Good afternoon readers,

I know that I have been away for quite a time.  But in that time I had a writer's block, and only just recently have I started writing again.  I have rewritten chapter one and my history and dear reader's section.  I will possibly be posting that soon.  I have also changed several names as well, including my own. 

Please be looking for changes soon!

May the path be always bright!

Maggie Walker

{Chapter one ~ Completed}

The village of Kings where all mighty kings of the earth have passed unwearied through its steel gates.

Chapter One

The sun began to rise as the morning sky was a blend of pinks, reds, and grays. Faint rays of light shone on a lone man upon a horse, watching the village in front of him.  Light glinted off his golden hair, making his face appear even brighter in the morning light.  Looking closely upon his finely featured face, you would have seen the look of a fully trained warrior; one that showed no sign of any emotions.  The small hill, from which he watched, gave a panoramic view of the entire village and lake next to it.  The lake shimmered, catching beams of sunshine from the sky.  The surface undisturbed, except for an occasional ripple as a fish passed. 

“Just another village…” his words faded away into the brisk air.  The day being the third of the month Cinaput, the weather was still very crisp. 

The village of Greenville was just waking up, when a knock sounded upon the door of the mayor’s home.  “Who would be knocking on my door at this time!” his grumpy voice could be heard through the front door.  The mayor opened the door, expecting to see one of villagers, but was surprised to find a man standing there; a stranger to the village.  

“Who are you?” the mayor asked, suspiciously.

 “Never mind who I am.  I am looking for the mayor of this village.” the man asked.

“You have found him, stranger.  What do you need?”

“I have a notice for this place.”

“What type of notice?”

“A very important one.”

These types of questions continued to flow from the mayor’s mouth for several more minutes.  By now the man was getting a little irritated with this mayor. Pulling himself up to his full towering height, the man said, “This notice is from the king.  My orders are to inform you of its contents, nothing more.”

“Very well, I believe you.”

“I have one more request.  This entire village needs to hear this as well.”

“You there!  Go ring the bell!” The mayor called to a young boy in the street.

“Right away, sir!” The boy raced down the street to the alarm tower.

The man and the mayor stood on the steps of the mayor’s house, waiting for every person to assemble. Five minutes later, with much commotion, the village had gathered.

“That’s about everyone.  Now continue on, if you please.”

Clearing his throat, the man held up an exquisite roll of paper. Unrolling it, he began to read.

“’Good people of Greenville. I am Lorcan, ruler of Daire.  It gives me great pleasure to call you my loyal subjects. I am greatly troubled to inform you that there are traitors among you! These traitors belong to the lying man who once called himself your king; the king I saved all of you from.  I am asking you now to assist me in catching all these traitors.  Two hundred shekels will be rewarded to all who hand over any number of traitors.  On the second day of next month, three of my officers will be arriving in your village to be of assistance to you.  They will take care of all of the traitors whom you may find.

I am very pleased with my subjects. I give you all my blessings of good health and prosperity!

Signed,

Lorcan

          King of Daire ~ Ruler of the Black Isles.’”

With footsteps ringing in the silence after reading the proclamation aloud, the man walked to where his horse was tied. He pulled a mallet and a crude nail from his bag. Walking back to where the quiet mayor stood, the man proceeded to put up the notice on the mayor’s door. 

For a few moments, all that could be heard was the sound of that hammer.

“BANG! BANG! THUD!” as the nail struck home.

The village was quiet as the man finished hammering in the nail.  Then suddenly all pandemonium broke loose. 

“Praise King Lorcan!”

“Kill the traitors!”

“Find the traitors!”

“Vengeance for the King!

Shouts rang out of praise to the king, and of vengeance for him.  The man just shook his head, and turned to leave.  In doing so, he ran into a beautiful young woman standing at the edge of the crowd, knocking her to the ground.

“Are you all right?”  The man reached down to pull her up. 

“Yes, I am all right.”  She brushed her skirts off. 

The man looked into her eyes, but quickly turned away at the gentleness and strength in their gaze.  He quickly made up the difference between him and his horse, mounting swiftly, rode away, looking back only once.  A look of extreme sorrow and pain began to make its way over his face, as he rode out from the village.  “Another village soon to be completely taken in by Lorcan’s lies.”  was his broken whisper.

~*~*~

“Rachel!  Where is that bucket of water I asked for?”  a woman’s voice could be heard above the din of the Walker household. 

“Coming, Mother!”  a girl rushed through the eating room, carrying a big bucket in her hands.

“Watch out!”  Rachel almost tripped over a little boy on the floor. 

“What are you doing?”

“I’m lookin’ for the ants Mama toll me ‘bout.”  the little boy said proudly.

“You are in the way.  I have an idea!  Why don’t you go ask Mother where else she saw the ants?”

“O-tay, Rachel.”

Fourteen year old Rachel Walker continued on to her mother’s side, lugging the bucket full of water.

“Here you are, Mother.”  she said, slowly lowering the bucket to the dirt floor.

“Thank you, Rachel.  Have you seen Thomas?”  her mother asked.

“As a matter of fact, I have; nearly tripped over him, too!”  she laughed.

“Is he still looking for ants?” her mother asked.

“Yes, he is.”

“Would you please tell Ethan I need more wood?”  Mrs. Walker smiled as she watched her young daughter walk out the door with a spring in her step.

As she walked out the door, Rachel met her oldest sister.  “Kiara, what was all the fuss in the village this morning about?”

“It is about some notice from Lorcan.”

“Where…LORCAN!”

“Yes, I was surprised as well.”

“I thought we would be safe here!”

“I know, I know.  Don’t say anything to anyone else.  Father is down in the square still.  I know he will have more news when he gets back.” 

The two women separated, each going their own ways; Rachel to find Ethan, Kiara to find her mother.

Later that afternoon, as the sun shone down on hard worked fields with a brilliance that surpassed nothing else, two men could be seen walking. At a path leading to a large, almost completed cabin, the men stopped.

“I’ll talk to Grace, but we really don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, I agree,

The men parted then, one walking up to the home, the other continuing his walk down the road.

“Father’s back!” the cry spread throughout the Walker’s home.

Grace walked out the door of the cabin, hastily brushing the little hairs that had escaped her bun, to meet her husband.

“I heard there was a slight commotion in the village square this morning.”

“Yes, m’dear, there was.” he sat down at the kitchen table.

“What was it about?”

“A soldier with a notice.”

“A notice?”

“Yes. A notice from Lorcan.”

“No, not here!”

“Yes, he has now begun his reign over Daire.”

“But I thought we would be safe here!”

“I know. But with Lorcan, anything is possible.”

“Where are we going to go?  What are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure, but we all need to talk about it. Please call everyone.”

The Walker children came from all over the home; some from the doorway where they had already been listening, some from the yard and others from the barn.  The children filed in, nineteen year old Kiara all the way down all nine of them to five and a half year old Catherine. 

“Good afternoon Father.”  Kiara said upon entering the room, the others following suit. Peter waited until everyone was situated before starting to talk.

“A notice was posted in the square this morning; a notice saying that Lorcan is king over this town.  This means we have to leave as quickly as possible.”

“Are the Glaidet coming again?”  Rachel asked fear shaking in her voice.

“I do not know.  The notice says that in a week three men will come. I hardly think that would be the Glaidet.” Peter replied.

“Have you talked to Sam about this yet?”  Grace asked.

“I will this evening.  We walked back from the square together.”

“All right children, back to your work!”  Grace shooed everyone out of the kitchen, and continued with the preparations for dinner.

Directly after the meal was over, Peter stood up from his chair, and grabbing his coat, he strode out the door.  “I will be back before dawn.”  he laughingly said. 

As he walked over to Samuel Hawkins’ home, he mused over what the course of action should be. “Hmm, this one is certainly a teaser…” he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  When reaching the Hawkin’s home, his eyes fell upon a young man in the door of the barn.

 “Joshua, is your father home?”  Peter asked as the young man walked to meet him.

“Aye, Mister Walker, he’s in the kitchen with my mother.”

“Thank you, Joshua.”

Twenty year old Joshua watched Peter before going back into the barn to finish his chores.

Peter walked up to the door at the side of the house, and was about to knock, when the door was opened and another young man stood there.

“Oh hello Mister Walker!  Come to see my father, I presume?”

“Yes, Nathan, I have. Joshua told me he was here…?”

“Yes sir, he’s right inside.  Now if you’ll just excuse me, and I have some chores to finish.”  Eighteen year old Nathan ran to the barn.

“Hello Peter, come in!”  A woman’s voice called from inside.

“Good afternoon Alana, how are you?”

“I am just fine.”

“Come in, Peter, I already have those maps you were asking about earlier here.”  Sam walked out of the kitchen, holding a slice of bread in one hand, and a beaker of fresh milk in the other, “I was just finishing my dinner.”

Peter and Sam, after finishing his dinner, soon began to plot out routes of escape, and how they would escape from Greenville. Knowing that this escape would be costly if it failed, they both felt the tremendous responsibility of protecting their families. The mayor of Greenville, as they had already observed, was very devoted to and would do anything to please Lorcan, even if it meant killing those dear to him.

“Let’s see.  With your nine, and my seven, and then Grace, Alana, yourself, and me, that would be twenty horses, but not if we doubled the little ones with older one.”

“Yes, that sounds about right.  But where would we get all those horses without causing suspicion?” Peter asked.

“True, it would be apparent we were doing something if we went out and traded for twenty horses.”

“We will have to travel on foot then, as there is no other choice.  The town of Corinville is a few days’ walk away, but I believe we would be able to make it.”

“As the town of Vanity is about the same distance in traveling to the south, that would give any who follow us a choice between the two towns.”

“That it would.”

“Sam, didn’t you know someone who lives in Corinville?”

“Come to think of it, I do, or at least did. Josiah Smith is his name.  I wonder how he’s doing these days.” Sam mused to himself.

“If there was a way possible to meet him in the town, we might be able to trade for horses with him.”

“Excellent, I’ll send him…”

“No, you don’t want to do that.” Peter said, “The postmaster is just as loyal as Mayor Past.  That letter would never make it out without people asking questions.  I suppose the best way to go would be to just find him when we reach Corinville.”

“Yes, that would be the best way.”

The maps were spread on the table as Sam and Peter pointed to and drew lines on the map the whole time discussing the route to a clearing that was about a weeks’ journey away.

“How shall we leave this time?”  Peter inquired, “I mean we can’t just walk out of town with no one knowing that we are leaving.”

“I see what you mean.  Hmmm, setting fire to our homes could be an option, but I’m not sure how that would sit with the wives.”  Sam laughed.

“Sam, I have it!  Do you recall that disease that was spreading throughout the plains last year?  The Black Sore, I believe it was called, spread around by animals, especially cattle.”

“Yes, I remember, what of it?”

“Don’t you see?  If we behaved as if our two households have become sick with it, no one would even come near our home.”

The two men’s eyes began to sparkle at the thought of this idea.

“As our two families spend a lot of time together, it would not cause any suspicion of why both our families have the disease.”

“Wouldn’t soot work amazingly for imitating the black sores?

“Aye, perfect!”

The two men excitedly continued to discuss the many options they had.  Alana walked in as they were still talking about the diversion, and was soon brought into the plan. 

“May I ask one thing?”  she asked.

“Yes?”

“What happens when we try to leave?  Do you both not remember what happened to the town of Calvity?”

“Yes, I remember.”  Peter replied, “Sam, this town would not stop at just avoiding us.  We will be burned alive if we stay here after the mayor finds out that we are sick.”

“Thank you, Alana, for bringing that to our attention.” 

She left the room just then in response to a young one’s cry.  Peter and Sam, now sobered up at the thoughts running through their minds.

“She’s right, you know.  We could be putting our families in even greater danger by playing this out.”  Sam said solemnly.

“I agree.  Though, this may be our only chance of making it to Corinville without being detected.”  It was decided to follow through with the act of the Black Sore, but not without much thought as to the dangers and risks involved.

“Sam, what are your thoughts on sending a note to Mayor Past, by way of either my Timothy or your Matthew about our families having the disease?”

Sam and Peter had been gathered around the maps in front of them for hours now, measuring the distance for every route possible, planning out every tiny detail necessary to escape.

“Why not both of them, with their older brothers as back up just in case?”

“That would let Grace and Alana rest easy.”

“After Mayor Past reads the note, we do not have much time to act. Our homes could be burned that very night.”

“Then we’ll wait till our wives have everything ready.”

With much deliberation, and much thought, the two men parted that evening willing to put their families through a time of trials, to get them to a better place. 

~*~*~

“Lord Mayor,

                   We are saddened to inform you that the Finley and Walker families have been smitten with the Black Sore.”     

          Mayor Past dropped the note from his hands, and rushed to his wash basin.  “How dare they send this missive with their disease on it? They must want to get this whole town sick!”

~*~*~

“Kiara, grab that blanket and wrap it around Catherine.  Ethan, make sure you have that pack securely on Thomas.  We don’t want him losing it.” Grace Walker dashed back and forth between her children, giving last minute instructions.

Earlier that morning, Timothy and Ethan Walker, and Nathan and Matthew Hawkins delivered a note to Mayor Past’s door. As soon as all four boys had returned, the two households erupted into a chaos of blankets being tossed to that person, or food being stuffed into everyone’s packs.  Dusk was beginning to fall, when every Hawkins met at the Walker’s home.  From twenty year old Joshua on down to seven year old Carina, each had a pack of their own possessions on their backs.

“Peter, a word if you please?”  Sam motioned Peter aside while the wives and children mingled ready at any moment to flee.

“On way over here, I noticed a commotion in town.  Upon sending Joshua to investigate, he reported that the mayor has gathered a rather large crowd and was stirring them up against us.  We either flee now, or very burned alive.”

“You make sure you have all of your children, and I’ll do the same.  We need to stick to the back fields, but there’s no telling if the mayor has already sent out men to prevent up from leaving.”

Twenty figures, both small and large crept out from the Walkers home.  Sam and Peter in the front, Joshua, Nathan, and Ethan were in the back helping along any stragglers. They had just about reached the open area they would have cross when a shout was heard from the direction they had come from.  Peter and Sam acting quickly pushed everyone across the clearing quickly and into the woods beyond.  Two minutes later, a rustling sound was heard coming in their direction.  Crouching down in the underbrush, the two families waited for a moment of capture.  Five men walked cautiously into the clearing the families had been standing in.  Grace gasped as she saw the face of one of the men reflected in the moonlight.  The man was Greenville’s sheriff, greatly feared by all, except his wife.  This man was known for his skill in vanquishing crime, every thief or robber feared him, yet he had one weakness; he would do anything to keep his job as sheriff.

“You, Jackson, take Red with you and search that side of the clearing.”  Sheriff Hanstiem said in a gruff voice, “I’ll take this side with Taylor and Hancock. Those two families are around here somewhere, I can sense them.”  

Sheriff Hanstiem walked right towards the spot there the families were hidden.  Each one became tense with the anticipation of being found.  But to their amazement the sheriff didn’t even make it to the edge of the clearing before he looked down and found two arrows in his legs.  Falling to the ground as chaos broke loose, and being too stunned to doing anything, Sheriff Hanstiem watched as his men fled back towards the village.  He struggled to his feet using a stick that had been lying near by to support himself, and then limped off after his four men, but not before swearing that he would find the

 Two men with dark cloaks on stepped into the clearing, and after making sure that there were no more men about, the taller one, clearly the leader, called Peter by his name.

Not quite sure exactly what had happened, Peter cautiously arose from his hiding place, and stepped out into the moonlight.  He walked towards the two men slowly, ready to flee at any false move from the two men. 

“Peter Walker, I presume.” The one who had called him spoke.

“Yes, that is me.”

“You must gather your family and with the Finleys are to come with us.  No, do not ask questions.  Those will be answered in time.  We do not have a moment to loss.” 

Peter hurried back to Sam, and quickly began to gather everyone together. The two men led the group in the direction that they had mysteriously appeared from.  Sam blinked as he thought he saw a shadow pass them, and looking closely made out the cloaked figure of another person. 

The two men pushed the two families at a quick pace. As little ones started to stumble, the two men stopped, whispering that they could rest for a few minutes.  Just then, the third figure Sam had seen, walked up to the other two, and appeared to be giving a report. The taller man listened for a few more minutes before motioning for Peter and Sam.

“I am sorry I can’t give you more time to rest, but we are being pursued.  Take this flagon back to your families and let them drink freely.  It will help all of you keep the pace I will set.” 

Returning to their families on the ground, Sam and Peter did as the man directed.  As they started up again, both families were aware of a renewed sense of strength flowing through their limbs.

Before long, the band left the forest of Cheer, and set out on the Plains of the North.  Peter and Sam glanced at each other worriedly, their look saying “we can easily be spotted out here!”

As if reading their faults, the leader called a halt.  “My friends, you do not seem to realize that we are protected by a shield of invisibleness. The sheriff back in the clearing could not see us, as we made ourselves only visible to you. I am Reilly O’Brian, the leader of a band of warrior nomads who wander these plains.  This is Andrew Revelin and his wife, also my daughter, Katherine.” 

All three threw off their hoods, revealing finely shaped features.  Katherine revealed a mass of rich, dark hair.  Kiara and Christy liked her immediately.

“Kate, Andrew, we’ll set up camp here.  We will be protected by that dune.”

The three began setting up shelters for the families to sleep in. “Thank you.”  Grace said as Kate took Catherine from Grace’s arms and laid her down on a pile of furs.

“You are very welcome.  Come; let me give you some of this broth Andrew just made.”  Kate led Grace towards the fire that had several pots bubbling on top of it.  Grace half wondered where the pots had come from, but was too tired to even think of that.  She sat down next Alana and just about fell asleep sitting there.

While Reilly was listening Sam and Peter’s story, Andrew had gotten the young boys’ interest and was in the midst of telling a thrilling story while the older children got something to eat.  There were still several hours till morning, so everyone settled down to get at least that much before having to start off again.

(Editor's note: Chapter one was not complete upon first posting it.  Chapter one is now complete)

My Dear Reader

Many years ago, twenty to be exact, the rule of Daire changed hands.  The just king was overthrown by a brother who was thirsty for power.  This brother now rules Daire with an unforgiving hand.  The true king was our greatest ruler. His kindness was known all over Daire. Though he only had a daughter, there was hope that the child the queen was carrying would be a son. The queen he left behind was more beautiful then the morning sky.  Her beauty was told of from the Black Isles, all the way to the Mountains of Oengus. First this brother wanted the throne, and then he wanted his brother’s wife, now he is lying to gain the people’s trust!  Is there no end to his wickedness? As the new king’s lust grew, the queen was forced to flee, carrying a little one, and a girl of seven years.  The queen’s small family, after fleeing the outstretched hands of her brother in-law, practically disappeared. She fled because of fear for her little one. Why?  Her little one was a boy, or at least, so the rumor goes.  However, if this is true, it would mean the end of the king’s cruel reign. The king knows of this rumor, I’m afraid.  When it first reached his ears, after spreading quickly through the mouths of others, he became furious.  Four of his men had to hold him down lest he hurt himself.  Those four men were no longer seen after that. 

 As the years have gone by, every one of us have suffered one way or another at the king’s hands, whether it be by torture, starvation, families being separated, we have never given up hope.  As it has now been nineteen years since the queen fled, and the little one would be close to twenty years old.  He would be old enough to bring together an army of great strength, and conquer his uncle, taking back what is rightfully his.  Because of this, the king has begun to take young men around the same age of his nephew, and has either killed them, or putting them under a strong spell.  The young men are then taken back to the Desolate Plains of the South, and put to work on building his castle, never to see the brightness of day with their own eyes again.  

We pray and hope that the King and his Son will return to us, and rescue us from this persecuting brother. 

                       May our true King Bless you,

         a Kiara Walker b             

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