do as I say…I will return.”
Felena ducked down into the cellar and pulled the door closed as her mother then grabbed Tomar’s sword, bow and quiver of arrows. Lessarra rushed out to bring the weapons to Tomar before the raiders arrived.

In the cellar Dina spoke hesitently, “I’m frightened!” a quaver in her voice.

Felena said “Fear not. The men of our village are strong and brave. With your Father standing with my Father and the others… they will soon run off this raid.”

Dina sniffed quietly and wiped away a tear, ” Do you really think so?…”

“Yes.”

Felena answered quickly, “Father has run them off before. They come to steal our cattle and food stores, nothing more.”Felena spoke with an aire of confidence of one monthes older and believed herself to be wiser.

Dina settled down to wait, reassured. She watched though as Felena paced in the confines of the cellar. She didn’t want to wait in the cellar like a child! Felena’s thought barrelled ahead. ‘I am sixteen…well… almost, and I should no longer have to hide with the children…’

Lessarra hurried over to Tomar and handed him his sword, bow, and quiver. Eyeing the enemy as they approached, glancing at Tomar as she spoke,”I told Felena and Dina to stay hidden in the cellar.” Lessarra looked backat the horde, he hand upon the hilt of Sever, “Then get back with them now Woman.” Tomar didn’t bother to spare her a glance after he noted that she had belted about her waist…that knife as he called it. “Leave the fighting to the men…” He expected Lessarra to obey and turned his attention to the advancing horde.

The horde could be seen at the river and the sound of their yells had been carried on the wind. Lessarra had not budged, she looked at the horde of wild men, her eyes widened as she thought, ‘this is no mere raiding party! There are so many!’ Lessarra drew her dagger… gripping the hilt in her hand comfortably. The Dagger, Sever keened a high tone, eager to face the coming foe. Tomar glanced once again at Lessarra before centering his attention on those before him. Behind him and to the sides he sensed more than saw the others of the village awaited the coming of their enemy. All were armed. All were ready.

Tomar called out, “Hold there ! Wild men of the Downs! What do you want of us here this day?”

” Die!” jeering voices called back, “Death to you!” was the answer, and the horde rushed forward.

With sword and bow, ax and pitchfork the villagers fought the horde. Tomar stood and fired his bow. One down, two down. He calmly fired at the advancing horde, picking off the front runners…till… he was out of arrows. Then Tomar dropped his bow, drew his sword and rushed to repell the enemy.
Lessarra sped from wild man to wild man slicing and slashing as she went. In the last moment she had tied her own hair back, to keep it out of her way as she fought . Lessarra, undaunted by the enemy she faced. She moved with speed aaand precission,a blur of fury, as her Dagger sang in battle!

Felena stopped her pacing, looking up at the trapdoor. No longer could she just stay here and wait. The celllar was quiet, too quiet, as Felena could hear the drum of her heartbeat in her ear.

“I must go! I cannot just sit and wait down here!” Felena spoke passionately.

Dina tried to hold her friend back “But your Mother bade you to stay! You must wait down here with me! She will return soon. She said she would.”

Felena shook her head “No. Something is wrong. I feel it. You stay here. You are younger. I must go!”
Felena reached for and opened the trapdoor . As she stepped out, she motioned for Dina to be quiet. “I will return when I know what has happened. Wait here!” She closed the trapdoor for her friend.

Felena headed to where she could hear sounds of battle. Her eyes widened in fear. There were so many…’where is Father?Where is Mother?’ she thought.
The horde had overcome the villagers . They began ransacking homes, kicking in doors, dragging out children and young people. Felena looked about her,frantically. Searching for, and finding the form of her mother on the ground by the well. Felena stiffled her scream by biting her hand to hold back the sound. She slowly worked her way over to her mother.
Some of the villagers had still been fighting, but they were being slaughtered before the might of the horde.
Felena had cautiously crept to her mother. Hiding at the base of the well she found her mother bleeding from many wounds but still alive “Oh Mother…” her voice filled with agony, then asking, “Where is Father?” she whispered.

Lessarra opened her eyes, her green-grey eyes glazed with pain. “Your Father is dead.” her voice was raspy, “They killed him in the first wave. It was… like …it was planned, to take out the leaders… but ‘Lena, Dearest, you must go! Ride far! Ride fast! Find help!” her mother had paused a moment grimacing in pain. “Take the Dagger and Veillantif, he will bear you away from here. Now go!” Lessarra collapsed, having breathed her last breath.
Felena bit back a sob, tears formed in her eyes as she did as her mother bade her and took the Dagger and belt from her now lifeless body. She placed her hand over her mothers eyes and closed them “I love you Mother.” Felena’s voice had broke as she whispered.

Her eyes awash with tears Felena worked her way backwards away from the horde of wild men who had been still roaming the village. When she could arise, she did, and ran back to her house. She had to get there before the wild men searched it! Dina awaited inside. When she made it back, she rushed inside and threw the trapdoor open,

“Hurry! They’ve over-run us! We must be away before they get here!”

Dina started to climb out of the cellar “But your father? My father? What of them?”

Felena shook her head sadly “They are lost to us. Now we don’t have much time. We must hurry!”

Dina saying, “But what will we do? Where will we go?” Dina shook her head. “No, Felena, I’ll stay here. They won’t find me if I am quiet!”

Felena exhaled sharply, “You can’t stay here! They are searching the houses! I don’t know why… they are not taking the cattle as they usually do… they are taking our friends!”

“Then go Felena!” Dina said. “You’ll be able to ride faster without me!”

Felena said “Then hide. Hide well. Make not a sound!”

Felena closed the trapdoor for her friend. She grabbed her cloak and a water bottle from the house on her way out. Outside she whistled for Veillantif.
A pale grey stallion was grazing nearby. He lifted his head and trotted over to Felena. He pressed his muzzle against her chest. Swiftly she saddled him. She looked towards the village proper and spied the advance of the wild men.
‘Perhaps they’ll think there was no one else at this house if they see me ride off…’ Felena thought as she prepared to mount Veillantif.
Felena then threw herself into the saddle and urged Veillantif into a gallop before she was completely in the saddle. Wild men ran to intercept her, reaching for the reins or rider,but Veillantif was too swift and she broke free!
Felena rode away at a dead gallop across the plains away from the burning village.

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